I need a hug by PhoenixRose

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I love my Magdalena!

You always know just what to say!

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:51 PM

WHITEFALL

You. Are. Brilliant.

That is all. NEXT!!!!

P.S. I'm with Magdelena.. the huggle smiley is awesome, lol.

"But, these strong women characters?"

"Why aren't you asking 100 other guys why they don't write strong women characters?" -Joss Whedon

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:52 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

I personally liked your entry (if it's the one I think it was based on you hint) and it's a shame you placed so low. There are alot of times that there are high placed ones that have no business being above midrange, but it happens time and time again. Don't let it get you down, there's always next time.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.

"Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then, tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge--and on that day, you will finally meet the man." ~ Shan Yu

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 10:57 PM

You're so good Phoenix. I love your sig pic. All of yours are better than mine.

Here's my bestest work. I have it hanging on my fridge:

"

Not really on my fridge. I just made it now to make you smile. Have a good one.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:05 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Thanks, baby! Were you my one really high vote?

I'm sure it was the one you thought; no one else used an aurora.
It does seem that there are some that just place high for no apparent reason, and others that place low for no apparent reason, but it still makes me sad. What really confused me is a bunch of entries that placed higher had comments like "clean this and so up and have less going on" and the like, and the coments I got on mine were quite positive!
Oh well, I guess. Hopefully they do another contest I'm interested in soon. I rarely actually want to enter.

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:10 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Thanks, 6ixStringJack! Is very funny crazy smiley thing.
And thank you, too, Whitefall.

Hehe, "NEXT!" hehe. Why is that funny? Cuz it is!
You both make me smile.

See?

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:12 PM

yer welcome... glad it made you smile. I'm just having a lot of trouble embeding this image if you notice the link changin. I'm not very good with these computer things

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:15 PM

EMMARIGBY

Much sympathy is winging it's way to you. Just remember that, compared to 99% of the population, you are increadibly intelligent and creative. Certainly more so than me. I can't photoshop for toffee!

___________________

Hissssssssss!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:19 PM

GOT IT!!!! I rule....

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:19 PM

Your image seems pretty good to me, the only (very minor) thing is that the Dolphin looks like its above the aurora rather than in it, if that makes any sense?

Maybe a different blending mode, off the top of my head you could try Overlay, I'll try to put together something to show you what I mean if you want.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:22 PM

I know this is Phoenix's thread, but do you have any tips for me citizen? You really seem to know what you're talking about and I don't think that I created the realism that I was going for originally.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:23 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Ooooh, another fellow photoshopper!
I laid a transparent image of the aurora over the dolphin to make it look a little more like it was within it, but I didn't want to overdo it. If you have any tips, though, please teach me! I'm a mostly intuitive photoshopper, meaning if I can't just figure out how a tool works I tend to find my way around it. So if you can teach me anything, I will be happy to learn!
Tell me, what do you know of masking? I try to mask and it just looks like I wiped everything out.

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:25 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by EmmaRigby:
Much sympathy is winging it's way to you. Just remember that, compared to 99% of the population, you are increadibly intelligent and creative. Certainly more so than me. I can't photoshop for toffee!
___________________
Hissssssssss!

Awwwww, thank you! But you have your own very special brand of skills! Where would the snakes be without you?

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:26 PM

The snakes would be on the plane.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:27 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:

"

Holy crap! It's a mutant kermit/smileyface lovechild. Run! Run for your lives!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.

"Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then, tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge--and on that day, you will finally meet the man." ~ Shan Yu

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:28 PM

BABYWITHTHEPOWER

Quote:
Originally posted by 6ixStringJack:
The snakes would be on the plane.

I like you, you make me laugh.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I'll be in my bunk.

"Live with a man forty years. Share his house, his meals, speak on every subject. Then, tie him up and hold him over the volcano's edge--and on that day, you will finally meet the man." ~ Shan Yu

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:30 PM

6ixStringJack:
Which is your image?
Edit:
If you mean this:

Practice makes perfect, maybe some shadowing, low alpha black on a seperate layer? Also some antialiasing to remove the digital artifacts.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:32 PM

Mine would be the "mutant kermit/smileyface lovechild" pictured above citizen.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:32 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

kermit/smiley lovechild!

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:36 PM

EMMARIGBY

And to think that I was proud of my llamas on stonehenge image (plus the llama in chocolate!). But this, this is just genius! Now if you could just get the eyes to revolve it would outclass the hypnotoad!

___________________

Hissssssssss!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:37 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by citizen:

Practice makes perfect, maybe some shadowing, low alpha black on a seperate layer? Also some antialiasing to remove the digital artifacts.

Can't... move... laughing... too... hard... *gasp* *gasp* *gasp*

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:41 PM

Thank you for all of your wonderful advice my fellow browncoats. I will get to work on this and one day you will see the sexiest mutant kermit/smiley lovechild come to life.

BTW... his name is Tim.

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:50 PM

The source images aren't great but the general idea is there.

I cut the dolphin out using the magnetic lasso, and then cleaned her up with just a small brush eraser. I created a clipping mask and manually alpha'd the water droplets (it would have probably been better to remove them though).

I brought all that in on a separate layer over the top of the background with just normal 100% blending.

I duplicated the background layer and put it above the dolphin layer with a Hard Light 100% blending. That kind of washed the Dolphin out a bit too much so I duplicated the dolphin and placed in at the very top with a soft light blending.

This is near identical but with an overlay blending on the second aurora image layer. Brings out the Dolphin better but makes the water droplets look nasty (but ideally I'd remove those anyway so meh). This one would probably also look better minus the second Dolphin layer.

With a bit more time I'd probably do some manual alpha on the second image layer, making it more prominent in places where it's brightest and less prominent where it's darkest.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, July 23, 2006 11:59 PM

Wow man... you just did that right now? What can you do with Tim?

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 12:05 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Lord and Lady, citizen, you know way more about this than I do.
Could you translate these phrases into Captain dummy-talk?
"I created a clipping mask and manually alpha'd the water droplets"
"a Hard Light 100% blending."
"soft light blending"
"overlay blending" (is this transparency we're talking about?)
"manual alpha"
The rest I'm pretty sure I knew what you meant.
It is a gorgeous image! I like the first one best.

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 1:08 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
"I created a clipping mask and manually alpha'd the water droplets"

With the layer selected go to Layer->Layer Mask->Reveal All.

Next to the thumbnail of the layer another thumbnail should appear, this is an 8 bit gray scale layer which is an alpha channel for the image that allows you to manually define how much transparency there is. Alpha transparency works from White (100% opaque) to black (0% opaque).

What I did was use the magic wand selector to select everything except the dolphin after the dolphin had been cut out, then selected the alpha channel thumbnail and filled the selection with black. Then I got a brush set at around 30% transparency and black and painted in the alpha channel where the water droplets were until they were transparent enough.

Finally I created a new blank layer and merged the dolphin layer with it which 'fixes' the transparency to the image.

Quote:
"a Hard Light 100% blending."
"soft light blending"
"overlay blending" (is this transparency we're talking about?)

On the layer list toolbox at the very top there are two drop down list boxes, one is labeled opacity and ussually has the value "100%" the other should have the value "normal".

You've probably used the 100% one before to vary the transparency, the other one is the blending mode. There's various different blending modes overlay, hard light and soft light are just some of them. Play

.

There's some difference between straight forward Alpha transparency and blending modes, Alpha transparency merely takes each pixel, breaks it into its Red Green and Blue values and mixes them together under the control of an alpha value the equation is something like this:
result = source + ((destination - source) * alpha) This is done for each channel (Red Green and Blue) and then the result is combined.

This link has information on what each blending mode does if you are interested:
http://www.digitalretouch.org/3edition/downloads/ch_04/ch4_image_calcu
lations.pdf

Quote:
"manual alpha"

Same as above, creating a clipping mask and playing with the transparency manually.

I should also mention that the second image layer is clipped to the dolphins transparency so that it doesn't 'bleed through' to the background layer. This is done by:
layer->create clipping mask.

This will make the layer use the alpha channel of the layer directly below it.

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 1:20 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I remember a box that says "opacity" and box that says "fill". I must have totally not even noticed the mode one. Sounds like fun

I cannot wait to get home and play with this!

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:51 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Um, the thumbnail that appears when I do a reveal all layer mask is a blank white square that doesn't seem to do anything. I don't understand.
This is exactly why I've never used layer masks. I've never seen them do anything. Even when I'm told how to use them they don't do anything.

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:56 AM

FUTUREMRSFILLION

one of the Forsaken TM

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 5:06 AM

PENGUIN

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 5:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Um, the thumbnail that appears when I do a reveal all layer mask is a blank white square that doesn't seem to do anything. I don't understand.
This is exactly why I've never used layer masks. I've never seen them do anything. Even when I'm told how to use them they don't do anything.

Between the thumbnail for the mask and the thumbnail for the layer their should be a little chain icon, if it's not present click the space between the two and it should appear.

No if you click on the layer mask thumbnail a box should appear around it, if you take a brush and start painting in black those parts of the image should disappear.

EDIT:
a quick sample:

More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
No one can see their reflection in running water. It is only in still water that we can see.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 6:07 AM

DEEPGIRL187

What fools these mere mortals be...

The fact that they would place you so low is idiotic. Anyone on this site who's seen your images knows how good they are. If only the rest of the world could be as enlightened as we Browncoats.

**************************************************

"Now they see the sky and they remember what they are."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 6:18 AM

ONEMANSHORT

Awwww, all the browncoats love your images, and that's way more important than some snobbish people on a site that don't know how to rate anything for their lives

You have some beautiful images, and I'm still impressed with the Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds one, very nice. Don't feel bad about it, with some help from the shiny people here I'm sure you'll be kicking even more butt at the next contest you enter!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 6:40 AM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

OOOooooooohhhh! I get it! I understand!

Thank you citizen!
And I love love love the modes; they do some very interesting things.

Thank yoooo FMF and Penguin! You are sweet and shiny.

Deepgirl and OneManShort
Yeah, they don't know nothin' about nothin'. If I was allowed to use any image I wanted... But I'm not.

I might just stick to posting here

I'm still very confused as to how some things were higher than me...
No! No, not gonna think about it. They're purplebellies and they are boo. I joined so I could look at pretty pictures and that's all.

**********************************

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 7:15 AM

MAVOURNEEN

Sorry, PR. Meant to post my mental hug an hour ago, but Mondays are horrid at my job!

Other people suck. Just remember that.

"Have you ever been with a Warrior Woman?"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 9:55 AM

ALLISA

*hugs* you rock! I love your sig and wish I were half as talented!

You know what the chain of command is here? Its the chain I go get to beat you with to show you whose in command!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 10:06 AM

NVGHOSTRIDER

(Runs in before thread dissolves)

Big bear hug for ya!

"Better dead and cool
Than alive and uncool."

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 10:11 AM

SIMONWHO

Quote:
Originally posted by Mavourneen:

*does a little giggle*

And hugs to PhoenixRose; remember, treat those two imposters triumph and disaster just the same.

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 10:25 AM

SAFEAT2ND

Don't let it bug you PR. There are people out there that vote for the person regardless of how good or bad their art is. Sounds like the case for that website.

I posted a bunch of stuff to the "other" browncoat site while it was up for contests and such, and while I thought what I did was good, and got good response here, it never amounted to anything there.

Trust in your own talent and the input from trusted friends, and keep at it. Judging art is way too objective.

*HUGS*

Safeat2nd, Chief Handyman of Destiny

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 12:47 PM

NAUGHTYMAN

I don't post a lot but I felt I had to on this occasion.Tried to find your entry at worth1000.com but couldn't,anyway ,I don't care.I've seen what you can do,particularly that icon you use with your posts,it's beautiful.So as you say: boo on them!I don't even know how to post a picture with my name!
I've read more than a few of your posts and I think you're the sweetest,most kind soul on this site.What you need is chocolate and lots of it!I send you a mental hug!
BTW,are you pagan?I ask because you referred to handfasting on one of your posts.

"Come a day there won't be room for naughty men like us to slip about at all"

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 3:18 PM

THE ADVENTURES OF TIM, THE MUTANT KERMIT/SMILEY LOVECHILD: IN 3D!!!!

TIM GOT AN UPGRADE:

SEE TIM IN THE FOREST:

SEE TIM SNORKELING:

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:18 PM

DANCINGNEKO

Since you asked...(and even if you didn't)
*hugs PR*

Tho' I'm wondering why you want to waste time on feeling bad on a website full of purplebellies who have such go-se taste? When they finally acquire some taste in your artwork, you'll probably have made your fortune in it.

Brilliant? M'dear, some days you outshine the moon, other days you simply outshine the sun!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:40 PM

GED

I think you're lovely, Rose. *hugs*

When are you coming down to Dallas to see me??

__________________________________________________
This above all, — to thine ownself be true.
http://www.myspace.com/artv

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 4:46 PM

RMMC

{{{{hugs PhoenixRose}}}}

Your piccys are wonderful. And sorry I didn't IM you earlier but thanks for the tips you gave me on doing the blending. They've been very helpful.

{{more hugs}}

******
RMMC

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 7:29 PM

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Browncoats are the shiniest people in the 'verse!
*hugs everyone several times*
I wondered if it might be a playing favorites thing, even though they hide the names of the entrants during voting.
I'm not going to say I deserved first place, but I think I deserved to be in the top 20. Bah.
Yes, naughtyman, I am Pagan. Also Buddhist. Mainly Pagan.
Ged, honey, as soon as I can afford it.

I could ask you the same thing, though. When are you gonna come up here to see me? I keep telling you, it's much more scenic here. You get a great view of mountains from pretty much anywhere on the Front Range.
RMMC, happy to help!

**********************************

NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 7:36 PM

OOKAMIKAWAHARA

Hey PhoenixRose,
Heres a hug for ya lass

hang in there okay. Just build on the experiance and keep learning. Your imaging is brilliant !!!!! We are not worthy, we are not worthy..... (Sorry couldn't help but through in a little Wyane and Garth) Lets put it this way, I can do jack shit w/ the imaging so all you blow me out of the water right there. You know where to find me if ya need to talk more okay.
mata, Ookami yori

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 8:18 PM

What? No love for Tim?

"A government is a body of people, usually notably ungoverned." myspace.com/6ixstringjack

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, July 24, 2006 8:58 PM