[Updated] Black Pearl Clarification

The Black Pearl

You need at least 60 days of seniority and 5 karma points to use the Black Pearl.

We'd like to clarify a few things concerning the proposals for the Creative Space. We've had the time to see how things went and made some changes along with some additional advice.

For the Horses, Pegasus, Unicorns, Donkeys, and Ponies.


Using shadows in your creations:


We are probably going to add them ourselves in the future to have something that has the right perspective on the backgrounds, and that has a uniform texture across the coats.

You can use shadowing, but we ask that you keep them very light so that the images will fit with most Helios Ray backgrounds.

Cut out your edges more.


When we place the coats on a dark background in a lot of cases, there are stray light colored pixels all around the drawing. This makes it impossible to use on a dark background.
Tip Please take the time to take a look at your coat on a white and on a black background, in order to get rid of any leftover smudges or pixels. Also, look a little further away on just the outline. Often the coats have a smudge around the corners or along the border of the image.

Use the smudge or blur tool sparingly.


It's a pity to see a coat that has been worked on then filtered with a blur filter, and it comes out all smudgy. It's also a pity to see a coat with smudge marks on one side and not the other.

Be careful when playing around with reformatting an image.


Sometimes we get perfectly nice drawings of Sausage horses because the file has been altered, and the horse has been squashed or pulled in another direction.
This might be a great way of transforming an Irish setter into a Teckel, but it isn't very pretty on horses. Also, avoid making your resolution too low and giving the picture a pixel art look

Backgrounds


Using brushes is allowed.


They can be used as well, but we'd like to also remind you of the Black Pearl page information as seen in the quote below.

“Excess airbrushing is not allowed”. It is allowed but not too much!"

We have received tons of entries like this and have been very cool about it up until now. However, seeing the same tree used 4 times in different backgrounds is starting to get a little old.

From here on out, we'll start to be a bit more strict about this type of thing. This is due to the fact that it's unfair and the aim of the Creative Space is to work things with your own hands, not make photo manipulations. The same thing goes for photos or bits of photos.

Painting, blurring or smudging landscape pictures.


Moving forward, we'll simply remove the right to propose any creations to the Creation space forever for those who do try to do this.

Check the perspectives.


When you make a background, please consider that there has to be something for the horse to put his feet on. It's quite strange the have a picture with a nice pond in the background and the horse is floating in the middle of it in thin air.

The same goes for outer space and clouds etc. Just try and make the backgrounds usable for everyone, not just the Pegasus. Also, make sure that the horses won't look like giants in the middle of a forest when you decide to draw trees or other items.

Rules


Plagiarism is forbidden!
Respect the author's rights: we do not steal images off of the Internet; we do not trace photos; we do not use the basis of someone else if they have not given their authorization, preferably publicly.

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism is taking someone else's work and passing them off as your own.

We can take inspiration from a style, a movement, a mane or a coat without copy-pasting it. It’s the same idea for literature, graphic arts, video games or cinema - there is often inspiration taken from another creation. Inspiration is imbued with another creation in order to interpret it and create something new! Copying is recreating identically. Copying is not having a style or a vision of your own. Try to have the imagination and bring your unique personality to your creations.

Please also note that any cheating can get you excluded from proposing any artwork to the Creative Space forever and/or be followed by sanctions.
Players who submit an artwork not created by themselves, AI-generated or plagiarized will be permanently banned from using the Black Pearl.

Otherwise, all the usual rules still apply.

Before posting:


It is forbidden to mock or ridicule creations/creators
Don't post too many steps regarding your work to avoid flooding of the topic.
IT IS FORBIDDEN TO ASK FOR VOTES!

You are welcome to promote your creations or creations you voted for using #HowrseBP on social media or promote your creations on your profile page.

This topic can be used to help each other understand the Black Pearl rules with respect to your creative content.

Players who do not follow the rules are exposed to sanctions.

Regards
The Howrse team

 
Ow
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By Retired breeder, 7th August 2020 14:09:48
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Thank you all! I really appreciate your feedbackdefault smiley (l)
Hello everyone, This topic is intended to be a place where creators can come if they are having trouble submitting their creations. As such, we expect that creators looking for help with technical issues might upload an image of their creation to get help with the process of submitting. However, it seems that this has morphed into a place where people are getting advice about the designs of their creations and also posting finished creations which brings up the concern of advertising for votes.. However, I understand the desire to ask fellow creators for advice with design choices or to get feedback on a design, I'm just not sure this is proper place for it. That said, we clearly don't have a specific place for that and there does seem to be some interest in having one, so I will bring it up with the team. Perhaps we can get a topic specifically designed for that so players who come to this topic for technical help don't have to wade through pages of unrelated comments to find it. So for now, let's only post creations here when you are in need of technical assistance and the screenshot is necessary to help explain your question. We'll make it a point to discuss creating an appropriate place to post your creations otherwise. Thanks for your understanding!
ZOwey
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ZOwey wrote:

That said, we clearly don't have a specific place for that and there does seem to be some interest in having one, so I will bring it up with the team. Perhaps we can get a topic specifically designed for that so players who come to this topic for technical help don't have to wade through pages of unrelated comments to find it.


Yay! Thank you so much ZOwey, I don't speak for everyone but I'm sure many, myself included, would love to see a thread where we can do that.
WhiteTiger
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ZOwey wrote:


That said, we clearly don't have a specific place for that and there does seem to be some interest in having one, so I will bring it up with the team.


Hi,

That would be great - because if players do need technical assistance they'll need the help of the coat-creating community. You will only grow, maintain and support that community if you allow discussions regarding inspiration, feedback, techniques etc. I would never have been able to get coats through the voting process if I hadn't been an active part of this thread over the years.

Players spend many passes to use the communities coats and clearly Howrse is seeking to encourage coat submission by suggesting themes, lowering prices and allowing earlier access.

Can we continue discussing work in progress etc until a new thread is created?
EmmaKate66
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By Retired breeder, 7th August 2020 18:31:22
2
@ZOwey

I now get why the admin cleared the topic! Now that I think about it, I suppose posting pictures was asking for votes....
By Retired breeder, 9th August 2020 19:46:32
1
Any tips for my next Golden Apple submission? default smiley :)

Click to display
By Retired breeder, 9th August 2020 19:53:00
2
@Nymphadora97

ZOwey has just made a point of saying that this topic turned to something it wasn’t supposed to be. Please read her latest post.
By Retired breeder, 9th August 2020 19:58:08
Retired breeder wrote:

@Nymphadora97

ZOwey has just made a point of saying that this topic turned to something it wasn’t supposed to be. Please read her latest post.

Stupid of me, I didn't read that default smiley :o I'm sorry! Can someone remove my post?
I think it depends what you mean by 'technical issue'. To me that rules out 'should it be black or blue?' but it does not rule out questions about problems with perspective, or proportions, or drawing techniques such as how to draw manes or shade well. Those are technical aspects of art.

So I think if Nyphadora97 asks a more specific question that isn't just a matter of opinion then I think it's OK.

This thread is going to be very dull and limited if it's nothing but page after page of 'how do I upload' and 'how do I get it on the template'.
RowanGreen
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RowanGreen wrote:

This thread is going to be very dull and limited if it's nothing but page after page of 'how do I upload' and 'how do I get it on the template'.


Indeed...
Starynight
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ZOwey wrote:

we clearly don't have a specific place for that and there does seem to be some interest in having one

I would love to see a place for that! A topic called "Black Pearl - Work in Progress Advice" or something. I haven't submitted coats but I love seeing the WIPs and reading the advice people give each other. It has always seemed like a very positive and friendly thread to me, and a lot of designs I've seen here have become something I'd want on my horses due to feedback given by other players about proportions, shading/coloring, common drawing programs and techniques, etc.
are37
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ZOwey wrote:

<font color="#b402cf">Hello everyone,

This topic is intended to be a place where creators can come if they are having trouble submitting their creations. As such, we expect that creators looking for help with technical issues might upload an image of their creation to get help with the process of submitting.

However, it seems that this has morphed into a place where people are getting advice about the designs of their creations and also posting finished creations which brings up the concern of advertising for votes..

However, I understand the desire to ask fellow creators for advice with design choices or to get feedback on a design, I'm just not sure this is proper place for it.

That said, we clearly don't have a specific place for that and there does seem to be some interest in having one, so I will bring it up with the team. Perhaps we can get a topic specifically designed for that so players who come to this topic for technical help don't have to wade through pages of unrelated comments to find it.

So for now, let's only post creations here when you are in need of technical assistance and the screenshot is necessary to help explain your question.

We'll make it a point to discuss creating an appropriate place to post your creations otherwise.

Thanks for your understanding!


</font>



On Two game version, they get a "Creativ Forum" (like "event" "Game Play" ...). In this forum, several thread for:
- rules reminder
- technical question (to send a Black Pearl)
- request for help on your creations (to have opinions, reviews / advice on morphology or coloring technique)
- Tutorial
- other creation (outside Howrse)
- our favorite creations (during votes)
- Free Lineart
- ...


It's really a special space for Black Pearl Creator! default smiley (7)
Sometime, we organise some contest between players default smiley :d



why not do the same ? default smiley :)
Dark-River
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That would be amazing! Which servers are those on? Is it French and Czech?

Presuming I'm right, it would be great if there was something like that on at least one of the English Speaking servers.

The threads here and in VIP which talk about creative topics (eg Retired coats, favourite combo) seem to run really well and don't tend to get as controversial as some topics.
RowanGreen
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RowanGreen wrote:

That would be amazing! Which servers are those on? Is it French and Czech?

Presuming I'm right, it would be great if there was something like that on at least one of the English Speaking servers.

The threads here and in VIP which talk about creative topics (eg Retired coats, favourite combo) seem to run really well and don't tend to get as controversial as some topics.


As I know, it´s on the French and German versions, not in Czech. There are two themes for the creative space which are included in the Event forum in the Czech version - Creative Space and Creative Space for beginners.
MIA_CZ
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By Retired breeder, 10th August 2020 14:45:33
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On czech version we indeed have a forum thread meant for coats. Actually, we've got two.! One called "[info] Creative space" which is usually used for posting finished pieces or WIPs from long-time CS users and known artists, or even posting what we voted for and what we liked in voting! We can also share our "posters" with all creations we send in CS that month there.
Then we have "[Info] Creative space for beginners" which is almost the same, though people there usually post way more WIPs and ask for help and advices there. There's a really nice community in most part, people love to help each other and you usually get some nice tips and help with anatomy, shading, perspective or just generally tips that'd help improve and freshen your creation.

I honestly thought that this thread is meant for artists too, just like our two ones on czech version. I really loved to go through the pages here and see what people have created! It was such a shame this thread got wiped out (apparently it was because of the change of mods, I asked in the Game forum) and I at least hoped it could be filled again and start again. It's such a shame this thread is only meant for technical issues with submitting - as Rowan said, it's gonna be really empty here if it's only about that. It'd be amazing to see an actual thread for artists where they can show off WIPs, get advices and help and even maybe share the finished pieces, because who doesn't love to see the outcome as well.?
I'd sincerely love to see something like that there. On the versions where I was or still am - czech, slovakian, UK - they have a thread like that for these there, or at least I think so. I used to share my drawings on SK and UK as well. I'd simply like to see it here too and share my coats/landscapes here as well and get tips or advices from other people too.
Retired breeder wrote:

I honestly thought that this thread is meant for artists too, just like our two ones on czech version. I really loved to go through the pages here and see what people have created! It was such a shame this thread got wiped out (apparently it was because of the change of mods, I asked in the Game forum)
This is an Admin thread, it has nothing to do with mods and anyone who says so does not know the difference between Admin and mods. We have a new Ow and most of the Admin posts are being reviewed and re-posted. This one was never intended to be a showcase for anything. That is what the Creation Space is for. If Admin feel they wish to create an alternative thread they will do so as ZOwey has already said.
deimos
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By Retired breeder, 11th August 2020 17:54:38
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@Nymphadora97

Dont worry about it- we all make mistakes!default smiley ^)
super random but found lots of old art files from my old laptop, when i used to use CS3/CS6... including three helios ray WIPs which i'm now going to try and finish on Krita. Used to love making backgrounds.
Starynight
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By Retired breeder, 12th August 2020 20:03:20
I have a drawing I wish to submit, but I don't have seniority or enough passes to get a Black Pearl yet. So I hope there are future opportunities where I can submit a drawing. For hand drawn submissions do I have to convert it to a certain file? How big can the file be? I don't have Photoshop. Do I have to use it to submit drawings?
Retired breeder wrote:

For hand drawn submissions do I have to convert it to a certain file?
Yep, you'll need to erase any background and submit it as a transparent .png file for GA coats. For H Rays, you should submit as a regular .jpg file.
Retired breeder wrote:

How big can the file be?
Max file size is 2000 Kb.
Retired breeder wrote:

I don't have Photoshop. Do I have to use it to submit drawings?
Definitely not, there are many other free art platforms out there you can use to erase backgrounds / make sure your picture dimensions are correct / place your picture inside the templates, as well as pay to use platforms. Photoshop is just one of many.
FoxyDancer
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Starynight
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I hope there is an update soon to whether we will be getting this new thread. I want to post some pics and chat with other artists for some pointers! default smiley (lol)
WhiteTiger
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Retired breeder wrote:

I don't have Photoshop. Do I have to use it to submit drawings?


Gimp is free and is pretty decent. Not as much as photoshop has, but still plenty of stuff to use. Plus you can download more brushes.
Paint Tool SAI I don't think is free, but I think it's cheaper than PS b/c it's a one-time fee [I think].
FireAlpaca is also another free program comparable to gimp.
Wolf of the North
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Could someone point me towards some good linearts please?
FantasticFoal
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FantasticFoal wrote:

Could someone point me towards some good linearts please?


You can find loads by going onto Deviantart and just search up "horse lineart", you only need to check that you are allowed to use it on howrse. I do not want to toot my own horn but I do have tons available if you check my account "black-veil-illusion@DA".
*Foxi*
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