Ryan,



Like you, I now own a new widescreen notebook that has a 16:9 format (1366 x 768 resolution). When I try to click on the Agni (from 2003 planetscapes) 1366x768 link, I get a Not found page error. You may want to correct that link so people can download that resolution of the Agni wallpaper. Thanks.

Man that Spider game is awesome, I recommend it to any iPhone/iPod Touch user.

I love reading on Twitter or FB that a new picture has been uploaded. I race to my computer as fast as possible to see it. I enjoy that element of surprise. Maybe if you uploaded pictures of the piece in different stages, but not until the finished product has been posted.

While I think it could be interesting to see your various "wips" during the development of a new image, I prefer to simply be surprised when I log onto the site.

I think it would be very interesting to see the work in progress. But I'm a member of your site because I like your work. I think you should be free from any constraints (comments) while making your images. The idea of Scott C. sound like it might work.

Not with the idea of posting a 'WIP' box for the very reasons you stated Ryan, nothing worse than catering something for the masses rather than expressing your individual ideas.

I love you Planetary images! cant wait for this one!

What do you think about trying a crowdsourced image? My idea is that you'd start with a basic template of how you'd like the image to look, and then poll us periodically to make tweaks ("should the sky be red or blue? should the trees be lush and green or snow-covered?") We could essentially "evolve" an image over time that is optimal based on the crowd's perspective... sort of like genetics!

i think a small crop of it as a teaser to try and guess what it will be.

How about instead of showing in progress shots of your in progress work, show us some in progress shots of the last one you completed. That way people can appreciate the work and steps that go into it, and you don't get people trying to add their ideas to your work.

I'm not so sure about the poll box idea...firstly, part of the fun is being surprised by the next project...part of the reason I'm against he thumbnail idea. Secondly, it just doesn't seem quite right to dictate to an artist what his next piece should be. And given that all of us paid money to see what RYAN wants to create I would think that most of us would agree with that.

:) could you place a poll box for people to vote on for the concept of your upcoming projects in your mind? According to poll results you could concentrate on the project that's chosen.

Ryan,



I think adding the thumbnail of a "work in progress" is a great idea. I'm always interested in the process. I hope YOU don't find it too difficult, because you will get "suggestions" about the work in progress.

Well, you could just make it an optional setting and let people choose if they want to see it or not.



By the way, I'm a web developer... :D I work from home as well, and I understand the isolation.

I like the idea, but I don't really see the need to have comments on at every stage. Maybe if you're looking for feedback yes, but otherwise I'd leave comments off

Yeah, I like the idea but I think posting a thumbnail could be a bit tricky because people will form opinions of it before they even see the picture. I think it would be more fun for you to post a small crop and let people guess what they think it is...kinda like those mystery pictures where you have to guess the big picture from a real small crop...anyways, just an idea...

Hi Ryan,



I think a small thumbnail of your current project would be a fantastic idea. I'm not one who is artistic at all, and it would be really fantastic to see how your ideas for pictures develop!



And as always, keep up the good work!

i suggest putting up a preview of old stuff being renewed like 'fluorescence' so people can get a view of what the updated version is gonna be like, i wouldn't do it with new projects tho, always good to leave someone spinning for a while ;) if you want to put something bout the new stuff, i suggest putting the title of the new project instead of a thumbnail to make people think like artist and use their imagination

Looks like this is split down the middle, but I'm with the no crowd. I come here because I appreciate your artistic talent and I wouldn't want others to influence your ideas. Also, I love waiting for the unveiling of a new project and then seeing the small tweaks you make.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for innovations; for example the twitter and facebook pages are excellent - I just feel that this would be unnecessary and spoil the artistic merit of what you do.

I actually like you speaking in "words" what you are actually making instead of thumbnail photos and just update them in words....I sometimes try to imagine what you are making while reading and see what your final results are...I have a friend of mine who is a CG artist and myself also and we always converse one another thru our emails on what we are making next and how some of it is done... and it was actually quite fun seeing the final results in pictures in which in most cases is a twist on what we are actually thinking..kinda like an imagination from reading a novel and watching a movie that was made based on the same novel I read.

I have been a active member of DB for well over 5 years and this would be an awesome addition to an already great site. Ryan, I would love to see what you are working on during the two weeks of lull between project completions. :-)

I do not think showing a preview before it is a complete work is a good idea. People would make suggestions and you would take them into consideration and change your design to fit the comments and then it would turn out differently thus not being a Ryan Bliss work of art.



However I am interested, as I am sure others are, how how the work develops. Maybe on projects you see fit you can take screen shots or whatnot of the different stages of the development and then post it while the final render is rendering. Or post it when you post the final version of the new project.

I usually don't comment as I'm happy with the works that are being created and I trust Ryan in his artistic views, I would never dream of commenting on what works and does not work in a particular piece of art. I think that a "preview" would be too tempting a forum to offer suggestions on works in progress, causing a change in the artwork being produced and possibly no longer staying true to Ryan's idea.



I have paid for my membership because I enjoy your point of view Ryan, I would never want that to change.



On a side note, for e-readers, I'm particularly fond of my Sony E-book. Sony is making changes to their store, changing to an open source format (epub) and hooking up with Google to bring in half a million "classics" to their library. Sony has also never deleted anything off my e-book, something the kindle can't claim.



A current great place for free classics is www.gutenberg.org

I don't know about the thumbnail in the corner- I'd rather just be surprised when the final version comes out. If we could see it all along, then it wouldn't be near as impressive when it's finally finished. Maybe having a set of thumbnails to release WITH the final version instead of before it. Then we could see how it changed, but without spoiling the surprise beforehand.

This could be good and bad. On one hand you're able to see how the picture comes together, and see your process. But on the other you shouldn't be swayed by your members as they have different tastes, into which way you do things, essentially they are still your artwork, not an input of lots of other people.

Also I always like checking the site for new pictures, while having a thumbnail would slightly ruin this for me, as I would kind of see how you got there. I think it seems more impressive when you just add new pictures sort of out of the blue even though we know you are working on/rendering them almost non-stop.

I think the status thumbnail showing the progress of a piece is an awesome idea. I'm looking forward to it.

Great idea! It would be interesting to see how the images evolve as well as getting a sneak peak of what's to come.

I never give suggestions on your work, so maybe this wouldn't apply to me, but I'd really like to see the work evolving.

I like the thumbnail idea however I agree with NikB. Your work shouldn't be tainted by the comments and critique of others. I think it would be cool if you just put something up that reflects your mood or thoughts for that day.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87HwVJaeb3M&feature=related



Delete these messages after you get them please....

Hey Ryan, might want to ask this guy to give you a link back if he's going to use all your wallpapers for his YouTube videos.

Ignore the suggestions...



Simple as that.

I am one of those people who love to see something from the beginning to the end. I have a friend who does wood sculptures and it amazes me to see the work progress from a hunk of wood to a beautiful piece of art.

Please, do put the thumbnails on, it would be wonderful to see your work in progress...just ignore any suggestions..its your work, your style, noone can do it like you can.

Instead of having a thumbnail of the picture you're working on, how about having a thumbnail giving us hints on where you are getting your inspiration from for the next upcoming wallpaper? if that can't be done, I agree with many people and say pass on the thumbnail altogether.

I'm on the fence on the thumbnails. If it is done I'd think it would have to go on a different section on the website so that those who don't want to see it can't accidentally see it! Also if you do, don't allow suggestions. I like seeing your work, not others. Some suggestions on the finished works are just tweaks. I wouldn't want others having input in the early stages.



As to status updates...I think they are great. I don't use twitter, but I think that would be the best place for non-DB (more personal) updates. Facebook posts for more general updates!

I like the idea of you adding thumbnails of projects you're working on....with gentle reminders to us that it is, after all, your site, your creations, for us to enjoy or not as the spirit moves us :-). Do you ever do "private commissions", where someone asks you to design a particular thing - sort of like commisisoning an artist to do a painting?

I love and admire your work - even if some of the things you're working on sometimes don't totally speak to me - it's still cool to see what you come up with.

No, Ryan, I'd prefer you just presented us with the finished product. How many great works of art throughout history could have been ruined with "suggested improvements"?



Remember, you're the artist and I'm a life member because I enjoy seeing your work, not a hodge-podge of suggestions from all and sundry!

i think that would be cool to show off your projects as they evolve-yes

Why not trial the idea for your next new project and see how the general response goes?



There my be strong tendencies for people to try to interfere or influence the direction you are following.



Some will protest they have lost the surprise element and will not be happy. Others will love it.



The outside input resulting from the early partial preview may be helpful to your creative process. Or be a distraction.



Such an experiment may be worthwhile? At least then you can judge from the experience if the thumbnail idea should continue...

I hope you do some more MPGs, or the animated wallpapers. I really enjoy having them running. Of course, I realize I am in the minority, as I custom built my desktop to run the high end games and movies, thus having them run as Windows Dreamscenes.

IMHO, I don't think it would be a good idea to have a thumbnail or cropped piece of the current project, for one reason: it would kill the buzz of seeing your new work once completed. Think of it this way, when you were a kid, which would you rather have on Christmas morning: a totally wrapped present, with no idea of what it could be; or a present that had a small portion of it unwrapped?

No I like the surprise. besides don't let everyone else influence your artistic works in progress until you have a finished product. then take comments and make slight changes like you have been doing. dont want thumbnail. want the surprise.

I would rather be surprised at the end. On the other hand, it would be interesting to see these incremental shots AFTER you release a picture so we can see the process that went into making it. Think of it like the DVD special features... we don't get to see those before the movie comes out.

It sounds really neat... I'd really like to see how the project evolves and how it gets to the final, beautiful image that's posted.



I think it'd be fantastic!



If surprise is a must, make it a link on the side of the page or something to actually see the image...



...Or something. lol

This idea may seem like fun, but you're right about people complaining. You're going to get a LOT of people whining that they don't like the direction it's going in, and that may discourage you. I'd hate to see that happen personally. :( As nice as the idea is, I would rather choose to be surprised and see the finished or mostly finished product.

I saw the presents that I was going to get one Christmas year. That was the worst christmas morning ever. I knew exactly what I was going to get.

I enjoy going into work and checking DB to see if there is a new wallpaper that will bring me somewhere else besides the inside of my 3.5 walled box.

I don't like knowing what my presents are before I open them. So I think I'd rather wait for the finished pic.



Thanks for the offer though. :)

Love the idea Ryan. Smallish view of what is coming would be cool!

I like the waiting. I would love to track your progress on a given project but it would detract from the final product.

It's a good idea too show a bit of an evolutionary track of your work, but like Loren says, It would ruin the anticipation and surprise that comes with your final version.



I recommend doing that afterwards? Then we can appreciate what you created without any loss of surprise, but see what it takes to create what you've done over a couple week's time.

Nice idea though.

I like the idea of watching your creative process, but I suspect that I would miss The anticipation and thrill of the "grand unveiling." The thought of your art as a "communal effort" as subscribers make comments and suggestions is scary. You could present The process and the unveiling together. That would enhance the WOW factor.

I think it would be cool to see the evolution of a wallpaper, but I like the surprise. perhaps you could upload pictures of how you created it after you post the final image.

i like the anticipation of waiting for your new projects. and although suggestions are only that, suggestions--those which can be ignored--yet they may still influence.



i say you already give us a great view into your

creative inspiration" with your current little feed you provide.

I don't know if you do this or not, but I know many times with digital artists, they often manually (either with colored pencils or digitally in a paint program) make a free-hand sketch of their intended project.



If you do that type of "pre-work", I think it would be cool to see those. Then people could have an idea of what you were working on, yet not see specifics. It would be neat to see how your vision correlates with others' when the project is finally released.



If you don't do that sort of sketching, just ignore this comment!



Otherwise, I think I'd have to agree with Sam W and Walo below. I'm here to see your "vision", not the direction others may try and push you in.

Showing thumbnails about projects in process is like opening a can of worms,people will start suggesting right away, and for me I don't want to be spoiled by watching something before it's ready. It's like looking a your bride with the wedding drees on before the marriage. For me a no no.

I don't think that that would be a good idea, I love the joy of seeing a wallpaper when it is finished, as your own artwork. If you put up thumbnails people will tell you to change things before it is "finished" and it will no longer be a work of your art, more of a community piece. I love the way that it is now, and wouldn't want to change a thing.



My best,

Sam

What if you offered a thumbnail with no option to comment? I'd like to see what you were doing and you wouldn't have to worry about people changing the direction of your art.

I don't think you should post the thumbnails. I like waiting for the next wallpaper and then having it be something completely new that I have never seen before.



I like the moment of reveal.



Keep up the great work!

I'd love to see a preview of what you're working on

Would love to see previews, but people would be giving their input throughout, which would be a headache for you. I feel there's too much of that as it is, after the wallpaper is posted. And secondly, it ruins the surprise and the anticipation of the upcoming wallpaper, which we all look very much forward to, checking here practically every day to see if there's a new beauty waiting for us =)



Just my four cents.

Actually, I think the status thumbnail would be a cool idea. But definitely reserve the right to ignore all comments on works in progress. Taste in art is such an individual thing; you can't possibly please everyone. At the end of the day this is YOUR art. YOUR vision. And that's what has made this site a success.

Re: Thumbnail preview - I'm happy to read about your progress and see the final product. No need to show the steps along the way and get people worried or whiny about it. I enjoy the element of surprise in seeing the completed work.

Great book! I hope you enjoy it a lot. I just recently finished it myself. Maybe it'll inspire you to create something. There's a lot of great imagery in it.

If you really wanted to do a render from Westeros (I say The Wall or the Godswood with some creepy weirwoods) you could just leave that one in the free gallery.



Obviously wouldn't want to make a habit of that, but as a one time thing it could work.

hey Ryan do you know of any good 3d software that is beginner(ubernoob) friendly?

have you considered making google themes?

The personas for Niflheim is wrong, it currently is displaying Cosmogony.

what about the Vue contest? are you going for it?

Of course, it is a futile war to fight...but you should try to keep DB stuff off of high-profile sites like Desktop Nexus. I've seen big torrents of DB wallpapers...and you can't do much about those, but when they are hosted without the URL watermark on large websites, you should by all means issue a DMCA takedown notice.



http://www.desktopnexus.com/dmca/



Do what they ask on that page, and if they don't respond or take action within a week or so after you send an email, send a certified letter (hard copy takedown notice) to them.



You should make up a DMCA template so when other sites like this crop up, you can edit it up quickly and send it off.



Many sites will ignore electronic requests, but it almost always scares the crap out of them when you send a certified takedown letter.

My lifetime membership has been a great value, so it's nice to be able to give some back. I hope the software will help you keep adding to the great work that you do.

ErinKee;y noted on July 19, 2009 that one of Ryan's images was being offered without permission on http://www.desktopnexus.com/. He's right. Just a quick look through the "nature, forests" category yielded no less than eight of Ryan's images, most with the digitalblasphemy.com cropped off. I'm sure many others are available there as well, if I found that many so quickly. Why are so many of these Ryan ripoffs happening lately?

That will be really interesting to view! :) Thanks for adding that.



P.S. I hope you have read the "song of ice and fire" series by GRRM! It's fantastic!

Some books you might like...



Gates of Fire - a fictional first person account of the Battle of Thermopylae. Excellent, excellent book.



Lone Survivor - true account of the only survivor of Seal Team 10 on a mission in Afghanistan. Very moving.



Red October - by Tom Clancy. World War three told from several different viewpoints. My second-favorite Clancy book.



Without Remorse - by Tom Clancy. An excellent read; my favorite of all his books.



Red Phoenix - Second Korean war. Excellent military fiction.

Hi Ryan,

just wanted to let you know..



Maybe u can fix it some time ...





peter@trawinski.de

so ever since i got to be a member of your site i loved it, love your artwork and just the true moments that i get sucked into everytime a new piece you do comes out. but i have to let you know that my brother has just gotten a new computer and he didnt know what the rules are of copyrights and he took a couple of your pictures from my computer and edited them. he swears up and down he hasnt posted them online as his own. but if you see any or hear of any that have been edited, email me and ill be sure he removes them. sorry that he did that.

I like this idea! I've always been curious about what inspires your artworks :D

Hey, I was wandering on another site and I ran across your glowing mushroom picture. Did you know this was there? http://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/9209/

Just wanted to check.

If you're thinking of a new book, I recommend something by Neal Stephenson. I just read his Cryptonomicon, and earlier enjoyed The Diamond Age. He's sort of sci-fi, with his focus on big ideas -- society, education, development, etc. He seems to know something about everything, and has a fantastic way to put it together into engaging narrative.

So now we see what its like to be your own boss. Wish I could do it! LOL FYI Sanderson was chose to complete Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Ive read that complete series but none of Sanderson. Guess I need to raid a bookstore soon. As for original images from copywrited material, I would think it ok because you are creating something new. I could be wrong though. Keep up the great work! Oh, I tried Peggle. Loved it.

since i seen ure a martin fan...maybe u could try an oldschool render from a song of ice and fire...maybe one of the wall or like the kingsgate

You absolutely should! Why would anyone care if you made a few bucks by recommending a book on your web site??

I really like that you are into gaming as well as making awesome wallpapers. I also enjoy that you let us know that you are human, you make mistakes and you let us know a little more about yourself. The force unleashed is a pretty cool game, played it myself a couple months back.

I'm cool about book linking to Amazon but I understand that there are some people who may see it as advertising(I don't), so maybe it's better to "let sleeping dogs lie". I'm more of an e-book kind of guy as I don't have room for physical books on my place. I really need to read something to pass my free time so any recommendations for somebody who haven't read any books in years are welcome.



On a side note I'm really hooked to Peggle, I think I got "Peggle's syndrome" lol.

Does kindle feature any of those books?

Ryan,

Have you read the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson? I'm about 2/3 the way through the first book and I'm enjoying it immensely. Seeing as you seem to be in-between books at the moment I thought I'd recommend it. Brandon Sanderson is the author that was asked to finish the Wheel of Time series when Robert Jordan passed away.

I must say I love the ryanbliss.com site. One little thing I like is the site header background. I think it was the thing that db needed when you were flirting with the image background idea, it even makes the site look professional. Also the site is very informative. About your status box, now I have an excuse to look for books and iPhone games(to my mind: "i did it because Ryan did it too lol") wow I even realize I haven't read any books in almost 10 years!. I will definitively checkout your status for getting ideas for book readings. Take care.

This is perfect, now we don't have to wonder what you are doing or if you are away or not.



p.s. I'm hoping for a nice fractal or abstract next, it's been a while since we've had one :)

I think it's a great idea. I welcome it and it's interesting to get a little more insight to what you do with your time when you aren't making wallpapers and where the inspiration comes from. Many artists most likely wouldn't share as much as you have or be as open. I like it though, it helps us connect with you on another level. I will definitely check out your new self-titled website!