Art [OBWT] Round 3: Retribution VS Katana

[Ellerby]

[color=#555555][center][img]http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/8333/round3copyac4.jpg[/img]
[/center]

[b][size=3][COLOR=Black]The Rules[/COLOR][/size][/b]
The following round is a 1 versus 1 match. I'm going to give a picture that both of you will work independantly on. All you have to do is take the picture and, following the guidelines, make some prettyful artwork. :)

The winning member will be decided by the OBWT Judges.

So! Onto the graphic that you need to use. Click [url=http://img106.imageshack.us/img106/4953/narutodx2.jpg]here[/url].

[b][SIZE=3][COLOR=Black]Picture Guidelines[/COLOR][/SIZE][/b]
What you can and cannot do to the picture. The picture is 300 by 500 pixels.
[list][*]The picture [B]must[/B] be the top layer (though I will allow a 1px black border around the entire graphic).
[*]You cannot change the opacity of the picture.
[*]You [b]cannot[/b] move the picture.
[*]You cannot crop the picture.
[*]You can erase the background (the white part).[/list]

[center]You have 5 days to submit the [b]completed[/b] entry.[/center]
[center][b][size=4][COLOR=Black]Start![/COLOR][/size][/b][/center][/COLOR]

[Retribution]

[size=1]Good luck to you, Katana. I need to post this now because I don't think I'll be able to get it up any later.

[CENTER][IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y170/retri_trib/naruto2.jpg[/IMG][/CENTER][/size]

[Katana]

[size=1][color=royalblue]*sigh* I'm sort of in this love-hate relationship with my entry. Looks cool, but according to current artistic trends here on the OB, I'm not sure how well it will be received.

And I'm in one of those crappy moods. The week's been waaaaay too busy, hence why I'm not submitting until this late. =_=;;

[center][b]+[url=http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2420/obwt3fq5.jpg]Textured, lolz[/url]+[/b]
[img]http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/2420/obwt3fq5.jpg[/img][/center]

Lessee...the clouds were hand-drawn by me, so yeah, they weren't pre-made. The general feel I was going for was what Toonami has on their Naruto commercials, so the main focus was getting that texture right...which...I don't think is. >.O

I enjoy the textless-ness of my entry. It is teh awesome that way. =)

Good luck to you too, Retri. I'm hoping for this one to be a good match.[/color][/size]

[Ellerby]

[center][b][size=5]Round Over[/center][/b][/size]

[strike][COLOR=DimGray]Since one of my faithful judges has managed to disappear from the face of OB, I need to fine a new one before I can announce the winner. Sit tight![/COLOR][/strike]

[b]EDIT:[/b] Instead of begging for people to be a judge, I'm just going to open this Round to the entire OtakuBoards community. Vote away, kids.

[r2vq]

[color=#007520]Argh~ computer crashed as I was writing up my conclusion. That means you'll have to settle for points guys. >_>

[B]Retribution[/B]:
-Your piece reminded me of the way I set my work up. Angles, colour themes, the way you do text.
-I like the panels you used in the background. They show Naruto gaining "strength" even if you don't know the story.
-I don't like the font used in the first set of words though. Nor do I like the way the "e" or "s" in "me" and "is" look, since they're covered.

[b]Katana[/b]:
-I like your use of texture. It looks great.
-The piece reminds me of traditional ukiyo-e painted scrolls.
-The style is so different, that it really stands out.
-The lack of text is striking.

My vote goes for [b]Katana[/b]. The unique style is something that really puts an impression on me. ...or maybe I want to play Okami too much.
Now I'm going to grumble off and find out what crashed my computer and ruined my previous entry with actual paragraphs. >_>

-r2[/color]

[eleanor]

[color=dimgray]
[b]Retribution[/b]: Clean, neat, and most importantly, good style. Everything I've seen from you shows an ability for basic style. Everything matches and everything is placed in the right location. Color scheme is down pat. I'm not too crazy about the actual panels you chose from the manga, but I can see where more dramatic panels wouldn't flow well with the overall piece.

The text is great, though if I want to be nit-picky it's not exact. From what I see I assume that you're going for the "touch but don't overlap", but the word "strength" is overlapping the blue font by a bit. I don't know what you were aiming for, though.

[b]Katana[/b]: Your concept is awesome, but your execution is lacking for me. I love, love, love the clouds, though. :]

Firstly, the white shadow behind Naruto looks sort of gimmicky. In addition, I don't think that the texture of the piece works as either a contrasting or matching element. The pictures of your clouds and the Japanese text (or Chinese, I can't tell) also become mismatched because of their Asianic style. Normally, they would be associated with neatness and clean lines, and they sort of clash with the rocky texture.

Great job to both you guys, but my vote goes to [b]Retribution[/b].[/color]

[SunfallE]

[COLOR=RoyalBlue][B]Retribution:[/B] What I like best about yours is the background. I also love the placement of the words and the outline around Naruto, it all fits together so nicely. The thing I don?t care for is the images seem to me like the could have been cleaned up a little. It could just be my monitor but they seem to have a little graininess that?s a little distracting. I also don?t care for how the word strength overlaps with the orange bar underneath it.
[B]
Katana:[/B] What I like best about your piece is the background. It?s nice and whimsical and really fits with the image. Especially the little clouds, great job on those. What I don?t care for is the glow around Naruto as it?s kind of distracting, also I think the image could have used some work as it?s a bit dull compared to the rest of the piece.

Excellent work both of you. In the end my vote goes to [B]Retribution[/B]. [/COLOR]

[Guest Nami]

[size=1]Retribution

What I enjoy about your piece is how the colors mix together, creating a smooth flow from one manga panel to the next. I also like your color choice, because they echo Naruto's outfit.
There are two things that really bug me, which are the text and the image of Kabuto. Having some of the letters hidden underneath Naruto annoy me, while the frame of Kabuto up in the top throws me off in the whole "Naruto gaining power" flow.

Katana

When I first saw your piece, I was a little shocked at the difference between your's and Retribution's. But after I looked at it enough, I grew to really like the differences.
I think you got your theme right, I mean, I thought of the Toonami commericals when I saw the "rising sun" effect on Naruto. I also really love the clouds...I can't believe you made those! They're amazing.
The glow on Naruto bugs me a little bit, but I see why it's there. Orange on orange would mess up the picture.

My vote goes for [b]Katana[/b], probably because I've been drooling over my Okami game for too long. But I think it's a very pretty piece and a good contender. What this match shows is the strong differences between competitor's entries, something I really enjoyed.[/size]

[Ellerby]

[CENTER][SIZE=5][B]Round Over[/B][/SIZE]
[SIZE=1](again)[/SIZE][/CENTER]

[COLOR=DimGray]Since the round ended in a tie, I've decided who will move on and after much thought I've decided to make [b]Retribution[/b] the victor.[/COLOR]