| EN 6960 |
by Daphna Edgar
Are you an digital graphic artist or design professional who wants to make the most of your computer based art programs? Are you looking to become familiar with all of your systems’ abilities? If so, surf over to PixArt at http://www.ruku.com. PixArt originally started as a forum on CompuServe, where artists shared ideas and tips on art and design programs. In 1996, 12 of the forum participants - artists from around the world - put the forum on the web and started PixArt. PixArt now consists of tutorials for design programs, as well as reviews of programs, editorials and other links of interest to the artist or design professional.
Although it is not explicitly stated, PixArt seems to be sponsored by Adobe. A picture of Adobe’s vice president and general manager appears in the center of the homepage, and there are numerous links throughout the site to Adobe and its products. Despite this apparent commercial connection, PixArt remains a site by and for artists. The tutorials are all written by artists, who volunteer their time to PixArt in exchange for free software. In addition to its tutorials, PixArt also provides other links of interest to the artist, as well as discussion boards.
A word to the novice: if you are not familiar with computer aided art programs, this is probably not the site for you! Although PixArt does provide some introductory tutorials, it mainly consists of tutorials and brief “how to” material for advanced functions on graphic design and art programs. If you still want to try, come prepared with an glossary of terms, as the tutorials consist mainly of instructions.
If you take your time navigating around the PixArt, you will probably find what you need. At times the navigational links are clear and accurate, and at other times you will end up in a dead end - but perhaps that is where you will be your most creative.
The tutorial section of PixArt’s website invites the artist to explore. The opening screen simulates a painter’s pallet - click on a dab of paint and you will be transported to tutorials for Photoshop, Painter, Corel, Illustrator, Freehand and Pre-Press. An “in the spotlight” link for Image Styler appears in all red capital letters in the middle of the screen. Other pertinent links, as well as contact information, appear on the right side of the screen, also as dabs of paint. PixArt maintains the image of a painter’s pallet throughout its pages, with buttons on the top of the screen linking the user to other parts of the site. PixArt continues to provide artistic touches throughout the tutorial sections, as authors incorporate the programs’ graphical abilities into title pages as well as the instructions themselves. While there is not any uniform graphic throughout the site, both pictures as well as text clearly illustrate the program’s abilities or the specific function being discuss. For example, the opening page of Painter has a paint bucket and brush, and a Corel tutorial for exploding shows the word “explode” is graphical form. This consistent use of graphics to illustrate specific functions give the site a unified feel.
The confusion on this site begins when the user begins to use the tutorials. Each program has its own section, but within these sections, there is no apparent organization other than headings for different versions of a particular program and “cool stuff.” More detailed groupings and topic headings, or at least an alphabetical list, would help the user locate particular functions and extend system capabilities.
Each tutorial is written by a volunteer artist. In general, the title of the tutorial appears centered at the top of the page, with an e-mail link to the author below. Several pages, however, do not have the title of the tutorial listed, and the user has to refer back to the previous page to figure this out. Within each topic, the authors use graphical representation of the function and, when appropriate, a picture of the drop down menu or function key used to achieve the goal. On some tutorials, these pictures appear right next to the direction. On others, they are either on the top or the bottom of the page and marked as figures, and the user must scroll up and down the screen to connect the written directions with graphical representations of the function.
Tutorial directions do not have a uniform look or style from page to page. Some have readable serif types, while others use sans serif fonts, but there seems to be no guideline other than the author’s preference for use of a particular font. Similarly, directions appear in one continuous paragraph, topic related paragraphs, bulleted and numbered lists, short sentences, and clearly delineated headings, such as Step 1.
Pictorial and graphical representations of tutorial functions help guide the user through the steps. There is no uniform layout for the placement of these graphical aids. Several tutorial authors place the graphics next to the direction and provide a convenient reference for the user. Other authors, however crowd the screen with illustrations and pictures of drop down menus.
While some of the graphical elements of this resource for design professional are not consistent, PixArt maintains its goal of being a community for artists. The artistic and varied graphics appearing on the main pages and links, as well as the informal language and friendly tone provide an inviting atmosphere for learning and sharing.
PixArt’s use of volunteer artists to contribute tutorials maintains its mission of being a forum for and by artists. However, some editorial guidelines as well as a staff editor would give the site more unified look, as well as provide more straightforward instructions to users.
Each tutorial outlines a different function, and authors should not be constrained by strict standards or formats with which to present directions. However, unless there is a specific technical need, tutorials should appear in a consistent font and size. Authors could make their directions easier to follow by more use of bulleted and numbered lists, rather than prose paragraphs. Additionally, the editor of the PixArt site could provide authors with guidelines and technical help for appropriate number and placement of graphics on a page, so as not to overwhelm users.
Many of the tutorials have grammatical and style errors. These mistakes cause confusion and convey an unprofessional image. Additionally, missing and incorrect punctuation make the text more difficult to follow An editor could easily check for these mistakes, while still helping PixArt maintain its light, informal tone and community feel.
As the field of web publishing grows, more and more individuals will be using graphic design programs. PixArt provides a wonderful resource for individuals working with graphic design programs. While seasoned artists are able to begin using the tutorials immediately, more inexperienced users may feel a bit daunted when first entering the PixArt site. As it expands, PixArt could provide beginning users with either beginning tutorials, or links to sites where they could learn the basics. As a result, PixArt will be able to expand its community.
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