sandm

Ive read some comments (not all) and had a long discussion with myself if I shall make a proposal or not. (The main reason against it: it is not "my child"), but may be there is somebody who would like to know ...

Well, here is my favourite option:
The new version is a kind of "entrance" to TD. It shows an overview of recent work, tops and new users. It is a "home" function and it has a home-key in the menue bar. The old version remains as it is, available as it is (menue-point "gallery"). That means, if somebody only prefers the old version he has to do one additional click ("gallery") after the first entrance, not more.

In this new presentation (entrance) there are 4 different sections (but not mixed up with the recent - as they are now): Recent pic, recent top, RANDOM EXAMPLES, pics of new users.
Random examples: A random selection of old pictures (minimum of votes), similar to the picture, which is shown, on jigsaw sudoku. In a seperate line (block) and changing automatically (circle over all good pic in TD for instance:)

What really is disturbing me in the new gallery version is the cut of the title. This may lead to a very different and ev. wrong description if the main part is missing. Obviously this was necessary to get the space for the frame and the new lines for description and selection (I mean the "show all"-line)

So, I see 4 sections in the "entrance gallery" in 4 lines instead of 5, and the complete title of the pictures. It is not necessary to show more recent pictures at the first step in, if the whole gallery function (in the old version) remains available.

Qsilv

I've spent some time with it now, and I'm VERY concerned about a phrase you used---- "old gallery will still be around for a while."

A while???

...noooo-o-o.......... . . .

(oh god, I'm sooo sorry to see myself typing that... I KNOW how dispiriting it is to have people's initial reaction to every new idea be negative and whiny....)

In fairness, it IS sort of clever to have ONE picture (the most recent) from each of your now over 33 thousand users, but this presentation just FEELS random. Took me forever to understand that you weren't just trying to thin out the pages by random rolls like a kind of slot-machine.

Seems to me it'd be useful to be able to scroll down much deeper pages, glancing at (and thus comparing) more works at a time before clicking on a new page (and losing sight of the earlier one). Large shopping sites offer that choice (25 images per page, 100 per page, 250 per page) because for people whose computers CAN load such pages it's so hugely convenient.

There really was ("for a while" still is) a feeling of community in the original Gallery's chugging along. You got a feeling for when the youngsters were going to be free from school and do a few hours of experimenting. You sort of expected to find certain well known contributors at certain times.... I swear there's a subliminal way we feed off of each other... it's why artists and authors workshops exist.... and that cohesiveness encourages sprightly stuff like Fun Tuesdays!

That doesn't work with a system that puts blinders on us so we can only ever see the single most recent work of each of the 30k+ artists, forcing us to check through our list of already known people we're "following".

I can barely imagine what it takes to run this world you've brought into being. I can't at all be sure why you continue it. But since you are... please... *p*l*e*a*s*e*... don't destroy the original Gallery --and the closest thing we've had to a proper Search feature.

; /

marg

sorry - just another quickie from me.. I actually WANT to see a full page of new pictures in the gallery each time I enter TD.. it's stimulating and also lets me see who's currently around (or was recently);

.. also.. now that we've got a decent rating system, there shouldn't be any problem with displaying the Showcase in order of ratings (like it used to be), and we can see all the 'good' pics there, or in the Top 5 - I think I'd really like that

Dragon

I must agree with the general concensus. I always enjoyed coming to the gallery and seeing all the new pics. Like Lizzi, I find myself always clicking back to the Old Gallery as I find the new one sort of confusing. I hope we don't sound like we're whining (and I really think we are all trying not to) but I would very much like to have the old gallery back in the default position too. We really do very much appreciate all the hard work put in by the ThinkDraw administrators and we do realize that they are trying hard to make the site great for everyone but I'd love to see the old style back again.

Login

Please, please, please may we have the old Gallery as the default.

clorophilla

First of all, let me thank you for the care you have for this beautiful site, and the efforts to keep it always new and stimulating.

I understand some of the purposes that drove to the new gallery, but I agree partially with many users about the need of turning back to some features the old gallery had.

I appreciate very much of the new gallery:
- the "new users' gallery"
- the "top pictures gallery"

I appreciated very much of the old gallery:
- the chance to view ALL the new pictures in order of appearance, without missing anything
- the SEARCH function and the FILTERS

I dislike of the new gallery:
- the cutted titles
- the confusing alternation of different cathegories

I've mixed feelings about the new criteria for selecting the recent pics. I loved to see all the pics without selecting criteria, but understand the need of a pre-selection in order of limiting the overwhelming presence of a single TDrawer, sometimes boring as in the "kids' time" of the day.

Last thing, I find the "users you follow" strip totally useness, as we have this function far better implemented with the update function.

Anyway, I don't think it's a good idea simply returning to the old gallery, nor keeping a doubled system; I think it's possible to find a compromise that could meet the needs of everyone as follows:


- remove the "users you follow" strip: no one needs it, and without the title of this third strip you'll regain some vertical space
- put the "new users" and "top recent pics" at the bottom of the page (if needed to gain more space, this two strips could be a bit smaller)
- restore the whole title feature (I'd prefer a smaller type than a broken title)
- MANTAIN the new criteria for the recent pic gallery, and cancel the "go to the old gallery" line (=more regained space), BUT ABSOLUTELY,
- GIVE US BACK THE SEARCH AND FILTER FUNCTION, not only because of its intrinsic usefulness, but also b/c in this way we could have back the old gallery features simply clicking on the "go" button of the filters, in the default feature (show all pictures-all themes-most recent-all time).

Does it sound good for all - users and creators of TD)? I hope heartly so!

ThinkDraw

Thanks all for your feedback. We will try and make changes to create the sort of compromise suggested, or add an option to choose your own settings.

Clorophilla, the titles shouldn't be cut off. Would you mind emailing to let us know what browser you are using and if possible send a screenshot so we can see the problem.

Thanks again to everyone for your feedback...

ThinkDraw

Oops, got it now. Thought you meant the category titles, not the titles of each picture. Will look into changing that as well, thanks again.

bluemoon

I am still in favor of the old gallery- I miss a lot of good pics otherwise. At least please keep it as a default. Thanks so much.

gair

I, too, prefer the old gallery. Clo had some good suggestions but I would be happy to see the new one disappear. If we keep the new gallery, I suggest putting the option to go to the old gallery at the top of the page. When I click on gallery I immediately have to scroll to the bottom of the page to click on old gallery.

arty

Would very much like to keep the option of the "OLD GALLERY" on the system. Still like to see drawings of even 5 or 6 yrs old without too much clicking back and forward. Are they not our future artist's???????????

ThinkDraw

Ok, we have used some of your suggestions and hopefully improved the gallery.

Please note, we are still working on fixing the picture titles AND the old gallery is still available at http://www.thinkdraw.com/gallery.php - it can be accessed directly if you click 'My Picture Gallery' at the top right of any page.

What do you say...

Arw65

as long as you still allow us to access the old gallery i'll be happy. I don't use the new one at all- the original was much better.- i must say however, that the new gallery is better now than it was yesterday with the new changes(getting rid of the users you follow) it doesn't feel as choppy.

bluemoon

The link you gave to the old gallery works.. but when I click on the upper right link all I get is my own work. I am still happiest with the old gallery.

Qsilv

_________.___.___.___.__.__._._. . . ........(heart starts beating again...) ;>

Normal

4/23/12...Thank you so much! Took me a bit to figure out where you'd hidden "favorites," et al, but there they are. Nice improvement.
I also like the "popular" and the "new" at the top and bottom.

mdawrcn

Would it be possible to get a "show all" button that shows all the most recent pictures in the gallery, like the top rated and new users section has, instead of having to go to my picture gallery, then to do a search of all of the most recent pictures? Just wondering. Thanks for all you do.

five

Pretty good compromise.

bluemoon

I have finally figured out how to access the old gallery from the my pic gallery link..thanks TD!

Radrook

Me too! Old gallery.