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HellsPlumber — Useful Critique Guide
Published: 2010-02-25 23:57:07 +0000 UTC; Views: 6801; Favourites: 126; Downloads: 69
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Description
I made this because alot of users of the Critique Creator seem to be abusing it
Using it to create "critiques" with a few sentances saying "This is great! Nice work!"
or copy/pasting the word "Great" over and over and over.
I made the Critique Creator because I belived that every deviant should be able to give useful feedback on a deviation and get it noticed.
But lately I'm thinking that maybe needing to pay shows a certain amount of dedication and helps to keep a kind of quality control.
It's only a small handfull that are misusing it, but I feel bad for those deviants that are reciving those fake critiques that give NO help at all.
Most people use it as it should be used and take advantage of it as a tool to help other artists to improve.
But I dont want those few that abuse it to bring the standards of dA critiques down.
I tried to keep this guide as short as possible, and I hope people will take the time to read it before they use the Critique Creator.
Thanks if you do and thanks for caring about the state of DeviantArt's critiques
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Comments: 70
Thanks! I dont have CORE, but I DO want critiques. Also, I found this wry helpful because i want to critique others too!
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and how will i see the critiques that others have given me ?!
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You'll see the big golden CRITIQUE bar in your comments or the dA notification system will let you know if they used the official critiquer system
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I think a lot of people need to read this. I THRIVE on Constructive Criticism like how a plant thrives on sunlight and water. It's helped me grow a lot and allowed me to see ideas I'd have otherwise overlooked. However a few weeks back I got some (as a friend called it) "aggressive criticism", which even went so far as to insult my very art style (cartoony/semi-realistic) by saying the hair was unrealistic and would require a lot of gel to create. Um, I'm not going for realism. Don't get me wrong, I got some very helpful and useful pointers but in retrospect it did break a few of the "Don't" you listed above. I think people need to understand that not phrasing critique properly and not being sure to highlight the good as much, if not, over the bad is hurtful and for some people, may blind them to the praise and confidence boosting comments others have left on the piece (aka "Ascending the Negative"). It can also be confusing as the same critique said the pose was stiff which a) made no sense to me (HOW was it stiff?) and b) when I spoke about it with a friend and mentor, was "shot down" as she didn't agree with what was said - trust me, she is an AMAZING artist.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sound like someone who can't take critique. I'm really pleased with the finished result and owe it to everyone who gave me help, regardless of how well written it was. However I just feel some people need to give their comment a bit more consideration.
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I completely understand. Pointing out the flaws isn't helping an artist, telling them how to improve is a much better way to go about it.
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How can you request a critique? do you have to be a member?
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At the time, yes. I'm not sure if this is still the case though.
You can also copy the following code and paste it into the end of your deviations description:
:iconcritiques-requested:
Click here to create a critique!
That'll add the Critiques Requested stamp and a link to my Critique Creator, so people with non-premium accounts will be able to leave them too 
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thank you for this feature! really helpfull and helpfull guide.
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My pleasure, glad you found it useful! ^^
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Hope you don't mind, but I cannot help myself to only say: "Thank you for this!" as a comment for this reference. : /
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That's what we call "Short but sweet"
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Aw, yeah, thank you!
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Many thanks, hope you have a great new year too!
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Awesome guide. This is what some people really need. Thumbs up!
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There are a lot of good guides to Critiquing on dA, just give it a serch!
Once you're ready, head over to #Critiques-Requested and give critiques to those who are looking to receive them
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Thnx! that was quic. can i call u Hell for short?
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Of course, although most call me Hells
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Ok but Hell is easier for me to type b/c i mess words up alot
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Have u seen my profile? some of the stuf was made today & yesterday
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This is awesome. Great guidelines to go by! And being polite not only helps but it doesn't make the artist feel like a total loser and that everything that he/she does is wrong. It helps in so many ways.
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Glad you think so
People can be helpful and polite about it too right?
When telling someone they've done something wrong, I think a little kindness goes a long way.
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Now that's done, lets make it official with a hug
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thanks 4 the explanation on how to be a proper critique
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No problem, hope it helps
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I think your first point is never really discussed properly. People who don't want critique from people other than their friend's make it really clear, and forcing them to accept your critique or whining and trolling them for not doing so is just making hte critique because you want to look/feel smarter and better than the other person.
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What? 0.0
I think you misread?
It says that if people dont request critiques on a peice of work, then dont provide critiques on that peice of work as it's deemed rude o.o
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ffffff sorry I guess my comments always come off weird/wrong.
I was agreeing not to submit critique because it's rude. I was also pointing out that if you do post it anyway, you probably are not critiquing to help the person. You're probably critiquing to make yourself look smart.
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Ah yeah. I think thats why it comes across as rude too
I recently recieved a critique on a peice I'd put week of work into. It pretty much ruined that picture for me |3
And Some people do seem to try to show that theyre better (or think they are better) with their unwanted critiques, but I've not experianced that yet /=3
All I can say in this guide is that it comes across as rude and possibly offencive. I cant exactly accuse readers of being arrogent too XD
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Nicely done! I ike the part where saying "should study anatomy more" is a "don't" I hste when people assume that because I made a mistake in anatomy or didn't have the skill to pull a specific thing off that i didn't study anatomy. 
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Thankyou
And yeah, too many people seem to use critiques to be mean and class it as advice XD
Thanks again
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:nodnod!: Yes, yes they do heh. no prob C:
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I think it would be helpful to include a short paragraph or two for dealing with critique. Something like "Don't take it personally when you receive criticism. Remember that the critic is trying to help you!" A lot of people tend to overreact to criticism, I've noticed. :c
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Well this was created to try and combat people using my Critique Creator sor terrible and non-useful critiques. People were using it and copy/pasting words to over come the word count limit and leaving pathetic excuses for critiques on peoples work
I felt responsible for it in a way so decided to make this so people would know exactly how it was meant to be used, so it was never created with the receiver in mind 0~0
I can imagine someone reacting badly to criticism if they never actually ASKED for it, then thats just rude. But if they ask for it then react badly, thats no good
I may redo this tutorial/guide later on because I'm not happy with its layout in general, so I'll keep this in mind if I do n add it
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Ah, very good sir.
Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great Great *SARCASM* Well, no, It is great, but I was reffering to you're mini ranty thing x3
Very easy to read as well
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I get ya XD
Nice to know its readable
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It is readable. As long as it's english o3o and not intel, its fine
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Tis pretty much english ^^
Thats why I didnt get Racc to write it
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Racc. Who? I forgot who he was because you havn't drawn him in SUCH a long time
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