Non-HP LIMS: FINAL WEEK!

[Beatifically]

Don't have much time so I can't comment on them all . . .

Voting off
1 - I like the sepia tone of this, but the text is distracting. Scriptina is a very fancy font and fonts like these should be used sparingly. It would be better if you had a more ordinary font and used Scriptina to enhance certain words, because it looks too busy if all the words are in that font.
7 - This is a beautiful image to use, but the reason I'm voting off is that there could be so much more done with this. With that sky, a texture and/or coloring could have enhanced that and made it more striking. The image also looks a bit blurry. The font here is a good one to use for this, but it's too small and pixellated, making it hard to read.

Favorites
3 - This is gorgeous!! The coloring is perfect and matches the feel of the image. Normally light textures are used to enhance part of an image, but here it adds to the signature as a whole. I also think the text is great - I'm fond of cursive fonts, especially Jane Austen (that's the font, right?).
5 - This is so simple but effective. The coloring and cropping is fantastic. The image has a very isolated feel to it and the text is no different. Normally sans-serif fonts look boring in graphics, but here it works well. The border doesn't seem necessary, but it looks nice nonetheless.

[leah49]

Voting off:
1: Text is way too hard to read. I like the image, though.
7: Text should be bigger. It's kind of hard to read at the size it's at. The only source of energy that gets any focus is wind.

Favs:
5: I love the image. The border fits nicely. The text is great. I don't know what else to say.
10. The art is great. Maybe a different color should have been used for the background, but I like how subtle it is.

[Beatifically]

Kim, we have to use one of those as a texture but can use another image for the main subject, right? Does it have to be related to nature as well?

Also, does the texture have to very obvious in the icon (like backgrounds or light textures) or can the texture be used for coloring?

[Lord Godric]

Not gonna lie -- this next competition is far too advanced for my graphics abilities.

[kala_way]

1. This is interesting. Unique coloring and interesting font. It might be better if you broke up the strong font a bit or arranged it differently, but overall it’s nice.
2. A good image when bright, the dark one has odd halos though. The font is a bit stark and stretched feeling. It definitely catches the eye though.
3. The text on this is fantastic and the coloring is lovely! Though the ships look a bit sharp/pixelly and contrast with the soft image. Love the light textures.
4. The image is good and the energy text is nice. I think the lower text would be better if it were all red (or shades of red), with the blue it feels kinda patriotic.
5. This is gorgeous! Great coloring and lighting, great font and placement. I even like the border, which sometimes can be sketchy. Nice job!
6. This image is sorta strange I have to admit. Just not my cup of tea. The text doesn’t feel like part of the graphic just set on top.
7. This isn’t bad, just a bit plain. Looks like a snapshot from a dull vacation, though the colors are pretty.
8. Really creative use of the text, definitely not something I caught! It’s a nice image. The text could arranged better, but overall I really like it
9. I really like this! The coloring is fantastic and I love how you melded the glow on the text with the light texture and all with the theme. Very well done!
10. Cute I really like all the different fonts used. It looks like it came straight out of a children’s book!
11. The coloring is rather dreary, and the font is quite plain. Doesn’t have much energy sorry

Voting: 11 and 6
Faves: 5, 9, 3

[Kimagine]

Originally Posted by Beatifically

Kim, we have to use one of those as a texture but can use another image for the main subject, right? Does it have to be related to nature as well?

Also, does the texture have to very obvious in the icon (like backgrounds or light textures) or can the texture be used for coloring?

You can use a texture I gave as the base, or just use it as the texture element -- either is fine. And you don't need to make it obvious to the point that I can say, "She's using that one from the second page" -- just the fact that I can see you're using a texture and I'll assume it's one of those I listed.

Originally Posted by Lord Godric

Not gonna lie -- this next competition is far too advanced for my graphics abilities.

You use GIMP? There were some ideas there for GIMP. You can set the textures at different opacity levels and transparencies and see what you get that way, too.

[maebelle]

The way I understand it is 'the texture is the science, and we can use anything else as the focus'.

[wickedwickedboy]

I will try to come back and write about them all. Voting off:

1. I like the picture, but the font is hard to read
11. I like the idea here, but I feel like the color of the picture and font all blend together too much.

[Lady Elven]

1) This was my first idea! Its a bit dark and the text is bit hard to read, but great use of the image and the lyrics.

2) I really the anmimation. no real bad comments.

3) A different use of the words in the lyrics. I don't know if I'm a fan of the glowing orbs, they're a little distracting.

4) This is what this challenge was about to me. A great image and the text matches the vibe of the image.

5) Another really nice image, the border really works for this, and lovely coloring.

6)I like the idea but but I don't think the exacution of it really shows, the text is kind of blends in and is too small. and the caveman is just a bit too big for the whole of the image.

7) I love the simpilcity of both the text and the image. I love that the text leads your eye right to the subect of the image. wonderful.

8) I will say the idea is a different one and orginal, but I don't think it works for this challenge.

9) I love this one, all the swirling energy is really cool and well done. The text is fun and funky which is great.

10) Like kala_way said its cute and really looks like its from a children's book, the fonts are really amazing and really well done.

11) I like the animation, its easy to read which sometimes it isn't with other icons and things, but it does lack oddly enough energy.

Faves: 4, 7, 9
Voting off: 1, 6

[biara]

1..that's a beautiful image. i like the effect in the text. what did you use? looks like a far drop shadow and some kind of inner glow... i would suggest a font less swirly for a long text like that.
2..those are 2 dfferent lightbulbs? wow! i didn't notice at first. good work!
3..wow! i actually like that it's not energy related. it's a different way of looking at the text. the image is awsome!
4..that effect in the Energy is just perfect. i'm not a fan of the colors you used in the text, but i like the use of the different fonts to emphacise the words.
5..nice coloring. i love the text. simple and effective.
6..that's a funny looking guy. it looks like a lot of images merged together. not a bad work, not at all, but it shows.
7..that's a beautiful image. i would like to see it in richer colors. the letters are small and in that font it's difficult to read. a simpler font would do better here.
8..i like the sepia. the text is nice too. a tip - use colors closer to the image for the text.
9..the light looks too bright. i love the colors and the light effects. the text is perfect. the dark drop shadow makes it easier to read and the glow gives that extra color.
10.that's interesting. looks a bit like a text book. nice work with the different fonts and the texture in wood and fires.
11. i like that you used a gradient in the text. in the long text it looks like the water vapours are half hiding it. you should've used the same gradient in Energy. the animatin doesn't flow very well. specially in the transition to Energy.

voting off #7 and #11. sorry...

[Kimagine]

ROUND 3, WEEK 3
RESULTS, Plus
TOPIC, WEEK 4

The following signatures received the most votes out:
and
Please join us for voting this week, and enter the challenge for a chance to get back in!!

Week 3: Textures in Nature Size: Avatar Technique/Restrictions: You must use one of the textures on the three pages linked below -- your focus, however, will be the use of the image as TEXTURE. TEXTURES IN NATURE - from Texture Warehouse You may use one or more of the images, and you may use them as stock (example: the focus of the icon is the leaves or flowers), HOWEVER, you must also use at least one of the images as texture -- either as light texture, to give the image in the icon (which does not have to be one of those above) background texture, or one of many other ways you can use textures in icon-making. I've included some tutorials on the uses of textures in case it's a new technique or you want some ideas: http://luminicity.livejournal.com/8288.html -- a fantastic resource -- you'll want to bookmark this one! http://freeyourdesign.com/photoshop/...sing-textures/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/ayushbhandari/2307395528/ -- I LOVE this http://www.syndarys.net/usetexturesps.php -- interestingly, there is an HP influence here http://graphic-design-tutorials.suit...m_icon_in_gimp - For GIMP users -- pics at bottom show icon with texture added http://agosbeatle.deviantart.com/art...tures-89421849 -- It's a large image, and you have to click on it in order to see the examples. but it's very clever! Icons are due to me by 9 pm US Eastern time/GMT -4 on SUNDAY, April 19th -- yep, an extra 24 hours, because I might not be in town, and will probably be picking blackberries at my Mom's farm instead (neener neener neener :P )

[wickedwickedboy]

Kim, So if we use the icons provided in a layer merely to add color - so you won't be able to discern or see the texture or shape of the icon itself at all - that is okay?


This was my graphic catastrophe. It wasn't merged images, just one which I destroyed into looking like many . The comments had me rolling, I could imagine the expressions of distaste, repulsion and horror while people stared at the image.

[Lady Elven]

This was mine,



I gotta say I was a little miffed by some of the comments, but I understand, but I practically used every tool to lighten it up from the original.

This is the original.

[Kimagine]

Originally Posted by wickedwickedboy

Kim, So if we use the icons provided in a layer merely to add color - so you won't be able to discern or see the texture or shape of the icon itself at all - that is okay?

That's one way to use it as texture -- but I'd have to see it. I think it'd be ok.

[Vita]

This was my image. I agree it was a little on the bright side but I was generally happy with it. I don't play with light textures too much so this was quite a bit of fun

[maebelle]

This was mine:

Yes, it's two different light bulbs...if you look closely, the bases are different. the background was originally a yellow. I had to manipulate and reshape the 'unlit' bulb, as the bulbs were different sizes and one was a bit rounder than the other.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

well, i was number 1 .

I can handle all that stuff about my image being too dark, but I got really annoyed about all the comments about my text being unreadable because i spent about half an hour staring at it to see whether or not it was unreadable

[Lady Elven]

Originally Posted by Voldemorts8thHorcrux

well, i was number 1 .

I can handle all that stuff about my image being too dark, but I got really annoyed about all the comments about my text being unreadable because i spent about half an hour staring at it to see whether or not it was unreadable

staring at it is one thing just glacing at it, was a little hard to read. but I do feel you pain I got that too.

[Voldemorts8thHorcrux]

well, i found it really easy to read by glancing at it, the staring part was trying to see why it would be hard to read

[Vita]

V8 -I think the problem with the text that I had was the spacing (or technical term "tracking") Some of the letters with large loops too up too much space so the end result was that it didn't look fluid. I mentioned in my critique that with that font (name escapes me right now) you best bet is to put letters like G and T on there own layer so you can adjust the spacing. That would have improved it alot