I've been working on a new style of graphics, and would like some general thoughts on them. May as well use this topic again, since it's already here.

With this style, I've been experimenting with some border images, that someone gave me. I only made two so far, and I know that they are smaller than the banner size that I usually make, but I only really need one image, to test the banner.

With your critique, I'd like to know if the border appears 'Hobbit like' or 'Dwarvish' to you. I'm doing this, because I mostly got sick of minitureizing pics, and started to like them not being there in my Labyrinth banners.

Here we go;

The Hobbit

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

Beautiful! I especially like the last one

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I will move the mail!



Elrond banner by Erin.

Thank you! Of course you do, it was made for you! LOL.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

Not only because of that It makes me warm inside!

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I will move the mail!



Elrond banner by Erin.

I was going for a warm feeling to it. Because, it's their last proper moment in the shire. And, memories of the Shire are what keeps them going. I go for a very artistic feel with my graphics, as my friend keeps telling me.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

Great graphics Erin. I noticed though that you add overlay frames and boxed pics to most of your banners...I would suggest that you should try different styles

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Banners by Nicole and Bellatrix

I don't overlay frames. I actually duplicate the picture, make that layer lighter or darker depending on how the general colours of the banner are. Then, contract the selection, and delete what I don't want.

I did on the Bilbo one, sorta. That was soft light, I think.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

The square frame whatnot is pretty cool, and works especially well on your Katniss Banner! That's a hard moment of the movie to catch (I've tried ) and you did it excellently! I would definitely challenge you to reach out to making banners without relying on the boxes though They're not always needed!

Also your font overlay is interesting and fun (favorite in the thranduil/thorin banner)! Although, sometimes the english is lost/hard to read (see galadriel/gandalf banner) and just makes the graphic more confusing.

All in all, you're doing well! Keep on experimenting!

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Want a banner? Click here!

I don't rely on the little boxes. I like adding them to my graphics. It took me 2 and a half years to find a graphics style that I'm comfortable working with, and this is it.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

Don't get me wrong, I do love the boxes! Especially when trying to capture a scene that has a lot of movement (or weird camera angles like Hunger Games does)! I just think variation can be a good thing and encourage everyone to branch outside of their comfort zone! (I have to push myself more than anything to try new styles!)

Anyway, I'm excited to see your graphics in the future!

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I do appreciate your comments, and feedback.

I know what it is like to branch out, because on the forum I used to go on before I joined here, the people were brutal about graphics. If a person came along, with a style that didn't match their exactly, that person would get flamed big time for it, and their work would be ripped to shreds until they managed to follow along with everyone else. It almost killed me, graphics wise trying to mimic theirs. I never did get the hang of it. Then, I came back on here after a long break, and started using this style. It was a huge leap from what I've learned to do, and I'm happy with the results every single time.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

^ I have to agree with Meganelf. The boxes are distracting sometimes, and they're not that necessary in every banner. And while you say you don't rely on them, they appear on all your banners. Especially if the boxes are placed in the middle, and are outlined, they tend to pop out first, and more than the main picture. If I were you, I would try to go out of my comfort zone and try to make a few banners without the boxes.

I would also work on blending. In most of your graphics, I can see where you have cut the different pics. I think you should try to make your blending look more natural

^A good idea would be to fade or overlay the elvish a bit.
Overall, great work. Keep it up

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Banners by Nicole and Bellatrix

I like the boxes, and how the elvish stands out. I make graphics in a way that I like, and it makes me happy to see the finished result.

Thank you all for your feedback. I think I don't think I need further feedback any more.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

Erin,

I'm sorry you feel uncomfortable having your graphics up, and I'm sorry for any part I played in that! I really do hope you keep working on graphics (some of us old farts have gotten stuck in our ruts!)--your approach and style really is fresh and fun! (again, I thought a lot of your banners were brilliant, as I said earlier!) All feedback was intended to help open doors, not close them! Every artist has their own style, but sometimes the hardest part is stepping back and looking at it from a (metaphorical) distance

Again, sorry for the part I may have played in making you uncomfortable to share your graphics. I really hope that we will be able to see some of your work in the future!

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Want a banner? Click here!

It's alright, Megan. It's not what everyone said, that made me want to take them down. I know you all wanted to look at it from an angle to help me improve, which was fine. I was just posting them, so everyone can see them and enjoy them.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦

I've started using this thread again, to display my graphics. Any comments are welcome, so let me know what you think.

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♥ Married to Thranduil, 22 April 2014 ♥

♦ Lónannûniel, Queen of the Woodland Realm ♦