Siduction Forum

Siduction Forum => Ideas & Improvements => Topic started by: devil on 2014/04/11, 22:20:38

Title: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/11, 22:20:38
Sorry for the clear words, but the shit is getting deep. Our artwork is worse than non existent. We have noone to do artwork at the moment. For the last release agaida and me agreed on a photo and it shows. The desktop icons need an overhaul badly. This is a community project, so fill that concept with life and help us recreate our icons and design good looking release artwork. Artwork is the business card of a distribution and I as the ambassador of siduction to the outside world and the media am ashamed to hand it out at the moment.


Please make me feel better representing siduction, fill the thought of community-based with life, it only works two ways. If you have skills in that direction, please help us to match the greatness of siduction in our artwork.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: timc on 2014/04/12, 01:42:30
I would gladly help if I did have the skills, but graphic design has never been one of my strengths.  ???

Tim
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: GoinEasy9 on 2014/04/12, 05:57:29
Which Icons need the most work?  I may not be an artist, but ... that would be a good place to start.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/12, 07:46:45
From my point of view the ones on the desktop, namely manual, irc and installer. I personaly would move away from the dots for these three and, until displays become round, move away from round shape as well. The dots for the menu button are ok imho.


greetz
devil
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: titan on 2014/04/12, 09:29:08
Is it really that important ? I don't think I have used the distro artwork for years. Artwork is a personal thing and as shown in previous threads on the subject consensus is not easy.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/12, 12:53:37
I think, the default should be at least decent, which imho it is not at the moment. I know that many users change it anyways, but I think, first looks have something to do with early decision making. I know it is stupid, because it says nothing about the technical qualitiy of the product, but that is how we  humans function.


greetz
devil
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: dibl on 2014/04/12, 15:54:37
@devil, I understand and agree.  I personally have not a drop of graphic artist blood in my body, unfortunately.  I use gimp for resizing and touching up images, but that's the limit of my skill.   :'(
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: timc on 2014/04/12, 16:34:40
I think, the default should be at least decent, which imho it is not at the moment. I know that many users change it anyways, but I think, first looks have something to do with early decision making. I know it is stupid, because it says nothing about the technical qualitiy of the product, but that is how we  humans function.


I agree. I have read reviews of Siduction where they basically say it is a very good distro, but it gives such an ugly appearance that they can't really take it seriously. That is not the way I think, but there are a lot of people who care more about appearance than function.

Tim
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: timc on 2014/04/12, 16:37:25
Idea - maybe we could ask for a skilled graphic designer who would donate to the project on some of the social sites, such as Google Plus.

Tim
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/12, 20:04:12
Timc,


good idea to brush up our overall appearance when it comes to looks. That is besides the point that we need an art team that takes care of the release art. Any idea where to scrounge best for such a donation?


greetz
devil
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: spacepenguin on 2014/04/13, 10:19:01
Devil, I strongly agree that the artwork is the business card of the distribution! But I stronly disagree about the dots! The dots are great and should stay! And a photo as wallpaper - why not? Together with a decent siduction logo (dots!) on it I'd prefer that over any svg creation. And round is the new square ;)!

By now I'm putting some efforts and work in contributing to a round flat icon theme, Flamini (http://kde-look.org/content/show.php?content=163906) and also the new modern splash screens on kde-look.org have round icons, and that looks very neat and decent IMHO: http://kde-look.org/content/show.php/Modern+KDE+4+Splash+Screen?content=163449

Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: bluelupo on 2014/04/13, 14:26:32
Is it really that important ? I don't think I have used the distro artwork for years. Artwork is a personal thing and as shown in previous threads on the subject consensus is not easy.
Hi titan,
The artwork is very important for a distribution, it is unfortunately very often underestimated what impression that leaves for the users. I think that the recognition our distribution currently not very high. Since there is definitely room for improvement.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: bluelupo on 2014/04/13, 14:31:22
Idea - maybe we could ask for a skilled graphic designer who would donate to the project on some of the social sites, such as Google Plus.

Tim

Tim, your idea is good. Why not take up your idea for such a project to advance.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: timc on 2014/04/13, 20:22:24

Tim, your idea is good. Why not take up your idea for such a project to advance.

Well, I did approach a young man in Serbia who I know has good talent and aptitude for graphics. He read this thread and said he doesn't really think it's for him. I guess I could make a similar, public post.

Tim
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: der_bud on 2014/04/14, 18:10:14
Agaida asked in the german version of this thread (http://forum.siduction.org/index.php?topic=4457.msg37002#msg37002) if anybody could translates one of his posts because his lack  of time, so I'll try my best:

After I enterd some thoughts about this in IRC already, I like to throw them in here, too. As Bluelupo already mentioned, there is not only one background but several ones for different purposes: the ISO (syslinux), grub, login, wallpaper - and they all have different requirements. These should be well balanced in our concepts:

* syslinux: static design in 1024x768, menu free to position
* grub: variable resolution, menu appears in a box - it is to clarify if one changes the position and leaves the box, because that overlays every centerd design.
* login: variable resolution, mostly 1024x768, centered login dialog = same problem as grub. The dialog position could be changed, but should imho stay a key element in the login manager design
* wallpaper: several resolutions, should imho be kept deliberately simple. I like in that context somethinh like the KDE Ariya theme or the plain debian background (without debian, of course). I would appreciate if we could keep that factual and clear, mentioning release and siduction in its current form left and right of the orange line should be enough for my taste. Normally a user knows what he has installed, and eye-catching with overdimensioned logos is more or less irritating. But that's just my personal opinion.

Now to the bigger problem: I personally like the orange line with releasename left and logo right, and I would like to keep that for syslinux menu, grub menu, login-manager, But I don't know how much sense it makes on the desktop. There is a reason for that: if I change the resolution or have a user with an unusual resolution, the resulting wallpaper will look strange when no corresponding artwork is available or automatically chosen. And the number of cases in which that looks botched up is not to be underestimated. If anybody has a satisfactory solution for this, either technical or creative - give it to me!
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/14, 22:56:54
Hi my name is mike AKA as starwolf and djstarbuck on deviant art and kde  look. IS there a place to upload a couple of  1st draft walls and a logo i made for yo at dibls request
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/15, 02:28:05
i have  posted some early work here




http://webpages.charter.net/starbuck1/Sdctn/
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: bluelupo on 2014/04/15, 10:11:08
Hi starwolf,
we do not necessarily need a new siduction logo, but the artwork should be based on the design of the logo, redesigned (developed). This begins with a single wallpaper for Grub boot manager, possibly a simple splash screen for the boot process, the design of the login manager, the splash screen of your desktop environment and the wallpaper for your desktop. This list is certainly not yet completely around the artwork of siduction to improve completely ;-)

If you have suggestions and ideas are welcome.

The implementation of the artwork must then of course be coordinated with the siduction team.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/15, 10:57:05
Hi Mike,


thanks for considering helping us to recreate parts of our artwork. To discuss this further, so we are on the same level it would be nice if you could come to our IRC-Channel to talk about this. We are on the OFTC network in channel #siduction.


If anything about that is unclear, as you might not hang out on IRC, just ask. Most of us are in Germany, so we are 6-9 hours ahead of you, if you are in the US. We are available until after midnight our time. Thanks for your contribution so far.


greetz
devil
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/15, 15:00:26
http://www.2shared.com/file/EiPPLkKO/sidkde4splztar.html  this a experimental splashy i have uploaded new images I will try and IRC this weekend .as i get ideas ill dump them into that directory
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/04/15, 15:38:30
This asks to login
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/15, 15:59:02
Well that is odd it doesn't ask me and im not at home pc rithg now.  I will up load to my box.com account in about 9.5 hours
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: whistler_mb on 2014/04/15, 17:48:11
The icons are very good, but the background image has low quality.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/15, 20:29:22
The icons are very good, but the background image has low quality.

so you were able to d/l the splash screen?

i can work on a better image.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: dibl on 2014/04/15, 21:07:56
Yes, it comes down from the 2shared.com site, once you trade an email address for a login.  I agree with whistler_mb -- the icons are very crisp, but the background seems a little fuzzy or muddy or something.  But it's a nice first version -- hopefully you'll get more feedback from others.  Thanks for doing this!
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/16, 03:09:18
i will put in a new d/l  soon glad the icons came out  always willing to improve the work


here are thee new back grounds for the splash screen (i can make them any color )


http://webpages.charter.net/starbuck1/Sdctn/splzbk1.jpg


http://webpages.charter.net/starbuck1/Sdctn/splzbk2.jpg


http://webpages.charter.net/starbuck1/Sdctn/splzbk3.jpg




Let me know if any these look good for the back ground and also if the need to a certain color your opinion counts
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/16, 14:27:56
http://forum.siduction.org/index.php?topic=4477.0  I have moved this to a new thread called a work in progress
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: Lanzi on 2014/04/16, 17:41:36
just my 2ct: I prefer photos over selfdrawn graphics. Graphics always look less serious and in someway too geeky.

Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/16, 22:53:36

« Reply #2 on: Today at 14:56:35 »    here are 4 experimental splashys note these links will expire


http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid1splztar (http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid1splztar)




http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid2splztar (http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid2splztar)


http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid3splztar (http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid3splztar)


http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid4splztar (http://www.filedropper.com/nwsid4splztar)




all my current siduction wallpapers and logos


http://www.filedropper.com/sidctnarttar (http://www.filedropper.com/sidctnarttar)       
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: joogi on 2014/04/18, 10:53:08
Hey,

played around with gimp and inkscape last night.

Here is what i came up with. Just a simple Wallpaper

http://i.imgur.com/Ixx2AGY.png

Here in action + a suprisingly good looking invert version (my opinion)

http://i.imgur.com/tuTJdk0.jpg
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: whistler_mb on 2014/04/18, 11:58:53
Very nice wallpaper. The black one is my new background image.
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/18, 13:11:51
nice and clean  8)
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: ReinerS on 2014/04/20, 00:56:18
@starwolf:
somehow I donot get your files from filedropper.

regards

Reiner
ing
Edit: Managed now to download. Quite amazig what I saw.
The question is hl this fit into releases bound to music-titles?

Or do we have to move to an more static art-sceme ?

regards

Reiner
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/20, 01:49:43
I am going to talk to devil at length about where  we go from here .
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: piper on 2014/04/20, 19:14:13
Grub & login raw samples

These are very RAW, (all done in less than 10 minutes)  text color (grub) is my default color for my custom grub screen and didn't change, so input is needed on color, background, etc,  or can delete because it's that bad ;). Perhaps later in the evening I can work on different colors, etc, when I have more time, damn holidays and dinner(s)

I don't know who did the artwork but I grabbed it from

http://gallery.siduction.org/?dir=User-Gallery%2Fsiduction-kde%20%28kuchenfreund_in%29

NONE of this artwork is mine and I don't know who to give credit to.

http://www.2shared.com/photo/hLdRyyuf/sid_5.html
http://www.2shared.com/photo/XTuYQm2j/sid_4.html
http://www.2shared.com/photo/MMJ8yWyf/sid_3.html
http://www.2shared.com/photo/EuQxeIFG/sid_2.html
http://www.2shared.com/photo/qvVGuZr0/sid_1.html
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: spacepenguin on 2014/04/22, 21:19:08
@joogi: I like your dark wallpaper!

But I cannot download the other artwork from filedropper, it doesn't accept the captcha and always jumps back... 2shared was no problem (no need to login or to provide an email address)...
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: starwolf on 2014/04/23, 03:13:45
i can try uploading to my box account what  ones are working ? the file dropper ones?
sid lake splashy
https://app.box.com/s/bnjz2c3rvynzac3i93pk


matching kdm https://app.box.com/s/hssp74jjkkmvc4njnhra


new ones 1-4


https://app.box.com/s/9e3a86ydd66wd8l7pxrx


https://app.box.com/s/2yre0qo6cuq2vgizp18a


https://app.box.com/s/jaiuxcaixvnbw0gtnfr3


https://app.box.com/s/yjr4adfbda7xvdnzapns


the art


https://app.box.com/s/x4z09ssyeda7t2t27z6p





Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: WilhelmHH on 2014/10/02, 16:46:38
Devil, I strongly agree that the artwork is the business card of the distribution! But I stronly disagree about the dots! The dots are great and should stay! And a photo as wallpaper - why not? Together with a decent siduction logo (dots!) on it I'd prefer that over any svg creation.

just my 2ct: I prefer photos over selfdrawn graphics.

ElementaryOS has a beautiful photo.


Die siduction Icons für Menü, Handbuch und Chat könnten da so aussehen:

(http://img5.fotos-hochladen.net/uploads/flaminisiductiwbx7kydl34.png) (http://www.fotos-hochladen.net)



Looks very good!
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: zephyr on 2014/11/26, 13:08:09
Hey Guys, hard on your selves. You have an excellent, awesome distro first of all.  The distro works well enough to be the best out there. I'm running Siduction Indian Summer-LXDE, and I'm impressed. I'm a distro whore and I download until I find a keeper, I got a keeper. I use Faenza icons, and the F-Variants icons are really nice. VSIDO uses Linux 8 icons and are pretty cool.  Faenza are like the default Crunchbang Faenza before they went ugly.  Themes, a dark theme is what I like, easy on the eyes. Actually what I see with Indian Summer is excellent, but some cool new icons would be a plus. If I download an operating system that sucks, but cool icons, I canibalize the icons, harvest them for later use. Not nice huh. Themes too. Anyway, you might and may have a screenshot art section, see what people are using. Just an idea. I have my Siduction IS LXDE all decked out and pleased, plenty resources out there in Linux world that the user can fish from. Thanks-zephyr
Title: Re: Our artwork is fugly. Do something about it!
Post by: devil on 2014/11/26, 13:41:53
You might want to post to: http://forum.siduction.org/index.php?topic=1738.0