Animanga LIMS Round One: Winners' Showcase
So now we shall be paying homage to our two finalists here. :D We have gathered all of their icons that they entered in previous challenges to show everyone. It's interesting to see a progression of styles and skill as you view the icons in chronological order. We also have the positive comments for their latest triad of icons in shiny overflow div fashion! ;3
So, let the shininess commence!
First up we have our lovely ignored_tears who astonished us all with her dramatic finish. She may have been eliminated in round 5, but she came back in the Comeback round and surprised everyone with her amazing skills before finally taking the crown.
Set 01
Kodomo no Omocha (hush)
+ I love the soft coloring of the girl, the shading is gorgeous. The notebook is a cute touch. :)
+ The style is unique and the coloring is gorgeous.
+ the angle is better and so's the colouring.
+ because I love the coloring, cropping, and texture in the background, more than icon #2.
+ The colouring of the manga is beautifully done, and looks like the image was already coloured like that.
+ The coloring of the caracter is wonderfull. It makes the character pop out of the icon.
+ The coloring is gorgeous and I love how it fits in with the brushwork.
+ Effort was put into the coloring, and I'm a sucker for nicely colored manga images. The effort paid off - the colors are really nice and smooth. The background is also creative, and overall this icon appeals to me more than the other icon.
+ the icon is cleaner and the colors stand out well against the background, emphasizing the detail of the coloring on the character
+ The coloring is really, really nice (although that dark pink splotch on her cheek kind of bugs me), and the texture is color-matched well ^^ Cute crop, too, although I do feel that the left side is a little empty.
+ because the image blends well with the texture in the background.
+ pretty damn good shading and the crop is super cute
+ The texture used stood out to me first, and then the beautiful coloring. A nice, simple icon, and cute!
+ I love the cropping and the coloring is great
+ the shading and soft manga coloring is what made me choose this icon over the other one. There's more skill in the coloring.
+ because I adore the coloring. The background could have been better, but the coloring is gorgeous :3
+ The image is colored very well. The colors are very eye soothing and the subtle shadow adds a lot of dimension. While the spiral background doesn't really match the rest of the icon, the beige section of it blends with the manga image.
+ The colouring on the character looks very fleshed out and realistic. I also like the texture used in the background.
+ because Kana looks so lovely! I love how the coloring makes her look like a porcelian doll, and the notebook stock in the background is such a nice backdrop for her. In addition, I liked the overall composition of this icon better.
+ love the colors and the overall effect of the icon.
+ because of the beautiful overall composition and fitting theme. Colouring is fantasic as well. + The coloring is so soft and pretty, love the backround
+ I'm loving the image. The colouring is great, with the shading and stuff... this is my favourite icon of the whole challenge.
+ Holy s*** the girl is amazingly coloured!
+ I strongly prefer the coloring here, and the simple composition is much better than a cluttered collage.
+ I love how Sana is coloured.
+ because I like the more subtle use of colour and the smoothness of the image.
+ I like the coloring that was used very much
+ I'm in love with the coloring in this icon, her style of coloring is something I've never really seen before and its gorgeous *__*!
+ I absolutely adore the cropping and the coloring of this icon. It's very soft and is more pleasing to the eye than the other icon.
+ because of the lovely coloring and simplistic style
+ Smoother coloring.
+ love the coloring and textures used
+ colouring is very nice, more natural-looking than the other; excellent texture use; and cropping is better than the other icon.
Set 02
Naruto (lyrical)
+ because I love how the image has the look of flames in it. It really goes along with the lyric part they choose and the use of textures and color blends in very nicely.
+ Love the coloring, very pretty. Text is nice and readable. :)
+ The typography mixed perfectly with the style of feel of the icon.
+ the lyric fits the icon very well and the colouring is beautiful. the way it's put together (what's that called again) is really nice :3
+ I think this icon is pretty original, as well as very pretty. I love the notebook texture, and the line that's on it near the text.
+ The light and the textures are blended pretty good.
+ I love the unique crop that was used along with the use of color (keeping everything in warm tones). The text fits in well with the curvy line brush and the selected image.
+ I love the colors and the light textures.
+ icon is less distracting. While the text fits on both icons, #1's background and other elements besides Sakura cluttered the icon.
+ I absolutely adore the fire and the line that loops around the text, it's very eye-catching.
+ the image fits well with the lyrics.
+ i love the colors, the light textures and the crop and text
+ great use of lights and textures
+ The use of fire-like light effect and the character's pose match really well, as does the icons overall color scheme. everything meshes well.
+ because the I love the whole color scheme. The light textures work wonderfully.
+ The cropping and coloring really compliments the original image and gives it a wonderfully muted effect.
+ Nicely sharpened, bright, matching colours. The icon is so pretty \o/!
+ because the coloring is so perfect! I love the warm amber tones, and how it looks like the notebook paper is burning, and again the composition of this icon is so wonderful; simple yet elegant.
+ "hope on fire"? Such a fitting image. Slightly hard to make out, but I loved the color tones in this one all the same.
+ i like the overall look to #2 but Naruto is a bit fuzzy looking
+ The way the letters seem directed to the fire using the line is awesome, love the colors.
+ The fiery lighting effect is very unique and creative, and matches the lyrics used very well.
+ The text is fitting and the icon looks very well put together.
+ The textures used look amazing, and I think the text matches very well
+ because the effects are pretty and the text work is perfect without being the focus of the icon.
+ because the amazing use of lighting and textures.
+ Light effects made it stand out.
+ because the way it was cropped is cool and the background is really nice
Set 03
Free Choice
+ the colouring, effects and text are very nice.
+ because I love the coloring and LOVE the text. I've seen countless icons using that image, and they all look so similar-- this one really stands out.
+ The monochromatic look here is stunning! The text placement works well with the rest of the image.
+ I like the color scheme in 01 better than in that in 02, and I dislike the cropping in 02.
+ This icon is very creative. The colors fit the icon, the text fits the icon - everything flows, and it's almost impossible to tell that the original image had, in fact, nothing to do with diamond dust. Fantastic job.
+ I can tell what's in the image, opposed to the other one which looks like a mass of shapes and colors. Plus the colors are nice.
+ the color (or lack thereof) is quite striking in the first icon, whereas I can hardly tell (actually, can't at all) what the second icon is even of.
+ I really love the colors and the words match it perfectly.
+ I think the other one, though colourful, is slightly too cluttered and I like the central text of the first one as well as the beautiful muted but still interesting colours.
+ This was a hard choice, but the lack of focus on #2 made me decide on #1 ^^ I like how the color scheme fits the text, which is done nicely-I normally don't like big text, but it was done excellently here :D My only wish would be to have it lowered just a tiiiny bit, but it still looks fine ^^ Oh, and I really like the circle, too :D
+ I love the concept behind this icon; how only monotone colors are used.
+ pretty damn nice with the text and center crop, beautiful job
+ First off, the coloring just amazing, so points for that. The vague swirl around Sakura gives the icon a nice effect, as well as the centered image. The text is unique, and the shadows used makes it stand out as much as it needs to. Overall, a job well done!
+ the text perfectly fits the coloring of the icon
+ Again, the soft matching color scheme and how the text enhances that made this one my favorite. I felt icon 2 was a bit too busy and some of the colors (like Tenten's backpack) didn't match well.
+ once again, colors look wonderful together.
+ I love the amount of detail in this icon, and how none of it is lost. While centered cropping is usually very hard to pull of, it works in this icon. My only complaint would be that the test is a bit too overpowering.
+ 01 is remarkably beautiful! I love how the whole icon has a sad fading tone, much like diamonds fading to dust. In addition, the image used here is so perfect for the text of the icon! Sakura looks so lost and innocent. In addition, the blurring parts of the icon (outside the circle) were great because they made it seem as if everything was going to fade away, like dust. This icon is so squeeworthy, and I'm so snagging it when the contest is over. ^^
+ It is clear what the image is, even if the coloring is a bit plain (which, seems to work well with the icon anyway), and the icon has an overall nice "feel" to it.
+ because the colours are very easy on the eyes and the overall composition is beautiful.
+ i love the coloring of #1 there's depth even if it is monotone. i had a hard time making out what #2 was an image of.
+ Love the pic used for it, the words fit the feeling the icon gives so well!
+ Because it's gorgeous. *-*
+ It's a gorgeous icon overall: the image, coloring, text.
+ Beautiful coloring and text and it goes well with the image.
+ I have to say, THIS ICON IS ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS! It has that sort of "diamond dust" feel!
+ because I love the muted colors and the great use of text.
+ because of the shiney monochromatic look and pretty light textures.
+ GORGEOUS!
+ because I've seen alot of icons using that picture and that is the best one I've ever seen. The coloring and text are WONDERFUL
+ I just really love the whole 'diamond dust' concept, and how the icon just looks the part too :D
+ cropping is freaking awesome (I don't see many center croppings that i like but the circular shape that is created here is brilliant) and the color is well placed
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* ignored_tears missed the La Corda d'Oro and Air Gear challenges
Congratulations, ignored_tears! 9 and 13 are my personal favorites~ So lovely! x33
Next up, the amazingly talented blooming_cosmo! She stuck with us challenge after challenge, only skipping one week because of a personal conflict. She is truly a trooper, what with all of her consistently good icons. Her second-place finish is truly a testament to her talents. :)
Set 01
Kodomo no Omocha (hush)
+ I love the use of the duplicated smaller image on the background
+ because I love the cropping they used, as well as how they colored the image. How they manipulated it as well as a texture in the background is really unique and it gives the icon a really sophisticated look.
+ I like the double image thing, it compliments the icon composition well.
+ I like the coloring and the repeat of the image in the background. And it doesn't pop out as much as the other icon? XD;;
+ I prefer the way the whole space is taken up and it seems to have a meaning without needing the text, while the other one looks like it needs a bit of text.
+ The background of teh icon is interesting, and makes the picture above jump out in some way.
+ Better composition. I think the quality of the image needs a little work, but I like the look of it overall.
+ Fitting colours, nice overall look.
+ The colors and design of the icon really go well with the image.
+ because I like the colouring, cropping and composition better.
+ because the repeat of Hayama's eye and lips really accents the icon.
+ because I think the coloring is really pretty and the way it was made is really original
+ I really love the duplicated effect in the background :D
Set 02
Naruto (lyrical)
+ I love how you have a duplicated version of Sakura's eyes, then another (different) picture of Sakura in the background.
+ Great composition and use of text.
+ 1 has bolder colors, which help bring out the emotion in the icon. And I like the setup of the icon as a whole.
+ Love the way the words were place. And how there are other pictures in the bg
+ Pretty coloring, and the flatness of the coloring matches the blocks of color on the left ^^ I like how the text was done, and the image duplication was done subtly but nicely.
+ I really like the images used here, it's very original. The text fits the agitated looking Sakura, and the use of it looks great.
+ Coloring is superb and matches the background perfectly.
+ LOVE the text. Seriously. Spacing is still a little funny, but it's pleasing to the eye.
+ What can I say? No contest here! The colouring looks great, the use of texture's great and the text is place in an ingenious way. Good Job!
+ The colors are all matching. The text is clear and fits well with the icon.
+ because the colour scheme is bold and it fits and typography is wonderful.
+ The icon is very creative *__* there is alot going on behind Sakura but she's still the main focus. Saldy I can't read the text very good bur BREAK makes everything for me.
+ because of the efficient use of colour and space in the icon.
+ its the details hat got me, I love the crop but when I noticed the different images of Sakura in the background, I was sold.
+ The whole layout of the icon is very interesting and the overall icon is gorgeous. Plus, the typography is more interesting than the other icon's.
+ because of the fitting test and contrast. The crop of the background pictures are also excellent.
+ I feel that the lyrics work really well with the icon, and I love the composition.
+ cropping is lovely and text is well placed
+ very good use of text (both placement and legibility); interesting design and better colouring than the other icon.
Set 03
Free Choice
+ I really like how you only really used three colours (red, tan-ish-yellow-ish pink-ish, and blue) and the layout of the icon.
+ because it has really interesting cropping! I like the complimenting shades of color they used and how it goes along well.
+ Very interesting composition. I love the bars and lines used.
+ The flat colors make the characters stand out.
+ The overall composition is just... wow.
+ The colours really stand out here against the texture and they've made good use of the 100 pixal space.
+ It's so... geometric ♥
+ The image chosen is very dynamic (which doesn't happen in icons very often, I've noticed) and the way it's framed highlights that.
+ very unique icon in terms of image content and design. Although the text isn't very legible, this icon stands out more than the other; the manga-colouring is superior, too.
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* blooming_cosmo skipped the La Corda d'Oro challenge
Fantastic job, blooming_cosmo! 2 and 15 are the best, in my opinion. ♥
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All overdue banners (as well as the general winners' banners--the two banners above are just retrospective headers) will be posted sometime this week, as silverqe is currently working on them. XD If you haven't yet, I highly suggest you to sign up for Round 2~ It looks to be a fun ride! :D
Alice and I have really enjoyed moderating this community for round 1. You guys are seriously an awesome bunch of people and we couldn't have hoped for a better final 6. Even though ignored_tears and blooming_cosmo won, I think that all of the participants are winners, too. ♥ I'm honored to have been able to work with all of you. ^^
Best of luck in everything that you do and for all of your future graphical endeavors!