May 08 Contest Discussion

[T Paul]

Add your comments, questions or general discussion about the Contest entries here. This is also a great place to share your techniques or ask others about theirs.

Most members are eager to hear comments/suggestions about their entries, so please take the time to help each other out.

[PatrickB]

Paul, couldn't the image be published in some place where people don't have to register?

Personally I hate registering ten times a day to download just a single file from a website and spraying my details out in the world like crazy

[T Paul]

I understand your concern, but I have never received any spam from this site.

We have discussed whether we should provide the downloaded image for the contests or have contestants register and it was decided out of courtesy to Stock.XCHNG that we would have the contestants register. Thank you for your understanding.


~T

[CathyH]

Patrick, I feel the same way you do about registering, but I signed up with this site a while ago because we needed to download a photo for a different challenge, and I found that it has been very helpful since. They have a real nice selection of photos that you can download for free to use.

[Swampy]

Laura, I probably won't be entering this month's contest, but I think the rules said no text. Yours is a lovely image and I'd hate to see you lose votes for jumping outside the rules.

[laura.lala]

Originally Posted by Swampy

Laura, I probably won't be entering this month's contest, but I think the rules said no text. Yours is a lovely image and I'd hate to see you lose votes for jumping outside the rules.

Thanks for telling me. I've already edited my post. Although it is a bit absurd to conceive a book/magazine/etc cover without the title. The title, the fonts, the color, they all have an utmost importance in the final image of the project.

I'm sorry you won't enter and I've also seen that Icramer53 withdrew his/her project.

[Swampy]

Laura, I here what you are saying about the text and fonts.

[Kraellin]

The publishing company is looking for a cover design for their upcoming fantasy series The Chosen.

laura.lala, the contest is about a cover design and not the actual cover. in other words, you arent doing the cover itself but rather the design that will be used for the cover. these contests have always been about the work we do, but also about being able to duplicate instructions, which any retoucher or design artist must be able to do in a professional capacity.

[laura.lala]

Anyway, with or without the fonts I'm glad to see so many nice covers entering into the contest.

[crazyfly1]

Man, I'm still working on mine, I think we may need to limit Lonk to entering every other contest. Joking, great art Lonk!

[LonK]

Thanks, Wm... I think?

This was certainly a fun project.

I did my best to include all the elements mentioned in the story introductory synopsis. The "inhabitants" of my enchanted forest just happen to be faeries! I removed the bridle and reigns from the horse as I couldn't envision a magical creature with such restraints. Also, Sarah wouldn't need a whip, so I provided her with a magic wand. The final composition leaves adequate room for the book title.

In addition to the provided photo of Sarah and the horse, these are the components used to build the composition:

Background: Bryce library fantasy scene and trees from personal stock library
Poser Faeries courtesy of Stephanie Baker-Thomas (www.faerymoon.us)
Evil: Poser library werewolf
Seagull, swan and wand: personal clip library
Grasses and fish: PhotoImpact stamps
Foreground mist: adapted PhotoImpact cloud particle

And here are the primary tools used:

Editor: PhotoImpact 8 - 40+ object layers and dozens of masks
Alien Skin Image Doctor 2 Smart Fill to help remove bridle, reigns and whip
Transport corona: glow, Alien Skin Xenofex 2 Electrify and zoom blur
Alien Skin Textures Reptile Skin for dress accents
Alien Skin Impact Motion Trail for faery flight
Xero Pulsar for wand starburst
PhotoImpact Lighting Lens Flare for background accent
Medhi Melt 1.1 to distort reflections in the water

Perhaps this will give you some ideas and provide some inspiration. I sure hope to see many more entries.

[crazyfly1]

Yes Lonk, that was a compliment. I know my sence of humor doesn't quite translate over the internet.

[Lorraine]

Hi LonK,

I've been playing with this one, but can't get my ideas to work out right and most likely won't be entering this contest.

Your entry is phenomenal. Thanks so much for the description of how you did this. Also, thanks for the link to the Fairy downloads.

Lorraine

[LonK]

Thank you very much, Lorraine.

I do hope you finish and enter the contest. I know what you mean about working through ideas. Indeed, I made up 1/2 dozen or more full mockups before coming to terms with one. Visualizing an outcome is challenging, but most rewarding. It's a great feeling, after often prolonged experimentation, to arrive at the composition that just makes you exclaim, "YES... That's it!"

Stephanie is a very creative and multi-talented artist. She ran a popular PhotoImpact bulletin board several years ago (now defunct) when she began taking a more active interest in 3D modeling (Poser). Her faeries are simply charming.

[LonK]

Heads Up, Phil (philbach)...

*Final image must be exactly 600 pixels wide and 800 pixels high.

[Lorraine]

Thanks, LonK, for your encouragement. My problem is that I'm almost out of time now. My husband and I are leaving this weekend on a trip to San Diego (our wedding anniversay present to each other).

I have downloaded quite of few of those fairies -- just to have in case.

I thought I recognized Stephanie's name, and I certainly did. She's also an instructor at "LVS Online" where I've taken numerous courses, but unfortunately none of hers.

Thanks again and good luck with your entry.

Lorraine

[T Paul]

Here is a temporary photo album link to review the contest entries:

May 08 Contest

[LonK]

Originally Posted by lurch

I'm a long-time reader of sci fi/fantasy and was a little bemused by how many entrants equated fantasy with fairies and fairy dust sparkles, which mostly belong in children's books. So my voting was determined by a combination of composition and faithfulness to the genre.

1. lonk - has the right over-the-top feeling, good composition, and room for print. But scratch those doggone fairies!

Thank you, lurch.

Is this more to your liking? (A little less faerie-ish.) We aim to please!

[lurch]

Is this more to your liking? (A little less faerie-ish.) We aim to please!

Much, much better! I particularly like the one peeking from behind the bush. Actually, that's the only 'resident' you really need. Do I sound like an art director? . . . or maybe an advanced case of "them as can, do, them as can't, teach"

[T Paul]

Results will be posted later today.

[T Paul]

Great job everyone!

And the winner is...and it was very close....

LonK

Top 5
LonK - 32 (won tie breaker)
r_dg - 32
Cathy H - 28
Mikkimicole - 17
Asims28 - 17

[Kraellin]

congrats, lonk

[CathyH]

Congratulations Lonk, great job.

Cathy