In answer to the questions:
Why so snarky?
Why so Bitchy?
Why so judgmental?
Please feel free to save this and copy/paste every time the question comes up, it will save us all a lot of time and typing.
1. This is a smack blog, we are snarky, snotty, bitchy, judgmental, critical, grumpy, dopey and doc.a. If you want nice, sweet and up your behind....go to DST.
2. If you are a designer, store owner, CT, etc. expect to be criticized, told you sell "crap" or worse, and don't expect sugar-coated either.a. If you want nice, see 1a.
3. If you are here looking for the truth, honest opinions and real feelings, welcome and join in.a. If you want nice, see 1a.
Credit goes to: Anonymous: August 8, 2010 8:21 AM: Thanks!
2,219 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 400 of 2219 Newer› Newest»used to hate, I mean HATE hiphop and rap when it first came out. Now I love it. Things take time to grown on people sometimes.
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I still hate it and wish the damn thing would just die. But that's me.
I agree though, things do take time. I remember about four or five years ago, some designers were making 'buttons' that looked just like flairs. The customers, on the whole, didn't get it and weren't really buying them. Then suddenly FB becomes popular and everyone is buying the damn things.
Without buying the kit, I can't tell you. However, Snap Art by Alien Skin does a great job of giving a hand painted look, some of the Filter Forge filters do too. It's a matter of knowing how to apply the filters. You could have all those filters and still not get the look, know what I'm saying?
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Right.
Well, as I said I love that style and bought quite a few of her kits when she had her birthday sale. If I could find other designers like that, I'd buy from them also.
So, who did you buy from? Julie or Beth? I just checked some of the painted backgrounds by Beth, and she used the filter Angel Wash from Filter Forge on some of them.
August 22, 2010 11:18 AM
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Wasn't whinging, just making a point. Feel better know that you've put someone down? Fuck wit. Oh yeah, you must, I do!
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LOL @ whinging
To the casual observer, 9th & Blooms forums look pretty active, far more active than say, Polka Dot Plum. That is a dead site.
Any thoughts on their contest?
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Better prizes than the much more time intensive DSA Apprentice. lol
Too bad I already have a tablet and Art Rage, but the Mozy prize is nice. I'm not sure I could find $25 worth of stuff in their store, though. Even for free.
So, who did you buy from? Julie or Beth? I just checked some of the painted backgrounds by Beth, and she used the filter Angel Wash from Filter Forge on some of them.
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Neither - I bought from Starlight Designs. I don't know what her real name is.
^^^^
What hand painted stuff did you buy from her? I can't really see any in her store.
This is one of them.
http://www.shabbypickledesigns.com/boutique/product.php?productid=18922&cat=0&page=1
I've come to the conclusion that until I learn how to really, really do shadows well and understand light better, that nothing will look as good as it could, whether it is a cheap silk flower with a ugly hole in the middle, or a handpainted creation on watercolor paper.
^^^
Maybe. Some of the best pages I've seen have very wonky shadows.
anyone know why digiscrapvault is closing?
I find it funny that some were dishing the "painted" backgrounds and elements because...horror...they were created digitally. Ummm...this is digital scrapbooking right?!! Why does it matter if it was hand-painted or if it was done digitally; as long as it was done well?!!
Why does it matter if it was hand-painted or if it was done digitally; as long as it was done well?!!
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amen.
for an awesome shadow tut check out peppermint granberg's blog(sp?)frick on a stick I think.
I find it funny that some were dishing the "painted" backgrounds and elements because...horror...they were created digitally. Ummm...this is digital
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I find it funny that some people see everything as dishing. No one was dishing. It was pointed out that the backgrounds were made using filters. No one dissed, smacked or otherwise negated them. Just the facts Ma'am.
So can I make a business out of Filter Forge Angel Washing people's stuff for them - enough to pay for the program? I smell an opportunity here.
Only if you do it right.
I find it funny that some were dishing the "painted" backgrounds and elements because...horror...they were created digitally. Ummm...this is digital
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I didn't see anyone dishing at all. People have been leaving suggestions as to how the backgrounds and elements were created - hand painted vs a filter.
Frankly, I don't care how they were created, they just look great. I'm tired of the same flowers showing up in every kit. There are only so many peonies in the world, but when those same flowers are made to look as though they've been painted, then that's different.
The same holds true for backgrounds.
But as someone up thread pointed out - it has to be done well!
I can run an element through the photoshop plug-ins too. I don't need to pay some other chic to do it for me. So in order for me to buy it, it has to be something that I can't do.
This is whole problem with the glut of designers on the market now. They buy some CU and slap it on a texured and/or distressed background and call it a kit. Well guess what - most of us can do that by ourselves. We don't need to spend money paying someone else to do it.
If someone really is an artist, they'll do something I can't do with my program, something artistic and creative and something that I'll actually pay money for. I personally don't care if it's done digitally or not, as long as it's done well and it's something that I can't do myself.
I personally don't care if it's done digitally or not, as long as it's done well and it's something that I can't do myself.
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Amen sistah!
Here are some the elements.
http://scrapbookingrelativity.blogspot.com/
^^^
Wow. Thanks for posting that for us to see.
I don't know if it's filter or not but the tree, with all those layers of leaves, is just fantastic and beautiful!
I think its a filter
Did you just post a designer's product as a full size .png for anyone to use?
I do believe they did. You can literally "hand paint" any picture. Brush and paint with the smudge tool on a blank layer over the original layer and check "use all layers". Using different layers, different brushes, sizes and strength levels, you too can make a photo appear as though you painted it from scratch. It looks like this might be what was done with the squirrel but that's just speculation. There are some talented PS artists out there. And even cheating by using an image to brush over takes practice and patience to make it look decent.
With something like those images, you will get much better results doing it by hand than with any filter - even digitally, not necessarily with real paint.
The new "bristle" brushes in PSCS5 are fabulous for doing exactly this, and I'm guessing that is what the designer did. They have settings so that you basically paint in small strokes, over a photograph, and it takes the existing pixels and pushes them around, giving the look of hand-painted images. You paint over the image using directional strokes to created the painted look. This has been possible for a long time in Corel's "Painter" and also in PSP, but it is a new feature in Adobe Photoshop, and I imagine we'll see more of it as more designers upgrade their software and learn to use it.
I just upgraded recently and am itching to have some extra time to practice with these new brushes and settings.
Whoever posted those images should take them down and put up a much smaller version, with a watermark and credit to the designer.
If you were painting over a picture, instead of running a filter on it, wouldn't you have corrected the green in the second squirrel ? I know I would have.
I say she used a filter.
The tree might also have been done in PSP, using various tubes for the leaves and branches, and PSP's painting settings for the trunk.
Yeah, that green is pretty bad. It would be very easy to correct, no matter if it's a filter or hand-brushed.
Actually another at Shabby Pickle that does fantastic hand painted type stuff is Shayarka Designs. I had never heard of her before, but picked up her "Fishercat Story" kit after seeing a few layouts in the gallery. Had to say I'm very impressed, and will be buying from this designer again. Does look handpainted for sure, backgrounds & elements.
Anonymous said...
Here are some the elements.
http://scrapbookingrelativity.blogspot.com/
August 24, 2010 10:53 AM
I'd say it's a filter applied to a photo. Many illustrators do that.
They have settings so that you basically paint in small strokes, over a photograph, and it takes the existing pixels and pushes them around, giving the look of hand-painted images. You paint over the image using directional strokes to created the painted look. This has been possible for a long time in Corel's "Painter" and also in PSP, but it is a new feature in Adobe Photoshop, and I imagine we'll see more of it as more designers upgrade their software and learn to use it.
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Actually, I was doing this in Photoshop 7 or CS1, so it's not new to Photoshop.
If you were painting over a picture, instead of running a filter on it, wouldn't you have corrected the green in the second squirrel ? I know I would have.
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That's just a slack designer. Even if it was a filter, it's not hard to change the hues. I would have also corrected the furry eyes.
High Four Designs at DeviantScrap also sells her hand painted goodies.
Did you just post a designer's product as a full size .png for anyone to use?
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I removed the images. It never occured to me that someone might try to right click and pirate them :(
Sorry to break-up the is it filtered or not (98% of it is) boring dicussion.
Let the favoritism and extreme idiocy begin.
Word on the street is Elemental Scraps has changed their entire release day schedule to accommodate ONE designer duo so they wouldn't leave - after they announced they would be leaving at the end of the month.
An owner actually makes a change that affects an entire store of designers, without consulting them at all, just to keep Bella Gypsy?
What a joke. I wonder how many others are receiving special treatment. I guess "the twist" is seeing how many exceptions to the rules you can have under one roof.
What a joke. I wonder how many others are receiving special treatment. I guess "the twist" is seeing how many exceptions to the rules you can have under one roof.
August 24, 2010 8:58 PM
^^^^
Well, hey, it's the store owner's right to make those decisions. People are always free to leave if they don't like change. Change is a fact of life and you just have to buck up and roll with it.
She must be bringing in enough customers to warrant the change and the others are not. It's that simple - and it's what businesses do.
Agreed. The store owner obviously is protecting it's own livelihood. Makes sense to me to keep the people who are bringing in the business. Last I checked Elemental Scraps wasn't the most booming scrap store.
sidenote (and off-topic) : why is cassel such a freaking know-it-all. I can't stand that chick.
Owners will do whatever they want, but it just shows how desperate that store actually is. Right or wrong, it's just sad sad sad. You would think that sort of arrangement would have been made before any announcement of them leaving was made. Seems strange.
I agree; Cassel is annoying as all get out.
I wonder how many stores are actually doing well in this economy?
Cassel is a pot stirrer.
Not sure how Bella Crapsy would make so much money just (badly) recoloring the same old shit. Saturation looks off in all her kits in that store. Barf.
Word on the street is Elemental Scraps has changed their entire release day schedule to accommodate ONE designer duo so they wouldn't leave - after they announced they would be leaving at the end of the month.
An owner actually makes a change that affects an entire store of designers, without consulting them at all, just to keep Bella Gypsy?
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If you heard on the street, then how do you know that the other designers weren't consulted? Hearing something on the 'street' usually means you've heard it third or fourth hand, so facts get lost or twisted or both.
Besides, it's only a a release day schedule, so what's the big deal?
I certainly don't feel that moving release date to a few days earlier or later is such a big deal.
Surely the kits won't go rotten?
I just visited SA and a lot of designer have left over the last few months. Something is up.
Tell me please how one wants to have a scrapbooking magazine when one doesn't speak English all that well and certainly isn't able to put the written word in the correct language and spelling which is evident by her own written comments in some forums.
I personally don't give a rats ass about what happens at Elemental Craps, but I do find it funny that a blog that is normally all about calling out store owners for favoritism and bad management is actually voicing their support for such obvious favoritism.
I think it's great someone spoke out about the situation. It may not seem like a big deal, but if you have a family and kids to take care of, pushing the release day could make a big difference in what you're able to make that week.
And I also agree with the statement about why wasn't this arrangement handled before the announcement of their leaving? You would think if a release day was all that they had an issue with, it would have just been changed without anyone actually knowing it was changed because of one person.
Sounds like there is more to the story, which is likely far more interesting.
And their stuff is garbage. There is a reason they have to put out 10 products a week - only 4 people buy them.
I think there's 7 days in a week regardless of which day is the release day. Unless the owner changed THAT without telling anyone, too.
Apples and oranges. Yes, the store showed favoritism to one of it's designers. Why? The only logical reason is because of business - that designer probably brings in more customers and sells more than the others.
That's life - get used to it.
If the release date is Tuesday and you have to get those babies fed, no one gives a shit UNLESS you are the one bringing in a solid customer base that translates into MONEY for the store.
Sorry honey, but all the whining in the world doesn't change how a business is run.
So now we're running businesses? I thought we were just all hiring our friends.
Too funny :)
Business is business, yes. I think the term in this industry is laughable as well.
If we're going to look at it from a "business" perspective, if a store has to make exception for ONE designer, that is a sad state of affairs going on there. One designer leaving is going to break a store? That's not a good sign of the health of a business at all.
I believe it makes good financial sense to keep your top sellers, but ethically speaking, it's piss poor. If I were a designer there and saw that, I'd leave. Clearly they're all bringing in some sort of income. They have to be the big name in order to matter? Changes will only happen if the right people ask for them? That just sends a bad message.
It may be how some businesses are run, but it doesn't mean their bottom line is all that great. Clearly, in this case, Elemental Scraps would have tanked if Bella Gypsy left. Great for Bella Gypsy, but bad for the site and the other designers who chose to be exclusive there.
^^^
it's "piss poor to make exceptions for them."
I deleted too much!
^^^^^
Agree with the PP (previous poster for those with no acronym function in your brain).
I already see one designer leaving. I wonder who will be next and if it had anything to do with this.
wv: porsess (as in you must 'porsess' some kind of administrative know-how to run a store and keep your designers happy).
I called their 'exclusivity with a twist' as an excuse to play favorites when they announced it, and they have just proven it to be so.
It may be 'business' but there is also something called 'ethics' and some of us like to make them more important than the almighty dollar.
Every single designer in a store is important. Maybe Belly Gypsy makes the highest sales right now, but those other designers all have potential or the owners wouldn't have brought them on in the first place. They shouldn't be treated like second rate.
If I were a designer there I'd be gone in a heartbeat.
How does changing which day you release products make one designer second rate to another? I think you're all a bit paranoid. Plus, how do you even know it wasn't discussed with the designers first?
Apparently the we're not really leaving post by Bella Gypsy stated that the reason for them leaving was "worked around" and they had "chatted with Angie" about it. I'd take that to mean no designers were asked.
So you're not a designer there and don't really know if anyone was asked, you are just assuming?
^^^
This is a smack blog, not a court of law. Even if I stepped in and said "I'm an ES designer and I wasn't asked" who the hell would know if I was full of shit?
I think we can all safely assume, based on ES's track record, they did not ask the designers. Maybe they asked their designer friends, and Bella Gypsy of course, but certainly not all of the designers.
I don't get why changing a release date is such an issue. The first pay period may bring less money than "normal" but after that it would even itself out again. Why does anyone who isn't a designer there even care? Not being snarky - I just don't get why you are all so upset about it. Please explain.
Tell me please how one wants to have a scrapbooking magazine when one doesn't speak English all that well and certainly isn't able to put the written word in the correct language and spelling which is evident by her own written comments in some forums.
August 25, 2010 7:08 AM
^^^^
I'm so happy to see someone else thinking what I did!
There are 2 designers leaving ES. I'm sure you will all figure it out before long.
I don't get why changing a release date is such an issue. The first pay period may bring less money than "normal" but after that it would even itself out again. Why does anyone who isn't a designer there even care? Not being snarky - I just don't get why you are all so upset about it. Please explain.
August 25, 2010 5:18 PM
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This may cause issues with multi store designers who have coordinated their release days. Some may have joined the store knowing that it released the same day as their other store. Less advertising (or at least kept to one day), less work, easier. The end.
^^^
This is a part of the problem though isn't it. Some women want to stay at home but make 'easy' money at the same time.
Sit a computer, buy some CU, through some textures on a colored background - call it a kit - and rack that money in.
Except that it doesn't work that way. the end
throw not through
(finger were typing faster than than my edit button)
easy? even using CU, a kit takes at least 6 hours to create. longer if you have any talent and make the shit yourself.
This is a part of the problem though isn't it. Some women want to stay at home but make 'easy' money at the same time.
Sit a computer, buy some CU, through some textures on a colored background - call it a kit - and rack that money in.
Except that it doesn't work that way. the end
August 25, 2010 6:49 PM
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LOL no wonder you weren't successful as a designer with that bad attitude. I put a lot of thought into my kits and advertising takes a lot of time. I don't think the majority of designers just throw CU crap in a kit and call it done.
Now looks like ES is down 3 designers.
who
LOL no wonder you weren't successful as a designer with that bad attitude. I put a lot of thought into my kits and advertising takes a lot of time. I don't think the majority of designers just throw CU crap in a kit and call it done.
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I'm not a designer or on any CT. Just a happy scrapper who can see what's in the stores.
easy? even using CU, a kit takes at least 6 hours to create. longer if you have any talent and make the shit yourself.
6 hours??? how about a couple of days working more then 6 hours a day. This is something that has little monetary reward as far as time put forth but then not all of us do it solely to make a buck though some payback is nice once in awhile. I would gander that more make a lot less money then they would actually have you think.
6 hours??? how about a couple of days working more then 6 hours a day. This is something that has little monetary reward as far as time put forth but then not all of us do it solely to make a buck though some payback is nice once in awhile. I would gander that more make a lot less money then they would actually have you think.
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i meant that if you are just recoloring crap and tossing textures on, it would still take hours. also in agreement that the hours put in are rarely the same as the $$ you get back.
What's up with all the guest designers at Scrapbookgraphics?
I can only assume that the person who keeps asking why changing the release day is a big deal isn't a designer. It's a huge hassle to change your release days, and not just for the designers. Often CT members have their schedule worked out so they can scrap/promote for their designers around their scheduled released days. Yes, of course, they can all adjust, and eventually they will settle into new routines. But it's a big hassle. And to make a whole store do it just for one designer pair is pretty shitty.
It may not seem like a big deal, but if you have a family and kids to take care of, pushing the release day could make a big difference in what you're able to make that week.
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Only the first time around.
but I do find it funny that a blog that is normally all about calling out store owners for favoritism and bad management is actually voicing their support for such obvious favoritism.
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No one is voicing 'support', it's just not that big a deal. So, a release date has been changed, whoop de doo.
easy? even using CU, a kit takes at least 6 hours to create. longer if you have any talent and make the shit yourself.
August 25, 2010 6:52 PM
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6 hours using CU? You need to organize your work flow.
What's up with all the guest designers at Scrapbookgraphics?
August 25, 2010 10:34 PM
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Birthday celebrations.
how about a couple of days working more then 6 hours a day.
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Seriously? If you've been working for more than six months, it shouldn't take that long. It's all about work flow and organization. Otherwise, you are just wasting time.
I can only assume that the person who keeps asking why changing the release day is a big deal isn't a designer. It's a huge hassle to change your release days, and not just for the designers.
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Been there, done that. It's not a 'huge' hassle. It's a minor inconvenience.
6 hours using CU? You need to organize your work flow.
ROFLMBO I don't use CU I make CU and it takes time to make a quality product but maybe you wouldn't know about that since you think everyone just pops CU stuff in a kit and calls it a kit.
Seriously? If you've been working for more than six months, it shouldn't take that long. It's all about work flow and organization. Otherwise, you are just wasting time.
Workflow and organization are just fine thanks and my time isn't wasted when I make sure that my customers get a quality product. Maybe you haven't noticed that some designers only advertise 1 product a week. That's because they are working on parts of that product all week long and in doing that it definitely shows!!
From the designer survivor contest. Download the kit. (no need to log in!) Is there something wrong with the star frame and the moon or is it just me? And then read the comments! Jesus Christ, how stupid can scrappers be...
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27358
I'm not downloading that, I'll take your word for it.
From the designer survivor contest. Download the kit. (no need to log in!) Is there something wrong with the star frame and the moon or is it just me? And then read the comments! Jesus Christ, how stupid can scrappers be...
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27358
August 26, 2010 11:56 AM
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It's not just you! Yikes! Wow, talk about jaggies and blurriness. How could anyone possibly think that's okay? And the button..it doesn't have holes, just gray spots. The sparkle scatter, or whatever it's suppose to be is just one big blue blurry blob.
From the designer survivor contest. Download the kit. (no need to log in!) Is there something wrong with the star frame and the moon or is it just me? And then read the comments! Jesus Christ, how stupid can scrappers be...
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27358
Other than being fugly? Seriously how did that "designer" even make it to week four? Someone vote her off, now!
I think most of the people commenting haven't downloaded the kit. They are commenting to be courteous, so they are finding something to compliment. As for the kit being fugly, most of the ones this week are. It takes serious skill to do a good monochromatic kit, and not many people have it.
how about a couple of days working more then 6 hours a day.
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Seriously? If you've been working for more than six months, it shouldn't take that long. It's all about work flow and organization. Otherwise, you are just wasting time.
August 26, 2010 12:29 AM
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some of us have kids or housework to take care of as well, and can't just sit our fat asses in front of the computer all day. i can only speak for myself, but i design a bit at a time.
CU or no CU, most designers really need a lesson in COLOR. Just looking at those monochromatic kits hurts my eyes.
Calibrate your monitor and look at a color wheel for crying out loud.
monochromatic easier if you don't start with the ugliest color you can find
Tell me please how one wants to have a scrapbooking magazine when one doesn't speak English all that well and certainly isn't able to put the written word in the correct language and spelling which is evident by her own written comments in some forums.
August 25, 2010 7:08 AM
^^^^
I'm so happy to see someone else thinking what I did!
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My thoughts exactly. I couldn't believe my eyes when she said she was planning on doing a magazine for designers. It is generally a good idea to be at least MOSTLY fluent in a language before you try to publish a magazine in that language!
So in the Designer Survivor contest - they are allowed to scan items, use CU - and still be in a contest for design technique? If I were the designer of the blue kit, I would be calling fowl right about now. At least she didn't cop out and use helpers. Her kit may be ugly and unscrappable, but its original in all its simpleton glory.
Somebody want to tell me how this is monochromatic??
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27440
^^^
Didn't you know purple is the new yellow?
While the blue kit leaves much to be desired, it is really the only decent one there! Beigy Boutique is ok, but the rest of them are pure garbage. In comparison, Rhapsody in Blue is pure genius.
Somebody want to tell me how this is monochromatic??
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27440
August 26, 2010 5:25 PM
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LOL - she would be a cute rule breaker if she could pick a decent color card. That kit actually hurts the eyes. Ok, so far the blue one is the best of the worst. That mistake should get her voted off immediately - if this game were a real contest with any value.
Did they not understand that a monochromatic color scheme can include shades of the same color...why didn't they just go to a Home Depot or Lowes and pick up a paint color strip and draw their scheme from that? It is a lack of contrast that makes all those kits look pukey.
ROFLMBO I don't use CU I make CU and it takes time to make a quality product but maybe you wouldn't know about that since you think everyone just pops CU stuff in a kit and calls it a kit.
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I do? News to me. I don't think that at all.
some of us have kids or housework to take care of as well, and can't just sit our fat asses in front of the computer all day. i can only speak for myself, but i design a bit at a time.
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Ah, but that's not working on a kit for six hours straight, is it? I'm sorry you have a fat ass.
some of us have kids or housework to take care of as well,
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I wasn't aware that qualified as working on a kit. The point was made that they worked for well over 6 hours on a kit.
All of you blasting the Designer Survivor contest have missed one vital point, it's not about how good you are, it's about how many votes you get.
Now this thread at DST is hilarious, and proves another poster's point about CU.
http://tiny.cc/m8gm0
Most designers do use far too much CU and it's not just the so called nobody designers either.
I think the only designers making real money are the ones making CU.
I couldn't believe my eyes when she said she was planning on doing a magazine for designers. It is generally a good idea to be at least MOSTLY fluent in a language before you try to publish a magazine in that language!
Can someone please tell a nobody like me who/what this is about and where it is from?
Is it in the designer-only part of DST or what?
How many votes you get
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Let's all go in and vote for the orange one -- sort of a "vote for the worst".
So in the Designer Survivor contest - they are allowed to scan items, use CU - and still be in a contest for design technique? If I were the designer of the blue kit, I would be calling fowl right about now. At least she didn't cop out and use helpers. Her kit may be ugly and unscrappable, but its original in all its simpleton glory.
No, they are not allowed to use CU. Honestly I think that's part of why the kits aren't very good. Why are you saying the designer of the blue kit should be crying foul? You see CU in some of the other kits?
Somebody want to tell me how this is monochromatic??
http://www.browniescraps.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=27440
They were allowed up to 10% of another colour, so she didn't make a mistake putting purple in there. I actually think the yellow one is not bad, it doesn't hurt my eyes to look at it, maybe you need your monitor calibrated?
Did they not understand that a monochromatic color scheme can include shades of the same color...why didn't they just go to a Home Depot or Lowes and pick up a paint color strip and draw their scheme from that? It is a lack of contrast that makes all those kits look pukey.
They were told they had to vary the saturation and brightness, but not the hue. The colour swatches at the paint store are not all the same hue. So it's probably the fault of the person who made the challenge in the first place.
All of you blasting the Designer Survivor contest have missed one vital point, it's not about how good you are, it's about how many votes you get.
This is true. If you show your best stuff you will get voted out for being too good.
While the blue kit leaves much to be desired, it is really the only decent one there! Beigy Boutique is ok, but the rest of them are pure garbage. In comparison, Rhapsody in Blue is pure genius.
OK now I see why we don't see eye to eye on the yellow kit. Because I think Beigy Boutique looks like vomit.
Now this thread at DST is hilarious, and proves another poster's point about CU.
http://tiny.cc/m8gm0
Most designers do use far too much CU and it's not just the so called nobody designers either.
I think the only designers making real money are the ones making CU.
So they're just all buying CU from each other?
Is it funny because someone said they saw the same flower in several kits?
It's funny because a few of the designers here keep denying the prolific use of CU but the customer knows it happens. It's funny because there are two designers at least who are selling almost identical CU. It's just funny.
Designer Survivor, week four, from the previews only Stormy Weather and Elegance look okay, the rest are just awful.
Just once, I'd like to see someone make a blue kit and call it About a Girl or something. I'm so over the same old same old with boy and girl kits. No imagination.
I have a questions. I am really interested in this, this is not sarcastic at all. I read so much about what you guys don't like in a kit. I'd really like to know what you DO like in a kit. Even if it's not original because we seem to all agree that there's been very little original lately, I'd really really like to know what you like. Designers names would be good, kit names would be better. Maybe if we know what you like we can design more of that.
Tell me please how one wants to have a scrapbooking magazine when one doesn't speak English all that well and certainly isn't able to put the written word in the correct language and spelling which is evident by her own written comments in some forums.
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If you are going to smack someone for incorrect use of English, you should first make sure that you are using it properly.
Maybe if we know what you like we can design more of that.
August 26, 2010 10:32 PM
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Statistically impossible. On this blog alone, some people like flowers and ribbons in every kit, and some don't. Some people like doodles and some don't. Some people like real elements and some don't. Some like it mixed up. Some like grunge and some like clean.
If what you are currently designing is selling, then keep at it.
Designer Survivor, week four, from the previews only Stormy Weather and Elegance look okay, the rest are just awful.
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I stand partially corrected. :-) Elegance is nice as well. We'll have to agree to disagree on the Stormy Weather though.
Stormy Weather looks really 'newbie' to me, for lack of a better word.
Anonymous said...
Now this thread at DST is hilarious, and proves another poster's point about CU.
http://tiny.cc/m8gm0
Most designers do use far too much CU and it's not just the so called nobody designers either.
I think the only designers making real money are the ones making CU.
August 26, 2010 8:27 PM
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Scrapping cop just made something similar!
Stormy Weather looks really 'newbie' to me, for lack of a better word.
August 26, 2010 10:58 PM
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Maybe I should have been clearer. At least in the monochrome field it looks one of the better ones. The kit itself is a bit blah.
Most designers do use far too much CU and it's not just the so called nobody designers either.
I think the only designers making real money are the ones making CU.
August 26, 2010 8:27 PM
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Scrapping cop just made something similar!
August 27, 2010 12:53 AM
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See what I mean?
Am I the only one who thinks head bands on babies looks silly?
I think headbands on babies are ridiculous. And they certainly aren't a 'need' that you have to plan while you are pregnant.
Headbands on babies are almost as ridiculous as onesies that say things like "Boob Man."
So does anyone know why Stacy suddenly pulled the rug out from under Lara Payton, and closed her shop at GottaPixel? Seems Lara was having some issues with kidney stones, and next she found out, her stuff was OUT the door at GP - here's the note from her blog:
last week, while dealing with kidney stones (TWICE!) my designs were quite unexpectedly orphaned. kicked to the curb. left by the side of the dusty road in the most unkindliest of ways.... you get the idea. and that's all i have to say about that.
If you click on any of her GP links (on her blog), you'll likely get the message "access denied! You are not allowed to access that resource" and her name has been removed from the designer list at GP.
So what's the scoop, anyone? What a way to treat someone, huh? (though it's really no surprise)
Wow - just wow.
On the other hand, there has to be more to the story than that.
I love headbands on babies...it stems from the skin on my daughter's head not closing during whatever week that was supposed to happen. She had a really dark red welt on her head from birth and it looked like a CIGARETTTE BURN! The headband covered it up nicely until her hair grew in. Things might not always be what they seem.
Stacy is Maya's understudy for how to be the biggest biznatch in digital scrapbooking.
Anyone who works for GP can expect to sell about 3 kits unless they're $1 and have to deal with their ugly monthly color palettes.
There would have to be MUCH more to the story to just up and close a store.
Sounds like the normal bitchiness at work, though...
If you are going to smack someone for incorrect use of English, you should first make sure that you are using it properly.
Awww rats did I have a run on sentence. I'm not the one publishing a magazine and obviously at least one other got the point.
Someone has a hard on for Maya.
Awww rats did I have a run on sentence. I'm not the one publishing a magazine and obviously at least one other got the point.
August 27, 2010 4:55 PM
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I got the point. I know you are not publishing a magazine.
The headband covered it up nicely until her hair grew in. Things might not always be what they seem.
August 27, 2010 12:35 PM
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Umm, mostly head bands on babies are just that, head bands, not cover ups. They look ridiculous. My child didn't have much hair until she was 18 months old. Most moms would be tempted to put a head band on her, to indicate she's a girl. Someone even bought me headbands, which I never used.
Someone has a hard on for Maya.
August 27, 2010 5:10 PM
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You, maybe? Coz someone keeps saying that, and it's a little odd.
Umm, mostly head bands on babies are just that, head bands, not cover ups. They look ridiculous. My child didn't have much hair until she was 18 months old. Most moms would be tempted to put a head band on her, to indicate she's a girl. Someone even bought me headbands, which I never used.
August 27, 2010 7:32 PM
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Ashamed to say, I used one once and it DID look ridiculous. Took it right back off and threw it away!
^^^^^
I'll fess up, I did use one of the ones that were bought for me. I took it off two seconds later. She looked like a boy with a headband on.
I have a few photos of my baby girl in a darling little headband with an adorable little flower, and she looks cute as can be. It's all subjective; personal preference.
"Ridiculous" is your personal opinion, which I completely disagree with, and actually find your statements to be rather rude. But I guess we can't all be perfect. ;)
Maybe it's rude. But it's still ridiculous.
Seriously? The topic of the day is headbands? Wow - guess there really is nothing going on in Digiland!
No the topic of the day is the crazy bitch who runs Gotta Pixel - got anything to add to it?
is it the 'old' crazy bitch or the 'new' crazy partner?
That's a good question. I wonder if anyone who knows why Lara Payton got the boot will weigh in here?
"Ridiculous" is your personal opinion, which I completely disagree with, and actually find your statements to be rather rude. But I guess we can't all be perfect. ;)
August 27, 2010 8:46 PM
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Rude? Really? You are way too sensitive. It does look ridiculous, even more so with the flower. Now, see, that was rude!
I have a few photos of my baby girl in a darling little headband with an adorable little flower, and she looks cute as can be. It's all subjective; personal preference.
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People really talk like this? Darling headband? Adorable flower? Wow, I never knew. Did you grow her in the cabbage patch or did the stork bring her?
No the topic of the day is the crazy bitch who runs Gotta Pixel - got anything to add to it?
August 27, 2010 9:25 PM
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Only how do you know she's a crazy bitch? From the post here about Laura? Until I know more about the matter, I'm not going to weigh in.
Only how do you know she's a crazy bitch? From the post here about Laura? Until I know more about the matter, I'm not going to weigh in.
Of course not, silly! There is a lot of well-known history here that most of us are going on. But it's perfectly okay if you need to take some time to catch up with the rest of the class. We can weigh in without you. ;) (Oh, and it's Lara, not Laura, but don't worry; stick around long enough and you'll start to catch on, dear!)
Who the hell cares if it's Lara or Laura? Sorry dear, but I don't.
I know all about Stacy, dear, I don't need to catch up with the rest of the class, I'm already ahead, dear.
FWIW- The partner of my child's pediatrician was infamous for cutting a headband off babies' heads before the mom knew what happened. He said he'd seen one too many redmarks on a baby's head where the damn thing had dug in and been left on too long.
__________________________
Seriously? The topic of the day is headbands? Wow - guess there really is nothing going on in Digiland!
Look, if you don't like the topic then change it. Don't piss and moan and except us to enable you.
I do need caught up.... who is the partner and why is she crazy. I didn't even know there was a partner. Catch this idiot up! (self-confessed idiot)
Has anyone signed up for Miss Tiina / Sugar Hill subscription? They say there are tons of products in there. Are there any good ones? Any good CU templates or other CU items?
This is the one I am talking about. Just wondering what kind or CU products are in there and if they are any good, so if someone has downloaded any, let us know!
CRAP!! Forgot the link!
http://www.sugarhillco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1
Regarding headbands on babies. I think some look cute but I wonder if the mothers ever wore one themselves. Because if they did they would surely have experienced the awful headache those things can cause. With a baby already having a tender head I would think the poor things might be in pain. Food for thought LOL.
so i have to laugh..evidentally the fact that miss tiina isn't up and up on her product gives no one cause for concern and want to head right over and buy cu from her?
Has anyone signed up for Miss Tiina / Sugar Hill subscription? They say there are tons of products in there. Are there any good ones? Any good CU templates or other CU items?
August 28, 2010 4:04 PM
CRAP!! Forgot the link!
http://www.sugarhillco.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1
August 28, 2010 5:57 PM
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Here's a clue... why don't you click the BIG LINK that states, "See what is in the club at the MissTiina GIA Club Gallery on Facebook!"
Then you can see for yourself.
Seriously.
You can "see for yourself" but it looks like a bunch of junk that a million other designers already have. Not to mention you run the risk of a year down the road being told you need to pull all the kits you used one of her items in and replace it with a new, uglier item that she supposedly didn't pirate this time. Even at $10 it's a waste of money.
Has anyone signed up for Miss Tiina / Sugar Hill subscription? They say there are tons of products in there. Are there any good ones? Any good CU templates or other CU items?
August 28, 2010 4:04 PM
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Depends on the original designer, doesn't it? Miss Tiina has been caught with her hand in the cookie jar more than once. Besides, make your own crap, stop relying on CU.
^^^ exactly make your own CU, then sell it so you can be a total hypocrite because you want people to BUY your CU but criticize the designers who use it.
Hmm, I don't sell or make CU. I have no problem with designers using CU, I do have a problem with designers using CU unimaginatively. Using something 'straight out of the box' is pathetic and lazy. Changing it up to make it unique and personal is something entirely different.
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Hmm, I don't sell or make CU. I have no problem with designers using CU, I do have a problem with designers using CU unimaginatively. Using something 'straight out of the box' is pathetic and lazy. Changing it up to make it unique and personal is something entirely different.
August 28, 2010 8:06 PM
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BINGO!!
Besides, make your own crap, stop relying on CU.
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Who sad I wasn't being original. You even said there is nothing wrong with using it if it is done in an original way, so how do you know I don't?
Being a tad presumptuous?
I was just asking for thoughts, I guess I got yours.
The amount of time spent changing CU to make it yours, you could have spent making it from scratch. Just a thought.
Not if you don't have the right scanner and camera.
The best camera in the world is not going to make you a better photographer. You don't need a camera and a scanner.
The amount of time spent changing CU to make it yours, you could have spent making it from scratch. Just a thought.
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Not always. Some of the CU things out there are really good and things I would not even know how to begin making. For those things I use CU. For other things that easier to extract, I use my own. Besides, I think it is a good thing to support other designers especially when they are doing something that I can not, yet.
The best camera in the world is not going to make you a better photographer. You don't need a camera and a scanner.
Being a good photographer doesn't make the cheap plastic lens on a camera into a decent lens. Most point and shoots these days have crap lenses, and that is really important for close up detail.
More dirt on Digital Freebies and Retrodiva please? Any insiders here?
http://www.digishoptalk.com/boards/scrap-talk-65/digital-freebies-250474/
There's been dirt on Tracy Lykins before. I can't remember the details though.
I'm not surprised about Digital Freebies (no surprise about the owner-attitude, either...) A couple years ago, a large number of the DF designers left the site due to not getting their pay for months, and Tracy repeatedly ignoring their e-mails and private messages.
As far as the gallery goes, this is at least the 2nd time that the gallery suddenly up and disappeared. I also used to keep an active gallery there, as it was one of the first sites I went to, but after it disappeared the first time, I never bothered starting a new one there, since by that time I had washed my hands of the site.
I read Tracy's (un-professional) response at DST, and see she hasn't changed. There is no excuse for not communicating with your designers, and even less for not paying them. While she says Dielle can discuss it with her in private, historically, e-mails and private messages have gone completely ignored for weeks at a time when Tracy didn't feel like answering. Bringing the non-pay issue out in public (or, more accurately, in semi-public: the designer forum at DST, approx. 2 years ago) was the only way to get any kind of response from her last time things finally boiled over.
^^^^
That's where I heard the dirt, in the DCR.
I don't have access to DCR and am not familiar with this Tracy's history but her attitude in that thread is unacceptable and actually disturbing. She was dodging questions and outright rude to other posters. And the mentioning of PMSing? Seriously?
"My name? Tracy Scherrer, formerly Tracy Lykins, formerly Tracy Collins. "
Seriously, RO-fcking-FLM-ass-O.
Wow she really came out guns blaring int that thread didn't she! I am speechless.
Is there a store owner who isn't a complete douche?
I think there are. You never hear about most of the store owners. Really there's hundreds of stores and only a few dozen that have been smacked around here.
Is there a store owner who isn't a complete douche?
August 29, 2010 10:45 PM
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Yep, there sure is.
What is Bunny Cates at DSO like? I clicked on her application, but it is off putting and there is absolutely no mention of her keeping the information you send private. I have a feeling she's been burned by pirates more than once. True?
^^^^
What do you mean? I know Bunny and she is a nice and professional person.
Yeah, that's what I was asking - what's she like, but I meant to *work* for. The application was for new designers at DSO...just wondered what she'd be like to work with.
Bunny Cates is wonderful to work for. She is very professional and extremely helpful. She really wants her designers to succeed.
all I can say is wow ... just read that post by Retrodiva @ dst. If she has ever wondered why her business is tanking, well I think that attitude is a good place to start. I love the post by Strange.bird. She was clear, concise and right on the money. What a great example of what not to do in a public forum if you're a designer.
I think we need to take her designs and give them all away on our own blogs. Change the colors around to make them fit a kit you already have and make them 'free add-ons'. We'll see how she swallows that one.
___________________________________
I have just been reading this blog so far enjoying all the comments, but this one did not sit well with me. (From the last post). I agreed with the whole infringement topic, but this, really?
If you all have been so upset about copyright infringement and trademark violation, how does this make anything better or make you better than her? (Laurie's Scraps)
Totally hypocritical.
^^^^
I think you missed the point.
I've only dealt with Bunny once (as a customer) but she was really nice to me. I was fixing to email and complain about a blinkie package I had bought because the girl that was making them never sent the blinkies. and she emailed me out of the blue to check on if I had gotten them on time, and if they were ok quality. When I told her I hadnt gotten them she took care of it. I thought it was pretty cool. No store owner has ever emailed me to ask me if I was happy with my purchase or not. Im pretty sure she "fired" that girl too because she was gone from the designer list right after that.
I dont understand how retrodiva stayed in business after not paying all those designers.
She ended up saying she had sold digital freebies to, I cant remember the designers name. She had some girl start running it for her, but it was always her site. After a while it came out she really did still own it and everyone was just like. OK.
So weird people dont care if they get paid. Why don't they just give their stuff for free if they dont care if they get paid.
and I agree, Retrodiva is a real mean one. glad she showed her true colors in that post.
What happened to Anne Dejong "Anne-Made" formerly at Scrapartist?
Don't know, wasn't she at the Lily Pad for a bit?
She ended up saying she had sold digital freebies to, I cant remember the designers name. She had some girl start running it for her, but it was always her site. After a while it came out she really did still own it and everyone was just like. OK.
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Was that when Maria La France was running it? She did a good job.
"What is Bunny Cates at DSO like? I clicked on her application, but it is off putting and there is absolutely no mention of her keeping the information you send private. I have a feeling she's been burned by pirates more than once. True? "
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I wouldn't trust her with a ten foot pole. Bunny was a pirate and who knows if she still is. Either way, I won't deal with her.
So SA is closing- September 15.
Wonder what gives?
^^^^^
What gives? Why does any business close it's doors? They aren't making any money! It's not a conspiracy.
When was Bunny a pirate? Details please!
Being a pirate is totally career-ending in this industry.
^^^^
Should be. But often they linger because people have short memories.
^^^
yes, it is or is it? look at miss tiina and lots of others. why studio dutchie is still selling? she took the pop ups idea and tutorial to made it her own without changing thing all from Gunhild.
i've been scrapper since 2004 never heard a word about Bunny Cates being pirate. all i ever heard was how great she is. her designs are clean as whistle and her customer care is top notch. anytime me or friends have dealt with her she was nice. no i dont go on ct's!
lets focus on real bitches in the business i will start with Maya who got pie in the face without coming back to wipe it off. she is a bitch who thinks invented digital scrapbooking. i don't like her or sbg too high and mighty and really snotty for me.
sorry to SA closing it's doors. i wonder where the designers are headed? any news?
abt SA> I know Amanda is moving her membership thing to her own site. They sent out an email this morning.
ok, so what is the deal with 9th and Bloom? I just bought something from them where the preview was very deceiving. I thought I would get 2 of a specific item. Because it is not clear in the description, I went off of the preview. There was not 2, only one of this particular item but 2 was clearly included in the preview. I emailed and asked about a partial refund, and she said, tough luck, basically. I responded with "It is nice to know that good customer service is not as important as a couple dollars".
Is this a normal practice among this site and others, or do you think it is customary to just do a partial refund in order to make the customer happy?
And I also think it is messed up for the designer to include 2 in the preview when there is not 2.
^^
I want to see that preview. Please.
Were the two items on the preview in question different? If so, I'd expect two items in the zip. Even if they weren't different I think it would have been deceiving and it's not the way to do a preview. Link please?
why studio dutchie is still selling? she took the pop ups idea and tutorial to made it her own without changing thing all from Gunhild.
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because she did nothing wrong. Gunhild clearly states on her site that you can use her items for CU, no credit required.
When was Bunny a pirate? Details please!
August 31, 2010 12:02 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
Being a pirate is totally career-ending in this industry.
August 31, 2010 2:24 PM
Anonymous Anonymous said...
^^^^
Should be. But often they linger because people have short memories.
August 31, 2010 2:48 PM
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So short in fact that they don't remember that the accusation was entirely false, as it is here. It's probably the same bitter person making the accusation now.
So SA is closing- September 15.
Wonder what gives?
August 31, 2010 6:56 AM
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They should never have closed their forums. They should have changed the way the forums were run.
They should never have closed their gallery and moved exclusively to Flickr. They should have made their gallery open if the poster used say, 50% of the store product.
They should never have taken on some of the designers that they did.
There are a bunch of other reasons too, which I won't go into. Let's just say that Nancie lost interest and doesn't have good people skills.
That's what gives.
And I also think it is messed up for the designer to include 2 in the preview when there is not 2.
August 31, 2010 4:45 PM
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Name of designer please. I want to know who to avoid.
I'd like to see the preview in question - with the 2 items. Can you link us?
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