CDO Closing?

[Grassy]

I just got an email saying that CDO is closing on May 28th. The sales codes go up April 1. This is not a trick is it? Huronna, do you know if this is legit?

[Mary]

i got it too! Don't think it's a joke

[Mary]

did you read through the list of artists that are leaving the PSP World?

[Grassy]

I did Mary, and I am just stunned!

[Grassy]

Mary, I have not bought a super lot of kits lately because the AI is just getting to be a bit much. I like the old-fashioned kits better - think the Pink Paradox and Tiny Turtle from a couple of years ago. I never thought it would be spilling over into the tube world. But of course I always assumed everyone just followed the rules until I saw a glaring violation. AI is more tricky.

[Mary]

I agree

[Huronna]

I didn't get any e-mail, but I went to the site and I think that AI had taken over. Even I have been plating with it and it free

[Grassy]

Free is good, Huronna, and it is fun to play. I guess I have been out of the loop for a minute. Boy, you take your eye off the ball for a few months and everything changes.

[Huronna]

Wish I would have gotten the e-mail. 
Alicat on the zone has a lot of infor, off to read that now

[panthera66]

Yes sadly it is true, i got the email and Claire has posted on the CDO facebook group. Such a shame while i haven't made a tag for a few years i will get back into when i upgrade my laptop.
I don't blame the artists with the AI artworks appearing, some seem nice but again not done how artists paint and draw.

[Flagryl]

Here's my take. I think AI's impact on tubes and our PSP community comes on the heels dwindling PSP users and the decrease of websites decicated to hosting PSP activities and our hobby. Some history. At the onset of PSP 7 there were zillions of sites promoting everything from how to use the software including access to plugins, masks, brushes, vectors etc. There were some that had tutorials on how to make your own masks, brushes, selections, etc. In the old MSN days, so many sites promoted challenges and users were able become proficient in not only how to use PSP and AS [initially AS came w/PSP] but the quality of the work became more sophisticated when sites like CDO

hosted the work of artists and had their work tubed [without background]. Now we could buy the tubes and use them in our tags. Many more tutorial sites popped up and there were a variety of sites that had free PSP classes. I was a moderator for PSP Imaginarium for several years. Back then, the biggest fight was getting users to properly put credits on their work to identify the work of the artists. Huronna was a leader in that movement and has been quite successful. She tirelessly confronted users who did not comply. Kudos to Huronna for all that hard work.

Now, there are only a handful of sites where PSP users can show off tags made from scratch, in challenges or tutorials. I've noted scarce activity on those sites including here, at AD and The Zone. So PSP has become a lost hobby for tags. The biggest factor was Corel's decision to design its program more for photography to compete w/Adobe Photoshop. That was mostly the nail in the coffin. Corel stopped hosting tag making tutorials. And some of the leaders in PSP aged and were no longer able to manage their sites. They disappeared.

Then what followed was how artists adapted, many of the artists transitioned to Scrapbooking and sell untubed images for that purpose. That said, these artists do not make a living off tubes. They may allow use of some that are not commissioned. But, frankly it's a side hustle...keeping their name out there. Many sold tubes off their own sites, not worth the effort to be sponsored on CDO or other sites. Broke my heart when Myka Jelina went exclusively to Scrapbooking.

So, long story short. The dwindling PSP users no longer do what we do w/PSP. Google it. PSP classes promote scrapbooking not tags and forum sets. Now there are lots of foreign tutorial sites, few incorporate animation but they do exist. I don't think AI alone is responsible for dwindling artist tube sales or artists leaving sites like CDO. Artist tubes are a side hustle for them, you cannot make enough money to invest time and energy in the PSP hobby. It's basically pro-bono work keeping your name out there but as the PSP community of taggers dwindle it's just not worth it for them.

How many here do the challenges at AL or AD or The Zone? Therein lies the rub.

[Huronna]

Fantastic explanation Flagryl.
All you have to do here is look at the member list. 130 members, and how many are still tagging? Only a small handfull.
I see the same with the tutorial results coming out. People are just putting ai images on a blah background. I even got an a-mail from Barbara Jensen today , acknowledging that she was using AI also. she said she was using her own images and augmenting them, but when in reality have you seen g-rated little girls on that site? And Goldwasser has been using it for almost a year, in the beginning it was just for the trinket additions, but now? Just look how Nickel has expanded her site

And the majority of the AIGen tube site are free, and there are some fantastic ones out there. Just look at the lates permission we got from Emma. I'm hopin she posts some of her latest ones so I can grab them.
Even Flagryl and I have been playing.

There used to be tons of PSP sites around, now we have AL, AD, The Zone, EFR and what;s the other snagging and tagging. But some are just more interested in amassing posts not tagging at all.

But I'm here to stay, PSP has been my saving grace all these years. No matter what personal problem, or medical problem, I can always relax and find peace and solice in creating. I hop you can also.

[Grassy]

I love how you and Flagryl explained things Huronna!

I am just sad that CDO is closing its doors forever. And I am sad that my favorite artists are leaving for good.

Now that I have confirmation that CDO was not hacked or it was not a spoof in some way, I will just go ahead and buy lots of CuddlyRigorMortis, Janesko, and Marika tubes and enjoy the sale.

I need to be more active. I am just drawing a blank. I have plenty to work with and plenty of supplies, but I can't seem to think.

In any case, you guys are stuck with me because I am here forever. We are family and I love PSP so I am not leaving.

[Huronna]

I used to buy from CDO a lot in the past. BUt over the last couple of years, many artists were not adding anything new, and some if they did the images just didn't turn me on.
I went now to see again since I had not been there in quite a while, looked at the works of the artists I usually bought and there was nothing that made me click a button.
Not only did I spend money on myself, bur for a few years I bought CDO gifts for a lot of active taggers. Didn't do it this past year though. Guess I thought with all the new permissions and tubes there was quite a bit to choose from. And I bought a great background removal program, that actually did 50 images at a time. Then about two months ago they did some crappy update and I'm winding up using the free BKG removal one image at a time. Won't be renewing that bugger.

[Flagryl]

That's true for me too, at CDO. I gave away my CDO winnings at the Zone and was relieved Huronna that you did not gift me a CDO certificate. I spent hours trying to find ones I liked last year and ended up with some marginal tubes.

Actually I like to get back to making some of my own elements w/vectors. I sure miss Rita's challenges over at AD. I love creating.

Grassy, I love your glitter themes!

[Huronna]

I have a feeling that PFD might be next. They started selling AI Gen works quite a while ago and when they send out their emails with new tubes, there are less and less

[Summer]

Sad to say I have found the same thing with CDO. Used to love their selections but few artists are submitting new things. Joined exclusive club a couple of years ago and struggled to find tubes I wanted so I let it lapse.

As far as AI I am not too much of a fan. Every group has their own rules regarding it and I hate having to read all the new rules. I try to stay compliant but it gets hard after a while.

I was looking into installing psp again because I have so many tubes but now Paint Shop Pro also has AI. What the heck? Call me old and finicky but I prefer the old style psp. I will request tags with AI but only use them in the groups I requested them from most times. Guess I am getting lost in the new age of things.

Thanks Flagryl and huronna for your information. If you happen to see me sitting on the side of the road looking lonely and lost you will know why.

[Summer]

NOOOO...not PFD. I still have credits over there. If they do who else is left besides VM? I need a drink!!!!

[Huronna]

Paint Shop Pro also has AI?? must be one of the newest Corel. Since I still use the old Jasc PSP 8, don't have to worry about that one LOL

[Mary]

That was a surprise to me too Huronna.loke Grassy it makes me sad about the ones leaving PSP totally. I will just try to buy up the tunes I don't have too

[Summer]

huronna....you are still using psp8? That gives me hope. I still have my psp9 disc somewhere. I was put under the impression it was no longer good to use.

You made an old psp person today!

[Flagryl]

Summer, PSP 9 has been unstable for some but not for all. May be related to Win 10/11. I have PSP 8 and the 810 patch in my Dropbox if you want to download and install. Let me know and I'll PM you the links.

[Flagryl]

PS I also have the download and install instructions and a copy of PSP 8 for Dummies, the basic instruction book as PDF file. Also quite a few plugins.

[Huronna]

I have used the PSP 8 disk for years and in multiple computers, mine and others.

[Grassy]

I began on PSP X but then it stopped working in all my computers. I use primarily PSP 9 and it is awesome for everything. I got PSP 22 for some of the extras that I find I rarely use anymore except on Dove Cat Pictures ha ha.
My fave artists are CuddlyRigorMortis, Janesko, and Marika, so I will just buy some more of their tubes (what I don't already have but ones I love and want to get) and just call it good. I have not treated myself in a good while.
I have not bought anything from PFD except for Ellie Milk in ages. Is VMA still around or did they go away?
Once a store goes away, do I still credit it under my license number from that store? I always forget that - and it has been so long since I have had to deal with it, I forgot the rule.