Here I want to picture Hakkai looking at his own reflection in the mirror as well as at his past reflection of the time he had with Kanan - hence the title 'Reflections'.
The photo is kept in colour to contrast the empty/sad/dark mood in the b&w background with the old, worn-out yet happy memories with Kanan in the coloured photograph. The photograph is positioned that way to make it look like it's being tucked under your monitor as the 'imaginary mirror' :) The crack in the mirror and dust are to make the mirror believable and to stop Hakkai jumping in front of the mirror.
The concept was easy and in a way didn't deviate that much - though I did go through 5 design concepts, attempted 2 top contenders and ended up with this wall for a winner. Maybe 1.5 winners, since I'm also making 'Memoir' version of this wall available (PM me if you're interested).
This is my first wallpaper and first major hobby project working with photoshop - yes it was difficult and very very time consuming! I spent about 100 hours but if I were to do this wall again I prolly could do it in less than 15 hours. I spent countless hours going through photoshop tutorials, learning various tools, looking for suitable stock photos and doodling about how to make everything look sensible and believable.
Finally, thanks to all Session Zero-ers for all your comments and feedback to get this wallpaper looking the way it is now. Hope you like it!
Scans used (shrunk versions): Hakkai part 1, part 2 and with Kanan. Stock photos: library and paper texture.
Saving…
7 years, 4 months ago
At first I was like. . ooooh. . it's so big I can't really tell anything about it on my little screen. . . but then I saw the 1280x1024 version.
I like it. I can't comment on the technical aspects of it, but it's very pretty. I haven't found very many really cool Hakkai walls, but I like this one. . a lot!! ^__^
7 years, 4 months ago
I really like how the wallpaper looks. But sadly for me, I can't keep it because it is too big for my resolution. *sniff* But great work!
7 years, 4 months ago
Wow this wall is so kool!! first u have a photo that had shown him in the past with color N' back N' white color on the wall. that shown him in the present time.....And the name to this wall. fits 2^^
7 years, 4 months ago
This is just absolutely wonderful. At first as I looked at it, I thought it was an abstract thing and then I read the explanation about it and you said it was supposed to be hakkai's reflection. i had to full view the wallie and true enough, it was a mirror.. impressive. nicely done, it was so realistic, I can almost touch the cracks in the glass.
It's nice how you contrasted the two images.. that image of nostalgic happiness and the dark feeling of despair. I love it!! This is your first wallie? No way! ^__^ keep up the good work!! You're off to an awesome start!
7 years, 4 months ago
I loved watching the development of this wall. First wall? Get outta here! XD Nice job and fav for all the cool concepts and having my fourth bishie god in it ^^
7 years, 4 months ago
This.. this wallpaper.. I REALLY LOVE IT!
I love Hakkai so much and you capture his sadness so well and and.. Marry me. Marry me and make more wallpapers. <3
7 years, 4 months ago
HOTT!! That's really nicely done! Good Job!1
7 years, 4 months ago
For some reason i really love this wallpaper the coors in it are great and everything else about it^_^ awsome job keep up the good work^_^+favs^_^
7 years, 4 months ago
Hurrah, it's finished and accepted! Great work, fantastic effort - as those of us who've been following on session zero know. You had a solid concept, and you executed it well. Good on you, it's a wonderful job for a first wallie!
7 years, 4 months ago
ah!! at last you submitted this wall!! I've been waiting so long for it, & you've done lots of job on improveing it!! So let's see here.. the wall is great, lovely, wondrful, beautiful, dark, pretty sad, & very nice^^ Hakkai & Kannan(in the photo) looks very perfect & romantic!! I always loved that scan^^ Hakkai(outside the photo) looks very sad, but it makes this wall more perfect^^ & cool thing he got there.. is it a camera..? I loved tthe way you put the Hakkai & Kannan scan to a perfect & small little photo, awsome idea you have there^^ & I love the texture you used for the edges of the photo^^ I love the way you put some kind of glass in th bottom of the photo^^ & the font matches very well with the wall^^ oh yeah, the bg(behind the photo & also the dark Hakkai) is very nice!! The only problem is.. the size,, I think it's better if you used 1024 x 768, or also 1280 x 960, because if 1600 x 1200, it looks a bit blurry^^; well, awsome job & idea ^_~ V I'll definately add this to my favs!! Keep up the awsome work!! Your such a great begginer, & my 1st wall wasn't too good..
7 years, 4 months ago
HAKKAI!!!! *-* no way! you have done a great wallpaper! it contains ALL the emotions of him and her... the sadness and the happiness too! I dont know how to say that this wallpaper is a kind of deep one. I just can tell you that you choose the images very well dont mather so much the text, but the dark face and the sepia colored photo, i kinda a scenary that shows you the idea of them. *-* love it. I mean, LOVE IT!
7 years, 4 months ago
oh God! a great wal of Hakkai!! but....the size is too big for my screen.... =( ah well, who cares, I still love it!
7 years, 4 months ago
FYI, did you know that you could actually download the 1600x1200 version and set the settings in Windows Control Panel to scale or stretch your wallpaper to fit on 1024x768 without distortion? As long as the widthxheight ratio is the same it should scale fine. That's why I put up the largest version so it can scale down to whatever res e.g. 800x600, 1024x768, 1280x960.
Not that I mind giving out external links to different resolutions, just that being a first-timer it's very exciting to see your wall download stats increase - like I go mad at hitting refresh every 10mins - lolz! Especially exciting when there's a new comment or fav :)
7 years, 4 months ago
This is just freaking awesome!!! I love this paper!!!!
7 years, 4 months ago
Awesome outcome! Good title and nice composition, nice work indead!
7 years, 4 months ago
Jeez, I can't believe I missed this wall. I'm so happy on how it turned out. And I'm flattered you used my polaroid idea. ^_^
Overall, the work you've done is phenomenal. And for a first wall, daaaamn. XD Everything looks perfect, and you really fixed everything up. Great work, and I'm looking forward to seeing more from you. ^_~
7 years, 3 months ago
I absolutely love this - great job. You've really created the dark/despondent atmosphere brilliantly.
7 years, 3 months ago
wow, amazing work for a beginner in my opinion. Definitely going to add this to my favorites!
7 years, 3 months ago
whoa... i love the picture in the background! hakkai looks so mysterious... i almost thought that kanan was sanzo, but there's no way sanzo would smile like that ;p *sigh* why is hakkai so gorgeously hot?
7 years, 3 months ago
This is very nicely done. I love it. Great Job!
7 years, 2 months ago
I love the whole reflection concept.It looks really good.Great choice of colours.It really brings out the mood of the wallpaper.
7 years, 1 month ago
Wow! O.o This is one of the cool wall I ever seen.I like the classic camera and the mood.A really good job.^
6 years, 11 months ago
Love it!! It gives a very sad and nastalgic feeling about it. I really like the difference between the cold black and white vs. the warm sephia tones of the picture! Sweetness!
6 years, 10 months ago
ahh hakkai...well very nice match between the colors and the BG is totally killer i luv the whole thing very awsome job!!! ^o^
6 years, 10 months ago
** hehe like this wallpaper so much. so unique and you can't see this pic in the net.**
6 years, 8 months ago
Aahh...I simply love the concept you've put into this. Hakkai with a camera and then turning his image with Kanan into a photograph. No numerous numbers of brushes/blendings used, now this is what I call a wallpaper!
6 years, 8 months ago
Sooo sad....
HHUUUUUUUUUUUUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Black colour makes this wallpaper so sad...I like it but always want to cry... what should I do!?
6 years, 7 months ago
Hey. Your hardwork paid off my friend. You've got yourself a cool looking wallpaper. Nice touch bring kana into the picture.
6 years, 5 months ago
I really like this wallpaper. Hakkai looks sad ,but he is still smart. I also like his smile in the photo with his girlfriend. I feel sad for his ending love. It made him like a poor man. I like your wallpaper's title name. Thank you for sharing your wallpaper.
6 years, 5 months ago
It's PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT, PERFECT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You captured Hakkai SO well. FAVOURITE!
5 years, 4 months ago
I'm sorry for Hakkai and his past but this wallpaper is really nice! I like the contrast between the "present" picture of Hakkai (in black and white) and the picture of the "past" (with colours). Besides the word "reflection" ist a really good description - there is no need to explain it when you know the history of Hakkai.
5 years, 3 months ago
Good wallpaper , it's really pretty !
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4 years, 8 months ago
First wall? ...really, doesn't look like one. You made it look sad and it really fits Hakkai. It's like he wants to throw that camera out because of all hurting memories, but he just can't. Great job~