FAQ
[ claims | faq | banners ]
Frequently Asked Questions
1. The process | 2. The picture | 3. The icons | 4. The posts
1. The process: application, approval, banners
How do I claim?
Can I have more than one claim at the same time?
Is there a limit to how many claims I can do?
Do I have to wait for my banner until I can claim my next picture?
I've lost my claim information. What do I do now?
My claim was approved, but I can't post my icons to the community. Why is that?
I won't be able to finish my claim in time. What do I need to do?
I forgot to/couldn't request an extension and my claim is gone. Can I retrieve it?
I decided/am unable to finish my claim. Is there anything I need to do?
2. The picture: subject, size, spoilers
What can I claim?
What do you consider a spoiler and what do I need to do if my image is spoilerish?
Can I claim a subject/picture someone has done before?
Can I claim a subject/picture someone is doing at the moment?
Can I claim the same subject/picture twice?
Photobucket resized my image. Can I still use it?
3. The icons: the sets, alternatives
If my pic contains more than one person/character, do I have to include everybody in every icon?
Am I allowed to post alternatives?
Can I make the set before I claim the pic?
Can I include old icons in my set?
Are we allowed to make a set choosing rules from both set of rules?
4. The posts: moderation queue, subject lines, lj-cuts
I posted my icons to the community. Why can't I find the post?
How do I make a pretty icon table?
What should my subject line look like?
Can I post these icons in my personal/icon journal as well?
I don't know what a real LJ-cut is or how to make one. Please help me?
My post was rejected. What do I need to do now?
I tried to post my icons to the community and got the error message "maximum queued posts for this community+poster combination reached". What does that mean?
1. The process: application, approval, banners
General info
+ How do I claim?
Make sure you have read the rules in the userinfo. Then simply reply to the claims list with the appropriate form filled out. If this is your first claim, please also join the community.
( back to top)
+ Can I have more than one claim at the same time?
We encourage you to finish your claim before you start the next one. However, at the moment there is no rule that forbids you to claim more than one image at the same time. Please note, however, that you'll have to wait until your post is approved by a moderator before you can submit your next post to the community.
( back to top)
+ Is there a limit to how many claims I can do?
No, there is no limit on your creativity. Go wild! :D
( back to top)
+ Do I have to wait for my banner until I can claim my next picture?
Technically, your claim counts as completed as soon as you have posted your icons in the community and replied to the completed list. You therefore don't have to wait for your banner before you can claim the next picture. (And we allow multiple claims at the same time anyways.)
( back to top)
For other questions regarding claims, please also read the next section.
Troubleshooting
+ I've lost my claim information. What do I do now?
If you haven't posted your icons to the community yet, your original comment should still be at the claims list. Simply go back and find it. The approval comment has your claim information in it. If you can't find your original comment, please reply to the claims list with your problem.
( back to top)
+ My claim was approved, but I can't post my icons to the community. Why is that?
If you can't post your icons, you have not yet been granted posting access in this community. This might occur either because of a mistake on our side (usually the access get granted along with the claims, but every now and then someone slips the net) or because you forgot to join the community. Either way, please join the community and reply to your approval comment at the claims list with your problem, and we'll grant you access as soon as possible.
Please be aware that the community is on moderated status, so your posts might take a while to be processed.
( back to top)
+ I won't be able to finish my claim in time. What do I need to do?
Please reply to your claim comment at the claims list and either request an extension, or tell us you won't finish the claim so we can delete it.
( back to top)
+ I forgot to/couldn't request an extension and my claim is gone. Can I retrieve it?
No, once a claim is deleted it is gone. If you still want to finish your claim, simply reply to the claims list and claim your image again. You are allowed to use any icons you've already made for the claim.
( back to top)
+ I decided/am unable to finish my claim. Is there anything I need to do?
If your claim has been approved, please go back to the claims list, find your original comment and reply to the approval comment with a quick note that you do not want to finish your claim. This way we can properly delete it.
If your claim hasn't been approved yet, simply go back to the claims list and delete your comment.
( back to top)
2. The picture: subject, size, spoilers
General info
+ What can I claim?
To sum it up: any picture you'd like whenever you want to. There are only two restrictions.
1) If your image contains a spoiler, you must warn us. For further information please see the next question.
2) If you choose a fanart/manip/drawing from another person, you need the artist's explicit permission to use it and you'll need to credit them in your post in the community. (Obviously you won't be able to ask artists like Rembrandt or Andy Warhol.)
Please be aware, though, that your picture needs to be at least 250 pixels x 120 pixels large.
( back to top)
+ What do you consider a spoiler and what do I need to do if my image is spoilerish?
Any picture that gives something away about plot or important casting developments of the subject/category that might spoil the viewing/reading experience for someone who hasn't seen/read it yet, is spoilerish. (So a picture of Romeo dying in some Shakespear production of Romeo and Juliet would have to be marked spoilerish, if the story weren't so widely known.)
Please be precise in informing us of any possible spoilers when you submit your claim, since we mods are people who don't like to get spoiled. We will then inform you if and to what extent you should warn for spoilers when you post your icons and comment to the completed list. For example, it might happen if your image contains major spoilers for the latest season of a TV show airing in the U.S., you will be asked to ensure a non-spoilerish preview image when you post your icons. Please be sure to state clearly in your post and comment to the completed list that your image contains spoilers.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim a subject/picture someone has done before?
Yes, we do not restrict the number of times a particular subject/picture can be done.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim a subject/picture someone is doing at the moment?
Yes, you do not have to wait for someone to finish their claim before you can claim the same subject/picture.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim the same subject/picture twice?
You can. However, you should be aware that if you choose the same picture again, the new set has to differ visibly from the old one, and not just be slight variations of it. (e.g. if you do a set in all blue, doing the same set in all red would kinda defeat the purpose of this challenge, making new icons in all red would be fine.) We now offer a second rules set you might like to try out.
( back to top)
Troubleshooting
+ Photobucket resized my image. Can I still use it?
No. The image you submit must have the dimensions of the image you are going to use. Please upload your image to a personal server or free image hosting service (for example imageshack or tinypic) that do not resize your photos.
( back to top)
3. The icons: the set, alternatives
General info
+ If my pic contains more than one person/character, do I have to include everybody in every icon?
No. The rule is that in each icon you have to be able to recognize your original image, but there is no rule that says you cannot crop persons/characters out of the icons. Often rule #1 will even make it impossible for you to include all persons/characters in the icon.
( back to top)
+ Am I allowed to post alternatives?
The set you post must contain ten icons, no more, no less. This means you have to choose one icon for each rule to be in your set. However, you are allowed to post alernatives as extras underneath your set, as long as they are alternatives to a specific rule. Meaning if you have cropped your original image for rule #1 in two different ways, you need to decide on one icon to use it in your set, but can post the second as an alternative for #1. You are asked to not post extra icons from the picture that haven't been made for a specific rule and try not to post more than two alternatives for a specific rule.
( back to top)
+ Can I make the set before I claim the pic?
Yes, you can. It is common for people to first try out the picture before you actually claim it, because sometimes you will find that although a picture looks great, it'll be actually very difficult to make ten different icons from it. Sometimes you will also have to wait a few days for claim approval, but we don't want to hold you back, so you can start doing your icons before you get approved. We have no rule prohibiting the posting of premade icon sets, so long as all the icons in the set were created specifically for this challenge. There's no way of us knowing it anyways. ;)
( back to top)
+ Can I include old icons in my set?
No. All icons you make must be new and created specifically for this challenge.
( back to top)
+ Are we allowed to make a set choosing rules from both set of rules?
No. You have to decide on one set of rules when you make your icon set. It is not possible to make for example the first five of the set according to the first set of rules, and the second five according to the second set of rules. However, you are allowed to claim the same image twice and complete both set of rules.
( back to top)
4. The posts: moderation queue, subject lines, lj-cuts
General info
+ I posted my icons to the community. Why can't I find the post?
The community has gone to moderated status. This means your post will be submitted into the moderation queue. It will then be checked by one of our moderators, and, if approved, posted to the community. If you've ignored our posting guidelines in your post completely, it might happen that your post will be rejected. You will then recieve a notification email from livejournal with a comment from one of our moderators why your post was rejected.
If you have not recieved such an email and your post hasn't appeared in the community after a few days, please contact one of the moderators.
( back to top)
+ How do I make a pretty icon table?
One way would be to learn HTML (you never know when it might come in handy ;), but for all those who don't want to put quite so much effort into coding their post, there are icon table generators out there, for example this one by 77words or this one by eveningsky.
( back to top)
+ What should my subject line look like?
Your subject line should be in the format "Category: Sub-Category: Subject" (preferably Subject as "Last Name, First Name" if applicable). You have been provided your claim information when your claim was approved. If you have for some reason lost this information, please read this question.
( back to top)
+ Can I post these icons in my personal/icon journal as well?
Yes, of course. While we do not allow fake-cuts, we have no rule prohibiting cross-posting. We would like you to post your icons here in the community once, but apart from that you are free to post them wherever you like.
( back to top)
Troubleshooting
+ I don't know what a real LJ-cut is or how to make one. Please help me?
Please view the Livejournal FAQ on this question.
( back to top)
+ My post was rejected. What do I need to do now?
If your post was rejected, this means something was substantially wrong with your post. Please read our posting guidelines and resubmit your icons in a format according to our guidelines. In your rejection notification you should have found a comment from one of our moderators specifying the reasons why your post was rejected.
( back to top)
+ I tried to post my icons to the community and got the error message "maximum queued posts for this community+poster combination reached". What does that mean?
This means you've tried to submit a post while there's still one of your posts in the queue for this community. Posting in this community is moderated, which means all posts will have to be approved by a moderator before they appear in the community. LJ does not allow you to have multiple posts in the queue waiting to be approved. Please wait until a moderator has approved your post before you post your next one in the community.
( back to top)
Frequently Asked Questions
1. The process | 2. The picture | 3. The icons | 4. The posts
1. The process: application, approval, banners
How do I claim?
Can I have more than one claim at the same time?
Is there a limit to how many claims I can do?
Do I have to wait for my banner until I can claim my next picture?
I've lost my claim information. What do I do now?
My claim was approved, but I can't post my icons to the community. Why is that?
I won't be able to finish my claim in time. What do I need to do?
I forgot to/couldn't request an extension and my claim is gone. Can I retrieve it?
I decided/am unable to finish my claim. Is there anything I need to do?
2. The picture: subject, size, spoilers
What can I claim?
What do you consider a spoiler and what do I need to do if my image is spoilerish?
Can I claim a subject/picture someone has done before?
Can I claim a subject/picture someone is doing at the moment?
Can I claim the same subject/picture twice?
Photobucket resized my image. Can I still use it?
3. The icons: the sets, alternatives
If my pic contains more than one person/character, do I have to include everybody in every icon?
Am I allowed to post alternatives?
Can I make the set before I claim the pic?
Can I include old icons in my set?
Are we allowed to make a set choosing rules from both set of rules?
4. The posts: moderation queue, subject lines, lj-cuts
I posted my icons to the community. Why can't I find the post?
How do I make a pretty icon table?
What should my subject line look like?
Can I post these icons in my personal/icon journal as well?
I don't know what a real LJ-cut is or how to make one. Please help me?
My post was rejected. What do I need to do now?
I tried to post my icons to the community and got the error message "maximum queued posts for this community+poster combination reached". What does that mean?
1. The process: application, approval, banners
General info
+ How do I claim?
Make sure you have read the rules in the userinfo. Then simply reply to the claims list with the appropriate form filled out. If this is your first claim, please also join the community.
( back to top)
+ Can I have more than one claim at the same time?
We encourage you to finish your claim before you start the next one. However, at the moment there is no rule that forbids you to claim more than one image at the same time. Please note, however, that you'll have to wait until your post is approved by a moderator before you can submit your next post to the community.
( back to top)
+ Is there a limit to how many claims I can do?
No, there is no limit on your creativity. Go wild! :D
( back to top)
+ Do I have to wait for my banner until I can claim my next picture?
Technically, your claim counts as completed as soon as you have posted your icons in the community and replied to the completed list. You therefore don't have to wait for your banner before you can claim the next picture. (And we allow multiple claims at the same time anyways.)
( back to top)
For other questions regarding claims, please also read the next section.
Troubleshooting
+ I've lost my claim information. What do I do now?
If you haven't posted your icons to the community yet, your original comment should still be at the claims list. Simply go back and find it. The approval comment has your claim information in it. If you can't find your original comment, please reply to the claims list with your problem.
( back to top)
+ My claim was approved, but I can't post my icons to the community. Why is that?
If you can't post your icons, you have not yet been granted posting access in this community. This might occur either because of a mistake on our side (usually the access get granted along with the claims, but every now and then someone slips the net) or because you forgot to join the community. Either way, please join the community and reply to your approval comment at the claims list with your problem, and we'll grant you access as soon as possible.
Please be aware that the community is on moderated status, so your posts might take a while to be processed.
( back to top)
+ I won't be able to finish my claim in time. What do I need to do?
Please reply to your claim comment at the claims list and either request an extension, or tell us you won't finish the claim so we can delete it.
( back to top)
+ I forgot to/couldn't request an extension and my claim is gone. Can I retrieve it?
No, once a claim is deleted it is gone. If you still want to finish your claim, simply reply to the claims list and claim your image again. You are allowed to use any icons you've already made for the claim.
( back to top)
+ I decided/am unable to finish my claim. Is there anything I need to do?
If your claim has been approved, please go back to the claims list, find your original comment and reply to the approval comment with a quick note that you do not want to finish your claim. This way we can properly delete it.
If your claim hasn't been approved yet, simply go back to the claims list and delete your comment.
( back to top)
2. The picture: subject, size, spoilers
General info
+ What can I claim?
To sum it up: any picture you'd like whenever you want to. There are only two restrictions.
1) If your image contains a spoiler, you must warn us. For further information please see the next question.
2) If you choose a fanart/manip/drawing from another person, you need the artist's explicit permission to use it and you'll need to credit them in your post in the community. (Obviously you won't be able to ask artists like Rembrandt or Andy Warhol.)
Please be aware, though, that your picture needs to be at least 250 pixels x 120 pixels large.
( back to top)
+ What do you consider a spoiler and what do I need to do if my image is spoilerish?
Any picture that gives something away about plot or important casting developments of the subject/category that might spoil the viewing/reading experience for someone who hasn't seen/read it yet, is spoilerish. (So a picture of Romeo dying in some Shakespear production of Romeo and Juliet would have to be marked spoilerish, if the story weren't so widely known.)
Please be precise in informing us of any possible spoilers when you submit your claim, since we mods are people who don't like to get spoiled. We will then inform you if and to what extent you should warn for spoilers when you post your icons and comment to the completed list. For example, it might happen if your image contains major spoilers for the latest season of a TV show airing in the U.S., you will be asked to ensure a non-spoilerish preview image when you post your icons. Please be sure to state clearly in your post and comment to the completed list that your image contains spoilers.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim a subject/picture someone has done before?
Yes, we do not restrict the number of times a particular subject/picture can be done.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim a subject/picture someone is doing at the moment?
Yes, you do not have to wait for someone to finish their claim before you can claim the same subject/picture.
( back to top)
+ Can I claim the same subject/picture twice?
You can. However, you should be aware that if you choose the same picture again, the new set has to differ visibly from the old one, and not just be slight variations of it. (e.g. if you do a set in all blue, doing the same set in all red would kinda defeat the purpose of this challenge, making new icons in all red would be fine.) We now offer a second rules set you might like to try out.
( back to top)
Troubleshooting
+ Photobucket resized my image. Can I still use it?
No. The image you submit must have the dimensions of the image you are going to use. Please upload your image to a personal server or free image hosting service (for example imageshack or tinypic) that do not resize your photos.
( back to top)
3. The icons: the set, alternatives
General info
+ If my pic contains more than one person/character, do I have to include everybody in every icon?
No. The rule is that in each icon you have to be able to recognize your original image, but there is no rule that says you cannot crop persons/characters out of the icons. Often rule #1 will even make it impossible for you to include all persons/characters in the icon.
( back to top)
+ Am I allowed to post alternatives?
The set you post must contain ten icons, no more, no less. This means you have to choose one icon for each rule to be in your set. However, you are allowed to post alernatives as extras underneath your set, as long as they are alternatives to a specific rule. Meaning if you have cropped your original image for rule #1 in two different ways, you need to decide on one icon to use it in your set, but can post the second as an alternative for #1. You are asked to not post extra icons from the picture that haven't been made for a specific rule and try not to post more than two alternatives for a specific rule.
( back to top)
+ Can I make the set before I claim the pic?
Yes, you can. It is common for people to first try out the picture before you actually claim it, because sometimes you will find that although a picture looks great, it'll be actually very difficult to make ten different icons from it. Sometimes you will also have to wait a few days for claim approval, but we don't want to hold you back, so you can start doing your icons before you get approved. We have no rule prohibiting the posting of premade icon sets, so long as all the icons in the set were created specifically for this challenge. There's no way of us knowing it anyways. ;)
( back to top)
+ Can I include old icons in my set?
No. All icons you make must be new and created specifically for this challenge.
( back to top)
+ Are we allowed to make a set choosing rules from both set of rules?
No. You have to decide on one set of rules when you make your icon set. It is not possible to make for example the first five of the set according to the first set of rules, and the second five according to the second set of rules. However, you are allowed to claim the same image twice and complete both set of rules.
( back to top)
4. The posts: moderation queue, subject lines, lj-cuts
General info
+ I posted my icons to the community. Why can't I find the post?
The community has gone to moderated status. This means your post will be submitted into the moderation queue. It will then be checked by one of our moderators, and, if approved, posted to the community. If you've ignored our posting guidelines in your post completely, it might happen that your post will be rejected. You will then recieve a notification email from livejournal with a comment from one of our moderators why your post was rejected.
If you have not recieved such an email and your post hasn't appeared in the community after a few days, please contact one of the moderators.
( back to top)
+ How do I make a pretty icon table?
One way would be to learn HTML (you never know when it might come in handy ;), but for all those who don't want to put quite so much effort into coding their post, there are icon table generators out there, for example this one by 77words or this one by eveningsky.
( back to top)
+ What should my subject line look like?
Your subject line should be in the format "Category: Sub-Category: Subject" (preferably Subject as "Last Name, First Name" if applicable). You have been provided your claim information when your claim was approved. If you have for some reason lost this information, please read this question.
( back to top)
+ Can I post these icons in my personal/icon journal as well?
Yes, of course. While we do not allow fake-cuts, we have no rule prohibiting cross-posting. We would like you to post your icons here in the community once, but apart from that you are free to post them wherever you like.
( back to top)
Troubleshooting
+ I don't know what a real LJ-cut is or how to make one. Please help me?
Please view the Livejournal FAQ on this question.
( back to top)
+ My post was rejected. What do I need to do now?
If your post was rejected, this means something was substantially wrong with your post. Please read our posting guidelines and resubmit your icons in a format according to our guidelines. In your rejection notification you should have found a comment from one of our moderators specifying the reasons why your post was rejected.
( back to top)
+ I tried to post my icons to the community and got the error message "maximum queued posts for this community+poster combination reached". What does that mean?
This means you've tried to submit a post while there's still one of your posts in the queue for this community. Posting in this community is moderated, which means all posts will have to be approved by a moderator before they appear in the community. LJ does not allow you to have multiple posts in the queue waiting to be approved. Please wait until a moderator has approved your post before you post your next one in the community.
( back to top)