Graphic and Layout Submissions Guidelines, Saving the world, one bad graphic at a time! Options

[technicolour]

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
First and foremost, everything submitted MUST be created by you, the submitter. Any brushes, textures, etc. from other sources used must be credited. If not, consequences will follow.
In other words, NO STEALING!

Specifications for:
*Please read the Specifications for ALL IMAGES in this first post before going on

• Graphics
• Layouts
• Tutorials
• Scripts

SPECIFICATIONS FOR ALL IMAGES
These guidelines apply to all images. It doesn't matter if they're for graphics, tutorials, or layouts.
- Pictures must be of good quality; no pixelations, distortions, over-sharpened, blurry (or rather out-of-focus) images
- Pictures cannot be OFFENSIVE; PG-13 is the rule, here
- Pictures cannot be copyrighted
- Pictures need to have good contrast; nothing too bright or too dark
- If submitting a photo as a stock photo, there should not be obvious flash evidence or timestamps.
- If submitting a photo as a stock photo, it should not be a personal photo or a cliche MySpace picture. This is not an image-hosting place, people.
- If your picture/graphic has any type on it, the font must be:

- Clear, smooth and crisp
- Readable
- A color that is not clashing with your graphic
- Not transparent to the point where it is unreadable
- The words must have the correct spelling
- The words CANNOT be profane

- No non-stock images from DeviantART or t-shirt screens from Threadless may be used
- If creating a blend, make sure the backgrounds are clean and match up
- Images should not be INVERTED (the look of a film negative)

HELPFUL LINKS
This is a list of links of tutorials on how to help you become a better designer. These tutorials all link to things that are a problem in the queue.

How to Make a Tutorial
Taking Screenshots
How to Pick the Right Font & Its Color
The Big Book of Resources



FOLLOW-UP PROCESS
If your submission is rejected, take the advice implemented into the rejection PM to heart. We only have the best intentions in mind. Do NOT resubmit your submission until Staff has given the OK that tweaks have been made. Also keep in mind that our decisions are not final. If something is accepted, it can be rejected if we feel it is the right thing to do. An example would be if one of us accepts something & another staff member sees that it is jocked, it will be rejected. Same goes for rejected material being accepted. It just depends on the situation.

NOTE:
This thread is not complete. It will be changing with the times.

Reason for edit: edited w/ menu - Melissa & tweaked by Kristina

[schizo]

LAYOUT GUIDELINES

DESIGN & CONTENT
- Layout submissions must be your original work! Include credits, if any.
- All layouts must be PG13.
- Use only high quality images.
- Take any personal info out of the layout (add fillers instead).
- Must be aligned and look appealing in IE, FF, and look appealing in all resolutions.
- Credits should not be so prominent.
- No generators should be used for the coding

SCREENSHOTS
- Screenshots should be taken in fullscreen mode (press F11).
- Screenshots should not be cropped - only standard (4:3) and widescreen (16:10) are valid.

MYSPACE LAYOUTS
- Replace msplinks with original links and friendID with XXXXXXXX. (must be EXACTLY 8 X's!!!)
- "Default" inspired DIVs will NOT be accepted
- The ad CANNOT be hidden
- A complete set of navigation must be included (add, block, message, comment)
- All layouts must have a custom contact box and a background or extended network background
- Layouts must have some sort of content area.
- None of the default MySpace blue and orange may be showing
- Remember to link to the friendID grabber for div overlays

AUTOMATIC REJECTIONS
Layouts face automatic rejection if...

- their coding is "jocked" or generated.
- pixelated and/or low quality images are used in them.
- they are illegible. Choose your color combinations wisely.
- Victorian backgrounds are used in them.
- they are not centered in all resolutions (ie. 800x600 and 1024x768).
- resources are not properly credited. (Google, Imageshack, and Photobucket are NOT resource sites.)
- (for MySpace standard layouts) they do not have a custom contact table and a custom background OR a custom extended network image.
- (for all MySpace layouts) there is no "block" link provided.

LAYOUT IMAGES
- All images must be valid URLs and either in PNG (PNG preferred), JPG, or GIF format.
- All images will be transferred to CB image servers upon approval.
- Backgrounds shouldn't be cut off upon repetition or only for a specific resolution (ie 800x600).

LINKING BACK
- Please consider linking back to CreateBlog in your layouts!
- To link back to your CB submissions: http://createblog.com/layouts/index.php?author_id=MEMBRNMBR

MISCELLANEOUS
- For div overlays, please include specific directions.
- If the CreateBlog layout previewer distorts your actual code, please include a note when submitting that states so and link a working preview.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I TAKE A SCREENSHOT?
Open up your browser, press "F11" (found at the top), and then look for the "PRT SCR" (usually near Del-Insert-End keys). Now open up your favorite graphics program (ex: MS Paint) and click on Edit -> Paste. Once you have the screenshot, save it as a JPG.

WHY DO I GET "SCREENSHOT MUST BE IN 4:3 OR WIDESCREEN" ERROR?
Make sure you haven't cropped (edited) your screenshot. If the problem persists, make sure that you're using a standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:10) resolution. Examples of standard resolutions are 800x600, 1024x768. Examples of widescreen resolutions are 1280x800 and 1440x900.

WHY DID MY LAYOUT GET REJECTED?
We accept roughly 20% of our submissions to ensure quality. If your layout was rejected, don't be discouraged and keep on designing! Everyone has to start somewhere, and the best are where they are because they never gave up! If you'd like to know in detail why it was rejected, feel free to PM the reviewer.

WHY DID MY LAYOUT GET ACCEPTED AND THEN REJECTED?
Staff members peer review each other, and sometimes they don't agree on what should be accepted or rejected. Please ask the staff member why it was rejected for more information.

WHY DO I NEED TO REPLACE MSPLINKS (FOR MYSPACE)?
When submitting div overlays, make sure that your code has ORIGINAL links and not MSPLINKs. This way people can easily change the friendIDs. Here are some common links that might be useful:

CODE

<a href="http://messaging.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=mail.message&friendID=XXXXXXXX">Message</a><a href=http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=invite.addfriend_verify&friendID=XXXXXXXX">Add</a><a href="http://collect.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=block.blockUser&userID=XXXXXXXX">Block</a><a href="http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewAlbums&friendID=XXXXXXXX">Pictures</a><a href="http://comment.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile_commentForm&friendID=XXXXXXXX">Comment</a><a href="http://comment.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewComments&friendID=XXXXXXXX">View All Comments</a><a href="http://friends.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewfriends&friendID=XXXXXXXX">View All Friends</a><a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=XXXXXXXX">My Friend's Profile</a>

'BAD' EXAMPLES

Layout preview: click.
Rejection Reason: There are A LOT of problems with this one. The biggest issue is the alignment. Something went wrong with the code that is causing the About Me to be off. Another big issue is the fact that the top image is from Threadless. Images from there are copyrighted and a big no-no. Also, the background color of the image and background color of the page don't match up, and there is no block link.

Layout preview: click.
Rejection Reason: Image quality is the biggest problem here. The edges of the penguin are extremely choppy and blurry. Plus, just as the last time, the background colors don't match up and a block link is nowhere to be found.

Layout preview: click.
Rejection Reason: The blending in this is not the best. The different images could be told apart easily, and the image quality of a couple of them is not the best as well. Also, the text in the about me is almost impossible to read because of the busy background behind it.

All of the following display bad quality images used in the layout.
Narcissism (Div) Golden Gate Bridge (Div) Cats Rule (div)

The following displays a 'bad blend', and also where the background and main image do not flow together.
V for Vendetta (Div)

The following displays profanity used in the layout.
Enslaved (DIV)

The following displays bad use, or rather overuse, of brushes and/or textures.
Medical Mayhem

As mentioned before, we are accepting donations of any rejected layouts and graphics you may have. PM me or any of the other Design Staffers if you would like to help out or if you have any questions.

Reason for edit: edited for thoroughness