Prototypes of modern demotivators had little in common with what is now understood by this word. The first such posters appeared in response to propaganda Soviet posters placed in educational institutions and workplaces, calling for active productive activity, performing a specific action, observing established rules or condemning their violation. Often the propaganda was carried out in such a boring and ugly way that it led to the creation of many parodies.
Demotivator now
More and more images, called demotivators, have little to do with this concept, being simply original pictures, consisting of a photograph or drawing and an inscription commenting on it, mostly of a humorous nature. However, they have a fairly well-regulated format:
- Usually black background color (as least stimulating).
- Illustrative part.
- The main phrase or word, located mainly under a photograph or drawing, in large type.
- Explaining the idea in smaller print
Unique ingredients. Where to get it?
The text used in demotivators is most often aphorisms and phraseological units, sayings of famous people and popular quotes. The originality of the Internet poster is mainly determined by the picture. Becoming the owner of an exclusive image, the first to post it on a blog or social network is not at all difficult. There are several ways:
- Take a picture or draw in a specialized program yourself (by analogy - the text - come up with).
- Order a picture or a joke/aphorism to another person (but this option will incur some costs).
- Scan an illustration from a book or magazine and transfer it to your computer (however, there is no guarantee that someone has not posted it before).
- Find an image or text online and remake it. The easiest way to change the picture is to mirror it, in most cases horizontally (this can be done using some programs).
However, having an original drawing is only the first step in creating a demotivator on your own. How to make an internet poster? Very easy!
How to make a demotivator yourself?
Demotivator is not just an image and text. All components will need to be brought to a certain form. To do this, you can choose the most convenient option.
1. Online services. There are quite a few of them. All are simple and similar in use. It is enough to choose a background color, upload an image and text. Each editor has its own advantages and disadvantages over similar ones, but their common disadvantages include the following:
- The final image will have a watermark indicating that it belongs to the site with which the demotivator picture was made.
- Editing the original image and text format is limited in online services.
There are a number of restrictions on the content of created posters on Internet portals. It is better to familiarize yourself with them before making a demotivator:
- It is forbidden to use any images and statements that have even a hint of pedophilia.
- Random lettering, symbols, or any other obvious nonsense will not be accepted (and overused slogans get a negative rating).
- Promotional materials are banned, as well as those that are offensive to religious communities, famous and unknown specific personalities.
- Censorship prohibits the demonstration of a scene of severe violence and calls for it.
- Other pictures and texts that do not comply with the site's policy and the ideas of its administration about the concept of "demotivator" will be rejected (regular pictures with a funny caption may be forced to be marked "not a demotivator".
2. Special programs. The principle of operation of such programs is similar to online services, only without marking the result with a watermark and censorship. Forin order to use them, just enter the required search query, select a program and download it to your computer.
3. Graphic editor. Widely known programs - graphic editors (Photoshop, Paint, etc.) can also be used to create a demotivator. How to do it in a specific program? This is the most complete and accessible learning resources will prompt.
How to make a demotivator - everyone decides for himself, but despite the variety of ways to create them, themes and types (classical, comic, philosophical, social), they are all united by the paradox, the contrast between the image and the text.
