Forum Revamp Review

[penciljack]

Hi, Folks. It's been a little over a month or so (give or take) since the debut of the new forum look, and I'm sure many of you have opinions about it.

What I'd like is some quick bullet points - things you feel that work well, things you feel don't work well, etc. - to give me some ideas about how to prioritize the future of Penciljack.com

I'm looking for honest comments and criticism, of course, but I don't want to hear that something "sucks" or what have you. If you're going to post in this thread, please do us all the courtesy of giving some actual thought to your post and try your best to write it clearly and briefly.

Keep in mind, too, that nobody will have time to go through pages and pages of huge posts, so try to make your comments via "bullet points" if at all possible, so we'll be better able to analyze the data we receive.

So let's hear it - tell us the things you like and dislike. But be gentle, okay?

[Phil Clark]

And in the spirit of constructive critisism, if you have something you don't like, offer up an idea to change it. Come on, this is your chance to help make Penciljack even better. Let's hear from you.

[Knigge]

1. Not fond of the advertisements at the top or bottom of pages. They push down the art, so you have to scroll, which is annoying. Scrolling for art forums is a pet peeve of mine, unless of course I'm viewing a whole slew of art.
2. I'm really digging the look. The logo is hilarious.
3. Things flow very nicely.
4. Number one is my number one concern. I know that it helps fund the site, and it's a lose-lose situation. I guess its better than pop ups. But perhaps the ads could be on the side of the site. Outside the bondaries of the blue lines. Dunno. Just a tip. K I'm done.

[Juan2.0]

1. The intro page with the stupid pencil that pops up in the box is VERY ANNOYING and VERY POINTLESS. When I go to penciljack.com, it should go right to the forums which are the main reason to come to Penciljack.

2. I don't like the all the Google ads for the same reason Knigge pointed out. It also sucks that they are posted on the individual threads...

3. Where is the Critical Mass section? True, you may not have had tons of participants, but you also did not have good leaders for instructors. You need someone who is willing to not only create the assignment, but do it alongside everyone else.

That's all I can think of for now.

[Spectre-7]

1. Overall, I'm incredibly happy with the redesign. The ads don't bother me at all, and I've occasionally even seen things that interest me. I try to give them a good scan and get you folks some click-thrus.

2. I'm not bothered by the intro logo, and I rather like it. For people bothered by the intro, I'd recommend either bookmarking the forum head, or typing the full www.penciljack.com/forum

3. There's been some head-aches about where different pieces belong (your heads more than ours). I think there's some general confusion about work that crosses the borders, and I'm not quite sure how this might be remedied.

4. Just an idea, but I think it might be cool to have some more community features... Things like prominantly displaying recent draw-off winners, and perhaps a listing at the front-end of particularly hot-threads. Just some ideas.

5. Another goofy idea... A sub-forum under General Discussion for moderated debate. There's at least one hot kvetch-fest a week, and it might keep GD a little more polite if people had a place to take their arguements, and a format to follow.

Anyway, none of my suggestions are too serious. As I said, I'm very happy with the site as it is, and you guys are doing an awesome job. :D

[G-man_2000]

Add a finished lab or some thing similar. For pro and non-pro artists to put there fully done pieces that are not posted by a colorist.

Add some thing similar to Critical Mass that give people some thing to do weekly.

PJ can use an art gallery of its own in one central location, web site.

[Johnny Blaque]

The only thing that bugs me is that "Google Post" that sometimes appears at the bottom of threads.

[Finnegan]

i don't mind the google ads at all. much like KuriosD, i've even clicked through some here and there.

i miss seeing Critical Mass. I'd love to see it back.

i don't like seeing sculpture (and the possibility of photography, flash animation, and other things i haven't thought of) offered for critique in the break room. it doesn't seem to fit there. I know it may not suit the design of the new forum, but maybe an additional category may apply? I'd hate to see artists alienated from such a great forum because they're trying something different from the forum's "norm"

overall, i love the new design and everything. my congratulations and thanks go out to everyone involved


=BoB=

[penciljack]

We struggled with that problem, Finnegan. But ultimately, we decided that sculpture, in particular, isn't really part of what we're trying to accomplish here. It's important to remember that we're not a general arts forum, we're a comic art forum. The decision to post sculpture in the Break room was made so that we didn't just have to delete sculpture posts outright.

Critical Mass will return when I'm able to devote some time to it.

I'll address the other comments as time allows, and I thank each of you for your time and input!

[dfbovey]

Comicbook related sculptures should be allowed IMO. I mean, mini scultures and action figures are a part of the comicbook industry. I haven't been into a comicbook shop that doesnt' have sculptures available behind the counter. Why not allow someone to post their sculpture of Wolverine?

I think the only problem with Scuplture as it's own forum would be the lack of activity. There might not be enough people posting to sustain it. I agree that it does seem out of place in a general discussion forum. I certainly wouldn't look there for comicbook related sculptures.

I wouldn't mind seeing a forum dedicated to finished works either. I don't really feel like my fully rendered Watercolor pieces belong in a section that is used 99% of the time for people to post digitally rendered colors over other people's linework. Just doesn't seem like a fit.

[penciljack]

Well, again, this is and always has been a comic art forum. You're right that action figures are in comic shops, but then so are cards and dvds and any number of other peripherals. Sculpture simply doesn't fit the mold of comics creation. We haven't outlawed it, but we aren't going to shoehorn it in, either.

[F!]

I greatly appreciate the introduction of the Test Tube and the Illustration Lab. There's also one more that I'd like to see: a lettering, design, and production forum.

This would be something that covers the final stages of the comic book creation process, and would include members showing their lettering, cover logos, trade dress, ad designs, letters page designs, etc. all for the usual comments and criticism, with the Tips & Tech section covering things like typography, pre-press, and print process.

I know a lot of members intend to self-publish, if not having done so already; I think this could be a valued resource for them. I also feel artists in general would benefit from a wider knowledge of production and design.

[dfbovey]

Thanks for the changes Terry!

[Bruce Lee]

My only thought is in regards to the Tips & Technique board(s) now being split up into sub-forums for the other boards. While I understand the logic of why you've done this, I think that by dividing this forum up and also removing it from the main menu, more people are actually less likely to post their tips and techs, check responses, and reply to topics there. It's sort of out of sight, out of mind. I used to frequent the original board, but I feel less inclined to do so now, and often even forget about these boards.

I'd love to see a PJ reference and/or resource board. A place where people could post links to reference images, pencilled art for ink practise, etc.

Otherwise, I think all of the new changes work extremely well. Things are better organized and easy to find. The boards are more clearly defined now, and I particularly like the additions of the inking board, the reinstatement of the Sketchbook forum in the form of Test Tube incarnation, and the Illustration board! PJ is a much more professional looking, organized, and functioning site these days. Good work!

Regards,

Loston
http://www.lostonwallace.com

[Ugga Bugga]

My only thought is in regards to the Tips & Technique board(s) now being split up into sub-forums for the other boards. While I understand the logic of why you've done this, I think that by dividing this forum up and also removing it from the main menu, more people are actually less likely to post their tips and techs, check responses, and reply to topics there. It's sort of out of sight, out of mind. I used to frequent the original board, but I feel less inclined to do so now, and often even forget about these boards.

Loston
http://www.lostonwallace.com

I agree. In the writing lab NO ONE looks at the tips and techs.

There are some interesting posts, but no one views them.

Seeing as it is called "Writing Lab" I would like to be able to post tips and techs with the other posts, so they get views.

There has been virtually no discussion there.

[Village_Mystic]

It has a clean look, and the adds aren't too intrusive.
As a web designer I'm curious what steps you went through to have this forum sponsorsed by Google, I might try something like that myself for one of my projects or clients.

Um, yesterday, though my sig file disappeared, and I'm not sure where to put a new one back in, I looked in the preferences....maybe I'm missing something? I was thinking about updating it anyway, but...?

- Rachel

[penciljack]

Google's AdSense is just a program you can sign up for, not too much hassle (though you do have to be approved).

Go to your control panel by clicking "Controls" in the top blue nav bar. On the top left, under the "Settings & Options" category, you should see "Edit Signature."

[cyxodus]

I greatly appreciate the introduction of the Test Tube and the Illustration Lab. There's also one more that I'd like to see: a lettering, design, and production forum.

This would be something that covers the final stages of the comic book creation process, and would include members showing their lettering, cover logos, trade dress, ad designs, letters page designs, etc. all for the usual comments and criticism, with the Tips & Tech section covering things like typography, pre-press, and print process.

I know a lot of members intend to self-publish, if not having done so already; I think this could be a valued resource for them. I also feel artists in general would benefit from a wider knowledge of production and design.
I agree. Well thought out.