Tutorial - How To Credit Icons
LiveJournal Users - When using my icons as your user pics, I ask for one of either of these options of crediting:
Option 1 - Userpic Keywords: Listing a description with (eyesthatslay) added in.
Option 2 - Userpic Comments: Listing (eyesthatslay). In this option, you can also use lj user tags to create a link to my journal if you wish. Example: <*lj user="eyesthatslay"/lj*> (remove the *'s from the example, for use)
(Picture Tutorial - How To Credit Icons at LiveJournal)
I consider either of these options appropriate crediting for LiveJournal User Pic usage. Thank you to those who take the time to do either one, it is greatly appreciated. :)
The following information & tutorial is to help:
- Those who don't know how to keep track of who they've saved icons from, making credit difficult later.
- Those who don't understand why they should give icon credit when asked.
- Those who don't know how to give credit.
- Those who want to re-distribute/showcase icons at Xanga or another icon journal/site.
- Those who are having trouble getting credited for their icon work.
How to save icons, for correct crediting later:
Here are a couple of ways to save icons that make it easy to keep track of who made them.
Option 1: When you see a maker that has icons that you want to save, make a new folder on your computer, and name it the icon maker's name. Then whenever you save icons from that person, just save them to their folder. When you use them later, you'll know exactly who made them, and will be able to credit correctly. (This is the system I like to use when I save, and use other maker's icons)
Option 2: When you save icons on your computer, you are always asked to name the file. You can make the icon maker's name part of the file name.
Why we ask for credit:
Icon makers may not always own the screencaps, or photograph base images ourselves, but sometimes we request credit for the work we put into preparing those images into the finished icons. I've used some of my own personal photos, and I've paid for some of my stock images, which is another reason I ask for credit. I provide a list of my icon resources to give references to where I obtained stock images, screencaps, brushes, programs and other items I use in the process of making my icons & graphics.
It takes work to make icons. It takes time to find images, and in my case - money - to pay for stock images. It takes time to make screencaps. There are often many different steps to get to the finished icon. These steps can include, cropping, tinting, sharpening, shading, animation, textures, layers, brushes, gradients, light effects, text, etc. It takes time to set up an icon post to share with others. It can also cost money for icon makers who, like me, pay for the webspace to upload icons for sharing. In exchange, all I request is credit when my icons are used. Please respect the effort made in creating, and sharing icons and give credit when asked.
Crediting is also an easy way for other people to find icon makers working in a style or theme they might like. Credited icons are like mini advertisments, directing people to the icon maker. Many users will see an icon being used by someone else and like it. They will often look at the other person's User Pic Page to see who's been credited, so they can go and browse the icon maker's offerings. I've had many people tell me they found my journal though someone else using and crediting one of my icons that caught their eye.
How to give credit for icons used at LiveJournal:
You've saved some icons you want to use, and you've made sure to note who made them. Now, how do you upload them for use in your LiveJournal, and how do you give credit? It's very easy! Just click the link below for step by step tutorial.
(Picture Tutorial - How To Credit Icons at LiveJournal)
How do I give credit for icons I want to re-distribute at Xanga or another icon journal/site?
I personally don't want any of my icons re-distributed or showcased anywhere other than my LiveJournal, and website. However, some icon artists do allow re-distribution.
1. Leave a comment or send an email to the icon artist requesting permission to re-distribute or showcase their icons. It's a common courtesy, and good netiquette.
2. Don't hotlink. Ever. Don't direct link, remote link, or copy the URL's of artist's icons. Click here for more information on hotlinking, and for a list of free image hosting providers.
3. Give credit clearly. Take the time to properly save the icons with the artist's name attached for proper crediting.
4. Let your subscribers know that credit is required if any icons are re-distributed from your Xanga or icon journal. Be responsible when showcasing other people's icon work.
My icons are being used or re-distributed without credit or permission. What can I do?
1. Try emailing or leaving a courteous comment to the person letting them know you'd appreciate credit for your icons, or would like them removed. Sometimes they don't know how to credit, or that it is wrong to not give it when asked, or don't realize they need permission, and will quickly correct the situation when asked nicely. Unfortunately, you will run into the person who just doesn't care, and will refuse to credit you/remove them even when you ask. Some people will react very rudely to even the most courteous request for credit/removal. The next suggestion is a solution to that problem.
2.Consider putting your user name and/or small watermark on every icon you make for sharing. I'm currently tagging all the icons with my user name as a last resort against those that refuse to give credit. It's the easiest way for people to see that you've made the icon, and may deter those that won't credit, and tend to hotlink icons. It's the digital version of cattle branding...they slap one of my "branded" icons somewhere without crediting, then the whole world knows they didn't do the work. Plus, it makes it really easy for other people to spot your hotlinked icons and give you a heads up. We've got some really good people in these online communites, that believe in looking out for one another.
I've made every effort to politely explain why these requests are important to me in this post. If there is something you still don't understand after reading this tutorial, please ask, I'll be glad to help. If you disagree with my reasons, that's fine too, but please don't leave snide comments, or try to play "devils advocate" here. Simply find another icon maker that suits you. If you think these requests are too much to ask, then by all means, you don't have to use my icons, there are many other icon makers out there. Discourteous comments will be deleted, so please don't bother.
Click the following link for a post of mine with more information on hotlinking.
Hotlinking: Why It Is Wrong - Finding & Stopping It
Option 1 - Userpic Keywords: Listing a description with (eyesthatslay) added in.
Option 2 - Userpic Comments: Listing (eyesthatslay). In this option, you can also use lj user tags to create a link to my journal if you wish. Example: <*lj user="eyesthatslay"/lj*> (remove the *'s from the example, for use)
(Picture Tutorial - How To Credit Icons at LiveJournal)
I consider either of these options appropriate crediting for LiveJournal User Pic usage. Thank you to those who take the time to do either one, it is greatly appreciated. :)
The following information & tutorial is to help:
- Those who don't know how to keep track of who they've saved icons from, making credit difficult later.
- Those who don't understand why they should give icon credit when asked.
- Those who don't know how to give credit.
- Those who want to re-distribute/showcase icons at Xanga or another icon journal/site.
- Those who are having trouble getting credited for their icon work.
How to save icons, for correct crediting later:
Here are a couple of ways to save icons that make it easy to keep track of who made them.
Option 1: When you see a maker that has icons that you want to save, make a new folder on your computer, and name it the icon maker's name. Then whenever you save icons from that person, just save them to their folder. When you use them later, you'll know exactly who made them, and will be able to credit correctly. (This is the system I like to use when I save, and use other maker's icons)
Option 2: When you save icons on your computer, you are always asked to name the file. You can make the icon maker's name part of the file name.
Why we ask for credit:
Icon makers may not always own the screencaps, or photograph base images ourselves, but sometimes we request credit for the work we put into preparing those images into the finished icons. I've used some of my own personal photos, and I've paid for some of my stock images, which is another reason I ask for credit. I provide a list of my icon resources to give references to where I obtained stock images, screencaps, brushes, programs and other items I use in the process of making my icons & graphics.
It takes work to make icons. It takes time to find images, and in my case - money - to pay for stock images. It takes time to make screencaps. There are often many different steps to get to the finished icon. These steps can include, cropping, tinting, sharpening, shading, animation, textures, layers, brushes, gradients, light effects, text, etc. It takes time to set up an icon post to share with others. It can also cost money for icon makers who, like me, pay for the webspace to upload icons for sharing. In exchange, all I request is credit when my icons are used. Please respect the effort made in creating, and sharing icons and give credit when asked.
Crediting is also an easy way for other people to find icon makers working in a style or theme they might like. Credited icons are like mini advertisments, directing people to the icon maker. Many users will see an icon being used by someone else and like it. They will often look at the other person's User Pic Page to see who's been credited, so they can go and browse the icon maker's offerings. I've had many people tell me they found my journal though someone else using and crediting one of my icons that caught their eye.
How to give credit for icons used at LiveJournal:
You've saved some icons you want to use, and you've made sure to note who made them. Now, how do you upload them for use in your LiveJournal, and how do you give credit? It's very easy! Just click the link below for step by step tutorial.
(Picture Tutorial - How To Credit Icons at LiveJournal)
How do I give credit for icons I want to re-distribute at Xanga or another icon journal/site?
I personally don't want any of my icons re-distributed or showcased anywhere other than my LiveJournal, and website. However, some icon artists do allow re-distribution.
1. Leave a comment or send an email to the icon artist requesting permission to re-distribute or showcase their icons. It's a common courtesy, and good netiquette.
2. Don't hotlink. Ever. Don't direct link, remote link, or copy the URL's of artist's icons. Click here for more information on hotlinking, and for a list of free image hosting providers.
3. Give credit clearly. Take the time to properly save the icons with the artist's name attached for proper crediting.
4. Let your subscribers know that credit is required if any icons are re-distributed from your Xanga or icon journal. Be responsible when showcasing other people's icon work.
My icons are being used or re-distributed without credit or permission. What can I do?
1. Try emailing or leaving a courteous comment to the person letting them know you'd appreciate credit for your icons, or would like them removed. Sometimes they don't know how to credit, or that it is wrong to not give it when asked, or don't realize they need permission, and will quickly correct the situation when asked nicely. Unfortunately, you will run into the person who just doesn't care, and will refuse to credit you/remove them even when you ask. Some people will react very rudely to even the most courteous request for credit/removal. The next suggestion is a solution to that problem.
2.Consider putting your user name and/or small watermark on every icon you make for sharing. I'm currently tagging all the icons with my user name as a last resort against those that refuse to give credit. It's the easiest way for people to see that you've made the icon, and may deter those that won't credit, and tend to hotlink icons. It's the digital version of cattle branding...they slap one of my "branded" icons somewhere without crediting, then the whole world knows they didn't do the work. Plus, it makes it really easy for other people to spot your hotlinked icons and give you a heads up. We've got some really good people in these online communites, that believe in looking out for one another.
I've made every effort to politely explain why these requests are important to me in this post. If there is something you still don't understand after reading this tutorial, please ask, I'll be glad to help. If you disagree with my reasons, that's fine too, but please don't leave snide comments, or try to play "devils advocate" here. Simply find another icon maker that suits you. If you think these requests are too much to ask, then by all means, you don't have to use my icons, there are many other icon makers out there. Discourteous comments will be deleted, so please don't bother.
Click the following link for a post of mine with more information on hotlinking.
Hotlinking: Why It Is Wrong - Finding & Stopping It