CHALLENGE 12/15/2014: Magic vs. Tech
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: Pixel Art
Forum Name: Collaborations/Challenges
Forum Discription: Submit pixel art project ideas/templates or contribute to an existing pixel art collaboration.
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=20349
Printed Date: 06 September 2025 at 8:15am
Topic: CHALLENGE 12/15/2014: Magic vs. Tech
Posted By: administrator
Subject: CHALLENGE 12/15/2014: Magic vs. Tech
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 12:01am
Replies:
Posted By: Finlal
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 5:57am
WIP. Is throwing weapon off allowed? |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 5:01pm
| How do I remove an entry from the challenge? I did one of both magic and techno, but I don't think that's allowed, so I want to replace it with a different one. I've uploaded the replacement, so how do I remove the old one from the challenge? |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 5:11pm
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@Mazmon, I'll remove from challenge and leave in your gallery :)
Done > added new > don't always expect such speedy service :) ------------- |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 5:18pm
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Boy, that was fast! Are you a wizard? Thanks :D |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 5:28pm
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No, I'm Tech :p ------------- |
Posted By: Volrak_Rutra
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 6:54pm
| does this need to be pure cyan (as in 00ffff)? if not, how much deviation can I have before it stops being acceptable? |
Posted By: skamocore
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 8:04pm
Open to interpretation, but it should be reasonably identifiable as being a greenish-blue. Here's the cyan colour grid from Wikipedia. This is by no means a palette, just some examples. While I'm here:  ------------- |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 15 December 2014 at 11:44pm
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I'm sorry, but DAFUQ?? (edit) Ok, it's gone now. |
Posted By: Drazile
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 3:20am
 Rough mecha WIP. A mech counts as a weapon, right? Originally posted by skamocore Using one of those would be a good challenge idea if Wikipedia ever has an anniversary or something :DOpen to interpretation, but it should be reasonably identifiable as being a greenish-blue. Here's the cyan colour grid from Wikipedia. This is by no means a palette, just some examples. |
Posted By: Volrak_Rutra
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 4:34am
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fair enough, this solves some of my palette questions. also, loving the challenge. reminds me of Arcanum. |
Posted By: TheEpicBurrito
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 12:30pm
| Can't wait to work on this! :D |
Posted By: BathMaster_2000
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 4:40pm
| I was waiting for someone to pull those colors out of Wikipedia. |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 6:53pm
These are my entries, they were accepted but then removed by http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=3132&FID=4 - jalonso   At the same time he rejected me this one too:  I added this as a comments:
Then I found this comment of him in another topic: These are hybrids.
Some things are hand pixelled some things are not. Some things are pixelled then tweaked with tools/FX. Here the idiots are the ones that don't ask. You are free to juzgue. |
Posted By: Limes
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 7:04pm
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Something I noticed is just how inconsistent your pixels are.
Some are good and, some are really weird, some are bad and some are amazing. There is seemingly no ramp of learning with your pixels not to mention how much better the tech skull is then the others (ALOT BETTER) Makes me wonder? |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 8:44pm
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The key is the time, I have commissioned works that took 1 to 8 hours.
None of this skulls took more than hour, because they´re personal works
done in spare time. I realized that at the right size and right colors
it´s easy to get fancy techno textures. So the tech skull looks better. Anyway there´s a ton of simpler and accepted works in PJ. So, this is still being suspicious. |
Posted By: failureboy
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 10:02pm
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@RBL, I hope a moderator can come in, explain this soon, and bring an end to this dilemma. I'm not the best judge, but even though you admitted to using "dirty" tools (resizing, posterizing) it doesn't make the effects any less obvious. It has been deemed by others with way more experience & clout than me that it is "okay" to resize and even reduce colors on pixel art SO LONG AS YOU THEN go back into the piece and do some manual work at the pixel level. We have to get a sense - or it needs to be apparent - that you did this. Otherwise people will tend to not vote your work in. By the way, go into the forum now and see all of the submissions by joodas. His pieces look fantastic - so fantastic that it's obvious he just ran an image through a few pixel filters to get the effect. Virtually no one is voting his work in. Personally, I have to say I think your tech skull piece should have been approved and I guess I officially question jalonso's reason for doing so. You may have taken some shortcuts, but it seems clear that you did zoom in, switch to using a pencil tool, and kept the colors under reasonable control. Just my two cents. |
Posted By: failureboy
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 10:05pm
| I suppose the issue hinges largely on what "tweaking with tools" really means. |
Posted By: DawnBringer
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 10:10pm
| Regardless of how the skulls where produced they don't qualify for this challenge because they're not "a full-bodied sprite of an original character". Besides, the point of the challenges is to motivate and push oneself (into doing new & greater things)...not to serve as venue to be spammed with half-assed creations. |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 16 December 2014 at 11:04pm
| They are oversized floating skulls, many games have them. |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 1:51am
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Maybe you could just do a Skeletor-type dude? Or a person using a skull-shaped weapon? Also, is there a limit of one entry per person, or can I do a tech one as well as a magic one? |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 6:02am
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Originally posted by RBL These are my entries, they were accepted but then removed by http://www.pixeljoint.com/forum/member_profile.asp?PF=3132&FID=4 - jalonso ... I fear that you may think I'm out to get you which is something I never do to anyone here. I did not remove all of your work. The two entries were sent back after being added to the challenge only because you did not follow the rules for this challenge. Full body sprites seems clear and a skull does not meet that challenge. If you had a skull mobile, or some kind of bot being driven by a humanoid then that could be a full body sprite. You are creative and it seems like you want to pixel but this is best achieved by getting a good grasp on the basic pixelling techniques before experimenting. You are only cheating yourself. My personal (not admin) opinion. You are not yet at a skill level to jump into reductions, tool usage and manipulations. These techniques that are not allowed in the PJ gallery anyhow but are also proper techniques in commercial projects and there is time for that after the basics. ------------- |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 6:03am
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Originally posted by Mazmon Also, is there a limit of one entry per person, or can I do a tech one as well as a magic one? There is not limit on entries in PJ of any kind. Be aware that most PJers prefer quality over quantity and will treat you accordingly. ------------- |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 6:28am
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Originally posted by failureboy @RBL, I hope a moderator can come in, explain this soon, and bring an end to this dilemma. I'm not the best judge, but even though you admitted to using "dirty" tools (resizing, posterizing) it doesn't make the effects any less obvious. It has been deemed by others with way more experience & clout than me that it is "okay" to resize and even reduce colors on pixel art SO LONG AS YOU THEN go back into the piece and do some manual work at the pixel level. We have to get a sense - or it needs to be apparent - that you did this. Otherwise people will tend to not vote your work in. This is always on a case by case basis and is likely allowed sometimes not, case by case. Reducing your own NPA art and then cleaning and polishing to a certain level is now deemed acceptable. Refs are highly encouraged for these so that the viewer may inspect closely. Originally posted by failureboy By the way, go into the forum now and see all of the submissions by joodas. His pieces look fantastic - so fantastic that it's obvious he just ran an image through a few pixel filters to get the effect. Virtually no one is voting his work in. This is always on a case by case basis and is likely never allowed sometimes yes. The big deal for many (me, especially and something I'm very harsh on) is the subject of plagiarism. I don't think its ever proper for any creative person to 'borrow' from another to create their own work to pass as an original. Fanart, ref'd and even generally traced then colored are all ok. This is very tough to review. The joodas examples are a perfect case for this. They all show control and skill. The reduced and cleaned Ice Cube, girl photo and the album cover are reductions of other people's work where nothing but pixelling happens. This may seem cool but its not because its just as much a RIP as anything else. We artists get respect because we respect others work. note: One of my favorite artists is Jeff Koons who has built a career out of plagiarism, art theft, paying people to make his work for him and yet everything he makes is original, creative and awesome. Originally posted by failureboy
Personally, I have to say I think your tech skull piece should have been approved and I guess I officially question jalonso's reason for doing so. You may have taken some shortcuts, but it seems clear that you did zoom in, switch to using a pencil tool, and kept the colors under reasonable control. Just my two cents. Indeed this was a 50/50 and its a total of all things considered. I (we) don't always have the time to spell it all out in detail and hope for other PJers to chime in as many have here. All with excellent points. ------------- |
Posted By: ultimaodin
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 10:44am
Been on a long hiatus due to uni and terrible Australian internet. May as well take this opportunity to work on a weekly challenge. :3 I'll do my tech character tomorrow hopefully ------------- The world is but a shadow of emotion, cast in shades of grey. |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 11:54am
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Originally posted by jalonso (...) My personal (not admin) opinion. You are not yet at a skill level to jump into reductions, tool usage and manipulations. These techniques that are not allowed in the PJ gallery anyhow but are also proper techniques in commercial projects and there is time for that after the basics. That's all I needed, so you are judging me and not the technique because there?s approved works that doesn't fit with that rule. And in your opinion I'm not worthy to do reductions and posterization. And, because you?re an admin, you can cancel my works completely legally. Alright, I know why are you the so proud "People's Moderator II". Anyway, I redesigned my tech skull in a new tech-skull-o-mobile:  And added a new magic character with purple golem armor:  I put some efort in a free dithering method to achieve some engraving texture. ultimaodin: Nice skin shading, but the dithered transparency looks ood. |
Posted By: Limes
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 12:09pm
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Originally posted by RBL
Originally posted by jalonso That?s all I needed, so you are
(...)My personal (not admin) opinion. You are not yet at a skill level to jump into reductions, tool usage and manipulations. These techniques that are not allowed in the PJ gallery anyhow but are also proper techniques in commercial projects and there is time for that after the basics. juzging me and not the technique because there?s approved works that doesn?t fit with that rule. And in your opinion I?m not worthy to do reductions and posterization. And, because you?re an admin, you can cancel my works <span id="result_" ="short_text" lang="en"><span ="hps">completely</span> <span ="hps">legally.Alright, I know why are you the so proud "</span></span><span id="result_" ="short_text" lang="en"><span ="hps">People's Moderator II".Anyway, No, no, no. Jalonso wants only for you to improve, jal does not single people out. And that was his personal opinion not "because he's admin" Your new ones are nice. |
Posted By: ultimaodin
Date Posted: 17 December 2014 at 8:59pm
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@RBL - Yeah, the dithered transparency was a test... I thought it failed to.XD Sadly using a semi transparent shade isn't allowed here at PJ, even if you do it with complete pixel control. ------------- The world is but a shadow of emotion, cast in shades of grey. |
Posted By: Mishok
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 2:57am
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Hi, everybody.
What would you like to advise about this? 
|
Posted By: Drazile
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 3:54am
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Doesn't seem purple enough. Maybe try purple pants? Also, second WIP.  EDIT: Final probably  |
Posted By: failureboy
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 7:01pm
| no animation, Drazile |
Posted By: Bcadren
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 8:32pm
This was my last version of it (also had a WIP thread). I'm calling it done but I'm having issues pulling the trigger and submitting it so it's going to chill here too for a bit. |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 8:48pm
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If he's usin' magic, he should be facing right. Looks cool how he's got a robe and a skull face, he looks like Skeletor "You won't stop me this time, He-Man! I also like how he's got a little speech bubble too. |
Posted By: Bcadren
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 8:50pm
Derp. Flipped:
|
Posted By: Drazile
Date Posted: 18 December 2014 at 9:23pm
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Originally posted by failureboy no animation, Drazile Ah, okay. Not that that's a problem, it's an easy fix. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 19 December 2014 at 4:53am
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TEST
------------- |
Posted By: Splurge
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 11:36am
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Challenge's not over, but I think I would have voted for at least one of the two skulls, disembodied or not. They were a nice couple. |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 1:32pm
I've modified the tech skull again with an effect of propulsion. Still AWAITING APPROVAL. Splurge: Thanks for the support. |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 1:47pm
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Bcadrem Your skeletal mage looks fun but the black eyed flame guy is only noticeable when zoom it. And at this size the noisy hands doesn?t work properly. Drazile Your mecha looks fun with those thin legs and solid cockpit. But wait, Is there 2 pilots in that little space? Mishock Acceptabele from far, but imprecise when zoom it, mix dark tones (newtralizers) to save color to add for the skin for example. If you?re using black borders, use them with logic, not only for the pants and boots, the arm and stick needs black line too. Cape and hood need volume. |
Posted By: Volrak_Rutra
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 4:52pm
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ok, guys, i have to come clean. I messed up. i guess i kinda assumed that an attack sprite would be animated, so I went ahead and did this http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/91074.htm - http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/91074.htm it got approved pretty quickly, but then one of the commenters pointed out that animation is not allowed. so now i am in a bit of a pickle, since here are my choices now: -remove animation (i don't want to do this, since the animation makes the piece really) -remove laser shots and give her rifle or something (this is also bad choice for me since i consider this here piece a breakthrough for myself, so i would want to upload it again, now having two almost identical pieces in my gallery) -remove piece from challenge (i don't know how, and secondly, i really like participating in challenges, but seems like a only real choice) -have the current piece as preview and make non-animated version my main one (kinda crappy way to go about it, misdirects the viewer) so if anyone has a suggestion on to how i should go about this issue, please help me out. if mods feel like this piece doesn't belong in the challenge, feel free to remove it. i promise i'll read the rules better next time and try to make no assumptions from now on. |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 6:33pm
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You could try making her laser beam bigger, like this: http://sta.sh/01llemekec5j - http://sta.sh/01llemekec5j Also try giving her more techy-lookin' armor. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 8:18pm
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Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra ...that animation is not allowed... I removed from the challenge but left in your gallery because this is a non animated challenge. I did this to be safe because after the clock stops then it can't be removed and that would be unfair. If you decide to make non animated then you have to contact a Mod before challenge ends and you've updated the page. One person had the same problem you did and went with an animated preview and a still art. You can do that or just move on and let it be. ------------- |
Posted By: Volrak_Rutra
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 8:50pm
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thanks, jal. i really feel that attack sprite would be so much more interesting with animation, but fair is fair, no animation means no animation. at least i did the right thing and turned myself in. and the ultimate result - the artwork - is still there. i might do another one, but probably won't have the time. I don't want to do animated preview because this misdirects the viewer, who clicks it and discovers a still sprite. also, i don't want to just make a small edit, because then i'll have two pieces in my gallery that are too similar. Mazmon, thanks, i loved your little reimagining of my piece, very cute. but the problem is still there - if i do this, and keep the animated one in my gallery, i will have too much of the same thing. |
Posted By: Mazmon
Date Posted: 20 December 2014 at 10:48pm
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I wouldn't worry about it if I were you. If you add more shading and stuff you could call it "HD version" or something. Ooooor you could change the animated one's color scheme, and make a new one with Lady Gaga-esque machinegun tits. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 21 December 2014 at 4:24am
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Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra ... i did the right thing and turned myself in... I see what you did there...Brownosing to be on Santa's nice list
------------- |
Posted By: ultimaodin
Date Posted: 21 December 2014 at 12:58pm
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Yeah, this style is hard. :( Everything lookswrong. The tanktop is especially wrong. The right (our left) arm is alsorts of screwed and I need to sleep soI won't be able to fathom it in time to upload  ------------- The world is but a shadow of emotion, cast in shades of grey. |
Posted By: Volrak_Rutra
Date Posted: 21 December 2014 at 2:23pm
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Originally posted by jalonso
Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra ... i did the right thing and turned myself in... I see what you did there...Brownosing to be on Santa's nice list
well, this is the last time i do the mods' job for them then |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 21 December 2014 at 2:49pm
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Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra
Originally posted by jalonso
Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra I see what you did there...Brownosing to be on Santa's nice list ... i did the right thing and turned myself in...
well, this is the last time i do the mods' job for them then I hope not. In theory every PJer is as much of a Mod as they choose to be. Mods with access are regular PJers first and always and are just here to take care of some backend stuff that is all. ------------- |
Posted By: RBL
Date Posted: 21 December 2014 at 8:28pm
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Originally posted by Volrak_Rutra ok, guys, i have to come clean. I messed up. i guess i kinda assumed that an attack sprite would be animated, so I went ahead and did this http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/91074.htm - http://www.pixeljoint.com/pixelart/91074.htm it got approved pretty quickly, but then one of the commenters pointed out that animation is not allowed. so now i am in a bit of a pickle, since here are my choices now: -remove animation (i don't want to do this, since the animation makes the piece really) -remove laser shots and give her rifle or something (this is also bad choice for me since i consider this here piece a breakthrough for myself, so i would want to upload it again, now having two almost identical pieces in my gallery) -remove piece from challenge (i don't know how, and secondly, i really like participating in challenges, but seems like a only real choice) -have the current piece as preview and make non-animated version my main one (kinda crappy way to go about it, misdirects the viewer) so if anyone has a suggestion on to how i should go about this issue, please help me out. if mods feel like this piece doesn't belong in the challenge, feel free to remove it. i promise i'll read the rules better next time and try to make no assumptions from now on. Try to make the image with some flying shots and and movement effect to suggest the mechanical bra. |