How Ratings work.

A huge database of tutorial ratings. The white paper on how to design efficiently.

Ratings

What is the rating system?

The system was built to study how efficient/inefficient design techniques are. Tutorials are compared, analysed & graded professionally to provide the best possible tool for designers.

Creating such database allows for a more analytical approach to a creative process.

How Does the rating system Work?

The “Design Rating System”(DRS) has 4 pillar mechanics: Practice(time), Difficulty, Scalability & Functionality. The tutorials are graded from 0-5. An Average is eventually calculated.

The Design Rating System is a huge database of professionally graded tutorials. This is aimed to help designers work more efficiently.

Tutorials are graded on a score of 0-5. The score is made up of 4 mechanics – Practice(time), Difficulty, Scalability & Functionality. Low to high.

Assigned Individual ratings from 0-5 could be looked at as levels –

0-2: Bad
2-3: Good
3-4: Great
4-5: Expert

No, it is not the best score. The best score is usually around 2.25-4.25. This range is called Optimal Design Range. We cover it more in-depth within this page.

Practice (time) – How much time does it take to practice the technique?
Difficulty – How difficult is the technique?
Scalability – How much would the technique be used day-to-day?
Functionality – How much does it serve the outcomes purpose?

After years of design experience, it all boils down to these 4 mechanics. Are you doing design to work fast? Are you doing it for enjoyment? Are you doing it to learn?

We want to provide designers a tool to help them make a more analytical approach to their process. If this helps designers even just a little bit, that means we succeeded.

Article Practice Scalability Difficulty Functionality Average Rating
Adding Blurs in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Comprehensive Guide 1 3 1.5 4 2.375
Adding Camera Shake in DaVinci Resolve 18: A Tutorial 3.5 1.5 3 2.5 2.625
Solving the 01:00:00:00(1hr) Timeline Timecode Issue in DaVinci Resolve 18 | Easy Guide 1.5 1.5 1 3.5 1.875
Mastering the Fairlight Page in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Comprehensive Guide 4.5 3.5 4 4.5 4.125
Adding Transitions in DaVinci Resolve 18 | Comprehensive Guide 1.5 4.5 2 4 3
How to Undo in DaVinci Resolve 18 | All you need to know 1.5 5 1 5 3.125
Enhancing human Voices in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Troubleshooting Guide 4.5 3.5 4.5 4 4.125
Adding Audio Effects in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Step-by-Step Guide 2.5 4 2.5 4.5 3.375
How to Install Photopea Plugins in Photopea | Complete Tutorial 2 4 2 4 3
What Are Blurs & How to Use Them in Photopea? | Complete Guide 3.5 5 3 5 4.125
How to Make the Double Exposure Effect in Photopea | Complete Guide 3.5 5 3.5 5 4.25
How To Create Photoshop Templates For Free Using Photopea 4 5 3.5 5 4.375
Recording Audio in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Troubleshooting Guide 2 3.5 2.5 4 3
How to Change Dpi in Photopea | Complete Guide 2 5 2 5 3.5
How to remove background in DaVinci Resolve 18 3.5 3 4 4 3.625
How to Reduce (or Add Noise) in Photopea | Quick Guide 1.5 5 1.5 5 3.25
How to Use Photopea for Beginners | In-Depth Guide 5 5 3.5 5 4.625
Selecting in DaVinci Resolve 18 | In-Depth Guide 1 4.5 1 4.5 2.75
The Pen Tool in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Step-by-Step Guide 3.5 1.5 3.5 2.5 2.75
How To Crop An Image In Photopea | Detailed Guide 2 5 2 5 3.5
How To Use Brushes In photopea? | Beginner’s Guide 3.5 5 3.5 5 4.25
Masking in DaVinci Resolve 18 | Step By Step Tutorial 4 3.5 3 4 3.625
How to Make Pixel Art in Photopea | Quick Guide 4.5 5 3 5 4.375
Adding Titles in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Step-by-Step Guide 1 3.5 1 4.5 2.5
Cropping in DaVinci Resolve 18 | Detailed Tutorial 1 4 1 3.5 2.375
How to Add Text in Photopea | The Ultimate Guide 4 5 2.5 5 4.125
How to Add a Background In Davinci Resolve 18 (2023) 4 4.5 3 4.5 4
How to Move Layers (or Images) in Photopea | Layers in Depth Guide 3.5 5 2.5 5 4
Creating Shapes in DaVinci Resolve 18 (Easy Tutorial) 3 2 3 3 2.75
How to Make an Animated GIF Image in Photopea | Complete Guide 3 5 3.5 5 4.125
Adding Text in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Step-by-Step Guide 1.5 2 1 2 1.625
Selections (& How to Deselect) in Photopea | In-Depth Guide 1.5 5 3 5 3.625
Transforming, Scaling & Rotating in DaVinci Resolve 18 (2023) 1.5 2.5 1 3 2
Mastering the Fusion Page in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A-Z Guide 4.5 2.5 4.5 3 3.625
How to Move, Rotate, Flip, Scale & Duplicate an Image in Photopea 1.5 5 2 5 3.375
Color Page in DaVinci Resolve 18 (ALL you need to know) 4 2 4 2 3
Mastering The Edit Page In DaVinci Resolve 18 | Detailed Tutorial 2 4.5 2 4.5 3.25
The Cut Page In DaVinci Resolve 18 (A Comprehensive Guide) 3 5 3 5 4
Setting Up a Project in DaVinci Resolve 18 | A Step-by-Step Tutorial 1 5 1 5 3
How to use the Pen Tool in Photopea | Complete Guide 4.5 5 4 5 4.625
Blur, Sharpen, Dodge, Burn & Smudge Tools in GIMP | Complete Tutorial 3 4 3 4.5 3.625
How to Mask in Photopea | An In-depth Tutorial 4 5 3 5 4.25
How to Design YouTube Thumbnails in GIMP (Step-by-step) 2.5 4.5 4.5 4 3.875
How to Change Themes in GIMP (Dark, Light & More) 1 2 1 2 1.5
How to Liquify in GIMP (With Examples!) 2.5 3.5 2.5 4 3.125
How to Use the Heal Tool in GIMP (Remove Blemishes & More!) 2.5 4 2.5 4.5 3.375
How to open an EPS file in GIMP (Quick & Easy) 1 2 1 2 1.5
How to Remove background in Photopea | Step-by-step tutorial 4 5 3 5 4.25
How to use the Pen (Paths) tool in GIMP | Beginner’s Guide 4.5 5 4 5 4.625
How to Vectorise an image in GIMP (Free Methods) 4 3 4 4 3.75
How to Draw Shapes in GIMP | A Complete Guide 2 5 3 5 3.75
How to add guides in GIMP | Complete Tutorial 3 5 2.5 5 3.875
How to Use the Clone Tool in GIMP (Complete Guide) 2.5 4 2.5 4.5 3.375
How to Curve Text in GIMP | Complete Guide 3 2.5 3.5 3.5 3.125
How to Cut Out an Object in GIMP (2023) 2.5 5 2.5 5 3.75
How to Export in GIMP | Beginner’s Guide 1 5 1 5 3
How to Blur the Background in GIMP | Beginner’s Guide 2.5 5 2.5 5 3.75
How to Install GIMP Plugins in 3 Steps | Quick Guide 1 3.5 2 3.5 2.5
Smooth Edges and Lines in GIMP | Beginner’s Guide 2 5 2.5 5 3.625
How to Change DPI in GIMP | Complete Guide 2 3 2 5 3
How to Draw in GIMP | Step-by-Step Tutorial 2 4.5 2 4.5 3.25
How to use GIMP – A Beginner’s Tutorial 3 5 3 5 4
Detailed Review of GIMP: The Pros and Cons 5 5 3 5 4.5
How to Select Multiple Layers in GIMP 1.5 4 1.5 4 2.75
8 Tools and features to improve your images in GIMP 2 4 2 4 3
How to Make Pixel Art in GIMP 3 2 3 2.5 2.625
How to Add or Install Fonts in GIMP (Windows, Linux & macOS) 0.5 5 0.5 5 2.75
How To Make Selections in GIMP | Quick Shortcuts 3.5 5 2 5 3.875
How to Move Layers in GIMP | All you need to know 1 5 0.5 5 2.875
How to Rotate & Transform an Image in GIMP | Complete Guide 1 4 1 5 2.75
How to Replace Any Colour in GIMP | Edits 101 Tutorial 3.5 5 3 5 4.125
How to Outline Text in GIMP (Adding Stroke & More!) 1.5 3.5 2 3.5 2.625
How to Mask in GIMP | Edits 101 Tutorial 3.5 5 4 5 4.375
How to Resize An Image In GIMP 1 3.5 1.5 4 2.5
How to Crop an Image in GIMP | Edits 101 Tutorial 1.5 5 1.5 5 3.25
4 ways to Remove a Background In Gimp | In-depth Guide 3.5 5 3.5 5 4.25
Selection Tools 101 – Complete Guide to Affinity Photo IPad 4 5 2.5 5 4.125
The Pen Tool in Affinity Photo iPad | How to (2023) 4.5 5 3.5 5 4.5
Exploring Personas | An Affinity Photo iPad Tutorial 4.5 5 3.5 5 4.5
Smoke (Dispersion) Effect – Affinity Photo iPad Tutorial (2023) 3 2 4 2.5 2.875
How to Recolour in Affinity Photo iPad: The Ultimate Guide 4 5 3 5 4.25
How to Setup & Resize Document | Affinity Photo iPad (2023) 1 3.5 1 3.5 2.25
How to Crop in Affinity Photo iPad: The Ultimate Guide 1.5 3 1.5 4.5 2.625
How to Remove Objects in Affinity Photo iPad 2.5 5 2.5 5 3.75
Blend Ranges (blend if) – Affinity Photo iPad Tutorial 2.5 4 2.5 4 3.25
Adding Borders and Frames in Affinity Photo iPad | Easy Steps! 3 4 2 4 3.25
Masking A-Z in Affinity Photo iPad | Complete Guide (2023) 4 5 3 5 4.25
Affinity Photo Tools: A Complete Guide 5 5 3 5 4.5
How to Create Mockups in Affinity Photo: The Ultimate Guide 1.5 4 1.5 5 3
How to Resize the Canvas in Affinity Photo | A Complete Guide 1 3.5 1 3.5 2.25
Affinity Photo Essential Keyboard Shortcuts 5 5 3.5 5 4.625
Transform, Move & More | Affinity Photo Tutorial (2023) 3.5 4 3 5 3.875
How to Use Photoshop Plugins in Affinity Photo | Ultimate Guide (2023) 3.5 1 5 1.5 2.75
How to Export in Affinity Photo | Deep Dive (2023) 2.5 4 3 5 3.625
Selection Tools 101 | A Complete Affinity Photo Guide 4 5 4 5 4.5
Shadows and Highlights in Affinity Photo | Masterclass (2023) 4 4 3.5 5 4.125
Adjustment Layers 101 | How they work in Affinity Photo 5 5 4 5 4.75
Adding Frames and Borders in Affinity Photo (2023) 3 4 3 4 3.5
How to Remove Background in Affinity Photo | Complete Guide (2023) 4 5 3 4 4
Blending Modes in Affinity Photo (Desktop & iPad) | Complete Guide (2023) 3 5 4 5 4.25
High Pass Filter in Affinity Photo | A Comprehensive Guide 2 2.5 2 4 2.625
Text in Affinity Photo: Tips and Tools 3.5 5 2 5 3.875
Drawing Lines and Shapes in Affinity Photo | Step-by-Step (2023) 2 4 2 5 3.25
Layers in Affinity Photo | edits 101 Tutorial (2023) 4 5 1.5 5 3.875
How to Recolour in Affinity Photo | Complete Guide (2023) 4 5 2.5 5 4.125
Masking in Affinity Photo | A Complete Guide (2023) 4 5 3 5 4.25
How to Blur in Affinity Photo | Comprehensive Guide (2023) 3.5 4.5 2.5 5 3.875
Remove Noise in Affinity Photo | Ultimate Guide (2023) 1 3 1 4 2.25
Remove Anything In Affinity Photo! (Backgrounds, Objects & More) 3 1.5 2.5 5 3
the Pen Tool in Affinity Photo | Complete Guide (2023) 4.5 5 2 5 4.125
Live Filter Layers In Affinity Photo (2023) 2 5 1.5 5 3.375
Five Personas of Affinity Photo | A Comprehensive Guide (2023) 2 5 2.5 5 3.625

Optimal Design Range (ODR)

What powers all the system? What is the logic behind it?

Since our study was done to analyse techniques & (in)efficiencies in design, we found the following:

Practice ≡ Difficulty

Practice is usually equivalent to Difficulty

After studying the techniques day in day out, we found that the more difficult techniques are the more time consuming.

From the outside looking in, this might look obvious, however, there are instances where this statement wouldn’t apply.

Functional ≡ Scalability

Functional is equivalent to Scalability

The most functional techniques are the ones which would be repeatedly used . This means, that the most functional are the most scalable.

Same as before, there are some techniques which aren’t in congruence with this statement. However, the overwhelming majority falls within this category.

Optimal Design Range is:

2.25-4.25

Research Results
ODR Scale
ODR

Optimal Design Range (ODR): 2.25-4.25

The results give us a decent view of what’s going on. The optimal design range is 2-4.25. This range is the balance that the technique/tutorial would offer. Lets go to the results:

Optimal design range chart
Results

Conclusion

0 is the most creative/playing part. 5 would represent itself as the most expensive. It’s like the old saying – “You’ll get what you pay for”. However, 5 would not mean it’s the best.

Assigned Individual ratings from 0-5 could be looked at as levels –

0-2: Bad
2-3: Good
3-4: Great
4-5: Expert

Overall ratings vary depending on the scope of the design work.

0-2.25: It doesn’t take much time, but the return wont be too usable (depends on what you want to achieve).
2.25-4.25: This is the Optimal design range. This is optimal both for professional work & personal/creative work.
4.25-5: This is a luxury as it takes a lot of time to master. Once learned, it would be a very valuable asset to have in your arsenal of skills. (For example 2D designers learning 3D)

We’ve observed the following scenarios in our research: (Keeping in mind – Practice ≡ Difficulty & Functional ≡ Scalability)

– “Little time but a lot of scale” average would be in the same range as “A lot of time but little scale”.
– “Little time but a lot of scale” = Professional Work
– “A lot of time but little scale” = Creative/Personal Work
– An overwhelming amount of overlap between the two. Keeping in mind that more creative techniques start from the 0 mark & the more professional would tend to be more represented by the 5. This overlap would mean that the most optimal range hover around that 2.25-4.25.

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