The prototypes of modern demotivators had little in common with what is now understood by this word. The first such posters appeared in response to Soviet propaganda posters that were posted in educational institutions and at workplaces, calling for vigorous productive activity, the implementation of a specific action, compliance with established rules, or condemning their violation. Often propaganda was carried out in such a boring and unsightly form that it led to the creation of many skits.
Demotivator now
More and more images, called demotivators, have little in common with this concept, being simply original pictures consisting of a photograph or drawing and inscriptions commenting on it, mainly of a humorous nature. However, they have a fairly well-regulated format:
- Usually black background color (as the least stimulating).
- The illustrative part.
- The main phrase or word, located mainly under the photograph or drawing, typed in large print.
- An explanation of the idea in smaller print
Unique components. Where to get?
Aphorisms and phraseological units, statements by famous people and popular quotes most often become the text used in demotivators. The originality of the Internet poster is mainly determined by the picture. To become 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 it yourself in a specialized program (by analogy - create a text).
- To order a picture or a joke / aphorism to another person (but this option will require some costs).
- Scan an illustration from a book or magazine and transfer it to a computer (however, there is no guarantee that someone did not post it before).
- Find an image or text on the net and remake it. The easiest way to change the picture is to mirror, in most cases, horizontally (this can be done using some programs).
However, the possession of the original drawing is only the first step in the independent creation of a demotivator. How to make an online poster? Very simple!
How to make a demotivator yourself?
A demotivator is not just an image and text. All components will need to lead to a certain kind. To do this, you can choose the most convenient option.
1. Online services. There are a lot of them. All are simple and similar to use. Just select a background color, upload a picture and text. Each editor has its advantages and disadvantages over similar ones, but the following can be attributed to their common disadvantages:
- On the final image there will be a watermark, indicating ownership of the site, with which a demotivator picture was made.
- Online services have limited editing capabilities for the original image and text format.
There are a number of restrictions on the content of posters created 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 at least a hint of pedophilia.
- Inscriptions consisting of a random set of letters and symbols, any other obvious nonsense are not accepted (and too slogan slogans get a negative rating).
- Advertising materials are also banned, as well as offensive to religious communities, famous and unknown specific personalities.
- Censorship prohibits the demonstration of violent violence and calls for it.
- Other pictures and texts that do not comply with the site’s policy and the administration’s ideas about the term “demotivator” will be rejected (ordinary pictures with a funny signature can be forcedly labeled “not 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. In order to use them, it is enough to set the required search query, select a program and download it to your computer.
3. Graphic editors. Well-known programs - graphic editors (Photoshop, Paint, etc.) can also be used to create a demotivator. How to do this in a specific program? This is the most fully and accessible educational resources will suggest.
How to make a demotivator - everyone decides for himself, but despite the variety of ways of creating them, themes and types (classical, comic, philosophical, social), all of them are united by the fact that the paradox is at the core, the contrast between the image and the text.