This was very interesting to read, if only to explain to me why it is I *don't* get into vids as much as some folks. I mean, when I get a chance to see them I usually enjoy them, but if given a choice between a new vid and a new story I will always go for the story.
if given a choice between a new vid and a new story I will always go for the story See, I'll usually choose the vid. And I'll be completely honest and say that one of the reasons is the time commitment involved, since I'm so time poor. I can watch a vid and post feedback way quicker than I can read most fics. And the second reason is my squeemishness at poor writing--I'm less sensitive to poor vids, so there's not so much of a 'risk' factor. I sound like a terrible snob, I'm sure!
But I'd be interested to know why you don't like vids as much...? Is it because you're very word-oriented? Or you don't have that need for connection to music and/or image for emotional catharsis?
On the time issue, it rarely takes me more than 15 minutes to read a story, unless it's quite long; it usually takes me upwards of 4 hours to download a vid. So my time issues are completely reversed.
And I'd say that I'm not image oriented at all. As you know, I had one icon for almost two years, and frankly I rarely *noticed* other people's icons until I started making them myself--and I'm still more likely to notice an icon with good text than one that is purely visual. Also, since I know the source material for SV so well I almost always know where the clips are from and how they're being manipulated, which often throws me out of the vid. And there are really a limited number of Clexy shots, and they get re-used so much that it lessens the emotional impact for me.
This is not to say that I haven't seen vids that moved me, or that I found cathartic, because I have. But in general I prefer fic.
Thanks for explaining. It helps me understand the flipside of my own experience.
it rarely takes me more than 15 minutes to read a story Ah. Yes, I am a fast reader too, but only if the writing flows well. I have this hideous handicap when it comes to poorly constructed prose. I actually slow down. My 'edit' brain kicks in and I start correcting the grammar and composing author queries... it's hideous! You'd think it would be logical for a fast reader to read unsophisticated prose faster, but not with me. WOE! (seriously, I would love to change this about myself)
I'd say that I'm not image oriented at allI guessed that about you. And it fascinates me that I would have thought I was like you. I've always been a natural 'text' person. I've always been drawn to words. When we travelled to Spain when I was a toddler, I revealed that I could read by reading out brand names I recognised ('Coca-cola' was my first 'read' word apparently--what an indictment of the twentieth century!). I'm sure this was because I didn'
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What program were you using? I've gotten the hang of doing most of the basic stuff on the GIMP photo editor (which is basically like Photoshop, but free), though before that I was using Paint and irfanview.
Geek! *spazzes about the icon* I got Gimp. I likes Gimp, I think, though it's ways are still mysterious to me... I have created a total of two icons, neither of which I am satisfied with. But it's a start! For a K of small visual literacy, it felt good. *dopey grin*
Most of the stuff you find in icon_tutorial is oriented to Photoshop or PSP, but once you figure out the basics you can still get some ideas from that community, and they do have a few GIMP
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See, I'll usually choose the vid. And I'll be completely honest and say that one of the reasons is the time commitment involved, since I'm so time poor. I can watch a vid and post feedback way quicker than I can read most fics. And the second reason is my squeemishness at poor writing--I'm less sensitive to poor vids, so there's not so much of a 'risk' factor. I sound like a terrible snob, I'm sure!
But I'd be interested to know why you don't like vids as much...? Is it because you're very word-oriented? Or you don't have that need for connection to music and/or image for emotional catharsis?
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And I'd say that I'm not image oriented at all. As you know, I had one icon for almost two years, and frankly I rarely *noticed* other people's icons until I started making them myself--and I'm still more likely to notice an icon with good text than one that is purely visual. Also, since I know the source material for SV so well I almost always know where the clips are from and how they're being manipulated, which often throws me out of the vid. And there are really a limited number of Clexy shots, and they get re-used so much that it lessens the emotional impact for me.
This is not to say that I haven't seen vids that moved me, or that I found cathartic, because I have. But in general I prefer fic.
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Thanks for explaining. It helps me understand the flipside of my own experience.
it rarely takes me more than 15 minutes to read a story
Ah. Yes, I am a fast reader too, but only if the writing flows well. I have this hideous handicap when it comes to poorly constructed prose. I actually slow down. My 'edit' brain kicks in and I start correcting the grammar and composing author queries... it's hideous! You'd think it would be logical for a fast reader to read unsophisticated prose faster, but not with me. WOE! (seriously, I would love to change this about myself)
I'd say that I'm not image oriented at allI guessed that about you. And it fascinates me that I would have thought I was like you. I've always been a natural 'text' person. I've always been drawn to words. When we travelled to Spain when I was a toddler, I revealed that I could read by reading out brand names I recognised ('Coca-cola' was my first 'read' word apparently--what an indictment of the twentieth century!). I'm sure this was because I didn' ( ... )
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(Don't tell anyone, but I tried to make an icon myself the other day... O.O It was a nervewracking but fascinating experience!)
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I got Gimp. I likes Gimp, I think, though it's ways are still mysterious to me... I have created a total of two icons, neither of which I am satisfied with. But it's a start! For a K of small visual literacy, it felt good. *dopey grin*
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The best GIMP tutorial I've found is this one, just for it's step-by-stepness: http://cryptictac.livejournal.com/55598.html
For a more basic introduction to the various tools, go here:
http://learn.lowtech.org/gimp/
This is another good one, though less about icons and more about just figuring out the various features of GIMP: http://forums.nintendo.com/nintendo/board/message?board.id=techsupport&message.id=205758
The GIMP community is helpful, though it was fairly low traffic, last time I checked. It is here: http://community.livejournal.com/gimp_users/
Most of the stuff you find in icon_tutorial is oriented to Photoshop or PSP, but once you figure out the basics you can still get some ideas from that community, and they do have a few GIMP ( ... )
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