Fun Christmas Photo

[Ken Rogers]

Please give me your honest critiques on this Christmas card insert.

I doubt anyone's going to believe that this cat would actually sit still for a sled ride, but my goal here was to create something fun, yet believeable enough.

I'm not happy about the cat. It's the third cat I've done. It's good enough, but I was hoping for the cat to have a truly petrified look on his face. In reality, he was just yawning, and I have not photoshopped the cat's expression at all. The cat extraction was done with a mask and several paint brushes.

Oh, and the hats. Perhaps they all should have Santa hats?

Ken

[Robt]

Of course it isn't believable, so what. As to the cat, don't tell anyone its yawning.

I think its just really fun and expresses the season wonderfully.

Happy Holidays

[Mike]

I would put a santa hat on dad. Good idea, sure to bring a grin or two!!

[nebgranny]

I think it will make a great Christmas card. Beautiful family! Is the cat a family pet?
I would remove the cat claws in the picture..I am sure you are wanting to show his/her wanting to hold on for dear life....but look awful dangerous around the kids..a grandma here.. could you show that in a different way..just the expression maybe or make them more realistic in size?

Also as already suggested adding a hat to Dad would be a good and I would suggest one on the sweet baby!! ..even the cat!!

I again think the work done just purrfect!! LOL
Neb

[Ken Rogers]

I agree with all comments...thank you. I'll go with the Santa hats and smaller claws.

Ken

[kschulz]

Ken - I love it! I really think the expression on the cat's face is perfect. Kinda grinch-like "Bah-humbug, just get me off this thing..." What fun...great job!

- Kurt

[Ken Rogers]

Thanks! As a finishing touch, I brightened Dad's face a tad. I considered a Santa hat for the Cat, but his ears are just too cute! In fact, I enlarged the ears by about 20%. Not so much as to look silly, but just enough to slightly enhance his cuteness.

Kenny

[Kraellin]

very nice!

only thing that bugs me about this is the 'Merry Christmas' the blue font on a blue background that runs over a dark pine tree, making the C and s a bit difficult to see. i'd consider a white font, perhaps, or scrunching the lettering in closer so as not to be obscured by the tree branches. the blue on blue would then be ok. (sorry, this is just one of my bugaboos with web pages where lettering is hard to read because of poor color choices or poor background choices) so, it's a minor point. i can read it

Craig

[raniday]

Ken, wonderful and creative idea! I like the angle, the font, the whole treatment. I would also give dad a Santa hat. I'm still not sure about the cat. It's really cute, but it takes center stage away from the family. Probably just me.

[Cassidy]

I like it, I think the idea of 'fun' is encapsulated by the inclusion of the cat

[digraphicx]

ditto on the creative idea! especially like the cat being added and its expression sets it off more so!

only suggestions to enhance the "reality" mom's hat needs to be sitting lower and further back on her head....dad does need a hat too this agree with the others on....I would even add one to the cat (small of course).

other thing on the cat would be in comparison to the others it would be an awfully big cat! think it needs to be smaller...check out the body sizes as compared to the cat (he's as big as the baby) unless it is a tiger! meow!!!!

I would even tone down some the transparencies perhaps..when you look at a photograph things shouldn't be as sharp in the background as in the foreground (make sense?)

hope this helps

happy holidays!

[Ken Rogers]

Thanks for your feedback. I agree, the cat's a little big. However, I've already sent these out to 40 relatives. I'm glad I shared it with all of you first, as it gave me a chance to fix the obvious problems.

I'm really enjoying receiving family feedback.

Ken

[nebgranny]

Hi Ken: Wonderful finished card. I bet your family and friends are loving it. I wish you and your beautiful family a wonderful Merry Christmas.

I am off to try and create one of those letter Christmas cards. We have a slow and boreing life but we have 8 wonderful grandchildren who bring us happiness joy and fun times. I plan to start it with ..We Are Having A "GRAND" Christmas!
I will somehow add a picture of each grand with a little about each one of them. Any suggestions would be welcome . Thanks Neb

[Ken Rogers]

Neb,

I like your idea already. Please post your work when you're done. Another idea I had (that might work for you?) would be an airborne shot of Santa's sleigh with all of the kids aboard. Best of luck!

Ken

[nebgranny]

Hi Ken..Wanna help ?? I am not good at this ..do you have a nice graphic or something..need room for 8 grands Wonderful Idea!! Neb

[Ken Rogers]

This is the general idea I had in mind (I know this looks horrible, but it's all I can do in 10 minutes. Yes, that's my cat) Perhaps you could find a sleigh and reindeer that are flying towards the viewer, so the passengers are facing the camera. This would bring the passengers directly to the foreground, so they would be bigger than my tiny "cat" image.

Ken