August 31st, 11th Issue

This week, we have interviewed...


FEDORA_GIRL

fedora_girl, or Daisy, is probably one of the older blogskinners around, in terms of age and maybe experience? But her style has not really changed much right from the start. The quality of her skins have always maintained that high level too, and she is also kind and constructive with her comments. Learn more about this friendly blogskinner through this interview, enjoy!

1. How about some background info on yourself first?

I'm 20, live in the Philippines, & pound my brains to death daily getting a Chemical Engineering degree. I'm a child of God, and that gives my life meaning.

2. How did the name fedora_girl come about? Do you like fedoras?

My father collects hats, and had a fedora I was fascinated with. Still have it, in fact. Well, I needed a new internet name in high school, and that hat --- and the name --- was the most original thing I could come up with. Now, most people know me by it so I guess I'll never change it. :D

3. Why/How did you start blogskinning?

I guess it all started with my uncle putting Photoshop in my computer. It seemed like a waste of space if I couldn't use it, so I learned from books and tutorials on the internet. About the same time, I tried changing my blog's design with skins other people made, but was too picky about what I wanted. So I started blogskinning last March 2006.



4. Do you think a skinner's success can be measured by the number of SOTDs he/she has gotten, which is what many people think today?

Having an SOTD is cool, but there are so many great skinners out there who don't have any because of circumstances (they submit when not much people are online to see it, or have no screenshots). So no, I don't think so.

5. I especially like your drawings and flash-animated blogskins. But you don't watermark your images. Are you ever afraid of image theft?

Of course! I don't watermark though because I feel the skin was made for other people to enjoy, not for my name to be printed all over it in large letters. I do put my name in every skin's image, but it's really small. :)

6. What about rippers? Have you encountered any? How did you deal with them?

I have encountered a few, but I deal depending on the situation. If they made the skin but it looks so much like mine, I'll mention the similarity in a joking way. If they copied the whole thing, I'll let them know I'm upset about it and work on it from there.

I try to be careful about accusing people as rippers though. That's a serious accusation, and they might just not know any better.



7. What inspires your blogskins?

Hm. That would be song lyrics, stock photos I find, very beautiful brushes, and ideas I want to bring to life.

8. What about your flash-animated blogskins? What inspires them, specifically? Most of them contain a punchline, did you think of them on your own?

They're inspired by unusual stock photos. Like when I saw the shrimp photo I used in one of the skins, I said "Hey, that looks like a boat!" And yes, I usually think up the line on my own. I guess I just want to make people laugh. :D

9. I read in your blogskins profile that you don't like to rate. Care to elaborate on this? Do you think this has anything to do with the way the rating system works on blogskins.com now?

Well, I think ratings are good things since they show people whether they can do better. But sometimes, people just rate well because the skinner is their friend. Some skinners also demand five stars for skins that aren't quite five-star material then get angry if you don't give it to them. Some people will also rate you down for not answering their skin requests or just because they don't like the topic you skinned about.

I just don't think it's very objective, and I don't want to be part of the drama.



10. Enough about blogskins! A little more about your personal life now. According to your blog, you're in university now, right? Isn't it hard to manage your time between your studies, social life and blogskinning?

Yes, I'm in university and it IS sometimes hard to manage time between the things I do. I also spend a lot of time doing stuff at my church, playing the violin, and working occasionally. I guess it involves doing the more important things first. Like I'll study an hour before blogskinning. :D

11. I also read on your blog that you don't really like watching TV. Could you elaborate on this?

I don't watch much TV because I feel the shows give me wrong ideas about real life. Like a show might imply you have to be pretty or handsome on the outside to be happy, and that's just not true.

I also realized that when I totaled all the time I'd spend watching TV every week, it was a large amount of time I could spend doing other things. I could be going out with my family or blogging instead of staring at that screen. :D

12. I think you have a unique blogskinning style! Personally, what do you think is your blogskinning style?

I have no idea. I can describe my newer skins as simpler though, and more detailed.



13. How has Blogskins.com changed you?

I made a lot of friends on that site that I wouldn't have met otherwise. I also really improved on my blogskinning by going through skins made by great designers. :)

14. Any Blogskinning tips?

Three things: a) If you have no more ideas or get stuck on a certain design, do other stuff for a while. Talk to a friend. Walk the dog. Something. When you finish that break, you'll have a clearer idea what you want to do. b) Keep improving. Don't ever think you know everything about skinning because there's always something you haven't learned. c) Have fun. That's the most important thing.

15. Anything else you would like to add?

Don't forget to have a life in the real world! ;)



16. [Randomly Generated Qn] I'm quite curious about your url ( http://rocktheposer.blogspot.com). What DOES it mean? Any special meaning behind it?

It took such a LONG time to think of that URL. I guess I've always felt like I'm a poser with people thinking I can do more than what I can do. But what they're really seeing is God behind me making everything rock as much as it does. Without Him, I don't think I could do anything right. :D

17. [Randomly Generated Qn] Do you like corn soup?

Haha, sure. But I like cream of mushroom better!

18. [Last Randomly Generated Qn] Do you like travelling?

Yes, I do it as much as I can. It's fun to learn about how other people live in different places.



That's all for this week, watch this space for more updates next week!

Elaine

Labels: fedora_girl, interview

August 24th, 10th issue

This week, we have interviewed...


WISHIX

You might have noticed Jessica, a.k.a wishix, for her manga blogskinning-style, her straightforward personality or even for getting second in the recently concluded (or not so recently) BSP Blogskins Competition. Get to know her better through this interview!

1. How about some background info on yourself first?
Hi BSP reader~ I'm wishix! yea, u probably be wondering who is this fellow? lolz. Well beside kindergarden, which I dun really remember already.. ( guess it's call PAP? XD) I graduated from Xishan Primary, Northland Secondary and then Nanyang Poly, specializing in Multimedia Infocomm Technology. I'm a manga lover! Started reading at the age of 12, 1st book I bought is ranma1/2, (if doreamon doesn't counted XD) That's the reason why my drawing style is like that.. well if anyone ever notice :P. I'm also a gamer! Favourite game series is Final Fantasy!! Currently playing Audition and Fantasy Tennis Online.

2. How did the name wishix come about?
Hmmm I like the word "wish" and It's the 1st online name I have given myself when I play my first mmorpg, Darkages when I was 14. But after awhile, I found that "wish" is too commonly used, so I decided to come out with something unqiue and not too far from what I originally wanted. That's how wishix comes about!



3. Why/how did you start blogskinning?
I like to create website, but it takes alot of time to do website. So I decided to do blogskin instead. Like this, I can do alot of different design without spending too much time on each website structure and stuff!

4. You do EVERYTHING in your blogskin, right? From the codings to the images. Is there anything you have to say about people who use other's images?
Erm, I think it's alright to use other's images, if you do some editing yourself. Nevertheless you still need to credit the original owner, best if you can inform them first and ask for their permission. Sometimes I will use the photos/images I found on the net for my skins too. Not all the skins I did are drawn by myself XD



5. Is it tough? To do everything in a blogskin?
Hmm not really.. cos u just need to do the coding once.. hmm 3 times to be exact, (for the different version, click type, scroll type...) and the rest is just changing the background images and the color schemes. Nevertheless, working out the whole colors and feeling can be tough.

6. I've seen your website, which is very professional done btw! What is the main reason your chose to get a domain?
I've got this domain for like 1.5 years till now. At first I bought this domain cause I need it for my online portfolio. I remember once when I look for jobs online, there's this design company which seems pretty cool, putting up this job advertisement. One of the requirement is to give them your own online portfolio and they highlight this sentence: " Website hosted by free hosting companies need not be write. If you don't understand, it means you're not suitable for this position :)." I remember at that time, I was using geocities.com.. and I felt a slap on my face XD That's when I decided to purchase my own domain, seriously.



7. You do customs for some major websites, right? Anything to say about the experience?
Hmm, do website for people is not as enjoyable as doing it for yourself.. lolz.. cause normally after changing for a few rounds for a particular website, it will end up becoming something quite different from what you first imagine it to be. Well, clients like it, we do it.. that's that... Sad to say, we are designers, not aritist. Designers means we do what people wants. Artist means they do what they want, like it or not, is your problem. XD. Still there are some fun projects, and surely, when the projects you handle goes "live" on the net, you have a great satisfaction.

8. Why do you like web designing?
Hmm why? I dunno too.. lolz just like it ba? hahaha



9. Do you work fulltime? Do you generate a lot of income from web designing?
Yes, currently working fulltime. Sad to say it's a job u do alot of work and get paid little.. >< Still I'm doing what I like, so.. I don't really mind... now.. XD If you are out for money, don't come in this industry... if not, who knows one day we might we colleagues! haha

10. [randomly generated question] Do you like rainy days?
Dun know y but I LOVE rainy days!!! LOL!! Perhaps cos it's cold? hehe but i just love it!

That's all for today, good night!
Elaine.

Labels: interview, wishix

August 19th, 9th issue

Some updates first before we get to interview, eh? :D

Sorry for the recent... lack of updates, I've been really busy lately, exams and all. I sent the emails out to some interviewees but they only just replied, because, they too, are busy.
So thank you for your understanding!

I will be adding the blog links soon, just as you all have requested.
And I promise I will make up for the lack of updates with more interviews per week, just... after my exams.

Okay, on to the interview! With...


CICAKGIRL

As most of you probably know by now, cicakgirl won the BSP Blogskins Competition which came to a conclusion on 1 July 2007. Not only is she a talented blogskinner, but a friendly and approachable person too! Do enjoy this interview :)

1. How about some background info on yourself first?
Well, I'm a 17 years old girl named Ghina that just graduated from senior high school and really love designs. I love making blogskins and trying to improve my skill. I really like colorful things and a DEATH (DElicious And THasty-food) Eater.. ;P

2. How did the name cicakgirl come about?
Hmm.. it's random name, I want to have a catchy name (well, is it catchy?). Honestly, I really hate cicak (you know, a pale brown-semi-transparent house lizard. Euh.) Not only hate, but also EXTREMELY hate and afraid of cicaks.

3. Why/How did you start blogskinning?
Well, it's all begin when I really bored to see my blog template. It' s default theme from Blogger (green tictactoe templates..). At that time, I didn't know that I could change my templates with custom templates and make my own skins. Then, my friend told me that there's Blogskins. So I checked it out and tried to make my own skin with a tutorial I found at the net. I made my first skin using MS Paint and submitted it to BS because I wanted to share it with other people.



4. You have this website called Skin City, what is it about?
It's a blog that contains my skin that I have been submitted to Blogskins, with a link to download. So, you don't have to search at blogskins to find my skins.

5. What inspires your blogskins?
Random things. Sometimes songs can inspired me, some images I found, games I played, SOTDs.. inspirations come anytime, anywhere! ;)

6. What do you think is your blogskinning style?
Erm, simple and clear I think. Well, I like a blogskin that makes the blog beautiful and easy to read at the same time. I found some beautiful and gorgeous skins, but blog contents is difficult to read. It sucks.



7. There are a couple of things people always complain about, especially the SOTD system and rating system. What is your opinion on these two?
Yah, in my opinion, the SOTD quality is getting lower these day. I'm a little bit disappointed about this because SOTD should be the BEST skin of the day and I'm sure there are many better skins than that.
If I'm not mistaken, now they vote SOTD based on comments received and rating, instead of the number of favorites. I think it's quite unfair.

8. How did you feel when you won the BSP Blogskins Competition? Were you expecting it?
NO! I never expected that would happened! I mean, take a look at other submissions! They're damn good, and I don't think I could beat them. Oh, I feel.. SOOOO happy! syalalalala... XD

9. How has Blogskins.com changed you?
Thanks to Blogskins. It helps me improving my skills. I can meet another blogskin makers there that will gave some advice and constructive comments.



10. Any Blogskinning tips?
Ah? Well, just follow your intuition. Don't be afraid to try new styles and don't be mad if someone said that your blogskin is not good enough. Just keep trying!

11. Anything else you would like to add?
Keep using my skin.. hohoho.. and feel free to give me constructive comments.

12. [Randomly Generated Qn] Have you heard the latest Harry Potter book? (try to avoid giving spoilers :D)
Oh, yeah! I've read it! It's fantastic, cool, and really sad at the same time! Many deaths.. it's made me feel horrible. Do you know that [SPOILERSPOILERSPOILER]? *lol* But, anyway, I really hope that Harry Potter series never end! Haha..



13. [Randomly Generated Qn] Do you like japanese products? (e.g. anime, manga comics etc)
I do! I love OnePiece anime and manga, really adore it. I also love watching anime at Animax and YouTube. Japanese anime and manga are cute, funny, and have unique stories. My favorite Japanese products ever: SUSHI!! :D

14. [Last Randomly Generated Qn] You're living in Indonesia now, right? (Correct me if I'm wrong!) Have you ever been to Singapore?
Yap, I'm living in Indonesia. Nay, I've never been to Singapore. But, if you want to give me free ticket and free accommodation at a five star hotel, I would accepted it right away! Haha..
Honestly, I really want to go there. Shopping all day long, eating out everytime I want.. Singapore is really cool place, I think. Small country but really cool.

That's all for this week. Be sure to come back next week for the next interview with wishix!

Elaine

Labels: cicakgirl, interview

As promised, the previews of the winners of the BSP Blogskins Contest:

cicakgirl

click to enlarge

paperlove

click to enlarge

wishix

click to enlarge

As you have noticed, we have changed the BSP template already. Also, we would like to take this opportunity to thank manikka again! (Watch out for her interview, as we will be interviewing her soon!)

To FF users (like myself),
Our current blog layout, designed by cicakgirl, is not Mozilla Firefox compatible, but it can still function properly in FF, apart from the lack of background colour.

To cickagirl (if you see this!),
If you find out how to make it multi-browser compatible, please mail the new codes to me asap. It would be great if you tidied up the codes too, as I'm not very good with all these HTML stuff, thanks!

Labels: admin

July 21st, 8th issue

This week, we have interviewed...


SHOTGUN

Before she started getting SOTDs, quite a large number of people have heard of SHOTGUN's name already. So what kind of person is Flinda (a.k.a. SHOTGUN) like exactly? You'll find out through this interview. As for me, I think that Flinda is a great person, principled and kind :D Enjoy!

1. How about some background info on yourself?

I'm Flinda, studying in Coral Sec.. I bet you've never heard of that school before but anyways.. I'm a female and I'm very random, I can't say a complete sentence without laughing.

2. How did the name SHOTGUN come about?

I wasn't sure what to name myself though I knew I wanted a simple one word username. And at that time, I was rather obsessed with Dougie Poynter of McFLY and came across this picture of him in this "SHOTGUN" shirt, so I decided to steal the name and make it my username haha. I later then used the picture as my profile picture and I guess that's why people used to think that Shotgun was a "he". Lol.

3. Why/how did you begin blogskinning?

I joined BS because I was curious about what people think about my skins. As for how it all began.. it all started when my older sister used to have her own graphics site during the Neopets era (LOL!) and I would watch her create all those graphics. Somehow I got inspired because everything seemed so fun and new. And at that point of time, people started blogging so I too jumped onto the bandwagon, but instead of using skins from BS, I tried making my own layouts and they were seriously a big disaster. They were either pink or purple everywhere and were just girly and full of swirlies brushes hahah.



4. You are very well-known for your stylish blogskinning style... so much so that people started imitating your stylf and using your base codes. Any thoughts on that?

Uhh, I'm not well known lol. Anyways, thanks, that's very nice!

I know I don't own the HTMLs and CSS codes myself, but I spent a lot of time editing the codes to make the whole skin and codes match so that it would look more "complete". So I'd appreciate it if people would credit me for using my base codes.

As for style, I don't have a fixed style like heroine's line art, I think mine are mostly just collages plus brushes and it's very common nowadays, so I don't really see it as imitation.

5. I've heard that a while ago, you met with this problem in which blogskinners used the pictures you posted on deviantART to make blogskins without creditting you properly or not asking for permission beforehand. Actually I don't really know the details, would you mind elaborating?

They emailed me, saying something like "HELP me, ppl are accusing me!! Tell them I'm not a ripper" and then claiming to have saved my deviantART pictures and made it into a blogskin but didn't credit me because they "simply can't remember where I got the picture from" until people started calling them rippers and telling them that it's from Shotgun's deviantART account. Being the nice person that I am *coughs*, I helped them clear things up and said it was okay. But it was true, I wasn't that pissed although I knew they didn't ask me beforehand, but I was still okay with it as they still credited and emailed me after knowing where the picture is from. I mean, some just steal the stuff and then later act like they didn't.

6. Your rise to "fame" on blogskins.com was one of the fastest ever, what do you think about that?

Really ? Hmm, I think it has got something to do with my name and skins, hahah.



7. Any comments on the recently implemented changes to the Blogskins.com layout/ system (e.g. the friends/enemies system, format of profile page)

I think it's pretty weird, though I like the fact that you're able to see the preview of your friends's skins in your own page. I don't really like the SOTD system, it's making people wanting to be the SOTD all the time.

8. How has Blogskins.com changed you?

Like more blogskinners, BS has made me more open to criticisms and critique. It made me realized that since art, or rather, design, is a really subjective thing, there are bound to be people who hates your stuffs, but you don't have to let it affect you so much. It's just a matter of different people having different views and we'd have to learn to accept that.

9. Any Blogskinning tips?

1. Don't be discouraged, every expert was a beginner in the first place. I'm not saying that I'm an expert, but the quote makes sense. And practice a lot, make a lot of stuffs, if you don't like it don't delete it, it'd be nice to look back after a while to see your progress. And find out what suits you best, figure out what you really enjoy making instead of looking around and "copying" others' work.

2. Be careful with your font choice, colour combinations, css and the quality of the image. If one part of the skin doesn't live up to your expectations (like maybe the graphic), probably you could try to cover or make it up by further improvising on the codes then.

3. Best is if you know your strength ( Collages? Brushes? Drawings? Line art ? Hand drawn pictures ? Good with colours ? ) and use it to enhance your work so that people wouldn't focus so much on your weaknesses.

4. If you want to use pictures from deviantART to make blogskins, ask for permission first. Ask nicely and state that you'll credit them, most of the time you'll just get their permission.

When saving the DA picture, don't rename the file name! The "What_What_Hell_By_Artist_Here" is there for a reason, it's supposed to be reminding where you got it from.

And don't forget to give a direct link back to their deviantART account. Unless you wanna be charged with copyright infringement.

5. Don't curse people silently for giving you a 4.5 stars or below. Sure it's ego-damaging, but if you really want to improve, be open to critique. Some may like your skins, some may not, you can't please every single person out there. It's always interesting to know what different people thinks about your stuffs. If you even want to join BS, must at least try to accept what other people think about your skins la, cannot always have people saying "wah lao so nice sia" at every single comment what right, like that so fake.



10. [randomly generated question] Do you like the colour pink?

I don't like baby pink but I quite love hotpink lol.

Signing off,
Elaine

Labels: interview, SHOTGUN