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Posted on 30/12/14 1:53:08 PM

srawland
Pixel Perfectionist
Posts: 885

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

sciteach wrote:
In honor of our dog, Ash. We had to put him down just a few days before Christmas.

So sorry to hear about your dog. They bring such joy into our lives that it's very hard to loose them. I've been there too, and even though I know I did the right thing, it's still a very hard decision.

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Posted on 30/12/14 3:18:39 PM

Garfield72
Montage Manceau
Posts: 353

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Bonne année à tous

Posted on 30/12/14 8:12:26 PM

michael sinclair
Off-Topic Opportunist
Posts: 1864

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Before and after:

Posted on 31/12/14 06:56:46 AM

sciteach
Professor Pixel
Posts: 126

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

srawland wrote:

sciteach wrote:
In honor of our dog, Ash. We had to put him down just a few days before Christmas.

Thank you.

Posted on 01/01/15 10:01:57 AM

Min
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Posts: 15

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

I really need to find out how to do 3D - the numbers aren't doing what I wanted them to at all!

Posted on 01/01/15 10:41:15 AM

james
Surreal Spoofer
Posts: 1194

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Min wrote:
I really need to find out how to do 3D - the numbers aren't doing what I wanted them to at all!

Even so, it's a wonderful efect.

Posted on 02/01/15 00:30:28 AM

Min
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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Thank you James.
Happy New Year everyone :-)

Posted on 02/01/15 11:53:36 AM

Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 7025

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

A monumental entry from GKB began last year's final Challenge, with both the 2015 and a Baskerville HTCIP being loaded into a vacant spot in Trafalgar Square. A great crane, good shadows on the objects, and the pigeons put the base neatly into the background. Personally, I'd have lost that plane, which seems a little distracting. A charming second entry, with all the furry numbers; but why does the boy on the bed look as if he's floating?

A flaming Caribbean scene from Ant Snell, with some fire-dancing in the foreground. There's something a little odd about the branch in front of the text, since the tree itself appears to be behind it - can't quite figure that one out!

A fairy theme from James, flying out of a 3D 2015 suspended over a rather fantastic representation of Europe (that's beautiful, by the way - where did it come from?). Superb fluttering wing and flying motion, as usual just too fast to catch! I like the new year greetings in the second entry - but no reflection in the water?

I like Deborah Morley's icy waterfall - very appealing. If the water's falling in front of it, though, shouldn't there be rather more refraction than that?

A Stonehenge-themed entry from Michael Sinclair, whose creations are performing some rather unlikely mechanical feats. Helium-filled rock? I've had some difficulty reading the second entry; I can see what you've done, but can't make out the 2015 in there.

A gentle walk in the woods from srawland, with the date forming a subtle signpost. What a charming way to view the future - even if he does look scarily like Putin. I like the second entry, too - but perhaps we should be viewing the brooch more from the side and below, to match the angle of the box? After all, in 3D you can easily spin things around. The third entry is looking better!

Splendid painting from Nick Curtain, with some photographic flowers appearing on the text. That's one hell of a paintbrush she's got there, to be able to manage all those colours simultaneously! I like the depth of field effect.

Hugely entertained by DavidMac's trompe l'oeil - Escher plus spectacular lighting! I've spent ages studying the detail in this one. Fantastic! But why are the centres of the O and 0 so recessed?

All the seasons from Vibeke, and I believe it's a first foray into 3D - much to explore here! Is there a touch too much sea in the 0?

A beautiful ice cliff from tooquilos, its reflection neatly avoiding the ice floes beneath. I like the resolutions in the animated version - especially the one about less headbanging music! A spectacular selection of After Effect goodies in here, with the fire really standing out for me. Magnificent! And a fine tribute to Joe Cocker, too.

Flaming mysticism from Tom, with the usual beautiful combination of images... and a very interesting fire effect.

A fine hat trick from Linda Eckert, with the date repeated on the built-in Photoshop 3D hat. At last, someone has found a use for it! But perhaps add one on his head, as well?

A great water effect from Emy, whose combination of drips and splashes looks charming. I think you need a lot more distortion in that reflection, though.

The date in the clouds from sciteach, blending very nicely into the landscape. Very sorry to hear about Ash.

Splendid 3D lettering from Artwel, with each letter individually designed: I particularly like the soft reflections, and the low-level lighting that produces these deep shadows. Very attractive.

A Parisian-themed entry from Garfield72, with a scene I've witnessed only once - New Year fireworks behind the Eiffel Tower. That date really needs to be distorted to follow the extreme angle of the tower shot, though - match the perspective!

A neatly backlit Houses of Parliament from Min - but don't forget that the clock face should still be lit up! Dazzling textures, but you're right, the 3D side needs some attention. I can (ahem) recommend a good book...

Great entries, in a wide array of styles. Happy new year, everyone!

Posted on 02/01/15 2:04:36 PM

DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5675

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Steve Caplin wrote:
I've spent ages studying the detail in this one. Fantastic! But why are the centres of the O and 0 so recessed?

There is a lot more detail than was available in the very low res version I posted for the challenge. When you look at a higher resolution you can see that the centres of all the letters are recessed consistently. I just thought it was fun that way! In the lower resolution this becomes less apparent and the recessing of the 0 and O tend to jump out.

Click and click again in the image to see a detail at 50% resolution. (Hosted elsewhere not using your precious bandwidth

)

Thank you for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed exploring it. I enjoyed creating it.

NewYearIllusionDetail by davidmac1943, on Flickr

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Posted on 02/01/15 3:24:50 PM

Min
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Posts: 15

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Lol Steve! I thought the same thing and bought the digital copy this morning!
You are right about the clock face - it isn't lit in my original photo?? Weird!

Posted on 02/01/15 4:03:01 PM

Nick Curtain
Model Master
Posts: 1768

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Thanks Steve

I bit of a rush job on this one, as I was stuck for ideas. On reflection I should have added a paint effect to the flowers.

Happy new year to all.

Nick

Posted on 02/01/15 4:50:42 PM

srawland
Pixel Perfectionist
Posts: 885

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Steve Caplin wrote

A gentle walk in the woods from srawland, with the date forming a subtle signpost. What a charming way to view the future - even if he does look scarily like Putin. I like the second entry, too - but perhaps we should be viewing the brooch more from the side and below, to match the angle of the box? After all, in 3D you can easily spin things around. The third entry is looking better!

Thank you, Steve for your critique. Originally I was going to replace the man's head with the head you provided us with in Chapter 5, Composition tips and tricks, HotChiPs CS5, but then I read it was your head and that might have caused some marital discord, if the woman doesn't look like your wife.

Thank you about the pin. It was my first foray into 3D and I'm still getting the hang of moving the objects. At work I have CC2014 on my computer. I noticed there wasn't a Repoussé option in the 3D drop-down menu. Did Adobe move it or get rid of it completely? I hope not. I really enjoyed inflating the scarab beetle.

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Posted on 02/01/15 9:09:58 PM

james
Surreal Spoofer
Posts: 1194

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Re: Challenge 536: Make 2015 beautiful

Thank you Steve. The image of earth was found on Google.

Reflection! Erm, Yes.

Posted on 03/01/15 05:35:40 AM

tooquilos
Wizard of Oz
Posts: 2898

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