General Graphical Goodness.

[Sean]

Hey Guys,

I've been getting back into PhotoShop.

Over the last fortnight, I have put together a few new signatures as well as a high-res wallpaper. I'm looking for crits, comments and feedback.

What works and what doesn't.

Thanks for any constructive feedback you can offer.

Abandonia Signature and Avatar





Dragon Age Wallpaper

Okay, next up is some 'Halo' themed stuff that I whipped up today. I am particular interested in feedback on these, as I am not entirely happy with them. I'll be making more with this theme in the next few days.

Hit me with your harsh words. Please.

Also, if you like my work and have a spare minute please check out my gallery.

[Galen]

"I have a high-res copy of this, sitting at 201mb. It's 2560 x 2048 pixels."
Jesus. I think you need to look into a new image format. The wallpaper is pretty sweet though.

[Chicky]

It's hard to give feedback on something you haven't really done. The fonts you've used in the abandonia logo fit fairly well but you should try to keep to doing logo's etc in a vector based program. Seeing as EA is printed on everything, unless you're the art director or something fancy (if so give me a job, now.) there's not really a lot to say.

If you want me to say 'nice magic wanding!' then i can.

or 'wow, nice overlays!' i can say that too.

or 'man! That's some awesome use of transparency!'


...but i won't, I'm just going to sit here and mock your overuse of screaming orgasm Cortana.

[Sean]

@ Crazy - Hey, I think the 200mb file would be the raw .PSD. Still, it's a pretty hefty file size!

Heyas Chicky,

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

I appreciate that PhotoShop work is often hard to 'judge' or 'criticize' as you cannot always see what work has been done.

Generally, I look for feedback on a few key elements.

Composition

Colour Scheme

Overall Impact

To suggest that my work is simply 'magic wanding' 'overlays' and 'transparency' is a little harsh. For instance, the wallpaper had around 30-40 layers.

The background is brush work, texture blending (photographs, etc), and masking. On top of that, I've tried to blend in some screenshots. The blood graphics are again, another separate folder of layers that are added on top of that. The big 'beast' is a big render, that has been brushed down with a 'hide all' mask.

So, whilst I can see where you are coming from there is a little more to do than 'wave a wand'.

I do understand what you're saying, but I still feel it's a bit harsh

In that image, the main thing I would look for feedback on would be the blending, and splatter effects.

I was intentionally trying to re-create the style and theme of the Dragon Age Origins website. How well do you think I matched the 'essence' of it?

http://dragonage.bioware.com/index.html

Regarding the Abandonia image, I wasn't designing a logo. Just a sig graphic. I was going for a 'retro' look that kind of caught the 'style' of Campell's soup, and other classic pop art. Simple, straight-forward but catching.

Again, hope I don't sound too defensive or dismissive I just feel my images are a little more complicated than what you implied.

Regarding Cortana, c'mon it's a cool pic

Edit: Re-Reading your post Chicky, I'm not sure if you was talking more about the screenshots and drawing of the Dragon Age monster/npc not being my own work. I thought that was fairly obvious. I wasn't trying to steal credit for the awesome art-skills of EA's slaves

Again, I look for crits on the 'cohesive whole' as opposed to individual elements of the image.

Cheers

- Sean

[Brad Newsom]

I can put a lot of effort into a stick figure. It doesn't make it any less than polishing shit.

I can do all of what you did in two layers and in under 5 minutes.

Like Chicky, I really like the use of the font in Abandonia. It has some nice composition in it, especially the color scheme. Very earthy and classy.

The rest, I really can't comment on. Again, its like the film Chasing Amy, and getting made fun of for the fact that the main character can't accept that all he is doing is tracing someone elses work. lol

In another forum, a member posted the same thing, except a lot more extensive. Still, I can produce 1000 variations of one thing. That won't get me a job, or get me respect. It'll get me a "So, what will you do with it now?" comment. This is on a lower level than thumbnails.

Sure, you can adapt to styles, yet, you aren't doing this from scratch. You are still using other peoples work.

Now this took me 4 hours to do. It may not look like much, but a lot of effort was put into it. /sarcasm




Let me just say it now and save you the embarrasement from all your possible co-workers or future professors. IT'S SHIT!

[Calin Leafshade]

Wow, you guys are brutal..

i hope my work never pisses you off.

[Brad Newsom]

Wow, you guys are brutal..

i hope my work never pisses you off.

Your "work". It won't piss us off if it is actually your work.

[Chicky]

Heh, maybe a little ott Brad. Now i really want him to come back and prove us wrong! Are you currently working on any games Sean?

[Sean]

Thanks for the input.

You guys are pretty harsh. I never implied that I was a professional, in fact I'm pretty sure I made it clear that PhotoShop is nothing more than a hobby to me.

'Copying' somebody else's work isn't a bad thing in itself, lots of art classes, etc instruct artists to recreate the work of others. Draw a 'self-portrait' in the style of Picasso, Monet, etc ,etc

Whilst I understand that re-using the 'assets' of other artists isn't on the same level as creating something from scratch that is not something everybody has the ability to do.

I could sit here for years working towards a set goal, and in the end it'll still be pretty crappy. It won't be as good as the work of a true artist. I am under no illusion that I am anything more than a clumsy amateur artist with an interest in web-design, etc.

Whilst that may piss off you and you elitist art sensibilities, I don't think it really warrants the kind of reaction you've written down.

I'm a creative, not an artist. I am first and foremost a writer. That does not mean I will simply limit myself to working with words. I like to 'have fun' with a variety of things.

@ Brad - Stick Figures in themselves can be a creative body to express an emotion, event, etc. Why would you be so naive as to assume they are not 'art' ? Although, I do get what you are trying to say.

Lower level than thumbnails? That's just a stupid thing to say. It's not as if I open Photoshop, and the finished image is there. I was never trying to pass off this 'style' as my own.

@ Chicky - Nope, I am not working on any games. I am looking into the possibility of producing an interactive story, as part of my  portfolio for my university degree.

[Brad Newsom]

@ Brad - Stick Figures in themselves can be a creative body to express an emotion, event, etc. Why would you be so naive as to assume they are not 'art' ? Although, I do get what you are trying to say.

Lower level than thumbnails? That's just a stupid thing to say. It's not as if I open Photoshop, and the finished image is there. I was never trying to pass off this 'style' as my own.

Hey I drew a stick figure, I should show it off to everyone. Get the point? Its not something that needs to be posted.

[fred]

You definitely have some great skills, but the wallpaper seems a bit empty to me, and he emptiness seems to have been camouflaged by some messy textures. Personally I don't like hunting for motive in overlain paint splatter. Maybe you could tone parts of the background more uniformly, so the motives are easier to distinguish?

The Halo themed stuff looks great! Perhaps the font is a bit hard to read in the last one, but otherwise great.

[Pinback]

You guys are pretty harsh. I never implied that I was a professional, in fact I'm pretty sure I made it clear that PhotoShop is nothing more than a hobby to me.

Hmm, it wasnt that harsh.
Heres some critique I got recently for some of my artwork;

"Homosexual buttraped faggotry... with idiotic hairstyles - F*** IT. "

Now THATS harsh! And this was artwork I had created from scratch and poured my heart into.
I think it's assumed if someone is making sigs that they are recycling someone elses concept art.
However I gotta admit, the fact that you didnt specifically mention you didn't paint the original work kinda got my hackles up.

Also perhaps you shouldn't have said this to begin with;

Hit me with your harsh words. Please.

I like your composition in the wallpaper by the way.

[Sean]

Heyas,

@Brad - This is the critics lounge. I will post here for criticism. Stick-figure or not, this is the place to post. I've always put up my 'stolen thumbnail art' here to get opinions and criticism on. Going on two years or so, at least. I'm well within my right to post my work in the CRITICS LOUNGE. Whether you judge it 'worth your time' is entirely up to you.

In short, I don't get your point. I don't think you really have one.

There was actually a reason for me to post here. I'd just picked up PhotoShop again for the first time in a few months, and I like to get feedback on things when I am 'getting into the swing of things'.

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@ Fred. - Thanks for your input. I agree with what you have said. Sometimes I tend to go a bit overboard, and things get a bit 'messy'. I'd like to pretend that's a style choice, but the reality is I'm just a clumsy person. Sometimes I can't help it!

I agree with what you are saying though, It does all get a bit 'confused' and some bit's could defiantly be toned up/down accordingly. Ensuring that the focal points of the image are clear.

@Pinback - I don't really count 'abuse' as 'criticism' and the feedback you recieved leans more towards abuse in my books. Sure everybody has a right to comment on your work, especially when you ask for critique but there are certain things that don't need to be said. "Homoesexual buttraped faggotry..." pretty much hits that box for me. It's uncalled for, and unnecessary in my opinion.

There are better, and less disheartening ways to say you don't like somebody's work. There is also room to include CONSTRUCTIVE CRITIQUE in any feedback you offer. I don't expect people to play the prick with me in any other situation, why would feedback on something be any different?

Just because I ask for your opinion on my art, doesn't mean I hand you a license to be an asshole. If you don't like it. Fine. Say why, say what can be improved. Say nothing. Don't just attack the artist, or image in itself. That's mindless bashing. Not constructive criticism.

Fair point about not putting out a clear disclaimer, I thought the Dragon Age brand would be well enough established for people to realize I was working with and around EA's artwork. It simply slipped my mind. I thought it was a bit of a 'given'.

That's my bad, but I wasn't being deceptive simply forgetful.

Regarding 'hit me with your harsh words' that's a fair point, but to be honest I meant it more in a tongue-in-cheek way than in the literal sense. After all, I asked "for any constructive feedback you can offer."

As much as I have a right to post my soulless crap here, Brad and others have the right to criticize it in any way they see fit. I got a little too defensive, I admit.

I guess what got my back up was stuff like "polishing shit" "lower level than thumbnails" "won't get me a job" etc. I was under the impression the critics lounge is open to amateurs and professionals alike. To rip me and my work apart because I am not a serious artist seems unnecessary in my books.

I expect to be able to post and discuss my work, even if it is not up to the same standard as others. If this is an art forum for 'real artists' (whatever that means) and not the 'AGS community as a whole' then I guess Brad's comments wouldn't bother me as much.

Ultimately, I'm here to have fun, and admire the work of true artists!

..I'll get back to doing that then

- Peace

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The Critics Lounge is a place for professionals and amateurs alike, and I want to stress that as long as I moderate here it will be a CONSTRUCTIVE force, Sean.  I apologize for not spotting some of Brad's comments earlier, but I try to test the waters to see if the original poster is offended or taking the criticism as well-meant before acting -- and since you clearly feel Brad stepped across a line here, this is what's going to happen:

1.  If you have nothing positive or constructive to offer in this thread DO NOT POST HERE.  Period.

2.  Save the insults and jabs for somewhere else.  You don't know each other well enough to presume you can slam a person's work or effort and they'll take it on the chin with a smile.


I hope I'm clear here, and since I was compelled to post on this topic I'll offer some criticism, though this isn't really my area of interest/skill:

I'm moderately familiar with the upcoming DragonAge game and I gather the artwork is a pastiche of art from other sources?  If that is the case then I think you've done a good job blending the elements together into something cohesive.  The only thing that seems strange to me is the girl's staff appearing behind the creature's arm; rather than create a sense of depth it almost looks like the weapon is piercing his arm.

I like the Halo signatures and they seem very appropriate as signatures go.

The abandonia signature and avatar seems like a background tile to me more than a signature or avatar.  Perhaps some more creativity here like you've shown with the Halo signatures would help?

[Layabout]

I'd say the DragonAge background and whatnot are up to par with the sort of promo materials that come with a games promotion. Perhaps it would help people's critique if you at least linked source materials I assume you picked up off the internet, as we would be better able to judge exactly what has been done.

What kind of feeling do you want to envoke through these images? I would imagine this game to be set in a cold environment of hopelessness and to be bloody violent. Is this the intended feeling?

The borders look a little cheap though. I don't think a 'wallpaper' really is in need of a border imo.

As for the debate whether photoshopping other images together is art or not, have you ever been to primary school? I'm pretty sure I did loads of collage in art classes in primary school. Gathering or taking photos/artwork and digitally compositing them is a key foundation of Graphic Design. Very few 'painters' will design a poster for a movie/game/whatever.

Good use of filters. Not noticable to me at all.