Help
How to create an account
You can create a free account here . You can also arrive at this page through a number of means such as clicking on the "join" button on the front page of myartplot.com or on the "register" button on the top of this page. The registration process is a simple one page form. Follow the instructions to create a username and password, and then enter your name and email address. Read the user agreement, check the box to agree to it, and then click "submit" to finish registration. During registration, if you picked a username or a password that has already been taken, you will be prompted to choose a different username and/or password. Remember that the username that you choose during registration will become a vital part of your public plot (the public portal that you and others can access your plot without logging into your account). For example, Kim's username is "kimjackson." Therefore, you can view Kim's public plot at http://kimjackson.myartplot.com as all public plots are in the format of http://username.myartplot.com. Remember that MAP will never display your email address anywhere on your plot. Your email will be kept confidential. You will also notice that on MAP almost everyone goes by their real first and last name. We pride ourselves in our ability to foster an organic community in which people functionally interact with each other. Providing your first and last name is also one step that you take to protect your intellectual property as MAP automatically provide watermark to all images uploaded by participants. For example, all images that Kim uploads onto MAP will be watermarked with her full name "Kim Jackson" inclusive of the year that she uploaded such images.
About the Plot
Your plot is your personal page within the global MAP network. It has a private version for your administrative control when you logged in as well as having a public version for your presence on the web. Your public plot is in essense your personal art web page for your friends, clients, and colleagues. For starters, you can use it to showcase your work and allows others make purchases.
How do I make a profile?
Just enter the information you want others to see in the boxes under "Info." If you want to change information you have already entered into your profile, click "edit" next to either "Facts" or "Info." For safety reasons, we recommend not sharing personal information such as address, phone number, or AIM screenname. Your profile is important as it provides valuable dimensions to who you are as an artist. You should change your profile to match your current sentiment.
How do I upload a profile picture?
If you do not upload a profile picture, MAP will supply you with a generic picture. If you choose to upload, click on "change picture", you will then be directed to the upload page. Click "browse" to find a picture on your hard drive that you would like to use as your profile picture. Check the box verifying that the picture is not copywritten or pornographic, and then click "submit." Keep in mind that all MAP participants will be able to see this picture. If you want to change your picture once you have uploaded one, click "change picture" underneath your picture and then click"browse" to find the picture you want.
How do I create a portfolio?
The "My Portfolio" zig is located right under the "My Profile" zig. Click on "create" in the portfolio zig. Choose a title for your portfolio, then give a brief description of the contents of your portfolio in the next box. Then choose who you would like your portfolio to be visible to. If you want all MAP users to be able to see the portfolio, choose "everyone." If you want only those in your network to be able to see it, choose "my network." The next step is to choose a few keywords for your portfolio. This is optional, but it will allow users to find your portfolio when they search for those keywords. You may choose up to four keywords. Finally, check the box indicating you have read the terms of use, and then click "start uploading."
How do I upload art into a portfolio?
After you have entered a title for your portfolio, click on "start uploading", which will bring you to the picture uploader. Click on "browse" to find pictures of your artwork or crafts on your hard drive. Click "upload" to upload the picture into the portfolio. You should then see the picture you have just uploaded appear on the screen. Enter a caption if you want. Enter the medium of the piece, choose whether it is artwork or a craft project, then select the category and the content. Enter a title for the work, and choose up to 4 keywords for the work to be searchable by. Do not forget to enter the dimensions of the piece. This is very important if you end up putting the work up for sale in market. Enter any other information you want users to know about the work in the "about" box. Once you have entered all the information you want for the first picture, click "Save" and then click on "browse" to upload another picture. Be sure to click "save" after entering the information for every picture.
What is the "About" zig?
This is a place for you to briefly describe yourself to MAP users. Include any information that you couldn't fit in your profile. In order to change the info in the "About" zig, click "edit." Note that within your Plot, your About zig is limited to a specific number of word characters. However, you should feel free to include as much information as possible as your About zig will appear in its complete form under your sales item in the market (if you choose to sell)
What is "My Review"?
MAP allows users to select a work that they want fellow users to rate and comment on. "My Review" will show you what other MAP users have said about the work youve chosen to be reviewed, along with the average rating given by users. Only one work may be up for review at any one time, but MAP will save all comments and ratings so you can see them whenever you want.
How do I put my works up for review?
Click on "My Review", and then click on "select a new work for review." You will then be able to look through your portfolio(s) and choose which work you would like other users to rate and critique. You may only choose one work at a time for peer review, but you can change which work you have up for review as often as you want.
How do I remove a work from My Review?
If you decide you do not want any work up for peer review, simply click on "My Review" and then click on "deactivate this peer review."
What is the "Share" zig?
This allows you to send emails to your friends telling them all about MAP. If you check the "Include My Plot" box, the email will also tell your friends that they can look at your work on your plot at MAP, and will provide a link to your plot. If you want to post the link to your plot on your website or blog, the link to your personal plot is located under "Link out."
What is the "My Favorites" zig?
While you are browsing other MAP users' work, you might come across a piece that you really like. You can then click "Add to my favorites" and the work will be saved in your Favorites zig.
What is "My Blog"?
The Blog zig lets users post about anything they want as often as they want. You can use the blog zig the same way as you would use a regular blog. Just click on "My Blog" and start typing! Again, remember that everything you enter in this zig will be visible by all MAP users.
What is "Market News"?
This zig shows you basic numbers such as the number of registered MAP users, how many users are currently online and how many works are up for sale in Market. It also lists how many works have been added or discounted each day.
What is "My Network"?
My Network shows all of the artists you have added to your network. In order to add someone to your network, click on the link below the person profile picture that says "Add him/her to your Network." An email will be sent to that person asking him or her to confirm the addition. The person must confirm the addition before they will be added to your network.
What are the "Recently Updated Portfolios?"
This shows you which portfolios of those artists in your network have been updated recently. This way you can easily find new art on the site as soon as it has been added by artists in your network.
What is "My Log Book"?
Every MAP participant has a log book. This is a way for participants to communicate with one another and comment on each other's profiles or art. Keep in mind that all log books are public and every participant in your network can see your log book. In order to delete any comment in your log book, simply click "Delete this entry" below the comment you wish to delete. You can also delete comments you have made in other people' log books.
What are the Forums?
There are four Forums: MAP Forum, Art Buyers' Forum, Artists' Forum, and Artisans' Forum. The Forums provide a way for participants to communicate with one another and ask questions to the entire MAP community. Respond to others' posts or create your own. Each Forum has a different purpose. The MAP Forum is primarily for questions and comments regarding the design and function of the website itself. If you have any suggestions for improvement or complaints about MAP, this is the place to discuss them. The Art Buyers' Forum is a place for participants who buy art off of MAP to congregate and converse. Here you can discuss what you look for in a great piece of art, or ask for suggestions for what type of art might look good in a particular room in your house. The Artists' Forum and the Artisans' Forum are places for MAP artists and artisans to get together and discuss their styles and methods.
How do I start selling my artwork?
In order to start selling your work, click on "My Sales" and then click on "Start selling your work." Follow the steps and read the agreement. We will approve you as a seller as soon as possible and you will then be able to start selling artwork.
How do I put my artwork up for sale?
Click on "My Sales" and then click on"Submit a new listing." Follow the steps and we will approve your work for market as soon as possible or notify you if there is some reason we cannot approve your work for market.
How will I be notified when someone wants to buy one of my works in market?
Here are 6 summarized steps of how you sell. (1) You will receive an email with the Buyer's name and the applicable city, state, and country of delivery. (2) Log onto MAP and approve or decline the sale within 48 hours (if you do not approve the sale within this time frame, the sale will automatically be declined). If you repeatedly decline sales then you may lose your status as a Seller. (3) After approving the sale, you will receive an email with the Buyer's complete shipping address and email address, and the Buyer will also receive your contact information. (4) Ship the item to the buyer within 78 hours. If you're shipping an item with a listed price of $100 or more (excluding any applicable international shipping fee, taxes, or transaction cost), be sure to request a tracking number for the shipment. If the listed price for the item is under $100, then you do not need to request a tracking number for it. For all shipments, you must use a dominant governmental or commercial mailing service available specific to your area that will provide delivery of your item within a brief time period of no more than 2 weeks to anywhere in the world. (5) Log onto MAP and enter the tracking number so that it may be made available to the buyer. (6) The buyer will be able to review you as a seller within a couple of weeks of the completed transaction.
How do I purchase art from MAP?
Here are 7 summarized steps of how you buy. (1) In market, choose an item that you would like to buy. Click on the "Buy" button. You will be sent to a confirmation page. (2) On this confirmation page, verify your purchase and read the Buyer Agreement. Then click on the "Google Checkout" button and enter your credit card and shipping information. (3) The applicable city, state, and country of your shipping address will then be emailed to the Seller, and the Seller will have to approve or decline the sale within 48 hours. (4) Upon the Seller's approval, your credit card will be charged. (If somehow, the Seller declines your purchase, then your credit card will not be charged. Sellers generally do not decline purchases but if they do, they may be penalized by MAP). (5) MAP will then send an email to the Seller with your full shipping address and your email, instructing the Seller to ship your purchase within 78 hours. You will then receive an email with contact information for the Seller. (6) After the Seller ships your purchase, MAP will send to you another email confirming the shipment. Please note that if the listed price of your item is $100 or more (excluding any applicable international shipping fee, taxes, or transaction fee), then the Seller is obligated to provide to you with a shipment tracking number so that you can track your item en-route. If your item is less than $100 then the Seller will ship it without a shipment tracking number. In the email sent to you, MAP will share with you this tracking number if it is applicable. Within 72 hours, the Seller must log back into MAP and enter in the shipment tracking number (for items listed $100 or more) or simply tell MAP that the item (for items listed under $100) has been shipped. (7) A week after receiving your purchase, you will be able to review and rate the Seller.
How do I change my password?
Click on "Account" on the left side bar. Enter your old password as well as what you want your new password to be. Enter the new password again and then click "Change password."