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Deviation Actions
This journal was last updated on 25 August 2013 to include a modification to the list of rules and questions # 5, 15, 16, and 20.
Password Rule:
Due to the massive amounts of people neglecting to read my FAQ in its entirety and general issues that I don't have to nor will I deal with, I have imposed a new password rule to ensure that everyone reads my FAQ before they request an icon from me. From now on, if you want to request an icon, you must read this FAQ and send me the passwords hidden within it via a note. Yes, passwords plural. I am not going to say how many passwords there are because if people knew, they very well could just stop reading once they found the final one. I am not going to label them with "the first password is xxx" either. You'll have to read to find them.
Once you have sent me the passwords for your first icon (or the first icon you request after this update), you are henceforth exempt from future password searches. That means that if you request any icons after the one where you send me the passwords, you don't need to send them to me again.
I'm truly sorry for this new rule. Most of you are absolutely fantastic people and don't deserve this kind of treatment, and for that, I really am honestly sorry. It only takes one to ruin the fates of many, however, and I am sick and tired of putting up with the abuse I've had to deal with.
Again, please be sure you send me the passwords in a note. If you send it in a comment, I will have to hide that comment and all of the information you sent along with it.
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Please read the entire FAQ before requesting a pony icon or asking me questions about them! This FAQ also serves as a TOS/Rules, so if you don't read it, you're not following my rules, and that could prevent me from making you an icon.
If you have a question that is not in this journal, don't hesitate to shoot me a note and ask. I'll be more than happy to answer your question and add it to the FAQ. You never know. Someone else might have the exact same question!
To start, I'm going to post some important rules, regulations, et cetera about my icons, and then we'll get into the FAQ.
Rules:
Be courteous. I know this seems to be common sense, but a surprising number of people who request icons are rude, pushy, try to rush me, or are downright cruel. I will not tolerate any of that. If you want an icon, at least pretend to be grateful for my work.
You must use the form given in Question 1 when requesting, or at least have all of the information in the form. For example: if you have a Pegasus pony, just sending me a reference picture isn't going to cut it. Each species has multiple potential bases that I can use, so I require that you specify which exact base you want. To see a list of possible bases, please visit my "Bases" journal here: paintapastime.deviantart.com/a…
You must have a full-body reference image of your pony. You can, by all means, send me multiple images. It/They must contain:
A profile view of the pony, or as close to it as possible. Take note that I am going to copy down what the mane and tail look like regardless of posing, so make sure it's as accurate as possible
Complete views of both the mane and tail. For example: if the bottom portion of the tail is missing, it is not a suitable reference and I will not use it.
Colors that are exactly what you want them to be. This includes traditional drawings!
I will not do multiple ponies in one icon. I did it once for a very dear friend, and I will never do it again.
Do not message me asking how much longer it will be for me to complete the icon.
You can request up to 2 icons per batch (1 batch is 25 icon requests).
After I have created the icon, I will change any minor mistakes that I have made, including but not limited to: glitches, positioning of body marks, and accessories. If, however, you ask me to change something big, like the style of the hair piece(s) or even which base to use, it will count as a brand new icon. That means that if you've already requested 1 icon this batch, the large changes I will make will count as your 2nd. This is because again, I do rely 100% on the image you give me, so any mistakes like that are on the fault of the image. Now, I do admit that I am mortal, and mortals tend to make mistakes. If I notice that the issue with the hair piece or what have you is my own doing, then I will fix it and not count it as a new icon. Generally, though, that's what it will be.
If you are requesting the icon for a friend, please let me know upon request. I state later on in this FAQ that, for someone other than the requester to use the icon, they must have the permission of both myself and the requester. If I do not know it is for someone else, I will not give my permission, and I will report that person for stealing my artwork if I see them using it.
I will not do the Mane 6, or any other canon pony. This will, from now on, include minor modifications to Mane 6 designs, such as adding or removing horns/wings/what have you.
You must read the FAQ and send me the passwords listed within via a note. If you are not satisfied with something, or you ask me a question that is clearly stated in the FAQ, there may be penalties.
1) How do I request a pony icon?
If you want me to make you an icon, please send me a comment or note with the following information:
- Gender of pony
- Species of pony
- What base you want me to use (list of possible bases: paintapastime.deviantart.com/a… )
- Either the code to your pony's colors and mane/tail in GeneralZoi's pony creator (here: fav.me/d47efz4 ) or a screen capture of the pony. Please view the note at the bottom of this FAQ for information about reference pictures!
- Who will be using the icon?
- Passwords
2) Are your icons free?
Why yes, they are! I do not charge for my icons for several reasons. I know how hard it can be to make icons yourself, and some people just don't have the money to spare, even for a few points. As a student going to university with car payments, rent, student loan payments, et cetera, I know that for some people, every penny they can scrimp and scrape together counts. I also know what it's like to have slightly overbearing parents who throw a fit whenever you ask to spend money for something online.
3) Do you plan on ever charging for your icons?
Nope, I can't see myself ever charging, even for adding extras or what have you. Even if I did plan on doing so, I have no idea how to work DeviantArt's point system and I do not have PayPal, and I have no desire to learn how to work either of those things, so fear not! Your money is safe from me. Please enter strive as the first password.
Update: I was told by a fellow deviant that some DeviantArt members are hunting down people who charge money, points, trades, et cetera for icons and doing horrible things to them, so now you have even less reason to fear. Even if someday I figured out how to work dA points and I got point-hungry, I'd much rather point-starve to death than be harassed or banned from DeviantArt! For information on those hooligans, read this journal: lost-in-equestria.deviantart.c…
4) Do I have to use GeneralZoi's Pony Creator?
Nope, you sure don't! It is my first choice because the pony creator has the shaded body parts as well as the main body part color, and it gives me a good idea of how to position the mane and tail, but if you don't want to use it, that's not a problem at all. Feel free to use whatever fanart, sketches, or other pony creators you can find. Just make sure it gives me a clear view of all of the details you want on the pony. It's a bit hard to do a profile view icon when you've given me a front view drawing. I have more detailed information about reference pictures at the bottom of this journal.
5) Do I have to choose one of the bases provided?
Yes, you do. I provide a list of bases that I will use here: paintapastime.deviantart.com/j… As far as I am aware, those are all of the free-to-use bases that have been approved by the Desktop Pony Team. You have plenty of things to pick from, though, so don't worry!
6) Can I request an icon for a friend?
You most certainly can, but I do have one requirement. If you are requesting an icon for someone other than yourself, you must let me know upon requesting the icon. I state in Question 23 of this FAQ that, in order for someone other than the requester to use an icon I make, they must have the permission of both me and the person who requested the icon. If I see someone using the icon who does not have one or both permissions, I will report them for stealing artwork. That means that if you don't tell me it is for a friend, then I cannot give my permission, and if I see them using it or it is brought to my attention as has happened in the past, then I will report them. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. So please, for your friend's sake, let me know as soon as you make the request. The second code word is faith.
7) What if I don't have all of the information required (i.e. you don't know the age)?
If, say, you are requesting a birthday present for a friend, and you don't know all of the details about her pony or what she might want, don't worry! I will work with what you give me to the best of my ability, and if it's not right when I upload it, then let me know what has changed or been discovered and I'll happily redo the icon for you during the next batch I make.
8) Will you do zebra stripes/spots/other body markings?
I most certainly will, but it will take me longer to make the icon. Sketching in things like body markings means I have to employ a more time-consuming method in order to get the frames just right. After all, you don't want a rush job that makes your pony's stripes change location every time he puts his leg down, do you?
9) Can you do just a mane/tail/body color/other rather than make the whole thing?
Definitely! If you have the ability to make the icon yourself but you just can't seem to get that mane to lay right on all of the icons, then I'll be happy to lend you a hand! I will upload the file as an image with each frame rather than a gif so that it will be easier for you to work with. The next word you need to know is shield.
10) Will you make the pony taller/change the eye shape/make other modifications to the standard base?
No, I'm afraid I will not change the base in any way, shape, or form as far as the pony's structure for several reasons. First, the bases are not mine, and I therefore do not have permission to alter them in any way, nor will I attempt to acquire said permission. I got permission from the Desktop Pony Team to make the male versions of the bases, and that is the extent of what I will do. Second, making pony icons is a bit time-consuming and tedious as it is, and I have a ridiculously hectic life. The last thing I need is even more customizable features that will require that much more time and effort to get your bases to you. Third, if I overcame the previous two obstacles and allowed those changes, the process of requesting an icon would become enormously more complex, and it just isn't worth it.
11) Will you add in accessories, pets, et cetera?
Due to my less-than-perfect pixel art skills and complications with frame rates, I will not add in pets or multiple ponies. I will do accessories on most occasions, though some may prove to be too complicated or unable to work with the base and I will have to turn it down.
12) How long will it take?
Ah, the most commonly-asked question. As I've stated before in this FAQ, I'm currently a full-time university student, and I was recently promoted to manager at work. My work load is in the holy-crap zone, but luckily I have some pretty flexible weekends. As such, the timing will depend on how far down you are in my to-do queue, but generally I try to shoot for a week, two weeks maximum. There will be days when I get several icons done at once, and there will be long stretches of days when I don't do any at all. Just be patient and I promise I'll get to you. If I have a problem with your icon (such as the mane won't cooperate or the body markings are being especially difficult), I will send you a note letting you know how far along I am on the icon and why it is taking so long to complete. I'll try to never leave you out of the loop. Another term that will do you good when you request an icon is sunscreen.
13) I was at the top of your to-do list, but you did someone else's icon first. Why?
This could be for several reasons. Perhaps they had an easier icon to make, or they need their icon by a certain date, say, for a birthday. Whatever the reason, though, there is always a chance that I will do someone else's first, but fret not! I haven't forgotten about you. I'll get to it as soon as I can, and I do try to work generally in the order the icons were requested. Sometimes life just gets in the way, though, and others get their icons first.
14) If I don't like the icon, will you redo it?
When I finish an icon, I will send you a note, and in the note, I will tell you that if you see anything you want changed, let me know and I'll change it. This isn't a lie in the slightest. I will always be more than happy to brush up your icon and tweak it to your liking. It may take time, depending on the queue I have going and what exactly you want changed, but whether it takes a few hours or a few weeks, I will always be open to changing your icon for the better. To request an icon, make sure you tell me King of Okay.
15) Can I request multiple icons?
You absolutely can request as many icons as you want, but you can only request 2 icons per batch (1 batch is 25 icons). When you request multiple icons, I will add you to my to-do list and put a number in parentheses next to your name of how many icons you've requested. Be warned, though. If you are at the top of my list and you want 2 pony icons, I won't do them both at once. I may do one for you, and then move on to the next person, and do another for you, and then go to someone else, et cetera, and sometimes I may do 2, 3, or more icons for other people before I get to your second one, or what have you. This isn't personal, and it's not because I don't want to do your icons. It just doesn't seem fair to make others wait even longer to have their icons finished so you can have your batch done at the same time when they've been waiting nearly as long as you.
Please check Question 20 for more information on multiple icons in each batch.
16) Do you do cutie marks?
I will only do a cutie mark if specifically asked. Because of the size of the icon, I only have a couple of pixels of space for a cutie mark, which can be difficult since most cutie marks are large and/or elaborate. If you really want me to put a cutie mark on your pony, though, then ask and I'll be happy to.
17) What program do you use?
I know that some people out there can and want to make their own icons, but they don't quite know where to start or what program to get to kick off their pixel adventure. Personally, I use Photoshop CS2. An ancient thing, I know, but a favorite of mine. It is no longer sold by Adobe and I wouldn't recommend pirating (-cough-), so what I will probably recommend for you is to download Paint.NET or GIMP. If you download either from their main website, it is guaranteed virus free, and it costs you a great $0. Paint.NET is absolutely free, and I love it. It's like a friendlier version of Photoshop. You can download brushes, tools, effects, et cetera for it, and it's good fun. I'm not 100% sure how to work it to make a .gif image, but there are plenty of tutorials out there for you to use.
18) Can you make a pony icon of this Pokemon/Digimon/this creature I created/et cetera?
No, I'm afraid I cannot. I've gotten a few requests like these, and I've found that, at times, it can be exceedingly difficult to take the pattern of a character from another TV show, comic book, et cetera, or a custom creature and transform it into a pony.
Now, if you have already made a pony version of that character, then yes, I will make the icon. But no, I will not do the conversion myself.
19) Do you do icons of the Mane 6 or other canon ponies?
I have tried my hand at Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Big Mac, and Doctor Whooves. I will not attempt any more. I don't feel as though my skills are up to par for canon ponies, so from here on out, I'm afraid I will not make them.
20) I have 5 new OC ponies. Can you make icons of all five?
I mentioned above that I will do multiple icons, but unfortunately, I have decided that I will only do 2 icons per person per batch. A batch is made up of 25 icons. Once I fill 25 request slots, I close icon requests until all 25 are done, and then requests are reopened. You can request up to 2 icons for as many batches as you like, though.
21) How's my icon coming? I requested it a week ago and it hasn't been finished yet.
You would be amazed at how many people I tell that the request will take about 2 weeks, and after a week or less, they are already asking me if I've finished their pony yet, some multiple times. Because of the massive number of nudges I've gotten, particularly during the point in time where my work load became so much that I had to close requests, I have to implement a new rule. If you ask me about the progress of your icon before the date I said it would be finished, I will bump you down one slot on my to-do list, meaning that you will have to wait an extra icon before I get to yours. I'm sorry, but I am sick and tired of people pushing me about their icons. These are free requests. If you want a brilliant rush job, then there are plenty of people out there who charge you for icons and do it spectacularly and quickly. Or as I am going to mention later on, you can, in a way, bribe me. But please. You aren't paying me, which means you aren't my boss, so let me work at my own pace. Add the word "just" to your list of required phrases.
22) Can you add text to my pony icon?
I have tried this fairly recently, and I have decided that no, I'm afraid I cannot add text to the icon.
23) Can I use one of your pony icons as my DeviantArt avatar?
If you are the person who requested the specific avatar in question, then yes, you may use it. If you did not request it, I have a few stipulations. You must have permission from both me and the person who requested the icon, and you must have both permissions before you start to use it. If you fail to get the permission of one or both parties, or if you use it before you have permission from both of us, you are not allowed to use it. If If I catch you using one of my icons without permission, I will report you for stealing my artwork. I do not tolerate thievery in any sense, and especially not when it is my own work.
24) Can I use this icon on another account/website?
Absolutely! These icons are for you to use in whatever way you wish. I do ask that you credit me if at all possible, but if you want to use them for another DeviantArt account, or a forum account, et cetera, then by all means, feel free.
25)Will you notify me when you finish my icon?
I most certainly will. As soon as I have uploaded the icon, I will send you a note with a link to the icon, as well as an offer to fix up anything I did wrong. However, to be on the safe side, in case of misspellings, misunderstandings, et cetera, I will not send a message to another account, be it your main account, a friend's account, and so on, and so forth. I will only notify the account on which you request the icon.
26) Can you change the kissing base to be boy/boy or girl/girl?
I'm sorry, but no, I absolutely will not change the base. There are several reasons as to why I will not, one of which being it is not my base and I therefore do not have the rights to manipulate it.
27) Why did you not make a pony icon for me?
I hate to say it, but in the past, I have had to decline to make a pony icon for a person. Generally, I will work with you as hard as I can to find a suitable image, base, et cetera in order to make the icon for you. However, there are those rare times when I will outright refuse to make the icon. They could include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
- You are an art thief. Believe it or not, I have had people request icons from me, and when I went to look through their gallery either to find a reference image or out of curiosity, I found an abundance of stolen artwork. If the requester deletes all stolen artwork and convinces me that they will not steal art again, I may make the icon for them, but for the most part, I will not associate with or reward art thieves with my hard work.
- Your attitude toward me was less than desirable. People can act in strange ways when things are offered to them for free, and I have had far too many people be rude, condescending, or outright vicious toward me, and honestly, I've had quite enough of it. If I decide that your behavior is intolerable, I will not work with you. I'm not getting paid for this. I have nothing at stake but my reputation, which is pretty well defined as it is and I'm not too worried about risking it, so I have no interest or reason to deal with ungrateful people.
- You refuse to read the FAQ. I'm sorry, but I'm sick and tired of people adamantly refusing to read this FAQ and asking questions that are very clearly answered here. I will expect you to be knowledgeable on what you are requesting, what I need from you, and what you can expect from me. If I have to tell you more than once that the question or questions you have are in my FAQ, then there is a chance I will not make the icon for you. It's a slim chance, of course, and you will have to test my patience quite a bit to get to this point, but there is still a chance. The way I see it, if you aren't going to read my FAQ, then you don't care enough about my work or the process to really appreciate what I'm doing, and I am not going to spend my valuable time making something for someone who doesn't truly appreciate it.
There are other reasons why I would deny making an icon, but these three are the biggest, most prevalent reasons. Luckily I haven't had to deny very many icons at all, and most of those were because of the first bullet. There is always that chance, though, that there will be more denied icons, and I don't want any of you to feel in the black or blindsided by my actions.
Note About Reference Pics:
Lately, people have seemed to not quite grasp the way I use the reference images I am sent, so let me clear some things up.
First off, I will use the exact body color that is on the reference picture. I use the Eyedropper tool to make sure it is 100% accurate, and then I put that exact HSB code into the Pony Creator to get the proper shading according to the color you gave me. If, when I upload the pony icon, the color seems off, it's either because the size difference makes the shade look different, or the reference picture's color was wrong. This includes scanned traditional drawings! If the color on the drawing is not exact, please either write in the HSB code or give me a circle of color that is exactly right.
Second, the reference picture must consist of every detail you want on the icon. In this FAQ journal, I specifically ask for an image that gives me a clear view on all of the details. That means that the picture needs to include every body part, the mane, and the tail, and that it needs to be at an appropriate angle. I would very much prefer a profile view of the pony. If you give me an image of the pony that is at a ¾ view, and mane is showing on both sides of the pony's neck, I am going to draw in the mane on both sides. I'm not going to assume that the mane on the far side is not viewable from a side angle. So please, to make things easier on the both of us, make absolutely certain that the image you give me is a perfect representation of the pony I will be making.
Third, I am no longer going to go through a person's gallery looking for a reference picture. Too many times I have been told "you can find a picture of her in my gallery," and too many times I've come across pornographic, violent, or otherwise unappealing pictures of ponies that I do not want or need to see. And too many times I have been unable to locate any decent pictures of the pony in the gallery. From this point on, I will require a specific reference picture. You can send me multiple images, by all means, but I will no longer go to your gallery and look for the picture myself.
Fourth is a bit of a repeat of the second, but the reference picture must have both the mane and tail in full view. I have gotten countless reference images that had only the mane, only part of the tail, only parts of both pieces, what have you. I would ask for another picture, and I would be told details about the missing parts rather than shown a picture. I would make the icon to the best of my ability, but I would wind up disappointing the requester. No more. From this point on, if your reference picture does not have full, appropriate views of both pieces, I will not use it to make the icon. You can, as I said, link me to multiple reference pictures if needed, or you can whip up a quick sketch on Microsoft Paint if need be. Trust me. It doesn't matter how good or bad your drawing skills are. You should be able to draw the tip of a tail sufficiently.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I promise it'll make the process so much smoother in the long run!
Another word you will need is wunderkind.
Note: I reserve the right to decline to make a pony icon for whatever reason I choose.
Current To-Do Queue:
1. Veemonsito
2. Veemonsito
3. PawNyan
4. PawNyan
5. MinimoogVoyager
6. MinimoogVoyager
7. MyLittleStarshine
8. ayame135798642
9. KarmanDuBois
10. KarmanDuBois
11. PetalSparkle
12. PetalSparkle
13. SunnyBloom
14. EcoStark
15. dyingflames
16. MyLittleDaybright
17. PrincessBubbledust
18. :devglowfish11:
19. FloraPuppy
20. FloraPuppy
21. lucario55
22. lucario55
23. Sparker-Fluxer-Artz
24. Sparker-Fluxer-Artz
25. zephyr093
Password Rule:
Due to the massive amounts of people neglecting to read my FAQ in its entirety and general issues that I don't have to nor will I deal with, I have imposed a new password rule to ensure that everyone reads my FAQ before they request an icon from me. From now on, if you want to request an icon, you must read this FAQ and send me the passwords hidden within it via a note. Yes, passwords plural. I am not going to say how many passwords there are because if people knew, they very well could just stop reading once they found the final one. I am not going to label them with "the first password is xxx" either. You'll have to read to find them.
Once you have sent me the passwords for your first icon (or the first icon you request after this update), you are henceforth exempt from future password searches. That means that if you request any icons after the one where you send me the passwords, you don't need to send them to me again.
I'm truly sorry for this new rule. Most of you are absolutely fantastic people and don't deserve this kind of treatment, and for that, I really am honestly sorry. It only takes one to ruin the fates of many, however, and I am sick and tired of putting up with the abuse I've had to deal with.
Again, please be sure you send me the passwords in a note. If you send it in a comment, I will have to hide that comment and all of the information you sent along with it.
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Please read the entire FAQ before requesting a pony icon or asking me questions about them! This FAQ also serves as a TOS/Rules, so if you don't read it, you're not following my rules, and that could prevent me from making you an icon.
If you have a question that is not in this journal, don't hesitate to shoot me a note and ask. I'll be more than happy to answer your question and add it to the FAQ. You never know. Someone else might have the exact same question!
To start, I'm going to post some important rules, regulations, et cetera about my icons, and then we'll get into the FAQ.
Rules:
Be courteous. I know this seems to be common sense, but a surprising number of people who request icons are rude, pushy, try to rush me, or are downright cruel. I will not tolerate any of that. If you want an icon, at least pretend to be grateful for my work. You must use the form given in Question 1 when requesting, or at least have all of the information in the form. For example: if you have a Pegasus pony, just sending me a reference picture isn't going to cut it. Each species has multiple potential bases that I can use, so I require that you specify which exact base you want. To see a list of possible bases, please visit my "Bases" journal here: paintapastime.deviantart.com/a… You must have a full-body reference image of your pony. You can, by all means, send me multiple images. It/They must contain: A profile view of the pony, or as close to it as possible. Take note that I am going to copy down what the mane and tail look like regardless of posing, so make sure it's as accurate as possible Complete views of both the mane and tail. For example: if the bottom portion of the tail is missing, it is not a suitable reference and I will not use it. Colors that are exactly what you want them to be. This includes traditional drawings! I will not do multiple ponies in one icon. I did it once for a very dear friend, and I will never do it again. Do not message me asking how much longer it will be for me to complete the icon. You can request up to 2 icons per batch (1 batch is 25 icon requests). After I have created the icon, I will change any minor mistakes that I have made, including but not limited to: glitches, positioning of body marks, and accessories. If, however, you ask me to change something big, like the style of the hair piece(s) or even which base to use, it will count as a brand new icon. That means that if you've already requested 1 icon this batch, the large changes I will make will count as your 2nd. This is because again, I do rely 100% on the image you give me, so any mistakes like that are on the fault of the image. Now, I do admit that I am mortal, and mortals tend to make mistakes. If I notice that the issue with the hair piece or what have you is my own doing, then I will fix it and not count it as a new icon. Generally, though, that's what it will be. If you are requesting the icon for a friend, please let me know upon request. I state later on in this FAQ that, for someone other than the requester to use the icon, they must have the permission of both myself and the requester. If I do not know it is for someone else, I will not give my permission, and I will report that person for stealing my artwork if I see them using it. I will not do the Mane 6, or any other canon pony. This will, from now on, include minor modifications to Mane 6 designs, such as adding or removing horns/wings/what have you. You must read the FAQ and send me the passwords listed within via a note. If you are not satisfied with something, or you ask me a question that is clearly stated in the FAQ, there may be penalties. 1) How do I request a pony icon?
If you want me to make you an icon, please send me a comment or note with the following information:
- Gender of pony
- Species of pony
- What base you want me to use (list of possible bases: paintapastime.deviantart.com/a… )
- Either the code to your pony's colors and mane/tail in GeneralZoi's pony creator (here: fav.me/d47efz4 ) or a screen capture of the pony. Please view the note at the bottom of this FAQ for information about reference pictures!
- Who will be using the icon?
- Passwords
2) Are your icons free?
Why yes, they are! I do not charge for my icons for several reasons. I know how hard it can be to make icons yourself, and some people just don't have the money to spare, even for a few points. As a student going to university with car payments, rent, student loan payments, et cetera, I know that for some people, every penny they can scrimp and scrape together counts. I also know what it's like to have slightly overbearing parents who throw a fit whenever you ask to spend money for something online.
3) Do you plan on ever charging for your icons?
Nope, I can't see myself ever charging, even for adding extras or what have you. Even if I did plan on doing so, I have no idea how to work DeviantArt's point system and I do not have PayPal, and I have no desire to learn how to work either of those things, so fear not! Your money is safe from me. Please enter strive as the first password.
Update: I was told by a fellow deviant that some DeviantArt members are hunting down people who charge money, points, trades, et cetera for icons and doing horrible things to them, so now you have even less reason to fear. Even if someday I figured out how to work dA points and I got point-hungry, I'd much rather point-starve to death than be harassed or banned from DeviantArt! For information on those hooligans, read this journal: lost-in-equestria.deviantart.c…
4) Do I have to use GeneralZoi's Pony Creator?
Nope, you sure don't! It is my first choice because the pony creator has the shaded body parts as well as the main body part color, and it gives me a good idea of how to position the mane and tail, but if you don't want to use it, that's not a problem at all. Feel free to use whatever fanart, sketches, or other pony creators you can find. Just make sure it gives me a clear view of all of the details you want on the pony. It's a bit hard to do a profile view icon when you've given me a front view drawing. I have more detailed information about reference pictures at the bottom of this journal.
5) Do I have to choose one of the bases provided?
Yes, you do. I provide a list of bases that I will use here: paintapastime.deviantart.com/j… As far as I am aware, those are all of the free-to-use bases that have been approved by the Desktop Pony Team. You have plenty of things to pick from, though, so don't worry!
6) Can I request an icon for a friend?
You most certainly can, but I do have one requirement. If you are requesting an icon for someone other than yourself, you must let me know upon requesting the icon. I state in Question 23 of this FAQ that, in order for someone other than the requester to use an icon I make, they must have the permission of both me and the person who requested the icon. If I see someone using the icon who does not have one or both permissions, I will report them for stealing artwork. That means that if you don't tell me it is for a friend, then I cannot give my permission, and if I see them using it or it is brought to my attention as has happened in the past, then I will report them. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. So please, for your friend's sake, let me know as soon as you make the request. The second code word is faith.
7) What if I don't have all of the information required (i.e. you don't know the age)?
If, say, you are requesting a birthday present for a friend, and you don't know all of the details about her pony or what she might want, don't worry! I will work with what you give me to the best of my ability, and if it's not right when I upload it, then let me know what has changed or been discovered and I'll happily redo the icon for you during the next batch I make.
8) Will you do zebra stripes/spots/other body markings?
I most certainly will, but it will take me longer to make the icon. Sketching in things like body markings means I have to employ a more time-consuming method in order to get the frames just right. After all, you don't want a rush job that makes your pony's stripes change location every time he puts his leg down, do you?
9) Can you do just a mane/tail/body color/other rather than make the whole thing?
Definitely! If you have the ability to make the icon yourself but you just can't seem to get that mane to lay right on all of the icons, then I'll be happy to lend you a hand! I will upload the file as an image with each frame rather than a gif so that it will be easier for you to work with. The next word you need to know is shield.
10) Will you make the pony taller/change the eye shape/make other modifications to the standard base?
No, I'm afraid I will not change the base in any way, shape, or form as far as the pony's structure for several reasons. First, the bases are not mine, and I therefore do not have permission to alter them in any way, nor will I attempt to acquire said permission. I got permission from the Desktop Pony Team to make the male versions of the bases, and that is the extent of what I will do. Second, making pony icons is a bit time-consuming and tedious as it is, and I have a ridiculously hectic life. The last thing I need is even more customizable features that will require that much more time and effort to get your bases to you. Third, if I overcame the previous two obstacles and allowed those changes, the process of requesting an icon would become enormously more complex, and it just isn't worth it.
11) Will you add in accessories, pets, et cetera?
Due to my less-than-perfect pixel art skills and complications with frame rates, I will not add in pets or multiple ponies. I will do accessories on most occasions, though some may prove to be too complicated or unable to work with the base and I will have to turn it down.
12) How long will it take?
Ah, the most commonly-asked question. As I've stated before in this FAQ, I'm currently a full-time university student, and I was recently promoted to manager at work. My work load is in the holy-crap zone, but luckily I have some pretty flexible weekends. As such, the timing will depend on how far down you are in my to-do queue, but generally I try to shoot for a week, two weeks maximum. There will be days when I get several icons done at once, and there will be long stretches of days when I don't do any at all. Just be patient and I promise I'll get to you. If I have a problem with your icon (such as the mane won't cooperate or the body markings are being especially difficult), I will send you a note letting you know how far along I am on the icon and why it is taking so long to complete. I'll try to never leave you out of the loop. Another term that will do you good when you request an icon is sunscreen.
13) I was at the top of your to-do list, but you did someone else's icon first. Why?
This could be for several reasons. Perhaps they had an easier icon to make, or they need their icon by a certain date, say, for a birthday. Whatever the reason, though, there is always a chance that I will do someone else's first, but fret not! I haven't forgotten about you. I'll get to it as soon as I can, and I do try to work generally in the order the icons were requested. Sometimes life just gets in the way, though, and others get their icons first.
14) If I don't like the icon, will you redo it?
When I finish an icon, I will send you a note, and in the note, I will tell you that if you see anything you want changed, let me know and I'll change it. This isn't a lie in the slightest. I will always be more than happy to brush up your icon and tweak it to your liking. It may take time, depending on the queue I have going and what exactly you want changed, but whether it takes a few hours or a few weeks, I will always be open to changing your icon for the better. To request an icon, make sure you tell me King of Okay.
15) Can I request multiple icons?
You absolutely can request as many icons as you want, but you can only request 2 icons per batch (1 batch is 25 icons). When you request multiple icons, I will add you to my to-do list and put a number in parentheses next to your name of how many icons you've requested. Be warned, though. If you are at the top of my list and you want 2 pony icons, I won't do them both at once. I may do one for you, and then move on to the next person, and do another for you, and then go to someone else, et cetera, and sometimes I may do 2, 3, or more icons for other people before I get to your second one, or what have you. This isn't personal, and it's not because I don't want to do your icons. It just doesn't seem fair to make others wait even longer to have their icons finished so you can have your batch done at the same time when they've been waiting nearly as long as you.
Please check Question 20 for more information on multiple icons in each batch.
16) Do you do cutie marks?
I will only do a cutie mark if specifically asked. Because of the size of the icon, I only have a couple of pixels of space for a cutie mark, which can be difficult since most cutie marks are large and/or elaborate. If you really want me to put a cutie mark on your pony, though, then ask and I'll be happy to.
17) What program do you use?
I know that some people out there can and want to make their own icons, but they don't quite know where to start or what program to get to kick off their pixel adventure. Personally, I use Photoshop CS2. An ancient thing, I know, but a favorite of mine. It is no longer sold by Adobe and I wouldn't recommend pirating (-cough-), so what I will probably recommend for you is to download Paint.NET or GIMP. If you download either from their main website, it is guaranteed virus free, and it costs you a great $0. Paint.NET is absolutely free, and I love it. It's like a friendlier version of Photoshop. You can download brushes, tools, effects, et cetera for it, and it's good fun. I'm not 100% sure how to work it to make a .gif image, but there are plenty of tutorials out there for you to use.
18) Can you make a pony icon of this Pokemon/Digimon/this creature I created/et cetera?
No, I'm afraid I cannot. I've gotten a few requests like these, and I've found that, at times, it can be exceedingly difficult to take the pattern of a character from another TV show, comic book, et cetera, or a custom creature and transform it into a pony.
Now, if you have already made a pony version of that character, then yes, I will make the icon. But no, I will not do the conversion myself.
19) Do you do icons of the Mane 6 or other canon ponies?
I have tried my hand at Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Big Mac, and Doctor Whooves. I will not attempt any more. I don't feel as though my skills are up to par for canon ponies, so from here on out, I'm afraid I will not make them.
20) I have 5 new OC ponies. Can you make icons of all five?
I mentioned above that I will do multiple icons, but unfortunately, I have decided that I will only do 2 icons per person per batch. A batch is made up of 25 icons. Once I fill 25 request slots, I close icon requests until all 25 are done, and then requests are reopened. You can request up to 2 icons for as many batches as you like, though.
21) How's my icon coming? I requested it a week ago and it hasn't been finished yet.
You would be amazed at how many people I tell that the request will take about 2 weeks, and after a week or less, they are already asking me if I've finished their pony yet, some multiple times. Because of the massive number of nudges I've gotten, particularly during the point in time where my work load became so much that I had to close requests, I have to implement a new rule. If you ask me about the progress of your icon before the date I said it would be finished, I will bump you down one slot on my to-do list, meaning that you will have to wait an extra icon before I get to yours. I'm sorry, but I am sick and tired of people pushing me about their icons. These are free requests. If you want a brilliant rush job, then there are plenty of people out there who charge you for icons and do it spectacularly and quickly. Or as I am going to mention later on, you can, in a way, bribe me. But please. You aren't paying me, which means you aren't my boss, so let me work at my own pace. Add the word "just" to your list of required phrases.
22) Can you add text to my pony icon?
I have tried this fairly recently, and I have decided that no, I'm afraid I cannot add text to the icon.
23) Can I use one of your pony icons as my DeviantArt avatar?
If you are the person who requested the specific avatar in question, then yes, you may use it. If you did not request it, I have a few stipulations. You must have permission from both me and the person who requested the icon, and you must have both permissions before you start to use it. If you fail to get the permission of one or both parties, or if you use it before you have permission from both of us, you are not allowed to use it. If If I catch you using one of my icons without permission, I will report you for stealing my artwork. I do not tolerate thievery in any sense, and especially not when it is my own work.
24) Can I use this icon on another account/website?
Absolutely! These icons are for you to use in whatever way you wish. I do ask that you credit me if at all possible, but if you want to use them for another DeviantArt account, or a forum account, et cetera, then by all means, feel free.
25)Will you notify me when you finish my icon?
I most certainly will. As soon as I have uploaded the icon, I will send you a note with a link to the icon, as well as an offer to fix up anything I did wrong. However, to be on the safe side, in case of misspellings, misunderstandings, et cetera, I will not send a message to another account, be it your main account, a friend's account, and so on, and so forth. I will only notify the account on which you request the icon.
26) Can you change the kissing base to be boy/boy or girl/girl?
I'm sorry, but no, I absolutely will not change the base. There are several reasons as to why I will not, one of which being it is not my base and I therefore do not have the rights to manipulate it.
27) Why did you not make a pony icon for me?
I hate to say it, but in the past, I have had to decline to make a pony icon for a person. Generally, I will work with you as hard as I can to find a suitable image, base, et cetera in order to make the icon for you. However, there are those rare times when I will outright refuse to make the icon. They could include, but are not limited to, the following reasons:
- You are an art thief. Believe it or not, I have had people request icons from me, and when I went to look through their gallery either to find a reference image or out of curiosity, I found an abundance of stolen artwork. If the requester deletes all stolen artwork and convinces me that they will not steal art again, I may make the icon for them, but for the most part, I will not associate with or reward art thieves with my hard work.
- Your attitude toward me was less than desirable. People can act in strange ways when things are offered to them for free, and I have had far too many people be rude, condescending, or outright vicious toward me, and honestly, I've had quite enough of it. If I decide that your behavior is intolerable, I will not work with you. I'm not getting paid for this. I have nothing at stake but my reputation, which is pretty well defined as it is and I'm not too worried about risking it, so I have no interest or reason to deal with ungrateful people.
- You refuse to read the FAQ. I'm sorry, but I'm sick and tired of people adamantly refusing to read this FAQ and asking questions that are very clearly answered here. I will expect you to be knowledgeable on what you are requesting, what I need from you, and what you can expect from me. If I have to tell you more than once that the question or questions you have are in my FAQ, then there is a chance I will not make the icon for you. It's a slim chance, of course, and you will have to test my patience quite a bit to get to this point, but there is still a chance. The way I see it, if you aren't going to read my FAQ, then you don't care enough about my work or the process to really appreciate what I'm doing, and I am not going to spend my valuable time making something for someone who doesn't truly appreciate it.
There are other reasons why I would deny making an icon, but these three are the biggest, most prevalent reasons. Luckily I haven't had to deny very many icons at all, and most of those were because of the first bullet. There is always that chance, though, that there will be more denied icons, and I don't want any of you to feel in the black or blindsided by my actions.
Note About Reference Pics:
Lately, people have seemed to not quite grasp the way I use the reference images I am sent, so let me clear some things up.
First off, I will use the exact body color that is on the reference picture. I use the Eyedropper tool to make sure it is 100% accurate, and then I put that exact HSB code into the Pony Creator to get the proper shading according to the color you gave me. If, when I upload the pony icon, the color seems off, it's either because the size difference makes the shade look different, or the reference picture's color was wrong. This includes scanned traditional drawings! If the color on the drawing is not exact, please either write in the HSB code or give me a circle of color that is exactly right.
Second, the reference picture must consist of every detail you want on the icon. In this FAQ journal, I specifically ask for an image that gives me a clear view on all of the details. That means that the picture needs to include every body part, the mane, and the tail, and that it needs to be at an appropriate angle. I would very much prefer a profile view of the pony. If you give me an image of the pony that is at a ¾ view, and mane is showing on both sides of the pony's neck, I am going to draw in the mane on both sides. I'm not going to assume that the mane on the far side is not viewable from a side angle. So please, to make things easier on the both of us, make absolutely certain that the image you give me is a perfect representation of the pony I will be making.
Third, I am no longer going to go through a person's gallery looking for a reference picture. Too many times I have been told "you can find a picture of her in my gallery," and too many times I've come across pornographic, violent, or otherwise unappealing pictures of ponies that I do not want or need to see. And too many times I have been unable to locate any decent pictures of the pony in the gallery. From this point on, I will require a specific reference picture. You can send me multiple images, by all means, but I will no longer go to your gallery and look for the picture myself.
Fourth is a bit of a repeat of the second, but the reference picture must have both the mane and tail in full view. I have gotten countless reference images that had only the mane, only part of the tail, only parts of both pieces, what have you. I would ask for another picture, and I would be told details about the missing parts rather than shown a picture. I would make the icon to the best of my ability, but I would wind up disappointing the requester. No more. From this point on, if your reference picture does not have full, appropriate views of both pieces, I will not use it to make the icon. You can, as I said, link me to multiple reference pictures if needed, or you can whip up a quick sketch on Microsoft Paint if need be. Trust me. It doesn't matter how good or bad your drawing skills are. You should be able to draw the tip of a tail sufficiently.
I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but I promise it'll make the process so much smoother in the long run!
Another word you will need is wunderkind.
Note: I reserve the right to decline to make a pony icon for whatever reason I choose.
Current To-Do Queue:
1. Veemonsito
2. Veemonsito
3. PawNyan
4. PawNyan
5. MinimoogVoyager
6. MinimoogVoyager
7. MyLittleStarshine
8. ayame135798642
9. KarmanDuBois
10. KarmanDuBois
11. PetalSparkle
12. PetalSparkle
13. SunnyBloom
14. EcoStark
15. dyingflames
16. MyLittleDaybright
17. PrincessBubbledust
18. :devglowfish11:
19. FloraPuppy
20. FloraPuppy
21. lucario55
22. lucario55
23. Sparker-Fluxer-Artz
24. Sparker-Fluxer-Artz
25. zephyr093
Requests are Open
Hey everyone! Long time no see. I'm so sorry I've been M.I.A. all summer. It's been…well…crazy to say the least. A lot of big life choices were made, work and school propelled forward, my health is still throwing a huge temper tantrum, and overall, I think I've become a better person because of it. That said, though, I want to announce one little minor thing that a couple of you might possibly find a bit interesting.
Requests are open.
Yep! Requests are officially back open! I'm going to be changing a few things about the request process and such, so please make sure you understand all of the changes before you ask for an icon.
The first c
Requests Closed - Update
Update:
I'm so sorry I haven't posted any icons by now. Some issues came up with my health, school, and work, and I haven't had a chance to sit down and breathe, much less work on icons. I'm going to try and get as many done this weekend and next week as humanly possible. I'm not sure when I'm going to reopen requests, and when I do, there will probably be some new restrictions as to how many requests I'll be able to take in per month. I'll do my best to keep you guys posted, and again, I'm terribly sorry.
--
Hey guys. Due to my extreme period of being sick, finals coming up, et cetera, I will temporarily be closing requests. I'm not sure
Sick
Hey guys, I just wanted to give you all a bit of a belated heads up. I've been pretty sick as of late with either a bad bout of food poisoning or flu. I've been too sick to get online over the past few days, and though I'm beginning to recover, I'm way behind on schoolwork and such. As it is, I won't be able to be on for the next day or two. I'll do my best to get up the icons that are approaching their due date, but I'm afraid I can't promise anything until Friday or Saturday. Terribly sorry :(
350th Icon
Hello everyone! I had to get up early this morning and couldn't fall back to sleep, so I got to thinking about what I was going to do for my 350th icon celebration. I decided that, this time around, I was going to involve all of you! That's right. You guys will be able to decide what icon I make and who I make it of (out of my OC characters, not another person's).
What you'll do is visit my survey linked at the bottom of this journal and cast your vote for each question. The questions with the stars next to them are required, but the third question with no star is not.
A third question, you may ask? Yep. The first question is what base I wi
© 2012 - 2024 paintapastime
Comments535
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Helo! I need a transparent icon 4 my OC, Gear Shift. I need to poses:
Idle
and
Flapping
I tried to make my own but failed
And I am broke
Also can I link u a pic of a hairstyle 4 her?
Idle
and
Flapping
I tried to make my own but failed
And I am broke
Also can I link u a pic of a hairstyle 4 her?