MEMBER INFORMATION FORM

All members are requested to fill out the form whose link was sent in an email via the list, digest members had the link emailed to them privately. If you joined after November 2006, you should have had the url pop-up when you subscribed and hopefully filled out this form, if not look in your Weekly Reminder email for the link whic is not to be publicized.

SENDING FRACTALS TO THE LIST

All fractals sent to the list must be made using Fractal Explorer software. Post processing in other programs is allowed, but the basic fractal should be from Fractal Explorer.

SIZE

Fractals sent in should not exceed 250kb in size. Occasionally, images up to 300kb may be sent in, but this is the rare exception. This is a PER FRACTAL IMAGE RULE. Do not "average" the file sizes.

Try to send in fractals that are at least 600 x 600 pixels in size (so the fractal can really be seen well), but this is not a rule, and you may wish to send in smaller images. If you wish to send the image in larger, that is also fine, as long as you do not exceed 250kb.

You may link to a fractal or a file (after uploading it to your own personal server) if it will be larger than 250kb. This will allow you to show the list a fractal larger than the established 250kb limit without alienating everyone due to the size if you were to send it attached. (please see the rule further down the list in regards to sending in executable files).

HOW MANY?

Please do not send more than one fractal in with each email, because some email readers cannot handle more than one in each email, so the recipient may see only one fractal, or none at all.

HEADINGS

Save your images and spot files with your name (for instance: bubblybabs_flowers.jpg and bubblybabs_flowers.frs or flowers_BB.jpg and flowers_BB.frs). ALWAYS do this so your image/spot file is set apart from someone elses who may name their fractal with the exact same name. It also helps to quicky identify an image/spot as yours. You can also use the comment line in the FE program to record your name and date so that others can remember where a spot came from, and give credit when modifying another artist's spot. Also, many fractalists will also sign their fractal image when they post-process it. It would be best if you did all three.

TEXT OR HTML?

Text based emails are best; not all email readers can read HTML emails. Also, HTML emails mess up the digest and there are times when your image won't come through the list when you use the fancy text mode. Send in text based emails please.

EMAIL PROGRAMS

*Please* do not use IncrediMail or any other email program that will automatically include some type of HTML. IncrediMail, for instance, puts a footer in each email that includes a smilie. This messes up our uploading system for the galleries since each smilie must be deleted manually. While this may not seem like much when a single email is sent out by one person you have to remember that it *is* alot when there are several hundred images per month to be uploaded.

Those using such a program will be asked to stop using it for the list and will be removed from the list if the problem continues. Sorry about this rule, in this case it's not made for the convenience of the members but for the convenience of those who care for the site.

MUSIC AND OTHER FILES

NEVER send an email with music playing, scrolling backgrounds, or with a background image.

NO .EXE FILES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Viruses are often sent via .exe files, and for safety, these are banned from the list. Same goes for any other executable file (.bat, .scr, etc). NO exceptions.

PERSONAL LINKS

One link to a personal webpage is fine, but 3 or more just become tedious and clutter up the mailboxes, and make nonsense of the daily digest. Please don't have an email full of quotes. Or one with links and quotes.

THEMES

We have themes each month where people try to find fractals that fit that theme. If you have a fractal that you think fits the theme for a particular month, please try to save the fractal with a th_ in front of it (for example: th_BubblyBabs_flowers.frs). This is not mandatory, but it does help to identify theme fractals, and makes it easier for the person making the theme pages.

SUBJECT LINE

Be sure to change the subject line to reflect the topic instead of replying to a particular post that has nothing at all to do with the old topic. If you are no longer talking about Fractal X even though you replied to an email with Fractal X in the subject line, be sure to change it.

IMAGE FORMAT

Do not send in .bmp files - only .jpg, .gif, or .png please. If you feel you must send in a .bmp then make sure it is less than 250kb (the "golden" file size for this list!)

SPOT FILES

Spot files are the files Fractal Explorer uses to render its images.

No one will use our member fractals for their own use without written permission from the fractal owner. This is exceedingly important!

The image owner owns the copyright, and it is unlawful to use their files without permission.

You may share your spot files if you wish, though it is not mandatory.

Please do NOT send in a spot you do not want others to use! If you have a spot you consider to be extra special then please do not send it in - there are dishonest people out there who may claim your prized spot as their own.

TWEAKING SPOTS

Tweaking is the term used for playing with a spot. People who send their spots to the list are saying, in effect, that they are happy for others to play around and make new images using their spots as a basis. This does NOT mean that people are giving away their rights to the spot they have created. But sending a spot to the list is, in effect, saying that others are welcome to tweak.

It is hard to define a line where tweaking ends and a new spot begins. In general, this is considered to be when a person has changed many of the functions, maybe the palette and even the formula. If you have used another's spot to make your image with just a few changes, you MUST acknowledge where the original spot came from.

Remember, that if someone modifies a spot that you sent in to be tweaked, the modified fractal is theirs and not yours. Therefore, only send spots in that you do not mind someone else playing with. This is especially important if you have made the fractal using your own formula.

This rule is based on common sense and sensitivity to the property and feelings of others.

At the end of the month spot files sent in will be placed on the site for mailing list members to download and use. Please identify spots you DO NOT wish to be included on this site.

LURKERS

Being a "lurker", which is someone who belongs to the list but does not actively participate, is fine. We want you to see our pretty fractals! Even if you do not make fractals or do not send yours in, you are perfectly welcome to comment on another person's fractal. Everyone likes to hear if someone liked their fractal! Feel free to do so. We like to hear from everyone!

COMMENTS

If you do decide to comment on other peoples' fractals, please reply in person or do a group comment instead of sending in a bunch of one line "ooh, I loved your fractal" emails. By this we mean, send in one email with comments about fractals sent in by several users. For example:

Panny - I loved the colors on FireFlys
Joey - Wow, I can't believe all those spirals in Spiral Mania!
Babs - loved Row Homes though it looked like a big feather fan to me!

You do not have to do this, but it does help to keep down the number of emails going through the list.

ASKING QUESTIONS

Questions are always welcome. When asking a question about the program or some other aspect of fractal making (such as fractal editing or post-processing), make the subject: "Question about xxx" so that other members can zero in on this post and can quickly reply with a helpful response. This also helps people who are reading the digest.

Please do not feel talking on this list is forbidden. Just please make sure the question revolves around fractals in some way.

OFF TOPIC TOPICS

Please take all off-topic topics off the list. In other words, if a few people get into a conversation that does not involve fractals, please continue the conversation privately. If you do send in something that is off-topic, be sure to state "off-topic" or "OT" in the subject line. A few emails back and forth is no big deal, but 20 emails by two people about something totally unrelated to fractals is a monopolization other peoples' time and mailboxes for something best left off the list.

The above does not apply if more than a few people get involved in the conversation! Same goes if the topic is about fractals. Fractal conversations are always allowed.

FLAMING

Please do not flame other members. Flaming is when a person belittles, degrades, or embarasses another member. You may be removed from the list depending upon the severity of the situation. Remember, if you can't be nice then don't say anything. If you feel offended, a gentle note may be sent through, letting the other person know, and clearing the air with the rest of the list. Remember though, if you felt offended, others on the list may have felt that way for you as well.

SPAM

Do not join the list to sell your services unless you plan to be an active member.

Do not put the mailing list email on a webpage nor use it to send ecards or anything of that nature. This rule is to protect the list from SPAM. If we start getting SPAMmed then the list email address will need to be changed and that is a very big hassle. If you send an ecard to the list you will thanked and then you will be reminded not to do that again.

Remember which email address you signed up with because that is the only one you can email to the list with. Other email addresses will be rejected. This is to prevent unsolicited SPAM from going through the list. If you find your email is being rejected from the list and you know you are a member, look to see if you are accidently using a different email address (we know from experience that people will send the same email 10-30 times trying to get it to come through only to be told it's the wrong email address!).

CONSIDERATION

Be considerate of peoples' mailbox sizes. Do not reply to an email with the sent in fractal attached.

Do NOT use foul language, you will be deleted from the group. Some peoples' children read this list too. The same applies to email addresses. When you reply to a post or someone replies to your post, your email address will be seen. Therefore, if your email address contains something that would be considered objectionable by most people, you will be asked to change your email address or be changed to receive mail only and will not be able to post.

If you feel that someone may have violated one of the expectations on this FAQ, please feel free to send this url in to the list as a helpful reminder. The FEUsers Mailing List assistants will deal with any serious offenses off list, please let us deal with situations as they arise. Thank-you.

DIGEST MEMBERS

You will receive a consolidated email at least once a day, on occasion two emails a day. These emails do not contain the fractals sent in by the list members, you will have to view the private pages or visit a link sent in the digest in order to view those fractals.

You will be able to send emails with fractal related questions or with fractals attached in to the list. Your post will go through the list as usual but will only come back to you in the digest the next day.

PASSWORDS

The private pages and the mailing list member upload areas are password protected. Please do no share the passwords with anyone, even a member. Always direct someone to BubblyBabs in reference to passwords. You may not be aware that a person has left the list or was removed from the list or was never a member. Passworded areas are for members only.

FE BETA

The programmer of Fractal Explorer allows those on the list to help him debug the beta version of FE. The link to this beta version is sent through the list and is also added to the passworded pages. *Please* do not give this link out. We've had it in the past where someone put the link on several newsgroups claiming that BubblyBabs wanted everyone to know the link. While BubblyBabs may want the list members to know it she does *not* want every Tom, Dick, Harry, and Jane to know it, this is because Arthur (the programmer) only wishes a small number of people to help him debug the program. Please respect Arthurs wishes and don't give out the link. We feel honored to help him out.