Frequently Asked Questions

Site Related

Didn't this used to be a Neopets Graphics Site?
Yes, but after Neopets' layout change in 2007, I realized their yearly change in coding ruins my already minimal social life, so I quit making stuff for Neopets. I was NOT going to recode a few hundred layouts and redo their graphics. It was a good catalyst to wean me off the Yellow Paradise. No, I haven't quit Neopets itself YET...

Can I we be affiliates?
Affiliation is open only once a year, during December 1st - January 31st. No other applications will be accepted unless your site really takes my breath away. Affiliations also only last ONE YEAR (February - February) unless both parties agree to extend the affiliation. Link Exchanges are open all year round, so feel free to do that with me instead.

Are you looking for staff?
Nope, and I never will. This site is strictly for me to vent my thoughts/creative activities. I don't accept donated works either. (Just Fanart and PNGs) Thanks for your support and offer. You can supposrt this site by DONATING, however...

Layouts/Graphics Related

Why do a lot of your graphics have http://theforgottenlair.doesntexist.com?
That was the subdomain this site was in until I moved out of my friend RTWK's server... ^^;

Can I request a...?
IF it is ANIME THEMED and follows the guidelines of the SHOUTBOX RULES. Most importantly, use the words, "May I Please Ask" and "Thank You" rather than "You Need" or "This Site Should"... You have no idea how many times this occurs, causing me to snap or say something sarcastic such as the world NEEDING world peace and not another (insert anime here) layout. Anything on this site, save Wallpapers can be requested, however whether or not I acknowledge it is another story. Refer to the Shoutbox Rules.

Can you make me a...?
If it is within my power and you pay me, I can make anything you want. This site offers free graphics and so it runs on requests- which I choose to fulfill based on my mood and time. However, if you would like to personally request something exclusive ONLY TO YOU (so that it is designed to your specifications and no one else can use it but you such as a web layout, a personal avatar set, MySpace layout, etc...), then visit my Freelance Graphic Site, IMGCATALYST.COM. There, you can order personal graphic services for a relatively low charge.

Do you do commission works?
Yes, visit my Freelance Graphic Site, IMGCATALYST.COM.

Can I use these graphics/layouts outside of MySpace?
If coding permits, sure, why not? Although this site targets MySpace users, the blogs, wallpapers, avatars, banners, etc, are by no means limited to just MySpace. (As a matter of fact, the blogs don't even work in MySpace...) Feel free to use my graphics in any way you can, but be sure to leave the credit to this site.

Can I use your codes/images?
You MAY NOT use/crop my images and make other graphics/layouts for your own graphic site. However, if you wish to make a personal layout CONTACT ME first. Clearly, REDISTRIBUTION IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED!!! My layout codes are allowed to be edited for PERSONAL USE, given that credit is still given to http://www.theforgottenlair.net/. Please read the Terms of Use.

Why won't you make custom layouts?
Because I'm too busy with the rest of this site, my guild, and what little time I have for college and my job. Also people become very demanding and I'm not skilled enough to do every theme I'm asked to do. (Anime people, ANIME.) Plus it's my own free time I'm giving up here and most of you don't want to host your own graphics anyway... Plus there's just too many of you... Gomen.

Why won't you make fill in the blank?
Because either I'm working on it as you complain, don't want to make it because I don't feel like it, don't want to waste server space with something I don't think would be used by others, or because I'm just plain evil... Next question.

How long does it take to do your graphics?
MySpace Layouts take about 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. Avatars take about 5 minutes to 20 minutes for such small little things. (Note to self: Must practice on designing confined spaces...) The other stuff take less than 20 minutes so they're not worth mentioning individually. My blood, sweat and tears go into my Wallpapers mostly, because they are submitted into large Wallpaper Communities like Animepaper and Minitokyo where I hold somewhat of a reputation (especially in AP where I'm a Senior Member) that cannot be ruined by simple wallpapers that include nothing but solid colors/gradients, brushes and partially blended scan with massive layers of text over it. If you take a look at my wallpapers, I now specialize in scenic designs that include grunge and detailed lighting effects. So in all, my recent wallpapers take me about 7 hours to 2 weeks on and off in which most of the time is planning and remaking a wallpaper over and over again until my 90% satisfaction.

What programs do you use for your graphics?
Adobe Suite (CS4 - Photoshop, Illustrator, etc), Ulead Gif Animator 5 and Jasc Animation Shop 3 for anything animated, Sony Sound Forge 8.0 for any MP3 related business, Notepad (because after my computer crashed I was too lazy to load Dreamweaver again), Macromedia Flash MX for any flash works and Microangelo Creation for my cursors.

Non Related

Are you a boy or girl?
I'm a girl although I get mistaken quite frequently as a guy for my darker/tomboyish layouts, attitude, and even in real life when wearing baggy clothes or a hoody. Yes, I am a tomboy, and yes I dress like a goth or rocker or whatever you want to call it, but no, I'm not either of them because of the pink fluff from one of my alter-egos. I hung out with a lot of goths, rockers, punk rockers and wiccans in High School okay? And heck I've even been mistakened as a 13 year old when I was 18 and as a young mother whenever there's a little kid beside me and I'm wearing a collared shirt. (What the hell?) So I look old, young, and like a guy depending on what I'm wearing that day.

Why is your alias Phoenix?
I'm Chinese and so growing up involved seeing the phoenix as the symbol for women. (As opposed to the dragon for males). Watching the 1990's X-Men series sealed the deal for me with Jean Grey as The Phoenix. ^^

How do you do fill in the blank?
Visit The Forgotten Lair Forums and ask there and I might tell you... ^^

Do you like vampires?
Hell yeah. I've read almost all of Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles. (Missed out on Blackwood Farm and whatever came out after that because it got too repetitive and such.) Lestat is awesome, but I adore Louis. Underworld was a good movie too.

What's your favorite anime?
You can read the ABOUT THIS SITE section for this but to save YOU time, it's the Gundam series, although you will find I often bash the newer series for their lack of original plot and demi-god boyband pilots... I've watched basically every single series, including the one's from the 70's, so if you argue with me, you'd better have watched them all and know more than I do. So which series was my favorite? Not sure, but my favorite mech is the Zeta Gundam for some odd reason. Sleek design I guess.