Weekly Help Desk Updates - March 13th, 2009

Introduction

Welcome to the weekly Help Desk Updates. In these weekly updates we will attempt to bring you the most up to date news concerning the Help Desk & FAQ, as well as provide some helpful hints for super duper deviantART fun.

Hexe's Corner

Undelivered Mail: Return to Sender

Lately we have been receiving anywhere from 6-10 emails per day to payment-support@deviantart.com stating that an email cannot be delivered to the recipient. The most common reason for the return is that the recipient no longer exists.

So this week I would like to remind everyone to check the address you have listed in your settings page (FAQ #4: Which options can I control under the Edit Settings page?) and if it is out of date, please update it. If it is not up to date you will not receive email reminders about an upcoming subscription expiration, billing (if you have a re-billing package) and most importantly if your email is out of date you will not ever receive an email should you lose your password and need to recover it.

Spam Control

Another issue I would like to raise this week is spam controls. While it does not happen often, once in a blue moon we will reply to an email and then shortly after be asked to verify who we are by a spam filter. While we do not mind completing this procedure, it does take up time, which as I am sure you agree, could be put to better use by handling another deviant's request for help. So if you use such a filter, please help us out by adding deviantart.com to your allowed listing.

Ewm's Corner

Do you use Firefox and happen to have Firefox extensions? If you are unsure if you have extensions you can go into your Firefox browser and click on Tools>Add-ons and look under the extension section. So why do I mention this?

If you use Firefox as your browser of choice and use extensions when you ever experience an issue on deviantART we ask that you please disable your extensions before submitting a bug report. You can in addition to this try running the Safemode version of Firefox as well as try using a different browser to see whether the issue is Firefox only or occurring in multiple browsers.

Firefox extensions whether they are deviantART related or not can sometimes cause interferences with the site making it not function properly. Some extensions notorious for screwing up deviantART related features include Adblock, NoScript, and the Skype extension.

Please note that other browsers also have extensions, scripts, add-ons, and plug-ins that may cause interferences as well.

Stykera's Corner

Hello happy Deviants.

With the new profile pages, I bet you're wondering what happened to your Scraps.

Dern tootin' right!

Well never fear! The direct link may be gone from your profile page now, but all you have to do is click on the Gallery tab and then choose the Scrapbook link: it's right next to the Featured and Browse links below where your avatar is.

But I cannot see the Scrapbook link! Help!

If you have submitted to the Scraps category but do not see the link in your gallery, you may need to enable it.

In your Gallery, click the Edit button, then Options. Make sure "Scrapbook link" is checked, then hit OK and then Done. Your Scrapbook link should now be available next to Browse.

Likewise, if you don't want people finding your Scraps easily, you can disable it from the same edit screen.

Spiffy!

Fangedfem's Corner

This week I wanted to touch on an issue of a certain product, the canvas print. I wanted to take a moment to remind artists that when submitting a canvas product you will need to take into consideration the wrapped edges. If you submit your source file with the image flush to the edges, portions of the image will be be lost when the canvas is wrapped around the frame. Also keep in mind that if you choose to use borders for the canvas product to try and prevent the loss of imagery because of the wrap, please remember to keep the borders even and as minimal as possible. If the image has an uneven border it will remain uneven after it is wrapped which can result in an unattractive product The best bet is to try and avoid borders on the images as much as possible but you can certainly use them if you desire.

Please note, if you are ordering a Fine Art Canvas print with NO Art Block Frame it will come rolled. Rolled canvas fine art prints have an all around 3" blank white margin that can be used for manual wrapping purposes or simply trimmed off.

Wrapped Canvas prints are stretched and mounted on a sturdy wooden frame approximately 3/4" deep. The area that is wrapped around the mount can be considered similar to that of a bleed edge used for regular prints. That is, a small area around the border of your image which would be cut off during the printing process.

On a Canvas print, this area of the image is wrapped around the edge. Approximately 0.6 to 1.3 inches per side (depending on the canvas size) of the image is wrapped around the mount. However, because canvas prints are stretched and mounted manually, results may vary. Please see the following FAQ for more detailed information.

FAQ #298: What is a bleed edge and how do I use it when preparing my artwork for printing?

A visual reference can be found here. And as mentioned in previous news articles, you may find templates for print products via the prints FAQ here:

FAQ #576: Where can I find templates to help me size my images correctly for prints?

Making sure you are offering your print products in the best possible way not only makes for better printing results, it makes for happy customers who will return to buy more

As always please take a moment to browse the prints FAQ for more information if you have questions but if you should need further assistance you may send any print related inquiries directly to the Prints Help Desk by submitting a Prints Customer Service Ticket as this will ensure the fastest response.

Weekly Tip

Did you ever wonder how to clear your browser's cache? If so, click here and wonder no more!

Top 10 Of The Week

FAQ #113: Can I delete my deviantART account?
FAQ #105: I just uploaded or reset an Avatar, Lit Tag, or Website Button and deviantART keeps displaying the old one. Why?
FAQ #81: How can I make links to other deviants, deviations, or websites?
FAQ #831: Why can't just anyone submit film?
FAQ #104: What HTML formatting can we use on deviantART? And what is the format for these codes?
FAQ #568: I tried to create an account, but it states my IP Address is banned and will not let me continue. Why?
FAQ #18: Who selects the Daily Deviation and how is it chosen?
FAQ #731: What is a CVV Code and where can I find mine?
FAQ #873: What do I do when I disapprove of a Daily Deviation feature?
FAQ #90: How do I customize my profile page?

Recently Revised Or New FAQ Entries

Revised -

FAQ #532: As an Official Beta Tester, how do I provide feedback?
FAQ #610: What happens when someone is banned or suspended?
FAQ #673: How can I make a club or group?
FAQ #716: I was told to make sure I have Javascript enabled. How do I do this?
FAQ #723: How come things are not better tested before they are released?

Help Desk Guides

How To Guides:

How to: Submit a Help Desk inquiry
How to: Submit a Bug Report
How to: Submit a Chat Inquiry
How to: Submit a General Help Inquiry
How to: Submit a Subscription Inquiry
How to: Submit a Ban Inquiry
How to: Submit a Policy Inquiry
How to: Submit a Harassment Report


Hey Hexe:

Hey Hexe! Installment #1
Hey Hexe! Installment #2
Hey Hexe! Installment #3
Hey Hexe! Installment #4
Hey Hexe! Installment #5
Hey Hexe! Installment #6
Hey Hexe! Installment #7
Hey Hexe! Installment #8







( If you have concerns over a bug you are experiencing, please direct your attention to the Status Forum, if you do not see your bug listed there, please direct questions to the Help Desk and do not post them in response to this article as they may not be seen right away. Thank you!)