Blog

Affinity Vector Image

The Editing Process

The first image I created was for my site icon. I chose to use the platform Affinity to create this because it was recommended for creating vector images. Also, it was a new platform I had never tried before, so I thought I would give it a try. First, I used the “Cloud Tool” and adjusted the proportions to create the flower-like shapes. I then changed the color of the two flowers and used the “Stroke” tool to give the flowers colored outlines. I wanted to use outlines to bring more contrast to this design and to highlight the two shapes I used. Next, I used the “Artistic Text Tool” to add the name of my website in the middle. I also added a black outline to the letter to bolden the letters and add contrast against the mint green flower.

Design Choices

I chose to make a flower design because, quite frankly, I like flowers and wanted to incorporate it into my website somehow. In addition, I chose the two main colors that are featured in my website’s theme – purple and mint green. I am using these colors because they look nice together and offer a deep color contrast. I wanted something similar for my site icon so my work could be easily identified. The contrast between the mint green and dark purple lettering makes it easier for viewers to read. I downloaded this image as a JPG because that was the most recommended file format for saving images without distorting them. Learning new tools is never easy, but it was fun!

Canva Raster Image

The Editing Process

The second image I created was for my website’s header photo. I used Canva to create this because I am most familiar with this platform and wanted an easier method to create my second image. I find that Canva is easy to use and has many designs to choose from, especially since I have Canva Pro. I first started from a blank template of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, which was recommended by WordPress’s website. I then used the “Background color” tool to change the whole background to yellow. Then, I selected a pre-made floral image from the “Elements” tab and attached it to the bottom. I used the “Crop” tool to adjust the height and width of the flowers so it would show nicely in my header. This was an easier process than my first image, but less creative because I did not create my own design from scratch.

Design Choices

I first background color to yellow because it is my favorite color and wanted to add something different to my page. I also thought the yellow would stand out nicely from my website’s purple background because they are complimentary colors! I chose the flowers because I thought they looked pretty all together and wanted something with a pop of color. I intentionally cropped the photo from the bottom without all flowers showing because I felt that it added some depth and movement throughout the header photo. Last, I saved this image as a PNG because I wanted to save it without the flowers being distorted.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a right protected under the Constitution, under which a person’s artistic expressions can not be explicitly copied and used by another person. The modes of expression that are protected include writings, music, visual works, films, and videos. Once something under one of these domains is released, a copyright is automatically created. In other words, any person who releases their work onto to web is protected by copyright. Ideas, concepts, and facts are not protected by copyright, which is a common misconception when posting on the web. You are free to get inspired by someone else’s work – which is essentially the main objective of copyright. Copyright allows for the continuation and improvement of various ideas out there; if everything people posted on the web was copyrighted, then no new information would be shared. With that, this implies that you will not directly copy and paste someone’s work and claim it as your own. That is considered infringement, and can lead to a lawsuit. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge and understand the parameters of copyright before creating your work!

CC BY 4.0

I decided I want my website to be protected under CC BY 4.0. This allows others to use and remix my work however they may choose, as long as they give me a proper attribution. I chose this specific Creative Commons license because I want my material to be accessible to all without any barriers such as finances – because I feel that information on the web can belong to anyone if they want it! In addition, I do not want my work to get lost in someone else’s, hence the attribution aspect of this license. If I worked hard on something, I would still like the credit for it, which I feel is a reasonable ask! All in all, the web should remain accessible for anyone who uses it.

Ethical use of others’ work

When publishing work of your own, whether that be a research paper or a canvas painting, it is imperative not to use someone else’s work if you do not have the right permissions to do so. All people and their work should be respected and appreciated for what it is. It is great to be inspired by other work, which is something we all experience, but stealing it or using it for profit is wrong.

Posting on the Web

Why am I here?

Hello viewers, and welcome to my new page! I believe that accuracy and transparency are two important aspects of posting on the web, so I will be conducting my blog as such. I intend to post related matters to my Digital Studies course (DGST 101), and I hope to share some fun things. I want to realistically express myself because the web can be very deceiving if not used responsibly. I am excited for this opportunity because it is completely different from anything I have done before!

Web Identity

Who am I?

As previously stated, I want to bring a sense of authenticity to my page. I would consider myself to be a smart and creative person, which I hope to show through my posts! As a Psychology major, I love doing research. Learning to conduct reliable research is extremely valuable and I love to share what I learn about. I want my web presence to be informational (and accurate) because information should be accessible to everyone. On a different note – I also like to be creative! I am by no means a master in the arts or any relevant fields, so I like to challenge myself to see what I can create. I am going to play around with my website to give it some more personality. My favorite color is yellow, but I love all colors that are bright and fun to look at. Everyone needs a little whimsy here and there. Stay tuned!

Domain Name

How did I pick mine?

I decided to name my domain remcycle.org – but why? My full name is Remington, but I always go by Remi or Rem. I thought incorporating “rem” would be concise enough and easy for people to understand. When I hear the word “rem”, I always think of the REM Cycle – the cycle in which a person experiences when they are sleeping. From there, I thought remcycle would be a good domain name because lots of people know what that means! And, for the people who may not be versed on sleep cycles, it is still easy to spell. It is also a silly play on words and it gives my page some uniqueness by having my name in it – which makes it easier to remember, too!

Tips and tricks

You can read more about tips on how to pick a good domain name from Paige Brunton’s blog post about 4 things to consider when picking your perfect domain name.