magic_art goes Members Only!

[erised-dream.livejournal.com]

We would be very grateful if you could take the time and read this entry, as a few things have changed here at magic_art and we would like our members to be aware of them. Thank you! :)



Sad, but true: last week-end we had the first hotlinking incident in the history of magic_art! Because of that, we had the unpleasant task of switching to a new hosting account, re-installing our layout and replacing broken links. These troubles left aside, we cannot stress enough how bad hotlinking is. It's stealing, and while we cannot possibly know who is responsible for it, we intend to take measures to prevent such a thing from happening again.

After a lot of thinking and long discussions, we have decided to make the community Members Only. That means that you will have to join in order to see the posts. This way we hope to achieve a more cohesive membership, as well as a more personal relationship to all of you. :)

Another change is that membership will be moderated, meaning that all new members will be asked to wait until either me or nerhegeb approve their request to join. Basically, we want to check if members to be give proper credit for their icons. Don't worry, it won't take ages until you're approved: nerhegeb and I are both online on a daily basis, and we check our e-mails frequently (perhaps more often than it's healthy, heh!), so if you do credit your icons, you'll become a member in no time at all. However, please be aware of the fact that we're on CET (Central European Time), so you'll have to be a bit patient if you request membership at a time when it's the middle of the night here. *g* ;)

Speaking of credit, we would like to emphasize again its importance to us. Every single time we post graphics, we ask that you please credit magic_art. This is not optional, it's a rule. If you don't feel inclined to abide by it, it's alright and no hard feelings, but then please refrain from using our icons. There are plenty of communities and icon makers out there who don't require credit, so you might want to check them out. ;)

We, however, require credit, because we put a lot of time, effort and passion into our graphics. We research the themes that we are doing, try to find original, thought-provoking pictures to illustrate our ideas, and then spend hours on end working on them until they're made into icons and ready to be shared with you all. We do not ever post anything we are not happy with, or that we ourselves wouldn't use. We strive for quality, not quantity, and try to bring you icons you wouldn't find elsewhere. We do all of this gladly, because we truly enjoy making graphics and sharing them with you. All that we ask in return is that you credit our work. It's easy, only takes a few moments, and we are always here, ready to help you in case you don't know how to do it. There is a great difference between someone who doesn't know how to credit and asks for instructions, and somebody who isn't willing to credit in the first place, and simply chooses to ignore our wishes.

That being said, we also intend to go through our members list and see if everybody is giving proper credit in case they're using our icons. This is nothing personal, and we are not, Gods forbid, controlling your journals or anything of the sort! We really have better things to do with our time, believe us. ;) We just wish to make sure that all members are aware of this crediting rule, and abide by it. If we find out that you haven't given credit, we shall contact you and ask you to do so. Refusal, or a lack of reply from your part, will result in your removal from the community.

As already mentioned, this was not a decision we have made lightly. From the very beginning, magic_art had been an open community, and we had intended to keep it that way. We are also aware of the fact that the vast majority of our members are wonderful people who have always respected our wish to be credited, and we are grateful for that and their continued support. :) As it's often the case though, it only takes one person, or a small group of people to ruin it for all the others. *sigh*

To end on a happier note, watch out for the Kitties of the Season ~ The Samhain Edition coming up later today! ;)

Comments

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

I applaud this move - have been thinking about it for my own icon community as well, as hotlinking has been a frequent problem in the past.

As I just applied, two things - first, I am aware that my icons aren't all properly credited, but those that are not are as a rule made by me - I double-checked to make certain, even, so there is no reason to fear that I would leave yours uncredited.

Second, would you like to affiliate with my icon community, september_icons?

[mzsugarrat.livejournal.com]

I'm a good girl who always give credit^.^
Can I join you?

[acaciah.livejournal.com]

Wanted to mention since I applied for membership - uncredited icons are by me. Seems redundant to put "by me" or by acaciah.

[pocketfuloflove.livejournal.com]

Hey! I was wondering if you'd like to affiliate with party_favors?

(http://community.livejournal.com/party_favors/profile)

I couldn't find where else to write this! D:
I LOVE your community and would be honoured to affiliate with you.
Plus, erised_dream, you're my friend, hehe! ♥
:D

I WILL

[lucilla27.livejournal.com]

I will be happy to credit any icons I use.

Kimmy

[tigresslilly.livejournal.com]

Hi, this is the second time I've applied to join this community. I have an account here still but I post over at insanejournal and my icons are over there too. I do create where I get icons from though. http://www.insanejournal.com/allpics.bml?user=tigresslilly

That's my insane journal icon page. Please check it out to see where I'm using the icons and if this still doesn't verify I'm crediting people who I use icons from please tell if there's something else I could do to join this community. You guys have some amazing icons.

[matsu-tsuko.livejournal.com]

Why I wasn't approved?

Thanks

[raya-light.livejournal.com]

I saw one of your icons and a banner on vayleen's journal and fell in love. She recommended that I come over here and check you out. I just applied for a membership, and wanted to let you know that I have one community (rayas_and_rees) and one other LJ account (rayas_overflow) where the icons might possibly show up. Credit is always given unless I made the icon myself.

Ree is my sister, sheankelor. Just in case that comes up as a question.

Thanks for your consideration!

[waya-adanvto.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure why my application has not been approved? I make most of my own icons, the ones I did not make are credited unless I said in the comment field to PM me if someone made it. While my LJ is friends only, my info. should show that I have many entries and comments. I can't find anything else that would have my application rejected. Am I missing something? :o(

Thank you for your time. ♥

[pugsley.livejournal.com]

It is a terrible thing when one takes your art, yet some think that avatars do not count as "true" art, and so stealing it means nothing to them, but I think that each avatar is a little piece of art and should be credited to whomever made it.

I make avatars, only for myself mainly, but I do want others, who have used them, to credit me. It takes a lot of work to make an avatar, and so, I am saddened when someone steals one.

I hope that what you all have decided to do, by fully-moderating your comm, will work out, and I wish you continued success in making your beautiful pieces of art. \(＾▽＾)/

BTW ~ I hope that you will let me join your comm so that I can enjoy your little pieces of art. If anything else, I think I over credit or over label my icons, but better safe than sorry, is what I think. (｡◕‿◕｡)

[hogwartsvixxxen.livejournal.com]

I just joined and I love it here but WAAAAA I joined too late. Litha/Midsummer Kitties! I was looking all over for Litha/Midsummer icons I missed them! Sabbat kitties. YAY! *hugs you both* and *headbonks and purrs* to your Dazzle-Cat Emma!

Thank You so much for approving me.

Blessed Be

[rsidhe.livejournal.com]

I saw one of your gamut of mood on eluniel's LJ and I feel curiosity. I'm always give credit. ;)
Sorry for my engilsh :P

[miss-obscure.livejournal.com]

Tell me, please, why did my request to join was rejected?

[miss-obscure.livejournal.com]

Allow me to join, please. I really love graphic art and highly regard true talents.
My journal is somewhat old, active and I always credit other's work :)

[ravensong.livejournal.com]

Hi there! I created a new LJ for a few different reasons and was wondering if you'd add me even though it's just been created today? I'm not a troll or anything and if you check my icons you'll see I've credited the ones I know who the makers are. I was a member under my old LJ (kivawildrose) but just felt that a name change was in order. I greatly enjoy your icons--esp the kitties of the season (see current user pic) and would like to be able to keep viewing/using them on this LJ :) Thanks kindly!

Willow

PS. Sorry if this is the wrong place to send this kind of message =-P

[lucymonster.livejournal.com]

Hi,
I just submitted a request to join the community on my new account, and I realise you don't usually accept journals less than a month old. I've just moved from xxlucyferxx where I've been a member here for a while and would very much like to be again...is there any chance I can be added under this account? If you want to be cautious and wait til my new journal is a month old, I won't take offense and will come back later, but I just thought I'd ask. :)

[chanjuu.livejournal.com]

i like graphics communities that are members only or closed community... like you said, this way you know who has been added and will be able to keep in touch. i agree about the credit. its not even that hard to do so! and i dont get people hotlinking. its sooo annoying.
That being said, is it okay if you add me? I am really interested in joining this community for all the amazing icons talented people make here.. and i promise to credit whenever i use them. =] Add please?

[auntconi.livejournal.com]

May I join the community? I always credit icons when I use them. I will await your approval. Thank you for your consideration.

[willowings.livejournal.com]

i just wanted to comment & let you know that this journal is a new one, but i used to be justseconds. =)

[mermaids-tears.livejournal.com]

Hello. After seeing your pretty pixels on friends journals, I'd love to join your community. I have my own icon journal at pavanes, although my work is nowhere near as good as yours. I only use paintdotnet and some chisels. ;)

I understand completely about going members-only. My journal is still open, but all that could change if I log onto a bunch of ugly bandwidth- exceeded boxes someday. *raises fist at hotlinkers*

Hope you'll approve me. I think most of my gobzillion icons are credited, except for some older ones (pre 2007) when my 'puter crashed and I lost original file names.

Either way, Happy New Year!

[lyndsiefenele.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'd love to join. I've seen some of your icons on a friend's journal.

Randomly curious, since I can't see the icons to tell. Are you using some sort of image hosting service, or do you have more like a web hosting account? If the latter, you should be able to use an .htacess file to limit what domains/subdomains your images appear on. You'd think image hosting services would have something similar (I'm sure it would be a popular feature!), but I don't know enough about them to know if any do. I use .htaccess for my stuff because hotlinking sucks.

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

I've been a member for a while, but this question just occurred to me as I was reading someone else's policies. What is your policy on using your icons on other journal sites? I have Dreamwidth and Inksome accounts (and probably a few others, too, but those are most active). Over on my Dreamwidth, I have one of your icons credited as "created by magic_art on LiveJournal."

Is that okay?

[mystik-rose.livejournal.com]

Hello,

I've put in a request to join your community. I'm sorry your work got hotlinked. I can sympathise for I've had my icons and graphics not only hotlinked but also stolen and passed on as someone else's work, a few times, so I know the feeling.

I just wanted to stay, I have a graphics community and it's also members-only. I also request of my members to credit my works, when they use them, so you can be sure I'll give proper credit to your works. =)

[raven-rabit.livejournal.com]

Question! What about using the icons on FaceBook?

Specifically, I've started hosting rituals since my coven is on some sort of hiatus. I send out the invites by creating events on FB, and I was wondering if I could use the icons here as an image added to the event. (Because I like pretty things!)

I would like to redirect people here, but I'm afraid to put too much words in the info part of the event. I would be happy to put a link on my main FB page, and praise ya'll as Awesome Saucers.