CHAT ROOM
What is a chat room?
A chat room is a place where you can log on and chat live with other members of Pickleberrypop who are also logged on to the chat room at the same time. It’s similar to MSN, AOL Instant Messenger, or Yahoo chat. Pickleberrypop also run regular Chat and Scrap sessions where you can have fun and scrap with other members. More information on these sessions can be found in the Forum.
How do I get into the chat room?
Simply click on the Chat link in the main menu.
What software do I need to get into the chat client?
You will need the
Macromedia Flash plug-in
FORUM
What is the forum?
The forum covers many topics of interest, mostly relating to digital scrapbooking. It’s a place where you can come and browse the topics to find useful information, find out what is going on at Pickleberrypop, introduce yourself, and ask or answer a question.
Do I need to be registered to post in the Forum?
Yes, to be able to post or reply to anything in the forum, you must first be a registered member, and registration is free.
Can I post anything in the forum?
We would like you to keep your posts relevant to the various forum sections, and that you respect all members of the forum. You are welcome to voice your opinions, but please do so in a respectful manner. Flaming, trolling, profanity and pornography will NOT be tolerated in any form.
Can I include blinkies in my signature?
We love blinkies and fun signature lines! Feel free to include blinkies that promote your CT, DT, blog, or where you sell. Also, a small sig image is fine, but please use moderation and remember a large number of images can significantly slow things down for people on dial-up, and we want to make sure everyone has fun here! We may need to review these guidelines if this gets out of hand.
Can I link to other websites?
Since this forum is all about digital scrapbooking, we want to hear about what is happening in the online world. We welcome discussions about other scrapping sites, your favorite designer, sales and freebies. You may link to other sites in reference to your posts, but we restrict this to active members only and please do not use these forums for mass-marketing purposes. People who deem to be abusing these privileges will be warned.
How do I post a new topic in the forum?
Click on a category under the forum topic that is most relevant to your post. Then simply click on the 'New topic' button, give your topic a subject, and then enter your text in the Message body. When you are finished, click on the Submit button near the bottom of the screen.
How do I check for new posts?
When you enter the forum, click on the View posts since last visit link, under the header on the right-hand side.
How do I reply to a post?
When viewing the post you wish to reply to, click on the Post reply button near the bottom left of the screen. Next, enter your text in the Message body and when you are finished, click on the Submit button.
NOTE: It is also possible to include a previous post as a quote in your reply. To do this, click on the Quote button at the top right-hand side of the post you wish to quote, rather than clicking on the Post reply button.
How do I include an image in my post?
In the message body of your post, place your cursor in the position that you would like your image to be, and click on the small Img button near the top of the message body window (note that the Img button now says Img* and the text [img] has appeared in your message body. Enter the url of your image directly after this text, eg. http://url.jpg, and then once again, click on the Img* button. The text [/img] should now appear at the end of your url. Click on Submit to publish your post.
How do I include a link in my post?
In the message body of your post, place your cursor in the position that you would like your hyperlink to be, and click on the small URL button at the top of the message body window (note that the text [url] has appeared in your message body. Enter the address/url of your link directly after this text, eg. http://url.com/, and then once again, click on the URL button. The text [/url] should now appear at the end of your address. Click on Submit to publish your post.
What is an avatar?
It's a small picture that you can add to your Profile, which is then displayed directly underneath your user name in your forum posts.
How do I add an avatar?
When you are logged into the forum, just underneath the header at the top you should see a series of links. Click on the Profile link, which will take you to your Profile settings. Scroll down to the bottom until you see the heading Avatar control panel. You can then user either of the 3 options available (Upload Avatar from your machine, Upload
Avatar from a URL, or Link to off-site Avatar) to upload your picture. NOTE: Your avatar must be no larger than 100x100 pixels, and no bigger than 8KB in size.
How do I add a Signature?
When you are logged into the forum, just underneath the header at the top you should see a series of links. Click on the Profile link, which will take you to your Profile settings. Scroll down a little until you see the heading Profile information. Under there is a text block where you can either type your signature as plain text, or alternatively, you can add a picture, or a blinkie that links back to your personal blog, for example.
To add a picture, type the url to your image in between the image tags [img] *url in here* [/img]
To add a blinkie with a hyperlink, type the following:
[url= *path to link*][img] *path to image* [/img][/url]
What is a Private Message (PM)?
A private message or PM allows you to send a message to another member of the forum privately, ie. without other members seeing your message. Depending on your Profile settings, you may be notified via email when you receive a PM, and/or a popup might appear while you are in the forum to notify you. The relevant settings in your Profile are:
- Notify on new Private Message (will send an email if set to ‘Yes’)
- Pop up window on new Private Message
How do I send a Private Message?
There are various ways to send a private message to another member:
- Click on the Memberlist button located in the header under the site links – after locating the relevant user, click on the PM button.
- While browsing the forum posts, if a user has allowed members to send them a PM, you should see a PM button underneath their post.
Once you have entered the Send a new private message screen, check the Username field contains the name of the correct member, type in a Subject, and enter your message in the Message body text area. Then click the Submit button to send your PM.
GALLERY
Do I need to be registered to upload to the Gallery?
Yes, to be able to upload anything to the gallery, you must first be a registered member. Registration for the gallery and forum are linked so if you have registered for one you are automatically registered for the other.
What can I upload to the Gallery?
You may upload any or all of your digital layouts, but we do not allow uploading of any advertisements or kit previews.
What format and size is required to upload to the Gallery?
Files should be in JPEG format, and must be no larger than 500x500pixels in dimension and 100KB in size.
What is the My Albums link?
My Albums allows you to view any albums that you have created. You may wish to create separate albums for your own separate projects, or just the one album to store everything in.
How do I create an album?
Click on the 'My Albums' link in the header under the site links. Click on the 'Create a New Album' link, and enter an Album name, an Album description, and specify if the Album is Private or not. Click on the 'Create a New Album' button.
How do I upload a layout?
Layouts must be 500x500 pixels in dimension and 100kb in file size or less. You can either upload a layout to an existing gallery category (eg. Colour challenge gallery), or upload a layout to your own album, by clicking on the 'Upload Photos' link in the header under the site links. In the following screen you are prompted to choose a category - you may either select a category from the list, or if you wish to upload to your own album, then use the default 'Member's Gallery' category, and specify which album in the following field. The remaining fields should be self explanatory - once you have completed these fields, click on the 'Upload/Submit' button. HINT: If you wish to be notified via email when someone leaves a comment on your layout, make sure you change the 'Want to be notified by email when users post replies' field to 'Yes'.
How do I submit a comment on a layout?
Click on the thumbnail of the layout you wish to comment on to view it in full size. Scroll to the bottom of the screen where you should see a section called 'Add your comments'. Enter your comments in the text block and click on the 'Submit' button.
What is the My Favorites link?
While browsing the gallery layouts, it is possible to add any layouts you particularly like to your favorites. To do this, click on the layout to view it in full size, and just above the comments area you will see a series of links. Click on the 'Add to Favorites' link to add it to your list, and to view your favorites at any time, click on the 'My Favorites' link in the header under the site links.
How do I see the most recent layouts uploaded to the gallery?
The home page of the gallery lists the most recent layouts uploaded by members. As this list is limited, it is possible to see further entries by scrolling down to just under the list of recent entries and clicking on the links next to 'Recent Photos', which are 1 day, 7 days, 14 days, and All.
Do I need to give credit if I use someone else’s products in my layouts?
Yes! The designers that made the products you used spent a lot of time and effort on their creations, and so it is only fair and reasonable to give them their due credit. Not only that, but it also lets other people know where they can find the same items.
An easy way to give credit is in the comments section of the gallery when you upload your layout. Include the designer’s name, the name of the kit, and where the product is available, if possible. You can usually find all this information in the 'Terms of use' (TOU) file that came with the download - all downloads, including freebies should have a TOU statement. You may post links to other sites when crediting.
An example of proper crediting is:
- Papers from Annette Farrelly’s 'Outdoor Living' kit, Pickleberrypop
- Tags from Kate Fairlie’s ‘Fly me to the Moon’ kit at Pickleberrypop
Most places do not allow you to post direct links to websites, so just the name is enough.
Do I need to give credit if I scraplift someone else’s layout?
Yes! Proper credit is also important if you scraplift (use someone else's design as inspiration). In this case, it is appropriate to use the user name and/or full name of the person you are crediting, as well as the title of the layout you are scraplifting. You may post links to other sites when crediting. Also, please be aware that a scraplifted layout cannot be used for commercial use or submitted to magazines for publication.
An example of proper credit when scraplifting is:
- Inspired by (or scraplifted from) fazzbech’s 'First Family Christmas' layout, Pickleberrypop.
Do you take a stand against digital piracy?
We will not tolerate piracy of software, fonts, digital scrapbook items or anything else on this website. For more information, please read the Stop Digital Piracy Blog.
GENERAL
How do I contact Administration?
You can email Administration at .
Can I advertise at Pickleberrypop?
Yes! Banner advertisements may be purchased in the shop. For further details, please contact Administration at .
How can I become a Designer or Creative Team member at Pickleberrypop?
Designer or Creative Team positions will be available from time to time. Keep an eye on the Pickleberrypop home page for openings and further details on how to apply or contact administration at
NEWSLETTER
Does Pickleberrypop have a regular newsletter?
Yes! Newsletters are currently sent out monthly to subscribed members. On occasion, special or important announcements will be sent out to subscribed members also. Newsletter subscribers will eligible for special offers!
How do I subscribe to the newsletter?
Visit the newsletter page and fill in the form with your email address to sign up to our newsletter. You will then be sent an email that directs you to a link which confirms your subscription. To unsubscribe visit the newsletter page and use the 'unsubscribe' option to remove your email from our mailing list.
SHOPPING
Do I need to be registered to purchase items from the shop?
Yes, to be able to make any purchase, you must first register in the shop (this registration is separate to that of the gallery and forum). This is for your own security, to keep track of any downloads registered to you, and to offer any support you might need during your purchase . You can be sure that your information will ONLY be used for the Pickleberrypop shop, and that your information will NEVER be shared or sold.
What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept Paypal, Direct Deposit, and Pickleberrypop gift certificates. Cheque or money order cannot be accepted at this time.
Do you offer a CD-burning service?
Yes! If you require your purchase to be placed on CD-ROM and mailed to you, please ensure that you add the CD-burning service to your purchase before checkout.
How long are the items I purchase available for download?
Your purchased items will be available for download for five days after your purchase is complete. Please be sure to download during this time period and if you experience problems, be sure to read the entire FAQ Shopping section. If you are still unable to download, please contact Administration.
What if I have problems downloading my purchase?
If you receive an error while downloading, please try the download once again. Occasionally there may be problems if there is a high demand on download resources at the time, or if for some reason the shop is temporarily unavailable. If you still experience problems, please contact Administration, and it would be helpful if you include a description of the problem, or any error message you may receive. Your problem will be addressed as soon as possible. Please ensure you note the target directory of your downloaded files to avoid them being ‘lost’ – otherwise, you could perform a search on your hard drive with the name of the kit to try and find it.
What format are the downloaded files in?
All downloaded files are in compressed .zip format, which will require a program such as Winzip to unpack or uncompress them. The reason for this is not only to try and keep the size of the files as small as possible for download, but also to neatly contain the content of your download in the one file. You can download a free trial of Winzip from http://www.winzip.com, or if your operating system is Windows XP, you should have an inbuilt uncompress option when right-clicking on the file. |
