Convergence

Convergence is a noun, meaning 'the process of coming together toward a common point'. This web site attempts to create a convergence of artist processes. Learn more on our About page.

Using our handy-dandy Registration page!

There are a number of reasons why one would register. Once registered, you can comment on panels, letting artists know that you've enjoyed their work or giving valuable critique.

If you're an artist yourself, registering is the only way to get an account so you can begin working toward Artist status.

After logging in with your username and password, click your username on the right-hand side of the menu.

In your control panel, click the 'Edit this information' link to the right of your avatar and other info. Fill out the things you'd like to change, and click 'Update Profile'.

If you're designing an avatar with a transparent background, you should probably optimize it for a background of #EBEBEB. This will make it blend into the light gray we use on the site.

For a full description of what information we collect and how it is used, please visit our Privacy Policy.

here are currently three types of users: Readers, Artists and Admins. These types refer to what a user can do on Convergence, as well as to the role of this user when navigating the site.

As soon as you register, you are given Reader status and are able to comment on panels, save your place and submit your work for Artist status consideration.

In addition to Reader privelages, Artists are able to claim and post new panels to the site. They can also vote up potential artists who have posted work in the Potential Artists section.

Admins are a special type of user. Users with Admin status are responsible for the maintenance of the site.

On any user profile, the status will be displayed to the right of the user's avatar. You can tell your own status from the same place in your control panel.

To become a contributing Convergence artist, first you must register to get a Reader account. Once you're a reader, you are able to submit your work for consideration to become a Convergence artist.

To submit your work, visit your user profile and scroll down to the submission cell. You must submit 3 pieces of artwork for consideration (no more, no less) and they must comply with our terms of service. The work will be immediately viewable in the Potential Artists section of the site.

In that section, all registered users can provide useful feedback on your submissions. Current Convergence Artists can also choose to vote your work up if they feel they'd enjoy collaborating with you in the future.

If you receive enough Artist votes, you will receive an email notification of your new status and will gain the ability to claim and post new panels.

No, not at all! If for some reason your work didn't catch the eye of a particular artist this time around, don't take this as a message that you should quit art forever. Try to get as much critique as possible and use it to improve your work. Many of the current Convergence artists have encountered the same setbacks numerous times and learned from them; give it another shot at a later date.

Sites like deviantART are doing a fantastic job at that already, and we have no desire to venture into their territory. If you want others to see your work through your Convergence profile, why not link to your deviantART gallery or personal web site from it?

Before an artist can draw the next panel in a comic, they must first claim the next panel. Claiming exists to prevent multiple artists from drawing the same panel.

Users with Artist status can click a 'Claim Next Panel' button to the left of any most recent panel of a comic, provided that someone else hasn't already claimed it.

After claiming, artists will have 24 hours to create and post the panel. After the panel has been posted, it will be available to read on the site, and the next panel will be up for claiming.

Just visit your control panel and look at the very top. You'll see a link to 'post' your panel and how much time you have left to do so.

In your control panel, in the blue or red box click "unclaim" and follow the instructions. After unclaiming, the panel will be open for claiming again.

The terms and conditions are essentially a set of rules and policies that you agree to when using the site. This includes copyright information protecting artists and other property owners contributing, as well as conduct and content guidelines to protect visitors of the site. The terms can be read in full here.

A policy violation is any content posted by either an artist or a commentor that violates a rule or policy established by the site's terms and conditions. If you feel the content of a panel or a comment is overly offensive or violating the terms and conditions, you can click the 'Report a Policy Violation' button found next to the violating content.

If a user wishes to leave Convergence, they can de-activate their account, thereby informing everyone that they have left and secure any existing personal information that remains.

When a user de-activates their account, two things happen, one (1) the user is no longer allowed to login to take part in Convergence features that require registration and two (2) the user's profile is hidden and personal information is no longer allowed to be viewed.

If the user had contributed any panels, those panels will still be visible (thereby allowing continuity of comics, even if the artist has left) along with their Display Name. No other personal information is be visible.

A user may de-activate their account in their preferences, located in their control panel.

If you have de-activated account and wish to re-activate to again take part in Convergence, simply login with the username and password that were set when you de-activated your account.

You will be prompted with a notice and requested to agree to the terms and conditions once more. Upon successfully submitting, your account will be re-activated.