The poker-faced speech:
This wallpaper was made for my 5th anniversary on animepaper.net, and in a few days the very same goes for minitokyo.net. Those 5 years where definitely a good experience, and my skills grew into a phase that I can finally say being able to do some real stuff.
First I want to thank to everybody who supported me trough those five long years, naming all of them would make this description twice so long, so let's do so towards the top ones, to Brad, Isshi, Moutonzare and Animus-Dementis. Thank you my friends. (in the case that you are not named like those 4 and claim being my great friend, please PM me, I add you here)
Preparations and mad gauge at 100%:
I had my eyes on the scan quite for some time, when somebody vectored it, and was even quite decent. Though soon after, another user made a wallpaper from it, which unless the vector, rather would fall in the category of "barely made trough the approval" or "who the hell approved this?" And since I liked that scene (and the anime itself) a way too much, it made me a bit (thats a lie, a lot!) mad. To keep some decency I will not link it here, you can find it yourself in the Horizon category. If you compare, you can notice that the elements used in my wallpaper are no coincidence, rather a very improved version of the very same scene.
Work process (original plan):
As I told before, this vector was already in the gallery, but as a vector artist myself, I would not go that low, as to use the work of somebody else. So except the colored outlines it has a superstrong contrast (to match the summer scene) and a lot of glow/blush/shade to improve their sexy levels by 9000%. I made the beach - water/sand/waves from scratch using various effect/textures/filters/styles/etc. Funny thing, but worked - waves and the water effects have been made using transformed cloud brushes, the outcome is almost as surprisingly good. Not at least, a small part of Tomo's hair has been changed, on the original she has 2 curls on each other, making the angle bad for my beach, so one of them is now straight. Is not 100% perfect still, but better as a slap in da face. Well, jokes aside, is anime after all, we don't need hold us to total realism.
Work process (tier 2):
Quite often I have MSN opened by still working in PS. If you have Isshi on your friendlist, and you talk quite often, it can be very prosperous and dangerous at the same time. Seeing how his mere sketch is evolving to a awesomesauce art, is forcing you to put a lot more time and detail into your own works, and you set the requirements towards yourself always a bit higher. Thats the prosperous part. The dangerous is that your lose twice as much energy as you usually do. I'm beat dead today (be sure to have emergency supplies near to PC in similar cases) So eventually I added the tree using some old scan (tried a satin effect on the leaves - worked damn good by making those little stripes), next was a little island - originally a free vector sketch on the internet "dino island" I redrawed it and recolored to match it my own needs (and wall). Then as bonus, I decided to add/vector both those chibi characters from the original scan, and by the fact that I made them with the same style as the girls (gradients + colored outlines) it took a additional 6 hours to do so. Phew! Title comes from the title of the anime itself - Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, and since Horizon is not present on this, just Kimi and Tomo, plus they are on the beach and not nowhere, might sounds kinda good this way.
The big final and excuse of the lazy one:
I will see how many wallpapers I yet can do this year, not many I guess, there is still the ongoing VD plus I have another ecchi wallpaper in 70% done or so. You know, I also have this new PC with i3-2120, 8GB RAM and Geforce 450GTS and loads of games (Space Marine, Metro 2033, STALKER Call of Pripyat, Dead Island, etc.) which I could not play due my old PC was a way too weak, so cya :3 (meet me on Steam)
Stats & credits:
Original resolution: 4000x2500 (16:10)
Original size: 83,9 MB (.psd)
Layers: 4 characters vectored inside plus BG - try to guess, bro
Clouds: Sugar Cloud Pack 1
Source:
PS. Watch the Horizon anime, it's great and has a god-tier OST, plus new season is running just now!
Saving…
10 months, 1 day ago
Shiney. 'nuff said.
10 months, 1 day ago
While Horizon itself may be one of the worst anime series I have ever watched on so many levels, this wallpaper that is a byproduct of the series is probably one of your best.
Hands down, you can tell Isshi definitely has had a bit of an influence on you. The background itself is definitely a huge step in the right direction, although as you admit it still does need quite a bit of work to reach that high level of greatness. However, by no means does that mean it's lacking. I have to say that the clouds themselves are the stand out feature in this piece. However, perhaps it's just me but the seem a bit large in proportion to the scale of the piece itself. I do really like them though, and I like seeing large portions of clouds in a wallpaper as something different and this most certainly fits the bill. The waves also are rather nicely done too. I'm also glad that you added that extra level of detail in creation of the sand, as well as the mountain scenery in the back. It's really nice to see someone attempt to do more complex things, and considering your level of vectoring skill, I'm glad to see you've taken that same ambition overall to the background as well.
The vector, as previously stated, is gorgeous. Including each of the chibi characters that both girls use in the series was a nice tough for fans, but those that are unfamiliar might find it a bit random. However, it looks absolutely fantastic.
It's definitely great to see that your celebrating your five year anniversary with something tremendous and ambitious as this piece. The beach scene may be over done to some, but it's always nice to see it and especially when it's this well executed. You definitely have taken a leap forward in walling, and it shows. Good work, Aki!
10 months, 1 day ago
I'm rather glad to see your work again. My friend you have some serious guts...I have always respected that about you. I too dislike using someone else's vector. It's not even about doing a better job but having respect for your own vision and theirs. Manipulating someone else's work is like walking in on them in the shower and posting naked picks of them on the internet. (this is not the same when collaborating with someone by the way) I mean it's nice that someone uses something that you made but most are really copycats or sub par, at best. Very rarely do you see something original and innovative under these circumstances.
So to say that I'm am overjoyed to see this here is an understatement. You have such a knack for making unique images with exciting qualities that shine out brighter and never get dull with time. Day after day I wake up to some beautiful Aki wall and I know it's gonna be a good day. Such colors, vibrance , and composition that elude most of us seems to come to you in your sleep. I think it's because you are such an avid gamer. You can look at something and see it in real time and freeze frame all at once.
Thank you for sharing! +fav
10 months, 1 day ago
I'm not a fan of ecchi but I really like this. The vector is absolutely beautiful. It's very clean and the colors are fantastic. The beach and sea look great, maybe is there was some sand around their feet and knees, it would look even better. I'm not a big fan of the clouds here, vectored or sharper ones would be better. Still it's good wallpaper, nice job! And congrats for your 5th animepaper anniversary :D
+fav
10 months, 1 day ago
The background looks strange to me though, the sand and the water look flat. I don't know if the white stuff in the water are supposed to be waves, because they kind of look like clouds? The clouds in the sky also look out of place; they look too realistic. It might be better to use clouds from another image, or perhaps paint them from scratch. The vector looks very good with all of the gradients and colored lines though.
10 months, 1 day ago
Ohhh great!
10 months, 23 hours ago
I know this is an Aki wall when I see the vector, even without clicking on the thumbnail yet. XD
Apart from the beautiful vector with the colours and clean lines as usual, the composition for the bg design is good and I like how you did the colouds and the sand. I can see that you've added more details and improvements on the bg as compared to your older sky and beach wallpaper design which makes me like this wall even more. The placing of the adorable chibi characters works well in the bg too.
You've done a great job for this one AKi and I can see that we can be inspired to move on further with the influence of a friend whoes art is "prosperous and dangerous at the same time". =3
This is a great wall for your 5th anniversary celebration and I'm happy to see your work here. Looking forward to see more of your works!
10 months, 23 hours ago
Wow, Aki! 5 years of walling, and of bringing us the hq ecchiness! This wallpaper is really stands out of your earlier works, however all of them (I like ones of Sora no Otoshimono) are examples of your amazing skills and talent!
I noticed, that the beach scenes are your fav ones for ecchi-obvious reasons, and you make them very painstakingly each time!
But now, this scene is something very different - you showed off a great progress, making the sand look very natural, the sky to be bright and adding the palm tree to emphasize the atmosphere of hot temperature and the symbol of distant paradises. And this creation is a real paradise - it's a pleasure to enjoy the gorgeous vector (I always admire your way of making it SHINE and have the depth despite of being 2D image) of not only two sexy girls but the chibi ones who are done with the same attention; and 10000000x times a pleasure to celebrate your anniversary of being an awesome waller and exceptional artist!
All hail the King of vector&ecchiness!
+fav , admiration and waiting for the next masterpiece!
10 months, 21 hours ago
I love this work.
10 months, 20 hours ago
Ecchi Aki is Ecchi!!! This is an Epic Win! I love that background, impressive work there, I love the fresh color you're using and especially the awesome sea and sky you made! Aki, we need more of your art, keep it up bro! Hi5!
10 months, 8 hours ago
It's so beautiful !! I love it !!!! Thanks !!
10 months, 1 hour ago
Dat Ecchi. Good work man! :3
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Sorry I didn't comment right away as it was my birthday yesterday. You've really perfected the art of the beach wall now! Great decision on switching the little chibis to put one on the other side, gives it better spacing. I like the deep ocean color, the sand texture is great and the clouds forming on the horizon too! Great work I could never make this type of wall!
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Such a grand piece is also beyond my skills and abilities. This truly is something different!
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Wow Aki, it really is a fitting wallpaper for you to make on your 5th AP birthday! It's really nice and well done of course, the vector is beautiful. The only thing that's a bit weird is her foot that you can see, it looks really wide, but I think that's the artist and not you. Anyways, you have made another great work. I don't really have time to wall or vector right now, I am getting lots and lots of hours at Disneyland because of the new re-opening of California Adventure. I see a lot of hot girls though and some girls with really big tits, I'm sure you would like them! Well anyways, good work as always my friend.
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Yummmmmm ~
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Oh!nice one ! really big!!!!!!.................
9 months, 4 weeks ago
Funny and hight quality... Excellent job! Fav for me
9 months, 4 weeks ago
すてき～ おっぱいが大好きなあ～～ ありがとう～
9 months, 3 weeks ago
full color image is nice and collegial
9 months, 3 weeks ago
Funny and hight quality... Excellent job! Fav for me
9 months, 3 weeks ago
Every object by itself is very well made. What I'd like to see is more connection between the characters and the three parts of the background: the sea and the land, the sky, and the tree. The sky looks like a real picture, which is very impressive, but does not match the sea, that does not look real, but also not what you'd expect to see in an anime. The characters are plainly anime.
9 months, 2 weeks ago
jojojojojooooooo....sexy sexy sexy .... n///n .... Salu2~~o.O~
9 months, 2 weeks ago
Awesome wallpaper! I love anime girls with big breasts!
9 months, 3 days ago
...set very appropriately in paradise. These two set against the beach is so appropriate.
7 months, 2 weeks ago
this image make my heart explode!
7 months, 1 week ago
Looks really good, could i ask a question Why is it useful to use shine on the girls who are posing. You dont have to answer but it is something that has bothered me for some time.