This is just an idea, and I am rather new here; however, if we get maybe ten to hundreds (maybe even thousands if that many are interested) or so tech-savvy and other interested people working on this in their free time, we could help Paul spread the empire without stressing him out. I was reading Paul's thread ( http://www.permies.com/t/12710/tnk/response-demands-change#115106 ) about people criticizing him to change, and I thought it would be a good idea instead to try and find people who can fill this niche in the empire for him. Specifically, the meme factory.

Of course, there would be a few things we would have to keep in mind:
We cannot use any images without permission from the owners; therefore, it is advisable the images for the memes be taken by ourselves or from a public domain source.
We should reflect the values of permaculture in our memes and Internet lives.
We must be kind to everyone.
We need to keep the recipient in mind. Which bricks of permaculture (as Paul referred to them in his 2014 Permaculture Keynote) are we trying to resonate with each meme?
Then from there, all we'd have to do is make memes and post them on our Internet footprints (e.g. Facebook, tumblr, twitter)

I am referring to Paul Wheaton's lawn care article in the second meme.

If anyone does not know how to make a meme, it is very simple. Just find an image, download or upload it, add some text on the top and a bottom. Then, post somewhere and you are done. Here are links to open-source software for making memes:

Gimp is a free open-source software for image editing, and it works on Mac, Windows, and Linux operating systems: http://www.gimp.org/

Avidemux is a free open-source software for video editing, would be useful if people want to make gifs (essentially moving memes): http://avidemux.sourceforge.net/

VSDC Video editor is another free software for editing videos, more useful for gifs, they also have audio editors and convertors and video convertors:
http://www.videosoftdev.com/free-video-editor

Phatch (photo and batch combined) is a free open-source software for Mac, Windows, and Linux for image processing: http://photobatch.stani.be/

(Some of these could also be used when someone takes an online PDC and wants to edit their diagram/plan- stacking functions)

Here are links to the rest of the meme factory:

Meme Factory Photo Submissions (this is where photos are posted for the meme volunteers to work with): http://www.permies.com/t/36922/tnk/Meme-Factory-Photo-Submissions

Meme Factory Soundboard (this is where the meme test audience will be commenting on all initial memes to make them more effective): http://www.permies.com/t/36923/tnk/Meme-Factory-Soundboard

The following images used for the example memes are sourced from http://www.public-domain-image.com/

***This topic is where finalized memes should be posted and general discussion about the meme factory***

Here is a helpful hint on how use GIMP to make nice borders around your text to make it more readable.

1. Write you text using the text tool.
2. With your text layer selected go to Layer->Transparency->Alpha to Selection.
3. Then go to Select->Grow, choose how thick you want your border, for large text try 3-4, for small text 1-2 pixels.
4. Create a new blank layer and move it to underneath your text layer.
5. Select the color you want to use as your border, I usually use black.
6. Use the paint bucket tool to fill the selection on your blank layer, make sure the "Fill whole selection" option is selected.
7. Enjoy your awesome meme, now with borders

A friend did the same for Larry Santoyo as we took his PDC in LA ... I agree these memes are the way people communicate or learn about new things ... very powerful tool if enough people get behind it

Anyone have suggestions for making memes on your phone? I'm going to try out a few apps and see if I can upload some memes for everyone to use and post online while I'm away from home.

I think it's a great idea. Let us know which phone apps you like.

thanks, Dave.

...and another

While searching for an app, I found there is one called "Meme Factory". I want to make it clear this thread has no relation to the app. I titled the threads "Meme Factory" because a factory fits in with the empire theme name-wise.

Here are the phone photo apps I have tried so far:

-ImageEditor Lite
-I like this app. Simplistic and easy to use design. It has text capabilities. It has a nice variety of photo editing tools on it. The ads are not very annoying.

-SquareReady
-I like this app a lot! It is slightly more complicated than ImageEditor Lite. It has more fonts to choose from, and it has enough photo editing tools for most people's needs. You also have the option to download a guild of apps that have additional effects that work alongside this app. The ads are not a deterent to using this app.

-FX Photo Studio
-This app has the most options all-in-one. It is an okay app, but it creeps me out that the camera lens in the center of the app's home screen is always on.

-InstaCollage
-Good for making collages, not so much for making memes. Unless someone wants to make collages for memes. This may come in handy if anyone submits any photos of their gardens or food forests for usage in creating memes. This app has the most fonts to choose from. The only downside is EVERYTHING must be framed in one away or another.

Hmm I thot I had posted these here, but I guess not..so here goes. I make my Memes in either Snagit or PowerPoint and just size the slide window to be 450 px x 450 px..than I can make a bunch of memes in PowerPoint..they are not hi resolution but don't really need to be for social media sites.

Hi, Rebecca....you did post them...in the "meme factory soundboard" topic. there are three separate topics that Dave began as steps to this one
the links should show below in 'similar topics'

Is anyone here a graphic designer? I've done some work like that but I'm not a pro. I think it would be helpful in spreading our message if our designs looked professional (not corporate) but clean and easy to read. I'm thinking high quality images, smooth scaling, no comic sans, etc..

I really believe in our message and I think a lot of people would be willing to listen if we take the time to polish it.

Happy homesteading

Hi, Eric....could you check out the MEME FACTORY SOUNDBOARD thread and help with some editing there? It would be great to have more folks involved.

I'm glad you are interested Eric! The more people the better! Just a friendly reminder for new meme factory volunteers on how the Meme Factory works: 1) photos for use by meme factory volunteers are to be posted in the topic "Meme Factory Photo Submissions" 2) All initial memes are to be posted under the topic "Meme Factory Soundboard" to receive critiques 3) Once the meme is improved, it may then be posted on the "Meme Factory" topic for anyone to copy, and post online to spread word about permies.com and permaculture

another...

dave, I really like the last one that you added!

Thank you, Judith!

We just got approval by Paul Wheaton to use quotes from him in making memes. To add that step in if anyone just loves finding and posting good quotes, we can use the thread Paul Quotes for that. The Soundboard will also function for filtering out misquotes if they happen.

Here's a quick update on how things can be more efficient and fun for making memes so people can fit in wherever they like best:

1) Finding/making quotes are advised for posting in:
http://www.permies.com/t/16151/tnk/paul-quotes
2)Submitting Photos for use by meme volunteers:
http://www.permies.com/t/36922/tnk/Meme-Factory-Photo-Submissions
3)Making initial memes for critiques:
http://www.permies.com/t/36923/tnk/Meme-Factory-Soundboard
4)Posting finalized memes for use by everyone (the thread you currently are in)

moved from the 'soundboard'

I was reading Paul's Mission Thread and this popped out at me..his thread is here
http://www.permies.com/t/24216/labs/mission

Another quote came up today..and came out a meme

I don't mean to criticize, my intention is to make this better.

There are SO many memes that exist already that certain "standards" in meme creation have been established, but I'm not seeing them here.

Here are some tips to make your memes more "sharable" (because if it isn't, it isn't a meme).

1. Impact is a commonly used font for memes. It is readable as well as recognizable.

2. There are several well-established images that people will recognize, see if you can find ways to tap into their popularity. It is far easier to adapt an existing meme than to create one and hope it catches on. Look up some popular memes.

2.1 Certain memes have a standard format that should be followed, just as certain jokes do; it would be difficult to combine "the Pope walks into a bar" with the Knock-Knock format.

3. Try to be witty or clever. If you make the meme funny and cool, people will want to share it because they will want their friends to think that THEY are funny and cool.

This concludes my unsolicited advice for improving the Permies Meme Factory.

Here's a good one I found just now:



It uses the font Impact, and it's a clever pun. Now we just need to point it to permies.

I added several i made to the other thread. For the feedback from people. Would love to know what you think (:

Thank you Chad, please check back at the Soundboard. I will have some memes based on popular ones for you to critique. I'm also downloading iFunny to see what is popular.

To catch the attention of already popular memes,
here is a website that lets us do just that. They have pictures that are popular without any text on them:
http://m.memegenerator.net/memes/top/alltime
Just copy the images you want and play with them.

Should we be adding our own meme pics from the other thread once they get some good comments or thumbs up? Or let the OP here post them to here?

You do not have to wait for the OP. All you have to do to post to the Meme Factory is get some good comments about a meme in the Soundboard. It is preferred to run this way because the Soundboard would act as a filter to refine the memes. We have some people critiquing; it is much appreciated when meme volunteers serve dual functionalities and critique each others' memes. Until more people are visiting the Soundboard, it may take a little time to get critiques, but your patience and following this process is very helpful. Then, any and all memes posted on this thread (Meme Factory) are open for posting by anyone on permies.com for any accounts they have anywhere online.

Awesome. Gonna post the good ones here. Got a couple of the others try and make the text better (text color vs pic colorand all).



This one makes me think of pauls rants of "dont need more yer dirty hippy shit" at the word permaculture.

This one totally just kills me..

Like I really do mean it, this thread is for taking memes people have made and posting them anywhere online whenever you like! You don't have to use memes that you've created. Just post what you like and think that others might like! =)

Josh Zingg wrote:

would be funny to link this one to treehugger.com instead.

Here are some memes