PPTTG 8! Round 4!

[Flame]

Well, here it is after a 3 month hiatus!

Welcome to the 8th PPT Top Graphician!


PPTTG is a contest to test your graphics skills and knowledge of a graphic's function. It is set up in rounds. Each round, contestants will make a graphic following the requirements I give.

An example of how rounds work is below.
-I give you the round requirements.
-When finished with the graphic, you PM me the graphic, as well as the original image(s) used to make the set as well as what program(s) you have used.
-Once all sets have been entered by contestants, I put them all into one post.
-The judges rate the sets. (Contestants are NOT permitted to change their sets once I have put them all into this post. )
-At the end of their ratings, the judges will pick a set number of contestants for that round they think do not qualify for the next round. The contestants with the most votes will not be permitted to participate in the next round.


How your graphics will be rated:
-They will be rated on the creativity, use of color, use off effects, and their overall appearance.
-They will still be judged on their overall quality in comparison to the other entries. (If you are using a program with limited functions, like Paint, I'm sorry to say you won't get very far.)
- The judges will give you a thought out rating with opinions and suggestions on how to improve.
-To put it simply: The 'best' graphics will stay, the 'worst' will go.

Additional RULES
-Graphic must be entered within the time limit.
-All requirements for your entry that are given each round much be followed.
-You are not permitted to ask for ratings in the Worhshop or on any other forum, for any graphic you are entering in this contest.
-You will not be notified if you seemingly forget about this contest. You don't submit anything = disqualification.
- Do not say you are going to lose/statement along the lines of you not winning. You'll find out eventually if you win or lose...but there is no use in stating it before it may or may not actually happen.
- If for some reason you are going away for an extended period of time, then please PM me with how long you will be gone. If you PM me soon enough, I can give you the requirements for up to two future rounds.
-If you are unsure that your graphics meet requirements, ASK. However, make sure you ask this well ahead of time. If it takes you longer than the original time limit to fix the graphic, you will be disqualified.
-If you have a problem with a judge or me, PM me and explain your problem. In the past I've mostly only heard about problems through the PPT grapevine. If I only hear them second hand, then sorry, there's nothing I can do.

Note to previous top graphicians-
You can only win this contest once. You also will only be permitted to participate up until a certain round if you choose to participate again.

Feel free to PM me or post here with any questions you may have.

Previous Top Graphicians
No Winner - PPTTG 1
Starchaser - PPTTG 2
Optimus - PPTTG 3
Marissa - PPTTG 4
Paola - PPTTG 5
Mazil - PPTTG 6
DM - PPTTG 7

Judges
Flame
Timkhj
WIS
DM was on fire!
Rikio

Last edited by Flame on Sun Mar 19, 2006 11:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[timkhj]

Round 4! (filling in for a busy Flame)

Make a Neopets sidebar. It must overlay the basic layout, so the button positions are fixed to what is currently there. Also, it must follow a Neopets world theme (ie anything clickable on the world map).

You have 6 days. (Saturday, North America style)
Two contestants will be eliminated.

(per previous round, Rachel, Kitten Medli and Amethyst are out by votes; and Marissa 'cuz she already won this here contest)

[moogie]

edited the fit the world theme, i didn't see that the fist time. the theme is faerieland, by the way, without using neopets images.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/ ... ound4b.jpg

images:
http://www.wizards.com/magic/.../Wallpa ... 24x768.jpg

program: photoshop 7

Last edited by moogie on Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:23 am, edited 2 times in total.

[Iath-em]

Original image(s): http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f78/Perhin/Image4.gif
Program(s): Adobe Photoshop CS

[LAQ]

http://xs74.xs.to/pics/06136/sidebar4.png

Picture Used: http://images.neopets.com/tcg/c_space/s ... 6ff78a.gif
Program Used: GIMP 2.2



EDIT: Tweaked it a tiny bit. Pretty good for first try?

Last edited by LAQ on Sat Apr 01, 2006 8:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[stinkyllama]

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8181/n ... ar23ee.jpg

Images:
1 - 2 - 3
+ GIFs of the Tyrannian items used next to each link
(I somehow deleted all the URLs for the items--I can go back and retrieve them if needed)

Program: Photoshop 7.0

[Bangel]

http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/29/s ... ttg4vo.png

Original image: http://webshahar.com/gallery/blue-ocean.jpg
Program: PSP 9

I'm really sorry, I know it isn't up to the par of the others', but I haven't had much time lately for anything, and I thought it was better to enter something than nothing.

[kiay]

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5023/sidebar9ti.jpg
program: photoshop cs
image: -

my theme is maraquan btw

[Neko]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/ ... idebar.jpg
Image Used: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/ ... 8_CI09.gif
Program Used: PS CS2

[Flame]

Sorry about the delay. I've had tracheal bronchitis (or however the heck you spell it) the past few days. Haven't really moved off of my bed much since Saturday.


Judges may feel free to begin rateing, and then choose 2. I'm not bothering to put all the entries in one post because they're all in a fancy little row on this page already.

[DM was on fire!]

Flame, I really don't want to have this happen to you right now, but I'm going to have to quit judging. Not only am I still working on a novel, but I've just been accepted to be a graphics artist at Neolodge.com, and I'd like to focus more on that. Plus, we've still got a couple more days of vacation to go, and I'm too busy still screwing my head on after visiting my niece and nephew.

So sorry, guys. <_<

[WIS]

Moogie -
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v438/ ... ound4b.jpg
The one big problem I have with this is the scanlines. I think they should be at a much lower opacity and it looks really funny over purple. I also feel that the 'Neopets' text should somehow differ from everything else, and not just in size. It's mostly the scanlines that bother me, other than that though, I really like the background and everything. - 8/10

Iath-em - http://img506.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ppttg422bf.jpg
I like this one. It isn't drop-dead gorgeous like your last round's entry, but it's still nice. A few things that I noticed though, one is that I think you should erase the dot/pixel texture over the dark faerie. I think it looks really bad. Secondly, I think it would look uber-awsome if the faerie's wings extended over the border, and didn't just get cut off. I do like how you do your text though. - 9/10

LAQ - http://xs74.xs.to/pics/06136/sidebar4.png
This is really pretty! However, the softness of it all doesn't really go with Dr. Sloth. Resist the urge to make things blurry! >_< The background is really nice, but the main problem I have is that I think it's too blurry for this particular image and I dont like how his hair fades. I do like the stars in the background and I like the text though. - 8.5/10

stinkyllama - http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/8181/n ... ar23ee.jpg
I like how you've stuck to the original Neopets style. The background is simple and it looks great. I think it would be cool if the characters at the bottom were larger, and extended over the borders. However, your cut-outs are nice, but it still leaves a minimal amount of residue. I think in some cases, (not all) a dropshadow would be extremely effective. - 8.5/10

Bangel - http://img306.imageshack.us/img306/29/s ... ttg4vo.png
Ahh, I'm sorry. But I dont see that much done to the original image except perhaps more contrast. The text is nice, and you've stuck with the neopian font. However, the "Journey To Maraqua" would be in the place of where your Username and Neopoints are. Lastly, this is saved as a PNG, but why do I still see GIF compression Diffusion in the sidebar? I think you could've done much better. - 6.5/10

Kiay - http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/5023/sidebar9ti.jpg
The background looks nice, however, the text is my main and very big problem. I like the shadow behind it, but I think the font and the colors you used looks really bad. Because the background is gradient like, the text should also follow it. It still looks okay at the top, but as the background got lighter the text looked more awkward. The dropshadow behind Neopets is also very neony and stands out. Also, what's with Log In, Log Out, and the background? It's a purple block with a stripe of lighter purple. There's also a little purple thingy at the bottom right corner where the rounded edge is. The background may be absolutely stunning, (which it is, by the way), but the text really takes away from it all. - 7/10

Neko - http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v199/ ... idebar.jpg
It's not the colors that get me, even though they do a little, but the flowers in the background really gets to me. They look stretched and of really bad jpeg quality. Also, the "Neopets" at the top I think was cut out from a screenshot and just pasted on there with a blend mode. You can still see a freehand outline which meant that you didn't even blend it properly. Some of the corners and edges also look very wierd, as if you saved that part in very poor jpeg quality. Sorry, but I think you did so much better last round. - 6/10

--

I pick Neko and Bangel. Sorry guys! Also, sorry if I sounded harsh, this was a hard round.

[kiay]

It's a purple block with a stripe of lighter purple. There's also a little purple thingy at the bottom right corner where the rounded edge is.

Oh, whoops, didn't notice that, that wasn't supposed to be there

[Rikio]

(Sorry for the late ratings! >o<)
Because Neopets sidebars have to be functional, if your sidebar does not work, there will be a * by your name!

moogie - I really like the dreamy look of this sidebar! However, the opacity of the scanlines is too high.
They look a bit distracting.

Iath-em* - I love the abstract background, very nice. As for functionality, it does not work. The different font sizes
mess it up. so if you click "weapon shop," it will lead you to the boards instead. The sidebar is not long enough as the neopets ad will cover up the
dark faerie.

LAQ - The spacey background is very nice! Sloth looks a bit blurry, I think you could have sharpened him up a bit.
The text is very squished and a bit hard to read. I think a white glow would have helped. The ad covers up sloth.

stinkyllama - You fit the Tyrannian theme very well! You alligned up the text perfectly with the links.
I love how you kept the Neopets logo at the top. The only thing is, some of the pictures are blurry on the outside.
You could have added a slight glow or stroke, perhaps.

Bangel* - I'm not really seeing the Maraquan theme, but it looks beautiful.
The first two links are alligned well, but after that, they are placed far too downward.
The sidebar could have been a bit longer, and you could have picked a different font.

kiay - The background is so beautiful! I'm not really seeing much of the Maraquan theme, though.
I think the text could have been a bit bigger, it is a bit hard to read. The log in and log out could have used
the same font as the other links, and the purple blocks aren't necessary.

Neko* - I love the style of the background, but there are far too many shades of blue. It looks a bit dizzying.
All the text is placed too far down, so if you try to log out.. you can't. ^^;;

The hard part:
I vote out.. Bangel and LAQ. :<

[timkhj]

Thanks to Rikio for pointing out the disfunctional entries (having been done by her, i won't repost it myself). Remember, if you ever are commsissioned to make artwork (especially something that follows a template) submitting non-functioning pieces is instant failure, not just a "*" by your name


Moogie - Very Nice; although the scanlines ARE a bit heavy - 8/10

Iath-em - Cool entry, although the choice of "kill--people" bothers me a bit- 7/10

LAQ - Really well done. One of my favorites... (or was it i just really liked space...) - 8/10

stinkyllama - Very cool use of traditional neopets image/name. perhaps just a bit of dropshadow or something to help the images look not just pasted on the page - 7.5/10

Bangel - Simple look, not much has been done to the original image6.5/10

Kiay - aside from not liking the bars behind the login/out, the overall presentation is very nice7/10

Neko - very pretty design, although there are too many shades of blue in the background 7/10

--

I pick Bangel and Iath-em. Sorry!