Well, I'm glad I'm finally able to share my first wallpaper with you - very glad actually, since I've been working on this for so long. My biggest problem was a constant lack of time, which made it kind of difficult for me to work on this - I had many ideas which eventually got forgotten. Either way, mostly because I'm on vacation for a while now, I managed to finish this. So let me tell you few words about this wall:
Spirited Away is, and probably will be my favorite anime of all times. I'm a huge fan of Miyazaki's work, and I was determined to make a wallpaper for SA (and for other movies too - but let's concentrate on this one now). All I had was few low-quality screencaps, and I realized there is no other way but to vector it. Now, I've done some vectoring before, so I had some experience, but I never did such a major vectoring job, which also made things a bit more difficult. But you know what they say, step by step... Before I forget - I made a collage with all the images I used for this wallpaper, so you can see it too: click for collage!
As you can see, my final image is quite different from the original. I changed lots of things, eg. fences on the building - I didn't like the original ones. I also completely removed some parts, like trees and the building and shrine that were originally located at the right - now, it may be simply a matter of taste, but I thought the wallpaper will already be "full" enough. I wanted to have a sky with clouds in the background, without any other details. At the very beginning, I had some other ideas too for that right part of the wallpaper, but gave up on that in the end. Still, I prefer it like this.
Like I've already mentioned, I'm still far from being an expert in vectoring, so I'm quite aware of the fact some things could be done much better - I tried my best, and I hope to get better in a near future.
When I was done with the building, I started to work on characters. I wanted to include all the major characters and some minor ones too, but I had to ditch some people (spirits...) in the end, simply because they didn't look the way I wanted - in other words, they would ruin my concept :D So, I picked few of them and placed them in a way I thought would be the best - so, we have Yubabba here, the baby, 3 heads, cow-gods, No face, Kamaji, the frog, the manager, and, of course Chihiro with her mother (I wanted to add her father too, but I couldn't find a pic I liked. Sorry dad. Sorry Haku too.)
In the end, I added some textures, trying not to over-do it. I'm a big fan of textures, so, nope, this wall couldn't go without them :D The only part of the wallpaper without any textures is the part with Chihiro and her mom - why? Well, this was my way of sort of separating them from the world of spirits - since they belong to our, human world. I needed to make that "border", between the real and spirit world, without making it too noticeable.
Is there something else? Probably, but I can't think of it now - lucky you :D Ah yes, textures I used were from DA! and Texture warehouse.
Also, I made a birds-free version (forgot to mention it - those aren't really the birds, but those paper-birds that were attacking Haku - I vectored one and copied the rest - they are all the same anyway, more or less). I love those little paper things, but I suppose someone maybe doesn't, so here's that version too:no-birds version.
I didn't forget the people who don't have widescreen: (sorry, the flag had to be cropped!) 1600x1200 (no paper-birds) version:1600x1200 no birds version
And just in case the download link for widescreen isn't working: 1920x1200 version: (with birds)1920x1200 (original version)
(and in case the non-widescreen version (with birds) isn't working too) 1600x1200 version
Whew, my fingers hurt from all the typing!
p.s. dedicated to Ali3n, for his endless (indeed...) support regarding this wallpaper, and to Elrond81, just for being there ^-^
Saving…
5 years, 9 months ago
Great job I like that but It' miss maybe Haku ^^ Great
5 years, 9 months ago
Kewl, ur first wall! The vector is simply AWESOOOOME!! ^^ You did a great job! I really like your wall and give it a FAV! ~CG
5 years, 9 months ago
Very beautiful I must say! Your awesome skill amaze me, man ^^ Congrat!
5 years, 9 months ago
Very good job on the vector. ^_^ A few extraction issues on a few of the scans, but nothing too bad. Great job on your first wall!
5 years, 9 months ago
I am extremely happy to see your work for the first time. I do believe that you did an amazing vectoring with the scans your used. I mean...it must have taken you so much time...i can not even imagine working so much ^^ Of'course i love this anime, i love this wallpaper and there's nothing left but to fav it :)
Ps. You should wall more...
5 years, 9 months ago
I'm happy to c your first work. I have to say i like it :) I want to show u my support on your first wall i remember u been supportive to me in the past. :D I like the detail in this wallpaper and the vector is pretty nice. The only thing this wall lack is dept. It look a lil flat but other then that congrats on the first job well done. :) This is going to my fav.
5 years, 9 months ago
Cool! That was such a great movie! I <3 Miyazaki!!!
5 years, 9 months ago
Looks cool to me..Keep it up (XD)
5 years, 9 months ago
For a first wallpaper, this is truly amazing work! Good job in vectoring, though some scratch should be removed before finishing touch. Anyway, I appreciate the effort very much. +fav
5 years, 9 months ago
Ah, so bad you didn't vector the characters. Or at least Chihiro and her mother cuz they're the only blurry elements on the wall. ;_; But I'm impressed how the castle turned out to be a great vectored piece of art. =D
5 years, 9 months ago
i'm so glad I came back in time to see your 1st wall, you did an amazing job with the vector, I feel as if I'm watching Spirited Away right now, I agree that the you should of vectored Chihiro and her mom in the foreground, but with such an outstanding background, you probably didn't need them in the wall at all, awesome awesome job, I should be more patient as you, then maybe I could wall again lol, anyway fave from me and I hope to see more of your walls in the future!
5 years, 9 months ago
WOW, I. your first wall, and is just incredible, the vector of the castle is flawless and I really like the way you distribute all the characters trough the wall. Also leaving Chihiro and her mom without texture in order to differentiate them from the spirit world is a very artistic choice that I'm very glad you took. I feel very honored that you dedicated your first piece of art to me, and I can wait to see more of you work!! A FAV for sure.
5 years, 9 months ago
Awesome, the download finally work. I really love the whole house, so many characters in one place :)
5 years, 9 months ago
Woah! Cool wallpaper =D Easy +fav
5 years, 9 months ago
what a lovely vector <3 you did a really good job !! for sure +fav
5 years, 9 months ago
Your collab of the images is wonderrrrful. *___* I've been meaning to comment, but I keep forgetting. XD That is SOME collage!
Most people who don't read your "wise words" probably wouldn't have even guessed that you put it all together. ^^ It's truly very impressive. Fav, fav. :3 Your effort pays off.~
5 years, 9 months ago
Wow, it's your first wall and already got an A rating O_O..... Now I definitely want to see more walls from you! :D (Demand actually xP)
I really like your vector, and the light textures you added really makes it so much better. Good you didn't over-do the textures like you said, however better that you didn't leave it without any textures, so in the end you did perfect job with the textures :)
I'm also a big fan of Miyazaki's, but I watched Spirited Away a long time ago and I really can't remember some of those characters you added :P Some however that I remember of course, but where's that boy that turns into a dragon? Is it this Haku that you mentioned that you didn't add as well?
Well whatever, the wall as it is now is perfect and the only other thing I can say is +fav ^__^ (and the foot massage that I promised you xP)
5 years, 9 months ago
I think this wallpaper has a lot of potential. The composition and idea behind it is beautiful, but there are a few issues with extraction and the poor quality of scans you used. Other than that, great job, and keep it up ;)
5 years, 9 months ago
Wow, this is a great vector for you first wall, have to say that I love it. Though I did hope you'd put Haku as well, at least flying there with the paper birds...lol. But other than that, wonderful! Added to my faves.
5 years, 7 months ago
Im not sure what i think about it i mean the picture idea is awesome but theres like a smoothness missing the characters seem like there in a whole different world then the temple
5 years, 7 months ago
Outstanding Wallpaper Just loving it thanks^^
5 years, 4 months ago
wow- what a lot of work! i was kind of scratching my head when i saw this- it's quite obvious immediately that it's spirited away but somehow it looks different as well? now i know why.. i think it's the combination of colours, the fact that the architecture of the temple has changed.. so it doesn't quite look as japanese.
but i love how you included so many characters though. it's great
4 years, 5 months ago
nice wall ^^
3 years, 11 months ago
Great job!! I like the simple, easy on the eyes colors!!