Challenge #13 Results!

[kerravonsen]

My apologies for the lateness of this.
The results of Challenge #13 "Sparkles" are:

As there were only two entrants, it is no surprise that both of them won places...
Embodiment of style
First:
by taibhrigh


Second:
by kerravonsen


Third:
by kerravonsen


I Just Like It
First:
by kerravonsen


Second:
by kerravonsen


Third:
by taibhrigh
by taibhrigh
by taibhrigh
by kerravonsen


Mod's choice
by taibhrigh


Thank you, everyone!

I've also revealed the entries in the challenge entry post.

Now, discuss!

Comments

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

So how does one do the sparkles? I admit, my only and uninspired thought (I use GIMP, which may explain it) was to find a texture with them and play around with it...

[kerravonsen]

The secret is in the brushes.

[sallymn.livejournal.com]

I admit, I don't use them a lot (except as boreders and frame-type things) because they always end up looking plonked on and faked when I do.

Ah well...

[hooplasugarlump.livejournal.com]

I'm confused (no surprise there). You mean you downloaded a sparkly brush and dotted it over the picture?

[kerravonsen]

If you look at some of taibhrigh's icons, the "sparkly brush" can be as simple as an X-shaped brush (which one wouldn't have to download at all) in a pale colour used to highlight and draw attention where you want it.

Me, yes, I used some sparkly brushes which I downloaded ages ago. With the "Love" icon I experimented with paths, found a tutorial in how to make a heart shape, made that into a path, and did "stroke along path" to get the sparkles in a heart shape; I did that twice with two different sized brushes (the brushes were animated brushes in different colours).

With the Yin-Yang one, I started with an earlier yin-yang one I did (always save one's working files, they can come in handy later) and did a selection by colour, and filled in the area with different layers of sparkly brushes. I also did a bit of drop-shadow and tweaked with the brightness.

[kerravonsen]

It helps to do the brushing in one or more separate transparent layers; that way one can adjust it in various ways, changing the mode, making it more transparent, etc.

[hooplasugarlump.livejournal.com]

Oh! Sounds like I need to go back to the manual for some of this, but it is all food for thought. I am DEFFO doing the next challenge. Thanks, Sensai!
x

[taibhrigh.livejournal.com]

She's right, two of mine were simple "x" or star like brushes, and then on a few of the "x" patterns I also applied a lens flair.