[EN] Guide for new members

Dim 02 Sep 2018, 10:33

New on Equid'Design ? Like a Star @ heaven

First of all, welcome!
You're new to the forum and you're a bit lost through all of these categories?
Don't panic, this topic is here to help you. You'll find all the explanation you need not to be lost on the forum.

1 - What is Equid Design?
Equid Design (or "ED") is a forum linked to Howrse which was once enable you to win Black Pearls. Here, you'll find many ways to help you to make your drawings.

2 - First thing to do:
On your first step, you must read carefully the rules.

3 - On the forum:
On each part of the forum, there are multiple topics that will explain to you the rules and how this part works. They are on top of each section, written "post it" or "announcement".
It's necessary to read announcements, they provide news and are really important!

Here is a list of web hosts that enable you to post your images on the forum, by giving them an URL: this is the link to copy to post them.

Spoiler:

THE FORUM:

Rules:
This section gathers the rules to know and to remember for as long you search around the forum. You must read them!

Presentations:
Now you are part of the Equid Design's community, you can introduce yourself so that we can know you better. The form isn't obligatory, you can freely choose your way to do it.

Announcements:
This place can be compared to a big noticeboard. This is where you will find announcements. So pay attention to the news! You will also find the ED's schedule and the e-mail box that enables you to exchange words directly with the staff. A BP's winning census topic is also in place.
The subsection "Announcements archives" is as the name suggests, the "archives". It's where we stock old announcements.

Suggestion box:
This place is here to enables you to submit ideas to improve the forum.

Your questions
A question on the Black Pearl? Don't hesitate to post here (; !

Tutorials
This part is full of tutorials that will help you make drawings, colorizations, and photomontage.
Tutorials are a precious help especially when you are starting! Subsections correspond to different software categories you can use. There is also a "Summary" (in french for the moment) topic so that you can look for a tutorial more easily. Don't forget to read the rules of this section before posting! You can also ask for tutorials on the topic provided for it.
Tutorials are an assistance that must allow for people who read them to do improve their skills and progress in their drawings. That's why they can only be created by members that master the drawing technique they present. A tutorial isn't a topic where "you only show how you do", it has to be explained and has to give a good quality result to really help.

Linearts
A lineart is a black&white drawing: a coloring picture. ED members offer you many linearts which cannot wait to be colored. Each subsection gathers galleries according to the number of lineart they contain. You can make a request for a lineart in the appropriate subsection or order a lineart in the orders section. Where's the difference? It's simple: you can make a general request, or you can ask for a lineart from a member that opened an order taking topic.
Read carefully each rule for each topic, each member is free to choose what rules are set up for their linearts.

Workshops
This is surely the most active part of the forum. Workshops allow you to post the drawing you're currently working on in order to get advice to improve your skills. Watch out, only one topic per member is allowed. If you want to open a new one, use the button "Edit" on the top right-hand corner of your message and change the title to "TO CLOSE". A moderator will close it so you'll be able to open a new one. Closed workshops are then in the subsection "Archives". The button "Edit" is very important, it allows you to avoid to post twice (two messages in succession by the same author). This is forbidden on the forum, except if they are spaced by a long period, 24h for example. If you're using a lineart that isn't yours, don't forget to indicate the name of the creator from the first message. Show also your references (pictures helping you) if you use some.

If your drawing is a HR (Helios' Ray), indicate in the title the notion "(HR)". If your drawing is a GA (Golden Apple), indicate "(GA)"

Your Galleries
A gallery is a topic on which you can expose all of your drawings. One gallery per member is allowed. If you want to open a new one, edit your title to "TO CLOSE" and create a new one.

SINCE SEPTEMBER 2017 THE CONTEST IS OVER.

THE BLACK PEARL COMPETITION
This is where you can participate to the BP competition. Watch out, you must read all the rules before submitting your drawing. Your creation has to be on a transparent background (explained in the tutorials part) and in the official frame. You'll be able to submit your participation in the corresponding topic. Don't flood on the competition topics, a topic is dedicated to it.
The competition isn't a battlefield, be polite and friendly, don't forget that we are on a mutual assistance forum (; !

Challenges Section
This section is here for you to offer us some challenges or duels that inspire you. There are also big collaborations between ED members in which you can participate!

A section dedicated to the actual competition
This section appears if a contest is currently organised on the forum. If there is nothing, be patient, they are generally frequent! Contests in this section are organised by the ED staff. Prices can be given in the form of objects on Howrse or donations by volunteers members.

Your Contests
This section allows you to organise your own contests, you can set the goal, prices, the number of participants... Be careful to be organised!

Archives Various Competitions
Equid Design organises contests every season to make the graphical interface over. But there are also other competitions. This section archive all of these competitions. When a contest is opened, a new subforum is created.

The Paddock
A Paddock, in the equestrian language, is a big pen where we relax the horse before a training session or a competition. Here is where our artists relax. This section is divided in 5 subsections:
-Flood: as the name suggests it, you can freely flood in this section. The "flood" is to talk about everything and nothing, chatting freely.
-MyLife.com: Here you can share your life experiences, ask questions...
-Games: Multiple games are here for you, if you know one that isn't in this section, don't hesitate to share it!
-Websites and ads: You can advertise your forum or your website in this section.

If you have any issues, don't hesitate to ask your questions in the "Questions" part or directly to the Staff, we are here for that!

See you soon on Equid Design!

Translated from French to English by Sebastian88, Minoe, Nylïha and Mikonow.