Lims 2.0 - Week 9 Challenge!

[storyteller]

This was an extremely hard challange and everyone did a great job. I am judging very harshly to give props to those that did an exeptional job.

1. I like it but notining really stands out.
2

2. The red is a bit glaring.
1

3.I really like this one.
3

4. Not fond of the ctop. I think we need a bit more of Voly's hand.
1

5. Great idea, but you needed something to make the "caught" stand out more. I did not see it at first.
2

6. Great job. Love the green.
3

7. I like the way his eyes are so red but I don't think the colors in the background were the best to bring out the picture.
2

8. I like the overexposed look, the way it draws the eye to Voldy's hand.
3

9. I can see that you needed all of Voly's head, but maybe if you had made it smaller, or like #14, made it is diaganol. Great the way Harry is light and Voldy dark.
2

10. A bit washed out and hard to see.
1

11. Live everything about it.
3

12. Made the background blurry and no more distracting railing. Great Job.3

13. Very unique Idea. I would have liked to see the light gradient start farther over though.
2

14. I am pretty sure I know who did this one. Love the diagonal and the lighness on Harry and darkness on Voldy. Great text font.
3

[Rell]

LOVE this week's challenge. oh so very much.

I'll come back with votes later!

1) Nice crop and good job on the coloring. I might have upped the contrast.
3
2) Also nice crop. the gradient may be a little overwhelming.
2
3) Very unique.
3
4) The coloring is just amazing. I'm not such a huge fan of the crop, but since everything else is so good, I'll keep the high points
3
5) I understand the symbolism, but I don't think the web works aesthetically. I do like the coloring
2
6) I'm liking the text, but not how faded and monotone the gradient makes the contrast and coloring.
2
7) I love the background. I would have colored Voldemort's head to match it better, because now it looks out of place.
2
8) The crop and contrast/levels are great. I think you should have changed the color of the gradient because yellow on people's skin usually makes them look sick, and with another color you could have gotten a dramatic effect.
3
9) The text overwhelms what could have otherwise been a great icon. It might have worked in a bigger format, but there is not enough room here which makes the text look like it does not belong.
1
10) The brightness and blurriness make it very hard to look at the icon comfortably.
1
11) I think it would have been better without the text, or with smaller text in a single line. Otherwise good
3
12) The best this week. Very clear, nice coloring, dramatic background.
3
13) There is a lot of originality here, but I'm not sure that it works overall. The hand very obviously does not belong in the picture because of the difference in sharpness and coloring. It's also in an awkward position that makes the green stuff awkward coming out of it.
1
14) Great coloring and crop. I very much like the rotation. The text is awkwardly placed and overpowering.
3

[SadiraSnape]

I just want to say I'm learning so much in this competition -- how to use the GIMP better, what makes a good image vs. what's pedestrian or just bad, how to get the effects I want, how to actually make an image instead of just cropping a photo, sticking some text on and calling it good.

Some of what I've learned is in my new sig image -- the original had another guy sitting between Severus and Voldemort. Instead of just making the whole image smaller, I cropped out Voldy, put him on a transparent background, pasted him over the extra guy, cleaned it up and blurred him, copied the whole mess onto a 300x300 black template, then added my idea of a witty remark. I'm quietly proud of it.

So thank you, everyone, you're all excellent teachers!

[storyteller]

You can tell by t his weeks entries just how much everyone is learning. Unfortunately, I kind of had to start over learning how to use the online program. It is very frustrating not having any settings saved and having to do three times the work I would have had to do with GIMP.

I can't evrn free rotate. and even with text, I have to rotate the picture if I want the text to be horizantal. I would love it if my new computer came with photoshop.

[Vita]

Storyteller - Im looking for a new laptop that comes with PS preinstalled. Otherwise I was tempted to buy it off of ebay when my tax return comes next week. they are selling it for around $400 which is a bit discounted from retail.

Though I do love my Paintshop Pro, there are just some fun features PS offers that I really really want!

Ive come up with 5 variations for next weeks entry. So much fun

[Maelody]

Here are my votes!

1: I really like the simplicity of this one. The colors are really pretty and everything seems clear and non-scratchy. Reminds me a lot of the actual television coloring instead of computer coloring.

Score: 3

2: I really love the red coloring and brightness in the corner, but I don't know if it is a different background, or if it is the lighting, but it makes it look like Voldemort was cut and pasted onto it. Harry looks pretty natural, but something odd, almost 3Dish looking about Voldemort. I can't decide if I have the same feeling toward Harry as well, but I keep changing my mind .

Score: 2

3: The effect is really cool and makes me think of winter and snow. I love how you made it look as though it was coming from his mouth, and the eye detail. It does sort of make it look like he is evil (which I'm sure is the point) but I don't like mixing that in with winter. There is lighting in the end of the snowy type wind blowing, and it makes me think it is turning into fire. This makes me unsure if it is actually snow or turning into fire. Just one too many things happening here that make me confused, but it is all added beautifully, has lots of hard work, and is put together well.

Score: 2

4: The lighting is really cool on this and I love it, but I really don't like the area you chose to crop everything. That is an awkward placement of Harry and really low. If he were raised I feel this would have a better effect. I know the hand is there and it's probably not what is needed to be focussed on, but it looks odd now. Otherwise, the coloring is wonderful!

Score: 1

5: This was a very cool effect and added very well. I think the text is a bit small though, because this is my third time skimming the page and I never caught it until now. There is a little bit of red that is overpowering Voldemort's shoulder and makes me think he is wearing an odd turtleneck. While it is very nice and the spiderweb was added excellently, I get the feeling that Voldemort was caught by the web more than Harry because of how Harry is behind the web a little.

Score: 1

6: I like how clear everything is. Though I don't really know if it is more green than lighting affecting it. The text is fine and I like where it is placed diagonally, but it seems cut off at the ends, and it's a little odd. If you could just scale it down a little bit.

Score: 1

7: This is my favorite background. Like. Ever. It's really pretty and I love the colors. As for lighting, I can't see where it really comes in, unless I'm mistaking it for a color boost. There's something a little odd underneath Voldemort's chin. I don't know if it is a part of the background, but it looks odd where it's at. He himself aslo looks a little out of place compared to how white, or bleached he is with the background. Maybe if you'd have smoothed the edges and made his colors a little sharper, it would have melted better. I really do love the background though.

Score: 2

8: I love the lighting and the yellow staining of Harry and Voldemort, but I'm not a fan of the huge spot at the bottom. It reminds me of a tea stain. There's a weird smudge or wisp barely in front of Harry, maybe the definition line? It's still a little visible, but It does still look lovely.

Score: 2

9: I'm really sorry, but I don't see much of what was done with lighting in this pic. I really do love how smooth the 'Mr. Clean' is added, though. The 'do not call me' could have been a different font and a little less bulky though, because it's super hard to read. All-in-all, it has wonderful humor and I never thought of Voldemort as Mr. Clean.

Score: 1

10: I can definitely tell where the lighting fixture is in this one. I just think there was a little too much glow to it, that it sort of eats Harry's face and almost completely hides Voldemort entirely. Otherwise, everything still looks very smooth.

Score: 1

11: I do like how the green starts from Voldemort and fades into Harry. Reminds me a lot of how the Killing Curse works after all . His eyes are a little dark though, Voldemort's. And something about Harry makes me think he is just a little sharp, but otherwise I think it looks fine. I do agree with someone else who said that it could do without the text, but it doesn't hurt anything by actually being there. Besides, the text actually runs in with it very well.

Score: 2

12: I see the lighting, but I'm not sure if it would have shown unless it was as big as you made it. Seeing as how I don't like how big it is because it makes the images within it look smaller than they should be, maybe a different lighting fixture would have been better then so it wouldn't have to be so big. The smokey image in the background is pretty cool, so cropping it down would have looked real well. Other than Harry and Voldemort sort of needing to be smoothed out onto the background so they look as though the belong, it looks nice and I like the smoke in the background a lot.

Score: 1

13: This is so cool! I love how this is in a completely different direction than the other images! Everything looks so smooth with the earth and the starry night, and Voldemort's hand was cut out so nicely after holding Harry's head, you can't even tell it was holding anything beforehand. Besides some smoothing on the wrist of the hand, it is all really well done and I like the green coming from it and onto earth. Makes me sad though, that everyone is being killed by the hand of Voldemort at once

Score: 3

14: I think this one has some humor in it. And I like the transition from Voldemort being green and Harry not. I just don't think that his being green transitioned over well and just sort of stops on him, so it makes Harry look out of place in the picture. I love the angle you chose to put them at, and while I don't oppose you putting text on it, I don't like the font. And I think that 'Tom' could have been scaled down just a little bit or lowered. It makes me laugh though, because the longer I look at the angle you chose, the more I think Voldemort is being more caressing.

Score: 2

Vita: My computer came preinstalled with PS, but it's also a school computer

[storyteller]

Originally Posted by Vita

Storyteller - Im looking for a new laptop that comes with PS preinstalled. Otherwise I was tempted to buy it off of ebay when my tax return comes next week. they are selling it for around $400 which is a bit discounted from retail.

Though I do love my Paintshop Pro, there are just some fun features PS offers that I really really want!

Ive come up with 5 variations for next weeks entry. So much fun

Thanks Vita, I am sure my husband has already ordered my/his new computer.We are just waiting to get it. When I can finally reinstall GIMP, I think I will appreciate just how good it is. I have no fine control over the online version and it is a struggle to figure out different ways to do what I want, plus a very limited number of fonts, I can't right click to copy and paste and it is confusing seeing the editing menue and the web page tool bar so close togather. I just can't fine tune anything.I just realized what I can do to this weeks entry to make one aspect the way I want. It will take a bit of work though, whereas before It would have been fairly simple.

The hard part of this weeks entry was deciding what fandom to use and then narrowing down the pictures. I picked on, then I decided to see what I could find for another and found so many things that I decided to go back to the original.

[SadiraSnape]

I'm trying to decide between a better-known fandom and a more obscure one. Both would be fun to do, but I just can't decide... I guess I'll go with whichever I can find more imagery that would relate...

[Vita]

My internet is being dumb. Will post results tonight but may take a bit longer since im on my phone.

[Lord Godric]

Hope I am not too late to vote:

1. Like the coloring and the crop. Score: 3

2. The gradient is just a little too overpowering. Score: 2

3. Love this one. I love how you thought outside of the box and created a unique icon. Score: 3

4. Love the coloring, but the crop is a little awkward. Score: 2.

5. I'm not a fan of the spiderweb in the background, and Voldemort's face looks way too soft. Score: 1

6. Love the font and the placement, but I wish you hadn't applied the gradient on top of Voldemort's face. Score: 2

7. I like this one, but I'm curious as to what you did to lighten up the image of Voldemort, it looks a little too bright. Score: 2

8. I'm not a fan of the yellow gradient, but I do like the effect used on the background. Score: 2

9. It's funny but the text is not placed very well, and the blue text looks weird with the white around it. Score: 1

10. The effect on this one is way too overpowering. Score: 1

11. Love this one. The text is nice and the flare is nicely placed. The gradient also looks natural and is not overpowering. Score: 3

12. Nice blending between the background and the image. Score: 2

13. Clever idea, but I don't think it was executed as well as it could have been. You did a nice job of cutting Harry's face out of Voldemort's hand, but in a way his hand still looks awkward. Score: 2.

14. The coloring on Harry and Voldemort's face is too much. Score: 1

Also, I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with for next week's challenge. It should be a good one!

[leah49]

Originally Posted by SadiraSnape

I'm trying to decide between a better-known fandom and a more obscure one. Both would be fun to do, but I just can't decide... I guess I'll go with whichever I can find more imagery that would relate...

I'll help you decide. Go with the one you can make a better graphic of.

[Vita]

Voting is still open for 12 hours storyteller! You might want to edit that last post

[storyteller]

Originally Posted by Vita

Voting is still open for 12 hours storyteller! You might want to edit that last post

sorry Vita. I saw your post about the table and thought voting was closed.I thought Matty was the last of the regular voters.

[kala_way]

1. Love the coloring, his face is kind of red though. Good crop.

2

2. The crop is good and I like the vibrancy. The color variations are a little jarring though--between yellow Harry, red center, white Voldy.

2

3. Love the crop and creativity. Well done.

3

4. Cool crop and background and lighting

3

5. Interesting idea. The text doesn't really flow with the icon, it doesn't feel part of it. The lighting is pretty well done, though I might have lowered the opacity on the web a bit.

2

6. It's nice and clear but I can't say I really like it. The green works ok but the crop is too even and throws off the balance of the text. It's really hard to place text with that kind of crop....I dunno. For the good parts I'll give

2

7. Very interesting. I like things about this. I would have done more coloring over top of both parts to give them more continuity but I like the idea.

2

8. I think the crop could be better on this one. There's a lot of weight on the left with Harry's head and the hand and the coloring while Voldy looks like he's floating on the right. Coloring of the upper portion isn't bad.

1

9. The text is very distracting and makes it hard to even look at the image and lighting. Kind of washed out.

1

10. This looks like Star Wars. Harry and Voldy are having a light saber fight. The brightness is really overpowering.

1

11. The font isn't my favorite but the text is balanced well with a good crop and nice coloring.

2

12. Interesting choice. I kinda like it. The coloring is pretty good. The lighting is a bit washed out but still good. Not bad at all.

2

13. I don't really understand this one. He's trying to control the world? The crop out of the hand is pretty well done, but the concept is kinda losing me.

1

14. The crop on this is actually really good. But the coloring and text are overwhelming. Very red and green, very big text

1

[Maelody]

I went back and added a vote to number fourteen. I didn't see that image when I voted last night.

[Kimagine]

I have no idea what to do for this next challenge. This is an example of when too many ideas makes it a difficult choice!

My votes this week seem to be all over the place -- 1, 2, 3, and what some say I did the best at, others say I did not very well. I'm convinced the best way to approach LIMS is to just have fun, because you can never please everyone, and probably wouldn't be able to if you wanted to bother trying.


((hopes this does not qualify as spam))

[sholeigh]

Everyone who entered this week deserves a large block of chocolate just for managing to extract something from that screen cap

1. Overall it seems a bit dark but the chatacters are quite clear.

2

2. I think that in trying to brighten the screen cap you've lost a lot of detail. I like that you've removed a lot of the distracting background.

2

3. A nice, different idea. The breath effect works really well.

3

4. I've got to hand it to anyone who can derive such clarity from that screen cap But, I'm really not fond of this type of crop; it doesn't have any meaning to me.

2

5. An interesting idea with the web. But what the hell happened to Voldemort?

2

6. You managed to lighten him well without losing too much detail, though he is a bit blurry.

2

7. Top marks for good lightening of a difficult cap. I think the outline of Voldy's head is quite blurred though, because you probably had to rescue it from the specklies.

2

8. Gorgeous light and colour adjustment on this. You really brought out the characters' faces. If I have one criticism it's that when you blurred away the background you left smudges round Harry's face, which spoil his profile a bit.

3

9. I don't see a gradient on this image. The text is funny

1

10. I like this effect. How to deal with a really nasty screen cap and make it look good! I do think though that this took less skill than some others have shown.

2

11. I think this one is nicely lightened but lacks contrast. I would have liked to see more imaginative placing of the text.

2

12. I like the drawn back positioning of the characters and the smokey background. Sadly the two chaps are quite blurry.

2

13. A very different perspective The beam isn't all coming from his hand, which is a little odd.

2

14. Love the rotated image, though not loving the colour. The green around Voldy's head also goes right across the background, more of a colouring-in than a gradient.

2

[flimseycauldron]

Originally Posted by Kimagine

I have no idea what to do for this next challenge. This is an example of when too many ideas makes it a difficult choice!

Me too! I had one but then I realized a couple people might know it was me just because of the subject.

Originally Posted by Kimagine

I'm convinced the best way to approach LIMS is to just have fun, because you can never please everyone, and probably wouldn't be able to if you wanted to bother trying.

I have found that different challenges play to different strengths. maebelle is really good, for instance, in blending more than two images. Rell, Vita and Kala Way are really great at lighting etc etc While each challenge requires all those things to be considered the very nature of the challenge can play to certain strengths. So I never worry much. I may arch an eyebrow every now and again but overall I think it's great fun not only to make the icons but to judge. Art is so subjective, which means theres something to love for everyone.

[Rell]

Vita, you might want to consider PS elements. You can get it for a fraction of the price of regular PS, and it has almost all of the same features. There are often extremely cheap used copies from ebay or amazon.

kim, there is no such thing as spam in the LIMS thread. Anything goes.

----------
I have a great idea for this week's challenge. I'm currently looking for the right images

[Lord Godric]

Originally Posted by flimseycauldron

Me too! I had one but then I realized a couple people might know it was me just because of the subject.

Dooo it!