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deantrippe · Robin Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 1199 Location: Georgia

Here's an idea i've had kicking around in my head for a couple days. Wallpaper Comics: Comic strips created specifically for use on computer desktops.

Positives: larger size than typically seen in webcomics. peer advertising. full color spectrum. um. fun.

Negatives: need to create multiple formats for different screen resolutions, large file size, people putting icons, taskbars, and widgets all over your drawings

Extra ideas: active desktop auto updates?

Anybody got any thoughts? I'm thinking about starting a website. Should it be completely open like threadless or by invite only? Hmm.
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Blindmole · Aqualad Joined: 08 Jul 2005 Posts: 10

i see all the plus's here. i think this idea is great. an under expirienced person such as myself can be a bit scared at the whole idea. but all in all looks great.
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tasteslikejim · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 12:44 pm Post subject:

I think the active desktop is a good idea, but I know MY desktop is usually too cluttered to see anything underneath the icons. Active desktop would solve that, but I'd probably turn it off a lot. I guess I could get more organized as well and put things in folders, but that involves work (like clicking and dragging).
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Scott · Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:47 pm Post subject:

I like the idea. A couple of thoughts:

What's Active Desktop? Some Windows thing? (says the Mac user)

Since most OS's have the ability to scale to fit. All you would really need is two versions. A 4:3 ratio one for your standard monitor and a 16:9 for the widescreen users. As long as proportions are constrained everyone should be all right.

Being a Designer by trade, I keep my desktop images very neutral coloured (greys and blues) so the background colour doesn't effect my colour perception. I'd put black and white comics on my desktop but not brightly coloured ones. There might be problems if the target audience has similar thoughts.
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deantrippe · Robin Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 1199 Location: Georgia

this is sounding way more complicated than i originally thought. Sad

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tasteslikejim · Posted: Sat Dec 24, 2005 11:45 am Post subject:

I was talking to my professor about something you might be interested in, he was trying to propose the idea of phone comics. I know there are some strips out there that are re-formatted, but these would be specifically drawn for the phone. It sounds like it could be neat, but I'm not sure if there would be a big audience for it. The comics would be pretty limited as well.
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Gil · Terra Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 59 Location: Athena City

Have you checked out making a widget on Konfabulator? It's pretty easy to do and you could probably make one in any size you wanted.

http://www.konfabulator.com

It's a free download.

Gil · Terra Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 59 Location: Athena City

Plus its just fun to say "Konfabulator."

deantrippe · Robin Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 1199 Location: Georgia

Gil · Terra Joined: 04 Mar 2005 Posts: 59 Location: Athena City

Yup--Yahoo bought them a little while ago. I played around and made a Charlatan widget a little while ago and it only took a few minutes to make a basic one.