It's crazy that Substack is still missing some incredibly BASIC features, which is frustrating. I mean, we can't even wrap text around a picture (which is the most basic thing ever for any webpage). All pictures have to be centered with no wraparound. Like, really?!?
I hope they keep adding design features (at least add the frickin' basic…
It's crazy that Substack is still missing some incredibly BASIC features, which is frustrating. I mean, we can't even wrap text around a picture (which is the most basic thing ever for any webpage). All pictures have to be centered with no wraparound. Like, really?!?
I hope they keep adding design features (at least add the frickin' basics) and also more traffic-generating features. If they do so, I agree that they could dominate this arena of the internet.
There's no reason for Substack to be so limiting. Its business model — the underlying architecture of subscriptions, email marketing, a content-centric framework, serious creators, and the wonderful Substack community, etc. — would be unaffected and remain intact.
Those building blocks are the main draw of Substack in the first place (which made many of us forgo other platforms that offer more design features, SEO, etc.), so why not enhance it and give creators here more options? Quality content and Substack's foundational values would still rule the day.
Plus, *design* is a form of content in and of itself! (Of course the writing and/or visual art centerpieces would still have to be compelling to gain and retain an audience.)
BTW, your site looks AMAZING,!! Incredible. You are massively talented. I can only imagine what it would look like if Substack wasn't so limited in design capabilities, because what you've done is absolutely fantastic!
People should check it out. (And it might help them understand what you and I are talking about.) Truly unbelievable!
I have yet to officially launch my site (which will be quite different and paired-down compared to yours, like a totally different vibe and focus. Hopefully it will happen by the end of the month or early next month.
Anyway... I really was blown away by your site! For folks reading this, check out his site here:
I'm just curious, because I do some cartooning, do you draw on a computer program? My cartoon drawing certainly isn't at the level of your artwork, but I'd like to be able to create in a way that translates to digital platforms. Do you need a touch-screen computer or accessories for drawing/painting? For example, how do you fill colors in spaces so precisely? Do you have to do all of that manually or is there software that you work with?
First off, you might hate me for this, but I’m actually going to side with Substack on NOT allowing the wrap around text...because I just discovered /noticed something you may also appreciate...
I had several friends look up LifeOfFiction.com on their phones and they each saw the EXACT SAME THING.
Now, when they go to WantedHero.com which is my wiki-on-cocaine connected to LifeOfFiction.com, they each get jumbled results...because they each have a different screen size.
My site doesn’t render equally, BECAUSE of wrap around text. Some phones look horrid -- with a single word scrunched next to a pic, and it throws it all off.
Once I saw that? I get it. This is perfect. It’s not “everything” but it makes my Substack look good on ANY device.
So consider that.
As for the art, thanks. I appreciate the compliment. I need to put up a lot more art, but it’s coming.
As for the art itself, I used to be old school and then scan it all in, adjust in PS,...but I’ve since learned to hate Adobe and THEIR subscription model. After more than 15 years I dropped them and went with Affinity software from the UK.
Infinitely better, you own it, no internet connection required, $75 per software. They have the equivalent to Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. I used all three, replaced all three about 4 years ago,...beat decision ever.
How I MAKE the artwork:
IPad and ProCreate. Bought them 7 years ago...haven’t killed a tree since.
Unlimited YT videos and programs to learn the software. It’s $12. That’s it. Walks over other programs without breathing hard. Exclusively for the iPad....so treat yourself to a big iPad.
I bought a used 12.9” Pro for $1100 with 1TB storage. Procreate allows layers depending on your storage space. So go big. You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for software insights! Much appreciated. What platform did you use for your other site? I had a site 10 years ago through WordPress.ORG and wraparound was no problem across devices and browsers. It was always consistent, bc I used templates that were designed for both laptops and mobile/tablet devices. (And wraparound works perfectly fine for professional sites.)
That's why I'm surprised the Substack platform doesn't even include it. It's included elsewhere with no issues.
The problem with WordPress (whether it's .org or .com) is that you have to do so much of the heavy lifting on your own with coding and plugins.
I definitely hear what you're saying about wraparound text and consistency across devices and browsers, but it's very commonly featured on many platforms.
All I'm saying is I want some more options, which should be doable by Substack. And, like I said, there are lots of pros to Substack that outweigh some of the cons. I just get a little frustrated sometimes.
First off, I always used Wordpress, and still do for other business, like https://JaimeBuckley.com for artwork. Yes, the heavy lifting can be rough -- which is one of the main reasons I came here. I was tired of the work, the maintenance, and the constant hacking by people wanting to take kids reading my comics to porn sites was the last straw for me.
The mobile versions of site are common, yes, but they still (most I experience) still look questionable on my little iPhone screen. So there's definitely an argument for both sides.
But I'll say something that won't likely be brought up -- and that is keeping an impressive light on Substack...
Having the ability to custom design a site doesn't mean you should. It's like having a builder that can design the most structurally sound building, but he/she has ZERO design sense. The only thing you get in the end is an eye sore that will...never...die.
IMO Substack has created quite a perfect balance, because no matter who you are, I don't think you can screw up your own stack visually.
It might not be as visually stunning as, say a photographer displaying their skills, but you won't make the community look bad, either. That, for me is important. Snobbish of me, YES, but important.
Thing is, the moment Substack makes that change, and maybe it's what you want for your site/stack,...it also affects mine.
Forever.
So though I see your point (and I don't disagree with you either), PLUS I have a wish list myself, I've experienced far too much to inflict what I want onto the whole community. This is me, just saying I get why Substack is being cautious, and maybe, just maybe, we can't see the over-arching decisions, because this isn't my business.
SS has more than two cartoonists to take into consideration (grin).
Doable isn't the same as 'should'.
When I came to that conclusion, I asked myself, "Does NOT having such-and-such a feature make the platform less effective?"
Makes sense, but I have confidence in my design abilities. And people can always just flip to the next Substack site if they don't like one or another. (I mean, some Substack sites contain borderline hate-speech, which I find more offensive and polluting than any sort of tacky design could ever be.)
Plus, the main reason I came here, aside from Substack's business model, was because I didn't want to be tied up with design and other features (because I could happily spend endless hours tweaking and perfecting those aspects). I wanted to primarily focus on my written content without getting sidetracked.
Like I said, I'd be happy if Substack just added a few more basics of design/features. I'm not asking for it to be Wordpress. Just some more of the basics.
Anyway... I enjoyed checking out your business site. Pretty awesome.
I get it. Like I said, I don't disagree with your points,...I could make them sing also. For me, it's only about how does it affect us as a whole.
Each feature will, in fact, hold all of us up to a flame...or maybe I should say, a flashlight...and then we will be compared in different ways.
That's precisely why those features are important to artists like us, though, right? Yeah, so I get it. For me, I think there's a good balance right now...and I'd love some clever ways to grow an audience tacked on instead.
I have a first tier goal of 3000 paid subscribers, then I'm happy to talk about everything else.
Hey Jaime, looks like your site is coming along great! I was just curious, how do you make some photos/artwork within posts go all the way across the screen (beyond the horizontal parameters of the text blocks for each post)? I noticed it on your site and a small handful of other sites.
On all artwork you post, if you hover your cursor over the top right corner of the art, a small bubble with 3 dots will appear. Click that and you'll get the options for 'alt text', etc...but you'll also see an option to widen the art to "large" or I believe "full-width".
It's crazy that Substack is still missing some incredibly BASIC features, which is frustrating. I mean, we can't even wrap text around a picture (which is the most basic thing ever for any webpage). All pictures have to be centered with no wraparound. Like, really?!?
I hope they keep adding design features (at least add the frickin' basics) and also more traffic-generating features. If they do so, I agree that they could dominate this arena of the internet.
There's no reason for Substack to be so limiting. Its business model — the underlying architecture of subscriptions, email marketing, a content-centric framework, serious creators, and the wonderful Substack community, etc. — would be unaffected and remain intact.
Those building blocks are the main draw of Substack in the first place (which made many of us forgo other platforms that offer more design features, SEO, etc.), so why not enhance it and give creators here more options? Quality content and Substack's foundational values would still rule the day.
Plus, *design* is a form of content in and of itself! (Of course the writing and/or visual art centerpieces would still have to be compelling to gain and retain an audience.)
BTW, your site looks AMAZING,!! Incredible. You are massively talented. I can only imagine what it would look like if Substack wasn't so limited in design capabilities, because what you've done is absolutely fantastic!
People should check it out. (And it might help them understand what you and I are talking about.) Truly unbelievable!
I have yet to officially launch my site (which will be quite different and paired-down compared to yours, like a totally different vibe and focus. Hopefully it will happen by the end of the month or early next month.
Anyway... I really was blown away by your site! For folks reading this, check out his site here:
https://www.lifeoffiction.com/
I'm just curious, because I do some cartooning, do you draw on a computer program? My cartoon drawing certainly isn't at the level of your artwork, but I'd like to be able to create in a way that translates to digital platforms. Do you need a touch-screen computer or accessories for drawing/painting? For example, how do you fill colors in spaces so precisely? Do you have to do all of that manually or is there software that you work with?
First off, you might hate me for this, but I’m actually going to side with Substack on NOT allowing the wrap around text...because I just discovered /noticed something you may also appreciate...
I had several friends look up LifeOfFiction.com on their phones and they each saw the EXACT SAME THING.
Now, when they go to WantedHero.com which is my wiki-on-cocaine connected to LifeOfFiction.com, they each get jumbled results...because they each have a different screen size.
My site doesn’t render equally, BECAUSE of wrap around text. Some phones look horrid -- with a single word scrunched next to a pic, and it throws it all off.
Once I saw that? I get it. This is perfect. It’s not “everything” but it makes my Substack look good on ANY device.
So consider that.
As for the art, thanks. I appreciate the compliment. I need to put up a lot more art, but it’s coming.
As for the art itself, I used to be old school and then scan it all in, adjust in PS,...but I’ve since learned to hate Adobe and THEIR subscription model. After more than 15 years I dropped them and went with Affinity software from the UK.
Infinitely better, you own it, no internet connection required, $75 per software. They have the equivalent to Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. I used all three, replaced all three about 4 years ago,...beat decision ever.
How I MAKE the artwork:
IPad and ProCreate. Bought them 7 years ago...haven’t killed a tree since.
Unlimited YT videos and programs to learn the software. It’s $12. That’s it. Walks over other programs without breathing hard. Exclusively for the iPad....so treat yourself to a big iPad.
I bought a used 12.9” Pro for $1100 with 1TB storage. Procreate allows layers depending on your storage space. So go big. You won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for software insights! Much appreciated. What platform did you use for your other site? I had a site 10 years ago through WordPress.ORG and wraparound was no problem across devices and browsers. It was always consistent, bc I used templates that were designed for both laptops and mobile/tablet devices. (And wraparound works perfectly fine for professional sites.)
That's why I'm surprised the Substack platform doesn't even include it. It's included elsewhere with no issues.
The problem with WordPress (whether it's .org or .com) is that you have to do so much of the heavy lifting on your own with coding and plugins.
I definitely hear what you're saying about wraparound text and consistency across devices and browsers, but it's very commonly featured on many platforms.
All I'm saying is I want some more options, which should be doable by Substack. And, like I said, there are lots of pros to Substack that outweigh some of the cons. I just get a little frustrated sometimes.
No, I get it -- I really do.
First off, I always used Wordpress, and still do for other business, like https://JaimeBuckley.com for artwork. Yes, the heavy lifting can be rough -- which is one of the main reasons I came here. I was tired of the work, the maintenance, and the constant hacking by people wanting to take kids reading my comics to porn sites was the last straw for me.
The mobile versions of site are common, yes, but they still (most I experience) still look questionable on my little iPhone screen. So there's definitely an argument for both sides.
But I'll say something that won't likely be brought up -- and that is keeping an impressive light on Substack...
Having the ability to custom design a site doesn't mean you should. It's like having a builder that can design the most structurally sound building, but he/she has ZERO design sense. The only thing you get in the end is an eye sore that will...never...die.
IMO Substack has created quite a perfect balance, because no matter who you are, I don't think you can screw up your own stack visually.
It might not be as visually stunning as, say a photographer displaying their skills, but you won't make the community look bad, either. That, for me is important. Snobbish of me, YES, but important.
Thing is, the moment Substack makes that change, and maybe it's what you want for your site/stack,...it also affects mine.
Forever.
So though I see your point (and I don't disagree with you either), PLUS I have a wish list myself, I've experienced far too much to inflict what I want onto the whole community. This is me, just saying I get why Substack is being cautious, and maybe, just maybe, we can't see the over-arching decisions, because this isn't my business.
SS has more than two cartoonists to take into consideration (grin).
Doable isn't the same as 'should'.
When I came to that conclusion, I asked myself, "Does NOT having such-and-such a feature make the platform less effective?"
The answer for me was "no".
...so I started building.
Hope that makes sense?
Makes sense, but I have confidence in my design abilities. And people can always just flip to the next Substack site if they don't like one or another. (I mean, some Substack sites contain borderline hate-speech, which I find more offensive and polluting than any sort of tacky design could ever be.)
Plus, the main reason I came here, aside from Substack's business model, was because I didn't want to be tied up with design and other features (because I could happily spend endless hours tweaking and perfecting those aspects). I wanted to primarily focus on my written content without getting sidetracked.
Like I said, I'd be happy if Substack just added a few more basics of design/features. I'm not asking for it to be Wordpress. Just some more of the basics.
Anyway... I enjoyed checking out your business site. Pretty awesome.
I get it. Like I said, I don't disagree with your points,...I could make them sing also. For me, it's only about how does it affect us as a whole.
Each feature will, in fact, hold all of us up to a flame...or maybe I should say, a flashlight...and then we will be compared in different ways.
That's precisely why those features are important to artists like us, though, right? Yeah, so I get it. For me, I think there's a good balance right now...and I'd love some clever ways to grow an audience tacked on instead.
I have a first tier goal of 3000 paid subscribers, then I'm happy to talk about everything else.
Hey Jaime, looks like your site is coming along great! I was just curious, how do you make some photos/artwork within posts go all the way across the screen (beyond the horizontal parameters of the text blocks for each post)? I noticed it on your site and a small handful of other sites.
On all artwork you post, if you hover your cursor over the top right corner of the art, a small bubble with 3 dots will appear. Click that and you'll get the options for 'alt text', etc...but you'll also see an option to widen the art to "large" or I believe "full-width".
Sweet. Thanks! Not sure how I missed that.