Deathnote - Where comes light, comes Darkness

2 years 11 months ago

"Hmm…Death Note. Reminds me that I still have to watch it (I have it sitting on my hard drive but haven’t had the time to get around to watching it lol)

There are a couple of things I find off with this wallpaper. Firstly, the text. The “When comes light” at the top is acceptable but do something about the “n” in the “Comes darkness” I know that the word can’t really be interpreted as anything else but it just looks weird if the “n” blends straight into the BG. Actually, now that I come to think of it, would the “When comes light” look better if it were just solid white with no texture. That should provide a better contrast with the “Comes darkness” in the other corner if it is exactly the opposite shade. Speaking of contrasting shades, I want to ask why you didn’t darken the shoulders (I think they’re shoulders) of the shadow. I think my description is a bit wonky so allow me:



If they were entirely black, that would add to the reflective theme that you want to enforce, sort of like having a mirror split down the middle. Other than that, I also have another idea. Don’t just reflect the shadow but reflect the face as well. This time though, invert the face and set the transparency so that the face isn’t totally dominant. This way, the black shadow isn’t covered up and goes well with the light and darkness theme whilst the faces can work on the refection theme. I’m not sure how it will turn out but just an idea.

Another thing I want to toss out is blurring the line of separation. Will it look better if it’s not a hard edge? Could give the sensation that the reflection is from a water surface or something but that is truly an idea that I am not sure of. Give it a try if you want =]

That’s about all at the moment. I’ll keep tabs on this thread and post again if I think of anything. Good luck."
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new wallpaper!*:) ...

2 years 11 months ago

"OK, looks like I was a bit late to get in the early advice but anyway, download GIMP and then you can start proper walling =]

Some of the problems have already been touched on. The text definitely needs improvement. If you are just using MSPaint, I don’t actually know how you managed to make the text look like that but it needs an outline. Right now, it looks like you cut it from another image and tried to clean up the edges with the eraser tool (Please tell me you didn’t do that)

The composition of the wall in general is decent but then again, I need to ask you how much of this wallpaper was actually put together by you or have you just been trying to clean it up? Not trying to sound harsh or anything but from your description in the first post, that’s the impression I got. Putting all that aside though, the image itself needs cleaning up. This may have been because you saved the wallpaper at a low quality or it maybe a problem with the original source. Either way, you have to find a way to get rid of the artifacts. Normally I would also suggest re-vectoring the chibi characters since no amount of cleaning up can ever match the quality and detail of a vector but we can leave that till later after you solve the basic problems.

At the moment, my suggestions are to download GIMP and fix up the problems I mentioned above. If you want to give vectoring a shot, that is also up to you. I haven’t used GIMP before but I’m sure you can use it to vector and someone here will be able to give you instructions =]"
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i made a wallpaper and would like some help...

2 years 11 months ago

"Hey dude, dropping by your user page, it turns out you know ly as well =]

Well, here are some pointers to get you started. Resolutions for AP submission must be a minimum of 1024 x 768. Another common resolution used is 1280 x 1024. Either way, the one you’ve linked to is the wrong proportions.

About linking to wallpapers, use imageshack. Photobucket resizes the wallpapers to 800 x 600 so it’s not really suitable for posting wallpapers on a site for C&C that requires a higher resolution. Simply go to http://imageshack.us/ browse for the file on your computer, upload it and copy the “Thumbnail for forums (1)” line into your post and it should be OK.

Now with your wallpaper making, I read on ly’s page that you’re only using MS Paint. That’s definitely not going to be enough. Try and get yourself a version of Photoshop (it’s what I’m using). You can get other programs but then you’re going to need instructions from somebody else because I only really know my way around Photoshop. Same as animepixel, just pm me or drop a message on my page if you need any more help =]"
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ouran wall again!

2 years 11 months ago

"Yes. Better. Why didn’t you follow the original when you were making the mouth though? Shrink the mouth a bit and make it look more like a sly grin rather than a happy smile. I suppose you could add in teeth lines but make them faint so they don’t stand out too much =]

Right, I don’t have any more major complaints with this wall. Hopefully someone else will take a look and comment more. Good luck and I'll keep tabs on this thread till you submit the wall ^^"
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ouran wall again!

2 years 11 months ago

"OMG >< did I call it pixilation?!? lol

But anyway, try what kerosaki-kun is suggesting and save it at an even higher quality. Right now, your file size isn’t that large at all =]

Correct me if I’m wrong but the things you’ve done:
1) Smoothed out the outline of the twin’s hair
2) Added to hair lines (I don’t know if that’s what they’re called)
3) Changed the camera but still cheated
4) Added a collar

Right, firstly, the hair is looking MUCH better now. Well, at the very least it doesn’t look like a sponge anymore lol. The collar is also a good job but I see that you didn’t add in the center line =[ Humor me and add one in, the blazer/coat just doesn’t look right without it. In terms of the camera, I suppose it’s better but again, I think it’s a solution that’s only acceptable if you’re looking at the wallpaper from afar. Looking at it up close, it still is really dodgy. At this stage, I think comments from other people would be more useful since I don’t have any viable solutions for you (remember, until I can get a version of PS to you, vectoring is basically out of the question).

Now, you’re going to hate me for this but I have found yet another problem with your vector after another inspection. Add a mouth!! Like I said, it’s nit-picking and I also know that a normal person would think that the lack of detail is on purpose, just because the twins aren’t the focus of the wall but after seeing the source image, I just can’t shake it off XD"
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ouran wall again!

3 years 4 hours ago

"Haha, OK, it’s not that odd. If you look at your original, I’m afraid your screenshot ends there but that doesn’t mean you can’t fill in the rest. Just grab some other pictures and kinda finish off the picture. But if you’re really having problems with vectoring, then I suppose this is alright.

Looking at your latest version, I think you should clean up the image a bit (the one in the photo, not the twins) because there is some pixilation around the lines and edges. As for the twins, no the problem isn’t as apparent. If I don’t look too closely, I can mistake the finger as an index finger and not a thumb but the camera still looks very flat =/ Besides that, I think you should still add some more detail into the hair of the twins, especially the smaller one obviously. His hair looks like sponge to me right now lol =D

Last thing I have to say is the uniform. You’re probably right, it’s not worth adding a badge anymore but definitely add in the button line so it doesn’t look like he’s wearing a jumper. It’s supposed to be a blazer or a school coat and since you’ve lost the button line AND the collar, it looks like a woolen jumper now. Fix it up =P"
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ouran wall again!

3 years 1 day ago

"God, you really love making my life miserable don’t you? lol, just joking but trying to give advice without having photoshop in front of you is sort of like trying to cut wood with a knife: really difficult but do-able if you can be bothered =] Either my English is getting crappier by the moment or I was just having a bad day at describing things =/ Let me show you what I meant:



With your new version of version 1 (lol, that sounds really confusing but you know what I mean) where did you get the stock photo for the BG? Either way, could you post a version with the “Caught” on the left side instead? To me, the new version is looking really crowded on the right side so maybe the shift of the text position can bring some balance back to the wallpaper. Other than that, I suppose you still need a bit more work on the vectoring XD but like I said, with a small image, the vector problems aren’t as apparent but that is a choice up to you. "
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rurouni kenshin wallpaper... needs improvemetn.. help me please!*

3 years 1 day ago

"Do you still have that message I sent you with the instructions on how to upload and post an image? Just follow those instructions. If it still doesn’t work, then find the file on your computer, right click and select “Properties”. Click on the “Summary” tab and then the “Advanced >>” button and tell us the width and height of the image.

From the small version though, the concept looks promising =] Just fix up the link so that we can take a look at the proper version."
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ouran wall again!

3 years 2 days ago

"Sweet idea zazou =]

In your BG, I think the original idea of “Caught!” would be a good idea, slap the big red words diagonally across the corner. Give it a try and tell us how it turns out ^^ (haven’t installed PS on my new computer yet so can’t do it myself)

Now, with this new idea, the image quality of the vectored twins really becomes an issue. Just a few key things I noted in the passing. The cameras, especially the silver one. The black camera I suppose you could get away with it being simplistic but the silver one really looks weird. If I were to describe it, I’d say it looks flat and more like a piece of cardboard and not a camera. With the black camera, now that it takes up a large proportion of the wallpaper, you might want to consider adding a bit more definition to it’s outline as well as some more details to its body. Whether you decide to do that or not, there IS one thing that you need to fix and that is the lens. Perhaps it is because of the lack of detail but the lens doesn’t look like it’s connecting to the body of the camera. I think you’ve shifted it a bit too high.

The other things are the hair and the body. There’s no mouth on one of the twins and the uniform just looks bad without any lines. Take another image of the twins in uniform and add in some more detail. OK, I’m going to stop now so I don’t do something like last time although reading over my post, it seems I already have lol"
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ouran wall again!

3 years 5 days ago

"We’ve been through this before. YES, she doesn’t have a pen tool and NO we can’t find it so we’ll just have to work around that =]

Right…let’s take a look at this wallpaper. Firstly, I’d like to ask you to post a copy of the source image from which you vectored the twins. I have to agree with AdReN in that his hands really do look funny. Is that just because you don’t have the pen tool and can’t vector well? That’s probably the answer to your first question. Vectoring the twins will most likely be better than just cleaning up a scan of them but then again, I’ve seen better re-vectoring techniques. You really ought to consider buying a newer version of photoshop if you’re planning to continue making wallpapers =/ Trying to vector things without a pen tool is sheer folly and is a waste of your time.

Your next question concerning the main picture, I have two answers. Yes and no (duh). Considering the low amount of detail required in the BG image, my first instinct is to tell you to re-vector it since comparatively, it shouldn’t take too much effort. However, taking your situation into account, I think it’s better off for you to just take the original and clean up the scan. At this point, I have a suggestion. I see that you’ve put a white border around the entire picture. I’m not sure if it is intentional but it comes across as a Polaroid photo (actually, now that I think about it, I’m sure that was what you were intending) Instead of just following the edges of the wallpaper why not make the photo slanted. I suppose at that point, you need to consider exactly where the photo is and create a suitable backdrop (e.g. table) but we’ll get to that later.

About the text, if you plan to take my idea aboard and slant the photo, then the “Caught” can go in the corner of that photo, probably not in such a large size font. However, if you plan to continue with this layout, then I suppose it’s placement at the moment is alright. With the twins in the corner, there really isn’t any other place you can put it. However, would a graffiti style font be more suitable? I can’t reach dafont right now for some reason but try using Streetsoul or Rufa. It might turn out OK (I say OK because I’m just guessing and have no idea what it would look like. If it looks crap, pretend I never said anything)

My last comment is: Dang, you really like Ouran don’t you ^^ and no, my new computer is not for homework, not yet anyway =[ Work on your vectoring techniques and think about buying a newer version (alternatively, find a cracked version but if I get reprimanded for making this suggestion, then so be it) Reading over this, I find that I've gone on several tangents but I hope I haven't been TOO random =]"
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Inukami wall

3 years 5 days ago

"OK, the wall is in its early stages so I hope you don’t mind me saying this: It’s really crap! Well, that’s what SZ is for, so we can improve on it =D

Firstly, like the others have said, sticking several textures together makes it look like a really slap-dash job (even for a first draft). Work on the building, particularly the awning. Right now, because it’s just a wood grain texture, it’s hard to tell if it’s sticking out or sunk into the doorway. I know it sounds ridiculous but without proper shadowing, it looks really fake. Next is the whole building in general. This is meant to be an onsen, a hot spring. Try for a softer and darker wood grain. I think it’s something to do with the fact that the wood soaks up a lot of steam or something but onsen buildings always seem to look wet and old. You might want to keep this in mind when you touch up the walls. The door as well looks really weird so in general, just touch up the textures.

With the floor, again, the texture method is really unsuitable. What you need is more 3D feel, so it doesn’t look like a painted ground. When you re-make the ground, try to make it glisten a bit as well. Since it’s an onsen, the floor is bound to be wet so maybe keep that in mind and add in some reflections. I sort of liked the idea with the rocks surrounding the onsen. Of course, that will require a bit of work to make sure the rocks fit in with the environment, are not too big and jagged etc. Another thing about your textures is the water. Make some ripples around them! Where they’re standing and especially where she’s lifting her leg, definitely the water surface would be disturbed so do something about that.

If you think that the BG is a bit empty, perhaps you could add some foliage. That would make the idea of the rocks perfect, adding in the plants in the gaps between the rocks. With that in mind, it would look better if you alter the wallpaper so the edge of the onsen is on their left (so our right). Then flip the girls and have the red-haired girl (no I haven’t seen this series yet) hiding behind some plants. That should work well with her posture, something like she’s surprised at being exposed =P"
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melancholy

3 years 1 week ago

"Did that idiot copy my post? o_O No matter, guess he was banned anyway.

Right, just a quick scan over it, I can tell you removed the butterflies and the cloud in the top corner. Much better in my opinion. Overall, I think the wallpaper is very good, the composition and the textures that you’ve used are excellent. The last thing that STILL bugs me is the hat. Before I launch into a rant, let me give you a bit of advice. Don’t bother with the text. Many wallpapers are perfectly fine without any additional text and are actually wrecked by the author trying to tag in a catch line to the wallpaper. This wallpaper is just like that.

You have the birds, the sun and the slanted beach to draw attention away from the central character already so you definitely do not need extra text. It might have been alright if she wasn’t positioned in the exact center of the wallpaper (so if she was on the left side with quite a lot of empty space on the right) but the way you’ve arranged it, the wallpaper is just short of saturation.

Now, back to the hat. It’s improved with the edges but the main body of the hat just doesn’t cut it. =/ If I remember right, did you say that you added the hat in yourself? If so, then I suggest that you try and re-vector a better hat (I know, a big ask at this stage of the wallpaper production but I really think it’s worth it) This time, however, instead of just using a pattern and a gradient overlay to provide the hat with texture, actually vector it in. Right now, the hat edges look alright but the main mass of the hat simply looks like a blob. If you really want to submit, I think that would be the sole reason they could reject you. Work at it, the hat is just as important as the rest of the wallpaper =]

EDIT: and yes, I know that I make long posts but this is the only way I can give thorough feedback =P"
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Beck wall

3 years 1 week ago

"Hm…I must have missed a lot whilst I was gone. When did you decide to scrap the brick wall idea? I really liked that idea, in fact, these walls actually look a bit empty. Well, if you plan to take this idea and continue with it, I’ll post my comments.

The first thing I feel uncomfortable about are the squares in the BG. They are different dimensions and it also seems like you have taken the same block of nine squares, enlarged them and stuck them together to make the pattern. Therefore, it keeps on repeating that the first column of squares is less wide compared to the other two columns. Even them out so that they look identical and that should fix the problem. The other thing is the positioning of the letters in the squares. I think part of the problem is with the sizes of the squares as well but try to center them on the squares.

Next is the actual chop squad. Since I said that part of the problem with the wallpaper was its emptiness, I suggest you move the chop squad in front of the squares. This will fill up some of the empty space in the bottom right section. From all of this, I think you can guess that I like the first wallpaper better. The one without Maho looks REALLY empty…"
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Lain Wallpaper

3 years 1 week ago

"LOL, OK, the first thing you might want to correct is the resolution. Totally wrong for a wallpaper. 860 x 752? After resizing it (remember, 1024 x 768 is minimum requirement for AP) you might end up cutting out the last row of the window.

To the techniques, I guess the concept is pretty good but in your latest version I find that her face is now too saturated, looking a bit too red. I see that you also added the texture to the window frame. Right now, the window frame is looking too 3D, you should alter it so that it suits the Lain style a bit more, at the very least a bit more anime-ish. "
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suggestions with my first wall

3 years 1 week ago

"Hm…not bad, it comes out as better than the first version. However, I really think that the whole wallpaper is too red. The problem lies in the fact that your BG is read AND the girl is in a red uniform as well.

I saw a similar problem in another wallpaper in SZ and that is the choice of BG. If the character is in a certain posture, the BG has to match it. Grunge BG’s are alright but it takes a certain touch to make them look good. In this case, I suppose it comes out alright but I still think that an environment BG will look better. In fact, looking at her face makes me picture her sitting on a bad (I know, I know, I’m sick, so what? ^^) you might want to give that some thought.

If you decide to go with what you have here, then it’s really good already. I really don’t like the black circle but then again, I know that is characteristic of Azumanga Daioh! So I’m sure that it will be acceptable. Try shrinking it a bit and shifting it more into the corner so it’s not so imposing."
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for script refinery wall (edited)

3 years 1 week ago

"Man…this guy actually spammed over 10 threads >_>

As for the wallpaper, I agree with everyone else. Get rid of the “Composed by”. Just having Richard Marx is enough. If it’s not too much trouble, you could also try to make the “Richard Marx” more cursive and look like a signature.

Another thing is the placement of the words. Position the song lyrics so you separate them into two sets of two lines. Place them within the bars so that they don’t overlap with the white borders. I think this will give it a better effect.

EDIT: AND he's f***ing copying my posts!! GRRR"
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(remake)FMA wallpaper

3 years 1 week ago

"Goddang spammers >_>

Their secret? Experience, patience and re-vectoring most of the time. If you get lucky and find a source that’s good enough so that extraction is sufficient, then all the better. Right now, I get the sense that you’re just using the eraser tool to clean the edges. The problem with that is you really need a steady hand and precise cut in order for it to even come close to acceptable. That’s why there are areas where you haven’t erased enough (where there are edges left) and areas where you’ve erased too much.

Besides that, I remember seeing the old version of this wall as well and I must say that it has been much improved. Just clean up the scans and it will be loads better. Good luck!
"
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simple red wall

3 years 1 week ago

"Just copy the file into:

C: > WINDOWS > Fonts

Windows will do the rest. I dont even think you need to restart photoshop but if you don't initially see the new font, just close and restart the application"
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how to create lines - VECTORING

3 years 1 week ago

"Ignoring the spammer, you might want to check your post. I don’t see a link."
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Naruto Wallpaper Vector(new edit)

3 years 1 week ago

"Hm…what can I say? After seeing this latest version, I can’t tell where the light source is coming from =/

I do have to say that it probably looks better without the text. Sorry, I’m really out of ideas at the moment so the lighting is all I can pick out. I’ll come back later if I can think of something =]"
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simple red wall

3 years 1 week ago

"I didn’t see the first one but this wallpaper looks a bit plain =/ I suppose if an environment BG is no good and grunge wallpaper is more suitable, then you might want to consider getting some different textures and brushes, add some variation.

The text, I don’t really like. Very big, chunky and all around just not appealing. Try looking on dafont for some other fonts. I haven’t seen this before but I’m sure there’s a font that suits it better.

With the character, why is there a thicker border on some edges? Is that meant to be a shadow? If it is, you should either:

1) Extend it if you plan to design an environment BG so that the shadow suits the lighting.
2) Remove it if you plan to continue using a grunge BG.

The outline is already thick as it is and a short shadow makes it worse.
"
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