What's New - - Updates - Page 3

Doug Nelson · #31 07-19-2002, 07:25 PM

There's never been a week where my avatar wasn't more literal.

We're on our new, better server now.

There's a new Review and an excellent tutorial from Jakaleena covering Basic Layer Usage.

But the biggest news is a major change in the way new Challenges and entries are posted. New Challenges from today on will be posted in a new section of our Gallery. Each Challenge will have its own category, so everyone can directly upload their work and descriptions from now on, without having to email me. Previous Challenges will continue to be handled as they always have.

So, here's our new Challenges for this week, in their new home:
Restoration Challenge
Retouching Challenge
Photo-Art Challenge

I'm sure there will be some bumps along the way, so I've set up a discussion thread here.

Doug Nelson · #32 07-27-2002, 07:32 AM

In case anyone still had any lingering questions about why I was so hepped on an automated Challenge entry system, here are 4 more reasons:

A new Restoration Challenge, a new Retouching Challenge, a new Manipulation Challenge, and a new Photo-Art Challenge.

I'd never have been willing to post these so soon if it wasn't for the new system. There's still a bug or two to work out, but so far the hardest thing has been getting people over there to critique the great entries (go, now).

Notice also that they're bigger and much better in quality than usual. That's thanks to our new server's more generous specifications.

If you have questions or comments about the new system, see the thread link posted in last week's update.

Also, we have another great new tutorial from our own Queen of Tuts, Jakaleena (all hail Queen Tut!). This one is on colorization.

Doug Nelson · #33 08-09-2002, 07:55 PM

Ok, I'll keep this short this time:

Four new Challenges (one of each), and two new tutorials by Jakaleena, including "How to navigate the new Challenge section" for those having difficulty.

I'm really pleased with how everyone is taking to the new Challenge area.

Doug Nelson · #34 08-24-2002, 08:48 AM

It's "Macho Week" here on RetouchPRO.

Four new Challenges, one of each, all rugged and sweaty and rarin' to go.

Plus there's a distinctly non-macho tutorial by our very own rugged, macho Fugitive.

By the way, I'm extremely low on Challenge materials in all categories. PM or email me if you have something to contribute.

Doug Nelson · #35 09-15-2002, 08:23 AM

It's been a trying week here on planet Earth. In the world at large, here in the forums, and for many of us personally.

But adversity does not form character, it reveals it. And we will press on, as better people.

Four new Challenges this week, with no unifying theme.

But, start submitting your ideas for upcoming Autumn, Halloween, and holiday Challenges as soon as possible. Email me low-rez versions with your ideas.

Doug Nelson · #36 10-05-2002, 03:08 PM

Four new Challenges, one of each, two of which have spooky, Halloween themes (one nice and cute, one not).

Plus there's a new Gallery Challenge and a new game of Art Tag started, both thanks to T Paul.

I think this is a record, we have 6 new tutorials, 5 by Jakaleena and one by Antonio Guevara.

Speaking of records, we're closing in on 1000 registered members!

Doug Nelson · #37 10-25-2002, 12:50 AM

Four new Challenges, one of each. One is our last Halloween Challenge this year (and a very cute one at that). Plus there's a new Gallery Challenge

Plus 2 new software reviews.

And we're way past 1000 registered members now!

By the way: we're almost out of new Challenge material, so dig out your old photos and studio portraits, scan them, and email me thumbnails.

Doug Nelson · #38 11-13-2002, 06:49 PM

Four new Challenges, including a Thanksgiving-themed rescue.

Also, Danny Raphael reviews HyperTyle.

I've also expanded our RetouchPRO Store offerings (which are all still selling at cost).

Doug Nelson · #39 12-02-2002, 02:42 PM

Three new Challenges, two of which are seasonally-themed. No Retouching Challenge this time because I ran out of material (please send retouching material).

Our new Review Database is off to a poor start. Maybe it's too complicated, or maybe the word "Review" is scaring people away from submitting their own opinions. That's really what it should be called, "Opinions Database". Click on "Reviews" ("Opinions") over on the navbar to check it out. Don't be too shy to post your own opinions or suggest items you'd like to see opinions on.

Jak's donation drive is well underway. Thanks to those who have sent in donations so far.

Doug Nelson · #40 01-11-2003, 08:56 PM

It's been awhile since my last update, and I apologize to all. I've been very busy in real life.

I'm 100% caught up with Challenge posting, so if you sent in work you did on a Challenge and it's not up by the date of this update, something's wrong. You should contact me.

I'm completely out of good retouching Challenge material, so to make up for it I'm posting one of the hardest Restoration Challenges ever. And no, it's not punishment for people not submitting Challenge material

By the way, when making an image to upload or attach here in Photoshop, make sure you use "Save for web".

We have two excellent new tutorials, both submitted by members. Look, learn, and send in your own tutorial ideas!

I'm guess I'm going to have to beg for people to post product opinions in our new Reviews area. Consider this begging.

Hopefully it won't take so long for my next update.

Doug Nelson · #41 01-26-2003, 11:50 PM

Five new Challenges, including four of the usual plus a Gallery Challenge.

Three new tutorials, including two for non-Photoshop users.

We obviously got some great Challenge materials submissions since my last update, but I'm still virtually out of all non-Restoration Challenge possibles. Send in your Retouching, Manipulation, and Photo-Art possible Challenges today!

Doug Nelson · #42 02-14-2003, 11:51 PM

Four new Challenges. We got one really good Retouching Challenge original since last time, but now I'm out of Retouching Challenge material again.

Check out the new items in the Reviews section. Almost 300 items for you to have opinions on, and of course you can submit any other items you'd like. I put in every new Photoshop book I could find, and a bunch of other stuff.

Doug Nelson · #43 03-17-2003, 02:30 AM

Four new Challenges that I especially like (since I've had some time to think about them). None of these use submitted materials, but we have gotten some in (though not nearly enough, keep 'em coming).

Well, it finally happened. We ran out of server space. Don't go fretting, though. This was seen coming a long time ago, and the last donation drive covered it. I temporarily deleted the Archives to keep us going for the upcoming couple of weeks, and I'm negotiating for more space right now.

This won't, however, give us unlimited space. In web terms, there's no such thing. Most likely it will tide us over until our current server contract expires this summer. It is, however, an excellent example of your donations at work keeping this site alive and growing.

Doug Nelson · #44 04-27-2003, 10:29 PM

Four new Challenges all with a flower theme (I'm got a bit of Spring fever).

The server space problem will take longer than I thought to fix, but only because we have to wait a couple of months for a new class of service to be offered by our webserver company. Once they have the new service rolled out, we'll have oodles of space and bandwidth to play with.

I was hoping to announce a major new feature addition to our site, but some technical problems have to be worked out first. In the meantime, I'll just shamelessly tease you.

Doug Nelson · #45 06-05-2003, 02:12 PM

I posted a new Retouching Challenge, and made the decision that I'll post new Challenges as I find good subjects, rather than waiting until I have something to post in all 4 categories. This will probably lead to more Challenges overall, but will also require a bit more vigilance on your part to watch for them. I'll mention them in future updates, but by that time they may have been up for a couple of weeks.

The biggest news is our new Critique forum. Previously we had it lumped together with "Help Requested" which probably diluted them both. Now they each have their own discrete area. Greg Couch is spearheading the critique effort, so make sure you read his introductory posts before jumping in. This is a serious effort at cultivating genuine and useful critiques, so everyone's cooperation with the guidelines is necessary to keep it as such.

As for my big tease, while my internet connection was down for two weeks a new version of the software was released. Once I got back online I got all excited and updated my prototype. And it bombed. So now we're waiting on a bugfix that the authors have been promising "any day now" for two weeks.

Some of you may be noticing more total posts as you browse the forums. This is because I changed the default view from "last 30 days" to "show all". It struck me that a lot of reinventing the wheel was going on, particularly with new users, so this is a gentle nudge of encouragement to read older posts. If you want it to go back to the way it was before, you can customize your view via your control panel.