How do we feel about graphics collection webpages?

[larvapuppy]

How do we feel about graphics collection webpages?

By this, I mean the pages on people's personal sites collecting a bunch of unsourced graphics that the webmaster happens to like.

Personally, I have one on my site because I like collecting these little pictures, and I felt that it was the thing to do 3 years ago when I joined neocities, since a lot of other sites had them at the time. But now my site has become more focused on my original creations and I'm considering getting rid of it. I don't know that it provides any value to visitors; I didn't make these graphics after all, and they can be found elsewhere on the web. Despite the fact that I may or may not be "preserving" them by keeping them up, I don't feel 100% ethically OK about hosting a bunch of uncredited works in a collection on my site, not even being used as decor. Plus, most of the graphics that I use on the main part of my site were made by me at this point- it feels more personal and unique that way. I might just get rid of the graphics collection page... which looks like this, by the way. (Obvious obnoxious wall of gifs warning)

So!

Do you have a graphics collection page? Why or why not?

Do you enjoy coming across them, or find them useful?

Are they necessary?

[pepper]

I have a little collection on my homepage mostly because the first couple indie sites i came across when i first started getting into all this last year also did the same. I'm a fan of little thingies like these: stickers, patches, wallart, pins, etc. My car, water bottle, laptop, work laptop, portfolio, negative enlarger, walls, jackets, bags are all covered in this sort of thing. I love a sticker-bombed look or even a couple simple personal patches on an otherwise plain bag. So, in general I am a fan of it!

BUT I also see that it can easily get out of hand on a website. IRL, the amount of stickers i can put on a thing is limited to space, cost, and general good taste. I've resisted the urge to litter my homepage with gifs because I do actually want my site to feel somewhat purposeful (it's my portfolio and social landing page). I'm also starting to look into applying a share-alike non-commercial creative commons license to my photography and art, setting up a proper terms of use and registering my art with the copyright office. Reason being I want to start selling my photography and offering commissions.

Not that a big-ass collection of uncredited gifs and graphics is unprofessional, at least i don't want to be professionally involved with those that would think that. But, like you, i want my site to be a presentation of my own work.

I'm currently redesigning my site to be responsive (flexboxes everywhere), usable on mobile, and accessible for screenreaders and the like. A part of this redesign will likely involve moving that gif collection off the main page, and I'm considering not displaying most of the gifs at all. I'll probably have a page for my "pets" like gyphypet and the like, but random gifs I might not keep around or I might have an archive page.

I am a big fan of badges that sort of describe something about me or my site (for instance im stealing this from your page larvapuppy  ). Those I'll probably keep around on the homepage somewhere, maybe the sidebar. I try to find sources for most things, or if not then at least link to the thing the badge is referencing (the sublime text badge on my page links to sublime text's website for instance), but I do feel bad just grabbing a random gif that looks obviously like somebody's original work, ya know?

[Watanabe_1994]

(Server caught on fire and outputted a HTTP error 429 LOL)

Anyways, about graphics collections web-pages. Personally I do like them, especially the old ones that use them from old web graphics sample CDs that were packed with images, textures and other graphics (yes they existed, look it up LOL) that were distributed back then. kinda like how there were so many audio sample CDs, 

I think you can still find them around, since I found a massive archive awhile back of downloadable tile backrounds in a ZIP file. (I have it somewhere on a hard drive)

[ValyceNegative]

This kind of pages are a godsend now that Google searches have been rendered completely useless, because they're the only ones where you can actually find good pixel resources, vintage graphics, and site-usable icons and dividers.

I can see how you think that simple pages on personal sites collecting just what the webmaster likes can look "amateurish" in kind of a cozy homemade way, but they're useful too especially if some of the graphic can link back to their sources. In any case given the rate on how easy these files can disappear from the net it's good to have as many backups as possible any way people can build them, so I find these pages extremely valid.

The top quality version of what you're talking about are sites completely dedicated to storing graphics for other prople to use either made by the webmaster themselves or collected around and stored in one place. Bonus points if they're organized. Gifcities, Mazeguy Smilies, Gifshop99, Files Found, Gif Sea... archive-wise these and more are indispensable and search-wise, they're definitely better than anything mainstream web would ever offer xD

[grubbyfox]

imo it's always best when you can credit the source, but in general i've found that there are so many of those sites that have been the back bone of lots of joy for enthusiasts when google image search and whatnot starts failing. ya know?
like, people who compile and archive collections like that are the champions we need when looking it up becomes harder and harder.

[lina]

i love them and i have one on my site! i focus on old web graphics that cannot be linked to their creators anymore, and try as best as i can to point to where i found them

while, like you, i value making my own art and assets, i think there is something beautiful in getting to know someone a little by seeing what they like, not only what they make

i also believe there's a point to be made about authorship. obviously making art is something super special, but interacting with other people's art is also an important part of the process. maybe this type of page is a celebration of that

anyways, that's my two cents