Challenge#210

[Grant]

Once again it's the Saint Valentine's Day Challenge! *Design a Message for a loved one, or at least give them a warning.

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http://www.cavesofice.org/~grant/Challenge/Challenges.html

Present and Past Challenges will remain Until tomorrow at 7:00 pm the then
the Present will be Past and new images will be posted as Present.

* Important notice to all the new people in this forum. This is not a
close shop you are all invited to submit an image. If you don't think you
are good enough this is your first mistake, I think most have found that
working on the Challenge has improved their personal level. So young and
old, hot shots and cool dudes now is you time to post.
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[Grant]

I seem to be under the misguided illusion that everyone has been doing Challenges so long that I don't have to describe things in detail. This weeks Challenge is go create you on Saint Valentines Day card .... mushy or not. Because it is a free from challenger they is no image to work with.

[Wendy]

Hi Grant ...

I'm getting ready to send mine in :)

Weney

[ME100FINN]

Just emailed my two in. Hope to try for more.

[kimi_boo]

Looks like the images for 210 have been posted.
Happy Valentines Everyone!
:D :D :D

[kimi_boo]

Ward.. glad to see I wasn't the only one that didn't go the love route. ;)

I love yours.. how much of it did you make? all?

[Ward Grant]

Kimi, thanks for the comments-I have been reading some stories about the card companies have developed an anti-valentine line of cards in the last few years that sell well. (Check out cafepress.com for some of them). I actually enjoy getting/giving cards and stuff; at one job, the staff was predominately women and I used to bring each a single long-stem flower (sometimes roses, sometimes less expensive ones) on Valentine's Day.

I found some do-it-yourself legal papers on the net and filled in the names and stuff (I tried not to use any real forum names). The men's ring is a stock image. The rest is via photoshop.

I just sent in a second entry that is geared more toward the hearts and flowers themes.

[CarolLHB]

Ward-if you like "anti" stuff, check out despair.com! It's a de-motivational company that really spoofs all those silly corporate motivational workshops and slogans. My favorite is "Meetings-none of us are as dumb as all of us":D

[NMarti]

Carol
Cafepress.com also has an anti-valentine section. I sort of like " I know what I want for Valentine's Day" and on the inside "and it's NOT you!":D

Hey I love your entry - the collection of hearts.

[billz]

Steven - Glad you did.:D Too much willpower can be a bad thing.

Bill

[Robyn]

Oh damn.........I've done this red, romantic, heart 'thing'...........and I'd have to be the least romantic person/most practical on the planet.....

...........although, I might add I was thinking of my dog when I did it!! :D :D

[NMarti]

Don't worry Robyn, Sophie made me a card.:D :D

[Red Sky]

Bill- I was busting.I see this as a compromise...it will be gone in a week, and into cyber dust in two. Well placed heart too!:D

[chas3stix]

Steve,
How did the "freak brothers " ever get into Disneyland?.....:D:D
Chas

[Red Sky]

Chas- Nice to know someone recognized The Freak Brothers. You are absolutely right about their admission; they never would have made it past the gates in 1971 when this picture was taken. My desire for continuity and accuracy has been compromised!:D

[Ward Grant]

Carol-I, too, like the different hearts. Also, on your #2, I really liked the way you have such nice details while working with basically one color, especially a dark tone like that. Very nicely done.

Bob-I'm almost afraid to ask, but where did you find the "apparel" for your hearts--on second thought, I really don't want to know.

Red Sky-Keep on trucking.

[BobWarren]

Ward --
I tried Victoria's Secret, but they didn't have the right size, so I made my own.

The base layer was filled with white, then the texturizer was applied with canvas as the texture. I then added a layer mask and filled the mask with the halftone filter -- this gives the mesh appearance. For the hearts, I used the heart custom object to make a pattern template, then filled the midsection of the lace with the pattern and applied a slight bevel and some noise. The flowers are a brush with a bevel and noise. The edges are selections of the original canvas copied to new layers and given a slight bevel.

Once the lace was made, I fit it to the 'heart'. In the original version, I used the shear filter, distort>displace using slightly blurred desaturated versions of the heart sections as the models and free transform. I made a different version of the image that just used the transform>warp tool in Photoshop CS.

You can see both versions on my website:

http://www.rewarren.com/challenge/rsp210-1.htm

Bob Warren

[CarolLHB]

Thanks Ward-the background is Corey's video this week...combine that with my love affair with chocolate...

I also love Bob's-so clever!

[Ward Grant]

Bob-thanks for your steps, especially the part about making the mesh look. I'll have to experiment some with that.

Some really good images this week, as usual.

[Byron Gale]

Steven,

I feel the love. :D

Byron

[BobWarren]

The annual Valentine's Challenge evoked quite a variety of images this week.

ALEX B: Nice illustration of the printing layout for a folded card.
ANNE T: A touching composition -- I love the font!
BARBARA W: The concentric hearts in #1 are a neat idea -- how did you make the 'vibrating' contour patterns in the center? Nice depth effect in #2.
BEATRICE: Have to go with #3 as my favorite of the three -- great hand drawn flower and sentiment.
BEN M: Ouch! Cupid seems to have expanded his arsenal -- unique concept.
BILL Z: The mylar balloons make a great background.
CAROL W: All the different textures for the heart in #1 make a great image. Good work on the chocolate bar in #2 -- love the embossed text.
CHRIS R: Using the statues is a great idea -- that font somehow matches the pierced heart in just the right way.
DAVE D: That sunglass-wearing heart looks awfully familiar! I love the concept in #2.
DEBRA F: Nice match of subject and sentiment -- and the texture/color work is great!
DONALD M: Good job constructing the chocolate bar -- the tooth marks on the corner were an inspiration.
JACK S: I hope the sentiment in #1 is received in the same spirit it was written -- nice work. The pests in #2 are nicely creepy.
JOHN E: The truffle border is a great idea.
KATHY N: The vining hearts are a nice touch -- freehand?
KIMI B: Ouch! That dripping blood is just too realistic!
KEV: I like the way you used the blurred backgrounds in #1 & #2. The pets in #3 & #4 are great!
MALCOLM D: Who knew that lovers had multiple patron saints? Nice work with the crocus.
RITA G: The galaxies in collision make a great background for the sentiment.
RED S: Ah, the fabulous furry Freak brothers -- takes me back to the '60s and my underground comics collection. Any Mr. Natural fans out there?
TOM M: Wonderful work with the butterfly heart and the Sistine curtains.
REKA H: The field of embossed hearts is a great background -- in-law problems?
ROBYN L: Plastic wrap on the hearts? Nice composition.
TAB A: That pharaoh in #1 looks familiar -- I like the heart frames and the animation in #2.
WARD G: There seems to be an undercurrent of anti-Valentine sentiment this year -- nice capture! The pixelated sentiment in #2 works well with the chain link fence. Love the heart-hair in #3.
NANCY M: The tag, tape and ribbon in #1 are nicely done. I love the background -- how did you do it? The picture board in #2 is a great construction.
WENDY W: Have to go with the atmospherics in #3 as my favorite of the four, although the heart-willow branches in #1 and the clock in #2 are great ideas, too.

Bob Warren
http://www.rewarren.com/challenge/chl210.htm
RANDOM GALLERY:
http://www.rewarren.com/challenge/random.html

[kevq]

Bob,
thanks for taking the time to post your comments.
Pleased you like my feeble efforts.
Kev.

[ME100FINN]

Wow - Bob, great replies - much appreciated by all I am certain. My hand-drawn flower is my favorite too - I actually submitted my leopard one too, but maybe it didnt make it. It's in my gallery for now anyway. This was my first challenge to enter - I hope to play with some more!!

[hukari]

REKA H: The field of embossed hearts is a great background -- in-law problems?

Bob, not me, thank God, but thought maybe someone else might find it useful???:twisted::twisted::twisted:

[billz]

Bob - Thanks for the comments! Nothing really speaks true love better than mylar. :rolleyes:

Both of your entries were great ... and thanks for the explanation of how you created #2. It's a classic.

Bill

[NMarti]

Bob
Thank you for your comments. The background is actually a scrapbook paper with a slight blend mode change. The picture of Sophie didn't come out right when I posted it though. I used a sketch type effect but when it posted it had those white blotches on it. :confused:

[Ward Grant]

Donald
I echo Bob's comments on the tooth bite-nicely done.

Bob-thanks for you comments. I especially liked the "devil is in the de-'tail'" look to your entry.

[Ritage]

Bob,

thanks for your kind comment.

And thanks for your tutorial above. I tried the lace portion of it. (Should one call it the tatting tutorial?) I don't think I ever used the halftone filter before and that's why it interested me. I got a zillion multi-colored dots and after I selected and deleted them it looked somewhat lace-y, but nothing like your lace background. I must be missing something vital, will try again.

Rita

[BobWarren]

Rita --
Use the halftone on the mask, not the image, and play with the size of the dots in the filter window.
Bob Warren

[Ritage]

Bob,

I did apply it to the mask, but I think I have to do some extended experiments with the various options in the filter dialogue. Didn't have the time to really figure out what they do.

Thanks, Rita

[jstorck]

Bob,

Thanks for taking the time for personalized comments. It's always encouraging to read others perceptions. Thanks again.

[Robyn]

Bob.....

Thank you for taking the time to make personal comments. It is appreciated.