I tried to upload a wallpaper scan in .png (which I think is the reference to maybe the APbot rejection notice about me uploading something for vectors only? (forget the exact wording)).

But .. well, technically, if people upload 'vectors', shouldn't they use 'svg' format so it can be rescaled w/o loss of resolution anyway? PNG just allows transparency -- which is what I used -- I deleted the (mostly white) background and edited away the embedded dithering in the scan so the character would stand out and not be surrounded by a halo from the background. But it's not a vector format in the technical sense of the word.

It was a scan and originally saved as a pdf image (I know, I used to think of that as a document format, but it's also an image format) that displays layers just like a multi-layer tiff. Anyway after editing out the background saved in in .png form so I could save the background layer as transparent. But APbot doesn't like that?


How does one submit background-cleared, non-vector scans?

Have you thought about allowing or encouraging .svg formatted vector images?
(they display natively in Firefox, or in IE w/a plugin).

We accept vectors in PNG, and re-cg'ed scans in JPEG. We don't accept extracted, PNG scans because it's redundant since wallers know how to extract scans and this is a walling community. Vectors and re-Cg's improve the original scans. This is addressed specifically in the FAQ:

http://www.animepaper.net/faq/recg

?? Extracting the image from the background is redundant? I'm new at all of this image creation / extraction stuff. I guess since I've found the taking of scans and making them into just 'wallable scans' has been at the limits of my ability, I thought it might be useful to provide something more readily usable than a raw scan.

You make it sound like it's some function I haven't discovered in Photoshop or Illustrator (I, only recently got them), so I really don't know what's complicated/normal vs. not.

Sorry? :-?
*shrug*...

Not the fastest learner on the block, but I try keep learning :-).

What she means is that we only accept vectors as PNG because they are high quality version of scans. Scans that are just re-CG are to be submitted as JPEGs, not as PNGs because the wallers here know how to extract scans from a BG already and would rather do it themselves than have someone do it for them. So only vectors can be submitted as a transparent image whereas scans are just to be submitted as JPEGs. I hope that makes sense.

:)
I understand the reasoning behind not accepting extracted non-vector images, since the whole scan can be usable and not just the characters, and it takes away some choice from the waller.

About using .SVG for vector submissions, I am a little curious about it, since i can see the benefits of keeping the image as an actual re-scalable vector with editable paths.

The biggest issue I can see would be that the majority of people downloading 'vectors' here are probably working in Photoshop, which as far as i know can't load SVG files.

I'm not sure what other disadvantages their might be, file size maybe? But i think only a small portion of users would really appreciate it. I suppose its always an option to offer a link to the .SVG file separately in the description for those that might want it.

Linking to the file would be best.

to make the addition of the svg format work, psd and AI would need to be allowed as well, because of compatibility issues. those files take up a lot of space, that could be put to better use on the server.

but, if bant wants to allow them, i won't complain.

It would mean serious growth of bandwith, such files are not that small. Looked on my last 3 vectors PSD comapred to PNG, 5,4/1,1 - 15,9/2,2 - 8,2/1,4
They are vectors with basic shadings, not higher as 3500 pixels, guess some others with more advanced effects can take a lot more space even.
I myself think that PNgs offer enough quality, and is a common format compatible with all bitmap editors, like SVG haven't seen in PS, and PSD dunno if can be opened in others.
Most people downloading such vectors put only some basic effects on it, and who has the skill to edit it completly (to better I mean) will make the vector by himself from the very start.

I can see the benefit of SVGs. It just means that one can scale the image up from a smaller size and still keep its quality. Although this is beneficial, it doesn't necessarily apply to us since one of the rules state that vectors have to be at least 2000px in height. This doesn't stop people from uploading vectors that are 3500px in height. In fact, we even encourage it. The highest resolution wallpaper we have here is 2560x2048px to my knowledge. Therefore, the vectors here only need to be scaled down, and not up, when it's being used, so there wouldn't be that loss in quality you're talking about.

Also, the big issue here is I doubt we have the bandwidth to support SVGs on the server. If SVG is similar to PSD or AI files, then it would be huge in file size. I think the maximum file size limit for our scans/vectors here is 5 MB and maybe a little more depending on how big the scan is relative to its file size. What people can do is just link to the SVGs that they uploaded somewhere else. It's a great idea that you have, but I'm not sure we can support it. However, I'm just pointing out the drawbacks to your suggestion. The decision is entirely up to Bantam so he can decide if he sees fit.

:)
Might need some experimentation here, assuming it can be scaled up without issue (effects and brushes included), could you upload something that's been scaled down to save bandwidth, and let the user scale it up themselves? That's assuming the file size decreases drastically when you save a scaled down vector as a .SVG :)

Theirs still the issue of IE compatibility, I don't think everyone will appreciate having to either swap browsers or use a plugin to see the SVG's, or having to use Illustrator or Inkscape to actually make use of them.

I'm not really pushing for this, since i don't see it being useful to enough people. Just curious to see what others think :)

I don't have illustrator anymore, so i'm not sure how the files are, but i know how they act.

in theory AI files should be fairly small in comparison to detail, and the size of the image shouldn't matter. the amount of data does not change with the size of the image, it's just readjusted. if svg files are object/ vector based, the same would apply.

the problem comes in when you have the majority of wallers using PS, a raster based program. it cannot read AI or svg file, while illustrator can read psd. but psd file, being raster based are entirely dependent on size, and the larger the image, the larger the file size. added to that are effects, such as blur, smudge, dodge and burn, when applied dramatically increase file size.

so it's not only a matter of size we face, it's a matter of being fair. to be fair bant, and in turn keep everyone happy, bant would have to allow psd, AI, svg, and possibly tif files. that would fill his bandwidth in a hurry.

nat

We accept vectors in PNG, and re-cg'ed scans in JPEG. We don't accept extracted, PNG scans because it's redundant since wallers know how to extract scans and this is a walling community. Vectors and re-Cg's improve the original scans. This is addressed specifically in the FAQ:

http://www.animepaper.net/faq/recg

If you want to share Renders then you would have to share them in graphics forums where people will be more then happy to see you share. As those members use them for LPs and signatures. The other way would be to make a sub-forum here to share renders and transparent vectors. That's just my opinion though, also some wallers would be happy to see renders available so they won't have to do render all the time.

-EDIT-
I do renders on Stocks I find on Google, hence why I said where to share, but that is up to members that want to.

We're looking to accommodate for vectors more when our new system is released that can handle the more unique needs of vectorers.

Just to add my little knowledge on the question, SVG files are quite small. In lot of case, they are even smaller than the resulting png. I don't think it's the case for ai and psd files but well Illustrator can open svg even if the support is quite bad. One benefit of having svg files over png is that people can crop and export the vector as one see fit. Even if we submit +2000px vector, cropping can be a problem. In the end, it will depend on those who submit their vector to submit also the source file or not. In my case, I don't mind and even be happy to do it ^^