Are you sure?
+++++++++++++++++++++
Well, although it will be very difficult to only point out negative stuff seeing as there is so much great stuff packed in them, i will try
Also i know your looking for things that probably pertain to the actual viewing of the tutorials themselves, however before i comment on that, i wanted to point out some other things that are noteworthy and still related to the topic. Here are the things that catch my eye, not saying they should be changed, just that its things that i have trouble with.
1. Online Tutorials - General
On the GAP website you have tons of great tutorials. However when attempting to find a past tutorial once viewed or a particular tutorial topic such as landscapes. I find it difficult as you have so many categories but they appear to be just jumbled on the page no real logical order to them. See image for example, Or
click here for larger view.
Speaking personally here, for me, it would be easier to locate, view and return if they were somehow better organized on the page. I am not speaking of the actual listing of the tutorials, as they are fine. I am only speaking of the tutorial categories such as Discovering Vue, Epic Landscapes etc.
2. DVD Tutorials - Downloading
I like how you give people the choices of how they want to download a particular tutorial set once purchased. One large file or broken into parts etc. However what i am not crazy about is that all the different choices are listed all at once. This makes it difficult to find the particular file you want to download as you have to look at each one to determine if its the next file you want. As you can imagine, after purchasing many items not just tutorials, a members download section is filled with an overwhelming amount of items. Many for the same product just in a different format as i explained previously. Would be great, again, if it was somehow better organized to let the user make his choice from say a drop down box and then list only the files matching his/her criteria, a filter of sorts maybe?
Example: Partial list of my download section
Terrains, guide. full download 2 GB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 7 of 7, 199 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 6 of 7, 307 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 5 of 7, 307 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 4 of 7, 307 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 3 of 7, 307 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 2 of 7, 307 MB
Terrains, guide. Parts part 1 of 7, 307 MB
Natural Sky Pack - No Install 8.3 MB
Natural Sky Pack - Windows Installer 8.7 MB
Natural Sky Pack - Mac Installer 8.5 MB
Light In Vue DVD - Complete 1.65 GB
Light in Vue part 1 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 2 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 3 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 5 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 4 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 6 276Mbt
Light in Vue part 7 91Mbt
I hope you understand what i mean if not feel free to ask and i will try and give better explanation.
3. Tutorials - Learning
What i find the most helpful are the tutorials that set out with a specific creation goal in mind and at the same time having the different options/settings explained as to what the setting not only does but why you, the tutorial narrator, are choosing to set it that way. Now most of the time the tutorials are layed out this way. But sometimes they are not which makes things more difficult. As a result, often times people (me) are left with some uncertainty and just input your numbers/settings in the hope of achieving the same result without really understanding why something was set a particular way.
4. Tutorials - Narrating
Walking on egg shells here hehe, again this is just things that stand out, no disrespect or bad feelings are intended.
Ami: Not seeing as many tutorials being narrated by Ami. I am wondering if she only does certain vue topics. The reason i bring this up is because having a good varying mix of narrators can help users learn different techniques by following there different styles of work and teachings. Maybe i just have been viewing tutorials lately on topics she generally doesn't cover.
Gary: Another valued member of the team no doubt. The only trouble i have here with Gary's tutorials is often times the recordings have a lot of audio interference which makes it hard to follow along. Not sure if its a bad microphone/sound card or if the more recent tutorials audio issues have been resolved. I just recently started viewing some of the tutorials he has narrated.
Vladimir: Well what can i say, Vladimir knows his Vue but what is really interesting is not just his ability to open up the all the magic of whats contained in Vue but occasionally his choice of magical words and annunciations. Seriously nothing really specific to point out but i do often find at times the words and annunciations to be entertaining. Sometimes it makes me think, hey that's not a word or what did he say?. lol No worries though the English language and English slang is pretty vast so getting it right every time is something most of us cant do.
5. Tutorials - Community
Artur Rosa: Although he may not be a direct staff member of GAP as far as i know, it would be great to get more of his inspiring works in video tutorial form available on the GAP website. Having only one was disappointing but that's because i found his work equal to that of the GAP staff and wished for more.
Pnina Osguthorpe: Haven't checked out this persons tutorial yet. But looking forward to it.
Community: It would be great to see more tutorials from community members if this is something the GAP staff support. But if so, would suggest setting down a standard guide to follow in regards to video/audio quality etc.
Well ok that's all i can think of. You can now feel free to delete me for rambling on and pointing out small imperfections lol. As i said though just things that as a fellow tutorial watcher i have noticed and sticks with me. Overall you guys/gals are doing an excellent job so at no time do i mean to imply otherwise. *Hides under table, waiting for the outrage*
by vovka » Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:23 am 
