You should read the whole thread - it's a great discussion!

__________________
DianneRigdon.com

actually, after posting, I did - and it didn't change my opinion.

__________________
My SBB Gallery

My Photo Gallery

Thanks SBB!

Great!

__________________
DianneRigdon.com

so, let me understand you... you only want to have an opinion if it comes from an expert?
I may not be an expert in alot of thing.. music, scrapbooking, etc...but I know what I like, and if there is a small part of it I do know something about, I am not going to say "well, hey, I'm not an expert so forget my opinion". I think everyone's opinion is valuable in a cross section.

__________________
My SBB Gallery

My Photo Gallery

Thanks SBB!

what would be very helpful for me (because I do have a fragile ego, yet I really want to improve) is maybe a thread that is stickied where any scrapper could post "tips." Maybe things like how to size photos so that Uncle Richard doesn't look 3 feet wider than he really is. For example, one thing I learned along the way is not to put script fonts in all caps. If someone does it, it doesn't mean they are wrong or bad, but for readibility sake, a script should be upper and lower. Also people who know about typography could post tips on kerning. You know, stuff like that.

I think anyone, expert or not, should be able to post to this thread, even if it is just a matter of design style.

To add my two cents, I agree with Shabby Princess, who always finds something specifically nice to say about a layout. I know I've enjoyed her "warm fuzzies" (my term for compliments), even when I think my layouts stink. Although I haven't for the past few days, I do try to go through the gallery and post nice comments on layouts. It makes me feel so good to get them and I hope I can do the same for someone else. If I don't like it, I'm not going to say I like it and lie, but I can always find something specific about the layout that I like. I can say that for every layout I've seen on this site. All I can say is there are a bunch of you that I want to be when I grow up.

Deb

nope: anyone is ok with me :that is not the point I know there might be some that would be hurt and not post or upload for fear, but it is so nice here. I think all is not afraid to try, try , try.
at one time in my life it would do me harm for someone :anyone to critique me,
now no. I have learn to take the bad with the good. very rare is it good lol
for I am a very slowwwwwwww learner.
would like the help,
help is hard to come by for me, for I do not know the right questions to ask so learn from other's when they ask the questions,
Took me 3 weeks just to learn to upload, took me two week to learn where the new thread is, so you see, I am doing most on my own and will get it wrong but will watch you all and learn learn learn,
I also learn to speed scrap today, so am gaining.
I like all what is going on here: so bring the critique on
I will love the help.

I am relatively new here and joined because I wanted to learn. There are all ranges of talent from beginners to professional graphic artists and photographers and each of them have their own style! I enjoy looking at the layouts that are posted because I get a lot of ideas to try.

This place is a wonderful place to be because everyone is so positive and willing to share! I think sending a private message under certain circumstances would be OK.

(A while back I posted a layout in another club. On that page there was a.....t that (space inbetween)....I hadn't noticed. Even spell check in the program didn't catch it but a kind person informed me about it by way of email. I couldn't change it because I had saved it in a jpg. It made me aware that I should save in png as well as jpg. It also made me aware that I should double and triple check the spelling).

I think a tip section would be a way to help newbies and be vague about it without them feeling personally attacked. I also think it's ok to critique a layout IF they ask for it , sometimes realizing that it is walking a fine line....

Ooohh this is a tough one for me! As a teacher [not of scrapping!] it is still in my basic nature to guide and offer advice. I know how to employ tact, but never-the-less, just the very act of saying something like... 'did you consider placing this photo here?' or 'this photo is great, could you draw more attention to it?' or whatever, will alert the poster to the fact you are being critical. Many of us are so proud of our own efforts and may not want to hear critical.

Part of the skill of scrapping is to develop our own eye for what looks good. The criticism to me, is not so much disturbing because it applies to my layout, but rather, I take it as a indictment that my own design eye is lacking something. Since I very much want to know my abilities to discern what is aesthetic pleasing is important to me, I would not enjoy knowing I perhaps got it wrong. On the flipside - sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder and who is to say I did get it wrong just because someone else says so?

I have to resist the temptation to critique when not asked to - and I am able to hold back. Man, my first layouts are just terrible, awful, horrid when compared to my recent ones but it was up to ME to figure this out, and figure out WHY. That is part of becoming a good scrapper - developing your own eye for beauty and finding out what you feel is important. I appreciate the fact I received nice, specific praise during this time. It encouraged me and pleased me. I was able to build on that praise and improve.

I have bought many scrapping mags and books and I know that these have helped me improve soooooooo much as have reading tutorials people have written. Perhaps a general post in the forums might be helpful like: "to all of those of us who find doing xyz so difficult, check out this tutorial!" or 'there was an article on balance in this book/ezine and it helped me fix up a layout I was working on! Check it out it might work for you too!" For me, this would scratch my critique itch without making any particular poster feel bad.

Finally, re comments in general:
So what don't I like? I don't like vague comments: 'this is great' [what is specifically?] however, I still appreciate people taking the time to comment. I also don't like when people comment without reading my descriptions of what I was trying to achieve or show with my layout. I once got a comment like 'I love xyz' where xyz was the only part of the layout I personally did not do [like a colour scheme challenge].

What do I like? Specific comments have helped me improve dramatically. They are to me, a way of critiquing a layout and saying something positive simultaneously. For example, "I love the way you highlighted the main photo" will alert the poster to the fact that a focal point on their page was a great asset to the layout. Or "great choice using xyz kit with these photos" will alert the poster to the fact that you like what they did with the layout, and not just you like xyz's work.

Sorry for the ramble! it is 5am here in Melbourne and I'm still on Vancouver time! LOL
Great thread!

__________________
Jacqueline
Kitty and Baby Mama
My Gallery