Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Shield and Sword Guidelines
Uploading Guidelines (Updated 11/20/2010)
If you have never created a shield or sword before, you should use a template as shown below. The images are generally made with a PC and if you have Windows you can draw with Microsoft Paint. Other great free programs include Paint.net, Gimp (Mac), and Graphics Gale*
*UPDATES*
(11/20)
-No more armor or clothing shields. Basically if it covers the body and acts like a body, it will not be accepted.
-Please CLICK the shields below then save the image on the new page. The pics below are resized for this blog.
(8/12)
-If you do not know how to set transparencies (you REALLY should know how to) then the background color for your shield/sword must be one solid color that's NOT a color in the shield/sword.
(8/1)
-We've been getting a lot of players submitting their shields with the template on top of a GIANT WHITE BACKGROUND. These shields will be automatically rejected, please make sure the image file is the right size, don't include a giant white background behind a template.
(7/31)
-Any gray areas of offensive content not mentioned below will be judged by the up-loaders whether or not it would be suitable for a server with many children under 18. Please keep that in mind when sending in a shield that might offend others. If you're not sure about it, there's a good chance it can be rejected.
(7/20)
-If you are sending multiple shields, please send them all in one email. Not doing so will only take longer for us to come around to your shields. It easier if we just download all of them from one email.
(7/19)
-We are no longer accepting gun shields.
-We don't accept shoulder pads as shields
(7/16)
-Although we upload new shields and swords every day, due to the overwhelming amount of submissions (we get about 200+ emails a day) we cannot upload a submission right away. Be patient, DO NOT send the same shield/sword more than once. We will eventually get to your e-mail. Anyone caught sending multiple e-mails with the same files will have their submission rejected. If everyone follows these rules, we will be able to upload shields/swords faster instead of rejecting half of them that come our way.
(7/14)
-Please DO NOT write to us in capital letters, massive or colorful fonts. Keep it professional, we have to go through A LOT of emails and it becomes another speed bump for us.
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Rules are below, but quick break down:
1. Never save as .jpg
2. No offensive content
3. Draw everything yourself
4. No shields as hats
5. Do not send multiple recolored shields
6. Do not use solid black
7. 512 x 120 maximum size
8. Do not name your shield/sword after another shield/sword
9. No caps or spaces in file name
10. Uploaders cannot upload anything else but shields/swords at the time being.
11. WE DO NOT MAKE/EDIT SHIELDS
12. If you are able to, set transparencies
13. Send to classic@graalonline.com with subject line
"ATTN: SHIELD SUBMISSION"
or
"ATTN: SWORD SUBMISSION"
Please CLICK the shields below then save the image on the new page. The pics below are resized for this blog.
(This is a great template to use for drawing freely. Just make sure not to save your image with the template attached.)
(This is the ONLY wing template we accept)
RULES FOR SUBMITTING SHIELDS AND SWORDS
NEVER save anything as jpg! It ruins the image. Converting image types won't fix the graphic. Save as .png or .gif for animated shields.
Keep everything appropriate. Meaning:
NO profanity
NO racism
NO sexism
Nothing sexual
Nothing drug related
Draw everything yourself. Do not use Google'd images, do not use game sprites, do not use predefined textures, or anything like that. Also, nothing that would be copyright protected. Such as things you would find in a specific anime, video game, or movie.
No shields that can be worn as hats, heads, or bodies. Meaning no glasses, shoulders, masks, hairstyles, or anything like that--even if you drew it yourself.
Do not send in repeated graphics or multiple recolors. Meaning, if a shield was already uploaded, don't rename it just to have a copy under your name. A few recolors may be nice but we don't need to upload every shade of the rainbow off of one kind of shield.
Also, NEVER USE SOLID BLACK PIXELS. Solid black at 0 0 0 shows up as transparent on the server, so instead use a dark dark grey. It can be 001 black, so long as it's not completely black.
You don't need to set transparencies but it would speed uploads up if you knew how to. If you send a bmp we will happily convert it into a .png for you, just don't save as jpeg.
Do not rename file types. It will corrupt them. Do not use colors in the image that you want to be transparent. And do not add glow or any semi-transparency to an image that has a background, it will make it impossible to trans. Please do a 24-bit transparency before adding glow or any semi-transparency effects! Please make sure the final image has a SINGLE COLORED BACKGROUND! Please, no gradients, checkered backgrounds, or template backgrounds.
Do not exceed image sizes past 512 x 120. A lot of big images such as wings, in most cases, are rejected. If your wings do fit into the guidelines then we can accept them. Also, only small animated shields can be accepted.
Do not name your files after existing files. Or do not upload files under the same name (such as a sword and shield under the exact same name). If you want to update a shield, have us delete the original one and upload the new one under a different name. Do not use any symbols in file names except - and _. And keep file names appropriate. Please limit your file names to 24 characters (not including the .png).
Also, do not include "setshield" as part of the file name. Have the file name already named what you wish to be. No caps or spaces. For example - awesome-shield.png.
The uploaders are NOT in charge of uploading the following: Hats, bodies, heads, furniture, levels, or anything else! Only swords and shields are accepted at this moment!
We do not convert images into shields for you or draw shields for you. You draw everything yourself. We don't do touch ups either. Also, everything is uploaded in order. Do not ask us to upload something before someone else, because they may have been waiting a long time! Depending on your e-mail, attach your graphic as a FILE and NOT a picture or a photo. Attaching a your graphic as a picture or a photo may convert and damage the image.
Please use the templates we provide! Adding color to one side of the template does not actually change it. Also do not keep text or extra space outside the templates.
When you're done, send to classic@graalonline.com with subject line
"ATTN: SHIELD SUBMISSION"
or
"ATTN: SWORD SUBMISSION"
If you agree to follow the guidelines you may e-mail classic@graalonline.com with all/any submissions in one email. You may also ask questions concerning player graphics.
Easy way to set transparencies:
1. Make image in Paint
2. Go to http://www.sumopaint.com/app
3. Go to File in the app, then Open from My Computer and open the image
4. Click on the "Magic Wand" tool on the right
5. Click on the background of the image
6. Press the backspace key
7. Go to File then Save to My Computer
8. Save the image
After you've done it once or twice, and know where all the buttons are, you can do it really quickly and easily. Hope this helped
Templates at-----> http://profile.imageshack.us/user/dylmar
