Thank you for the feedback! I really do appreciate it.
Yeah, I think I am going to start moving to all PNG if possible. I was just always worried how PNG works in other browsers (IE, for example). PNG used to not register with IE at all, so I always stuck with JPEG (which does really do a number when trying to make something "pretty".
The images were really grainy, so I tried to get as close as a crop as possible, without being too awful. I think HQ images are out now, so I'm excited to work with those!
1. This crop works very well on this picture. I also like the soft pinkish coloring. However, in my opinion, the icon lacks a complementary color, to make it really pop. For example green or yellow would work very well with the pink, with his jacket and the background. I would use a Selective Color Layer and enhance the yellow and the greens and if it overbears the pink, just delete the parts on his face.
2. I really have nothing to critize on this icon: the crop is interesting and gives the picture an intense feel. Also the soft coloring is lovely. Everything about the icon is focused on the embrace, nothing distracts from it. Well done!
3. Again, the crop is really interesting and works well with the picture. The coloring is also good - I would maybe increase the saturation just a tad to contrast the red/orange of William's uniform with Kate's dress more. Also to draw the focus more on the two I would blur the background a little. But these are just suggestions that are more a question of taste, than of quality.
All in all I think the icons are really interesting and well done. You have a very good eye for crops. Maybe it's because I like vibrant colorings, but in my opinion your colorings need a tad more accent (in Dean's case a complementary color, in William's case just a bit more saturation for contrast) to make your icons really stand out.
1) That's what I was thinking, too, with how underwhelming it seemed. I think I was too excited about trying something new, rather than seeing how it looked as a whole. Thank you!
2) :D Thanks!
3) That would be a good idea, too, keeping the background muted from Will and Kate. Thanks again!
I'm big on vibrant colors myself, so it's hard to work one things that are so pale and muted. I'll keep these suggestions in mind!
Before I start, I just want to say I haven't done much icon concrit before. And my personal taste in icons is simple and strong (but not too bright) colours. Obviously I'll try not to judge them on personal taste, but it inevitablly creeps in when looking at icons so I just thought I'd mention it!
Firstly I love your use of strong cropping, and how you use such a variety. Some icon makers (myself included) fall into using similar crops all the time.
1) I love the crop, although I think the top of his eye is a tad close to the edge of the icon and it could benefit from adjusting the crop so it ends slightly higher up on his face (although this is just a bit of nit picking). I think the colouring is slightly on the pink side on his face and the icon could benefit from being lightened a little bit, but not too much, as I love how the dark colouring reflects his expression. This would just make his face a little clearer.
2) I have nothing negative to say about this icon! I adore the cropping you've used, and the colouring is spot on.
3) I love how the focus is in Kate and her dress in this icon! I think the image is slightly over sharpened, although I know how difficult it is to avoid this with crops like this. I also think that the icon would benefit if the colours were a little brighter, possibly by duplicating the image and setting the layer to Overlay, altering the opticity as needed, however this is just personal preference
Thank you very much. I'm always worried about my cropping, so that IS good to hear from you and others. :)
1) I wondered about this particular one. I played with it for a few minutes, trying to decide if it was too close or too small of a crop, etc. And I was re-thinking the pinkish coloring on his chin, too. It's just... he looks like he's a messy eater or something! LOL
2) :D Thanks!
3) I LOVED her dress. Overall, there were so many similar icons to it, I wanted to make my own different. I think it worked well, but you are right about the over-sharpening and the need to punch the colors up a bit. Thank you!
I agree with what others said about #1. His face is too pink, but it would be okay if there was some contrast elsewhere in the icon to counter it. Adjusting the hue or some selective color work to tone down the pink would help and it would probably brighten his face a bit.
#2 I see nothing wrong with this icon. It's a lovely crop, great focus and good soft coloring.
#3 looks too sharp to me and the red went a bit orange. Other than that I like your cropping and the bit of negative space, though I think that could be enhanced by blurring the background, but YMMV on that. (Wow that flooring is busy!)
Nothing to be nervous of these are really very good! (:
1)The crop and contrast is flawless. However on my monitor it looks a tad oversharpened. I would say this would make a stunning black and white icon. See how the light reflects across Deans face, and the little blob of light in the background make for very interesting composition (your excellent cropping there) these are perfect details for a B&W icon. But that could be my personal preference speaking.
2)This icon is beautiful in its simplicity. (: I have no conrit for it.
3)Again on my monitor this is a little oversharpened. Also increasing the contrast over Will & Kate would make them stand out from the background a little more.
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Yeah, I think I am going to start moving to all PNG if possible. I was just always worried how PNG works in other browsers (IE, for example). PNG used to not register with IE at all, so I always stuck with JPEG (which does really do a number when trying to make something "pretty".
The images were really grainy, so I tried to get as close as a crop as possible, without being too awful. I think HQ images are out now, so I'm excited to work with those!
Thank you so much, again!
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2. I really have nothing to critize on this icon: the crop is interesting and gives the picture an intense feel. Also the soft coloring is lovely. Everything about the icon is focused on the embrace, nothing distracts from it. Well done!
3. Again, the crop is really interesting and works well with the picture. The coloring is also good - I would maybe increase the saturation just a tad to contrast the red/orange of William's uniform with Kate's dress more. Also to draw the focus more on the two I would blur the background a little. But these are just suggestions that are more a question of taste, than of quality.
All in all I think the icons are really interesting and well done. You have a very good eye for crops. Maybe it's because I like vibrant colorings, but in my opinion your colorings need a tad more accent (in Dean's case a complementary color, in William's case just a bit more saturation for contrast) to make your icons really stand out.
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2) :D Thanks!
3) That would be a good idea, too, keeping the background muted from Will and Kate. Thanks again!
I'm big on vibrant colors myself, so it's hard to work one things that are so pale and muted. I'll keep these suggestions in mind!
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Firstly I love your use of strong cropping, and how you use such a variety. Some icon makers (myself included) fall into using similar crops all the time.
1) I love the crop, although I think the top of his eye is a tad close to the edge of the icon and it could benefit from adjusting the crop so it ends slightly higher up on his face (although this is just a bit of nit picking). I think the colouring is slightly on the pink side on his face and the icon could benefit from being lightened a little bit, but not too much, as I love how the dark colouring reflects his expression. This would just make his face a little clearer.
2) I have nothing negative to say about this icon! I adore the cropping you've used, and the colouring is spot on.
3) I love how the focus is in Kate and her dress in this icon! I think the image is slightly over sharpened, although I know how difficult it is to avoid this with crops like this. I also think that the icon would benefit if the colours were a little brighter, possibly by duplicating the image and setting the layer to Overlay, altering the opticity as needed, however this is just personal preference
I hope this helps!
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1) I wondered about this particular one. I played with it for a few minutes, trying to decide if it was too close or too small of a crop, etc. And I was re-thinking the pinkish coloring on his chin, too. It's just... he looks like he's a messy eater or something! LOL
2) :D Thanks!
3) I LOVED her dress. Overall, there were so many similar icons to it, I wanted to make my own different. I think it worked well, but you are right about the over-sharpening and the need to punch the colors up a bit. Thank you!
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#2 I see nothing wrong with this icon. It's a lovely crop, great focus and good soft coloring.
#3 looks too sharp to me and the red went a bit orange. Other than that I like your cropping and the bit of negative space, though I think that could be enhanced by blurring the background, but YMMV on that. (Wow that flooring is busy!)
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Yeah, the pink is starting to get to me. I think I went overboard when I found a new coloring I liked, haha.
Thanks!
That floor WAS busy. And I played with the coloring so much, I couldn't agree to keep it so red or too orange. Thank you!
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1)The crop and contrast is flawless. However on my monitor it looks a tad oversharpened. I would say this would make a stunning black and white icon. See how the light reflects across Deans face, and the little blob of light in the background make for very interesting composition (your excellent cropping there) these are perfect details for a B&W icon. But that could be my personal preference speaking.
2)This icon is beautiful in its simplicity. (: I have no conrit for it.
3)Again on my monitor this is a little oversharpened. Also increasing the contrast over Will & Kate would make them stand out from the background a little more.
I hope this was helpful in some way. (:
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