Changes to Spotlight Banner and Daily Snack Featuring

PotooGryphon 2015-07-29 03:09:33 UTC #7

The size instructions are in the Pro Tips box as you're creating a new episode. I also recommend the very last tip of breaking it up. Full pages at 4000px high can take a while to view on some computers/internet speeds.

apocryphagraphics 2015-07-29 12:33:30 UTC #8

This is excellent news for those of us doing longform comics! I'm very excited to start seeing them on the snack.

elixiadragmire 2015-07-29 20:03:56 UTC #9

I actually started 'collasping down' my pages for chapter 1 but I'm wary of reader fatigue so I'm doing it slowly I might do the next 'collapse' soon. still awesome changes.

getsuart 2015-07-29 20:17:53 UTC #10

those are great news! It's really good for everyone

I was also considering putting the whole prologue of Echo into one episode too... Should reconsider it, then XD

elixiadragmire 2015-07-29 20:20:23 UTC #11

Ok so I just condensed my opening to the full 4 pages (the point the bird flies off) and I watch the viewing numbers to see what happens. I might later start grouping up other pages too.

Vikiro_Hop 2015-07-29 21:40:33 UTC #12

Yep definitely think the spotlight cycle change is a good idea. I wasn't aware how long it was exactly, but I think three days makes more sense all around.

winglesscomic 2015-07-29 22:24:19 UTC #13

Seven days was just WAY too long.

Three days is a good number.

I've thought of collapsing my chapters in the future because I absolutely abhor how long the sidebar gets (it's not aesthetically pleasing at all to me), but I can't bear the thought of removing all the comments. That would break my heart. Wish there was an easy way around that issue.

michaelson 2015-07-29 23:06:43 UTC #14

Yeah, migrating information has always been an issue. This is just an infrastructural limitation of the site. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can really do about that - other than screencaping the comments.

I think I'll be adopting the term 'collapsing' to describe this from now on

The change to 3 days was really to allow us to play around more with the editorial voice of the site. I think most people think that we only feature gag-a-day style comics on the spotlight banner because of how long the banners stay up. I want to change that - giving readers more options.

I'm hoping to surprise everyone with some of the spotlight banner decisions in the future

nocuddletime 2015-07-30 00:11:46 UTC #15

I noticed the long form stuff in the daily snack and it's turned me on to a bunch of cool stuff. I'm happy to see you guys taking our suggestions!

getsuart 2015-07-30 00:58:41 UTC #16

Screencap and repost it in an extra serie as "the lovely comments I lost but I do love them it's true"

True, a long sidebar might be annoying. but I must say I also like when there is a long list, jsut because I can say to myself "woah this list is so huge I can't wait to read all of it". I'm almost sure I'm the only one in this case, but I also read it on computer or tablet, it has less troubles than with a mobile, where a big list doesn't encourage really much to read

MylCreates 2015-07-30 05:43:37 UTC #17

Will you ONLY be choosing the beginning of longstories to be on the daily snack? Could Scenes or episodes that can somewhat stand alone (such as a short conversation or entering a new location) also work, as I assume you can't post NSFW content on the daily snack (which for example the intro to a comic could be NSFW eliminating its chances of showing up on the daily snack).

zelkats 2015-07-30 05:49:50 UTC #18

I remember in their last live stream, they said it's not really a good idea to showcase on the app an episode that's picked from the middle of a long form series because it'll be out of context to new readers. There's a high chance that long form series' will only get picked once for the daily snack D:

MylCreates 2015-07-30 06:47:52 UTC #19

Dang :-/ I guess that's a no-go for Hacheeachkee then :T

Jrej 2015-07-30 10:47:22 UTC #20

You better be ready when it hits and get a kick ass first scene then!

I chose to have two series. One by pages and one by chapters (10-11 pages)
That could fix some of the issues with comments and likes.

That's one way I found that works for me so far!

elixiadragmire 2015-07-30 12:24:18 UTC #21

I think putting an awesome scene from a long format in wouldnt hurt, like a fight scene or an emotional charged scene or one that got no text just setting up or compilation. We could argue 'spoilers' but for a new reader is out of context aaaaaaaaaaaand I only started watching Steven Universe because of the Garnet spoiler. I craved context and also it enticed me that the plot was more complex

PotooGryphon 2015-07-30 13:08:37 UTC #22

Absolutely agree with this. For most series, it takes an out off context scene for me to get into it. The first chapter is usually where the artist is still trying to figure things out, and the art isn't the same. An out of context scene with great art or an emotionally charged scene is click bait for me. lol

elixiadragmire 2015-07-30 13:23:18 UTC #23

yup!!!!

plus I did read somewhere that to get new readers you need to expose them a few times with click to the comic until they read it. I can vouch for that! Witchy did that to name one off the top of my head!

I wouldn't rule out everything except the beginning for now, Like @CyndiFoster said the beginning can be uneven at the start and if a reader KNOWS it gets good later they're more willing to put up with an iffy start, I know I have.

mjmassey 2015-07-30 15:32:09 UTC #24

When I first started posting on Tapastic, I posted my whole chapters as one epsiode. Over time, I decided this was not efficient (lack of regular updating) and that longer chapters would have to be split into parts (see chapter 6). I almost thought about separating OUT the pages to make it easier for new readers to read smaller chunks at a time to catch up to the story.

Overall, I'm pretty excited at the new changes happening! I gotta start looking at the Daily Snack more, now that there's long form content in it.

michaelson 2015-07-30 20:45:37 UTC #25

I think there will always be exceptions to my "rules" of featuring long form content. If I read something that really stands out and is striking, I'll for sure feature it on the daily snack. I don't want to discourage anyone.

If something really floors me in terms of art, writing and execution (and if it's age appropriate) then I won't hesitate to feature it.

Thanks for bringing this up

elixiadragmire 2015-07-30 20:47:51 UTC #26

YUS!!!!

This will be so good, so freakin good! BTW I need a sketch request from you my friend!