High-quality artwork on the homepage

Jayanta Das

@encart I feel the same. But myself I am not an artist.
@VectorStyler Maybe you can announce a contest. And spend some resources for promoting it.

Devil Dinosaur

@VectorStyler Since we are talking about marketing, I think that you should also open an Instagram account, at least to preserve/protect the brandname. I myself subscribed quite late to Instagram and my website name was already taken. Not a big deal in my case, but it can be a problem for VS notoriety later.

Subpath

In relation to this thread here. I came up with the thought.
How about having a Gallery on the Forum?

And if @VectorStyler like a design, he could ask for permission to use it.

Subpath

Or a pinned Gallery Thread in Tutorial Section ?

Boldline

@VectorStyler where did the current art used on the website come from initially?

b77

@Boldline said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

@VectorStyler where did the current art used on the website come from initially?

Guys, the illustrators can be found if you know where to look and what keyword to use.

……………………………………

I can't say any of the illustrations are bad (actually, I like the one with the fruits most because of the reduced mix of colors and the 'kids-book' composition), but all of them look relatively similar by not having good contrast because of the lack of any (simulation of) grunge, grit or grain usually found in real hand-drawn/hand-painted media.
That would be the first thing to impress me, would "seal the deal" visually, and it's missing here unfortunately.

Maybe the beta of VS didn't have all the bitmap-based effects working three years ago? Or the illustrators didn't give their last 10%, and the developer is too nice and/or didn't know to ask for more? I have no clue.

So anyway, the artwork is not bad — it's just OK but not great. IMO, of course.

I advise(d) the developer to ask for…

a reduced palette (but great combination) of colors in each artwork (using all the colors of the rainbow is amateurish);
some grit/grain preferably and…
keep it "family-friendly" by avoiding dark subjects like dragons, skulls and similar stuff.

And… I'm all for different styles in graphics/illustration, but since VS has CMYK support there should also be at least one piece that looks like it's made for printing (say, a soda label?), complete with crop and registration marks and a color bar, so that anybody coming from print instantly thinks 'CMYK! It has it!.

b77

Another thing:

If any of you has an Instagram, Dribbble or Behance account where your best artwork can be seen, why not add it to your forum profile (Edit Profile > Website), so the developer knows where to look for any possible candidates?

P.S. This website link is visible only for forum members if they check your profile.

Boldline

@b77 said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

Guys, the illustrators can be found if you know where to look and what keyword to use.

ok, this doesn't help answer the question. Why not just post a link or share what to search with? I did google image reverse searches without luck - only finding the things related to VS

b77

@Boldline Who made the illustrations is not that important IMO. Let's go back to suggestions about the artwork and about marketing the app.

I'll continue by saying that most artwork should be displayed without the app's window frame around it. Sure, the user wants to see the UI, but that can be shown in a big slideshow somewhere down, past the middle of the home page.

So have the excellent artworks displayed first, big and beautiful, maybe with some app panel overlapping it and the explanation next. No need for the entire UI of the app around it like a cage.

And that omnipresent parchment color should go.

Any other suggestions, fellow forum members?

VectorStyler

@b77 I think one important area where basic illustrations might help is the showcasing of selected features of VS.
This would be simple to do first. We can also think about whether to showcase other features. I think it is important to select these based on what designers / users think it is relevant.

Subpath

@VectorStyler

...where basic illustrations might help is the showcasing of selected features of VS. This would be simple to do first....

Then how about featuring, from time to time, a tutorial from
the tutorial section on the VS website in some kind of blog?

Boldline

@VectorStyler said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

I think one important area where basic illustrations might help is the showcasing of selected features of VS.

What selected features of VS specifically were you wanting to start with for this?

b77

@VectorStyler said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

@b77 I think one important area where basic illustrations might help is the showcasing of selected features of VS.

I didn't say to ditch the eight small basic images and their text (plus the others in groups of three), just their "parchment" background should be changed.

Btw, shape blending is not shown.

Anyway… the app needs big and impressive artwork shown front and center, then come the details. That's the idea.

VectorStyler

@b77 said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

the app needs big and impressive artwork shown front and center, then come the details. That's the idea.

Got it!

Boldline

@b77 said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

the app needs big and impressive artwork shown front and center, then come the details. That's the idea.

I'm open to creating something completely in VS for this purpose - I would need some ideas as to a topic

b77

@Boldline What happened to that lobster drawing in pencil you posted last year on the forum? Did you finish it as vectors?

Boldline

@b77 I'm going to have to go back and look at which one that was... I think I remember the one in question and if so, it was completed.

Boldline

I think an epic design using perspective made completely in VS by @Devil-Dinosaur would be an impressive design to add to the impressive art showcase

b77

@Boldline said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

I think an epic design using perspective made completely in VS by @Devil-Dinosaur would be an impressive design to add to the impressive art showcase.

I agree, but not before the app has an actual isometric and/or a perspective grid.

Devil Dinosaur

@Boldline said in High-quality artwork on the homepage:

I think an epic design using perspective made completely in VS by @Devil-Dinosaur would be an impressive design to add to the impressive art showcase

@Boldline Thank you, but the kind of things I draw has a limited audience, it's too geeky and old school. VS needs something more trendy. Anyway I can think of something in that direction, I'll first check Dribble and Behance to see what could be done in a "modern" manner.
Maybe @VectorStyler could list the features he wants to promote first, it may help too.