HP is changing its image

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   Petra Vlahposted 13 years ago

   Is HP still a writers’ community or a graphic artists’ gallery?
   
   Recently I got several e-mails from editor@pubpages.com alerting me about pixilated images on my hubs that makes them substandard according to HP rules. With good intentions at heart, HP wants to improve my earning experience”.  I have never signed up for Adsense or any other “money making machine”; NONE of my hubs are commercial and my settings indicates that clearly, so my earning potential on HP is zero – just the way I want it to be.
   
   I am not a computer graphic artist, nor do I want to become one. The only reason I use some pictures is to illustrate a point and reinforce the main idea of my hubs and it takes me for ever to find and insert pictures.
   
   I have seen extremely low quality content hubs with great pictures (mainly beautiful and half necked women) and I wonder about the real standards of HP writing community. Are we here to write or to decorate?

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      Rochelle Frankposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      See that was a mistake-- listening to the people at PubPages,
      
      Seriously, you may be able to use some of your photos at half size, and they will clear up.

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         Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you Rochelle
         I am totally handicapped when it comes to technical adjustments and I would not know how to make them half size, but I will try and see what happens.
         As for listening to HP well intentioned moderators I would think they should concentrat on content (which may bring them more money than pictures), but then again, who knows what their priorities are

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            katiem2posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Exactly just reduce the size per the whole, half or quarter option.  I find this always clears up such issues.  Best of luck with that.

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               Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               That makes more sense to me, but according to psycheskiner "expertise" my pictures are too small (?!) so I am back at square one so I will follow Michael instructions. Will see what happense

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                  psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Pictures pixelate when you show them at a size that is too large for the file. 
                  
                  e.g. if you show a 250 wide picture over a 500 pixel wide space--the computer fills in the extra pixels as best it can making the picture look weird.
                  
                  You can either get a bigger picture (500 pixel wide picture), or display the picture over a smaller space (250 pix wide space).
                  
                  Either will work.

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                     Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     If you look down the page you will see how this answer contradicts what you have said before. So what is it?! Too big or to small?!

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                        psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        No there is no contradiction--I don't know where you are seeing one.  Just do one of the two things suggested, either will work.
                        
                        If you really think pictures really aren't important, you could just leave them off altogether.

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                           Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           So you believe that "too big" and "too small" are one and the same thing? No comment

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      readytoescapeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      When I get a negative pixilated message, and it has happened more than once, it’s usually from my wife complaining the Scotch bottle is empty again.
      
      Of course, since she doesn’t drink scotch, I automatically get the blame.
      
      I however, possibly being guilty and possibly also being pixilated, ignore these assertions because by then, my hearing is blurry.

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         Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Just remember your wife is always right. As for HP team? only half the time;-))) if that many

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      IntimatEvolutionposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Seems like to me that HP has lost their "customer service appeal" and "individualized, personal service", when you present your case in this manner.  Have you taken up this issue with the staff?  Have they blown you off, like they seem to do to so many around here?

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         Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         They just ignored me, which I find unprofessinal and offensive. I guess I should count more on the help of great fellow hubers and less on the HP "customer service".
         Simmone (member of the HP staff) has a post on the forum explaining the Panda changes and she talks about some new (and I suppose not so expereansed moderators). Let's hope they learn fast...

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            IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I doubt if they 'ignored you', as you put it. They are snowed under just now. And everything you needed to know was in the learning centre, or all you had to do was ask on the forums.
            Don't really understand the rant.

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               Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               If the team is snowed under is because they chose to look over writers hubs and point out the so very important issue of pictures quality.
               
               When it happense to you to have hubs delated you may think this is just a rant, but until then...

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                  IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  We've all had hubs unpublished, me included. I must have had at least 10 unpublished, maybe more.
                  I just fix them, re-submit, and they are back on within hours.

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   LuisEGonzalezposted 13 years ago

   Pixelated images look like as if they were of poor quality, so if you are going to use images then they should of good quality.
   Whether your interest is monetarily driven or not, and I take my hat to you  for clearly stating your motive, low quality images, like low quality Hubs have a detrimental effect on the entire site.

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      Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      What is detrimental for the site is LOW quality content hubs with great pictures.

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         psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Any error detracts from the value of the hub, whether it is textual or pictorial.

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   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   Pixelated images are a mistake, just like typos.  If I was notified of having made such a mistake I would not hesitate to fix it, without complaint.

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      Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I am happy for you if you know how to fix it; I DO NOT!

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         psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Your picture is too small. You need to delete it or replace it with a larger picture--500 pixels wide or more.

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            Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Which picture are you refering to?  The one used for my poem "The way I feel words" is actualy very big and so are most of the ones that appear to be pixelated

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               psycheskinnerposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I guess that post is not currently published as I cannot find it.
               
               I mean that for any hub the picture needs to be around 500 pixels wide or more if it fills the who column, 250 for half size.
               
               If you right click on the image and look at its properties you can see how big it is.

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                  Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  I gues HP unpublished my poem (which by the way is part of 2 anthologies of contemporary poets published in English?!) because of a technicality I do not know how to fix. HP may chose to unpublish some more of my hubs, OR I may chose to delate them all. Up to the team!

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                     Pearldiverposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Oh this is getting ridiculous..
                     
                     Petra join me on FB ... Nellianna has my details - if you are getting this sort of treatment with your work then you may well find (@FB) that you have vastly superior options.

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                        Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        I may just do that. Thank you for the suggestion. It seems that HP is determened to get a "picture perfect" site with no content. Game ON...

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               Pearldiverposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Petra... sorry that you have had 2 sets of 'Helpful' Information that is about as helpful as a left ear on your elbow!
               
               Michael knows and you should try what he is saying.
               Failing that Downsize your Large pics down to roughly Postcard size BEFORE you upload them to this site. You can do that by opening the picture and changing it's size with 'Paint' if you are on Microsoft. 
               
               I am Absolutely SURE That you do not need anyone who doesn't know your work, commenting on how to improve it!
               
               Good Luck!

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                  Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Good Luck is right Pearldiver!
                  I may try, but my frustration grows by the minute and I find it absurd that the team has nothing better to do, but to police the picture size and quality.
                  Some of the best writers I met on HP have already left the site, some are publishing only occasionaly and I wonder if this type of harasement has anything to do with it. SAD!

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                  readytoescapeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Pearldiver is right and it is a simple fix. Take the original image file and open it in paint,
                  Then on the image menu select resize. In the pop up window enter a revised percentage of the picture size and a new picture will be created in that size.
                  
                  For example if you picture file is 500 X 800 pixels, enter 50% in the resizing boxes horizontal and vertical. Click okay and the new image will be 250 x 400 but it will also be sharper and cleaner. 
                  
                  Pearldiver right about your work too!

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         Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         How are you sizing your pictures? Some pictures are small and look better when sized in the "quarter size" within the photo capsule.  I have a few pics that I have to use this way to keep from having the pixelated appearance.

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            Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            My picftures are exactly how I find them at "photosearch" or "get images", my only sources. I know nothing about half size as opposed to full size and until a few days ago I had no idea what pixelated means

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               Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               OK, when you are in edit mode on your hub, inside the photo capsule after your upload a picture, there is a drop-down box that you see as full size. Click the box and you see full size, half-size and quarter size. Click on quarter size and see the difference.

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                  Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  That is REAL help Michael and I thank you for taking the time to bring some light into the darkness of my ignorance. I will try and see what happens

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               Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Here is an example image:
               
               
               

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                  Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Where you see the Full Size/Half Size/Qtr Size to the right of the blue arrow is a Drop-Down box. Click it and you will see these 3 options.
                  
                  I work with my pictures all of the time. Most work I do on my computer first, but HP Photo capsule only has these 3 options for sizing.

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                  Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  That helps even more, Michael, thank you again

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                     Michael Willisposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     You are welcome! Good luck.

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   SandyMcCollumposted 13 years ago

   Readytoescape - she said "Pixelated" not "Pickled!" Very funny, you are.

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      readytoescapeposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Isn't that the same thing?
      
      Hang on,
      
      have to move all the empty bottles to get the dictionary.

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         Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I am looking for some bottles to clear my mind:-))) and to see how fast will HP get drank on pure water.

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   Hauntyposted 13 years ago

   I don't know about pixelated(?) images. I presume they just want our hubs to look good. Nothing wrong with that as far as I'm concerned.

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      Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Between food that "looks good" and the one that actually tasts good and has nutritional value, my choice is clear

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   mega1posted 13 years ago

   ok.  I want to say this nicely - please don't misunderstand me - I'm not being contrary.  However, I just want to say that everyone's complaints about HP's newest improvements (changes - whatever) leave me cold.  I mean, if you want to use this site to showcase your writing (whether you make $ or not isn't the point) wouldn't you want to use all of its great features and learn how to use them?  The instructions seem clear to me about how to make changes, how to design a hub in the first place so you won't run into troubles, and if you aren't technically proficient when you start here, I am sure you will learn fast.  I hate to say it, but even though I've been here almost 2 years now (I think) I still have a lot to learn.  You don't have to be a graphic artist to be able to make your hub interesting and appealing and use the images the way they show up best.  Ok.  I said it.  I'm trying to be encouraging, not critical, believe it or not.  I encourage you to go back and look at the very fine instruction pages HP has made for us - I did and I realize I missed some things before. Now I will go sit down and shut up again!

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      Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Instructions about how to fix the problem were given to me by well meaning hubbers ONLY after I posted this message. Where is the HP TEAM when we need them?!

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         Mark Ewbieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         They are a little bit busy at present.  I notice Jason seemed to be working all through the weekend, unless he logs on to wind people up just for fun in his free time.
         
         That's meant to be a joke by the way.  What I fail to understand is why they haven't pulled any of my hubs yet - a veritable treasure trove of miscategorised incomprehensible trash.  I guess I don't have pixellated pictures.
         
         Sorry for being flippant. We're all suffering here post Panda.

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            Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I guess Panda has taken over the HP zoo;-)))

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            mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            where angels dare not tread! 

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         mega1posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         once again, the HP team has already answered those questions, all you need to do is a search for "pixelated image" or whatever other changes you need to make - and you can always email them, or maybe you already did that?

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            Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            I did not know Micael and the rest were part of the team. When I wrote directly to the HP Team they did not respond to my e-mail so I guess we have to make the problem public for the team to show up. At least I know now what it takes to get an answer. Thank you team!

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   mega1posted 13 years ago

   also, just did a search for "pixelated images" and found all the info you will ever need for fixing your images.  Good luck! and happy hubbing to you!

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   Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

   I don't know all this stuff either, Petra!  Fortunately I have a son (an IT by profession) who installed a ShrinkPix (sic) program on my computer which seems to take care of such problems. 

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   WryLiltposted 13 years ago

   
   
   The image at left is shown at the correct size. The picture at right is shown at a size too big for the file. You can see how the computer stretches it to take up the space and it looks "dotty".
   
   That's what pixelated means.

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      Petra Vlahposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Thank you Wry,
      I have learned a few days ago what pixelated means, but only now I kind of know how to fix it, so I will try

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    psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

    The hub was unpublished, not deleted, and they seem to have made clear what needs to be fixed.

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