Quote from Cara_131386 on Sep 24^th, 2011, 6:14am:

 
Hi Cara,
I've said this before, but thought it worth passing on once again.  We all need to remember that what we read in an email or on a forum/blog post has no human emotion behind it.  We don't hear the inflection in the voice or see the expression on a face, so our minds and hearts add it for us . . . often making a statement that was made in the hurry of someone who has hundreds of these email to get out every day into something that evokes emotion that they had no intention of relaying. So, all of us need to try and remember that the rude or curt meaning being the email is what we read into it, not necessarily that in which it was sent.    
 
I don't know what words you would have them choose that would be 'less cold' and make you feel better.  Cluttered, busy and lacking of commercial appeal are industry standard terms in art acceptance/decline.
 
Hope this helps . . . hang in there girl!!  

Yes you are so right.  We cannot get the voice influctions!  Great point.  I realize they are busy people and when I opened and read the email its just how it struck me and I cannot put it any more simple than that.  I am a very compassionate human being and can always see most sides to things.  I can give the reviewers the benefit of the doubt, of course.  It's all in the way you chose to look at things.  A little bit of compassion and kindness go a very long way in this busy & stressful world.   While your point is very well taken, I still feel I have a valid point  It's amazing how soft words & a smile can make someone's day.  On the flip side of that coin some words can and do hit us wrong.  Some people need to make a point to show more kindness, especially when you are basically giving them bad news.  Thank you very much for your kind words and for helping me to see yet another side!

Hi Cara
 
I don't know whether this might help, but last week I had a card that I had customised for a customer 'relegated' to my private gallery as the reviewers decided it was too 'cluttered' to be 'marketable' - which doesn't really make any sense as it was exactly what my customer wanted and she wrote a nice testimonial on my storefront as a result!
 
I did actually agree with the reviewers' opinion - it was too cluttered for my taste. But the whole point is that tastes differ and it seems that decisions are made on the basis of differing tastes as it's even harder to be objective when it comes to non-photographic designs, where there are at least a few 'rules' about photography that can be followed.
 
If GCU could give us some firm guidelines as to what they are looking for in non-photographic designs, we would at least know not to bother with the work of not only creating but uploading, tagging, describing etc certain types of designs. I don't have any clear idea of what the reviewers would think 'marketable' and what they would decline - except that it seems they don't like 'cluttered', even though some customers do - and that they have to be 'well drawn', which is, again, a matter of opinion.
 
When one submits designs to a publisher, there are generally some clear indicators of the type of thing they are looking for.  For instance, I wouldn't submit a watercolour floral design to a publisher who deals in digitally created cartoons or vintage photographs!  
 
But GCU's slogan is 'any card imaginable' - which signals to me that there is no particular type of card that they would decline. Maybe they should think about changing that slogan as it clearly no longer holds true.
 
I rather like your card, Cara - the colours are attractive and a decorated Christmas Tree often looks very 'busy' (and yours is far less 'busy' or cluttered than the card my customer was enthusiastic about). One little thing that would have improved it for me, and I stress that it's just my opinion, is if it had a more clearly defined outer shape, more triangular, if you know what I mean?  
 
I hope it will do well elsewhere for you  
 

Hi Cara,
 
I looked at your card on the other site and here's what I think bothered GCU....
 
It had nothing to do with the colors you chose or even the way they were applied ("busy").  I think they felt it didn't look enough like a Christmas tree.  In other words, like Judy said, the shape wasn't triangular enough.  
 
That was my first impression, as I tried to look at your design as a reviewer would.  I love your concept, the colors, the elements, the white background - everything.  I don't think the ornaments need re-spacing.  But I bet if you shaved a bit off to make it more Xmas tree-shaped, they would accept it.  I don't mean a straight line shape, either..... uneven would be great.
 
I feel badly that you feel so discouraged.  I hope this helps.
 
~ Evie

Cara - I went to boarding school and the Christmas Tree in the school chapel was always dressed in pink, liclac and blue baubles, white lights and lots of silver lametta.  
 
For years, when I had a home of my own, that was how my Christmas tree looked because there was something magical about that colour scheme!  
 
Eventually those decorations/ornaments got tatty or broken and I replaced them with the more traditional gold, red and green ones, which look very festive, but lack that 'magic' quality of the silvery pink and blue!

I have over 120 cards being held for improvement, which I did send in the improved image and yet it sits since someone said they had to speak to someone...off the market since Sept. 8th.  
 
Another set of cards required a text improvement,which I did, then a letter of permission, which I provided, then I was told I had done nothing to the photo, which I had, and then the cards were rejected.
 
Another set of cards are being held for image being dark, and that one just sold yesterday from an earlier set that was approved dozens of times.
 
I have readily accepted the rejection of a few other designs that had been recently approved, which I sent one ahead before I went and made
a dozen or more cards from, and they are still rejected.  I have over 5,000 cards and I am not squabbling over my hurt feelings.  I just wonder what the heck is going on when each reader or new reader seems to be going by their own standards.  
 
Otherwise, I am very happy working here at GCU and realize a lot of people work hard for us to be able to share our work here.  TY!
 
Bright

We'll do our best to add some softness, smiles and hugs to the "no thank you" emails.
 
As for guidelines for non-photographic works this is something that we’ll have to work on.  No style or media is off limits.  In general the guideline is based on overall professional execution, pleasing composition, subject matter relevant to the occasion, well chosen font style, size, color, etc.  We realize imperfections are inherent in hand drawn works however they should still look professional, even children’s art.   Additionally very common reasons for “no thank yous” of non-photographic works are images lacking professionalism due to poor scans that are blurry or grainy and poor photos of the original artwork which also can be blurry, have poor lighting and reflection/glare and alignment & cropping issues.  Getting a good photo of original artwork is often quite problematic.

Yep, thanks Mindy!  It does have to be difficult I'm sure.  Some of the reviewers are being more nice I have noticed.  I even got about 4 cards approved yesterday/last night without any returns that was amazing LOL  Have a nice day everyone!