[Sakura] Dancing petals in the sunset [SOTW #15 original idea]

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

 

 

V2

 

 

I was originally going to use this as my SOTW entry for #15, but for some reason, I opted not to + made the other one.
Probably because it looked more like a custom image or something, rather than an actual tag and sigs like other entries.
 

(Dimensions are 550 x 550, which is pretty much the absolute biggest pieces can be.)

 

Idea was to have Saffira encircled in cherry blossom petals (very much like the gift Night made for me at Xmas); I would've liked to have a ring of petals around her extended hand, but it didn't turn out nice so opted not to do it. Background is supposed to be a field at sunset, but kinda hard to see it.

 

Not really sure which version I like better to be honest; first one blends nicer, but hard to see petals in the bottom left.

Second one doesn't have that problem though, but kinda sticks out a bit in that area.

 

(I hand-rendered Saffira from some Pixiv image)

 

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Anyway, CnC.

I might skip SOTW #16 so I can work on stuff.

[Catman25]

Nice to have an idea to work with, I think the execution just needs to be better. Your resources seem a little lq, render's a bit choppy and so are the rose petals. The current Saffira has, as you've said, more of a custom image vibe, looks hand drawn or air brushed. Imo if you could've gotten a high quality image of the Saffira card art it could've looked pretty good.

 

But for now, I'd say work with a smaller canvas, that way things are easier to manage. Branch out and try different resources, renders, stocks, c4ds, effects, etc. I think one of the basics that'd really help here is blending. Try to incorporate your focal into the bg/scene. Sorta the mindset of a custom image, but perhaps without the outer glow. I've noticed that's a recurring theme of yours; having a glow on the render makes it kinda sit on top without really blending in and creating depth.

 

Just my take on things though, others may have differing opinions. 

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

I did have a render of the actual card itself, although it's about 350 x 350.

(Would be nice if they released the 544 x 544 ones like they did for Tag Force; I remember Yin saying she did her stuff from those.)

 

I admit that the petals are kinda crappy [either that, or I was too lazy to render them off the black background + then just put it in Screen mode or something].

Need to double check my PSD because I did most of it in there.

 

I do have cherry blossom brushes, but have to manually do those in GIMP, because I don't have a brush folder for PS.

 

But yeah, I tend to put a glow on things so they stand out from the background.

Can try get rid of that if I don't necessarily need one; I probably do it so I can see where the image is + contrast reasons.

 

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Should experiment a bit more with things.

I know that Shadow Lugia banner I made for Night came out nice though.

[Ire]

That's nice to work on big canvas, but you have then to use high quality ressources : never forget that. You can also resize it to a lower format when you see quality is crap at the end.  ;)

However, I recommend you to work on signature-like formats, it will be easier for you, because it's hard to work on a square format (I'm not referring to card artworks or avatars :3).

And try different things ! All I see from you is like "BG + Low opacity or Screen layer blending stock + render with an outer glow + text with an outer glow (optionnal)" !

Experiment (not only in terms of compo' or techniques, but also in terms of colours), and you'll sure become better at this. There's nothing better than making gfx to improve your skills at it.... 

[Flash Flyer - Sakura]

I see that my GFX pattern has gotten obvious, which likely isn't a good thing.

 

Technically, the stock picture was rather large to begin with (but it was resized); but yeah I should stick to doing stuff in rectangular formats.

I probably put the glow on stuff, so I can see where the subject/text is; especially in cases where the colors on the background + stuff are very close in tone.

 

Indeed, I should try to do new things so I improve at it.

Heck, it's fun to do stuff.

 

 

(Night hoped that I post more often in Showcase since I returned; well, he's technically getting his wish fulfilled [even if it takes SOTWs to drag me into this])