This Song Is Called

This Song Is Called

***-- (Rated by 5 people, viewed by 113 people)

*new layout 11/22/08

TSIC just opened a few days ago, so I understand there's not a whole bunch of content. I'd just like to see what people think of it so far and how I can improve.

I'd like advice, so be harsh if you want. I won't cry, I promise :]
Thanks ;3

Added by thissong in Personal

This Song Is Called has 5 Reviews

Below are the reviews left by other members on This Song Is Called. Jump to review form?

  1. [img: avatar]
    Michelle gave it ***-- on 26th Nov 2008 and said:

    WOW. Dark! I'm sorry, but dark layouts aren't really my thing. I like brighter ones, with more colour and happiness. But if you goal was emo, as stated in your comment, then you've achieved it. (:
    Eh. Celebrity images. I'm sure you've been informed that it's illegal, so I'll just leave that topic alone for now.
    I loved your About Me page! It gave me lots of information about you and I kind of feel like a know you a little bit. Well done.
    Your credits page is pretty accurate, which is good, but you only put the URLs as words, not links! It would be way easier for visitors if you'd make these links to the actual websites.
    Uh oh, I see celebrity image-based content! And you're asking for credit too! How would you feel if you took a picture of your dog, and someone cut that dog out into a PNG, asking for credit from an photo that you took?
    Eh, I'm getting off topic now. But you get my drift. Hopefully that didn't come out too rudely!
    Your 'Stocks' page under resources is a broken link, so I'm guessing you should either fix it or take it down. Broken links are annoying and useless, if you ask me. (well, obviously)
    I just noticed: why is it that under your layout, where the mini-updates are placed, it says that you've uploaded 44 scans? It got me excited for a moment before I actually found out that it was a broken link ):
    Overall, I think your website is pretty good. Sure, you have some areas where you need improvement but it seems like you put some effort into it (: I hope I was at least a bit helpful.

    UPDATED 26 Nov 08:
    No problem. I love how you're so positive about these things even after I sounded so harsh (:
    Thank YOU!

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    thissong's Response:

    Oh! Haha, the broken links are the links I'm editing right now.
    I just took down the scans since they were all celebrity magazine scans and I'd think of that as illegal
    I'm working on the stock images right now as well, you can check back in about 30 minutes and they'll all be fixed x] sorry about that.
    I just took down the psd/png section as well [:

    And thank you! You were helpful x] I'll change the credit links to.. actual links as soon as I finish my stock image cropping and what not...

    Thanks again for the review []:

  2. [img: avatar]
    Shadow gave it ***-- on 19th Nov 2008 and said:

    I was one of those people who made a review only to find out that the site was deleted. :( Let's try this again.

    My first impression was that you have a cute header, but it features celebrity images which is a huge turn-off, and also illegal. It's also way too dark, and it's a good thing you got rid of the background that didn't tile properly. Oh, and you made your font bigger! Excellent! I also noticed since reviewing last night that you got rid of the music player that played every time a new page was loaded. Thank you!

    I didn't like how you are practically "hiding" yourself. What do I mean by this? I looked at your sidebar and I saw a little blurb about yourself waaaay down at the bottom. If anything, it should be as close to the top as possible. And since it's so far down at the bottom along with the link to the rest of your bio, I see it as "hiding" yourself. In the next layout you create, move that blurb up, and get a link on the navigation to your bio!

    I caught this site while you had all the celeb images. You're in the process of getting rid of all of them, so I can't really go that far into it as I did before. But I will say this--you have a strong knack for graphics, and my favorite word as of late is "exploit". As in exploit your strengths, overshadow your weaknesses. So exploit away!

    Your tutorials are well explained, especially the layout tutorials.

    You need a DOCTYPE in your files. That way, when you validate your site (highly recommended, by the way), you can see the errors in your code. Put all of your CSS in your external stylesheet, and remove the duplicate body attributes.

    All in all, your site actually improved overnight. You're moving things around still, so things are coming soon, and there are a few 404 pages. I'm glad that you're a celeb image convert in the making. You should be proud of yourself. Good luck!

    UPDATED 19 Nov 08:
    I noticed one more thing. I went to comment on your site, and the text in the comment box is pink. I don't know if it's intentional; but I'll give you the heads up anyway.

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    thissong's Response:

    Thanks for reviewing my site! [:
    Ahaha, sure, I'll move the 'blurb' up x]
    Thank you for the suggestions [: I will be adding a doctype in just a minute...

    Thanks again for the review!

    UPDATED 19 Nov 08:
    Agh, I've been reminding myself to change that.
    I'll do that right away [: Thanks for the reminder]: I will be adding a doctype in just a minute...

    Thanks again for the review!

    UPDATED 19 Nov 08:
    Agh, I've been reminding myself to change that.
    I'll do that right away [: Thanks for the reminder]: Thanks for the reminder!

  3. [img: avatar]
    hidden gave it ****- on 19th Nov 2008 and said:

    it's first time for reviews plus its first time of viewing your site for me. but i must say. wow. you have an amazingly unique layout. As have the others have said celebrity images are used.. and credited.. but can sometimes lead to illegal issues. but all i will say is. choose wisely with the celebs.. as i remember when i did it. i was often finding people being told not to use the photos.. even if credited.

    Anyway enough about that.. lol! i love the uniquess of your site. you have some amazing icons.. are they used from your own design or others? because i'd love to know. also when adding tutorials i love using scripts.. add some tuts on what programs you use:? maybe vary from photoshop to paintshop pro tutorials?.

    Also im viewing your site in internet explorer version 7.. and i don't struggle.. as firefox crashes on my system. i like the tutorial about using stock photos doubling as textures heres a piece of advice.. take your camera or your dads.. and wave it slightly.. in a dark room.. near lights for exmaple at christmas around the christmas tree lights you can get light stock tutorials, also photogrpahing the payment, stones, flowers, grass, cushion covers, scanning wallpaper or photographing it....

    your sites well organised.. but sometimes as well as imagmapping use a navigation. as i don't know whay but sometimes i find that the image can take ages to load on my system and the links don't always work well.

    your css and layout are very orignial and your coding is well set out. please add more stock photos, tutorials and so on.. but so far its really well set out.. all i can say now is keep up the good work :)

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    thissong's Response:

    Thank you for the review!
    I'm still not too sure what to do about the celebrity thing, I might just keep it to a minimum
    The icons are my own design but I used some scripts from other sites.
    Hmm, that's a good idea. I don't use paint shop pro much but I'll add some specific photoshop tutorials.
    I'll try the photography thing sometime [:
    Haha, I'm thinking about adding a sidebar navigation...
    Really? Sometimes it takes a while to load on my computer too... I'm not sure why.

    Thanks again for the review []:
    Haha, I'm thinking about adding a sidebar navigation...
    Really? Sometimes it takes a while to load on my computer too... I'm not sure why.

    Thanks again for the review []:

  4. [img: avatar]
    Gossip101 gave it ****- on 18th Nov 2008 and said:

    My first imperssion of your site was wow. Mainly because I haven't seen a layout like yours. The celeb images didn't turn me off. I like seeing them. But when I saw "clear" as in "home" I didn't like that much. So consider renaming it as "home" or "blog" and you'll be good. Also made sure that your site name STANDS OUT. :D Make it a bright or different color.

    I headed over to your side bar to see what you had and just to read some stuff what your site is all about. On your advertising section you should just simply use "Adversting" instead of "Free Advertising" and you should use buttons instead. I also noticed on your site stats that you put the last time you updated and your opening date. I got confused a little. I was thinking that you already had your site for a year! lol. Maybe put the year at. Instead of "11/16" you should put "11/16/08" and do the same on your opening date. (http://i38.tinypic.com/cnxux.jpg) Oh and as for your affilates, you should use their site name instead of their name. Example would be instead of using "Tiffany" use "http://www.alexqn.com/tiff/". And your pending affilates as well. And if they are pending you should move them over to a pending section. You shouldn't really have to place them at the first page of your site and let them get hits and them end up denying you right? (http://i36.tinypic.com/2mynrqw.jpg)

    And yes using celeb images are illegal but as long as the rightful owner see that you are crediting the site that you've taken the images from they'll see that site and make sure they are giving the images out responsibly. And if they wish for you to take them down then simply do so. I also see that your still using them in your icons and premade layouts. But even the biggest sites out there use them. So just make sure you give credit back.

    As for your content some things are misplaced in your sections. Such as your premade layouts should be placed under "resources" instead of "graphics" because they really aren't graphics. There were a couple of 404 error messages as well. Try getting those fixed or check that the page works before you close your FTP or cPanel.

    By the way, I love your premade layouts. They are really good for you just starting out. I like style 1 the most. I understand that your stock images are your dads, right? But do you have permission from him to use them? And your advance images are well but be a little more descriptive because some beginners may not know what your talking about and might need some screen shots to show them around and help them out a lot more.

    Overall your site was very well for it just opening. When you start getting a hang of handling it more you'll be better at making layouts and coding them. And organizing your content around.

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    thissong's Response:

    Thank you for reviewing my site [:
    Wow, lots of helpful tips, I'll be sure to edit a few things according to your review.
    Yeah, I've kept the icons and premade layouts up for now... I know it probably is illegal but on the Alex Evans ones and a few others, it says specifically on their site (for some models they have dA accounts) that it's okay to use their images, we just have to credit...
    So I guess I'll only be using images that say that.

    Really? 404s? I'll click through my links again.

    Thanks again for reviewing my site, lots of good advice I'll be sure to take to mind []:
    Wow, lots of helpful tips, I'll be sure to edit a few things according to your review.
    Yeah, I've kept the icons and premade layouts up for now... I know it probably is illegal but on the Alex Evans ones and a few others, it says specifically on their site (for some models they have dA accounts) that it's okay to use their images, we just have to credit...
    So I guess I'll only be using images that say that.

    Really? 404s? I'll click through my links again.

    Thanks again for reviewing my site, lots of good advice I'll be sure to take to mind []:

  5. [img: avatar]
    Aisling gave it **--- on 17th Nov 2008 and said:

    Can I just say, that you do "emo," very well? Most sites that try to do this style of layout make me want to.. well, slit my wrists with a rusty razor blade, if you will allow me to be so poetic. ;) I actually like the header image here, apart from the celebrity images, of course. I think you COULD achieve the same effect with stock photography, or photos you took yourself, or illustrations.

    To try and answer your questions to the best of my ability, yes, celebrity images are illegal. Sure, lot of sites use them, but if lots of sites jumped off a bridge, would you? ;) More than in being illegal, it's just flat out UNORIGINAL. Taking celebrity images, and slapping brushes on it, and calling it a layout, has been happening since 2000 and earlier! *I* used to use celebrity images when I was in jr. high school! Do you want to be known as someone who does the same thing as everyone else? Or would you like to go down in history as doing something that required actual talent, that broke barriers, that was ORIGINAL? ... Stop me before I begin to sound like a Lifetime movie, please.

    No, you don't only have to use stock images, you can also use your OWN photos! What better way to learn about photography? What better excuse to dress your friends up in crazy outfits to give them Internet fame on one of your layouts. I've used photos of my friends on my layouts, and it's all gone over very well. It's a nice touch. :)

    You can probably still ask for credit on stuff you've "made," but remember... you haven't made it all yourself! I mean, if you're distributing it anyway, fine, ask for credit, you're already doing one illegal thing anyway, why not make others link your name to the stolen image?

    "Ours," is anything you make from scratch, essentially. You say you can't scribble or illustrate or whatever-- what better time to start learning? There are LOADS of tutorials out there. Just DO it!

    Okay! Back to the actual review! Your text size is far too small, 10pt at least please! A shade or two lighter would also be nice. Your sidebar seems nicely spaced and organized, so good job on that one!

    Obviously, you know my stance on celebrity graphics by now, and for that reason, I will not really be able to review your graphics section. Same goes for PSDs/PNGs/Scans, unfortunately. Definitely focus more on brushes and colour pallets, I suppose, and work on expanding on other resources that DON'T involve stolen imagery (oh, yes, I should clarify, all celebrity images are stolen, NOT all stolen images have celebrities in them. The stealing of ANY type of photography is unacceptable.).

    Your tutorials aren't bad. I would ditch the Misc. heading until you have something to show for it, though.

    Your Site section is organized and seems to be well written and in order.

    So, really, I suppose I don't have much to say, except that it's good you're aware of the celebrity copyright issue, because now you can really work on a craft that is more original and all your own. :) Good luck!

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    thissong's Response:

    Thanks for reviewing my site.
    xDD I was, actually, shooting for a emo-ish layout, so yay! I achieved that goal [:
    That was a lot of help! Haha, photographing my friends sounds like fun.
    On some dA profiles of (semi)celebrities (Alex Evans) it says that we can use their photographs if credited.
    So those would be fine right?
    I'll work on editing out all of the celebrity images and use mostly stock/my own photographs.

    Again, thank you for the review x] Lots of help!

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