Quickie question...

[ash48]

Do you think having a graphic, as in a banner, enhances a fic or vid post? Do you think a banner makes a difference as to whether you would read or watch something?

Just curious..

Also. Not sure why. Lost and Gillian's Island. Just a thought.

Oooh and an art rec while I'm here: The Dicks It's ok. It's safe for work. :D It's fab art of the angels in SPN. Love it.

Comments

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I think sometimes it does yes.

<3

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Good to know.. thanks hun! <3

[amnisias.livejournal.com]

I think it could go either way, depending on the quality of the graphic and what's depicted. This is coming from somebody who doesn't read much fic, though. Something that's more consistently getting me curious about fic are well made trailer vids...

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Something that's more consistently getting me curious about fic are well made trailer vids...

Ooh really? That's interesting. Can't say I've come across too many of those. Though I know a few Big Bang artists make them.

And yes - I think the quality is important too.
Thanks. :)

[redteekal.livejournal.com]

I'm indifferent to banners in terms or what I read or watch. No banner has ever made me think "Oooh I should watch that (or read that)". I use my own judgement based on several factors but then if I do read or watch something and I love it AND the banner is well done then I do enjoy looking at that graphic - it probably enhances my viewing/reading experience in the post sense rather than the pre sense.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hey there!

I know what you mean. For a fic it's usually the summary (amd maybe even the warnings! ;) ) that draw me in. Though I have read a couple of fics based on the graphics.

I love looking at art work, so I do enjoy looking at the graphic as well. I sometimes use it to look for a "hint" at what it might be about.

Thanks hun. (You must be off soon?)

[missyjack.livejournal.com]

unless its a stunning banner that entices me with something rather than just generally decorative. I'd prefer an alluring summary!

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - summary is were I usually head to first.
xx

[secretlytodream.livejournal.com]

I think it does, yeah. It's like an advertisement - people see something shiny and they want to see the content, you know? Like, if the banner is well made and it shows the story in the video/fic it can nudge the readers/viewers to start watching/reading. But it's a two end thing - if the banner is not well made, or, even worse, it can spooke the readers or viewers. IMHO I always make banners for my videos, though not sure why lol I guess I just saw some vidders doing it before I started making my own videos and I thought like, making a banner for your video is a must. Kind of :P

And thanks for the rec! I especially loved John's face mmuhawhawhaw

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes - I see it as an advertisement as well. I think it should give the viewer a "clue" as to what the content might be. I notice a lot of people are doing them and I am in the middle of trying to decide whether to have one for my next vid. Of course for me it's a pain because I can't make them myself...

so.. um, *koff* speaking of which... would you be in a position to make one if I decided to use one? Eek! I hate asking, I really do... but I thought I'd check. I know you'll let me know if you can't.
<333

Oooh and I love John's face in that too. And Raphael's. :D

[secretlytodream.livejournal.com]

Haha sure thing hon :) It's not trouble for me, feel free to PM me or e-mail ;)

[ancastar.livejournal.com]

Before coming to Supernatural, I would have said a banner made no difference. But so many people in this fandom post work using banners for advertising that now I kind of think it's expected.

That being said, I've made ones for my last few vids and my two longer stories have (will have) one. But I don't do them for anything under 20,000 words.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yeah - I tend not to think of them for shorter vids, but when I consider a vid longer and more involved I consider having one.

I've been wondering if they have become ":expected" - they are certainly used more often.

<3

[greenpear.livejournal.com]

Don't have an opinion about banners -BUT- there are multiple LOST/Gilligan's Island vids out there. They're mostly LOST in the Gilligan's Island theme. But so far I haven't found any using Gilligan's Island video in a LOST setting.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Ah! I wondered if someone had done Lost to a Gilligan's Island theme - I felt sure they must have done!

Thanks! :)

[varkelton]

I do think they're really cool. I'm not sure they make me more likely to watch a vid, but then again, I'm a pretty easy sell. I think it probably does help a little - I mean, if someone goes to the trouble to make a banner, then they probably put a lot of work into a vid as well... Number one thing that will make me watch a vid is the artist. You, for example, don't have to do much besides make a post that says 'Click here, I has the pretties...' and I will. Gleefully. If I don't know the vider, I'll look at the music (if I like the song, I'll almost certainly click, just to see what they did with it) and then the pairing. If I don't know the vidder or the song, I'm somewhat likely to give Dean/Cas a miss, but more than likely watch something Sam centric. After that, hmmm... I'm more likely to give episode recaps a miss than other kinds...

In other news, my artist made me a trailer vid for my story! ::bounces:: It's made of awesome! Maybe it will inspire you to sign up for big bang next year... ;)

Also... your Sammy icon is shiny...

[ash48.livejournal.com]

if someone goes to the trouble to make a banner, then they probably put a lot of work into a vid as wel

I often think this as well. If I've put a lot of work into a vid I usually like to use a banner. Sometimes for the shorter ones I don't bother.

You, for example, don't have to do much besides make a post that says 'Click here, I has the pretties...' and I will.

Awww, thanks honey. Though this next one is purely Cas (not Dean/Cas though), so I have no idea what the audience will be like. I tend not to watch Cas vids (though I have recently to try to get a better grasp on him).

in other news, my artist made me a trailer vid for my story! ::bounces::

Yay! I look forward to seeing it. (And to checking out your story!) I reckon making story trailers would be pretty diffiucult, but certainly something I would love to try one day. Maybe next year. :D

Thanks honey! <33

[yourlibrarian]

LOL, did the art post inspire the question? It would certainly be appropriate.

For myself though, no, it makes no difference at all. I certainly appreciate a nice piece of art (or pieces as in the case of BB and some long-running stories). But for me it works like advertising. I might notice a story because of art, but unless the story seems like something I want to read on its own, it won't matter. And if the story seems like something I might like, it won't matter if art's attached to it or not, or what the quality of art is.

I've seen some people say that they won't try fic that has poor quality art, or even if the author uses an icon the viewer doesn't like! It strikes me that this is a habit that comes out of being in a large fandom, where the main problem is narrowing down your choices, not hoping that someone has posted anything in the last week.

You've made me ponder how I tend to click on vids though. I think it tends to be an equal combination of the vidder, the song, and the characters in it. Except for the characters part this is pretty different from fic, because most of the time I don't even remember who wrote something.

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Your icon is lovely.

[yourlibrarian]

Oh thank you! It was made by indulging_breck as part of a series on all the episodes of Angel.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

LOL, did the art post inspire the question?

Hee! No. Actually it's this vid I'm working on... ;) I'm trying to decide if I should have a banner made for it. (Though that picture she has of Cas would be cool - if the vid was crack or something).

I've seen some people say that they won't try fic that has poor quality art, or even if the author uses an icon the viewer doesn't like

Wow, that's harsh. Though I get your point about having to narrow down the choices. though for fic it comes down to the author (I certainly have my set "go to" authors") recs and summary.

For vids...um... recs mostly draw me in and if I know the vidder. The art work doesn't usually make a difference whether I'll watch it. Though I do like it to give me an idea of what the "feel" of it might be like.

(Loki has offered to make me a banner, so I can't really pass that up because I always love her work).

<333

[yourlibrarian]

It's always great when people will make you nice things ;D

I think for me the vidder matters more than the author because there are relatively few vidders (many of whom are multifannish) and there can be a significant difference in technical skill. Assuming an author is a passable writer, I will likely enjoy the story mostly for the premise and any little twists or nice bits of dialogue they offer. But there are many passable writers, and relatively few authors whose every piece of work is a must-read. So I may enjoy one thing from a person and nothing else, or at least nothing else for some time. So who the author is matters less to me than what they chose to write about.

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

I usually notice a fic more with a banner to take a closer look if I might want to read it. But on vids it rather puts me off. (I have no idea why that is.)

And the art rec! So cool! (Left her some love.)

And now I'll go and check out your rec's from your last post. You are way too fast for me to keep up with...*g*

[ash48.livejournal.com]

But on vids it rather puts me off.

Oh really? How interesting. *Eek* I think I might be using a banner for my next one...

And that art is awesome yeah? How are each of their faces!? Priceless!

Thanks hun. <33

[greyowl88.livejournal.com]

And that art is awesome yeah?

Totally! :) Michael is really creepy. I love each and every one of them. And the pink background...lol! "pink for the dicks" hahaha! *cough* (excuse my strange humour)

I think I might be using a banner for my next one...

Not to worry! If I know who is the vidder I'll watch! Of course! *glomps* (And I'm sure yours will be a lovely banner.)

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Most of the time, artwork of any kind only distracts me. Often, it's pretty awful, especially in challenge posts where writers and artists have been more or less randomly thrown together. Only last night, I opted to pass up two Big Bang stories by authors I like because of that. Harsh, but true.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Only last night, I opted to pass up two Big Bang stories by authors I like because of that.

Oooh, that is harsh. :) I don't think the art would ever turn me off a story. In fact some of the art has made me want to read the story where normally I wouldn't. (Though I've had zero opportunity to do any reading. Lots of bookmarks though!)

Thanks for the input. I seem to be getting quite a mixed reaction (which isn't helping make my decision about whether to use one in my next vid post any easier!)

<3

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Yes, harsh :-( Part of the problem was that the stories were posted in several installments, which would have made too much work out of my usual solution of just cutting and pasting the story into a Word document. To be fair, the art was pervasive and really, really bad. I might lighten up eventually. I go through stages.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

I can understand that - as in it being pervasive (ooh and it was really, really bad? ouch).

So you cut and paste huh? Do you find the .pdf files that some authors provide helpful? I've never dl'd one, so I am curious.

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

I like PDF files. In fact, being a designer by trade, I like to present my stories as magazine layouts, using graphics mostly based on appropriate frame grabs. I use smaller physical page sizes so the layout can be viewed by most people with left- and right-reading pages side by side, just as you would if you were reading a magazine. Pages turn by hitting your --> button (keep the cursor hovering over the "turn page" button to make it super-easy). I guess I sort of anticipated Kindle, or even more so, iPad, by doing this. :-) Here's an example, if you're interested. (Not in a fandom you probably follow, sorry.) http://www.megaupload.com/?d=DFWBWUP8

For all that, I think most readers prefer plain Word files. Apparently, some people read fic on small-format electonic devices, not necessarily computer monitors, or customarily print out for reading on paper.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Thanks! (hee! I'm glad you edited that I was thinking... omg and ODF file... something else I have to learn about!! *G*)

I've been content with reading the actual internet posts but I can see how being able to dl a fic could better. I have been know to cut and past to a word doc for printing - but the amount of paper I've used scares me.

I have an iPad on my birthday wish list - for the express purpose of reading fanfic. :)

[mara-snh.livejournal.com]

Oh, an iPad would be perfect! I hope you get your wish :-)

[dotfic.livejournal.com]

Summary/genre/pairing/some idea of the contents matter to me much more than a header. Honestly, I don't care either way, it's nice having pretty art but that's not the first thing I consider but I can see how it also works as a way to draw people in to reading or watching.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Yes - it looks like it really depends on the individual (which, I know...*duh*! *g*). I love looking at art works and in fact (certainly for some of the BB's) it's made me want to read the story where initially I may not have been so interested. Though I certainly go to the summary and genre before anything else.

<33

[barkley.livejournal.com]

I do not like them for vids. They are just cluttering up my flist since I have all graphics over a certain size turned off. It's especially bad if the only link to the vid is in the banner because I can't click that right from my flist (that will just take me to the plain picture.) And to make me go through an extra click is extra annoying. *g*

For fic, I tend to click on everything in the newsletter anyway (and have very few fic communities on my flist) so I get the full size banner right away. Once it made me read a story because the summary sounded stupid, but the banner put a different image to the characters than the summary implied to me.

[ash48.livejournal.com]

Hi. That's interesting. I didn't know you could turn certain sized graphics off. And yes I can see how that would be an issue for banner only links.

A few people have mentioned "not for vids", but "yes for fic". Hmm...

I don't mind a small banner for either, but those really big graphics can get annoying, especially if they've been posted to a number of communities at once.

Thanks for your input.

(Hee! Icon. That's funny - I spent a while the other day looking for footage of that very scene on YT. It was the song I was after - still didn't manage to find it),

<3