The Graphics Section

[The Doctor]

Last night, the graphics section received an upsurge of posts that weren't just me and Theo being nice to each other. This got me thinking: What if there was another way to bring interest into the graphics section?

I know we've had graphics contests, but those were more among the graphic designers than the regular users of WZ. Then I remembered mine and Shock's idea of a tag team graphics tourney, where a judge gives the request, and each member of the team creates something based on that request The posters of WZ then vote on the winning team. It could be a best of three (or more) contest, which would get more people to the graphics threads and not just for posting requests in the wrong sections.

Speaking of posting requests in the wrong sections, we really need a cleanup there. We have a section for requests, and a section for showcasing your work What, then, is the main section for? We need a mod to swoop in there and sort things out. I might suggest getting rid of the main section and replacing it with the Showcase Hall, making the only subforums Requets and Competitions (and the tag team idea).

Thoughts?

 

[Hyorinmaru]

i like it

 

[HBK-aholic]

In my opinion the Graphics forum should just be one forum - no sub forums, except maybe a competition one if your idea went ahead. The section doesn't get enough traffic for things to be lost easily.

 

[The Doctor]

Well, the thing is, it's hard to differentiate when some wants a Santino sig, or they're showing off a Santino sig, unless there is a request forum. That's the only subforum it should have unless my competition idea is accepted. It's just easier for us that create, in my opinion.

 

[HBK-aholic]

No one looks at them though, that's the thing. Aside from a few, you included I assume, people check the main Graphics forum, which is why requests have been made in there.

 

[Planty]

I think there should just be one forum and there should be a sticky with a few new rules like:

"If you want to make a request put [REQUEST] at the start of the title otherwise it will be deleted"

That way you can easily recognise the requests easily, whilst in one forum.

Also, the people who make requests will most likely be the people who give enough information to make your signature easier to make for them... as they happen to be the people who read the rules.

 

[Rebecca]

You could have the main forum be for requests, seeing as requests seem like the most frequently posted threads. And then you could have two sub forums; one for the competition, and one for showcasing your work. Have a sticky in the main forum, which explains the rules, or where to post, with a request template or something, simple.

Competition idea sounds great btw. A topic, a deadline, and then everybody on WZ votes. Bam.

 

[The Doctor]

Both Plant and Rebecca had good ideas. We definitely need some rules in there. And someone to clean it up and keep it together. I know it's a section of the forum with low traffic, but it's still a section that a certain group of people go to, and it really needs some help.

And the competition would help people improve, and get the regular posters looking at the graphics section. This would increase traffic, thus making concrete rules and organization more necessary.

 

[Planty]

I think a simple bit of labelling in topics could mean you could have one forum.

Just stuff like [COMPETITION], [REQUEST] or [SHOWCASE] at the start of a thread could do wonders. And a sticky explaining the graphics rules.

Dunno if there's a graphics mod? But whoever that may be could edit any posts that don't apply to this rule. Or they could just be deleted?

 

[Planty]

Also, as the competition seems like a thing which would happen for the short-term, mods could sticky competition entries up top?

If there was only one subforum I would say Competition, for that same reason as above really. To make them easier to find and cause it'll be a short-term thing before making a transition into just one forum.

 

[Rebecca]

Both Plant and Rebecca had good ideas. We definitely need some rules in there. And someone to clean it up and keep it together. I know it's a section of the forum with low traffic, but it's still a section that a certain group of people go to, and it really needs some help.

And the competition would help people improve, and get the regular posters looking at the graphics section. This would increase traffic, thus making concrete rules and organization more necessary.

I think if there was also a sticky with instructions on how to get started in graphics, you know with links to sites which have tuts, PSD's, textures, fonts, ect, it would encourage a couple more people to get started in photoshopping/gimp'ing. I know when I first started making gfx, I didn't know where to start, and I picked it up by myself, despite never doing tuorials, or getting any help, and it was hard. So you could have a help thread, and allow it to stay open, so people can ask any questions (you know like how to do a certain thing, like overlaying, blending, using photo filters).

 

[HBK-aholic]

I think if there was also a sticky with instructions on how to get started in graphics, you know with links to sites which have tuts, PSD's, textures, fonts, ect, it would encourage a couple more people to get started in photoshopping/gimp'ing. I know when I first started making gfx, I didn't know where to start, and I picked it up by myself, despite never doing tuorials, or getting any help, and it was hard. So you could have a help thread, and allow it to stay open, so people can ask any questions (you know like how to do a certain thing, like overlaying, blending, using photo filters).

We have an Ask a Question thread and a Links thread already stickied.

 

[Rebecca]

We have an Ask a Question thread and a Links thread already stickied.

Haha, my bad then. I dont think i've ever seen it. I've only really ever browsed the forum and ventured into the requests part.

 

[The Doctor]

Oh yeah, are there any graphics mods?

 

[Mr. TM]

Here is my idea for the forum.

Why not sticky the posters who have showcases, then the requests can just go down in the regular part.

Sorry if this has been said.

 

[HBK-aholic]

The section doesn't warrant having a mod. G-mods and admins have the permissions to do everything needed but due to spam basically being allowed there's not much to do.

 

[The Doctor]

Not a bad idea, TM.

I think that's a really cheap way out, Becca. It's not The Bar Room. The Graphics forum has a distinct purpose and is in need of some renovation. And if the competition idea works and we get more traffic, then it could be useful.

We have quite a few sig makers here. Theo, Shock, myself, obiwansidisi, LSW, and now Rebecca being the most active.

 

[Planty]

The section doesn't warrant having a mod. G-mods and admins have the permissions to do everything needed but due to spam basically being allowed there's not much to do.

I really hate having to against you Becca, you know that.

But the section is low on traffic and co-incidentially doesn't have a mod? It really sounds like that's a reason to have one instated even.

I like TM's idea, but I think that should be applied after the competition.

For now, competition entries as sticky's as that would be the main focus. After that, the showcases gain the sticky spot.

Requests are just unstuck.

 

[HBK-aholic]

How is that the cheap way out? It's simply how it is. The graphics forum is one of the least posted in forums - shall we mod someone simply because they make sigs? No. The thing mods infract for the most is spamming - you're basically allowed to in the graphics section. If anything major happens in there, such as a bot posting porn or something similar, a G-mod can easily delete it. It doesn't warrant a singular mod.

 

[HBK-aholic]

I really hate having to against you Becca, you know that.

But the section is low on traffic and co-incidentially doesn't have a mod? It really sounds like that's a reason to have one instated even.

I like TM's idea, but I think that should be applied after the competition.

For now, competition entries as sticky's as that would be the main focus. After that, the showcases gain the sticky spot.

Requests are just unstuck.

As I said above, shall we mod someone simply because they make sigs? Sure, and Doc accuse ME of taking the cheap way out..

People can make sigs without being a mod. The amount of infracting that needs doing in there is minimal - what's the point of a mod?

 

[Planty]

No, the section would be modded because under the new [REQUESTS], [SHOWCASE] and [COMPETITION] format there would be some significant posters who would ignore this who are new and don't read the rules, whose titles would have to be changed to include it if they don't realise it themselves. Then there would also be the potential for clearing out bot posts.

This creates a purpose for a Graphic Forum Mod job and makes the place look organised with limited amounts of subforums.

 

[Hyorinmaru]

I have to agree with Becca The graphics section doesn't need it's own mod. Any ideas that arrise can either be PMed to a G-mod or put in a thread like this one.

 

[The Doctor]

I am not saying it should have a mod to post infractions. It should have a mod that does the organization.

And it's no good saying a G-Mod COULD do it, because G-Mods DON'T do it, which is why we need someone to fix up the forum. Even if a G-Mod took it as its special project!

 

[Murfish]

Fuck the Graphics Section.

 

[HBK-aholic]

No, the section would be modded because under the new [REQUESTS], [SHOWCASE] and [COMPETITION] format there would be some significant posters who would ignore this who are new and don't read the rules, whose titles would have to be changed to include it if they don't realise it themselves. Then there would also be the potential for clearing out bot posts.

This creates a purpose for a Graphic Forum Mod job and makes the place look organised with limited amounts of subforums.

If everythings organised like this and admin believes it warrants penalising we have 5 G-mods, one of whom is on almost all the time. Between me and KB alone, one of us is almost always online.