Curse

Hypacia · Jul 06, 2006, 12:42 PM // 12:42

Here he is: Hypacia Apaia! :]

- What do you think? :]

Aren Darksword · Jul 07, 2006, 02:13 AM // 02:13

Here is my newest vers after playing around with the dodging/burning and lighting effects:

I found the lighting effects really confusing in Paintshop Pro so that is the best i could come up with.

Bethany · Jul 07, 2006, 02:36 AM // 02:36

@ Hypacia: I really like it. The pose, the setting and atmosphere really add-up.

@ Aren Darksword: The first thing I might say is; the size. Your image is waaay too large. Try making it smaller. As for the image per se, you've got a good setting and atmosphere. Your character could use a bit of dodging in order to make him stand out a bit more. Also, remove the blurring surrounding the feet of your character to keep the depth of field effect. This image is very good so I think it's really worth working on it.

I also tried something new with my image composition; creating a stronger depth of field effect. Simply put, the further an object, the more blurry it is. To do this I've added a third layer and put a stronger Guaussian Blurr. I've only started messing with this idea but here's a quick work I did.

The nice model here is my mesmer, Victoria who, despites looking a bit impatient, turned out to be quite cooperative

. Here, you can see the ground pretty clear in the foreground but getting blurrier as it stretches to the back. The house on the right appears slightly blurred and the gate in the back is strongly blurred. I'm going to mess with this a bit more as I kind of like the effect it produces.

Bethany

Selena_Lionheart · Jul 07, 2006, 04:17 AM // 04:17

Yea, I just got 15k armor for her, so I wanted to see if I could redo my first one, make it a bit bigger, lighter, and also add a bit more blur to the tower in the background. I think it turned out well ^_^

Matix411 · Jul 07, 2006, 06:32 AM // 06:32

Just messing around with Lord Volkh a bit, actually got one with his helmet on

I played around with the hue and colors a bit in some of these too.

This is addicting by the way ...

(This R my favourite 1..)
"I beg of you, do not forfeit me to these men for the wrong I have done ... I can help. We can win!"

"Rise. Stand tall, my Son. This is the day in which all of Tyria will remember you by ... there will be no execution on this soil today."

"There is a boat, a little ways beyond the Western shore. Find it, and it will take you to across the sea to the industrial sector of Cantha.
You will arrive at Kaineng Docks, Brother Mhenlo will assist you from there.
Be quick, my Son, for time is not in our favour."

"I will do my best, Father, and with no mercy. Farewell."

"Where them darn naggit Afflicted at? I want me some bubbly hides!!"

Yeah don't ask ...

haha..

The third picture's got a quirk at the top, don't mind it.

Aren Darksword · Jul 07, 2006, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Thanks for the advice Bethany. I've removed the blur around his feet and that has made the picture look much better. I was wondering how i should go about making the picture smaller without messing up the picture. I'm also new to dodging so what opacity do you recommend i use? Thanks in advance.

Bethany · Jul 07, 2006, 10:04 PM // 22:04

Aren, the image size can be modified in just about any imaging program even Paint (unless I'm mistaking). Give it a width of about 700 pixels. As for Dodging and Burning, in Photoshop it's not a matter of opacity but brush size. Take any picture and experiments with different brush sizes you'll quickly get the hang of it. Remember that Dodging makes the affected area brighter, opposed to Burning which makes it darker.

Aren Darksword · Jul 07, 2006, 10:44 PM // 22:44

Well, this seems to be the best i can do in Paintshop Pro:

I really dont like the dodging tool in Paintshop Pro, i cant seem to get it to make the image look very good. Do you go over all of your character's armor with it Bethany or just certain parts?.

bulletsmile · Jul 07, 2006, 11:55 PM // 23:55

ok a new one, think this one went better:

Unlucky Slayer · Jul 08, 2006, 12:14 AM // 00:14

Decided to follow the guide this time and this is what I got.

Here is the original to this one.

Bethany · Jul 08, 2006, 01:43 AM // 01:43

You've done great Aren, I really like the atmosphere the image. I'll send you a pm about the image (more on that later

).

@ Bulletsmile: The dancing characters is a good idea but the blur-erasing could use more precision as parts of the characters are lost in blur. Also, remember not to blur too much the background. If you're uncertain, go for about 2.0 or 2.5.

@ Unlucky Slayer: See! You're getting the hang of it.

DragonFeast · Jul 08, 2006, 02:44 AM // 02:44

I need to get photoshop...

Ulivious The Reaper · Jul 08, 2006, 02:46 AM // 02:46

Heres my attempt

Edited-

Original-Found it

Got bored and did my warrior

Did it with part of bethanys guide and then experimenting with photoshop :0
Comments please?

August August · Jul 08, 2006, 03:14 AM // 03:14

< -- the extent of my PS skills.

I really like your picture of Victoria, Bethany. I especially like how you took it at such an angle that it makes the way her hair falls makes sense.

I normally call the the 'perpertual wind blowing' hair style.

Bethany · Jul 08, 2006, 03:23 PM // 15:23

@ Ulivious The Reaper: The first thing that comes out is the erasing around your monk, unless that's the jpg compression playing tricks... As a reminder, when you erase the blur around your main subject, keep the brush small to avoid overlaping and thus erasing part of the background behind the character. The second thing I see is the superb sunset in the back that's a bit too dark. When you place your light source, keep in mind the element of lighting in the image (in this case the sun in the back). Your character could also use a bit more dodging as it will make it stand out. Other than that you chose the perfect type of image with which to practice. Keep it up and show us your next result!

@ DragonFeast: There are some great image editing software around like PaintShop Pro and some others are free. I don't know much about them but maybe someone here does and could inform us about them as I suspect a lot of people would like to tinker with their screenshots but lack the tools.

@ August August: Thanks. Funny thing is, these shots require the right camera angle, the right emote and capturing at the right moment. That's why, as a rule of thumb, I always take multiple sequential shots.