SOTM 2011 - February (Couples!) - Entry Thread

[Solace]

!!!Welcome to the SOTM!!!

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~Congratulations to hao-sama for winning the January Contest!~

The theme chosen for February is - Couples!.
What is that? It's February, and Valentines is this month so....couples!

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About the SOTM:

The Signature Of The Month contest is open to all members of the Animesuki Forums. The goal of the contest is to provide a fun and competitive way of showing off and improving the signatures and personal skills of contestants. The winner of each months contest is given the privilege of choosing the theme for the next month.

The contest begins on the first of each month and consists of roughly two weeks of entry creation/submission, one week of voting, and one week off. The entry and voting periods may be extended or shortened slightly as needed.

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About the SOTM Theme:

Each month prospective contestants are given a theme to base their entries on. This theme is decided by the winner of the previous contest. The theme can be anything, as long as it does not break forum rules regarding inappropriate material. At the end of the month, voters choose which entries they liked best out of all submitted entries and a new winner is decided. Themes cannot be used twice in a row.

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The Rules of the SOTM:

1. Contestants are allowed to create, work on, and submit their entry from the start of the contest until two weeks from the start date. This period of time is specified by the organizer every month. Once the entry period expires, all submitted entries are gathered up and sent to the Voting Thread.

2. Contestants must submit original works. This means you cannot simply cut a picture out, slap your name on it, and call it your own. Claiming someone else's work as your own is also not allowed. Anyone caught doing this will have their entries removed from the contest.

To further expand on this rule:

2A. Unless proven otherwise, all entries made by contestants are derivatives of works made by someone else. Thus, no claim of "ownership" shall be made in reference to the image(s) used in the signature entry.

2B. Misrepresenting someone else's signature work for your own is prohibited and will result in an immediate expulsion of the entry and disqualify the contestant from the current month's contest.

2C. In the spirit of originality, "crop" sigs are frowned upon, but not discouraged; however, the contest organizer can call upon all contestants to show the source of their entry(ies) at any time.

2D. Also in the spirit of originality, new signatures are encouraged. However, if you feel one of your older signatures is perfect for the theme and wish to enter it, you may. Just remember that the signature still has to follow the rules stated above.

3. Contestants are allowed to create as many entries as they wish, but are only allowed to enter one. To submit an entry officially, the contestant must mark the post in the Offical Entry Thread containing that entry with the words "Final Entry", or they can submit the signature to the contest organizer using the private message function.

4. Contestants who wish to keep their entries private until after the submission period can private message the contest organizer with their entry. The entry will not be displayed until submissions are closed, unless the contestant displays that entry publicly.

5. Entries must comply with Animesuki rules regarding signature size. This means each entry can be no larger than 500 x 160, and must be less than 50,000 bytes. They must also comply with forum decency rules. If you think your entry will be offensive or reported to the moderators, don't post it, even as a joke.

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About the SOTM Entry Process:

Every month, a new entry thread is created. Each month's entry thread is a central spot meant to give contestants a chance to create and improve their entries as well as their skills, in addition to providing them a place to post their official submissions.

The thread is solely about helping contestants with entries, and as such these things will not be tolerated:

1. Nonconstructive and negative criticism (if you truly dislike something about an entry, be polite and helpful)

2. Comments, questions, or complaints about General SOTM affairs

3. Flaming, trolling, and other uncivil behavior that breaks Forum Rules

Anyone disrupting the thread will be asked to take it privately, to the SOTM Generic Discussion Thread, or if the offense is severe enough - reported to the moderators.

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This Month's Entry Period::

This months entry period officially starts Monday, January 31st, 2011 and lasts until Friday, February 18th, 2011. Entries will be gathered and put up for voting on Sunday, February 20th, 2011. Voting will end on the following Sunday.

The due date ends at 11:59 (midnight basically) UTC/GMT. The polling will be up one day later after 11:59 (again, midnight). I will try to be as lenient as I can with last minute submissions but only slightly.

It is up to you as a contestant to know what your time zone is in relation to UTC/GMT. I cannot do this for you.

Here is a site that can help you figure that out: http://www.worldtimeserver.com/convert_time_in_UTC.aspx

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Good luck to all contestants, and most importantly, have fun!!!

[milan kyuubi]

First try Maybe even a final entry

Now the colors were intended, I put them this way for a reason.

V1


c&c?

[ganbaru]

@ milan kyuubi maybe reworking the text, you could go smaller but darker.

My first tries, C&C are always welcome:

[xl_Legit_lx]

Reserved, guess I should try these. lol




-Legit

[Suomi]

MK: agreed, text could be smaller and darker, and the wings on the heart look kinda funny.
ganbaru-senpai: I like the first one better, but they look a bit too washed out

[vandakiara]

1st try.. oh how I love this theme <3


C&C please :3

[Midnight Bliss]

Aaaah, thought of joining this, since I haven't done the recent ones.
I would like to ask for help~ I'm like, totally not done, but I wanted advice on coloring.



V1 or V2?

original stock: http://download.minitokyo.net/Final....per.402630.jpg

[vandakiara]

@Midnight Bliss - love the colours and I prefer v2.. I just think you shouldn't cut their heads off like that

[Midnight Bliss]

^
Thank you =w=
And its because like if I use their heads in, the really pretty lower part won't show. I think it's more impactful? I think people who play FF might get it better iunno. O : and i dont wanna make the pic too small or too big. I want it just right to fit the text in~

[vandakiara]

Originally Posted by Midnight Bliss

^
Thank you =w=
And its because like if I use their heads in, the really pretty lower part won't show. I think it's more impactful? I think people who play FF might get it better iunno. O : and i dont wanna make the pic too small or too big. I want it just right to fit the text in~

I've played well then try to pull the image up to the part of their necks so no heads at all are shown... then grab the two heads/ faces and put them anywhere else on the sig, like fading in the bg or blending in nicely... I think the feeling will be pretty beautiful and more meaningful...

[Rennir]

V2 colors are definitely better IMO. More balanced/variegated.

[Hiroi Sekai]

I agree, V2 has a better look to it - it's easier on the eyes.

Also, I don't know why, but it says "The Theme chosen for May is Couples!"

[ganbaru]

@ Midnight Bliss I would go with V2. May I suggest either to show or hide both the full heads.
@ vandakiara it look nice but you could add some more effects.

Originally Posted by Illusore

ganbaru-senpai: I like the first one better, but they look a bit too washed out

Something more like that ?


C&C would be welcome.

[CrowKenobi]

Originally Posted by papermario13689

Also, I don't know why, but it says "The Theme chosen for May is Couples!"

Fixed that! Thanks for the heads up!

now why didn't I see that? <slaps forehead>

[Midnight Bliss]

Followed the whole heads thing advice.
Not sure it's gonna be my final entry, so I might change it sometime or likeee make adjustments, but this is what I have for now. Intended to make the sparkles look like some glow or somethin' and make it as if its where the feathers come out from. /i have such an issue with trying to create a meaning or something behind my sigs

[xl_Legit_lx]

Originally Posted by xl_Legit_lx

Reserved, guess I should try these. lol




-Legit

Updated my reserved post with my entry haha, we'll see how it goes...this may or may not be my final. xD

[xAvalonx]

[xl_Legit_lx]

Avalon you jerk, why you gotta put something so good in this one? LOL it's great man.

[Haladflire65]

Stab 1 (subject to drastic changes)



C&C please

[Rennir]

I like the overall effects, but the left side is a bit too bright. There isn't enough space for the darkness to balance it out. So I would lessen the brightness and burn some stuff on the right side.