I have such a hard time with this. Let me start by saying I'm SO far from perfect and if there was anything in my layouts that could be fixed, I'd appreciate someone telling me.

Now for my question. Say that one day in the Gallery, I see a layout from someone fairly new to digital scrapping. They've taken the main picture on their layout and stretched it to fit a page. In the mean time, skewing the picture instead of keeping it at it's real size. The effect being, the picture looks really odd and you know it's not supposed to be that way. (I see it happen with people pictures mostly, the head of children stretched totally out of proportion ect).

Do you say something? Do you think it would make someone feel bad? Like I said, I'd like people to honestly critique my stuff and tell me ways I can improve. But I worry about offending someone or hurting their feelings. I remember how terrible some of my early stuff looked and if someone had said something, I would have been happy to learn.

Now I'm babbling, so I'll post this and see what you all think!

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Amanda C

my gallery

I've also wondered about this. Sometimes you see layouts where the person who posted asksfor suggestions. If not, would a PM be the best way to handle it? I'd like to know how others feel. I'd hate to see things get the way they are on the photography board DH has posted to. They're so critical that he doesn't even post anymore. But if one of the reasons we're here is to learn a TACTFUL suggestion could be very helpful. Since scrapping is such a personal expression I don't want to discourage anyone.

Carole

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avatar from www.vanilla-dreams.com

It is not acceptible, in my opinion, to offer advice unless it is asked for. For myself, if I just can't stand it, I don't leave a comment, or I might say something generic like nice to see you scrapping or some such thing. First of all, if you don't know the person, and sometimes even if you do, lol, you can not guarantee how the written word will be perceived by them. Second, I hate the thought of discouraging someone from posting again, or making them feel embarrassed or unwelcome. If you really want to be generous, and I mean generous, go ahead and send them an uber-over-the-top friendly note and say, hey did you know...? And then be prepared to sort of mentor them etc. It could be a nice way to strike up a new e-friendship - been there done that, but it could also cause hurt feelings if they aren't ready to hear what you have to say lol. On the other hand, if someone asks for a critique, I have no problem laying it all out lol. But that's me!

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DianneRigdon.com

I have to agree that unless solicited, I would never offer any type of critique...even though sometimes I would like to - just to help out. But, the truth is that you can never know how it will be received and for that reason alone - it is *probably* best to bite your tongue. Now, if someone is asking for advice or CC...then I feel like it is my (our) duty to try and help out. On a photography board that I participate in...when you post - you pretty much say "CC Please or CC Welcome" which means they are inviting CONSTRUCTIVE criticisim...and it is known that if they do not say that - you are just to leave praise I hope that made sense! I know this subject has been approached re: grammatical/spelling errors as well - and I think the general thought was to probably not say anything - but if you had to...then at least do it in a PM to save any public embarassment!

Hope this helps! Thanks!

Hi Girls,

I agree, if its not asked for don't say diddly I like the CC idea, it is used on quite a lot of boards and forums and you get some really great comments on what you could do to improve something.

I hardly ever put it on my layouts, cause I never think to, but if you see something in mine feel free to comment, I don't mind one little bit, I am here to learn and improve.

One thing I do enjoy is seeing how people develope after only a few weeks of doing digi scrapping and you see some awesome stuff in the gallery.

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My Blog

I to would never offer advice unless asked. But Man I would love it on mine! honestly i would rather have no comment or a CC coment - then a nice to see you scrappin cause then i think the very worse and think everything about it is awful! LOL but thats just me. Feel free to post away helpful hints to me. I often put hat do you think? on my layouts and I really want to know

LOL - I know what you mean. Well, maybe we should start doing the CC thing...or ask for a "critique me please" category (double checking to make sure it's not there lol) - well there is the help and inspiration category, but maybe that's not the same thing? Usually if I post, I am still in love with it and don't want to hear any negatives lol but there are times when something just doesn't feel right and the CC request would come in realllll handy!

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DianneRigdon.com

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm a beginner and my technical skills are rather wonky, so I really WANT to know how to improve them. I don't want to hear 'you're ugly and you should put a paperbag over your head' etc (YKWIM) but if I've made a basic technical mistake I want to know about it - but most importantly how to fix it!
I keep asking for advice, and I'm getting 'gee, your layouts are great'... does that mean that you're being nice to the newbie or they really ARE? lol

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~Karen aka Kajikit
http://www.kajikitscorner.com
2005 - 25 Jan - 13 cards, 3 digital page