SOTM 2008 - March (Female Combatants) - Entry Phase

[bkg9990]

Originally Posted by KasumiGirl

Just curious, what was/is this post reserved for?

Can't wait to see all the sigs on Sunday. ^^

Maybe for the entries?

[KasumiGirl]

Originally Posted by bkg9990

Maybe for the entries?

Ah, yes. Maybe so.

I just thought that Sol would publish all the entries only in the voting thread, thats all.

[Solace]

Originally Posted by KasumiGirl

Ah, yes. Maybe so.

I just thought that Sol would publish all the entries only in the voting thread, thats all.

Originally it was going to be for any extra stuff like notices and whatnot, but it's just gonna be an empty post for now. The entries will be compiled in the voting post, you are correct. While it does make it a little more difficult to sort through the thread and gather all the correct entries, it also helps ensure people have to look through the thread to see what everyone is working on. If I do use that post, it will likely be to gather the entries in one spot after the submission date closes so that I can just copy/paste it into the voting thread. We'll see.

I'll likely need a few hours on Saturday to organize everything, and I'll have the voting thread up sometime Sunday like last month's contest. I'm not running a nomination phase this month, because the ideas are still forming and input from everyone is still being taken in. I encourage everyone to go to the SOTM generic discussion thread if there are any suggestions/feedback you want to give on the nomination phase or any other aspect of the contest.

Also, I'll need a volunteer or two to help with vote counting. Sephi has already offered to lend a hand again, but another person to check our numbers wouldn't hurt.

On that note, I'm off to bed.

[KasumiGirl]

Originally Posted by Solace

Originally it was going to be for any extra stuff like notices and whatnot, but it's just gonna be an empty post for now. The entries will be compiled in the voting post, you are correct. While it does make it a little more difficult to sort through the thread and gather all the correct entries, it also helps ensure people have to look through the thread to see what everyone is working on. If I do use that post, it will likely be to gather the entries in one spot after the submission date closes so that I can just copy/paste it into the voting thread. We'll see.

I'll likely need a few hours on Saturday to organize everything, and I'll have the voting thread up sometime Sunday like last month's contest. I'm not running a nomination phase this month, because the ideas are still forming and input from everyone is still being taken in. I encourage everyone to go to the SOTM generic discussion thread if there are any suggestions/feedback you want to give on the nomination phase or any other aspect of the contest.

Also, I'll need a volunteer or two to help with vote counting. Sephi has already offered to lend a hand again, but another person to check our numbers wouldn't hurt.

On that note, I'm off to bed.

I'll do it again...
I did kind of a lazy job with it last time, but i'll be sure to double check triple check on my votes first.

[Marina]

Solace, just want to check with you to make sure you received my messaged entry some days ago. I wouldn't want the wrong sig submitted ^_^!

[Klashikari]

Quite on the deadline but well...
Trying to spice it up with some animation, I'm not exactly sure how the quality drops and how the animation is but heh
Working the very first time on an animated sig is quite not a cake walk, gah



Static:


Still trying to spice this thing up... ahem >_> *toying with the static one with other pattern*

[Ledgem]

Wow, how did you do that? When your animation isn't going Opera tells me that your animated image is an 11 kb JPEG, but when it is going it says it's a 39 kb GIF. On top of that, for a GIF I see barely any quality loss compared with your static version (and I'm at work, using one of those crazy-sharp and huge Apple displays). What's the secret?

That aside, I initially didn't notice the animation until you pointed out that it's an animated one. It's pretty neat. If there were a lot of quality loss I'd go with the static one, but because there's virtually no difference between the two (how is that possible??) you might as well show off the nice animation.

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Ledgem

Wow, how did you do that? When your animation isn't going Opera tells me that your animated image is an 11 kb JPEG, but when it is going it says it's a 39 kb GIF. On top of that, for a GIF I see barely any quality loss compared with your static version (and I'm at work, using one of those crazy-sharp and huge Apple displays). What's the secret?

That aside, I initially didn't notice the animation until you pointed out that it's an animated one. It's pretty neat. If there were a lot of quality loss I'd go with the static one, but because there's virtually no difference between the two (how is that possible??) you might as well show off the nice animation.

There isn't much secret behind it in fact: there are actually 2 images: the left part in gif, the right part in jpg. That's why you got a 10kb, then a 38 kb. (the total is roughly 49.900 bytes, so i'm still safe )

Since jpg can be decent in quality with a pretty tiny size, it is rather better to split the signature into several parts, so you can save the size and quality trouble. Of course, the animated part would be better if it is quite localised and restricted to few colors. animating a colorful portion is simply hurtful >_>

[Miko Miko]

Originally Posted by Klashikari;

Quite on the deadline but well...
Trying to spice it up with some animation, I'm not exactly sure how the quality drops and how the animation is but heh
Working the very first time on an animated sig is quite not a cake walk, gah

Very nice, For a first time it is pretty good, all though the brightness hurts my eyes slightly its a good effort.
10 times better than me!

[Sephi]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Quite on the deadline but well...
Trying to spice it up with some animation, I'm not exactly sure how the quality drops and how the animation is but heh

With the quality lose i notice. You are around the 50 or so for Save for Web? From experience around 60 sort of is the point were you notice the quality lose. I would stick with at least 65 to be on save side and sacrifice some from the .gif

I notice notable artifacts forming around her hair, as well as her eye looking less radiant. Though i don't think anyone will notice that without comparing any of the signatures.

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Sephi

With the quality lose i notice. You are around the 50 or so for Save for Web? From experience around 60 sort of is the point were you notice the quality lose. I would stick with at least 65 to be on save side and sacrifice some from the .gif

Quality is at 55, but it is impossible to sacrifice on the gif side, considering i'm on 128 with 10 lossy. Any change on these parameters would be uglier and noticeable than the jpg itself I believe

But well, considering the sig itself, I might use this one as my final entry instead;

Edit: This is my Official Entry



Overhaul on brightness, colors and a swipe/slash tail for the sword (that alone doesn't give much possibility to add a pulse aura, and the quality itself would be bad to connect both parts).
Huh... a bite more than 30 minutes before changing/deciding the final entry

[Solace]

Just popping in to remind everyone that entries are no longer being accepted. However, I see a few people still working on last minute tweaks and stuff, so I'll bend the rules a little bit and allow those people to finish up.

Remember, please put "OFFICIAL ENTRY" in the post that contains your final submission so that I can list the correct one. Thank you.


Quick edit: For those who sent me entries privately, yes I have received all of them. I still have a lot of sorting to do so please be patient.

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Solace

Just popping in to remind everyone that entries are no longer being accepted.

Just to nitpick a bit (well, I'm not creating something out of the blue again ), but there is still 20 minutes ish before the said deadline. (it isn't midnight on GMT/UTC wise)

I don't mention that for myself (though I sure needs more opinions for the "official entry"), but that would be clearer in terms of directives then.

*still pondering for official entry*

[Solace]

Hmm...did I calculate it wrong? *goes off to check...*

Hmm, suppose I did. Good catch. (darn timezones..grumble grumble...) Ah well. In any case, they'll be closed "soon", so last call, finish up, etc.

[Terrestrial Dream]

Ah damn it I lost the psd file for the sig, so I have to drop out, as I thought about it I don't really want to submit in a rush work.

[Reith]

Originally Posted by Reith

OFFICAIAL! Even though I'm not gonna place anything. You never know.

[KiNA]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

Quite on the deadline but well...
Trying to spice it up with some animation, I'm not exactly sure how the quality drops and how the animation is but heh
Working the very first time on an animated sig is quite not a cake walk, gah



Static:


Still trying to spice this thing up... ahem >_> *toying with the static one with other pattern*

You are much better sending the static version >.< the area above the sword and her eyes are quite awefull >.<

[Klashikari]

I won't use either anyway, the entry I chose is at #511 (static as well). It is quite suicidal to roam on complete left field

[KiNA]

Well, I didnt finish reading up first before posting it

But not bad for an animated job, tho it doesn't look so fitting with her pose

[Ledgem]

I'm still super-impressed at using multiple file formats and piecing them together like that. Really innovative. Gives me a few ideas...