Art that I might use for my Christmas cards
whywaitwebs (104 points) | Sun, 2008-12-14 13:49This was a bit of an experiment with the particle system introduced in Flash CS4. I discovered that, while cool, it is still in its infancy. There's a lot of options that should be there that are not, but even more importantly, with a lot of particles the editor wasn't handling quickly at all.
With all the stars, the snow, the lights, and every needle on every stem of every branch on every tree, it was to a point where I had to wait around a minute in between each mouse click towards the end. As a result, the final piece did not get finessed as much as I normally would, but I think it still turned out decent.
Then again, CB is always a good place to come to rid myself of such delusions hehehe :) So, tell me what you think! I'm still deciding whether I should use this for my christmas card to send out to clients or if I should start over.
Thanks
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This is a beautiful piece of art.
I think the WWW should not be angled and should be more professional in my opinion. Try a different color. Black? (might blend in with the trees too much), and the light below the tree shouldn't be so purple. I like the design so far :) FINESSE IT!
Yes, I agreed with the person above. The logo should be re-fined more. Please position it vertically, do not angle it or whatsoever, it might ruin the whole beautiful piece of art! Although, black color to the logo might be nice.
Have the logo on the top of the tree illuminating all of the land.
Wait a minute, why are all the other trees bare? Did thebig tree syphon of they energy and cause them to wither a way and die?
Leaky Penny
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Leaky Penny
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I'm going to print it out and eat it.
-Unknown Artist
Bah, I couldn't have created anything even remotely close to this in Illustrator :P Not because it isn't capable, but because I am much better with Flash's tools. Never did get the hang of working with the Pen tool.
I will take heed to what you say about the logo, probably make it smaller.
I actually REALLY like the idea of having it be the tree topper :P especially considering, it's not just a piece of art, it's a piece of marketing hehe. So I will play with that too. And since others I have talked to hated the star the most of everything.
As far as all the trees being bare, the only honest answer I can give you is that I couldn't stand to have that many particles on all the trees! I probably would blow up my computer. Plus I wasn't really thinking at the time. However, enough people have mentioned this that I think Im going to try and break up the particles of the tree to pure art, group them, and copy them over to all the other trees.
Thanks for your critique all!
I can understand your resistance to the pen tool -- it's quite different and a bit of a pain to learn. In my opinion though, once you take the time to learn it, it's way worth it. Even just to add it to your list of tools you're able to use. I know a few tutorials on the subject, so if you're interested, just let me know.
As far as my opinion on the image: My first thoughts when looking at it was that it looked "noisy" (as in, filled with pixel noise), but after reading your description on how it was done, it makes more sense.
I agree about the type of star you chose looking like it's off of a uniform. I got right away that your logo was supposed to be carved out of the snow, but perhaps a inner-bevel with shadows would make it look more realistic.
I actually disagree about putting the logo on top of the tree, but that might just be me. It just seems very predictable. If I were presented with this to work on, I would actually move the tree over to the left (making more of a rule of thirds instead of dead center), and emphasize the logo in the snow. (Mostly because I like that idea.)
Last thing -- I don't know a lot about botany, but as far as I know I never see the pine-type trees without needles unless there has been a fire. I would say add the needles, and let it render while you're sleeping. :)
------------
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If only it were a render I were concerned with. I tried last night to make adjustments and the whole program pretty much freezes up while trying to do anything at all with the particles.
I appreciate the feedback, I tried the logo on top of the tree, and you're totally right, it doesn't work at all.
I didn't really think of the logo as being carved out of the snow, the inner shadow on it is just part of the logo itself.
And of course you're right, the trees are all wrong :P
Learn the pen tool asap. We had to be pros at it by the time we finished our first or second Graphic Design class.
You misunderstand; I know how to use the pen tool, and am capable of doing so, I just much prefer the arrow tool in Flash. Frankly it's a hell of a lot more powerful at its core, even if everyone here will likely deny it.
Of course, the problem being that Flash itself is a crapload LESS capable.
have to agree with the sentiment that you should learn how to use the pen tool.
in the long run, knowing how to do both makes you more valuable and efficient than you currently are. and if you ever work for someone else, they may require that you have and/or learn that skill. better to know it ahead of time (even if you're not an expert) than to have to learn it on a deadline (or admit to an employer you don't know how).
Bezier curves are the most useful of tools in the design world, The Illy Pen tool is kind of annoying in the way it operates IMO but it's basic function is not any different from any other curve editing tool I've ever used. I can't tell you how often I use curves
"...and mamma cried: Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow" - Frank Zappa
Flash uses the Bezier algorithm -- it even has a pen tool. It's just the arrow tool is another way of adjusting the curves and points, and a much more intuitive way at that.
But yes, I know the pen tool is important, and I know it. I just don't like it.
I'm seeing a bellicose theme here: the naked branches of all those extraneous trees, the fallen needles of the central (supposedly still-living) one, the star on top of the tree that looks like it could have come from the epaulet of some general's dress uniform...I dunno. Is that what you want to convey? Gives me the shivers.
Mara
Hmm, no that's not at all what I'm after lol, though I see your point. The needles are going to have to go on the rest of the trees, one way or another.
but I think the trees would be better served if they were simpler illustrations
"...and mamma cried: Watch out where the huskies go, don't you eat that yellow snow" - Frank Zappa