FAQ and User Guide

SHEEZYART FAQ AND USER GUIDE
(this is still a work in progress)

I. GETTING STARTED
Help! My verification e-mail didn’t send!
About the Cast/Admins
How do I submit art?
What are “shareables”?
What types of files can I submit?
Why does it say I’m trying to submit a “Compressed File”?
How can I change my icon?
How do I leave a comment?
Watching/Unwatching users.
What is a buddy list and how do I add people to it?
How do I delete a submission?
How do I delete my account?
What are the BBCodes accepted by Sheezy?
Where is the paint chat?
Who is this “Dante”?
How is babby formed?
How girl get pragnent?

II. SITE ISSUES
A. Browsing
Why won’t the preview file expand when I click it?
Image disappears or Full View appears on its own page.
My submission isn’t showing in my gallery!

B. Customization
How do I put images on my page?
How do I add art Thumbnails to my journal?
How do I make a Layout?
How do I make a header/footer for my journal?
How do I make a profile picture?
How do I add music to my page?
How do I remove things from my user page?
How do I add art Thumbnails to my journal?

C. Clubs
How do I get to my Clubs?
Club Layout
Settings
Finding new members

D. Forums
How do I post in the forums?
Quoting people
Disagreements/conflicts
Forum Culture

E. Chat
About SheezyArt Chat
Rules
Server information
Operators
Why are the people in Chat so MEAN??

III. USER CONFLICTS
How do I report someone or their artwork?
How do I block someone from my page?
What to do about harassment/flames/trolls?
Why is my art “displeasing”?

IV. ART ISSUES
How do I resize my images?
Where can I get Photoshop/Flash/FL Studio/etc.?
What are some good, cheap/free art programs?

V. FINDING MORE HELP

I. GETTING STARTED
Help! My verification e-mail didn’t send!
If your still haven’t received your verification email, log into SheezyArt. Near the top of the screen will be a message telling you that your account is not verified, and will contain a link to re-send your verification. If, after an hour you still have not gotten a verification email, you may contact a Cast member and ask them to send it manually.

About the Cast/Admins
Cast members are the moderators of SheezyArt. They are completely volunteer and each one has a particular area in which they work on the site. They are friendly, approachable people and can be Messaged for assistance if you need it. Please be patient when contacting Cast members, since they cannot all be online 24 hours a day, it may take them some time to reply. Good manners when contacting the Cast also goes a long way toward getting your problem resolved.
A list of the Cast Members and their job descriptions can be found on the Cast Page.

How do I submit art?
At the top right of the screen by your icon is a button that says “Account”. Click it for a drop-down list to appear, choose Submit Art, and follow the steps.

What are “shareables”?
Shareables is a section separate from your main gallery. It is intended as a place to put things you didn’t make entirely yourself, such as wallpapers and desktops made from other people’s work. Works submitted to Shareables will not show up under Recent Submissions on the front page, cannot be voted up or down, cannot be favorited, but your watchers will receive a notice about them in their updates. This makes it an ideal category for putting personal photos and other things you’d prefer to share mainly with your friends on the site.

What types of files can I submit?
- SheezyArt accepts only .jpg, .gif, or .png image files. .bmp files are not accepted anywhere on the site.
- Writing must be copy-pasted into the textbox indicated in the submission process – an image must be loaded at the end for a thumbnail and preview image (they can be the same image), and must also be either .jpg, .gif, or .png.
- Music files must be in .mp3 and may not exceed 5mb in size.
- Flash files must be .swf files.

Why does it say I’m trying to submit a “Compressed File”?
You should have been prompted earlier in the process to paste your writing into a textbox, and that is the only place your writing goes. The last two boxes are for a thumbnail (labeled “Preview”) and an image to be shown in the small view (labeled “Submission”). Both should be either .jpg .png or .gif images, as these are the only types of files accepted in this final step. They can both be the same image.

How can I change my icon?
Go to Account > Settings > General Settings. There is a place to upload an icon. Don’t forget to hit “Apply Changes” at the bottom of the screen after uploading. Icon size is 75×75 pixels, and must be .jpg, .gif, or .png. Other sizes of images will be resized, but animated .gifs will no longer be animated if they have to be resized, so you are encouraged size your images to 75×75 before uploading.
Note: If your new icon does not appear right away, go to any page and hit shift+reload or F5 to completely reload, and the new icon should show up.

How do I leave a comment?
If the artist has allowed comments, each artwork, journal, or comment box on user pages will have beneath it a link that says “Leave Comment”. Click it and you may type a comment and hit “Send” when you are done.
To reply to another comment, press the “Leave Reply” link in the upper right corner of the comment you wish to reply to. Do not confuse this with the red “Report” link, as this will send a report to the moderators about the comment, instead of posting a reply.

Watching/Unwatching users.
Each user page has a set of links on the righthand side of their page, across from their icon. The top one says “Watch”. Click it, and it will change to read “De-Watch”. To unwatch a user, you must click “De-Watch” on their user page – there is not yet a way to unwatch people from your watchlist.

What is a buddy list and how do I add people to it?
Your buddy list determines which user icons are displayed in the Layout Box called “Friends” on your userpage. To add users to this list, go to Account > Watch List and click the little green man icon next to the user’s icon you wish to add.

How do I delete a submission?
To delete a submission, you must go to the submission’s page and click the link above and to the right of the image that reads “Delete”. It will give you a confirmation prompt before permanently deleting the submission. This cannot be undone.
There is currently no centralized way to delete artwork in groups or all at once – they must each be done individually.

How do I delete my account?
There is no way to delete your account, as removing usernames from the site would break the database. However, you can hide all elements on your profile page and delete all journals and artwork.
There is currently no centralized way to delete groups of or the totality of your artwork, but a polite message to a Cast Member can often result in total deletion of your gallery if it is too overwhelming to do by hand.

What are the BBCodes accepted by Sheezy?
BBCode is similar to HTML formatting, in that “tags” go around strings of letters to be formatted a certain way. These codes work in Forums, Comments, Journals, and Private Messages, except that the [img] tags have been disabled in Comments to prevent abuse.

Text Formatting
• Bold: [b][/b]
• Italic: [i][/i]
• Underlined: [u][/u]
• Strikethru: [s][/s]
• Size: [size=x] [/size] (where x = any number from 1 to 99)
• Centered: [align=center] [/align]
• Left Aligned: [align=left] [/align]
• Right Aligned: [align=right] [/align]
• Marquee (scrolling text): [marquee] [/marquee]

Inserting Objects/Links
• Links: [url=http://www.example.com/page.html]Link Text[/url] (do not forget the “http:// at the beginning!)
• Images: [img=http://www.example.com/folder/image.jpg] (this tag does not not need to be “closed”.)
• User Icons: [u=username] (this tag does not need closing either.)

Nesting Tags
Tags can be nested, but you must be careful to make sure they are nested properly.
• [u][url=http://www.example.com]Text[/url][/u] is a common construction, because SheezyArt does not underline links by default, it is easier to find links within text this way. Note that the [u][/u] stays on the outside of the [url=] tag. This is what is meant by proper nesting.

Where is the paint chat?
There is no paintchat, only broken promises and shattered dreams. :’(

Who is this “Dante”?
Dante was once the lovable furry mascot of SheezyArt and his image, drawn by Cast Member Vensy, could be found in nearly every aspect of the site. After his gruesome murder, he was replaced by the venerable Go-Steeeve, though Dante’s image lingers on in the default user icon.

II. SITE ISSUES
A. Browsing
Why won’t the preview file expand when I click it?
There are a couple reasons why this might happen.
If your operating system is Linux, the problem can be resolved by going to Account > Settings > Browse Settings and checking the box for the “Heavy Bling Filter”. Save changes. This removes excess javascript which does not seem to work on Linux systems, no matter the browser.
This problem is also caused on other operating systems by not allowing the page to load fully. Click the empty Full View image to revert it to the preview and wait for the page to load fully, or else refresh the page. Once it is loaded, the Full View should work.

Image disappears or Full View appears on its own page.
If the Category on the submission says “Oekaki”, this is a problem with the Category itself. To get to the full-view, go back, and reclick to go to the submission page so you can see the small view. Right-click or hold the mouse button (Mac) over the small view image until a menu appears. Choose “Copy Link Location”. Paste the address you get into the address bar and hit Enter. This error can only be fixed by the user completely deleting the submission and resubmitting, either without using the Oekaki category, or by uploading the submission file to BOTH Preview and Submission boxes.
If it is not an Oekaki tag glitch, this problem may be caused by not allowing the page to load fully before clicking the Preview image. Internet Explorer often causes the Full View to appear on its own page as a way of resolving what it sees as an error. Try refreshing the page and wait for the browser to finish loading completely before clicking the Preview.

My submission isn’t showing in my gallery!
This is usually due to how you categorized it.
- Did you mark it as “Mature”? If so, go to Account > Settings > Browse Settings and change it to Show Mature Submissions, save changes.
- Did you mark it as “shareables” or “WIP” during the submission process? If so, it is in your Shareables or WIP gallery, not your regular gallery. You can access this from your profile page if you have your Gallery showing on the page. At the top left of that box, there will be a link saying “Shareables” or “WIP”; click it to change the box over to show thumbnails from your shareables or WIP gallery. Alternately, you can always go to http://username.sheezyart.com/share or http://username.sheezyart.com/wip (where username = your username with no spaces or capital letters) to browse.

B. Customization
How do I put images on my page?
Insert this code wherever you want the image, using the actual address of the picture you want:
[img=http://www.site.com/image.jpg]

How do I add art Thumbnails to my journal?
First you have to go to the submission whose thumbnail you wish to display. The URL should look something like http://www.sheezyart.com/view/ID/ where ID is a number. Paste that number into this code: [art]ID[/art]
You can also surround several [art][/art] tags with a [thumbs][/thumbs] to arrange them side-by-side as they would appear on your gallery or browse pages.

How do I make a Layout?
Go to Account > Settings > My Layout. Custom Layouts are not enabled by default, but click the button to activate them. You may then edit colors by either dragging and dropping or entering the hex codes manually. This is also the page where you may enter Override Codes for a more sophisticated layout.
For help with Overrides, GoroUnreal has made an excellent Override Tutorial.

How do I make a header/footer for my journal?
Go to Account > Manage Journal. Beneath the journal entry text box is a section for adding other elements to your journal, such as headers and footers. You can use either an image you have submitted to SheezyArt, or an image hosted off site for these elements. Simply enter the image BBCode, as elsewhere on the site: [img=http://www.example.com/folder/image.jpg] and hit the “Submit” button at the bottom of the screen.

How do I make a profile picture?
First submit an image to SheezyArt under the categories Site Resource > Profile. There is no limit on size, but about 450 pixels wide is about all that will fit on your userpage without being cut off at the side.
Then go to Account > Settings > My Page, and drag the thumbnail over to the box that says “Sheezy Art ID”. Press “Apply Changes”.
As a helpful hint, if you don’t wish to keep your Profile in your main gallery, you can move it to Shareables or WIP after making it your Profile ID. Or if you have something uploaded as sharables/WIPs already, simply move it to your main gallery to make it available as a Profile ID, and then you can move it back. This lets you keep any comments, favorites, or ratings it may have acquired.

How do I add music to my page?
There are two ways.
1. Create a Profile ID as a Flash (.swf) and embed music into it. It’s courteous to include a mute button for users who may already have their own music playing, but not required. How to add a Profile ID.
2. Create a Flash banner with music embedded. It does not have to be large, and it can be transparent or very small if you don’t want to add another element to your layout. See GoroUnreal’s Override Tutorial on how to add a Flash banner to your page.

How do I remove things from my user page?
Under Account > Settings > My Layout, you can move around the elements of your page. Anything you don’t want to show on the page, simply drag to the bottom under the section labeled “Hidden”. Remember to Save changes when finished.
If the “Save” button is greyed out, it means your Layout is Shared and cannot be edited. There are two solutions:
1. If it is a layout you chose from the list, made by someone else, you will need to highlight it in the dropdown list and click “Duplicate Selected”. You will then be able to edit and save changes as needed.
2. If it’s a layout you made yourself and Shared, highlight it on the list and choose “Unshare Selected”. You can edit and save as needed, and may re-Share the layout when you have finished if you like.

C. Clubs
How do I get to my Clubs?
1. Type into your browser’s navigation bar: http://username.sheezyart.com/clubs and replace “username” with your actual username, no spaces or capital letters. Hit Enter or the Go button.
2. Right-click on Account. Open in a new tab. A list of Clubs will appear along with some other information and links. Or use http://username.sheezyart.com/account with your actual username filled in.
3. Put the Clubs module on your User page under Layouts. The process is exactly the reverse of hiding elements on your page, and you still need to make sure the Layout can be edited. The Clubs module will have a link that says “Full List” at the lower right corner that will open a pop-up window with a list of all the clubs you are in.

Club Layout
To access the Layout settings, go to the bottom of your Club’s page (usually something like http://clubs.sheezyart.com/Your_Clubs_Name/), click Club Management. From the new page, there will be tab-like menu, click Club Page. From there, editing your club Layout is basically the same as Editing your User Page Layout, except that you cannot use shared Layouts.

Settings
Finding new members

D. Forums
How do I post in the forums?
Quoting people
Disagreements/conflicts
Forum Culture

E. Chat
About SheezyArt Chat
SheezyArt Chat is not hosted on the SheezyArt website! It is an independent IRC channel on the Darkmyst network. You can access the chat either through the javachat console by clicking the “Chat” link on SheezyArt, Darkmyst’s javachat, or by downloading and installing any IRC software, such as mIRC or Xchat. See Server Information and your program’s user guide for more on how to configure it to connect to SheezyArt chat.
There is also a Sheezy Chat Club which, although nearly abandoned, may be worth perusing for more information.
No, you cannot be banned from SheezyArt.com for misbehaving in the chat.

Chat Rules
SheezyArt Chat is not hosted on the SheezyArt website! It is an independent IRC channel on the Darkmyst network that is accessed through a Java chat console on SheezyArt. As such, different, and generally less strict, rules apply. In general, you should just use common sense and try not to be a complete douchebag, but here are some specific guidelines to make your Chat experience more pleasant:

• 1. Do not use chatspeek/lazy typing, i.e., using “u” instead of “you”. Make an effort to use correct English and you will instantly be seen in a better light.
• 2. Do what the regulars and the Operators (those guys with the @ beside their name) tell you to do. They are your gods now. If you cannot tell who is a regular, then assume they are everybody except yourself, because they probably are.
• 3. Don’t spam, harass, or plug your gallery if you are a newbie. “Randomness” is not appreciated and may result in a kick or a ban if you keep it up.
• 4. Enter at your own risk. Most of the Chat regulars are adults, and topics may tend toward adult themes. Obscene language and shady links may be communicated. If you are not cool with this, do not enter the Chat. Do not barge in and yell at people for saying bad words, or you will be forcibly removed.
• 5. Chat is not the helpdesk. Try the Help Forum, filling out a Support Ticket or Messaging a member of the Sheezy Cast if you need assistance with SheezyArt.

Server information
SheezyArt chat is an independent Internet Relay Chat (IRC) channel hosted on Darkmyst’s network.
The channel name is #sheezy, the network is irc.darkmyst.net
For more help with using IRC and the Darkmyst network, access to the Darkmyst javachat, as well as a complete list of servers and services, please visit http://darkmyst.org/.

Operators
Channel Operators (Ops) control the Chat and delegate justice. They also get a blingin’ @ next to their name in the nickname list. They can change modes, make new topics, and kick/ban users who misbehave. Most of the Ops are also Cast members on SheezyArt, but several are not. Do not ask to become an operator.

List of current Operators on #sheezy:
• Dune (channel founder)
• Greenbear
• M9
• Xeal
• Zeemort

Why are the people in Chat so MEAN??
You probably broke one of the Rules, either intentionally or by accident. If you want to be in the chatroom, make an effort to acclimate yourself to the culture there or your stay will be less than pleasant, and probably quite brief. Lurking is a virtue.

III. USER CONFLICTS
How do I report someone or their artwork?
At the upper right of every user page, submission page, comment, or forum post will be a red link that says “Report”. Press it to file a report if you see anything abusive or that violates SheezyArt’s rules. Abusive journals can also be reported by copying the address of the journal post in question, and using the Report link on the user’s profile page.

How do I block someone from my page?
There is currently no way to block users from your page. If you receive abusive or harassing comments, either delete them from your page or use the Report link to let the moderators take care of the issue.

What to do about harassment/flames/trolls?
First of all, do not engage the person who is harassing you. Most trolls are trying to get a response out of you, and engaging them in an extended flamewar only encourages them. You are encouraged to delete any comments you find inappropriate, or to report them.

Why is my art “displeasing”?
SheezyArt has a voting system where users may vote “Up” or “Down” on an individual artwork. A positive number of votes says “Pleasing”, negative is “Displeasing”, and a score of zero is “No opinions yet”.
The purpose of the voting system is to determine what artworks get “FP” – the Popular section on the front page of the site, but it is often used simply to leave anonymous input on an artwork without being available for “return fire” or being accused of flaming.

IV. ART ISSUES
How do I resize my images?
Every graphics program, even MSPaint, has a way to resize your images. It’s important to look at the pixel size, not the size in inches or centimeters, to know how it will look on the screen. Generally anything over 800 pixels wide is too freaking huge. If you need a larger image, you probably already know how to resize.
Rabbittso has created an excellent Resize Tutorial on SheezyArt.

Where can I get Photoshop/Flash/FL Studio/etc.?
You can purchase them online or in stores from the manufacturers! You may also find a good deal on these programs by buying one or two releases back on a site such as ebay. Most of these have not made any significant changes to their programs for a while, so going back two issues saves you a bundle.
Some Open Source programs can also save or export .SWF (Flash) files, though they may not be able to provide all the features available with Flash. Check out the list of animation programs below.
There are also many comparable options to FL Studio listed in the Music section below.
Please do not steal software, and do not ask people on SheezyArt to help you pirate or download them from peer-to-peer sources: it is illegal!

What are some good, cheap/free art programs?

• Paint Programs:
  Art Rage
  Artweaver
  Dogwaffle
  The GIMP
  Manga Studio Debut
  Open Canvas
  Paint.net
  Pixia
  Ultimate Paint
• Vector Drawing:
  Inkscape
  Sodipodi
• 3D:
  Art of Illusion
  Blender
  DAZ 3D
  Google SketchUp
  Terragen
• Animation:
  Anime Studio
  Pencil
  Plastic Animation Paper
  Synfig
• Music:
  L= Linux, OSX = Mac OSX, MS = Windows
  Ardour [L,OSX,MS]
  Audacity [L,OSX,MS]
  FL Studio Demo [MS] (saves loops only)
  LMMS [L,OSX,MS]
  MusE [L]
  Rosegarden [L]

V. FINDING MORE HELP
If you need more help or have a problem with something on the site, please do not post angry journals and expect anyone to listen to you. There are thousands of users on the site, and the chances of a cast member finding your particular problem are miniscule.
Cast – Private Message one if you need assistance, but please be patient and polite!
Help Forum – for asking questions about site functions.
Art Help Forum – for asking questions about art and techniques.