first real try

[MrNonchalant]

Well, I didn't do anything major, but I want your opinion.

Before:
http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/Snap000.jpg
After: http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/Snap000_2.jpg
I used a shot taken from the unit viewer and enhanced it using The GIMP. What are your opinions?

[oneredpanther]

enhanced it?

you added 4 blobs and a lens flare?

it's not enhanced... it's ruined.....

[Maverick_3058]

Art, at least, should be a practice that doesn't rely upon the trappings of definition. "Good" or "Bad" can be subjective to the observer, and one must remind oneself that everyone may have differing levels of equipment, skill, or internal values of what is good or bad.

[skywalker]

and to panth, it seems, most things are bad.

It's okay for a first try.
Try blurring the edges a bit, they're jagged.

[molo]

try some tutorials. that needs a little help.

[Mac_Bug]

isit just me or did Panther take over ALpha DUck's role?

[bluevorlon]

Panth, at least try to be constructive k...

thx

[MrNonchalant]

you added 4 blobs and a lens flare?

it's not enhanced... it's ruined.....

I don't know, the original lacked focus action, anything vaugely interesting. I prefer it this way.

Try blurring the edges a bit, they're jagged.

Thanx for the advice.


try some tutorials. that needs a little help.

Do you know of any good ones and where are they?

[MrNonchalant]

I added an ion trail, but the resulting darkening and burning kinda screwed up the star effect.
http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/Snap000_3.jpg

[oneredpanther]

wtf.
my level of sarcasm operates at a level well beyond that of the average RB member.... ^_^

i r being contructive now. pay attention lovers...

1) Smoothe off the jaggedy edges. Someone could cut themselves, j00 know.

2) Perhaps add an engine trail and glow. Dead simple to make in Photoshop (and GIMP too, i should imagine).

3) Add monochromatic guassian noise to the background and then edit the curves (Ctrl-M in Photoshop) to get a proper starfield effect.

4) Calm down the lens flare a bit.

5) The ship is lit from the wrong side. d'oh.

6) Get me some coffee

7) Look at this: http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/design/graphics/tutorials/tutorial1.html

Reprazent da dope flava panda, yo. word to j00r momma. etc....etc....

[bluevorlon]

luff u now sir

(listen to the man, for he is leat (http://www.taiidan.co.uk))

[MrNonchalant]

6) Get me some coffee That I will not do! However I have changed the background, added an ion trail, and, before I read your advice, changed the flare. I'm going to next attempt to smooth the edges and tone down the flare.

The tutorial is for Photoshop, which I may get but not soon.

[oneredpanther]

weeela.
I haven't used the GIMP, but I understand it can do pretty much everything Photoshop can, and a few things it can't...

Can we see the latest offering when it's done please...

and am I allowed to post my take on your picture?

[MrNonchalant]

go ahead...

[oneredpanther]

http://www.battlenet.co.uk/projectred/scout.jpg

hmmm... this makes me want to create a farkin' big Homeworld battle scene... *wanders off*

[MrNonchalant]

Your enlargement blurred it substantially and your background contains no stars.

Edit> your ion trail could also use some work.

[MrNonchalant]

http://www.battlenet.co.uk/projectred/scout.jpg
http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/Snap000_3.jpg
Lets compare shall we...

[oneredpanther]

wtf.
dont get me started...... *morphs into Flame-Ready Battle Mode*

The enlargement didn't blur anything. I did. Motion blur.

My ion trail is sechsy. Yours is a blob.

My background has a nice selection of stars. turn up your brightness to a sensible level.

[skywalker]

no offence, but panth is right, his is bettah. Nice for a first *real* try, tho

[ceejayoz]

Alright folks...

Panther, we know you're a l33t photoshoppe master, but you could be a little less arrogant and a little more helpful about it. :)

Chris - Panther's right, it does need work. He could have put it a little more nicely, perhaps, but he's still right :p

[Maverick_3058]

omg ceej-come-lately is correcto!

[disco stu]

http://server23.hypermart.net/disco-stu/icy.jpg

[Shin]

stu wins with his Discotheque Taiidan Scout

[blackjack]

ok wtf.

1) Panth: try to put things a little more nicely k? As much as I like the sarcasm (I'm a sarcastic bastard myself k?) I don't like the flames. However your leato ion trail is sexie and I give you props for it.

2) Chris: Uhhhh... it's a first try. I'll give you that. But... sorry... the ion blob is a blob, not a trail. and the lighting? no. Nice try and all but it's not gonna make the cut for BJ's desktop. But for a guy who hasn't taken any tutorials and isn't using PS it's not half bad.

[x-crispy]

rofl stu

The reason it is funny: www.drivenbyboredom.com/bling.htm

[MrNonchalant]

As far as the "first" part is concerened its very very literal. I just downloaded GIMP not 5 days ago and have only used MSPaint so far. There was like 15 minutes one time when I had access to Photoshop but it was on a Mac so I spent about 10 of those getting acclimated to the inferior OS, no offense to Mac users just the truth, OK?! I got pretty good in MSPaint but good in Paint is one thing and good in any graphics system worth mentioning is something else entirely. I suppose you created your talent with Photoshop immediatly?

BTW, Disco scout rocks!!!:D

your link doesn't work though:rolleyes:

[deadguy]

PHOTOSHOP WARS!!!!!!!!!!
Well, since everyone is playing around with Chris' image - not to mention all the "constructive" criticism - I thought I'd join in the fun and/or abuse. (of the picture, not Chris)

Chris: Pretty much all that can be said for your pic has been said - but I have to say, I actually like the second, more messed up star - it has a nova quality to it somehow.

Panth: If you're gonna make him go get you coffee, the least you could do is make the ship lit from the right side in your version - you've done no better [nudge, nudge] :D

Stu: bwahahahhaha

And finally, here's my version of Chris' screenshot - lit from the right side, incidentally. What can I say, I'm just a photoshop fiend. Ok, it's not really as amazing as it looks - some very careful selection, and brightness/contrast adjustments is all it took. It's about 15 minutes worth of work:
http://www.deadguydesign.com/relic/snap000-deadguy.jpg

Let's compare :: pokes at Panth ::
http://www.battlenet.co.uk/projectred/scout.jpg

thought I should say how I did mine - maybe it'll help a couple people

Moved image

[ceejayoz]

wow, leat :eek:

[Beast]

I believe its 1337 :)
Ne way, nice picture!

[deadguy]

I had a scene all ready to render a couple days ago - Panther's image reminded me that I needed to finish... (http://forums.relicnews.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1136)

[Alpha_Monkey]

um...15 minutes???

Wow...:eek:

[MrNonchalant]

*gapes openmouth*
That IS good...

My freeservers account seems to be toying with my pics again, will have it back up in a minute.

[oneredpanther]

bleh.

wtf? no fair. I didn't even try properly. I could'a made that. :(

muaha.... right deadguy, time to get owned.
I want to do llama-battle wid j00 in Xyph's contest...
(see the gallery forum).

Dunno what we'll do yet, have to think about it.
But you seem to have suitably leet skills for a good fotoshoppe grandslam battle. :D

btw, does the Unit Viewer output at higher resolutions that the game?

[MrNonchalant]

Mine:
http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/Snap000_3.jpg
Panth's:
http://www.battlenet.co.uk/projectred/scout.jpg
Diso's:
http://server23.hypermart.net/disco-stu/icy.jpg
Deadguy's:
http://www.deadguydesign.com/files_misc/snap000-deadguy.jpg
Its obvious who the winner is.
*walks over to panth*
*extends hand*
*and slaps him accross the face*
Take that!
*walks over to disco*
*takes great care to put on rubber gloves before shaking his hand*
Innovative idea.
*walks to deadguy*
*extends hand and shakes his hand viguriously*
Congratulations!

[MrNonchalant]

Bitmap.

[Beast]

ph34r my 1337ness :) I drew this is mspaint :P

[EDIT]AAARRRRRRRRG TRIPOD SUX! You will have to go here: look for the firkan -its yellow and red (http://beast1024.tripod.com/hwru/id1.html) [EDIT]

[MrNonchalant]

uhh... Everythings red and yellow and I don't see ANY scouts, I need enlightenment...

[deadguy]

Chris: thanks, but really, the process was simple, and you can probably do it in GIMP (with different hotkeys, maybe). You'll get better with practice - just remember, thoughtful selection and layers are your friends in any photo-manipulation.

Alpha: 15 minutes? Yeah - that's what the polygon selection tool is for! It works great for angular models like the Taiidan scout. Here's the steps I took (always willing to share):

Step 1: Get rid of the background: Use the polygon-selection tool to outline the scout, press ctrl-shift-i, and hit delete. Press ctrl-d to deselect, and then double-click the layer an rename it so it can be moved.

Step 2: Pick the highlights. See how the top of the model is darker because it's reflecting all the light away from the camera? That's the part where we start: Use the poly-select tool to select any areas that you think will be hit by light. Add sections by holding down shift. Remember that the far fin will cast a shadow on the hull, the top of the hull will cast a shadow on the side body fins, and that the edges of the fins will catch some light. Edit > Adjust > Brightness/Contrast to lighten those areas a notch.

Step 3: Start with an advantage. Since you already have the highlights selected, use them to help you mask off the darker sections: Ctrl-shift-i will flip your mask, and you can darken these areas a little with the brightness/contrast command, since they're where the light was originally shining on. Use the poly-select tool while holding the alt key to remove the intermediate shadow areas from the selection, and then darken again for your deepest shadow parts.

Step 4: Drop in your background: If you already have a background in mind, open it, then just ctrl-a, ctrl-c, select your work picture, and ctrl-v to paste it in, then drag it below your fighter layer. If you're going to create a star backdrop, there's lots of ways, but leave that behind your solid object. The sun layer on the other hand, requires a different technique. Create a new layer on top of your object, fill it with black (ctrl-d to make sure you don't have a selection anymore), then switch it's blend mode to screen - this will let all dark areas be transparent. Render your lens flare as normal.

All in all - about 15 minutes if you don't have to read directions. ;) (or stop to try and mess with the colors)

[Beast]

its the tiny little picure in the smilies section :) I made it myself -cool eh?

[MrNonchalant]

uhh... Beast, I could do that easily, I've had many years in Paint. Here's an example:
http://slchriszs.freeservers.com/up1.jpg
It definitely looks better in bitmap, oh well. It's a missile satellite.