Chimpfolio
Chimpfolio Help

  • Introduction
    • About
      • Introduction
      • Change Log
    • License
    • Contribute
  • Getting Started
    • Requirements
    • Thumbs\Images
      • Creating Thumbs\Images
      • Defining Paths
    • Text Based Content
      • Intro
      • Intro Image
      • Bio
      • Bio Image
      • Statement
      • Contact
      • Keywords
      • Page Description
    • Header\Subheader\Footer
      • Header
      • Header Image
      • Subheader
      • Footer
    • Choosing Portfolio Images
      • Selecting
      • Enable\Disable
      • Image Info
    • Finalizing Portfolio
      • Generating Preview
      • Choosing Styles
      • Saving
      • The Final Product
      • Uploading To Web
    • HTML Tags Reference
  • Tips & Suggestions
    • Using Chimpfolio
    • Your Portfolio
    • The Internet
    • Using Apefly With Chimpfolio

About

v1.0
Apethumb © 2007
Chimpfolio Homepage


Introduction

It wasn't long ago that an artist's portfolio consisted of two things... the artist's studio... and the actual artwork. Maybe a self initiated showing... "Hey, come to my show and see what I'm capable of... there will be wine and cheese." Then, suddenly, the artist became isolated by modern invention, photographs to slides, to a sleek leather carrying case. Appointments with gallery owners and art agents, and artists could simply carry the foundation of their life's work with them. That's all well and good, slides are a tradition now... but they are fragile and expensive, especially if a portfolio changes as much as the artist does.

The future is now. Art portfolios are slowly making a quite transition to digital media and the slide is becoming a thing of the past. It's a natural progression. What seems more enticing, the constant construct of an unchanging material... or the free to form and reform matter of pixels and digital files? I suppose there are plenty of traditional artists who are no less than disgusted by the opportunity to digitize their work. But, as the transition quietly overcomes the traditional, we could be left with no other choice but to follow the lead, as we have done before.

In just the past few years I have seen a steady incline in juried exhibitions and galleries opting for portfolios to be presented on CD-R (compact disc recordable.) And, the World Wide Web has bloomed into a creative outlet for artists, not just to express, but also to do business or find business. In my opinion, this is not a fad that will soon fade into the void of cyberspace. It is an opportunity. It is a simplified process. Sure, to some it would be easier to take pictures of their artwork and have someone else develop the slides. Then, they still find it simple to arrange a presentation, set up appointments, and travel for meetings. Digital portfolios will take some time to get use to and ultimately find comfort in, but eventually it could prove to be more efficient... not simple, just efficient.

This modern digital renaissance is why I decided to develop Chimpfolio. To those who know nothing about the inner workings of computer language and code, digital media is far from efficient. This is understandable. I too was overwhelmed when first introduced to the idea of computers and the internet, but now it is common language. Though common to myself, I have not forgotten the struggles of the beginning. I have tried and feel that I have succeeded in creating a simple program that will hopefully do a few things for anyone who decides to venture into the world of digital presentation. Obviously, I want the process of creating the portfolio to be simple and the product to be acceptable and functional. I hope that, with the interest in digital presentations and this program, others will become intrigued by the components and decide to learn for themselves the opportunities available through such things as the internet, computer languages, and the prospect of an art/world relationship. Lastly, I want to be a contributor to what I believe will be the most basic foundation of the future of art presentation.

This help file is meant to be... well, helpful. But, I would say it is 20% instructions on how to use the program (it's just that simple) and 80% advice/suggestions on how to approach the process and presentation of your portfolio.

The portfolio you create will be cross-browser compatible and valid XHTML/CSS. What does this mean? It means your pages will be viewable in all popular browsers (only tested on IE, Opera, Firefox, and Netscape.) Your portfolio will be well formed, which means your pages will acceptably degrade in older browsers. In addition, there is no use of Javascript, Php, or Includes to complicate matters.


Change Log

  • 5-16-07 v1.0 released
  • 5-12-07 v0.9 released for Beta testing (my extensive testing proves to be stable and safe... waiting for user feedback)
  • 2-17-07 Began work on Apefly, which lead to the development of Chimpfolio.

License

Chimpfolio Free License Agreement

END-USER LICENSE AGREEMENT FOR FREEWARE

Except where otherwise noted, all of the documentation and software included in the Chimpfolio package is copyrighted by ApeApps (Apethumb Software - Apethumb.com).

COMPACT :

The owner of this software reserves all rights granted by copyright. However, the owner grants the following rights to users:

  • 1) The right to make personal copies of the software.
  • 2) The right to distribute the software for free (at no cost) to other users.

No further rights are granted or should be assumed. This includes, but is not limited to, the right to create derivative works.

EXTENDED :

IMPORTANT - READ CAREFULLY: As used in this Agreement, "Apethumb" shall mean ApeApps (Apethumb Software - Apethumb.com). This License Agreement is a legal agreement between you (either an individual or a single entity) and Apethumb for the Chimpfolio software product identified above, which may include associated software components, media, printed materials, and "online" or electronic documentation ("Software"). By installing, copying, or otherwise using the Software, you agree to be bound by the terms of this Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms of this Agreement, do not install or use the Software.

FREEWARE LICENSE

This Software is being distributed as Freeware. It may be freely used, copied and distributed as long as it is not sold, and all original files are included, including this license. You are NOT allowed to make a charge for distributing this Software (either for profit or merely to recover your media and distribution costs) whether as a stand-alone product, or as part of a compilation or anthology, without explicit prior written permission. By using this Software, you agree to these terms and the terms of the Disclaimer below:

DISCLAIMER

This Software and any support from Apethumb are provided "AS IS" and without warranty, express or implied. Apethumb specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose. In no event will Apethumb be liable for any damages, including but not limited to any lost profits, lost savings or any incidental or consequential damages, whether resulting from impaired or lost data, software or computer failure or any other cause, or for any other claim by the user or for any third party claim.

ANY AND ALL CHIMPFOLIO LINKS AND/OR COPYRIGHT NOTICES SHALL STAY INTACT. THIS INCLUDES SOURCE CODE GENERATED BY CHIMPFOLIO AS WELL AS ANY VISIBLE COMPONENTS EMBEDDED WITHIN THE USERS END PRODUCT.

5-12-07
Chimpfolio v1.0
Apethumb © 2007
http://www.apethumb.com
apethumb[[at]]gmail.com
triad.art[[at]]gmail.com

Contribute

There are two ways you can contribute to Chimpfolio.

  • If you are a coder and know your way around a Style Sheet, you can create your own Chimpfolio layout. Simply use Chimpfolio to generate a portfolio and edit the CSS file included with your portfolio. When you are finished, email me (apethumb[[at]]gmail.com... or... triad.art[[at]]gmail.com) the finished CSS file with your name and a link to your homepage. If I like your design, I will include it in the next release of Chimpfolio and on the Apethumb.com website, along with a link to your homepage. Note: When editing the CSS file make sure to not add any additional selectors. All Chimpfolio layouts are based off the same markup. Only the CSS file changes.
  • If you are an artist and have used Chimpfolio to create your portfolio, email me (address above) your name and a link to your portfolio. I will add a link to your page on Apethumb (kind of makes having the Chimpfolio logo on your page worth it if I recognize your website.)

Requirements

Requirements, or things you will need, before creating your portfolio.

  • Windows OS (Chimpfolio has only been tested on XP but should work on Vista down to Win98)
  • Internet Explorer (Chimpfolio uses an embedded IE window for previewing your portfolio)
  • A basic understanding of how to navigate your computers folders and files
  • A program to create thumbnails
  • A program to transfer your files to the internet (FTP)
  • A web host and web space
  • Images of your artwork
  • Thumbnails of those images
  • Your artist statement
  • Your biography
  • An introduction to include on your Intro page
  • Contact information
  • Around 30 minutes to sit down and use Chimpfolio (15 minutes reading this help file... 15 minutes creating your portfolio)

Thumbs & Images

Creating Thumbs\Images

The very first thing you need to do before using Chimpfolio is to have your images and thumbnails ready to go. There are plenty of freeware programs out there that will create thumbs for you... just take your pick. The full size images should be between 500 and 800 pixels (max, either width or height) and your thumbs will work best with Chimpfolio layouts at a max of 100 pixels but no smaller than 75.

When you first open Chimpfolio you will be asked to define the paths to both your images and thumbs directories. To make things easier I would suggest doing the following before opening Chimpfolio ...

1. Create a folder on your desktop and name it something like "portfolio images" or "my portfolio". Inside that folder create two more folders named "images" and "thumbs".

2. Take pictures of your art.... scan your art... do whatever you want to acquire the images. After you have your pictures, use your favorite image editor to adjust any color differences. Resize the images to fit the 500-800 max size and save all your images in the folder named "images". Make sure to name your images appropriately. Obviously the name of the piece would be your first choice, but if you have triptychs or 3-d works that require more than one image you will need to keep things organized. I would suggest attaching a numbered or lettered prefix to all images in the order you would like them to be viewed.

3. Open your favorite image editor or thumbnail creator and resize all the images to the 75-100 max size and save them to the other folder named "thumbs". Important!!! Do not change the names of the thumbnails! Chimpfolio works with the association of names. If you have an image in the images folder named "Self Portrait" then you should also have a thumbnail in the thumbs folder named "Self Portrait". If you add any additional suffixes or prefixes to your thumbs, Chimpfolio will not recognize the needed association. Some thumbnail creators will give you the option to add a prefix or suffix to the image names. Simply disable this feature and be sure you are saving all your thumbs in the thumbs folder, otherwise, the original images will be overridden. It's always a good idea to have more than one backup of your images.


Defining Paths

After all your images are resized proceed to open Chimpfolio. It is important to note that Chimpfolio does not currently have a save as feature. What does this mean? It means you have to start and finish your portfolio in one session. Simply put, make sure you are ready to create your portfolio. All ready? Open Chimpfolio. The first thing you will see is a dialog box asking you to define the full size images directory. Browse to the images folder you created, select it and choose OK. Immediately following, another dialog box will appear asking you to define the thumbs directory. If you have the images and thumbs folders in the same directory you should already see that the thumbs folder has been found for you. Select the thumbs folder and choose OK. The last step in the process is to select the images you want included in your portfolio. After you have defined the images and thumbs path another dialog box will open into the images folder. Select the images you want and choose OPEN. Note: If you select your images one by one using the ctrl key, the order of your images may not reflect the order in which you choose. I suggest clicking inside the dialog box, dragging and expanding the selection box until all images are selected. Later, if you decide you don't want an image included, you will have the option to disable it. See Choosing Portfolio Images for more info on selecting, disabling, and enabling.

Now that Chimp knows where to find your artwork, you are ready to move on and fill in your Text Based Content


Text Based Content

When you first open Chimpfolio and start adding your Intro, Bio, etc. there will be preformatted headers for each section (html tags included.) You can remove these headers if you like, they are simply there to get you started and to remind you that Html tags can be included. If you have a basic understanding of Html you can format your text. If you don't understand Html, that's OK. Chimpfolio is set up to allow you to enter raw information without needing to worry about the presentation. Note: While entering text, if you hit enter (carriage return) to go to the next line, your resulting text will not be formatted with a new line. You will need to include a simple Html tag like <br />. There is a simple Html reference here to assist you in formatting your text.

Intro

Your intro is not the most important element of your portfolio. Keep in mind, though, it is the first thing people see when visiting your site (think of it as your cover letter.) Gallery owners and Agents will always request a cover letter stating the reason for your inquiry for their services. Considering you are not specifying a particular organization or individual you should keep your intro short and to the point. Things to consider when writing your intro.

Assuming you have your Bio and Statement already written; you should pick a few key elements from both and include them in your intro. Such as, if you have representation or are currently seeking representation, how long you have been showing, maybe mention a recent award or commission, or your plans for the future. These are things you probably would not consider when writing a real pulp and pen cover letter, but again, you are not introducing a reason to inquiry... you are introducing yourself as an artist.


Intro Image

You have the option to include an image on your intro page. To do this, select browse next to the Header Image input field. This image could be anything from a picture of yourself to your favorite piece. There is the possibility that the image might draw a potential client further into the site more than the words. With this, I would suggest the image you choose be of a particular piece of artwork that best represents your current style (save the picture of yourself for the Bio page.)


Bio

Even though this is called your Bio, it really should not be your life story. Instead, it should focus on your progression, whether this involves your changing styles or more importantly your exhibition history, significant projects and commissions. It is the biography of your artistic life. It is entirely up to you on how to format your Bio, but keep in mind your history as an artist has no limits. If you have done free work for a family member... include it in your Bio. After all, who's to say you would have gotten to where you are today if it were not for that 8x12 sketch you did of your grandma's cat. You have an artistic license, which means you also have an artistic proclamation license. This simply means that you can say you were commissioned to do a portrait... period... no questions asked.


Bio Image

Just like the intro page you have the option to include an image on your bio page. To do this, select browse next to the Bio Image input field. Again, this image could be anything you like, but preferably should be a picture of yourself. If you already have gallery representation, it could be an image taken from your last showing. An image from any exhibition would do just fine. An image of you working would be suitable. If you have included an image of yourself on the intro page then I would suggest not including an image of yourself on the bio page. Same applies to the image of art... if it's on the intro page... leave it off the bio page.


Statement

The artistic statement. To many, this is the most difficult element of trying to sell ones self. At the same time, it can be the most enlightening. There are many ways of approaching the statement, both formally and creatively. No matter what you read about how to write your statement, no matter how many different opinions you consider, it all comes down to one essential question... why am I an artist? It seems intimidating and maybe even unnecessary considering your art is suppose to speak for you. But, the statement cannot be escaped. It is required in all levels of artistic achievement. If you have a statement already and feel that it represents your work and yourself as an artist... great. I would still suggest that even the most rock solid statement be evaluated and even rewritten every once and a while. After all, your perception of art changes, your perception of your art changes, and the perception of your reason for being an artist changes. Below are a few questions to ask yourself when writing your statement. The direct and instant answers to these questions should not be included in your statement, rather the state of mind you achieve while considering these questions.


Who are my favorite artists or artistic influences?
What periods of art seem unforgettable to me?
When I show my work, do I feel proud or accomplished?
When I am criticized, do I usually fight for a better opinion or do I listen?
While I am working, what am I surprised to find myself thinking about?
When I am done working, am I left thinking about the contrast, the design, or the methods?
Where do I see myself in 5 years?
Where would I like to be in 5 years?
Why does art... all art... make me think the way I do?

I know these questions may seem a little sensational, even unnecessary. But the intention is to wake the part of your mind that doesn't usually see the reason you paint, sculpt, whatever it is you do. Artistic statements are like one-sided conversations. You speak... someone listens. If you sound passionate enough, the other person will simply listen and ask questions when you are finished. If you're not sure... the other person will directly state his or her own opinions while never considering what you've been stumbling over. In short, your artistic statement should be bold, definitive, and when someone is finished reading it they should only want to ask questions.


Contact

Your contact information is essential when creating your portfolio. You could easily slide by with an email address these days but having a safety net is always a good idea. Email doesn't always work. The information you include on the contacts page is at your discretion. If you are comfortable posting your phone number, email, and home address... then you should. If you have gallery representation, include their contact information as well.

SPAM: It is highly unlikely that you would receive spam in your real mail box by posting your address on the internet, but anything's possible. When it comes to email addresses, however, count on it. You can try the simple little tricks like me[at]gmail.com or meREMOVEME@gmail.com, but, in the end there will always be some extremely intelligent and annoying robot that has the ability to read and decipher our measly human ideas of deception. At this time, Chimpfolio does not offer any alternatives to straight posting your email address (planned for future releases.) The reason for this is simple; Chimpfolio was designed to be simple… simple to understand and simple to use. This includes any and all content generated by Chimpfolio. If I were to start throwing around things like email forms and the letters PHP, people might get intimidated and end up not knowing what to do or even skip using Chimpfolio all together. My suggestion is to include your email address (using any clever tricks you know) and phone number on the contacts page with a small explanation stating that "once you have contacted me through the email or phone provided I would be happy to tell you where, in the world, I live." If you are truly worried about spam, you will need to wait for future Chimpfolio releases to include email obfuscation or you will have to find someone to create a secure email form for you. If you know a thing or two about web development then this should not be a problem for you.


Keywords

It's questionable these days if keywords have any effect at all on your standings in popular search engines. Some would say "absolutely they do," while others say "don't waist your time." I am somewhere in between. I suppose I have just been so accustomed to using them that it's hard to let them go. The key here, for those who don't know, is to think like someone else. Think about how others might search the internet. After you have done that, go ahead and evaluate your own way of searching. When you've completely covered the vast spectrum of keyword searches, make them your own. Don't forget, for those who don't know, word frequency is important. If your intro page uses the word abstract 20 times, include it in your keywords with a few variations (abstract, abstract art, abstract painting, etc.) Don't over use a keyword. There are many different opinions on this, but I would suggest not using the same word more than 10 times, including usage in phrases. As far as format goes, you can separate each word or phrase by a comma and a space. I have read, on occasion, that removing the commas will make it easier for the search engines to make associations with keywords and document text. I honestly don't know if this is true... it's up to you to decide. Search Google, I'm sure you'll be overwhelmed with the proper way to include keywords... along with just as many improper ways.

When choosing keywords there a few thing to keep in mind. Words like "my", "the", and "of" will have no effect. Keep your keywords and phrases unique. If you are a St. Louis artist then St. Louis artist, Saint Louis artist, St. Louis art, Saint Louis art, would all be effective. Common art related words, by themselves, would probably not have any results (art, artist, artwork, and portfolio.) This is why short phrases (no longer than four words) should be used. Considering you are going to get more traffic to your site through word of mouth or real world contacts, it's possible that others may not find you through search engines. You will, most likely, receive a majority of your traffic from including your web address on business cards or exhibition flyers. Lastly, keywords are only as relative as the content on your pages. The intro, bio, and statement pages will prove to be very effective if keywords are chosen from within the text of your pages. Descriptions and titles of artwork could be just as effective.

When you first open Chimpfolio there are suggested keywords already included in the keywords box. You can keep these, add to them, take from them, change them, and do what ever you please with them. They are simple suggestions.


Page Description

Aside from keywords and content the page description is another gateway to search results. More importantly, it is occasionally used as the text that displays when someone searches and finds your page through search engines. Keep it simple but descriptive. One sentence is fine... two sentences is acceptable... three might be pushing it. This, like keywords, is debatable as far as effectiveness. Example: "Online portfolio of St. Louis artist Triad, offers a select group of paintings, drawings, and photographs." This is a good description because it's short and has the necessary elements to allow a search result to be as informative as it can be in one sentence; the artist's name, the area in which the artist works and the work being presented. Again, word frequency is important. If you are known for being an abstract artist and the word abstract occurs numerous times throughout your site, then make sure to include it in your page description. Example: "Online portfolio of St. Louis artist Triad, offers a select group of abstract art. Triad paintings, drawings, and photographs."


Header\Subheader\Footer

Header

The header will be included in every page. It will be visible, usually at the top of the page as well as in the title bar of the browser. It is also used in the Meta information for title (along with the subheader). Your header could be anything; Pumpkinhead, Aartaholic, or I love art. Remember, you are not trying to make a statement with such vanity. You are presenting your art and your work. Therefore, your header/title should reflect this. Examples: Triad's Portfolio, Triad's eFolio, or, simply Triad (you still have a subheader.)


Header Image

Just like the intro and bio pages you have the option to include an image in the header of every page. To do this, select browse next to the Header Image input field. This is slightly different from the intro and bio pages because its intent is actually more of a design element than a visually informative element. However, you are still creating a portfolio with a simple layout, not a website with an extravagant design. So, I would suggest keeping the header simple. I chose to include the option to help satisfy a bit of your creative needs. If that's not enough, you can always use Apefly to customize your CSS (for advanced user).


Subheader

The subheader, like the header, will be visible on every page as well as in the Meta information for title. It will not be included in the title bar. In reference to the header information above, you should choose something that accompanies the header. Examples: If the header is Triad's Portfolio, the subheader could be St. Louis Artist, or paintings, drawings, and photographs. If the header is simply your name, the subheader could read Online Portfolio.


Footer

The footer should include, at least, your copyright notice or something similar (All rights reserved, etc.) The footer will always include the Chimpfolio logo. This is the only requirement for using Chimpfolio to create your portfolio. It must stay intact to abide by Chimpfolio's license. The footer input box is larger than the header and subheader input boxes. This is simply to give you some space to add other links or elements without those elements being too much of a distraction to your content. Remember, your portfolio will not be considered for any design or content awards. Its purpose is to present... not express. If you want an art site that makes a statement you'll have to make a name for yourself first. Then you can throw Chimpfolio out the window and hire a real webmaster.


Choosing Portfolio Images

Selecting Images

Selecting images to include in your portfolio has been covered in the section Thumbs/Images. Below is a simple step by step process to defining image paths, enabling/disabling the images, and setting the image information in Chimpfolio.

1. Browse for your directory of full size images.

2. Browse for your directory of thumbs (should be in the same directory as your images folder.)

3. Choose images to include in your portfolio.


Enable\Disable

4. Enable or disable images (by default, all images are initaly enabled.)


Image Information

5. Fill in the Title, Medium, Size, and Date of your image.

6. Fill in the additional information.

7. Navigate to the next image and repeat steps 4, 5, and 6.

After all images have the appropriate information filled in, you are ready to finalize your portfolio by choosing your layout and previewing it in the internal browser.


Finalizing Portfolio

Generating Preview

Once all the hard work is done on your part, it's time to let Chimpfolio take over. Generating is simple and fast. Simply choose the generate button in the upper left hand corner and your completed web site will be displayed in the internal browser. Before you decide to make any changes or additions you can try out the different styles to see if one works better than the other.


Choosing Styles

Chimpfolio offers six different layouts from which to choose. Simply select from the dropdown box and choose the generate button. Presto! A new layout.


Saving

Once you have finally decided on your layout and all your information is correct you can save your portfolio. A few things to note before saving.

Make sure all of your information is correct. Double-check your spelling. Double-check that all image information is correct and that the image it references is correct. If you dove head first into Chimpfolio without having all your information saved as text files or word documents, you should copy all your information to another file (having all your info already written and saved before starting Chimpfolio is a good idea.) Once you are absolutely sure that your portfolio is near perfect... choose the save button.

You will be prompted to choose a location to save your portfolio. Important note: Your portfolio will be saved in a folder named Portfolio along with the date and time. This is to prevent from overriding any copies that may exist. If, by chance, the folder already exists, Chimpfolio will ask to override the folder (there is a slim chance the folder already exists.) After you have chosen the save location and the save dialog box closes, minimize Chimpfolio and navigate to the folder. Open the portfolio folder and choose the index.html file. Your default browser will open with your completed portfolio. Make sure every thing works properly before closing Chimpfolio. Once you close Chimpfolio, all your information will be removed from Chimpfolio (future releases will include a save as option.)


The Final Product

When all is finished and you have closed Chimpfolio you should have a folder named Portfolio(date)(time). Below is a list of all files that should be inside that folder.

  • A folder named images with all of your images
  • A folder named thumbs with all of your thumbs (thumbs having the exact same name as images)
  • A CSS file to accompany your chosen style
  • 5 base Html files (bio.html, contact.html, index.html, portfolio.html, and statement.html)
  • Html files to accompany your images (if you have 20 images, there should be 20 Html files)
  • Image files, if you chose to include an intro, bio, or header image.
  • An image named cflogo.png (Chimpfolio logo linked to the Chimpfolio page... it is required that you keep this intact)


Uploading To Web

Currently, Chimpfolio (v1.0) does not have a FTP option. You will need your own FTP program to upload your portfolio to the internet. There a many freeware FTP programs to choose from (just search Google "freeware ftp".) If you don't already have a web host there are a few reliable hosts that offer free space with no ads. This is important if you choose not to pay for hosting. You do not want your site cluttered with other links to other web pages that you don't approve of or that don't having anything to do with art in general. Note: Google Adsense is a terrible idea for an online art portfolio.


HTML Tag Reference

Paragraph


<p></p>

<p>This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags.</p>

This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags. This is a paragraph. The first line will be indented and there will be space above and below the text between the paragraph tags.


Bold Text


<b></b>

<b>This text will be bold... </b>but not this text.

This text will be bold... but not this text.

Italic Text


<i></i>

<i>This text will be italic... </i>but not this text.

This text will be italic... but not this text.

Underlined Text


<u></u>

<u>This text will be underlined... </u>but not this text.

This text will be underlined... but not this text.

Subscript


<sub></sub>

This is normal text <sub>This text is subscript</sub>

This is normal text This text is subscript


Superscript


<sup></sup>

This is normal text <sup>This text is superscript</sup>

This is normal text This text is subscript


Horizontal Line (Horizontal Rule)


<hr />

<hr />



New Line (Line Break)


<br />

One line<br />Two line<br />Three line


One line
Two line
Three line


Lists


<ul><li></li></ul>


<ul>
<li>List item 1</li>
<li>List item 2</li>
<li>List item 3</li>
</ul>

  • List item 1
  • List item 2
  • List item 3


Link


<a href="" title=""></a>

<a href="help.html" title="help">Help File</a>

Help File


Image


<img src="" alt="" />

<img src="images/logo.bmp" alt="Chimpfolio" />

Chimpfolio


Headers


<h1></h1>

<h1>Header Level 1</h1>

Header Level 1



<h2></h2>

<h2>Header Level 2</h2>

Header Level 2



<h3></h3>

<h3>Header Level 3</h3>

Header Level 3



<h4></h4>

<h4>Header Level 4</h4>

Header Level 4



<h5></h5>

<h5>Header Level 5</h5>

Header Level 5


<h6></h6>

<h6>Header Level 6</h6>

Header Level 6


Tips: Using Chimpfolio

Assuming you have read the help file to this point, you know I have already given plenty of suggestions. This space is reserved for a few of the more important suggestions concerning the use of Chimpfolio.

1. Be Ready

I can't say it enough. Be ready! Besides making the process of creating your portfolio easier, having all your information organized and saved in Word or Text files is just plain smart. Information like statements and bios take time to create. I would hate to think you started Chimpfolio without being prepared and saved the statement for last, only to have something go wrong while you were typing it out in Chimpfolio. If you have all your information ready to go, images, thumbs, titles, sizes, descriptions, etc. it should only take around 15-20 minutes to create your entire portfolio. Before developing Chimpfolio, I have spent up to two months obsessing over site design and presentation before realizing just how unorganized I really was.


2. Embrace The Prompts

When you first start Chimpfolio, don't choose to cancel your folder selection. Go through the simple process of defining the image paths and selecting your images before doing anything. Even though I have taken precautions to warn you when things are not defined, I am sure you would appreciate the ability to focus on the project rather than be confused by an unwanted prompt stating "things are missing."


3. Accept Simplicity

If you have coded web pages before you know that what you see in the browser isn't always as simple as it seems. Some of the cleanest and most straightforward layouts could have miles of code. But, some complex layouts could be so simple; one might wonder where the hidden code is. Chimpfolio was designed to be simple. When looking at a button, input field, or even the finished product, don't question if it's that simple. It should be simple to understand. If, for some reason, it doesn't seem simple I would suggest making a couple of fake portfolios. I promise after a couple of times Chimpfolio will make you want to create portfolios for your dog... just for fun.


Tips: Your Portfolio

Below are a few important suggestions concerning the development and presentation of your portfolio.

1. Choosing Your Art

Essentially, there are two ways (according to the inside) to decide which art to include in your portfolio to represent you as an artist. You can choose your current style, or, you can choose works showing your progression over the years. Both, in my opinion, are terrible ideas. This is where I would get booted off the stage at a Portfolio Creation Conference. I say choose what you like. Why is this surprising? I have been told and have read in many, many places, that an artist can't choose what they think is worth showing. Maybe because people don't believe in themselves... I don't know. I say, if you like it... put it in your portfolio. If you start thinking about defining yourself by showing others just your current work, or, a selection of work that shows your progression, I believe you are denying yourself the most important part of the selection process... satisfaction in knowing that you have the ability to be slightly interested in your own art.


2. 20?...25?

How many pieces should you include in your portfolio? When referring to individuals who request your portfolio, that's simple… they always tell you how many. But, when you're developing your own portfolio for no specific individual or organization, you have to determine when enough is enough. I believe this is a sister concept to Choosing Your Art (above), in that it has been defined by others how many pieces you should include. Somewhere, we have to know as the artist, what is going to make people want to see more of our art. That's the key. You are creating a portfolio, so that they will ask for more. You could easily have a portfolio of two outstanding pieces of artwork that might rival the full on 20-25 pieces. So, like Choosing Your Art... satisfaction in knowing (believing) that what you choose is enough... will probably be enough. If my philosophy doesn't seem too rational... how many pieces should you include in your portfolio... 20-25.


3. I Hate Pixels

So, you've taken pictures of your art. You've put them on your computer. And that... blue painting... is slightly... green. Yes it's annoying, but it's also unavoidable. Remember when slides came out too dark or the colors where a little off. That was pretty bad... right? You should love the pixel, because, unlike slides, you can fix the pixel. Ok, so you can't make it perfect but you should be happier with the ability to correct your images using the computer. Don't worry; you're not cheating the creative process by fixing a representation (as long as you don't add anything.) I suggest using your favorite image editor to correct your images before creating your portfolio.


Tips: The Internet

Below are a few important suggestions concerning the current Art Market on the Internet (exposure and communities).

1. Real World Portals

Besides internet marketing, the most effective way to get your portfolio known is to talk about it. Put your web address on everything. Checks, business cards, Christmas cards, bathroom stalls... nothing is without an effect. If you are currently showing or have recently been accepted to participate in a juried art exhibition, distribute flyers with an image of your work and your web address. This will prove to be an effective way to gain exposure. Simply telling people about your portfolio could lead to a string of comments that might reach a buyer, dealer, or gallery owner. If you make something the most important thing in your real world, and it has ties with the internet, you will have success on the internet. After all, it is the World Wide Web COMmunity.


2. Speaking Of Communities

There are all kinds of art communities on the internet that allow you to become a member and post your images, bio, and statement as well as participate in community projects. The secret to these communities, if you have a web page, is exposing your web address. Most art communities have forums that allow you to include a signature in your posts. If you include your web address, not only will people be able to find your portfolio and spread the good word, but some search engines will find your address through the high status of the art community. The focus in an art community, however, is not to take advantage of the system; it is to commune. Talk about art and artists. Who knows, you might be talking to an agent or gallery owner.


3. Too Many Memberships

Though it is a relatively good idea to be apart of many online art communities, becoming a member of more than one or two free portfolio sites will eventually be difficult to manage. Portfolio sites? There are many communities that serve the sole purpose of offering an artist space on the internet to show their work. This is a good idea if your intention is to stay dedicated to one or two such portfolio sites. If you have five portfolios on the internet in five different locations, chances are you won't want to manage all of them with the same outcome. Having too many free listings could even hurt your exposure. Scenario: A gallery owner decides to search Google for fresh new talent. Your name comes up within the first page, but it's to the one portfolio site you forgot about and it has all your old work. The gallery owner still checks it out but if your name comes up again in Google, they will have already seen what they think you have to offer. In closing, it's a good idea to have one or two memberships updated frequently with your current work and contact information.


Tips: Using Apefly With Chimpfolio

Below are a few important suggestions on using Apefly to help manage your portfolio.

1. Customize The Look Of Your Portfolio

This is for advanced users as it requires knowledge of CSS. Reading the Apefly docs will help you understand how Chimpfolio projects can be customized using Apefly. Basically, it's no different from opening the CSS file in your favorite html editor. But, the real difference is in the file association and internal preview. You can open your portfolio CSS in Apefly, customize it, and directly preview the results with an associated Html file. In addition, after you have customized your CSS file, you can copy it to the CSS folder in Chimpfolio, which will give you one more style option for any future Chimpfolio projects.


2. Change The Menu

Apefly gives you the ability to change the menu in any document created using Apefly or Chimpfolio. Simply read the Apefly docs to learn how this is done. What's the benefit? Chimpfolio strictly creates the 5 base files of bio.html, contact.html, index.html, portfolio.html, and statement.html. In addition to those, depending on how many images are in your portfolio, there will be Html files for each image. If the need arises to add or remove items from your portfolio menu, it would be a daunting task to do this one document at a time (unless you already have a "search and replace" program.) The difference between Apefly's "search and replace" is it already knows what to look for, it simply needs you to decide what to change.


3. Edit The Content

You may also use Apefly to edit the content of your portfolio. This might come in handy if you decide to change an image description or if you later found typos or simply want to change the form of the Html. Again, reading the Apefly docs will give you a better idea of what is possible. Basically, editing the content works like Changing The Menus, in that Apefly knows what to look for when you specify a particular document and it knows where to put it once you're done editing. Though there will be visible Html tags, Apefly will not open the head of the document, or, the header, subheader, and menu within the body... just the content down to the footer. This alleviates some of the confusion to those who are not code savvy.