[arttorney]

This is the feedback thread where if you think we dropped the ball you can tell us. Tell us what you think we could have done better. If you want to tell us how awesome we are, well, I guess we never get tired of hearing that either. Just remember to tell us why you thought we were awesome so we can keep being that way in the future.

The below is the first opening banner I made when I was whipping up window dressing for this competition. There has been some concern that these little squares aren't much of a thumb, but then again, attachment manager won't let me put up a huge banner. I made that other banner as a way of giving some people recognition with good sized thumbs, but obviously there are a limited number of spots on it and it would change infrequently

I could make a banner with a sackload of good sized thumbs if I eliminated the "Guidelines" part and wrote that information in my text announcements. What do folks think we should do? Don't worry. I have to change this banner anyway because I misspelled "finished."

[Trashy]

Hey arttorney cool that you got this started up. You know I was taking a close look at the character forge activity and I do like how the thumbs are separate from the banner. Actually I think you could get away with making them slightly larger.

But yeah inserting the type for the guidelines I think is good. Just copy and paste every round.

Okay for the banner if it's alright I took a stab at the design also arttorney. By the way if you ever need help in terms of design or jazzing up some areas I would be more then happy to help also

For the banner instead of the square shape that is in character forge I thought of a rounded shape and there is a overlay of a image in the background. My thinking is time to time if there is cool image that is done in these activities that just kicks total butt it can be put in there. I was playing with the idea of some catch phrase or something neat...um might be a idea.

Winning banner I put twelve thumbs in. You know most environments are done wide but you do get tall ones time to time so with the shape maybe something in-between the two. I was thinking somewhat wide instead of totally square myself.

But yeah food for thought. Messed with the type effects also. Colors are pretty easy to change on here also.

banner

winners

So lets say if the topic was this week this is how it would look also. I copied text that you guys already had

Round 02 # "The Boneyard"Deadline Aug. 4th

Welcome to the New Worlds Activity

Overall in this activity we will be focused on places rather than people or creatures. These will be the sets, or matte paintings if you like, upon which characters, creatures, or vehicles might play out their respective roles within the broader story line of a game, movie, or art for a print work. My co-moderator and I will present you with a batch of information concerning the setting of a game or story and your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to knock my socks off with your best attempt at drawing that set. I know you can do it!

Until we have a 3D version of this activity, I am willing to accept works that were prepared with 3D programs as long as you pick a single view and export that view to a 2D file format for upload.

(This paragraph basically copied wholesale from SCWatson for the plain reason that it makes so much sense): Please don't keep everything a 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 se, 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 week has to offer. (Actually, those are Mike Corriero's words, not mine -Shane)

The Brief
Planet Tarasio used to be a lush planet full of life, but after years of continues wars and harsh environment changes the planet began to die and become a wasteland. All life on the planet began to die off, those that survive when its close to their time seem to flock to a particular spot. This spot is littered with bones from every kind of species.

The sentients that still live have formed a cult around worshiping some kind of death deity and have taken up residence in the 'Boneyard'.

your job is design the boneyard, what kind of creatures go there to die? are the bones aligned in some special way? Have fun with this idea and any problems or questions feel free to ask.

THE GUIDELINES

If anybody's confused about what this activity is all about, feel free to PM me.

Follow the brief. Of course there's always room for your interpretation of the brief.

Color or black and white are both OK

Digital or traditional media are both OK

All skill levels are welcome here. We can all stand to get better but we only improve if we try.

We accept only finished artwork that was made for this activity.
Please only one entry per episode per participant.

If possible prepare a voting thumb like they do in the other activities.

Have fun, above all else!

Deadline again is August 4th



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Hope this helps

[Cj_Marsh]

@trashy hey man thanks a ton for the feedback, yea me and arttourney were kinda talking about the banner the current one was made by SCWatson, from my understanding, really appreciate the constructive criticism, art is currently busy and popping in and out for the rest of this week, but if there is anything else you or more people have issues or concerns with feel free to pm or post anything to me or him.

PS. im digging this layout may talk to art about it all

[Trashy]

hey @Undeadartist,

No problem man and happy to help out in any way

[arttorney]

Thanks a lot for the suggestions. Yes, I think we might want to run all this by S.C. Watson because I think he might have specifically made that other activity banner to match the forum's overall look (and to make sense since it shows a world and this is the "New Worlds" activity).

[Trashy]

No problem Attorney I see what you mean with planets...it's very possible to overlay a image or illustration in that banner with planets but yeah I just wanted to throw this out here for you guys and for the thumbnails. Certainly run it by Watson to see what he thinks.

[arttorney]

I'll tell you what. He was also thinking about making some nicer thumbnails for those sticky thread thumb icons I made. Those are just a crop and resize chunk of a sketchup background I had used in flight of the dying swiftwings. I needed to make up something on the fly to get the activity off and running. We could certainly use something really cool to be that sticky icon.

S.C. Watson has been very busy, especially this last week and I am currently in a hotel in Portland myself recovering from a grueling two-day hearing I just finished. We probably would both get a sense of relief if you have a good idea for those icons.

[Trashy]

Ah those icons, you know I can work some designs to throw your way for those. Since we are going with the idea of worlds and planets I could see something in there like a space scene or ships flying toward a planet. What I can do is work out some designs and shoot them your way in the next couple of days. It's a small format so ideally I'd likely keep it along the simpler side so it stands out. Yeah if you don't mind I can it give a whirl.

[kovah]

I've noticed you've not been getting a great deal of entries recently and I was looking at why and it strikes me that when you look at the thread first there are two rather large banners, then a wall of text that you have to sift through to find out what the activity is. Perhaps having a smaller more concise brief like for the current one

Title: Space Dreadnoughts
Brief: 'create 6 quick thumbnails of space deadnoughts'
Deadline: January 7th
More infomation: The Eastwood IX.....

Near the top of the post then a more information paragraph underneath as so much information can put people off as it looks too complicated.
As it is now its

Banner
Banner
What the activity is
Tracing information
3D information
Don't keep everything secret
Some information on the thumbnail thing
Big template
The brief
The deadline

You can always make an FAQ for the information about the 3D and link to it to keep the first post size smaller and occasionally it means that you will have to answer a few extra questions in the thread but its worth it for more traffic.

[Cj_Marsh]

Hey Kovah thanks for that ill try to shorten it up so far its been just a copy and paste deal and i agree after looking it over there are something that can be cut hope that helps!