I just need to get this off my chest.

[sgflutegirl]

I've been stewing over this for a while, and trying to decide if I'm going to post anything or not. A few years ago, I probably wouldn't have, but both of these issues are popping up more and more lately and I couldn't hold it in anymore.

My first issue has to do with icons. IF YOU ALTER THE ASPECT RATIO OF THE IMAGE IN YOUR ICONS, I WILL NOT LOOK AT THEM!!! Now, I know I did it when I first started making them, but I realized rather quickly that it looks bad and learned how to fix it. If you don't know what I mean, it's when the image is squished and/or stretched. It usually happens when the image is cropped and resized. I know on PS there is a little clicky box in the Image Size window that says 'Constrain Proportions.' Click that, and you shouldn't have the problem anymore. I'm not familiar with other programs, but I'd think there would be something similar.

My second issue has to do with fic. IF YOU CAN'T BOTHER TO FORMAT YOUR FIC TO WHERE IT'S READABLE, I'M NOT GOING TO BOTHER TRYING TO READ IT. What bothers me the most is when there are no spaces between dialogue and paragraphs. Everything is just run together. It is really hard to read when it's like that. There should be spaces between paragraphs and between lines of dialogue. This is something that I learned in school, and because I enjoy reading and writing so much, this is a real problem for me.

I'm probably preaching to the choir with this post, but I just had to get it out. These are two basic things that most icon makers and fic writers know.

Looking back over this, I probably look a little OCD, but I know for a fact that I'm not the only person that these things bother.

Okay, that's me on my soapbox, and I think I'm done. I hope I don't sound too mean or bitchy. Just had to get this off my chest.

Comments

[sid]

Oh, yes, even a really, really, really short fic is too hard to read when it's all squished together. *nods*

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

I tried to read a short one last night, and it hurt my brain. If it hadn't been as short as it was, I wouldn't have bothered. That's what brought this on actually.

[sffan.livejournal.com]

I'll do you one better.

If the person has a crappy icon (usually a mangled aspect ratio), I won't even bother trying to read the fic, because I just automatically make the assumption that if they like that icon and are sharing it with the world, they have no ability to judge quality, so their fic likely sucks.

And yes, I agree about the paragraph thing. I don't care how good your fic is, if your formatting is mental, I won't read it.

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

You've got me there. Though, now, I'm going to be looking for that. LOL

[switch842.livejournal.com]

OMG I do that, too!! Mostly because I just don't have as much time to read stuff as I used to, so, you know, something's gotta be set to weed things out.... :-)

[sffan.livejournal.com]

Exactly!

[wraith816.livejournal.com]

YANA

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

Took me in minute to figure out what you were saying. LOL

[lmichelle599.livejournal.com]

It's not that hard to format things in Word. It practically does it for you. I always doublespace my fics to allow more than enough room for them to be readable.

Don't get me started on incorrect speeling and no periods at the end of sentences. *head desk*

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

It really isn't hard at all.

I could write a book on grammar and spelling. Holy crap!! Don't even get me started.

[delphia2000.livejournal.com]

Skewed icons are just obvious. I can see maybe someone has problems with how to format, but if the icon is screwy, it's right there! How can it be ignored?

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

That's a really great question.

[bluedelft.livejournal.com]

Yes and yes!

When I first started to make icons that was one of the things that I asked my sister about since she had been making them for a few years and I didn't want to mess with the aspect ratio. You learn tricks to keep the ratio correct.

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

I didn't know what it was called back then, but I did know to ask if there was a way to fix it. Then when I finally got PS, it was built in.

[finduilas-clln.livejournal.com]

I was just about to say that I have NEVER had that with icons, and I wonder how other people do have that problem. But you just answered the question 'cause I use PS and always have!

And God yes, the text all squished together... Just can't read it!

[ranereins.livejournal.com]

*claps* Bravo, well said! YES to all of it.

[sgflutegirl.livejournal.com]

LOL! Thanks!

[the-other-sandy.livejournal.com]

I hate the Wall of Text. I don't know how anyone can read that.

I also hate it when people use distracting LJ layouts with their posted fic. It's really hard to read turquoise text on a fuchsia background with animated GIFs blinking at me from the sidebar the whole time.