Peek & Critique

[Guest]

I need honest opinions, does it fly or suck? and, how to
make it betta. PSP7 and Painter 7, lotsa layers.

greg

[Blacknight]

I musta looked at this pic for about 5 minutes, trying to figure out what bothered me. I like the idea, and the colors are dreamlike. I finally figured out that it was the lighting...or the opposite of lighting. Shadow.

The highlights on the back of her arms look like the light must be coming from that direction, but there are no shadows.

Looks all painted, like it was done with a fairly large brush. If you used a photo or some real-life thing to start with you did a good job of hiding it!

[Jakaleena]

I was trying to figure it out too... I think you're on to something, BK.

I like the idea, but it looks flat to me too, Greg. Especially her face in the mirror - no depth to it...

It's a really cool idea though. I think you should keep messing with it. It's almost like a chalk pastel or something...

[Guest]

Dam, that mirror is tough, I added a gauss blur because it was so small as a separate image that it had the jaggies. I'll try to dial in some shadows, or something to make it more interesting.
Thanks Jak and Black nite.

greg

[Vikki]

I like it too! It really looks drawn/painted.
Although, I must agree, the face looks smudgy and dark compared to the rest of the image.
I had an idea about that, so here's what I did. (2 minute version)
I duplicated the layer
Selected an oval area over the face and including some hair, setting the "feather" to 5
Applied "film grain' set to 0/12/1
"Gaussian blur" at 500/.7/1
Then I lightly erased the areas that had to much grain

[PixelMover]

Looks good, but I have to agree on the 'shadow' thing..
One other thing that bugs me:
The highlight on her foot, it's just too obviously a paintbrush (computer) stroke.
it has that typical "I'm drawing with a mouse" look to it.
Taoer it, soften it, blur it...easy to fix, I think?

[Guest]

Originally posted by PixelMover
Looks good, but I have to agree on the 'shadow' thing..
One other thing that bugs me:
The highlight on her foot, it's just too obviously a paintbrush (computer) stroke.
it has that typical "I'm drawing with a mouse" look to it.
Taoer it, soften it, blur it...easy to fix, I think?

that is just a slip, and it will go away.

[Guest]

Originally posted by Vikki
I like it too! It really looks drawn/painted.


Although, I must agree, the face looks smudgy and dark compared to the rest of the image.
I had an idea about that, so here's what I did. (2 minute version)
I duplicated the layer
Selected an oval area over the face and including some hair, setting the "feather" to 5
Applied "film grain' set to 0/12/1
"Gaussian blur" at 500/.7/1
Then I lightly erased the areas that had to much grain

That's cause it is drawn/painted.
I wasn't happy with the mirror either, will work on it. greg

[jeaniesa]

I think the mirror is what's bothering me as well. Yes, the face seems a bit smudged, but it also seems like there could be something reflected in the mirror that is behind the woman. Even a line indicating the "corner" between the wall and the ceiling (since it seems that the mirror is tilted back somewhat). You could put a picture - or the corner of a picture, or a lamp or a plant or something to fill in the blank space. It just feels like it needs something - but I'm not really an artist, so I can't figure out what it is.

And the shadows that others mentioned. I didn't see it myself, but now that they mention it, it would give more depth to the photo I think.

Jeanie

[Mike Needham]

Having sod all (excuse my coloquialisms) natural artistic talent myself I am deeply impressed that this is a computer piece, I think you have managed to create a wonderfuly naturalistic feel to it. I like it, although it might be nice to see more detail in her face in the mirror. Nice talent to have

[Guest]

I like English coloquialisms, always have. It's fun to watch English, Irish films and try to figure out what the humour is, but it's difficult sometimes.
I like bugger or buggered, that one's funny. I guess I'm lucky on the other. Been doing it since 5 and have finally found my niche.

greg