[MikeCorriero]

This will serve as an Open Thread.
Post general discussion here concerning the activity. If you have questions about anything, or suggestions on how the activity is run, what could be done better or just any thoughts on the matter, post them here.

General Activity Info: Only need to read this once.
Creature Planets is a Bi-Weekly Activity on CGHUB, covering creature design, creature illustration and creature creation of all related genres and entertainment industry venues. Though there are no obligations of any kind, I'd like to encourage participants to post thumbnails, sketches, work in progress images and final images as they move along with their entries. Please don't keep everything secret, working on your image in private only to post it at the very last hour as a surprise. The point of sharing sketches and work in progress material is so everyone can learn from each other, receive crits, compliments and improve their skills in a classroom/workshop like environment. There are no teachers and no students per say, but try to offer help to others when possible. Please be open to receiving crits, and paint-overs or mock ups of your work, as we are all here to participate, have fun, learn, grow and enjoy what each topic has to offer.
Although there will ultimately be a winner at the end of the week, this isn't about competition, who's better, popularity or anything of the kind. The real reward here should be your own improvement and your own goals. Let this be more about sharing, learning, improving and building your knowledge and portfolio in the area of creature design with those who share the same interest. This activity is open to everyone, including new and old members, amateurs and working professionals alike.

Posting Info: Final Images + Voting Info Only need to read this once.
Please post all images using CGHUB's attachment manager, and keep images at a reasonable size IE; 1000-1200 pixels in width or height. Images posted smaller or slightly larger are fine, just don't get out of control. If you need help posting using the attachment manager, send me a PM or ask someone else in this thread publicly and you'll be helped. Feel free to provide a name for your creature and a bit of background information. It's not necessary, but the option to explain things further in text form is available, just don't write a book on it. A New thread for all Final images will be created. ONLY 1 image can be presented as your Final. The main reason for using CGHUB to host the image is so there are no dead links, especially when images are posted in the Finals thread for voting.

Mike -

[kovah]

So can you vote for more than one? Or is it a one vote thing? and presumably we wont want to vote until the deadline to make sure that we have had a good look at all of them so will there be a period of a day or so after the deadline in order to put our thanks in?

[MikeCorriero]

Kovah - Yes, multiple voting is allowed. The main reason for multiple voting is because it's sometimes very hard for someone to make up their mind and this way if you really feel it's a two or three way tie, you can vote for your favorites. In the end, the voting will still work out the same as if it were a single vote, it may just be more evenly judged in this manner.
I also can't stop people from giving multiple "Thanks" to every image post they like and it will just be easier for me to see the total count of thanks on each image entry. I also can't stop people from voting on images that are posted in there prior to the deadline and I can't stop people from voting even if the thread is locked. I'm testing this method of voting with the "Thanks" button, but if it does become a problem I may end up using the polls.
I'll be locking the thread for approx. 1 day or less. I'll make a post stating the deadline is over, so any images posted after my comment won't count in the voting. Once the voting thread is unlocked, people can discuss the finals, crit, compliment, and those who didn't get a chance to post their finals before the deadline may post, in order to get feedback. Preferably I would like if people would wait until after the deadline, after all finals have been posted before they begin voting but I don't think it's going to be a Big Problem. Once again, if it does become an issue I will use the polls for voting.

[kovah]

Originally Posted by MikeCorriero

Kovah - Yes, multiple voting is allowed. The main reason for multiple voting is because it's sometimes very hard for someone to make up their mind and this way if you really feel it's a two or three way tie, you can vote for your favorites. In the end, the voting will still work out the same as if it were a single vote, it may just be more evenly judged in this manner.
I also can't stop people from giving multiple "Thanks" to every image post they like and it will just be easier for me to see the total count of thanks on each image entry. I also can't stop people from voting on images that are posted in there prior to the deadline and I can't stop people from voting even if the thread is locked. I'm testing this method of voting with the "Thanks" button, but if it does become a problem I may end up using the polls.
I'll be locking the thread for approx. 1 day or less. I'll make a post stating the deadline is over, so any images posted after my comment won't count in the voting. Once the voting thread is unlocked, people can discuss the finals, crit, compliment, and those who didn't get a chance to post their finals before the deadline may post, in order to get feedback. Preferably I would like if people would wait until after the deadline, after all finals have been posted before they begin voting but I don't think it's going to be a Big Problem. Once again, if it does become an issue I will use the polls for voting.

Okies was just checking

if you want help typing up an FAQ or anything i got some spare time at the moment. Just let me know.

[dman3d]

This may have already been answered but can this be any medium, 3d, 2d or anything in between?

[MikeCorriero]

dman3d - Yea, 2d/3d/traditional/digital etc.. I just don't think there would be enough time to do a 3d model justice in 1 week, then again, I'm not a 3d artist so I don't know.

[JonathanMayer]

I've never been very good at this forum stuff. Where do we post WIPs?

[Brynn_Metheney]

Originally Posted by JonathanMayer

I've never been very good at this forum stuff. Where do we post WIPs?

No worries You can post your WIPs in the thread that explains the topic for example: http://cghub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3450.
We only create two threads per topic so the one that isn't labeled as "Finals" or "Voting" is where you'd want to post your WIPs.
You are also welcome to start threads in the 2d WIP forum for feedback from the community as well as the Paint-over thread.

Hope this helps

[netocg]

Reading a book about Character Design, i found a chapter about aliens, and some question about his planets/enviroment and solar system.
That questions can be asked to give ideas of what type of creature can live or survive there.
"Ask about habitat for inhumanity:
1. type of sun the world revolves around(if there is indeed a sun for the home)
2. Number of suns the world has and their types
3. Size of planet
4. Existence or nonexistence of solid surface
5. Crust(earth component) and its composition and quantily and stability
6. Moons, rings, and other planetary accouterments
7. Atmosphere (or lack of) and type of gases available
8. Liquid components of environment (lakes, oceans, rivers) and what the liquid consists of
9. Temperature range (surface, atmosphere, night/day)
10. Volcanism
11. Weather
12. Seasons
13. Orbital period and eccentricities in same
14. Plate tectonics
15. Atmospheric winds and their frequency, velocity, and so on.
16. Age of the world and its status within a solar system.
17. Rogue worlds that have no attached sun or other physical "systems"
18. Distance from center of galaxy, or position with star clusters or other types of multistar systems, or completely separate from any star system
19. Stellar neighborhood issues (gas or dust clouds, comets, asteroids/meteors, radiation, gamma ray bursts)
20. gravitational field (pull) of the planet
21. Atmospheric density
22. Rotational period of planet

About creature:
1. Core Structure: organic/inorganic
2. locomotion
3. habitat
4. Food (animal, vegetebla, or mineral)
5. Attack/defense modes
6. Sentience
7. Reproduction
8. Culture"
This are information from the book: Hedgpeth&Missal, A Step-by-Step Guide to Designing & Developing Characters for Visual Media, New York: Delmar 2006.

[PhiBeS]

Just a question for future reference. Did I post my final for the finliathian Ying Yang in the wrong place?

[Brynn_Metheney]

Originally Posted by PhiBeS

Just a question for future reference. Did I post my final for the finliathian Ying Yang in the wrong place?

No worries. It seemed to come through fine. It was included in the polls. For next time, just be sure to post it in the thread marked as "Finals Thread". Sorry it took me a bit to get back to you.

[t3hshrimp]

I know I can add the image as an attachment and the thumbnail will show up, but how do you get your images to show up in the message box? ^^;

[voyd]

Originally Posted by t3hshrimp

I know I can add the image as an attachment and the thumbnail will show up, but how do you get your images to show up in the message box? ^^;

yeah I was curious too..how can the attachment pic show up in the message box??i'm new around here..

[Brynn_Metheney]

Originally Posted by t3hshrimp

I know I can add the image as an attachment and the thumbnail will show up, but how do you get your images to show up in the message box? ^^;

When you upload an attachment through CGhub's attachment loader you can add it to the post box using the green paperclip at the top of the post editor:



just click it and you should see the name of your file. Click the name of the file and the attachment will insert itself where your cursor was. Once inserted it will show up full size in you post.

Hope this helps

[Keenir2]

Originally Posted by MikeCorriero

This will serve as an Open Thread.
Post general discussion here concerning the activity. If you have questions about anything, or suggestions on how the activity is run, what could be done better or just any thoughts on the matter, post them here.

if an idea comes to us on a possible entry for long-past rounds, such as a Frai or a Tuk-Tuk, should we put it in the relevant thread (not the Finals one, granted), or should we put it elsewhere?

just curious.