The first thread in the MDC you should be aware of is Graphic Stalkers, which is a lot friendlier than it sounds.
name: Graphic Stalkers
purpose: For designers and fanatics alike to post their favorite graphics (covers, banners, gifs, drawings), made by them or others. Other people can thumb through these graphics to get inspiration, or simply enjoy the view.
admin: User, "Forcade"
admin credentials: MDC veteran, professional graphic designer, mature, and trustworthy.
popularity: Hot
findability: You can usually find this thread on the front page, it's really popular. When it's nowhere to be found, that usually means the thread got closed and needs to be reposted. I try to post a link to the new Graphic Stalkers when I find it.
pros: This thread encourages "love" by offering a welcoming and non-aggressive community where designers can boost their self esteem. Anyone can post and anyone can offer their feedback.
cons: It's almost impossible to get real constructive criticism.
rating: 8/10
terms:
[graphic dump] a collection of graphics put together in one post,
[repost] posting the same graphic(s) more than once
[colorization] taking a black and white photo and adding color to it, which is no small task
[coloring] a photoshop resource that alters the colors and contrast of your graphic
rant:
THE REPOSTS FOR GOD'S SAKE.
Alright, so I'm a busy person. I don't have time to be on this thread 24/7 and comment on everyone's shit and post my own shit. What I do is go to the thread whenever I have time, and then comb through the pages I haven't yet seen (usually 6-12 pages) and admire the beauty. I imagine lots of others do the same, lurking is cool. But, I DON'T WANT TO JUST SIT HERE AND LOOK AT THE SAME F--KING GRAPHICS OVER AND OVER AND OVER.
I've literally seen people who insist on posting the same graphic EVERY PAGE for three pages in a row. WHy? The only point of a repost is to get more f--king compliments to fuel your fragile ego. There's a difference between boosting your self esteem and OVERDOING IT TO THE POINT WHERE YOU NEED TO POST YOUR COVERS THIRTY TIMES JUST TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT THEM.
Look, we admire your graphics, we do. We just can't comment on them because we're lurkers and you posted it 36 hours before we saw it. If everyone stopped doing as many reposts, the thread would go by slower and Forcade wouldn't have to make as many updated threads.
Another thing I don't like is how all the constructive cricitism posted on that thread is either dismissed or ignored. They say "go to the Rate the Cover Above You thread for real critiques," but the fact is that thread has slowly started dying since Graphic Stalkers moved it. No one wants to go to the RTCAY thread for critiques because we're all content with getting usless compliments from Graphic Stalkers. There's literally nowhere in the MDC were designers can get genuine, helpful critiques anymore and that gRINDS MY GEARS.
Vote if you want me to make a critique thread for designers. :D I need some motivation because I'm lazy.