For me I think it is summed up in some words in one of the Xenodream tutorials written by Smithgiant; I'm looking for an effect that creates a sense of harmony somehow. Yet that is an instinct, a felt sense and probably differs from one person to another.

I too like it to draw some emotional response from me. Most of the pictures which I make which feel harmonious are very symmetrical and soothing. Yet some images that carry an emotional tone of disorder and chaos also fascinate me, because that too is part of the whole. But I spend less time looking at chaotic images because they tend to disturb me more.

I'm less worried about sharp renders. Some effects I have made such as 'embroidery' were so chaotic they could only be sharp in the central region so the outer borders were fuzzy whatever I did (though someone kindly complimented me on the effect despite it having been wholly unintentional ;)

One thing I do prefer though is if people render large and then display reduced images because that way there are less 'jaggies' as I've seen them called. I really find it jarring if there are clear square edges of pixels as colour shifts.

Another personal preference for me is that generally I prefer subtle colouring. There are obvious exceptions, I love images from Mountmous, Yesitis, Kitchaos whose images are often in rich vivid colours. But when I'm colouring my own I usually aim for the subtle.

Interesting question Arend and one I've thought about myself as I look through the gallery and wonder what the hooks are that make people open some images and not others, is it important how the thumbnail displays the image etc. Kathy