Widening the Gap Between Artists

**Aleema** · 04-28-2004, 12:12 AM

I notice you have a forum for PSP, PS, Macromedia/Flash, and even a forum for other editors.

Isn't this dividing graphic work a little too much? I understand that this is a design forum, but you also suggest that you show off your work in each of the editor forums. This puts a wedge between what is made in different editors, and the people who only know and care about Photoshop are not going to care about who made what in the PaintShop Pro forum. Ultimately, this will hinder critique and expansion of the poster's skill. I'm sure there are plenty of us who visit all of the forums. But it is extremely restricting to graphic artists in search of help. Perhaps I say this because I teach graphic art.

I understand why so many forums were made for just one subject, to make the forum look bigger than it really is. So what I do suggest is that there be a seperate forum for posting work for critique. What you make is what you make, regardless of what program you made it in.

**Christopher** · 04-28-2004, 12:43 AM

I actually think there are too many forums there, period. Having a separate forum for each editor is a bit much IMO. It clutters the main page IMO. I would have collapsed that whole category but I like to keep an eye on the Site Reviews forum. But I'm no graphic artist, so maybe all the separate forums are necessary.

I'd like to see the forums like

Code:

Design and Graphics Talk
--- Site Review and Suggestions
--- Image Editing Software
--- Design-All the Rest
------ Graphics Requests / Contests

Coding / Programming Talk
--- HTML, DHTML and CSS 
--- PHP and MySQL
--- ASP and Access or SQL
--- Coding - All the rest (would include the editors thing)

Site Traffic Talk
--- The Google Forum
--- The Search Engines, Directories or PPC Sites
--- Miscellaneous Site Promotion Discussion

The Webmaster-Talk Marketplace
--- Exchange Links With Other Members
--- Buy and Sell Domains & Domain Discussion
--- Sites For Sale
--- Buy and Sell Ad Space

Let's Talk Money!
--- Affiliate Programs and Affiliate Networks

Forum News and Suggestions
--- Site News and Announcements
--- Site Suggestions & Feedback

Community Talk
--- General (Combination of The Water Cooler / Shoot the Breeze, Jokes, Fun Stuff & a Little Inspiration)
--- New Member Introductions
--- The SPAM Can

Well, just a little more organiszed.

**Aleema** · 04-28-2004, 08:20 AM

But I am a graphic artists and the seperate forums are not necessary. I like your set up, although I prefer the general forums first.

**Giselle** · 05:43 PM

Sorry about that, geesh submit without a message!

I appreciate all the categories on the forum, I am a PSP user, so I can maybe help someone there, but can't help anyone with Photoshop, Corel, Macromedia, ect.

Best Wishes,
Giselle

**Aleema** · 04-28-2004, 08:10 PM

But you can help someone when they post their work for critique, no?

**TimSchroeder** · 04-28-2004, 10:58 PM

We will definitley think all about your suggestions. The new forums our still in there "trial" period

**Giselle** · 04-28-2004, 11:44 PM

You are absolutely right, when someone posts for comments on their website or graphic image, doesn't make any difference whatsoever what software they are using or what software the person who is commenting uses. And they already have forums for critique, perhaps you haven't visited them yet.

If someone wants to know something specific, such as how to use tools, effects or anything else in Photoshop, PSP, Macromedia, Corel, ect., that would be the place to go for help on that specific software. Because each one of these softwares are a bit different.

They have done an excellent job of setting up this forum and have even made improvements since I have joined up. If they want to keep expanding and making it bigger, that's fine with me!

Let's face it, if one should go into a jewelry store and only one ring is on the shelf, how long are you going to stay in that jewelry store, will you ever go back? That also applies to this forum, if there was only a few forums, it would be pretty boring, I surely wouldn't be here. They have it all here, fun and laughter, polls, ect. and hardcore Webmaster education

You teach just Graphic Art, that is only a fraction of what a Webmaster accomplishes when building web pages and this site covers all aspects of what a Webmaster has to learn and accomplish.

**Aleema** · 04-29-2004, 05:21 PM

I may only teach graphic art, but that does not mean I am not a webmaster and understand what a webmaster must go through to establish a successful site. I manage other forums, some for graphics and some for webdesign. I make more websites than I can handle. But I'd be very happy to teach someone to be a webmaster.

I was in no way descrediting the hard work for the administrators here. If we want to bold things for emphasis, I mean it only in the highest respects that you do.

**Christopher** · 04-29-2004, 05:52 PM

If there is to be forums dedicated to specific software, then I ask them to be placed into a different category or subcategory so I can at least collapse them. They take up a lot of space

**Giselle** · 04-29-2004, 06:32 PM

Good for you that you can teach someone to be a Webmaster! As you know Graphic Art is just a small part of being a Webmaster, the reason I emphasized Webmaster is because this is a Webmaster forum which consists of all aspects of being a Webmaster. Actually I do care what people are saying, I want to hear other people's opinions and ideas on softwares, ect., that's why I am a member here at WT. So I hope these new additions won't be a trial and will benefit and help people in these specific softwares.

Your concerns were widening the gap between graphic artists, that isn't true here at WT at all. They already have specific forums for us all to come together to ask for a review on a website or a graphic, I don't think any of us care what software the people who asking for the review are using, I know I don't. Maybe later on I might ask what they are using and have a discussion on the topic which I do find it to be interesting and educational.

They have done an excellent job with this Webmaster forum, it is the best one!

**DaveMo~** · 04-30-2004, 02:44 PM

Lots of good points. We are discussing what should be done with the graphics forums. Keep the suggestions coming.

I think there needs to be a place to ask program specific questions, but there also needs to be a place to ask general graphics questions.

Sidenote: IMO, generally speaking, anyone that has made a website is a webmaster. Granted, there are several different levels of webmastering and I won't attempt to state them all. But it would go from someone using a companies wizard to a straight html developer to those that use it all. I don't classify any one group above the other as it is the site's appeal and functionality that makes it good or bad.

With that said, I wish more webmasters were graphic artists. This may be a small part of the grand scheme, but it is a large part when you want the site to draw the surfers. I agrre that there are some sites that are very functional, but unappealing, others that are appealing, but "dysfuntional", and then there's the ones that work well regardless of whether the webmaster is a hardcore coder or graphic artist. It's the combination that seems to make that best sites.

Dave