Screen2.0

 
 
 

news // 2008.12.16 08:35:03 [hh]

Aviary.com: Grafikprogramme on-demand und im Web

Der amerikanische Web-Service Aviary.com hat jetzt die Public Beta für vier seiner Web-basierten Programme gestartet. Neu dabei ist neben dem Bildbearbeitungsprogramm "Phoenix" und dem Farb-Tool "Toucan" jetzt auch ein Vektor-Editor ("Raven") und ein Node-basiertes "Visual Laboratory" namens "Peacock" zur Generierung und Manipulation von Bildern basierend auf zusammenstöpselbaren Operationen. Screen2.0 bietet einen Überblick und Antworten auf die häufigsten Fragen.

Fragen und Antworten an Aviary (in englischer Sprache)

About Aviary

What is Aviary's mission?
Make the world's creation accessible.

Why did you choose the name Aviary?
Our motto was "Creation on the fly" and the bird metaphor seemed the best choice out of all the options available to us. We didn't want to name our software after bugs (for obvious reasons).

Also, haven't you heard? The bird is the word.

Who made Aviary?
We're a privately held company currently headquartered in Long Island, NY, with team members around the world. The founders also created Worth1000.com, a talented community of 500,000 digital artists that participate in amazing daily contests. You can find more information (and our group shot) in our About Us section.

Why did you start Aviary?
Through our interactions with the artists on Worth1000.com, we realized that while many people wanted to use digital editing software, it was very inaccessible:

We have our roots in the grassroots hobbyists community. We are artists ourselves and know that there are so many other potential creators out there like us... all they need are accessible tools.

Is Aviary funded?
We have been fortunate enough to attract a group of industry visionaries who believe firmly in our mission and want to help us grow.


Ownership

Does Aviary have any rights in the works I create?
You own the full rights to all works you create. Aviary only retains a license to display any works you make viewable to the public within Aviary and in any external publication provided it's in a way that promotes Aviary. For example, this means your work may be used to accompany a third-party newspaper article about Aviary.

If a user makes a derivative of someone else's work, who owns what?
The original author owns his original work and grants the new creator a license to make a derivative of his work. The new creator owns the derivative work (only).

Is author of a source image credited within a derivative?
Yes, the creator of the source work will automatically be listed as a contributor for that work.

How do I find derivatives of a work?
Right next to the sources tab, there is a derivatives tab. All derivatives of a work would appear under this tab.

Does a derivative work become hidden if the original author hides the source image?
No, the derivative remains in the public. Simply put, once it's been given out, it can't be taken back. Here's a real world analogy: If you lend your friend a CD and then ask him for it back a day later to destroy it, it doesn't change the fact that your friend may have already made a copy of the CD that will continue to exist no matter what you do to the original.


Permissions and Licensing

How do I set permissions on who can access a file?
You can set this in any application when you save it. You can set more advanced permissions on the file (like allowing specific people to access it) by clicking the "Creation Settings" link, located on any of your image's display pages. Please note that making creations private is restricted to Pro members.

What is the difference between viewing and editing a file?
Viewing allows you to see the flattened version of the file on the Aviary website, along with any information on the file that has been enabled (such as commenting). Editing (also referred to as "opening") allows you to open the file within the application, in order to learn how it was made or to even make changes to it (which can only be saved as a derivative).

If I open someone else's work, does that mean I can make changes to their file?
You can make changes, but it will not overwrite their file. It will create a derivative of the work that appears in your name.

Can I grant specific people rights on a specific file?
Yes. Just create a Contact List and grant that list access. Then add specific contacts to that list via the Contact Manager. For example, if you wanted to share a family photo with just your family, open the Contact Manager, create a new list called "My Family" and then drag any of your contacts who are family into that new Contact List. Then go to the Creation's image settings and allow the specific Contact List "My Family" to access the file.

Can I prevent everyone from accessing a specific file?
This feature is available for subscribers. Subscribers should choose "Only You" from the permissions list (for both editing and viewing).

What is the difference between Permissions and Licensing on the site?
Permissions dictate what other Aviary users can do with your file on Aviary (from a technical perspective). You can turn on and off access to certain aspects of your file using your permission settings. Licensing dictates what people on Aviary can do with the flattened version of your file off of Aviary. This is not technically enforced and instead relies on people adhering to the licensing terms set in the Creative Commons license you pick.

What are the different Creative Commons licenses available?
What happens if I use a source that has licensing terms set?
Your derivative file inherits the license terms from the source. Therefore, make sure you are comfortable with the license before using the source!


Files

Where are my files stored?
Aviary stores them within its internal file cloud (codenamed Rookery), and is redundantly backed up on Amazon S3. Your files are safe, secure and available to you from any computer with internet access.

Is it possible to get a DVD backup of all my files?
Yes. More information to come soon. If you're interested in early bird access to this service, please let us know.

Can I download my files to my computer?
Currently, you can export flat versions of your files (like jpg and gif) to your personal computer. We maintain the original unflattened work files on our servers. We'll allow subscribers to download the full layered work files to your computers soon.


Privacy

Does Aviary track any data on me?
We try to keep a bird's eye view of how the applications are used in order to improve them. We track what everyone is collectively doing, but only to make the tools better. For example, we might see that many people are hitting the UNDO button after using a specific function. That alerts us that we need to improve the function. It goes without saying that we will never, ever sell or share any of your personal usage information with any third party.

Does Aviary have a Privacy Policy?
Yes, it's here.


Applications

What applications are currently available?
In Beta release:For Alpha testing (only available to members of the Blue plan):
Are the applications available offline?
We will be releasing an Adobe AIR version of the applications that can be used offline.

Is there a Firefox extension?
Yes, called Talon. It is currently only available for alpha testers (anyone in the Blue plan). It allows you to:

Subscription Plans

How much does Aviary cost?
Aviary has a free basic plan which is a great way to get to learn the tools. We also have a premium Pro plans which allows a lot more control over the applications usage. Our paid plan is incredibly affordable ($9.99 a month), especially when compared with traditional desktop software that can costs thousands of dollars.

For exact pricing details, please see our pricing page.

If I haven't yet subscribed to a plan, can I use Aviary for any commercial purposes?
You aren't supposed to. If you are making money from our software, you should upgrade to a paid plan. Obviously, we would never enforce this, but we do want you to know how we feel about it: It's wrong. We trust you to do the right thing.

Is there a discount available for students?
Yes. We have a scholarship program for students and educators. To see if you qualify please contact us with details about intended usage.



Weitere Informationen: Aviary.com/ home?beta

 

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