SOTM 2008 - April (Dress Code: Female: Elegant/Ceremonial) - Voting Phase

[Mose]

2. mikoo
5. BearShare
24. escimo

[Klashikari]

Since I don't want to miss the deadline much like last SOTM, here are my votes (preferences order):

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23. Vibeke


I really likes the nice contrast between brown/pink/peach with that smooth blue, along with a nice render and vectors. My hat off for the extraction of the render, as this cheer amount of flowing hair is quite nightmarish. I would however point out something a bit "off" at the top left, just under her ribbon.
Pretty much pushing many good buttons in my books, though I think it would be win even more points if the render was slightly larger and lowered a bit.

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21. Ice Climbers


The colors here are really great and the dress is distinguishable enough.
Elegance is more towards to the "rich" and "noble" side, which is good as well.
The only "downside" is that I feel a text line is lacking at the bottom left but heh ^^"
Lastly... isn't it Kanako from Touhou 10 ? The artist is sure very skillfull here (though ZUN is hardly "good" though )

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1. Ayame


Pretty much like Skyfall, I think it is kinda difficult to separate "cute" and elegance here. that is to say, the color palet is quite soothing.
I would actually rant a bit on the render size, which is taking a VERY small piece of the whole surface of the signature... fortunately, it doesn't feel empty, nevetherless.
The true nitpicking points would be slightly the left edge of Kei, who isn't "cleanly" cut, but with some blur/glow, which messing a bit with Chihiro's clean edges. other point would be the text itself, which is more towards romance/tenderness than the theme but well ^^"

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Some honorary mentions: (number order)

Spoiler for size:

10 Riker


I really think this animated signature was kinda too ambitious for its own good.
Actually, I'm kinda bothered that it rather looks like an avatar due the ratio and size, but obviously, it is not your fault, not even close, considering the restrictions.
In depth, I'm kinda bothered that the lower part of the miko dress of Kanna just take the largest part of the image.
Were it unrestricted or so, I think it would won over many people considering the choice

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12 Runa


It is REALLY a shame the theme itself is not exactly that matching. That signature was actually going to be in my choices, but the "cheerful" and "happiness" side was more on the cute side than the actual theme. Nevetherless, a very solid signature, which didn't require fancy effects to deliver. I think it would be one of my top favorite in a wedding or "any" dress theme contest.

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34 Zaris


As much as I love Suzuna and this render (I was actually about to use that one for the contest but quickly gave up), your work was quite a mixed bag.
The color choices were quite nice, along with the artistic crop. However, the ratio itself is extremely off. Because of the big height of the signature, the focus is way too spread on the kimono, which lowers the aesthetic purpose.
But the true killer points here are the feathers and the background/quality.
The feathers are flooding the whole sight even worse than any CLAMP work. I apologize is it sound crude/rude, but it simply kills off the simplicity and stylish composition here, to the point it is difficult to notice some details and much. I think you should have cut off like 2/3 of the feathers.
The background or the quality itself is really questionable: there are tons of noises here and there, and the blue hue suffers from it a lot. It is particularly notcieable with "light stream" in the upper left, and Suzuna's bottom left hair strand.
It is really too bad these points disrupted the signature, otherwise, it would have my vote.

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39 Simple 1


The dreamy impression and the render are quite neat. I'm however not really fan of that mixture of watered down colors here and there in these clouds. I don't think the signature should have been brighter, but the color scope could have been tweaked a bit. That aside, a great signature

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41 Bigdave


Very nice job on the background, which flatters well the render. However, I would actually rant about the fact you focused more on the character than the mood. As result, the kimono is barely noticeable. Also, the blending/lightning of the render makes it "off" picture, and it doesn't seem the girl is actually in the scenery (well for me anyway).

In general, the contest results are quite nice, but I will also agree with Skyfall: the scope of such theme is way too large and up to one's opinion, which can turn chaotic in whichever is eligible or not. As for me, a lot of the entries are rather "cute" than elegant, but that's me anyway. In general, the level is on par with the 2 previous months, though the amount of participants is much lower, that's a bit too bad but well

My apologizes if I sounded rude or so in my comments. I prefer to be quite frank than leaving things in suspension or so.
Anyway, hope everyone will have fun with this contest.

[Deathkillz]

30. Ichigo-Sora ~ Simple but effective. Also a very cute choice of stock ^^

34. Zaris ~ Apart for the size issue, this one is just oozing with elegance. Good job ^^

36. Ledgem ~ Another size issue but otherwise an attractive piece. + points for the effort as well because I know you aren't normally a siggy maker (but someone who is doing better than when I first started)

[Ayame_]

21.) Ice Climbers


I love the background, it blends the render in nicely, makes it look very well put together. Just one of those ones that are great to look at.
37.) Klashikari

Nice dreamy qualities, very ethereal.

42.) Rhyel

Has a nice autumn feel. Good animation.

Sorry for the short comments, not too great at giving opinions yet Great work from everyone, lots of really sharp entries.

[Faeyice]

4. KasumiGirl



45. nammerboi




47. HitomiYoshizawa




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Ledgem: Thanks for liking my sig. ^^ Since I use an old version of photoshop it's hard to find brushes and stuff, so that sig was entirely made using default stuff, a few textures, and a font for those swirly pink patterns. I spent hours on messing with filters and stuff. x.x

[kamo]

6. KiNa
8. xerotwo
45. nammerboi

[mikoo]

My votes:

6. KiNa (6/5) ✪✪✪✪✪✪


9. Kamo (5/5) ✪✪✪✪✪


40. Cyz (5/5) ✪✪✪✪✪

[Saberae]

5. BearShare
24. escimo
34. Zaris

[SweetHoney]

Yay time to vote! My entry go missed for the start though Thanks for fixing it up Sol!!

My votes go to:

20. konstargirl



38. Miyoko



Everyone did really great on this month comp!! Good luck to everyone

[tripperazn]

Wow, ef ~the first tale~ was popular this round

1. Ayame
34. Zaris
37. Klashikari

[fanty]

8. xerotwo
37. Klashikari

[MagicaLideaL]

10. Riker



37. Klashikari



5. BearShare

[Westlo]

5. Bearshare
35. Marina
39. Simple 1

[Kanariya]

6 KiNa

4 KasumiGirl

25 Endrance

@ Ledgem & his GF

many thanks ^^

[Pellissier]

1. Ayame



I like the sharpness, and the feeling. Nothing is out of place, from the different gradients of sea's colour, to the clouds, to the shy, hideous sun. The line of text is spot on if applied to the subject.

15. Runa



A very bright and cheerful feeling. It oozes energy and happiness. And the shining sun on the background, the seagulls, that infectious smile. Wonderful.

37. Klashikari



For some reasons Klash always manages to get my vote. Not like he bribes me XD, more like he has a kind of unique style which he always followed since when he started (more or less with Rena) and which I always liked. Classy and ethereal, to say the least.

[Furuno]

My vote :
3. Solace
17. Deathkillz
40. Cyz

Good luck everybody! Nice job!

Spoiler for my regret:

... too bad i can't join this month due to extreme schedule

[aurr]

45. nammerboi
8. xerotwo

[Sephi]

39. Simple 1

10. Riker

[Klashikari]

Originally Posted by Pellissier

Not like he bribes me XD...

REVERSU TORAPU CARDO !
魔宮の賄賂 - Mamiya no wairo !! (Bribe of the Demonic Shrine)


sorry, I couldn't resist

Originally Posted by Pellissier

...since when he started (more or less with Rena)...

which Rena thing? First, second or the banner?

[Pellissier]

Originally Posted by Klashikari

which Rena thing? First, second or the banner?

I had in mind the second, white-ish one, but now that you mention it there is the sky banner as well , add to those the Yuika sign and the circle is complete ^^ .