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A recent post in c/main has sparked interest in finding a new sidebar banner for our instance. The current one is AI generated, and was chosen by our users from a bunch of other AI-generated submissions. It has been three years since then. Also, the mood toward AI has shifted. Maybe it's time for something new, and human-made?

This post is a place to collect submissions for new banner artwork. Put your art in the comments below! We plan to leave this post open for two weeks, and hold a vote on Friday, Sept. 11.

For context, here is the recent post in c/main: https://sh.itjust.works/post/65729579

Here is the old banner discussion: https://sh.itjust.works/post/1022097

And here is the old banner vote: https://sh.itjust.works/post/1432783
(Unfortunately, some of the image links are broken.)

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[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 66 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Throwing my human made garbage into the mix just to make certain that the competition will not contain 100% AI. You're welcome.

Edit: and if you'd like a public domain lemming photo, I recommend this site, suggested by the incomparable unique_emerald_soul_I

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 22 points 3 weeks ago

Did we use the same pic?

I did this for best of lemmy. I just took the pic from wikipedia and put some crappy special effects on it. It's so ugly that I can't really stand to use it as an award, as a I originally intended.

Behold my absolutely no AI was used.

If either you or St.Elsewhere need more CC0 images of animals specifically, check out inaturalist.org. User-submitted wildlife images and you can filter by license including CC0 (public domain) under [more filters]. There are currently 1,892 observations under [Voles, Lemmings, and Muskrats] that are public domain.

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

Definitely. I got tired of starting a banner and then deleting it once I noticed the watermark on my "public domain" image, so I turned to wikipedia

[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

It seems to be a trend that when you want anti-AI media, use Wikipedia.

Edit: I also like yours for some reason. It has a shitposting kind of quality that's endearing.

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago

Candidly, if Wikipedia goes down, I'm leaving the internet permanently. You will not see me again.

And thank you, it's terrible and barebones in a very catered and intentional way. If I win, I know something has gone awry

Double-posting b/c I don't think I have the ability to tag you on Lemmy but if you or pelespirit need more CC0 images of animals specifically, check out inaturalist.org. User-submitted wildlife images and you can filter by license including CC0 (public domain) under [more filters]. There are currently 1,892 observations under [Voles, Lemmings, and Muskrats] that are public domain.

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

I might take a crack at a slightly better one once the mood strikes me. I had an hour to kill while waiting for an appointment when this pic happened. I'll include this link in my submission, in case someone cares to improve upon... what's the opposite of perfection in this context? Debasement? Improve upon my debasement

(Edit: also, I'm a lemming. Check my username)

I would go for something like debauchery or degeneration, tho the latter has kinda been completely subsumed by horni culture (tho TBH I like the juxtaposition with "generation" as an genAI term)

Also I can't help but give you a slow clap for that username, my friend ( ಠ_ಠ)ノシ You got me.

[-] starman2112@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago

As long as no one else makes any submissions, this will win by default

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago

I'm counting on the threat of this banner to be the impetus for something better

The more days pass with both a) your submission garnering the most upvotes and b) more submissions coming in with the same kind of copy/paste vibe, the funnier this post becomes.

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 4 points 3 weeks ago

I do genuinely like the diner lemming, for the record. The way they carved the fur flat against the front face of the counter was a nice touch. I do wish they'd chosen a higher resolution of the painting to match the lemming, but it's honestly pretty good. It's my pick

[-] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

Ah, like my temporary code.

[-] sorrybookbroke@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago

Kingshit, absolute vibe. My vote lays here

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Thanks, it took me 40 minutes because the internet endlessly lied about what is or is not public domain imagery so I had to start over 7 times

[-] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 48 points 3 weeks ago
[-] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 14 points 3 weeks ago

I love this.

[-] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 32 points 3 weeks ago

Gonna throw my shitty hat in the ring, just so there's more hats in the ring. I encourage more people to add their hats, too.

[-] borth@sh.itjust.works 1 points 4 days ago

I like it. It's simple, gets the idea across lol

Very tempted to just photoshop more hats onto your image after that comment ;P

[-] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 weeks ago

More badly photoshopped hats!

[-] RamenEater@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago
[-] QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works 6 points 2 weeks ago
[-] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

This isn't the reaction I was hoping for, honestly.

[-] loam@sh.itjust.works 21 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

There is a real lack of submissions, so here's a Canadian flag lemming concept that somebody cool should pay an actual artist to re-make decently!

edit: fixed the text

[-] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago

That's a cool idea, the red leaf as a sort of mask. :)

[-] loam@sh.itjust.works 5 points 2 weeks ago

If it matters, this was drawn in GIMP with a mouse, with a free maple leaf clipart thrown into the mix

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago

For the record, I want your lemming as our mascot rather than our banner. It IS our mascot, as far as I'm concerned and I'll internet slap fight anyone who disagrees

[-] loam@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Thank you! I think it fits a lot better as the icon to the left of the sh.itjust.works title. And possibly the favicon, if it scales down well.

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[-] rowrowrowyourboat@sh.itjust.works 16 points 3 weeks ago

Maybe you should put the technical details for the banner?

Resolution, dimensions, format...

[-] kersploosh@sh.itjust.works 25 points 3 weeks ago

File format: .webp
PNG or JPEG might work, but Lemmy seems to like .webp.

Dimensions: The image may be scaled differently by various Lemmy UIs, so there is no exact size requirement. Here are some current instance sidebar image sizes for reference:
sh.itjust.works: 1792 x 672
lemmy.world: 1863 x 713
lemmy.blahaj.zone: 1400 x 650
lemmy.dbzer0.com: 2048 x 640

[-] Eyekaytee@aussie.zone 12 points 3 weeks ago

perfect for this place, angry little thing mad someone has posted some ai with a side pouch full of unused condoms

[-] Gullible@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Boo malformed AI beaver boooo

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[-] WhyJiffie@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

It's not even angry lol, but smug. like you. you did not prompt it well

[-] Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 weeks ago

I can't wait to see submissions! Since I can't do art of any kind myself, I'm just going to post a link to some inspiration photos of lemmings, most with photographer attribution or at least credit of some kind. The little fella in the first image looks like he could be at a tiny keyboard. Some of the others look more like they're traversing a human-sized keyboard.

https://www.hww.ca/wildlife/mammals/lemmings/

[-] Yerbouti@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 weeks ago

Cool.

Maybe something that could also help people remember that this is a billigual instance too would be nice? I'm 0% visual artist so I can't help on that but I could compose an instance anthem if you want.

[-] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 weeks ago

Yes. What do you think of a little beret on the lemming's head ? :D)

But... aside from the sh.it presentation, I haven't really seen any posts or comments in French, so is the bilingual aspect actually a reality ?

Je peux aider, si vous voulez vous lancer... :)

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[-] Sinopa@sh.itjust.works 6 points 1 week ago

Hello

I have no idea what you'll think of this one.

I find it funny, but :

  • I borrowed the image from Norm of the North ; I’m not sure if I’m allowed to do that, even with a few minor tweaks.
  • I’m confused about the colors. Red and white, okay, that’s Canada. I wasn’t sure about the third one, so I went with the blue of Quebec...
[-] pastermil@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

You know, that Lain picture included on the old banner vote post looks good.

[-] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

I vote for keeping the old one.

[-] mindbleach@sh.itjust.works 3 points 3 weeks ago

Seconded. It's fine. It's a product of a particular moment, but it's only intended to be seen as a little side image for flair. I've thought about painting over it, but (1) it would look identical in situ and (2) the reactionaries would not care. They can complain about the details, but addressing those complaints doesn't work. The nature of bad faith is that there is no right answer.

Admittedly the case for keeping it is weaker than e.g. the Games community's "name any object in this image" sidebar. There, the abstraction is a feature, looking appropriate at a glance but devoid of specifics. It never needs to be updated with newer games or pruned of fallen creators. It's cover art impressionism. Here, though, it's just a cute rodent and some computer shit, as illustrated by a robot. People being mad at the robot is not reason enough to drop in any slapdash alternative as if the human wrist has magically imbued that with intent.

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this post was submitted on 27 Aug 2026
159 points (97.6% liked)

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