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Entry #1
Seems that #1 gets many votes. I suppose the reason that its character image is large, catchy, and beautiful (handsome, fascinating guy). Color harmony and contrast are fine (hue and saturation are clear). The most simple, but impressive tableau. His face expression is generally thoughtful (as if having and asking some philosophical riddles), yet popular. (but from a different point, it may look like non-thinking one, though 'tis minor impression).
These effects come from the base image of character. Possibly not come from artist's gfx technique, but it is also from choosing skills of an artist. How to select good stock image is one of important skills of gfx artists. So, members votes are reasonable.
Rough analysis of layer structure:
lay-1] base bg
lay-2] character image (pretty catchy and impressive)
lay-3] decorative blurred white lines, some fragment images, plus a few light spots, (possibly not on one layer)
lay-4] letters /FIGHT ALWAYS/
lay-2 impressive character image + lay-3, harmonic, proper decorative images constitute fine tableau. Moderate sizes and effects of decorative fragment images are nice. (if decorative images have stronger effects, the impressiveness of character image may be weakened, more or less)
In view point of the Theme:
lay-2 and lay-3 seem to constitute theme, but vague. Without lay-4 letters, we cannot feel the theme "sports" directly.
Point for theme: +1 (exists, but vague)
This is impressive, good rendering. But is a bit too general.
("rendering" here means /realization/ of "gfx effects". "assembling effects").
"Too General" suggests that this tableau can be used for various themes, situations. It is like "prom-ppp" (photographic portrait of celebrities). Thus, it is lovable and general.
["rendering" has various meanings and usages in context. Usually, it is used like "3D rendering" in gfx. But there are other usages. For instance, cropping background and remain certain person/ image which is included in background is called "rendering"].
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Entry #2
This is strange image in various view points. It is pretty fine tableau. Well balanced in many aspects, and constructing the Fantastic Image world. In a sense, we may say "Excellent".
However, I have large question what is this. The letters say /Russian Fairy/. Ah, it was "Russian Fairy". But what is Russian fairy? Exotic and fantastic visage and atmosphere may show, or imply it is a fairy in Russia.
Color balance is OK. Configuration of image elements has very good balance. Also I realize this tableau has a complicated, but well-ordered layer effects planning. But still I have strange feeling. Simply, What Is This? I cannot see and feel what is it. A fragment of a story by Edgar A. Poe, or a fragment of a poem by Samuel Coleridge (such as "Christabel"). This may give me similar impressions.
But as a gfx work, I say it is very fine, I may even say excellent.
Rough analysis of layer structure:
lay-1] base bg (black bg)
lay-2a] some decorative very small orange-red spots (many, scattering) + two big yellow circle spots at right and left. +
lay-2b] some decorative thin yellow big spots (possibly not on one layer)
lay-3] very small white letter lines (cannot read), decorative. Upper white random lines are on this layer? (unsure)
lay-4] person image (artist drew it by her/him-self?). line art + thin-grey bg (lines are on upper layer, that is, this image is on two layers at least)
lay-5] four light-white images. two are on person's shoulders, one is on her head, the other are very thin long fingers.
lay-6] few orange semi-transparent big spots (I think)
lay-7] letters /username/ + white letters /Russian Fairy/. (not on one layer)
There are other images observed. One can be included in lay-1 bg. Others are unsure.
I suppose this tableau uses over ten image layers. Adjusting layers may be also used.
Artist uses many layers and constitutes the one beautiful (in a sense, of course) tableau. The gfx skills are fine enough. But the results are strange and queer (if we could say so).
But there are still possibilities that I had made very mistakes to understand this tableau. But I could not really understand and see/feel the image.
In view point of the Theme:
In total impression, I could not feel the theme "Sports" in this entry. The tableau is very beautiful (in a sense. there may be other opinions and impressions). But as to the theme, it doesn't contain any "sports" suggesting elements. (I thought two white figures which located on shoulder- to-breasts- to-arms might suggest little ballet-dancers. But carefully observing and checking, they were not. Person herself not, as well). If the contest theme is "Fairy", "Dark world", "dark fantasy", "Fate of the world", "Ghost lady", "Mystery", etc. The entry may fit to the theme, more or less.
Point for theme: -5 (I could not feel, so out of theme at all)
Though I appreciate the efforts and technique of the artist to create this tableau, but this is obviously out of the theme. Also, I could not see what this image expressed. (But if the contest theme is different ones, such as "fairy", "dark fantasy", "shadows of the world" etc. for instance, the impressions of mine are largely different than what I wrote above).
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Entry #3
At the first look, we feel/see and can say this is an image expressing "Sports". This impression is too strong. We cannot imagine other themes from this image. This is not bad thing at all. Color balance and element figures configuration is very nice.
Right side is more impressive and strong than the left side. But in this configuration, I think, the left side message may be emphasized. the Message is "Guardian Deity". (I could understand this English title, but I could not see what it was. The Moderate word [letters] is "karasuno's". I could not understand this. So I searched, and found it was the name of school. And thus I knew the character is Yuu Nishinoya in manga "Hi-kyu!!").
Very good work. In a sense, highly "Excellent" tableau. I really appreciate the artist who worked in this tableau. Everything seem to be perfect, in my personal opinion now.
Rough analysis of layer structure:
lay-1] base, yellow bg. gradation from dark to light. + reddish gradation at the lower right. [possibility: reddish gradation is on other layer]
lay-2] bg character image (copied, usual technique. semi-transparent)
lay-3] bg decorative. diagonal dark-grey line grid (it suggests net)
lay-4] figure of main character (nishinoya), hue adjusted
lay-5] many big and small light spots. scattering. two layers are used possibly
lay-6] letters /Guardian Deity/ etc. possibly two and three, or more layers used
All the layers are designed to be harmonized to create the resulting effects, or the tableau. Very good job. In this case, the design of layers configration has been done successfully. There are detailed and sophisticated designing exists.
Highly excellent artist and his/her technique.
To examine details, several "sweat-like very small light spots" had existed in the original character image. In copied bg character image, we can see these spots. It suggests sweat drops or flying drops. This kind of "sweat-like small light spots" are added in lay-5 decorative layer. You should know these additional spots have the same brightness, color-tone, forms. It creates scattering sweats effects on the tableau.
Letters are very well designed. "KARASUNO'S" and "GUARDIAN" use the special font. Also each word consists of two layers at least. "Drop shadow" does not have this effect in my memory.
We notice that R in "GUARDIAN" locates in lower position in comparison with other letters. Each letter does not locates on the same base line. It creates "movement".
In view point of the Theme:
As we have already mentioned and explained, all the layers are configured and processed in the proper conditions to express the theme "Sports". Stock character image itself has the movement. Sweats-like light spots in bg character image produce feeling of real sweats. These small spot lights are also added on the main character image. Thus, we do not think they are decorative spot lights, but rather expression of sweats. And thus larger a bit blurring larger spot-lights are considered flying sweats, or sport passions of character. Face expression as well. All result in creation of Movement and Sports passion.
The tableau totally expresses the Theme in detailed design of assembled images.
Point for theme: +5 (great success)
Almost no words to be added. I almost writes and says everything. Really sport points +5? I can not answer anything. (Later, I may realize something. But it is possibilities. But at present, I have no words to additionally say).
Designning/Planning, configuration of layers, effects synthesizing results, Techniques, skills, the Theme. Excellent.
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Entry #4
First I noticed was the contrast of Black, Yellow and Red. At the first look, I could not see what was the image located at the left-side, lower position. And I noticed the letters, or words /Mada Mada Dane/. This seem to be Japanese. Maybe this character is the one in the Japanese manga etc. (I don't know who he is).
The character stands in front of the yellow big circle. And behind the circle is black bg. Black and yellow is very contrastive color combination. Character color is White, Black and Yellow. So a character clearly appears in the background. But it may be very easy color combination in my opinion. Simple color combination may work creating fine tableau, but in this case, it doesn't seem to construct fine tableau in my personal opinion. It is not wrong. But I think there might be better combination of colors. Sometimes simpleness realizes great result (I think the entry #1 is its example).
However, I hope more deep designing of color configuration.
Rough analysis of layer structure:
lay-1] base bg. black, maybe small white spots and flowing mists on this layer
lay-2] image bg: big yellow circle
lay-3] character (cropped from original bg. This process is called "rendering")
lay-4] letters /Mada Mada Dane/
Tableau is simple, so the structure of layers is simple as well. (There are simple-looked tableaux, yet they have very complicated layers structure. These cases can be noticed by well-learned gfx users, but sometimes people does not be aware. And in this case, the detailed structure brings the hidden effects. People can feel and recognize this effects, but they cannot find the sources/ reasons of these effects. The effects are designed, but not explicit. Learning these techniques are also important).
As to layers structure, these expressions are enough for this work.Small white spots have good effects. Without them, the tableau might be relatively poor.
In view point of the Theme:
As to the meeting with the theme, of course, no doubt it meets. After thinking I thought the red material image is "racket". So this is "Tennis" sports. Apparent and direct appeal of sports theme. Entry #1 is pretty good work, but we criticized that the theme expression was vague. It is "prom-ppp" we said. The fascination might come from this fact.
In this work, there might be "prom-ppp" element. Ones who love the character in this image, feel very good in this tableau, we think. Difference between #1 and #4 is that this #4 tableau has explicit sports theme. Even if person doesn't know who is the character in this image, everyone can see this is sports shot. So the point for Theme is pretty good.
Point for theme: +3 (success, sorry for not "great")
* note : "prom-ppp" stands for "photographic portrait of popular celebrities". "prom" - prominence, prominent
We pointed out that both #1 and #4 have "prom-ppp" element. In the #1, the character depict is very fascinating. How he is handsome guy. In #4 entry, a character image does not seem to have such large fascination. The face is small, face expression is too small and not so impressive.
On the other hand, this entry tableau has different charm, we think. We largely appreciate #3 entry tableau, but this #4 has different good point. Contrast of black and yellow is very basic color contrast. This contrast is used in various arts, adv. etc. It means the adoption of this contrast is pretty orthodox technique. The contrast is simple and strong. Some peoples love this kind of expression. So many advertising images adopted this contrast.
In this view point, the #4 entry is pretty good candidate for winning work.
We re-examine the image. There is the black space at the right-side. Does it work for good image balance? We do not think. Because that when trimming the right side black space, the tableau will not be different image. The effects are not be improved, we think.
"Mada Mada Dane" is Japanese words. Are these understandable for everyone. It means roughly "Yet, Yet, Your skills yet not enough (or, Yet you are not my rival [you should be a better player]" etc.
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I wrote various things so lengthy. Sorry. But I appreciate every entrants, and hope the good works again in future.
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Originally Posted by Swanlake77 
wow, that was super lengthy and detailed. Imo it doesn't need to be that deep but wow that was something to read.XD 
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