anotherronism

Hey folks... I am brand-spanking new around here. I still don't know why I'm so in love with this place. But when I first hit this site last night - I really had no idea at all what it was.

I think an instroduction page with "What We Are" would draw more participants. And, lacking that - at least a help-screen, getting started and FAQ.

For instance. I would really, really like to know if I can edit previous submissions. It appears that I cannot but there's nowhere to go to ask or find out.

If I lose my internet connection three hours into a project is it saved for me or lost?

It would be so, so nice to have a "Save Draft" option.

Can I post a "test picture" and have it "Not Publis"? I don't want to get rated on my "Testing" stuff.

I LOVE this site. I hope I don't burn out on it. And the community here seems especially cool (if not a bit mental heehee).

How often are categories added? I'm pretty good with a computer, digital camera, etc... Could I snap off fifty or so images and submit them as a category? My very first thought is "Electronics" with circuits, LEDs, wires, etc...

I also had the kind of silly thought of "Breakfast" with eggs, bacon, cereal, milk, OJ, toast, etc...

Does anyone know what the specs would be to put together a category? Image type, quality, transperancy, scale??? I really, really would not mind doing this and it'll be a decent job. Someone assign me a project

Anyways - great site. Would love a FAQ though

Thanks,
Ron

autumn

Hi Ron, as far as I know there is no way to edit after you submit except for the title. and if you don't submit they are lost forever.

this is a pretty new site and they are adding things all the time, like this forum. in the past we submitted ideas to the feedback and they are really good about getting it done.

welcome to thinkdraw!

Baldur

Hello Ron,
Welcome Aboard
I've been here for almost 2 months now, and there have been several changes just in that short time, so this site changes as improvements are considered and added.
If you look up above on this very page you will see navigation links: Draw, Gallery, etc, etc FEEDBACK
Go to Feedback if you have a question that needs an official response or if you have a suggestion. I've done that and gotten a response from Rachel Lee who has been quite helpful and does listen to suggestions.

As for your other questions, things cannot be saved to be continued or ammended afterwards. Generally we are respectful if you title your drawing 'no votes please' , but remember we all get to view your outtakes that way. It might be better to not submit these test drawings and rather print them and save a hard copy.
After a while you get to know the regulars who like to 'chat' amongst ourselves, and you get to view the work of the legions who don't communicate much, but quietly post their stuff and pay us no mind.
(Lately there has been an influx of Estonian artists, it's interesting to try to piece together language from the comments they leave for each other.

We have a couple of ongoing sagas that rear their ugly heads from time to time, 'Dr Bear' and 'Her Beloved' come to mind.
You will find these and either be amused or horrified.

You'll learn almost everything there is to know about this site rather quickly, we all did.
There are no posted directions or guidelines, this is really a mental challenge sort of game, part of the fun is learning the ropes.

Take care
Baldurbear

Baldur

+)

cutegrl289

There is actually a short "About" page on ThinkDraw:

http://www.thinkdraw.com/about.php

You can always submit your questions, comments, or suggestions to Rachel Lee on the Feedback form (the last tab at the top). She is very helpful and responds quickly.

The forum here sprouted from months back when we were first able to comment on each other's works. A few of us drew pictures representing the forum on which we wished to talk about certain subjects and discuss ideas with each other. Rachel Lee and the others at ThinkDraw heard our suggestions for a real forum and our wishes have been granted!

Here are a few answers to the questions you may have:

1) Can I edit my pictures after they have been submitted? - No, unfortunately, there is no "draft" phase for picture-making as of yet. You may only edit your title and personal rating for now.

2) Can I add my own category? - It seems there is a new category every couple of months or so. As far as I know, all of the categories (except one) have been created by ThinkDraw administrators like Rachel Lee. The "Animals" theme was submitted and created by user likemee (aka Mike Lee). Other categories may have been suggested by other users, but the final say goes to the ThinkDraw admins.

3) What's with the rating system? - This is a tough one. You may rate 1-5 for any drawing on this site, including your own. A compilation of your entire gallery gives you your overall rating and rank. 1 is the lowest, 5 is the highest. Most of us seem to be in the 4-5 rank. You may only edit the ratings on your own works. You may NOT go back and re-rate someone else's work after you have already rated it. There are some anonymous raters out there who think it is funny to rate very well done and popular works with 1s and 2s just out of spite. Unfortunately, there has not yet been a solution to this "1 Phantom" yet. For a fuller explanation of the ratings, you may visit the discussions in other parts of this forum or search for older pictures on here discussing them through the comments.

Hope this is helpful. Rachel can answer any other questions you may have. Again, welcome and glad to have you here as part of the community!

Baldur

Autumn, where did you find that page? I had searched and searched for something like that when I first signed on
Well that makes life easier LOL
Thanks
B

Qsilv

Baldur - it's tucked down along the bottom left with the ©
; >

anotherronism

Regarding the rating system: I did this piece today, "The Kid", and it was very, very well received. As the day went on I watched the comments and ratings soar. I suddenly found myslef on Page 1 of the "Highest Ratings" page. Needless to say - I was brimming. Then - a friend came over and I was showing her the site. I went to the gallery to "show off" and I am nowhere to be found. I realize now that I had receive fifteen fives and a single four. This dropped my average to 4.94 and I was off the list. I could drop a circle in the middle of a white page and give myself a five and I would beat out my 2 and a half hour work from earlier.

I've read about this in the forums and understand the problem.

But the solution is not complicated at all - just recalculate the score.

There are two "fair" ways I think of right off.

Average rating times number of ratings.

Total of all ratings.

Either way - a "blitzer" would affect your rank but only within a five-point range. They would no longer have the power to simply "kill" you. (And I got "killed" with a four - not a one. And maybe someone really thought I only warranted a four - not saying I was blitzed.") But it is frustrating to watch your work go from number fourteen to number seven-hundred on a single vote. Argh!

Thanks everyone for the feedback.

Ron

anotherronism

Aha! I just went to the "About" page and I finally realized how I found this place. (It's been bugging me!) I had browsed to sudoku.com and saw this link on the side. And viola!

Later,
Ron

Baldur

oh, another Kelly Bundy fan.

Qsilv

dunno from Kelly Bundy, but Websudoku and Jigsawdoku are right up there with caffeine, salt and ibuprofen on my daily "...must...have..." list

marg

I'll go with Qsilv.. and why don't we just ask to get rid of the 'highest rated' altogether ? [sorry, have I saud that before ?]

marg

whoops.. -u +i (thanks, Baldur !)

kmkagle

We all have a "wish list". One wish would be to save projects. I've lost at the very least 3 several hour drawings. Discovered two were lost because of a faulty Ether cable. I discovered this by the process of elimination. I found this site by accident and love it! We all have a wish list -

1. Save Option
2. Copy and paste
3. Rotate
4. Move objects front to back and vice versa

That's all. Then I'm sure we'd want more. We're being left to our resources. If nothing else, using this site exercises our patience! I would love to get to know others here. From the work submitted I have the feeling they are a group of fun loving people. Artists usually are. Maybe on this forum it can happen. Now, I'll say welcome and have fun!

kmkagle

Speaking of loosing...just worked on a picture for 2+ hours...boom, it's gone. I'm sick about it. Also, one part of the Candy venue would not come up after this time, about 1 hr. +. Yesterday I noticed alot of shifting and most of it I noticed after submittal???

Qsilv

Oooooh -- front/back swap?! Cool idea.

Personally I'd sell bits of my soul for "Rotate" in 1 degree increments.

But yes, there are workarounds for everything but a lost connection -- and seeing how many hours some of us wind up putting into this delightful silliness, that SAVE-AS-YOU-GO-ALONG option really is TOP PRIORITY.

autumn

I've always thought a rotate would be great but then I think it would kinda change the idea of think draw....wow can you imagin what some of you could do if you could rotate!

kmkagle

I'm thinking in lines of photo-shop or something but it (rotating, etc.) makes it easier. But, as I said, the way this is set up you need to use your thinking cap! Oh, well...it's wishes. Be careful what you wish for, right?

kmkagle

Also, in reply, they don't want to open a pandora's box. It might take the fun away.

kmkagle

Yes, save as you go is a priority. When you think of all the lost work and time. It breaks my heart. Usually the redraw is not as good as the first drawing.