Lims 2.0 - Week 9 Challenge!

[Beatifically]

Vita, this is the most evil challenge EVER! Of course I picked an odd number.

Great table, guys! I'll review later when I get the chance. Too bad not that many submitted an entry.

[SadiraSnape]

Yay! I picked an odd number too! 23, or 9 3/4!! Faithful Friend Snape!!! Goody goody goody...

Just an icon? :cries:

[gertiekeddle]

I need to leave my lurking status to applaud loudly for this evil challenge!

[sholeigh]

Yay! I chose #14 - Evil Snape

[RemusLupinFan]

Ack *cries* my lucky 47 has failed me!

[Maelody]

YES!!!! GOOD OL' FAITHFUL SNAPE FOR THE WIN!!!!!

I like this challenge! As for the table, I really wanna take my entry off for how dull it is in comparison to everyone else's. This table looks great, guys! I'll come back with votes later.

[Vita]

Dear friends, Once again the lack of sleep and caffeine has made me forget a few entries on the table. I apologize to the makers and have fixed the table now. There is now a number 13 and 14. Please check them out!

*sips coffee and watches peoples reactions to this weeks challenge*

[storyteller]

You all are crazy.Everyone saying how plain their entries are. They are all so awesome. I may just have to "barrow" the Dresden Files one.

I'll take some of the blame for the evilness of this challenge. I suggested that if we do a Snape/Serius Challenge that Vita assign good or evil stances, mostly because I am nuetral.

Just a clarification. If you have to do a good Snape, It isn't limited to OotP scenes/pictures and does it actually have to have Snape in it or can it be someones talking to/about Snape?

[Vita]

When I said ootp I just meant who he was faithful to. As long as he portrayed in a good light its up to you what images you use.

[kala_way]

1. The coloring is beautiful. The setup is excellent, perfectly balanced. The text is good. Very impressive even though I have no clue what the fandom is. Well done.

3

2. Yay for Percy Jackson. I prefer this coloring to the blue. The text seems a bit off though, like it's too close to his face. I'd have moved the & down and made "The Olympians" smaller so the name could be shifted over. It's just kind of distracting almost touching his face.

2

3. The balance of this is pretty good but it could definitely be smoother. I think the white part of the background just highlights the fact that the individual images are from different places so the lighting on each of them is different (the bright light from the right on the main guys face and the cool even light on the girl to the right). A few lighting layers on each of them individually and then over them all together can help some with this.

2

4. Fun idea. It's a bit slow and the image has decayed a good bit, which usually happens with big gifs. It's not bad, just a bit plain.

2

5. The image is quite grainy. The coloring isn't bad. The text and font don't really work (placement, sizing, effects)

1

6. Looks like an interesting fandom, but the graphic is kind of muddled. The background image is quite dark and out of focus, and the foreground images have very different lighting. The text is an interesting quote but the font, color, and arrangement doesn't work.

1

7. Yay for Thursday Next! Very cool graphic. I like the colors and the arrangement.

3

8. The colors are beautiful and it's balanced very well. The text is awesome!

3

9. The background image is good and the font is definitely in the right place and in the right colors. I would have dropped the border around "Prydain" and made "The Chronicles of" a bit smaller. oh! I just noticed the animation. Nice job!

2

10. wow, two Thursday Next graphics and both about the dodo Very creative! The images and text on the can are perfectly done. The colorful lines at the bottom aren't blended well at all, I think you could have done without them. The finger at the top is really big, lit very differently and just distracting. For the creativity I'll still give a

2

11. Looks like a book cover. The images are nice and balanced well with the lovely borders. I would have done a different color on the text box border, and the font isn't arranged well inside--it feels too small and poorly spaced.

2

12. Yay for Harry! I really like the sign, but the various images are not blended well together. There is a lot of text for one signature and the shadow on the text at the bottom is too much.

1

13. Yay for Lucy! Very pretty. Good coloring and good text. It could be better overall, but it's not bad.

2

14. The images are well blended and they're all quite pretty. I can't really tell what the fandom is--Narnia? Anyway, well done.

2

[flimseycauldron]

Originally Posted by Vita

Description: Be really as dramatic with this challenge as you can.I know this might be hard for some of you since Severus Snape envokes such strong emotions.

You think! : Snape is a baaaaad boy! It's just wrong, I tell you, for me to have to do "faithful servant" Snape. Does your evolness know no bounds, woman?

Voting! Some of the series I am familiar with, others not at all, and still others make we want to read some of the series so to you all!

1. This one just screams fantasy doesn't it? I have no idea what the series is but you did a great job in introducing the elements so I know what kind of series it is. Nice blending and composition. The colors are a little sharp and I think you missed an opportunity to use a really cool font.

Pts 2

2. I have yet to read the Percy Jackson series (or see the movies) but this icon makes me think twice. I like the coloring and crop but I don't know how much of that is due to the original photo or how much work you put into it. Sizing the icon down was a good choice. I do like how the lightning bolt really sparkles. Again I feel that a different font could have spiced things up quite a bit. (As an aside Percy looks like Ron from the back. Doesn't anyone else think so? )

Pts 2


3. I only have basic cable so I've never really heard anything about it. The e=mc2 makes me think sort of sci fi? I love the bright colors and the font is great. However I think theres quite alot packed into such a tiny icon that the composition doesn't work as well as it could. The characters also seem a little rough and pixelly, expecially around the edges.

Pts 2

4. No points off but I don't know that I would consider Glee a fantasy per se but that is really besides the point. It takes a lot of skill to do animation well and I think it is done superbly here. Unfortunately, other than the animation, there's not alot going on. I think that if this were a 125x125 icon it would have alot more impact and punch.

Pts 2

5. This one is very intriguing! It looks like the woman is a mermaid in an alternate universe. (If I looked that good in an alternate universe I want to be a mermaid too! ) At first I wasn't a fan of the the seeming reflection of a (fireplace?) in the center of the picture but if it wasn't there I wouldn't have realized the mirroring effect taking place. That being said the I would have worked more with cropping and sizing here and also worked on the font placement. I think if the text was more centered the icon would have a lot more impact.

Pts 1

6. The Dark Tower. I was never a fan of the series (don't worry no points off for that) and only read them because of Stephen King. The images you chose, though, would make me want to read them if I hadn't already. I like the juxtaposition of the beautiful rose and the roughness of the gun belt. I thought that you blended those beautifully! The Tower looks a bit out of place, though, and I think a different color for the font would have worked better.

Pts 2

7. I love it! Very retro. I will never master text that way! There's nothing I don't like. I wasn't familiar with the series and this icon made me look it up. I'll be getting it from Barnes and Noble I'm sure!

Pts 3

8. Is this from the new movie I've seen trailers for about alien kids? The cropping, gradient, and texture, and text are all lovely. One of her arms has an odd border glowy effect to it which is a little distracting as it's right in the middle of the icon. That is a quibble though.

Pts 3

9. I've never heard of this series either but it's clear that it is a fantasy genre. I really love the subtle animation of the cauldron. Other than making the text smaller the thing that captured my attention here is that everything is so dark that you lose alot of detail. The hilt of the sword just blends into the dark background for instance and I really wouldn't have given the cauldron much attention either without the lovely animation. I feel like you put boatloads of work into the icon but it's just not shown off properly.

Pts 1

10. After seeing this I'm definately going to have to read the series. Again, I don't know how much of this icon was made by you and how much came from your source image. I think in that case it's better to work with coloring, sizing, and cropping to add some extra punch. Also the rainbow border at the base could be removed.

Pts 1

11. Another easily identifiable fantasy icon. There was a lot of cropping work done here which I think could have been set off with some well placed shadow effects (like around the horse's front leg.) I also think you could have played around with the fonts a bit more.

Pts 2

12. Harry! I'm not a fan of the series but don't let that worry you because I really like this icon. I like the coloring (especially the reflection of fire on Harry's body). The cropping and text pacement really work for me. The only minor quibble is his bag of tricks at the bottom are a little small for proper impact. Otherwise great.

Pts 3

13. I knew Narnia would be here somewhere and I love Lucy (ba dum bum ). I like the lighting, coloring, and crop but I think you could have done more. Playing with the text placement, font, or image sizing would have made the icon that much better.

Pts 2

14. I really like the warping feature of this icon. It seems like the dragons are chasing the ship into another universe. I think I would have removed the characters faces at the bottom and added some text instead.

Pts 2

Great job everyone!

Originally Posted by gertiekeddle

I need to leave my lurking status to applaud loudly for this evil challenge!

Don't encourage her!

[storyteller]

I went back and changed some. I think on some of them I let my love of the series blind me to some tiny flaws. They are still all great though.
1. Tairin Souls. It looks great. Better than an actual book cover.
3.

2Percy Jackson. Love this on. The glow on Riptide and the water contrasted with the darkness of the sky, the way you can see the water is around Percy and not on him. I think you should have made the & a little smaller. then the text would not be so close to his face.

Spoiler: show

I am starting The Titan's Curse soon. I need to find a thread to discuss the series because I have a theory about Hades having a kid and that is why he was so made in book 1, not just that Zeus and Posiden did not abide by the agreement

3

3. I miss Eureka now that we don't have cable I love this icon. I am assuming the blonde girl in the picture is suposed to be Zoe and you squessed Fargo up in the corner. Always trying to be a part of everything Too bad no Zane though. The picture of Jack has very different lighting though, so you can tell it is not one photo. Still great signature.
3

4. When I saw it at first, I thought Glee is not fantasy, but since they break out singing in any situation, that makes it fantasy. The only thing I don't really like is the way the "No" gets the shadow underneith it.
2

5. Sanctuary. Never really got into it because it was always on too late. Loved Amanda Tapping sing Stargate though. Is that a mermaid a containment chamber? This turned out really well considering that all the sets are CGI. I think the red dot on her face looks out of place though.
2

6. Never got into the Dark Tower Series though I know Steven King is a great writer. I love most of this, but I think the perspective is a bit off because when you were doing the tower shadow it strayed a little onto the rose stem.
2

7. PICKWICK! Another great inovation brought to us by the Goliath Corperation and sponsored by Toast. Vry cool PSA for a world where reading is what sports are to our world. It can also be taken as a PSA not to text and drive for us. Perfect.
3

8. Battle Star Galactica. Another one that was on too late This is a great signature even for those that don't know her name i number 6 or that she is a cylon. The words kind of disapear into the graphic unless you know what they mean.
3

9.Cronicles of Prydain. I liked it the moment I saw it, but then I noticed the subtle animation of the cauldron. Perfect.
3

10.Another Thursday Next. Everybody loves Pickwick. Gene spicing in a can and Pickwicks sweater that is definatley the color yarn Thursday would use if her car is any indication. I understand thatthe yarn is not a part of the can, but it still should have been blened a bit.
2

11. Very nice. It looks just like a book cover. I can't figure out what you did though. Did you color it or put the picture over the background.
2.

12. Dresden Files. I am really glad that i did not try and do his office front listing his services now. It would have looked realy lame next to this. This signature sums up the whole series. Bob, the sword, Harry's staff. The fire on the services sign might have been better if it were blended better, but that is a nit pick. I definately need to borrow this.
3

13. Cronicles of Narnia. Lucy is so cute. I don't really like the way you blended it. The lighted parts of the wardrobe just look out of place
2

14. I am going to have to think about this one too. I think it is The Dragon Riders of Pern, but you cna barely see the two dragons fighting in the background and the people around the boat look like they might be rocks. I think you should have focused more on one area and made your focus more prominant. I know it is hard to cut things out when you have such a cool picture, but when you have to make it small those details are lost.
2

[kala_way]

Originally Posted by storyteller

Spoiler: show

I am starting The Titan's Curse soon. I need to find a thread to discuss the series because I have a theory about Hades having a kid and that is why he was so made in book 1, not just that Zeus and Posiden did not abide by the agreement

An interesting theory
I love this series! I'd totally love a thread about it. I read all of them (that were out then) before going to Greece last year (or 2 years now I guess) and I found it hilarious that I remembered more about the gods from this series than I ever would have from reading history books and pamphlets

Originally Posted by storyteller

I thought Glee is not fantasy, but since they break out singing in any situation, that makes it fantasy. T

Another great inovation brought to us by the Goliath Corperation and sponsored by Toast.

I break out into song all the time. It's a family trait.

I love the Brit humor in Thursday next! It's like the Monty Python of the sci-fi world.

[lupislune]

Evil Snape!

1. I enjoyed the color gradients in this graphic, but I thought that it looked slightly overdone.

2

2. I thought the text could be slightly sharper, but I understand the texture given to it and how it blends into the background.

2

3. The e=mc2 text placement seemed slightly out of place to me.

2

4. I guess Glee is fantasy. The animation is interesting, but I think if you shrunk the graphic slightly it would be slightly better. Also, I'm not a fan of the background texture. I think it emphasizes the light grain, unless that is your purpose.

3

5. The texture on the faces seem odd to me. I didn't like the text treatment.

1

6. I thought that too much was going on, and it was a bit too dark.

1

7. It is simple, but I quite like it.

3

8. The coloring and texture seems over polarized to me. I didn't care for the coloring around the arms.

1

9. I thought the animation worked well here, but I thought the graphic was a bit dark, particularly around the hilt of the sword.

2

10. Another simple graphic, but it works well, I think. The thumb looks like it was nibbled on slightly.

3

11. I thought the graphic was a bit flat, too much of the same color. I thought that the edges could be slightly sharper. I thought the text blended too well with the background.

1

12. I'm not sure about the color of the text, but I think overall it works well. I think it borders on slightly too busy though.

3

13. I liked the clairity and the color balance of this icon. I thought the text could be slightly larger.

3

14. I thought there was too much going on in this graphic, although the coloring seems balanced.

2

[storyteller]

Originally Posted by kala_way

An interesting theory
I love this series! I'd totally love a thread about it. I read all of them (that were out then) before going to Greece last year (or 2 years now I guess) and I found it hilarious that I remembered more about the gods from this series than I ever would have from reading history books and pamphlets

I would love to go to Greece. You are so lucky. Percy Jackson Thread

[Lady Elven]

1. Never heard of it, but the image looks great, a bit busy, but really great.
Score: 3

2. Simple, clean. only comment, and don't mean to sound mean, and it might be your genius that you don't see all the layers, but it looks like it just got cropped.
Score: 2

3. The lighting on everyone is different, and around their edges look very pixelly. I think it might of worked a little better if you went even 200 height.
Score: 1

4. Like everyone, never really thought of glee as fanasty. the animation matches well.
Score: 2

5. Its an interesting shot. I like the reflection. The text doesn't really fit in.
Score: 3

6. Its a bit too dark, I don't really get what its about from that image.
Score: 1

7. Never heard of it, but very nice, clean simple to understand.
Score: 3

8. Love this. there is nothing bad to say about it.
Score 3 (but I wish could give more)

9. I didn't even notice the animation in the cauldron at first ( I was blurry-eyed last night), very well done, sutble. The text is good, the placement works. the image could be a little brighter, just a touch.
Score: 3

10. The color lines and the huge thumb kinda take away from the image.
Score: 1

11. Really nice, I would have darken the font a bit, to stand out from the image.
Score: 2

12. Between the text, the fire there is a lot going on. the guy looks odd too, can't put my finger on it though.
Score: 1

13. Clean, simple wonderful text.
Score: 3

14. A lot going on, but it does kinda work.
Score: 3

[Vita]

I cant vote but I am going to chime in on this weeks challenge.

1) Beautiful colors! Lovely merging of the book covers (right?) As mentioned by someone else I think this would be a beautiful alternate cover.

2) Love the font on this one. It really fits the image.

3) Cute! Completely forgot about this series! Perhaps I would have done a bit more photo editing to make all the images blend a bit better but over all its a great little banner!

4) Never got into this show but I do know this character and I just have to giggle looking at it. Was very pleased to see some animation this week. The overall photo editting is minimal, perhaps I would have spiced it up by increasing the saturation a bit but overall I like it!

I would do an animation challenge but not everyone has an animation program.

5) Sanctuary! Nice layout, bright vivid colors and definitely fantasy! I think I would have perhaps increased the shadows a bit more.

6) I LOVE THIS SERIES!!!! The graphic over all is a smidgen on the dark side but I like that you merged seperate images to make this. The colors all fit together nicely.

7) Cute! Very polished and well put together

8) I like the gradient and the merging of two separate images. The fonts are appropriate to the image and I like how they fade into the image. The one side of number 6 is a bit too glowy though.

9) Very nicely done on the subtle animation! I actually just noticed now I like that you tied the colors of the cauldron and the sword to the font. Really nicely done.

10) This one made me giggle. Only quibble is the thumb nail but you cant change that

11) Looks like a book cover. Very fantasy!

12) One of my favorite fandoms! Perhaps I would have done a different font at the bottom but everything else is great!

13) Great graphic! I like the layout and the blue tinge to it. I absolutely love love love the font choice!

14) I like the faces in the fog (water, whatever that is ) Colors are nice too!


I think I use exclamation points too much

Oh can someone please go to random.org and under the random integer generator find an odd or even number for me so I can do next weeks challenge.

[storyteller]

Originally Posted by Vita

Oh can someone please go to random.org and under the random integer generator find an odd or even number for me so I can do next weeks challenge.

I got 23 and you know I am not biased.

I just realized, it didn't matter if any of the numbers were a repeat. We just needed even or odd. I thought for a second that I needed to check to make sure no one else had 23. Just a second though.

[Vita]

No it doesnt really matter but I didnt want to give too much away! Thanks so much

I did have another challenge in mind but that will have to wait until the next round of LIMS and then we will all choose new numbers.

[storyteller]

I am so glad that we are not doing an elimination for LIMS. I am so limited on what I can do that it is hard to come up with something on the same scale as Vita and Joshe and Rell. I can't even draw a straight line because even though I can push control and erase from one point to another, I don't have a guide line to show me if I am straight.