Fri Jul 29, 2005 1:43 pm
Ah...um. Okay. Fair enough. She made a tutorial on that and I followed and did another one.
I did not put the lens flare there (i.e. "the orange and blue blobs"), the filter did it (it wouldn't leave) and if I try removing it (which I did) it would look...not as good.
The "wispy" things are just...there. They serve no specific purpose, this is really a rather abstract wallpaper.
The glowy effect is suppose to be grainy because it's in the "assorted" brush section...
I'm out, good luck to everyone else
I did not put the lens flare there (i.e. "the orange and blue blobs"), the filter did it (it wouldn't leave) and if I try removing it (which I did) it would look...not as good.
The "wispy" things are just...there. They serve no specific purpose, this is really a rather abstract wallpaper.
The glowy effect is suppose to be grainy because it's in the "assorted" brush section...
I'm out, good luck to everyone else
Sun Jul 31, 2005 1:48 am
Okay, we're missing one judge's ratings, but I'm tired of waiting and want to get on to the last round.
So... jaye, Scholastic, Jasujo, timkhj, and Neko cannot participate in this round.
This rounds requirements? Make a set. And make sure it's a really really really good set.
Because this round decides the winner!
You have 4 days, 5 if you really need it.
So... jaye, Scholastic, Jasujo, timkhj, and Neko cannot participate in this round.
This rounds requirements? Make a set. And make sure it's a really really really good set.
Because this round decides the winner!
You have 4 days, 5 if you really need it.
Sun Jul 31, 2005 9:49 pm
im really sorry for missing this round. i got really sick ob friday, food poisoning, and was in the hospital all of saturday.
i hope you can forgive me
i hope you can forgive me
Tue Aug 02, 2005 1:34 am
Wow, I made it to the last round.
*wanders off wondering how she got this far*
*comes back with this*
Original Image: Here
Program Used: GIMP 2.2
It's supposed to be a LJ icons style, hence the uneven boarders. Good luck to everyone else, even though I don't stand a chance against you! 
*wanders off wondering how she got this far*
*comes back with this*
Original Image: Here
Program Used: GIMP 2.2
It's supposed to be a LJ icons style, hence the uneven boarders.
Good luck to everyone else, even though I don't stand a chance against you!
Tue Aug 02, 2005 2:51 am
Ooh... I'm rather nervous! Yes, good luck to everyone (lovely pretty borders, laq ).
Um, I'm fairly busy this week, so would it okay if we had the 5 days, Flame? I'll probably be able to get my entry in earlier, but it'd be nice to have that extra day, just in case
Edit: Heh, I managed to finish on time after all. What a relief
Program used: PS7
Original images: Hummingbird 1, Hummingbird 2
(other vector artwork/brushes my own...)
).
Um, I'm fairly busy this week, so would it okay if we had the 5 days, Flame? I'll probably be able to get my entry in earlier, but it'd be nice to have that extra day, just in case
Edit: Heh, I managed to finish on time after all. What a relief
Program used: PS7
Original images: Hummingbird 1, Hummingbird 2
(other vector artwork/brushes my own...)
Last edited by mazil on Wed Aug 03, 2005 1:32 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Tue Aug 02, 2005 3:41 pm
mazil wrote:Ooh... I'm rather nervous! Yes, good luck to everyone (lovely pretty borders, laq
Um, I'm fairly busy this week, so would it okay if we had the 5 days, Flame? I'll probably be able to get my entry in earlier, but it'd be nice to have that extra day, just in case
Yep. Consider it 5 days now.
Tue Aug 02, 2005 6:25 pm
Finished!
Original:
http://www.melisande.nl/ppt/original1.jpg
http://www.melisande.nl/ppt/tlo.jpg
Programs used: Photoshop 7 & ImageReady
Original:
http://www.melisande.nl/ppt/original1.jpg
http://www.melisande.nl/ppt/tlo.jpg
Programs used: Photoshop 7 & ImageReady
Wed Aug 03, 2005 7:01 pm
Image: Here
Program: PSP 8
Argh. *frustrated with self and Jasper* This is going to change if I can help it.
Fri Aug 05, 2005 1:16 am
Due to my laziness, I'm not going to put all the sets into one post. They're all on this page anyway.
Judges are to give ratings as normal, as well as give a numerical rating out of 10.
Judges are to give ratings as normal, as well as give a numerical rating out of 10.
Fri Aug 05, 2005 7:22 am
LAQ: i like this piece, but there are some problems. while the grunge-esque feel is there, i dont like the uneven border you chose to put on it. the second word in the script font on the signature is also very hard to read, i still can't make it out. i really like the way you manipulated the image though, and all the other text is well placed and perfectly legible. 8/10
mazil: i absolutely love this set. i can't really say anything about it. the text on the side of the avatar and sig is impossible to read, but i don't really think that it matters. the hummingbird from the avatar could stand to be a little smoother around the edges as well. 9.5/10
insaneplushie: you did a good job, but i dont like the overlays on this set, i think you made the dot one too bold, and i think that the face looks strange. i also think there is a better font choice for the word "Angel". you did a really good job colorizing the picture though, i didn't have the slightest clue that it was greyscale until i looked at the original image. the subtext is also very creatively done. 7.5/10
apricus: really good, the whole set just meshes together. the only problem i have, and its a really small one, is that the border disappears in teh bototm right of the avatar, it makes that corner look really straight edge compared to the rest of the corners. wonderful job though. 9.5/10
mazil: i absolutely love this set. i can't really say anything about it. the text on the side of the avatar and sig is impossible to read, but i don't really think that it matters. the hummingbird from the avatar could stand to be a little smoother around the edges as well. 9.5/10
insaneplushie: you did a good job, but i dont like the overlays on this set, i think you made the dot one too bold, and i think that the face looks strange. i also think there is a better font choice for the word "Angel". you did a really good job colorizing the picture though, i didn't have the slightest clue that it was greyscale until i looked at the original image. the subtext is also very creatively done. 7.5/10
apricus: really good, the whole set just meshes together. the only problem i have, and its a really small one, is that the border disappears in teh bototm right of the avatar, it makes that corner look really straight edge compared to the rest of the corners. wonderful job though. 9.5/10
Fri Aug 05, 2005 2:29 pm
LAQ - Somehow I just can't seem to find that much I like in this set. No matter how special the proportions of the avatar might be I don't see how they fit really. The darker border effect is a bit too much on the signature and the text could have been better if you would not have avoided the different parts getting on top of each other that much (for example, place "Nicole" and "the" a bit below "Sword Fae.." [I am unsure of what the last part says, Faerie?]). Good work with the more glowing colors. 4/10
mazil - I absolutely adore this set, throughout this whole contest you have shown that not only are you good with handling graphics but you are also loaded with creativity and have an eye for art. 10/10
InsanePlushie - I think this set is okay, but not absolutely overwhelming. The pixel overlay with one of the images is too strong and I think you could have put it in there in another way. The subtext together with the animation just doesn't mix that well into the set itself either. Nevertheless you've done a good job with the colors of the images. 6/10
Apricus - Looking at the big picture this set is very good, and I can just think of small details to point out. One is for example that the text on the avatar comes a bit too close to both the man's head as well as the left border, and same thing with the man's actual head almost touching the border, maybe you could have moved the image down just a few pixels. I'm pleased to see that you didn't use the font for the subtext in the av, it makes it stand out more. 9/10
mazil - I absolutely adore this set, throughout this whole contest you have shown that not only are you good with handling graphics but you are also loaded with creativity and have an eye for art. 10/10
InsanePlushie - I think this set is okay, but not absolutely overwhelming. The pixel overlay with one of the images is too strong and I think you could have put it in there in another way. The subtext together with the animation just doesn't mix that well into the set itself either. Nevertheless you've done a good job with the colors of the images. 6/10
Apricus - Looking at the big picture this set is very good, and I can just think of small details to point out. One is for example that the text on the avatar comes a bit too close to both the man's head as well as the left border, and same thing with the man's actual head almost touching the border, maybe you could have moved the image down just a few pixels. I'm pleased to see that you didn't use the font for the subtext in the av, it makes it stand out more. 9/10
Fri Aug 05, 2005 3:46 pm
Good luck everyone! ^^ I am TOO lazy to do the math to see who's winning so far.
And Flame, you know that, as usual, if there's another, I'm in it.
And Flame, you know that, as usual, if there's another, I'm in it.
Sat Aug 06, 2005 6:47 am
Congratulations to all of you for making it so far. :) Now, for the hard part...
LAQ: I like your sig...but the av is really killing it. But first, the sig. I like the contrast between the light inside (nicely tuned) and the dark border, but the border is too invasive- uneven is fine, but that's pushing it a little. Also, it would've been nice if "Sword Fae-" was completely shown, whatever it was meant to be. As for the av...the small size really doesn't allow for the uneven border thing. Parts of the border seem incomplete, and parts of the inside seem like they're trying to incorporate elements from the sig, but it's far too cramped for that. Stick to a larger size. 7/10
mazil: Wow, very sleek, excellent stuff. Your use of the images into your set is certainly creative, and although they were both of low quality, you seem to work through that just fine. Just a slight thing, the hummingbird in the av seems a bit edgier than the one in the sig- I think it's cause of the resizing, but fixing it would make it that much better. Nice brushwork and awesome colours. The text on the left side of both the av and the sig are barely legible (I can make out "harmony" in the av" but not in the sig), but nonetheless they serve as a unique way to blend the green into the white. 9.5/10
InsanePlushie: It's really neat that you combined two images, with one showing up mainly, but not exclusively, in the silhouette (kinda reminds me of timkhj's last entry). However, the overlay is too overpowering, and looks very messy in the av. Your subtext animation is very creative (I like how the red floods in), but you could have done better with a different font choice for "Angel" and more clarity to "angel eyes" in the av. The colours you used in your sig (I assume you used a layer on Colour mode? It doesn't look to me as if it were manually colourised...or maybe I just can't tell the difference.) are not reflected in the av, especially the reds, which is a bit of a shame. 7/10
Apricus: You made good use of the original background by turning it into that tan shade, it really works here. The right side of the sig is pretty neat, although it looks a tad out of place...just a tad (the scanlines do look cool over it though). There's a few placement things which could've been nudged over a bit- I think the others have mentioned it, so I'll spare you those details. One more thing, the text in the av seems improperly anti-aliased; there's a bit of blurry/jaggedness to it. It does kinda work in your favour, but only almost- sharper would be better. 9/10
LAQ: I like your sig...but the av is really killing it. But first, the sig. I like the contrast between the light inside (nicely tuned) and the dark border, but the border is too invasive- uneven is fine, but that's pushing it a little. Also, it would've been nice if "Sword Fae-" was completely shown, whatever it was meant to be. As for the av...the small size really doesn't allow for the uneven border thing. Parts of the border seem incomplete, and parts of the inside seem like they're trying to incorporate elements from the sig, but it's far too cramped for that. Stick to a larger size. 7/10
mazil: Wow, very sleek, excellent stuff. Your use of the images into your set is certainly creative, and although they were both of low quality, you seem to work through that just fine. Just a slight thing, the hummingbird in the av seems a bit edgier than the one in the sig- I think it's cause of the resizing, but fixing it would make it that much better. Nice brushwork and awesome colours. The text on the left side of both the av and the sig are barely legible (I can make out "harmony" in the av" but not in the sig), but nonetheless they serve as a unique way to blend the green into the white. 9.5/10
InsanePlushie: It's really neat that you combined two images, with one showing up mainly, but not exclusively, in the silhouette (kinda reminds me of timkhj's last entry). However, the overlay is too overpowering, and looks very messy in the av. Your subtext animation is very creative (I like how the red floods in), but you could have done better with a different font choice for "Angel" and more clarity to "angel eyes" in the av. The colours you used in your sig (I assume you used a layer on Colour mode? It doesn't look to me as if it were manually colourised...or maybe I just can't tell the difference.) are not reflected in the av, especially the reds, which is a bit of a shame. 7/10
Apricus: You made good use of the original background by turning it into that tan shade, it really works here. The right side of the sig is pretty neat, although it looks a tad out of place...just a tad (the scanlines do look cool over it though). There's a few placement things which could've been nudged over a bit- I think the others have mentioned it, so I'll spare you those details. One more thing, the text in the av seems improperly anti-aliased; there's a bit of blurry/jaggedness to it. It does kinda work in your favour, but only almost- sharper would be better. 9/10
Sat Aug 06, 2005 8:21 pm
<b>Laq</b> -- Even if it is LJ icon style, it's not an LJ icon and the uneven border just looks weird. If you were to do an uneven border, I'd suggest shifting the border upward a couple pixels, so at least the top and bottom are relatively even (since this looks like a parallelogram-type of border). On the other hand, I love the background and the glowy/dreamy look. However, your font choice could be better. I'm not a huge fan of the blocky type fonts. Also, the avatar's border has the same problem as the signature: it's not very defined and the shape doesn't work well. You could've gotten away with making it a square; it would've looked tons better that way. <i>7/10</i>
<b>mazil</b> -- Awesome work! I love it. The gradient border is fantastic, and you did a great job with the vectors. I think the main text on the sig could be larger. And I can't read the text to on the far left of the sig, though it looks like it's just decoration. I don't know what else to say. I'm in a very vector-ish phase, so your piece struck a great chord with me. Good job. <i>9.5/10</i>
<b>InsanePlushie</b> -- Inititally, I couldn't figure out where you used the first image and then I saw it and it creeped me out, haha. The color scheme you chose is great; it looks really dark but chaotic at the same time. I realize that you had to make the dot overlay really strong in order to make the face show up, but it's still too harsh. I think if you had lowered the opacity by just a smidge, the face still would've been visible but the overlay wouldn't be so overpowering. And lastly, the overall effect is so strong that a one-pixel border doesn't frame it well. Two-pixels would've been a good choice. <i>7.5/10</i>
<b>Apricus</b> -- I always love the background effects you do; the background is awesome. However, it would've been better to blend the original image into the part that's added on on the right, because right now, the addition is really obvious. The uneven border is a nice touch. The color scheme is great, and the whole grungy effect (with the assist of a great font choice) is very nicely done. <i>9/10</i>
<b>mazil</b> -- Awesome work! I love it. The gradient border is fantastic, and you did a great job with the vectors. I think the main text on the sig could be larger. And I can't read the text to on the far left of the sig, though it looks like it's just decoration. I don't know what else to say. I'm in a very vector-ish phase, so your piece struck a great chord with me. Good job. <i>9.5/10</i>
<b>InsanePlushie</b> -- Inititally, I couldn't figure out where you used the first image and then I saw it and it creeped me out, haha. The color scheme you chose is great; it looks really dark but chaotic at the same time. I realize that you had to make the dot overlay really strong in order to make the face show up, but it's still too harsh. I think if you had lowered the opacity by just a smidge, the face still would've been visible but the overlay wouldn't be so overpowering. And lastly, the overall effect is so strong that a one-pixel border doesn't frame it well. Two-pixels would've been a good choice. <i>7.5/10</i>
<b>Apricus</b> -- I always love the background effects you do; the background is awesome. However, it would've been better to blend the original image into the part that's added on on the right, because right now, the addition is really obvious. The uneven border is a nice touch. The color scheme is great, and the whole grungy effect (with the assist of a great font choice) is very nicely done. <i>9/10</i>
Sat Aug 06, 2005 9:33 pm
Apricus: I really like how you work with photos, they have this antiqued look, but it's balanced by the grungy effects in the background; it's a very interesting effect. Very clever manipulation of the picture to make the text fit in nicely. 10/10
InsanePlushie: It's very dramatic looking, but the dot overlay is quite distracting. I think the animation is very creative and it clearly took a lot of time to do, but it's really too slow for my tastes, and in the av, it's far too subtle, I hardly noticed it at first. 6/10
LAQ: Well, this doesn't look particularly special to me. The abstract background of the sig is a little flat looking, which doesn't look very good behind the highly contrasted picture. As the others have said, the script is very hard to read, try making it darker on the right side. I think the uneven borders would have looked nicer if you used a color other than black, it makes it look rather empty. 6/10
mazil: I like the vectored look of this set, it's very fresh and crisp looking. Very nice work. 10/10
InsanePlushie: It's very dramatic looking, but the dot overlay is quite distracting. I think the animation is very creative and it clearly took a lot of time to do, but it's really too slow for my tastes, and in the av, it's far too subtle, I hardly noticed it at first. 6/10
LAQ: Well, this doesn't look particularly special to me. The abstract background of the sig is a little flat looking, which doesn't look very good behind the highly contrasted picture. As the others have said, the script is very hard to read, try making it darker on the right side. I think the uneven borders would have looked nicer if you used a color other than black, it makes it look rather empty. 6/10
mazil: I like the vectored look of this set, it's very fresh and crisp looking. Very nice work. 10/10