(no subject)

[thedarlingone]

and then I spent all day finding new icons (150 slots omg!) and writing 2700 words of fanfic. Rewrites are a pain in the ass, and so is being a really slow writer trying to finish a novel. (Well, this one may be more of a novella, but I wouldn't count on it.) I think the climactic part we just finished rewriting is really good, though.

Comments

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, cool! Progress is still progress. <3

ETA: That was not the icon I meant to use, but never mind... :-D

[thedarlingone]

Speaking of icons, what program do you use to make yours? There don't seem to be any for my current microfandom, and I keep thinking I might make some, and then I remember how bad I am at using GIMP and then I don't. And my only other option is Paint, which I suppose I could use to make some basic text icons but they would have to be very basic.

[thisbluespirit]

I have never been able to work out GIMP! I use an old free version of Serif PhotoPlus. I just Googled because they used to offer a former version for free from their website as a taster, but they seem to have stopped making it, unfortunately, and replaced it with Affinity Photo, which doesn't seem to have the same option.

However, if you Google Serif PhotoPlus, the latest version seems to be still available fairly cheaply, and further Googling suggests that there is a free Starter Version still going around (e.g. here), but I don't know how basic that is. Still, it has some other free Photo editor links. Also Googling the former versions (I have PhotoPlus10, but it goes up to X9) seems to suggest that some people also still have some of them for free. But Googling "free whatever software" and poking around generally works for nearly everything!

[thedarlingone]

My experience with GIMP, Calibre, and other Linux-based freeware has been so bad (partly colored by my sperm donor’s Linux obsession, but not entirely) that I tend to shy off of free software unless it comes very specifically recommended... ;P

Thanks, though! I shall take a look around. Probably also send you a list of quotes for possible iconnage at some point. ♥

[thisbluespirit]

I have not been able to get on with GIMP or, sadly, Handbrake, but most of the free video players and things are just fine. And the free photo editing software I've had (like the Serif) haven't been freeware, they've simply been older editions of software you have to pay for that the company offer up in the hope you will then want to upgrade to the shiny new version.

If you google "free x software" you usually get to lists comparing their features (and how limited they might be on freebie/trial software) and that helps before you start; also with preventing clicking on things that will download viruses and so on.

But I've had a few free video players, a long-deceased free ripper that worked very nicely, two free versions of different kinds of image editors, 7-Zip for extracting files and also torrenting software among other things, all of which have been straight-foward enough, so I suppose it just depends!

And, yes, go ahead with the quotes!