Background Blitz - Ruins - Winner Inside

[Pet Terry]

But after all, it still could be used as a background in a game. I mean, just look at Donna or Force Majeure II, the both use photo based backgrounds. Also, having a photo based background doesn't immediately mean it's good and many people seem to appreciate hand drawn backgrounds more anyways.

But I guess it's up to starter of the compo (ie. YOU, Sektor) to decide is it valid or not.

[Sektor 13]

But after all, it still could be used as a background in a game. I mean, just look at Donna or Force Majeure II, the both use photo based backgrounds. Also, having a photo based background doesn't immediately mean it's good and many people seem to appreciate hand drawn backgrounds more anyways.

But I guess it's up to starter of the compo (ie. YOU, Sektor) to decide is it valid or not.

I don't mind picture backgrounds, but this is kinda drawing competition, i think it should show what can you do with your eye-and-hand coordination to draw nice picture, i don't mind if you look at picture, but try to draw it by your own hand.
Althou BIOTLEBOPs picture is very nice, but it seems like ordinary paintover, with few extras added.
I am sorry if i didn't make rules more understanding, but i think the main goal is to draw with you own hand, show your own talent. Allthou it could be possible that BIOTLEBOP only look at the picture and draw it separatley, this would mean that he has talents beyond any ordinary.

Edit:

Ok here what will we do.
BIOTLEBOP if you say/confirm  that you didn't do paint over (like draw over layer, or copied some of the picture parts and copy them to your pcture, or change original picture...) and you just watched this picture in separate window, i will belive you and your picture will be valid for competition. If not, it will be disqualified, but you can draw another one by your own hand.

So please tell.

[biothlebop]

Yeah it is a paintover in parts, tried to sample as few colors as possible. I think that even if I had used a month, placing the original beside a empty canvas, and copied it realisitcally without painting over, people would have no way of telling what I'd have done, and the outcome would be the same. So, you can disqualify that one, and if I make a new one, it will probably be something that isn't traceable (least from a photo, with the amount of pictures that float the web, you can probably manipulate any kind of image from a collage of pictures and not use your imagination in the traditional sense).
Basically posted it cause thought the idea was funny.

[Sektor 13]

Yeah it is a paintover in parts, tried to sample as few colors as possible. I think that even if I had used a month, placing the original beside a empty canvas, and copied it realisitcally without painting over, people would have no way of telling what I'd have done, and the outcome would be the same. So, you can disqualify that one, and if I make a new one, it will probably be something that isn't traceable (least from a photo, with the amount of pictures that float the web, you can probably manipulate any kind of image from a collage of pictures and not use your imagination in the traditional sense).
Basically posted it cause thought the idea was funny.

This could be true, but still i think you would look differently to your work if you would try just to watch the real picture and try to draw it accordingly. Still it is pretty hard to draw a realistic picture even if you take a whole month (which you can't as the BG blitz only lasts a good week ).

So i am sorry but i must disqualifiy you first picture.

But it would be nice if you try to draw this picture without "paintovering" the original, I think we would all like to see a result. It just might happen that you win.

[Corey]

just make a new l33t image and be proud of yourself 

[loominous]

Using a reference is way better well untill you get so good you dont need it. (Used mostly for colors anyway)

I am completely new at this and well I want to achieve the highest quality background that I can posibly get.

The problem is that if you rely on photos, you won't probably reach the point where you won't need them.

Realistic rendering is in a way pure math, which is why 3D software is able to do it. The nice thing is that the important laws aren't tricky. Extracting them from photos without prior knowledge is though.

To achieve real creative freedom within realism/semi-realism, you have to learn to operate like a 3D renderer.

Photos then become a nice additional source for ideas, designs, palettes etc, and not a neccessery foundation, without which any attempt will crumble.

Relying on references is very tempting for beginners, since you get relatively impressive results quickly. Your understanding remains unimproved though, so your progress is illusory in that sense.

I'm not saying that this is the wrong route to take. I can see how this would be satisfying enough for some, but if you find the prospect of being able to create whatever scene that falls into your mind worth the many years of practise it takes, then put the photos aside.

Sorry about the off topic post, but I'm unable to watch reference encouragements of this sort pass by unconfronted.

[Mordalles]

i was so excited when i saw loominous posting in the background blitz, but alas, no entry.  :'(

[biothlebop]

Yeah, I'm not bitchin' or anything if that's what you think. I don't think I will do that same idea again though, I'm too erratic to make revisions of past things and keep the core or the original, it would turn out completely different in the end.
As for winning, I don't really care much for that, mostly want to see the topic pushed to the limit of what it could be (see people get really creative), winning means there is little point in participating next month after all (although you may set ypur own perverted topic).
I thought of other things, like the ruins of Dachau with the infamous Arbeit macht frei gate and a really blue sky, green grass and other happy stuff to contrast the picture (and bring the whole time evens shit out aspect and it ain't much but rubble and a memorial anymore), but that topic would require severe referencing, or knowledge of how the places look like (feel free to do that pic), and even if I drew a childish version if it, people could think that I traced the outlines/perspective from some pic and colored it with crayon (I don't really like the comic/distorted perpective because I think that my realistic stuff has a lot to improve (studies, anatomy drawings, etc. are boring as hell) and thus don't see such a picture as an option). So, I'll post some background, but it will probably be completely out of my head and not make much sense, like the crab people one.
If you read all of this, I must be an excellent writer.

[Sektor 13]

Well, the "crab people" bridge was very nice, i think you can work on that style, should be interesting.

Well, these days you can't be tottaly sure that some pictures are hand made or just copied and retouched. I guess we will just have to take each others words.

Now I expect a lot of new backgrounds, we already have few potential winners, but some extra material won't do any harm.

[biothlebop]

After walking miles underground after your friend Steve, you have had enough.

You: Where the hell are we?
Steve: We are in Rome, buddy.
You: We most certainly are not!
Steve: Oh, really? Well, have you ever been to Rome?

Truth is, you have not been much farther away from home than the white house in Zork. Gaping with your mouth open, about to say something intelligent such as "Oh yeah?!", Steve interrupts you.

Steve: Thought so. I have, on the other hand, and I say this place is about a mile from a quaint little cafe, where you can rest your feet.

Steve had been right about that 15-foot alligator earlier as well, so you deicide to keep your mouth shut.

Steve: Just look at this place. There's graffiti everywhere. Fucking vandals.

It looks like viking inscriptures to you, but you also thought the scribblings on the bus stop outside your house was secret CIA code until you turned twelve.
>

[LilBlueSmurf]

I totally don't get your newest image biothlebop, but the tecnique on it is great!

[biothlebop]

I used some shortcuts though.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/el_tonic/new/zxczxczxc.jpg
(all hand drawn to this point)

First I applied a cutout filter to a large high-color version to simplify the shapes, as it was really sketchy at the point and it didnt make much sense. Then I drew with full opacity the whole time until the design was the following.
http://koti.mbnet.fi/el_tonic/new/vandals.jpg

I rescaled it first once in the large version (looks better when it's flatter), then again into the 320 x 240 format. Then it was indexed to a (macintosh?) palette without dithering. It might not make much sense or be very ruins-ish, but it was qute fun to make.

[Bartimaeus]

I like it 
Its like a kind of labyrinth.

[Theme]

The ruins of an old church



o/

[Saberteeth]

My entry:



It's the ruins on an island. It was inspired by FoA. Even if it's not as good.

[Sektor 13]

ok, i think it is time for VOTING !
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[Saberteeth]

Whew, I made it before the deadline.

[Sektor 13]

Well, i guess the deadline should be at the end of 2.3. , as i think that people would already show their work if they wanted , so the VOTING is OPEN..

[scourge]

Best Idea: zooty I like the mountain top idea, I just like it
Best Design: biothlebop Good design and interesting place.
Best Functionality: SBsLovenia , The bg i most could see used in a game since it has clear walking areas and exits
Best Technique: Esecratus

I would have given Afflict votes but i couldn't find the ruins?

[Afflict]