March 2010 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.

[yourfavorite]

The watches largest size is 573px wide by 463px tall. Not really high enough resolution to do a solid retouch. Best of luck to those that give this a go. IMO we need a higher res file.

[T Paul]

UPDATE: The final image size has been adjusted to match the photo size - 573 pixels high by 463 pixels wide

[acpgraphics]

I've started but haven't had time to get back to the image. I will hopefully be able to get to it and post something this week.

[CathyH]

I have started also, and it is a lot harder than it looks. I wish I had watched the jewelry retouching webinar.

[T Paul]

Kudos to those that have tackled this contest. The image is low res, but many times that may be all the client has and they still want to use the photo. So as Tim Gunn would say, "Make it work".

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by acpgraphics

Well here is my entry, I wish I was able to dedicate more time to it - it was fun.

ACP

Looks good. Just curious, did you drop in an existing face?

[T Paul]

This is just a friendly reminder to everyone.

You should only be working with the provided image. Do not use any other source images.

[acpgraphics]

Originally Posted by Flashtones

Looks good. Just curious, did you drop in an existing face?

Yes it was but I changed it back to the original face. This is my first time submitting to the contests and didn't realize we had to use only the supplied image. Let me know how the revise looks.

ACP

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by acpgraphics

Yes it was but I changed it back to the original face. This is my first time submitting to the contests and didn't realize we had to use only the supplied image. Let me know how the revise looks.

ACP

Still looks good. And I didn't know the rules either, wasn't trying to cause trouble.

[Sveltepig]

hi all
T Paul, I am confused. Nowhere in the rules did you state that only the supplied image must be used. Usually you do if that is relevant.

[Veralisa]

Well, call me naive, gullible, whatever, but the thought never occured to me to use any outside image other than the one provided to complete the contest. I think if that were allowed, it would have been stated and not the other way around.
I may be completely off base here but in fairness to all, wouldn't this be the same as plagerism in the world of literature?

[Sveltepig]

Oh, I disagree, using elements from another image isn't plagerism - not if you incorporate them effectively in your own image.
(especially with such a low quality source image).

Using text or a logo isn't plagiarism, why should it be so to use bits of another image?
acpgraphics's original image was clearly mkaking use of other elements - the circles weren't accurate with reference to the actual watch - therefore the retouch was not as successful as it might have been. But to use small elements here and there to enhance your image shouldn't be dismissed out-of-hand.. it isn't morally more laudable to create something from scratch than it is to rework an image so that it is effective.

In a contest, if the rules include a direct brief to use only elements from the source image/images, then those are the rules and that is how it should be done. There have definitely been contests here where that was clearly stated as part of the rules.
But this wasn't one of them, so I don't think it should be assumed.

[acpgraphics]

The face I originally stripped into the supplied image was from a Rolex Daytona. It has more detail therefore making some of the elements appear to be wrong or unsuccessful as a retouch.

When I am working there are usually multiple shots of the same item with different lighting to capture all of the detail. It was only my "interpretation" of the rules, doing what I normally would do to get the best result. I am new to this site and with this being my first contest entry, I have not seen the rules for any previous contest. With that being said, there was no intention of plagiarism or any other misappropriation.

As Flashtones said earlier, "...wasn't trying to cause trouble." So, I hope that everyone has seen that I did update and resubmit the image with the original face. Let me know what you think.

[Flashtones]

Originally Posted by Sveltepig

Oh, I disagree, using elements from another image isn't plagerism - not if you incorporate them effectively in your own image.

What if I came to the contest and used one contestant's retouched face, anothers bezel, a third's band and a fourths' shadow/reflection. Would it be okay to create an entry simply by combining the best parts of other contestant's work?

[LonK]

Applause to all who've braved this demanding contest. Your hard work is clearly evident. I've never done a jewelry retouch, so this was quite a challenge for me. My research revealed some interesting facts and techniques.

I wondered why most catalog ad photos for analog watches display the time close to 10:10?

No mystery. Apparently, it's simply because that reading has a clean, symmetrical look that doesn't interfere with typical branding. It seems this look is generally desired for the entire photo.

With this in mind, my retouch included copying/flipping half the existing askew band over to achieve a better overall balance and symmetry. I also added a subtle reflection and shadow to ground the piece onto the stark white setting.

Considering all the interest in jewelry retouching expressed in these forums lately, I'm really surprised there were so few entries. I found the exercise very educational and rewarding.

[Veralisa]

Hmmm...this contest was certainly challenging in many respects. I admit to needing to research all I could find here on the subject. But I'm also suspecting something else that troubles me. Every entry other than mine has treated their watch as yellow gold. My eyes did not see it that way at all. I saw it as a white/yellow gold combo. Not really sure if it's the monitor or my eyes. Weird.
Lon, your first sentences, " Applause to all who've braved this demanding contest. Your hard work is clearly evident. I've never done a jewelry retouch, so this was quite a challenge for me." says it all.

[Sveltepig]

hey flashtones, I think you're going too far.
I'm not talking about using other people's work, only your own. Or other shots of the same subject, showing different angles. If you get it to work, then it works. Not plagiarism, not stealing.

[T Paul]

Time is quickly running out. Don't forget to vote!

[T Paul]

I hope to have the results up Monday night.

Cheers,

~T

[T Paul]

(some votes were not counted since they were after the deadline)

Great job to all the brave souls that worked on this image!!!

The winner is....acpgraphics!

Prize: Topaz Labs ReMask

Topaz ReMask is specifically engineered to supercharge the masking and extraction workflow for photographers and designers within Photoshop. Other masking tools - both within Photoshop and other third party filters - require intricate brushing, sampling, and refining for a detailed mask. Topaz ReMask, on the other hand, does all the heavy lifting while requiring a minimum of user input.

Top 3
acpgraphics - 20
Eileen - 16
Sveltepig - 13

[CathyH]

congratulations acpgraphics, well done.

[Sveltepig]

well done to all who entered

[Veralisa]

Congratulations, acpgraphics! Job well done.

[acpgraphics]

Cathy & Veronica, thank you. I think everyone did a great job. This contest sparked some good discussions as well as giving us a good challenge.

[Cupcake]

Congrats! acpgraphics, well done job.