Alternates: Round 1 // Challenge 4

[hsapiens]

Did you create a few icons for the challenge and then choose the best one to submit? If so, this is where you can post those "rejected" icons (along with your submitted entry) and make them sharable to others.

Comments

[jenniferjensen]

Entered:

[nickygabriel]

The coloring in the second one is excellent!

[jenniferjensen]

Thank You :)

[hsapiens]

I like them both but I'm partial to the skin tones and shading you have in your entry. Besides, will the world EVER have enough bared Michael Shanks skin? ;)

[spud66cat]

LOL, this is the first week I've had alternates to share. :o)

Entered:

[chase_acow]

I love both the Valas! That's an awesome smokey texture.

[sasusc]

I second this. Love the Vala ones.

[spud66cat]

Thank you! :o)

[hsapiens]

Entered:

[not_a_zatarc]

Really like the cropping and texture in the fourth alternate. :)

[hsapiens]

Thanks! :) I worked forever on that one and had some interesting texture work going, almost all of which was covered up by the big black thing because I thought the icon really needed to focus on his face and his bound hands.

[wiccanslyr]

LOVE that Vala one!

[godzchild96]

Entered:

[nickygabriel]

Well, I am no expert but in my opinion the entered icon is too dark. This particular effect is better used in the last one. I like also the cropping in your first alternate.

[godzchild96]

Thank you for commenting. Yeah, I guess it is a bit dark. I liked the crop too, I just felt like the icon needed something more because of all the empty space so I put the mask in. But I'm VERY VERY new to working with masks, so hopefully I'll get better in being able to judge when and when not to use them.

[hsapiens]

I have only very recently discovered how to address the issue of a dark mask/texture when it makes your icon too dark: LEVELS.

(I'm assuming you're using Photoshop. I haven't ever used GIMP or PSP so I don't know if they have level adjustments.) I'm sure everyone else knows this trick but it was new to me. I add a level adjustment layer and play around with sliders. Not only can you restore brightness (or darkness), you can move the center point to maximize the amount of contrast/detail as needed. It's my new favorite toy. :)

I love the color you have in the last alternate. I tend to go color happy so I enjoy seeing icons with rich, saturated color that *hasn't* gone nuclear. *g*

[sasusc]

Entered:

[not_a_zatarc]

I actually like the brighter color in the first alternate better. Makes it stand out more. :)

[jehnt]

Agreed.

[nickygabriel]

I like the coloring in the last one, but my personal favorite is the second alternate. There is some depth not visible in any of the other pictures. This icon is really good.