[Discussions] SOTM#42 - July 2016

[Dark Angel]

from september WOTM is on the way

 

[nanashi1]

from september WOTM is on the way

I can't await on the new premium show of channel DA...xD

 

[Ignis]

[MENTION=126597]nihonbashi[/MENTION]; [MENTION=44312]Dark Angel[/MENTION]; [MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION];

Just to be clear: the SOTM rules and the forum's signature rules are entirely separate. We don't permit forum signatures larger than 500x300 for layout and loading time reasons. As you all should know, a signature with excessive height could make scrolling the page a pain (which is why we made it so you'll have an internal scroll within your signature area if it exceeds 350px in height); an overly wide signature could look poor on smaller screens; an oversized one would strain loading times.

However, the SOTM is separate. It's not bound by those rules. It does not have to follow them because the SOTM doesn't have concerns such as forum layouts. It's just that when we started the SOTM we used the forum's signature limit as a reference point and it's always been that way ever since. If Dark Angel wishes to extend or change the signature limits for the SOTM in any way, he can. He's free to do so. It's his decision, though, and I'll let him have the final say.

 

[nanashi1]

[MENTION=126597]nihonbashi[/MENTION]; [MENTION=44312]Dark Angel[/MENTION]; [MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION];

Just to be clear: the SOTM rules and the forum's signature rules are entirely separate. We don't permit forum signatures larger than 500x300 for layout and loading time reasons. As you all should know, a signature with excessive height could make scrolling the page a pain (which is why we made it so you'll have an internal scroll within your signature area if it exceeds 350px in height); an overly wide signature could look poor on smaller screens; an oversized one would strain loading times.

1st: Hi Ignis!

2nd: Hmm... I didn't said that we the dimension limit of 300×500 increase should, lol. I meant just with the maximal dimension size even in vertical to use - The file size would be the same as usual (where the load time of the site same were as before), and I did just for SOTM meant, not in the other sections of ASF.

 

[Ignis]

1st: Hi Ignis!

2nd: Hmm... I didn't said that we the dimension limit of 300×500 increase should, lol. I meant just with the maximal dimension size even in vertical to use - The file size would be the same as usual (where the load time of the site same were as before), and I did just for SOTM meant, not in the other sections of ASF.

Yeah, I know. Just clearing stuff up because from the talk it sounded as if the SOTM rules have to conform with the forum rules. As long as dimensions and sizes are concerned, no, the SOTM can have its own. ;)

 

[nanashi1]

Yeah, I know. Just clearing stuff up because from the talk it sounded as if the SOTM rules have to conform with the forum rules. As long as dimensions and sizes are concerned, no, the SOTM can have its own. ;)

Hmm... Okay, then is our thoughts the same been...xD



Btw, what is your opinion about the entries?

 

[Ignis]

Btw, what is your opinion about the entries?

For your entry: I like how you used sunflowers instead of something related to the sea, beaches, getting wet, getting hot, etc. It's also nice that the sunflowers are kinda blur, which gives the feel of a difference between the background and the focus/render. For the best result, the girl should maybe be sharpened or enhanced somehow to make her stand out more.

There's a downside, though: the source of the sun glare effect is too close. It looks like the glare comes out of a hexagonally-shaped light bulb. I noticed you tried to make a round sun behind the hexagonal glare, but that makes the direction pretty erratic. Sun glare doesn't behave that way. :P Besides, the light rays that pass the girls appear to be... bent. Look at the light rays that start from the flower held by the girl―they're not straight relative to the rays resulting from the sun glare. This simply violates the law of physics!

So, to recap, I'd suggest three things:

1. Make a clearer distinction between the focal and the background, like a depth of field in photography.
2. Put the light source of the sun glare (or lens flare) effect outside the image to avoid making it too bright and thus take away focus from the girl.
3. Make sure light rays are properly aligned and preferably not obstructing the most important focus (the girl's face).

---

For nihonbashi's entry: a nice holistic approach. The smudging in the background is pretty well done! If I had to criticise, it'd be for three things:

1. Focus. The placement of the guy is quite good, but I think it'd be better if you could either blur the background (taking a photography-like approach with more emphasis on the focal point) or make the guy blend better (taking a holistic, painting-like approach with more emphasis on making everything appear to be part of a single piece) through mixing colours or some other methods.
   
   
2. Proportions. While the girl in the distance gives more life to an otherwise somewhat empty background, she ruins an otherwise decently placed focus according to the rule of thirds. Also, I don't claim to be an expert in trigonometry, but in terms of perspectives, I think she should be around twice as tall.
   
   
3. Text. This one's simpler―my suggestion would be to use a colour that mixes in well with either the sand or the sea and with a rotating angle that's closer to the alignment of the boundary between the sands and the sea.

That ended up pretty mouthy. Sorry about that. :P

 

[nanashi1]

For your entry: I like how you used sunflowers instead of something related to the sea, beaches, getting wet, getting hot, etc. It's also nice that the sunflowers are kinda blur, which gives the feel of a difference between the background and the focus/render. For the best result, the girl should maybe be sharpened or enhanced somehow to make her stand out more.

There's a downside, though: the source of the sun glare effect is too close. It looks like the glare comes out of a hexagonally-shaped light bulb. I noticed you tried to make a round sun behind the hexagonal glare, but that makes the direction pretty erratic. Sun glare doesn't behave that way. :P Besides, the light rays that pass the girls appear to be... bent. Look at the light rays that start from the flower held by the girl―they're not straight relative to the rays resulting from the sun glare. This simply violates the law of physics!

So, to recap, I'd suggest three things:

1. Make a clearer distinction between the focal and the background, like a depth of field in photography.
2. Put the light source of the sun glare (or lens flare) effect outside the image to avoid making it too bright and thus take away focus from the girl.
3. Make sure light rays are properly aligned and preferably not obstructing the most important focus (the girl's face).

Thanks for the pro and contras in my entry! Well, I wanted just a landscaped one siggy make (what also the summer feeling express), and lucky wise I had randomly in my render folder the perfect render for, where then I had the best BG for the render to find...

Spoiler

...I did then but the sky along with the clouds erased of the sunflower-field, and then with an own sky attached for (with G'MIC support).


And well, I did in the Entry section mentioned, that I may sometime it updating will...xD Hmm... I'll probably at weekend start with.

 

[Dark Angel]

[MENTION=2]Ignis[/MENTION]; & [MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION]; It would be nice to make a bigger height for the SOTM signatures but, think of this those signature can't be used for the forum as personal signatures. I strongly believe it better to have the same rules as the forum's signatures to the SOTM as well because there is no meaning making those SOTM signature and that we can't use them if we want (the participants) if they want. So they have to re-size them. So in my mind i believe it's OK to use forum's rules.

I might be wrong but i thing those dimension are very good for both reasons.

 

[nihonbashi]

I never thought that my comment on entering the SOTM competition with a vertical signature would start such turmoils

While I´m OK with it, it kinda felt disappointing to not to use my original vertical sig. I am perfectly aware of the limitations of the sites forum signatures and I never intended to use it on the forums, only in the SOTM. Restricting the participants to do 500w x 300h and forbidding to do the vertical 500h x 300w version kinda limits the imagination. Sometimes it just feels better to flip the sig 90 degrees to create something unusual :) It would have been a nice option to have. That is my humble opinion. ;)

 

[Dark Angel]

I never thought that my comment on entering the SOTM competition with a vertical signature would start such turmoils

While I´m OK with it, it kinda felt disappointing to not to use my original vertical sig. I am perfectly aware of the limitations of the sites forum signatures and I never intended to use it on the forums, only in the SOTM. Restricting the participants to do 500w x 300h and forbidding to do the vertical 500h x 300w version kinda limits the imagination. Sometimes it just feels better to flip the sig 90 degrees to create something unusual :) It would have been a nice option to have. That is my humble opinion. ;)

well soon or later someone else might open that conversation so it was unavoidable :)

 

[nanashi1]

Spoiler

[MENTION=2]Ignis[/MENTION]; & [MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION]; It would be nice to make a bigger height for the SOTM signatures but, think of this those signature can't be used for the forum as personal signatures. I strongly believe it better to have the same rules as the forum's signatures to the SOTM as well because there is no meaning making those SOTM signature and that we can't use them if we want (the participants) if they want. So they have to re-size them. So in my mind i believe it's OK to use forum's rules.

I might be wrong but i thing those dimension are very good for both reasons.

Hmm... Well, okay - we can/could quiet still remain in this format, I don't see the problem^_^

 

[Dark Angel]

Hmm... Well, okay - we can/could quiet still remain in this format, I don't see the problem^_^

We can change them but i don't see any reason to do so. because it might lose the meaning "Signature"

But we can discuss this further more about the height dimension but in case that those where change to higher px those signature can not be used for the forum, meaning to be shown under every post we are doing.

 

[nanashi1]

We can change them but i don't see any reason to do so. because it might lose the meaning "Signature"

But we can discuss this further more about the height dimension but in case that those where change to higher px those signature can not be used for the forum, meaning to be shown under every post we are doing.

Yeah, me is that clear...xD


Hmm... Well, what I did mentioned in the past posts here, was never mentioned that even outside of SOTM the dimesion-limit of the siggys increased be should, and I did actually also never mentioned in the SOTM itself. I meant just in the exchange method, where the height (300px) with the width (500px) the position change would, so would actually still in the limit remain then, if who an vertical entry make wanna.

But like before already mentioned: I'm fine with the old rule(s).

 

[Dark Angel]

Yeah, me is that clear...xD


Hmm... Well, what I did mentioned in the past posts here, was never mentioned that even outside of SOTM the dimesion-limit of the siggys increased be should, and I did actually also never mentioned in the SOTM itself. I meant just in the exchange method, where the height (300px) with the width (500px) the position change would, so would actually still in the limit remain then, if who an vertical entry make wanna.

But like before already mentioned: I'm fine with the old rule(s).

I don't also have problem with the current rules either but we can make a test SOTM with alternative dimensions but with exceptional rule to not use those signature for our personal signatures for daily usage.

 

[nanashi1]

I don't also have problem with the current rules either but we can make a test SOTM with alternative dimensions but with exceptional rule to not use those signature for our personal signatures for daily usage.

Hmm... Well, I'll remain in the 16:9 siggy-format - we could sometime also so a "beta" SOTM make, where then in this 2 options their entries make could.

 

[Dark Angel]

Hmm... Well, I'll remain in the 16:9 siggy-format - we could sometime also so a "beta" SOTM make, where then in this 2 options their entries make could.

i can arrange a test-bed sotm for a slight larger dimension with some other rules. don't expect the next sotm will be the test one.

 

[nanashi1]

i can arrange a test-bed sotm for a slight larger dimension with some other rules. don't expect the next sotm will be the test one.

Well, I didn't expected that it already the next would be. Though, if you're sure with, then is OK - But I don't wanna that it then like the last one will be, with another words said; Make the beta SOTM sometime, but if you're really 100% sure with, okay?

 

[Dark Angel]

Well, I didn't expected that it already the next would be. Though, if you're sure with, then is OK - But I don't wanna that it then like the last one will be, with another words said; Make the beta SOTM sometime, but if you're really 100% sure with, okay?

[MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION]; the previous sotm was done because i wanted to please you people. I wanted to combine your opinions to one sotm. But as you have seen that failed.
and i am taking full responsibility. But for the height dimension in the beta sotm i will arrange it to be something different and something that i will discuss first with [MENTION=2]Ignis[/MENTION];.

 

[nanashi1]

[MENTION=29193]nanashi1[/MENTION]; the previous sotm was done because i wanted to please you people. I wanted to combine your opinions to one sotm. But as you have seen that failed.
and i am taking full responsibility. But for the height dimension in the beta sotm i will arrange it to be something different and something that i will discuss first with [MENTION=2]Ignis[/MENTION];.

Hu, why was I quoted and tagged... ...Aaaah, aniway... Okay, it's on you, I wish then a full success with...

 

[Dark Angel]

Hu, why was I quoted and tagged... ...Aaaah, aniway... Okay, it's on you, I wish then a full success with...

i am multitasking and i forgot it i am making the banner and notice for the next sotm while posting here and having in mind uploading some photos of our biking club at our forum...
As i said yesterday i am getting old and forget!

I am also interesting what results could have a sotm with different dimensions...

 

[nanashi1]

i am multiprocessing and i forgot it i am making the banner and notice for the next sotm while posting here and having in mind uploading some photos of our biking club at our forum...
As i said yesterday i am getting old and forget!

I am also interesting what results could have a sotm with different dimensions...

Probably a re-fresh in "system" make...xD? Lol, I see...^_^

Well, let's say a realistical ratio of 50:50 chance...xD

 

[Dark Angel]

Probably a re-fresh in "system" make...xD? Lol, I see...^_^

Well, let's say a realistical ration of 50:50 chance...xD

personally i don't believe many people will go in higher height for their entries. Then again, it might trig some people's fantasy for something new?
Also to speak honestly if there where a site exclusive for graphics those conversations that we have now would be pointless.
But i love our site, and it's nice that we have those sections and i like trying to spice up things. OK last sotm was a disaster i admit that. But we are back again.

 

[nanashi1]

personally i don't believe many people will go in higher height for their entries. Then again, it might trig some people's fantasy for something new?
Also to speak honestly if there where a site exclusive for graphics those conversations that we have now would be pointless.
But i love our site, and it's nice that we have those sections and i like trying to spice up things. OK last sotm was a disaster i admit that. But we are back again.

Well, indeed. you can't know if it a success was or not the project, if you're not at least once tried have.

Yep. it's good that ASF does exist, a randomness of the fate...xD

Hmm... Well, to be honest, I don't know why it no success was the last. Because you did with the 5 renders many time saved, where then this actually no failure had be...

 

[Dark Angel]

Well, indeed. you can't know if it a success was or not the project, if you're not at least once tried have.

Yep. it's good that ASF does exist, a randomness of the fate...xD

Hmm... Well, to be honest, I don't know why it no success was the last. Because you did with the 5 renders many time saved, where then this actually no failure had be...

i followed unown's suggestion of having 5 renders restriction and as you have seen it didn't work.