  Contests & Activities
This week: Edited by: terryjroo
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The abundance of contests and activities offered at Writing.com, help to create the most exciting and fun website for writers. The Contest and Activities Newsletter is provided each week to, not only assist you in keeping up with the latest and greatest items, but to help assure that, if interested, you have the tools necessary to run a successful contest or activity. Enjoy this issue and please feel free to comment at the bottom!
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| ASIN: 1542722411 |
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Amazon's Price: $ 12.99
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** Image ID #1212849 Unavailable **
Warning: Graphic Content
Yes, you read that correctly. While Writing.com is primarily a writing website that caters to writers, it is also dynamic in the fact that it offers a variety of other items as well. One of the most popular items allowed for members who have at least an upgraded membership is the Image item. Images are wonderful ways to enhance writing, to dress up forums, groups and contests, to give personality to blogs and journals, to use for cNotes, and to show your own distinctive style by adding them to your signature block.
Okay, terrific, but where do I get an image and how do I use it?
The best place to find detailed, valuable information on images and their use is here: "Image Item Info" The StoryMistress   graciously took the time to outline every aspect involving images. This item covers everything including: creating images, uploading the image, using the image within other items, the file types accepted, and all of the image guidelines and policies. I urge you, even if you’ve been making images and using them for a long time, to reacquaint yourself with this item, as it will save you a lot of time and trouble. If you need to locate it in the future and didn’t add it to your favorites list, it is linked in Create an Image Item under section 5.
Great, but I don’t have a program to make my own images, what can I do?
Across the site you can find talented artists who will create an image for you, usually in exchange for gift points. Many of these individuals actually create signature shops (usually in a forum format) in which you can choose from a pre-made image that can be personalized or you can request a custom image. Each shop works a little differently, so be sure to read the shop information carefully. Another popular way to obtain an image is through a signature auction. You simply pick the signature you like and in the end, if you have the highest bid, the artist typically customizes it and then sends you the image to upload into your portfolio.
Let the buyer (and creator) beware!
Just a word to the wise, behind every image, photograph, illustration and animation is an artist. Most of these artists regard their creations the same way that most writers regard their creations – as their work. A lot of time, effort, blood, sweat and tears go into the work of an artist, just as it goes into the work of a writer. Most people would not plagiarize the work of a writer, at least not intentionally. The same consideration needs to be given to artists. It is extremely easy to unintentionally violate copyrights on artwork. Many people (including myself) have been led to believe that doing a simple Internet search for free images will bring up links to legitimate Web sites that offer free images, photographs, etc. for our use. The majority of the time these types of searches result in links to a variety of Web sites – some are legitimate, but many are not. Many of these sites are posting the work of artists who have not given permission for their work to be used.
A couple of tips when looking for usable artwork on the Internet:
1. One of the first things you should look for and carefully read is the copyright or usage policy. If you can’t find anything about their policy, it’s probably not a legitimate site.
2. If you plan on using images for items that will earn you gift points, you have now entered into commercial use and need to double check to see if the artist allows their work to be used commercially without compensation.
3. Many sites do offer artwork for a small fee. It can be a membership fee or a fee per item. Before you buy anything, again, check the copyright and usage terms.
4. If you have any doubt, contact the artist or the Web site owner directly and ask for express permission to use their work. Make sure that you save their response in case you are questioned about it later.
The bottom line is this: I doubt that anyone here would be pleased to find out their work was being used without permission or being passed off as someone else’s work, so don’t do that to a fellow artist. When this issue first was brought to my attention, I went through my portfolio and deleted over 100 items that I wasn’t 100% sure I had permission to use. When you make or buy any graphic image, YOU need to make sure the item is legitimate to use and that you include information regarding the owner or creator of the item. If you are not sure, then don’t use it – not only is it the right thing to do, it also ensures that you are not violating "Writing.Com Copyright Policy" .
I hope this issue has been helpful!
** Image ID #1207576 Unavailable **
Signature made by kelly1202 |
Some signature shops around the site!
Please be aware, I do not make any guaranties that these shops follow correct copyright procedures, you will need to verify that information if you choose to work with them.
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Contests & Activities: February 07, 2007 Issue [#1533]
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