Hi! I'll be spamming you today.

[_jems_]

So I was checking out this new LJ community called takenote_icons. It's a community for excellent icons and icon makers. I see some of the people on my friends list have already been accepted. But I just don't get their criteria for "good icons". They seem to be constantly complaining about hard to read text (I'd never get in based on that alone!), and then I

Comments

[indiana_jane_]

I don't understand their criteria either. They let in someone who used a blinkie as a sample. A blinkie. Uh no, just no. And wow, did I just sound like and elitist snob or what? I'm having a bad day.

I personally perfer at least semi-legible text, if it's hard to read but I can make it out, that's cool. But I don't really understand the point of it being there if I can't make it out at all. But if the icon is really gorgeous I'll completely overlook it because hey, the style is amazing. And text can be fuzzy/blurry and still be legible...which seemed to be a sticking point for those mods. But I guess that's just my opinion.

[_jems_]

Some people actually seem to like blinkies. I've never come into contact with said people, but it does seem they're out there. Why else would people insist on making them? I think it's a fandom thing, though, because they're much more prevalent in anime and pop group icons.

I have this thing where I sometimes put very tiny text on icons that I make only because I want it on there. Sort of a "I know what it means to me" kind of thing. I just feel that if people can't read it and want to know, they can ask. I do understand the inclination for wanting to be able to read the text though, especially in contest icons. Because in those, the text can sometimes make the difference between a winning and a losing icon.

[corngirl_jo]

I just don't get their criteria for "good icons". They seem to be constantly complaining about hard to read text (I'd never get in based on that alone!), and then I saw that they accepted someone who had icons with the wrong aspect ratio without batting an eyelash.

I'm with you. Wrong aspect ratio makes me cringe. If you're aspiring to be a good icon maker, learn how to crop. It's a basic thing.

[_jems_]

Yeah, and the fact that they'd miss something so basic makes me wonder how good these people really are and who they are to judge...

I *love* your icon - wow.

[fishsanwitt]

Your slow-mo icon of Buffy and Spike is *absolutely amazing*. I'm just sitting here, watching it. I only have icons b/c my friends took pit on me and made them for me :) I need that book 'Icons for Dummies'!

Re: I *love* your icon - wow.

[_jems_]

Thank you! If you want to use it you're welcome to it, I put it up for sharing in a post the other day. It's located here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/_jems_/64032.html#cutid3 in case you want to check out the other ones.

And have you ever tried looking for icons in some icon communities? There are some great ones, especially in the Buffy fandom: buffy_icons, spuffyicons and spike_icons just to name a few. Just don't forget to comment if you take any icons, and credit if the icon maker wants you to. =)

Re: I *love* your icon - wow.

[fishsanwitt]

Thank you so much for the icon listings :) And thanks for figuring out that 'pit' meant 'pity'!

My friend made a couple of icons for me, but I like sticking with one - so I had a 'Smashed' one for the longest time, until she made me the one I use now - with my nickname :)

I might just join the spuffyicons :)

I was trawling the LJ today and I think I clicked onto a friend (?) of yours - heather 13? I went to *her* LJ, read a bit :) - then went to her fiction. It's wonderful.

I just wanted to say how glad I am I found you - through yet *another* LJ friend, whose name I cannot remember for the life of me! And, through your LJ, heather 13 :)

Re: I *love* your icon - wow.

[_jems_]

Hee, I friended heather13 for her excellent icons, I guess I'll have to check out her fanfic now.

If you want to learn how to make icons there are several tutorials floating around out there, as well as a community which I think is called icon_tutorial. Icon-making is really fun, you should give it a try. The trick is to have a good graphics program.

[fritters]

Hi!! Dropped in in the hopes of finding an icon journal so I can see all your spiffy Farscape icons! Don't find one, so I'm asking, is there anyplace I can go to see them all?

[_jems_]

Sorry, I don't have an icon journal, the posts are all mixed up with my regular posts. Don't have a web page either, I haven't been doing this for very long.

I don't think you have to go back very far though, I've only made Farscape icons a short while.

[fritters]

Crappity....

Thanks for the reply!

[swedishmistress]

Hey y'all, it made me feel like crap for a bit because I did see the other icons and some did need more improvement. My friend told me to join some icon community so I tried out that one and I see how much I dislike these types of communities. I would much rather have one that offers tutorials and suggestions so people can improve rather than feel like they aren't good enough. This post has made my day. :P Thanks!

[_jems_]

I'm so glad. I thought you'd appreciate knowing that there are people who loved the icons you posted. And pretty good icon-makers too. dtissagirl and moobytooby both brought up the community in posts of their own today in case you wanted to check out what they had to say. =)