Categorizing your art

Last update 16 May 2008 by Wysiwyg

Choices, compromises. Labeling is never an easy task. With the new galleries the main categories have changed and subcategories have been introduced. This item should help you get your artwork in the right place. Before we start, keep in mind that the subcategories are mainly here to help people find related art. The question you have to ask yourself is if someone accesses subcategory X, should they find my artwork there. Let's go.

The main categories

While picking a main category, evaluate your work and pick the category that covers your work best. Some artwork might use a mix of techniques. Either decide which has the upper hand or find the least conflicting category. Keep in mind that people for instance expect drawings to be fully drawn, paintings to be fully painted. If you artwork includes photographic material, the Photo manipulation category might be more suitable.

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3D Modeling

• Traditional - Sculptures, Models, Plaster Casts, Pottery, Statues, Furniture, installation work, etc.
• Digital - Works created in 3d Software such as 3DStudio Max, Maya, Cinema 4D, Lightwave, Zbrush etc.
• Mixed Media - Images that use digital 3D software and export to other programs (such as Poser models to Painter/Photoshop for digital painting), the media which is the most prevalent in the composition will determine in which category the work will be placed.

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Drawing

• Traditional Media - Works created with common instruments to include: graphite pencils, pen and ink, inked brushes, wax color pencils, crayons, charcoals, graphite, chalk, pastels, markers, stylus, or various metals like silverpoint.
  
• Digital Media - Works created using what is commonly referred to as: line/shapes tools, pen tools (Bezier’ curves), and pencil tools. So yes that includes Vector work.
  
• Mixed Media / Colored Illustrations - Using the above as the foremost media used, along with color (such as a translucent wash or solid fill coloring) or a combination of the other techniques and the line art is still clearly visible.

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Painting

• Traditional Media - Works created with common media to include but not limited to: acrylics, oils, watercolor, and gouache.
  
• Digital Media –Sometimes referred to as 'Digital Painting,' Works created using raster based programs such as Corel Painter, Photoshop, ArtRage, GIMP, etc. in which 'brush tools' are used to simulate traditional painting techniques, with any underlying line art not present. Vexel art, as it's pixel based, will fall under Painting.
  
• Mixed Media / Colored Illustrations - Using the above as the foremost media used, along with or a combination of other techniques and the line art is not visible.

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Photo Manipulation

The process of using traditional darkroom equipment and/or digital software during creation or post-process, so that completely changes, the look, feel and effect of the image when compared to the original image(s) captured.

This includes:

• A combination of multiple elements such as photos
• Radical alteration (adding or removal) of the compositional elements that are of a significant nature
• Excessive use of sharpen, blur, burn, dodge, cloning, hue/saturation and other image adjustment techniques to an extent that the ‘tweaks’ result in being the focus of the image
• Adjustments to a level in which the originals are no longer recognizable.
• Compositions that makes use of other media (painting, drawing, typography, etc.) incorporated in an integral fashion.
• An image that is intended to look real but has had significant elements added or omitted in a visually convincing manner
• HDR – For the purpose to incite the creation of ‘other worldly’ color mappings in their images to an unrealistic degree

Does NOT include:

• Panoramas
• Infared photography
• Minor adjustments through use of sharpen, blur, burn, dodge, cloning, hue/saturation and other image adjustment techniques
• Minor adjustments traditionally linked to photography (spotting, removing minor dust/scratches, stray hair etc.)
• Complete or Selective Desaturation
• Creative Framing
• Cropping
• Toning (Cyan-Blue, Sepia, Red-Brown tints, etc)
• Paintings that include photographs used to create custom textures
• HDR - For the purpose of sharpening/heightening color (slight tonal shifts)….still within the realm of believability

*Camera Raw, Post Processing. As in HDR, those creating results beyond that of naturally occurring, believable compositions (in regards to color) are encouraged to be placed in photomanipulation.

In the end, it's really up to the member to be honest. The words ‘excessive' and 'unrealistic' is up for a subjective debate, so let common sense be your guide.

Photography

Only full photographs go here. They can of course be color corrected, cropped or cleaned up. Both traditional and digital photos are welcomed. As there is a line before enhancement becomes manipulation, read the above description of the Photomanipulation category to see where you should place your imagery.

• Minor adjustments through use of sharpen, blur, burn, dodge, cloning, hue/saturation, cropping and other image adjustment techniques
• Minor adjustments traditionally linked to photography (spotting, removing minor dust/scratches, stray hair etc.)
• Complete or Selective Desaturation
• Toning (Cyan-Blue, Sepia, Red-Brown tints, etc)
• HDR - For the purpose of sharpening/heightening color (slight tonal shifts)….still within the realm of believability

*Camera Raw, Post Processing. As in HDR, those creating results beyond that of naturally occurring, believable compositions (in regards to color) are encouraged to be placed in photomanipulation.

In the end, it's really up to the member to be honest. The word ‘minor' is up for a subjective debate, so let common sense be your guide.

Design

Any artwork using the combination of the above categories which in the end results in a particular purpose other than exhibition.

• Avatars / Signatures
• Book Covers
• Car Decorations
• CD / DVD Covers
• Clothing Designs
• Flash media
• Fractals
• Interfaces / Skins
• Logos / Branding
• Marketing Aides / Packaging
• Pixel Art
• Posters
• Tattoos
• Wallpapers
• Websites

Artworks where there is equal dependence on both typography and imagery generally are meant for the Design category. However, in the days of mixed media and the advent of typography being used as an illustrative tool or photomanipulation element, it will be left to the author to discern where they would like to place it.

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The subcategories

If finding a main category wasn't hard enough. We'd also like you to pick a subcategory. This will not affect the availability of your image within the main category, but rather makes it easier for people to browse art by subject/type. 3D Modeling, Drawing, Painting and Photography have the same set of subcategories.

Subcategories for:
3D Modeling, Drawing, Painting and Photography

Abstract
For artworks displaying abstract shapes and forms which can't be clearly defined as for instance a building, figure, animal or such. Artworks which are less about what they show and more about what they don't show.

Architecture
Buildings, structures. Wether taken from real life or the imagination, this subcategory is for works which have architecture as the main subject.

Figure
Artworks involving one or more characters. Not nesessay humanoids, also beasts, animals and other personalities. When the figures are part of their surrounding, see if it might fit better in another subcategory.

Nature
All artworks inspired by nature. Landscapes, vegetation, but also animals. This subcategory also covers space-scapes and alike. If the personality of the animal is important, consider 'figure' as subcategory.

Still life
The good old apple on the table artworks. Images displaying dead objects or items. If the item in question is say a miniature building or toy car see if it might fit another subcategory better.

Technology
For artworks that don't really fit other categories. Meant as the opposite for 'Nature'. If the image however features a character, vehicle or alike, it might be better off in another subcategory, despite its technology aspect.

Vehicle
The category for all vehicles. From cars to aircraft and from trains to hovercraft. If the vehicle has a lower priority than for instance a cityscape or the figure controlling the vehicle, consider another subcategory.

Subcategories for:
Photo Manipulation

Composite
Photo's and imagery patched together to form a new scene. Either seamless or roughly cut.

Dark
The negative side. Dark atmospheres, devils, dirt, horror. Think the movie seven.

Light
The positive side. Bright atmospheres, angels, clean, serenity.

Subcategories for:
Design

CD Cover
Should be a clear description. This subcategory is for cd cover designs.

Interactive
Designs with interactivity. Think website designs, interfaces.

Magazine
Layouts and designs for on and offline magazines.

Poster/ad
Designs for posters and advertisements. Designs with a message for either print or web.

Typography
Artworks in which the typography is the key element.

Wallpaper
Designs specifically made to function as background for an operating system or alike. If the wallpaper, besides its intended function, better fits another main category, feel free to put it there.

Future changes and modifications

A system is never perfect and neither is this one. There will undoubtfully changes to the subcategories in the near future. We will also work on the subcategories for Photo Manipulation which are a bit thin right now. For now, this guide should help you a bit finding your way in the new system.