You're right, V, I do appreciate when people comment on my images. I don't write thank you notes to people but that is a personal choice, I would rather spend the time looking at other peoples work or making new ones myself. I really don't understand why people would want to tell me that they have voted for one of my images...Isn't it enough to know that you have voted? Why does everybody else have to know? I truly do not understand the thinking behind this... The only reason I can come up with is that they are trying to influence the people that they are giving the votes to into returning the favour. Seems to me that people are placing way to much emphasis on the 'Hot 20' lately anyway. Does it really make that much difference if you get in it for a few days? And if what I have said above is true, then aren't you getting into it under false pretences? Wouldn't everyone feel better knowing that they made it there through the validity of the image rather than because they know a lot of people? This has been touched upon in a different thread and I would really like to able to say that this isn't what is happening. Convince me otherwise people... Matt.

Your English looks pretty good to me. Even if you don't think it is you could always leave comments in your native language. Then you wouldn't have to rely on writing VOTE. As for people not voting or commenting on my work, i'm probably one of a very few number of people on here that doesn't equate comments or votes to the success of an image. I make them for me and me alone, if anyone else likes them then that's a bonus. But it doesn't affect the way I feel about something. So, feel free not to vote, comment or even look at my images if that's what people want. I'm grown up enough to handle it and not let it affect me when I come to comment on those people's work. Matt.

Fair enough, i'm actually guilty of telling someone that I voted on one of their images also. Within the last two weeks I have done it, but, this was the first time I have EVER done it and it will probably not happen again soon, if ever. However, what I am mainly talking about is people that seem to constantly (every day) do this. Personally, I think this is another clique thing, and since I have said how I feel about those in a different thread, I will say no more. Matt.

You'll get a cleaner solid look using more linear variations...I tend to start all my images with 2 linear transforms and 1 spherical transrom and then work from there.

I've never started to think I was something i'm not. I've always known exactly what I am... Brusque, overbearing, sometimes abusive with a tendency to say exactly what's on my mind without caring if it upsets anyone. The perfect person to leave constructive criticism!

Getting back on topic... Simon, the vote thing is something that I never considered because I hardly ever look at the Hot 20. I will try to use more votes when I think they are deserved in future. Vivian, newbies are a special case and need handling carefully if they're not to be sent running for cover. It can be very intimidating and I think everyone knows from personal experience how much courage it takes to post that very first image. When do they stop becoming newbies and become oldbies though? Kat, maybe you should think about joining the ARSE campaign, i'm gonna see if I can get a petition started. LOL. Matt.

There ya go, getting all excited again!!! It's a fact of life...Americans are easily excitable. I call it the Yank Gene, because I believe it has passed down from generation to generation. It doesn't make you bad people, just a little...hyper. I don't have any 'underlying issues' with Americans...I was married to one for 10 years. Of course, eventually I had to divorce her because she was always getting over-excited...(that last part was a joke). As for fallacious generalizations...Isn't it the Americans that keep going on about ALL Brits having bad teeth? Maybe ya wanna photo of me pearly whites? ;O)

I'm not saying all comments are inane drivel. I don't have a problem with people expressing their feelings about an image if they like it. I don't even have a problem with the over-used superlatives... Just don't go over the top! I'm surprised that some people in this gallery can still stand upright after the amount of bending over they do here daily. Personally, I blame the Americans. We all know how easily excited they are...

You're right it is the same ol crap being rehashed for the umteenth time. But if it isn't a problem then why does it come up so often? Anyway...Since I posted my last comment I have decided that what is needed is someone to lead by example. Since no-one else is stepping up and strapping on a pair, I guess it's down to me...

Moving on slightly from this subject... I say above that "I pretty much totally disagree with the whole ranking system", but in theory I don't. I think it has the potential to be a great learning aid if it used wisely with constructive criticism. This subject has been brought up many times before in this forum, but it seems people are unwilling to critique an image unless someone specifically asks for it. I very rarely do this myself because it seems to be a sensitive subject for many people. A well intentioned critique can become something entirely different if it isn't worded appropriately. It just seems a shame to me that something that has the potential to improve this gallery for everyone is being ignored. In other galleries on this web-site people regularly offer their honest opinions on images and how they think they can be improved, but for some reason the Fractal gallery is reluctant to do this. Most people also seem to think that the Fractal gallery is more of a community than a lot of the other galleries, why? I'm sorry but if you can't give an honest opinion on someone's work (good or bad) then you cannot calls this a community. Ok...This is the part where I upset a LOT of people... Cliques! I hate them with a vengence! Groups of people that band together like herds of lemmings and jump blindly and willingly into the abyss. They dutifully laud EVERY image that their cohorts post, because God forbid that they shouldn't get THEIR quota of inane drivel on the next image they post! Harsh?!? Deal with it... Everyone succumbs to the clique mentality at some stage, but if they are truly lucky they realize how much it is holding them back and break free from it. In the last few months I have actually gone out of my way to NOT comment on peoples images. I have restricted myself to posting a maximum of 3 comments per day. Sometimes I may only post 2 or 1 or none, and sometimes I may go a week without posting any. The point is that by consciously limiting myself I am happy that I am only commenting on the images that I think truly deserve it. This doesn't mean that there aren't any other images that I would comment on, just that in my opinion these are the best. I'm not saying people shouldn't make friends...There are some people on this site that I consider good friends that have supported me through some bad times. Even though I consider them friends that doesn't mean I will comment on EVERY image they ever post. That is a ludicrous concept and would just belittle the work they do. It is impossible for someone to post, day after day, a constant stream of images that I love! Ok...This is getting a bit long winded now so I will sum it all up... Think about what you are commenting on and WHY you are commenting on it. Think about not giving and image an "Excellent!" if you don't believe it deserves it. Think about leaving "helpful comments for improvement" if you think they are valid...But most of all don't feel the need to comment on other peoples work just because you are afraid of not getting any comments the next time you upload an image. AMEN!!! This sermon was brought to you by Rev. Matt.

Ok...I'm back from the pub and while I was down there I decided that I should start a campaign. I even thought of a name for this campaign... Artists Refusing to be Subjected to Excellents!!! ARSE for short. Told ya I was bored ;OD

Turkish = Turkish Bath = Laugh. Having a Turkish = Having a laugh. Read my other posting to get a better understanding of what i'm going on about... Matt

I have to go now, I have to give mother her medicine... "I'm coming mother".

"File export to bitmap" is only available in Apophysis v1. Matt.

If you're happy doing it that way then carry on.