PCLinuxOS Graphics

[Linuxera]

I received an excellent suggestion on a PM from "one of us" who rather remain anonymous at this point. How about a FORUM. I thought it was a good idea and it still is but something knocked behind my head and whispered, "Do you all wanna detach your self from the main forum?" Then I said, "but the project is going to be just that ... Google Site, Google Code ... they're not exactly at the main forum." Then another whisper, "Yeah, a collaboration site ... but a forum?"

What's the difference?   

Just my two cents, Archie.  I think what's knocking around in your head is a reminder what has happened in the past when 'spin off' forums were started for 'projects'.  It caused some division in the community. When we established an advanced user section on our own forums, along with packaging, it drew people back into the community.  (It's really hard keeping up with more than one site at a time.)  I think the solution would be to have file storage at a given location, while the main thread or even section could be added to our forums.  On the other hand, maybe people want to keep their work private until it's ready for full release.  So, I can see the benefits and the drawbacks of locating somewhere outside of the main forums.  That is something all of the graphics artists will have to agree on. 

 

[Archie]

@Ruben, Tim.... you know Cindy does have a very good point. Frankly, I'd want to stay in our forum where we do most of our posts and replies. But it is also to the advantage of PCLinuxOS and its community to have all our graphic art in one central repository. LinFX started off really well and we were all posing our wallpapers, icons, badges, etc. but somewhere along the line the enthusiasm wore off. For whatever reasons, who knows? Also Cindy is right that I am worried in moving our discussions in graphics and art away from the forum. This may cause cracks and pinholes again... not that I was the cause of the divide last time... I'm just saying.

Still it is up to the majority of those who are getting involved in this endeavor (and hopefully, it would live on as did the magazine when on a few occasions, it almost took a nose dive ... *shudder*) to decide whether the graphics on their stage of improvement can be viewed (therefore downloaded) by anyone, or just to the group. You know, there are some SVGs that I do not mind sharing with anone who could use them (CCL BY-NC-SA 3.0) but there are also some that I rather just keep.

Transparency? Let's define what transparency we should have for the group.

As for a OnlinGroups, it's simple enough to be feasible. I had no problems navigating around but that's because I am admin and I haven't really tested it ... I posted a couple of reasons why.

But hey, I am still with you guys all the way.

[timeth]

Thanks Linuxera, I understand what you mean. It is hard to keep up with more than one site and it would be good to keep the discussion at the forum where everyone can be involved. The magazine seems to be working well even though it's (kind of) away from the forum. However, we do need somewhere to store work that would be easily accessible from the forum with the added function of commenting on each image which is hard when the they are stored somewhere else. It would be time consuming to upload them to the storage space and then link to each one on the forum so there can be discussion.

I've got another idea that may be better than the site we're testing now. It's still a different site but much better for art. I'll come back soon.....

[rubentje1991]

I'm interested timeth!

About forum separation...
Yes we have to be careful => in my humble opinion, it should be very easy for new people to get into the artwork-group (if we place it elsewhere).
In all the possibilities I looked through, I never found a suitable gallery with latest additions.... (where people can vote directly, add ideas etc.... => something like that would be perfect; but I think that requires a custom made website -- and my exams are starting within 2 days  )
The last thing we're looking at, seems better than the others - because it HAS a list with all latest files... (but timeth's suggestion is still coming  )
(however, I'm going to have an extra look at the Google Sites option, because you can modify the behavior very much, with gadgets, and custom made things I think  )

About transparency...
=> it would be perfect that the external visitors only can view previews, but that the involved artists can share their designs, artwork, ... (in this case the full files)...
:: visitors can vote for the previews (and add ideas)
:: artists can work together on something (who has some time now, someone else tomorrow (or someone else with a little other idea), etc...)
But maybe that's just too much work for the artists (uploading 2 things, ....)

I think the final solution should be something as simple as possible  (I think we all agree on that)

[Tony]

Just a thought:
http://wordpress.com/ ?

I Edit Today:-
1.) A place to come together and share your  ideas.
2.) You'll be "hosting" your Work somewhere other than on site.
3.) Have a GRAPHICS Link from this Forum, to your new workplace.
4.) A democratic workplace ? Could be difficult ?
5.) Keep working on what you love, now, logistics destroys ART.

[slax]

I don't know should i post this here...

It would be really great if someone could update the old default icons :/
For printing, scanning utilities, etc... from pixmaps folder

[Archie]

@ Francis, Wordpress is a an excellent web tool but we are not blogging and blogging is what it is really good for. What we need is primarily a central place with sufficient storage and a messaging center that would double as a record keeper of activities. Thank you for your suggestion though.

@ slax, at the moment we are still trying to establish a working environment for future endeavors such as one you just requested. For now, your post should be it's own topic at the Artwork and Theme Requests section. I am not sure what will be decided in the end but I am hoping that we can use both the Artwork and Theme Request and Monthly Screenshots to do a bit of work for PCLinuxOS and to showcase what the group have been doing.

[Archie]

I'm interested timeth!

About forum separation...
Yes we have to be careful => in my humble opinion, it should be very easy for new people to get into the artwork-group (if we place it elsewhere).
In all the possibilities I looked through, I never found a suitable gallery with latest additions.... (where people can vote directly, add ideas etc.... => something like that would be perfect; but I think that requires a custom made website -- and my exams are starting within 2 days  )
The last thing we're looking at, seems better than the others - because it HAS a list with all latest files... (but timeth's suggestion is still coming  )
(however, I'm going to have an extra look at the Google Sites option, because you can modify the behavior very much, with gadgets, and custom made things I think  )

About transparency...
=> it would be perfect that the external visitors only can view previews, but that the involved artists can share their designs, artwork, ... (in this case the full files)...
:: visitors can vote for the previews (and add ideas)
:: artists can work together on something (who has some time now, someone else tomorrow (or someone else with a little other idea), etc...)
But maybe that's just too much work for the artists (uploading 2 things, ....)

I think the final solution should be something as simple as possible  (I think we all agree on that)

Heya rubentje1991,

First, good luck on your exams.

At this point, in spite of just a few of us active in this discussion, I believe that we are most definitely moving forward. We are getting closer to selecting a "work-room" and we have laid down the table many of our ideas and concerns. I'm sure that we are are read (766 views to date) by other potential members and if they have some other inputs, they'd let us know by posting on this thread.

Actually, we should really consider a simple groupware that would make collaboration as simple as a member would upload a graphic file and post a message. Another member who's interested can post a reply and download the file. The team can either work privately or continue to post their ideas ... I prefer the latter because I could jump in at the middle of the project and maybe do a few brush strokes that the initial collaborators can say, "I like that", "Hey, I like that too". And that's what I meant by transparent. I do respect the work attitude of other members if they want to work quietly and privately.

Visitors can preview thumbnails of semi-finished work and post their comments and ideas. Linuzoid is using this gallery on his website and I believe Weric was too at LinFX. We just have to modify it so visitors can only preview smaller images until the files are moved to a download are where anyone is free to download. Links and screenshots will be posted here at the forum where most of us look around.

I agree that our final selection should be simple. We do enough brouhahas on our graphics and art.

[Sproggy]

to be honest ... i am a bit miffed really at what you are trying to really get too ... with the current systems you are really only getting 2 choices ... a) forum with linking to offsite image storage and plenty of discussion areas ... b) a gallery ... which can hold the images but very little else ... altho i did find a pretty nifty opensource Gallery/Feedback with a rating system ... which allows viewing of the latest added images and searching ... so it's a whole management system ... i have installed a test on my server ... give it a try PCLOS Art/

[Linuxera]

to be honest ... i am a bit miffed really at what you are trying to really get too ... with the current systems you are really only getting 2 choices ... a) forum with linking to offsite image storage and plenty of discussion areas ... b) a gallery ... which can hold the images but very little else ... altho i did find a pretty nifty opensource Gallery/Feedback with a rating system ... which allows viewing of the latest added images and searching ... so it's a whole management system ... i have installed a test on my server ... give it a try PCLOS Art/

Looks like a really nice alternative, Sproggy!! 

[Sproggy]

to be honest ... i am a bit miffed really at what you are trying to really get too ... with the current systems you are really only getting 2 choices ... a) forum with linking to offsite image storage and plenty of discussion areas ... b) a gallery ... which can hold the images but very little else ... altho i did find a pretty nifty opensource Gallery/Feedback with a rating system ... which allows viewing of the latest added images and searching ... so it's a whole management system ... i have installed a test on my server ... give it a try PCLOS Art/

Looks like a really nice alternative, Sproggy!! 

Thank CIndy ... themeing the site should be pretty easy so it just has it's default look at the minute ... but all will come in time

Kori

[rubentje1991]

Sproggy,

Maybe your solution is handy -- but I don't take the decisions here....
=> maybe we also can test it
(I'm going to register myself also there...)
Only one question: how long can we run the system there? one year? two years? or as long as we want to?

The only thing I know is that we're currently testing Deviantart Groups (where we can upload artwork, put it in categories, people can give comments, and ratings, ....
But more to explore I think... (and the first reason of testing this possibility is because it's primarly made for designers and artists)....


Plenty of possibilities now (and I think I can close the first things I opened -- just not for our needs; the latest things are way better than the first possible solutions...)


Just some time and testing experience -- and we'll get something final:
everything is heading in the right direction (more usability, simplicity, user friendly, modified for the things we want to)


PS: Kori, I think you can't rate your own images (I voted a '4', and that's the final score, so...  )

[rubentje1991]

[remark: I am not abandoning deviantart, just testing all possibilities]

Max. Image Width: 1024 px
Max. Image Height: 1024 px

=> Sproggy, is that the final size? (that would mean we never can post 'final' (big) things - like 1920x1080)

Just a remark!

[Sproggy]

all settings can be tweaked lol

[rubentje1991]

all settings can be tweaked lol

I thought so  
=> and that's a big benefit of having an 'own' management system.... (just configuring everything to the needs of the artists)