What's the deal with the galleries et al?
Someone brought up the other day that DAZ was now selling a graphic novel (or, prose picture book?) in the storefront, and it got me thinking about the incredible lack of community gallery and video stuff that happens on DAZ.
Sure you can post a thread here and there with a picture or two. But if I look at somewhere like Newgrounds or DeviantArt, places that also have large storefronts and retail objectives, despite DAZ bursting with artists, the Gallery section is pretty vacant, and there's no place to embed or upload video at all!
I'm wondering why DAZ isn't more keen on beefing up its member art section. I'd imagine it could only add to more people wanting to purchase the products if they were able to see all of the amazing stuff that's created using DAZ models and software.
Case in point, I go to Youtube and Vimeo and type "DAZ 3D animation" in the search box. If the tags aren't aligned correctly or if the video is especially unpopular, most of the time I'm only seeing a small percentage of what animators are putting out there. Same thing goes with DA. I go and type "DAZ 3D" and only a small portion of all the DAZ art that's on DA shows up.
Same thing happens when I go to Youtube or Vimeo and type "Flash animation". Except with Flash Animation I can simply go to Newgrounds and see pretty much every single bit of Flash Animation that's being put online. Why wouldn't DAZ want that for its products?
I think it'd be great if DAZ could start building its artist community more. Not just via forums, but via art and video. There's certainly revenue in adspace and greater potential retail sales as artists link back to the gallery for people to view their works. Add in a Print-for-Sale option like what DA has, and I don't see why DAZ isn't taking more advantage of this. It'd certainly make my life as a viewer more awesome.
Comments
There used to be a thriving gallery section, but then Daz updated the site around May, and the new software does not apparently support a gallery function. Maybe it will be resurected one day...
It is not that the software doesn't support a gallery. It was said right from the word go that the Galleries would be the last thing to be added to the new site.
It has just taken a while longer than they had hoped it would to get the new site settled in.
OK, I stand corrected - I look forward to having the galleries back!
Yes we all want to see them. I have more than 200 images on another site, would much rather have them, or some of them, over here.