How to Cheat in Photoshop

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Posted on 07/06/24 00:27:06 AM

tooquilos
Wizard of Oz
Posts: 2863

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

DavidMac wrote:
Anna. Where do the domesticated dinosaurs come from?

Normally I would guess some clever artist on Deviant Art or similar but, in this day and age, it is tempting to suppose AI. Usually I feel I can tell but, in this case, I am really undecided.

David, the pictures are from the book 'Dinotopia' by James Gurney. My daughter and I read it when she was in primary school thirty years ago, and it remains one of our favourite books.

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Posted on 07/06/24 08:33:59 AM

Steve Caplin
Administrator
Posts: 6940

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

First to ride the snail this week was GKB, with an impressive hold-up at the races. I like the recolouring of the second snail; perhaps flipping the rider’s head horizontally would have produced some interaction between the two. The jet version is, of course, entirely expected from you, although I have serious doubts about the aerodynamic qualities of the snail. I do remember Speed as being a really great movie, but surely you could have included Sandra Bullock riding the snail? It would have given you the perfect excuse to spend the afternoon Googling photos of her. Very amused by the speed camera entry, which is very nicely judged: just enough information.

Congratulations to DavidMac for the best pun of the week, and indeed for its convincing execution. Nit entirely sure about the motion blur; might it have worked better if the snail and the car were sharp and the onlookers blurred? I was very taken with the homeless snail entry, especially by its sad-looking drooping eyes. I like the extended background, but you can see the repeat in the foliage: this is exactly the sort of problem where AI would really do the job well. The plod for your lives entry is fun, with your trademark back lighting, and the shadow of the snail on the foliage behind is convincing. Not entirely sure what’s casting those long shadows from the walking kids.

We’re out on the trail with lwc, with a couple of cowboys very neatly riding their snails. I like the fact that the second one is a different cowboy and not a repeat of the first. The saddles fit remarkably well, and I like the new harness. The bird is a bonus. I see the man with the moustache is still in the lead in the racetrack entry, with its gentle rocking movement. The elephant entry reimagines the scale of the snail; I like the way the eye stalks echo the elephant’s tusks. I really enjoyed the speedboat entry, which I’ve given that name for want of a more appropriate one. The rolling surf works especially well with this technique. I like the flowing hair in the castle entry, and the rippling skirt/sheet/drape thing works very well. I’m not at all sure about the rippling meadow, because I don’t think meadows ripple like that. That’s a remarkable tornado, complete with flying debris and lightning. Is the snail hurrying to get out of the way?

A beautiful fairy scene from Josephine Harvatt, with the snail recoloured to match those bluebells/foxgloves/daisies (as you can tell, botany really isn’t my thing). The added wings do give the rider a more mystical quality. Very well embedded in the foliage.

A splendid turtle and sloth race from Ant Snell, with more words than I’ve seen from you in your entire time on the Forum. Ah – I see they’re not real words, they’re artificial words synthesised by AI. Funny how they taste almost the same.

Frank's traffic jam is completely convincing, especially as it looks to have been built from scratch from its component parts. The photographers work well, as does the transparency of the car windows, which makes the queue that much more realistic. I like the fact that the snail is in the distance.

Back to ancient Persia, or possibly ancient somewhere else entirely, for tooquilos – and it’s an extraordinary scene to start with, so much so that the woman riding the giant snail seems utterly unremarkable in this context. Someone spent a long time painting that original. It’s great how you’ve added the snail to other dinosaur-with-people images in the animated version, so seamlessly that it’s impossible to tell the snail wasn’t there in the first place. Excellent work!

I had imagined that michael sinclair would ride this one out, but instead you’ve come up with a rather charming fairy image. OK, so you haven’t used the original snail, but I kind of expected that. I’m not at all sure about the motion blur, though, especially as it all seems to be coming from some source behind the snail rather than from the snail itself.

Posted on 07/06/24 09:34:29 AM

josephine harvatt
Gag Gadgeteer
Posts: 2603

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

Thanks Steve and thanks to Gordon David and Mariner for the recommendation for Affinity. I am still mulling over what kind of computer to get - I don’t really need another desktop but there is no way I could make images on my iPhone 😄
Anyway I will be enjoying everyone’s entries even if I can’t contribute for a while

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Posted on 07/06/24 09:36:34 AM

GKB
Magical Montagist
Posts: 3889

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

Thanks Steve. I enjoyed that one.

The link for the ‘Speed Camera’ image takes me to, I think, one of Loyd’s images.

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Posted on 07/06/24 11:16:08 AM

DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5345

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

tooquilos wrote:

David, the pictures are from the book 'Dinotopia' by James Gurney. My daughter and I read it when she was in primary school thirty years ago, and it remains one of our favourite books.

Thanks. I'll go look for it!

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Posted on 07/06/24 11:27:30 AM

DavidMac
Director of Photoshop
Posts: 5345

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Re: Challenge 1007: Ride that snail

Steve Caplin wrote:
Nit entirely sure about the motion blur; might it have worked better if the snail and the car were sharp and the onlookers blurred?

Neither am I. That's an interesting idea.

..... this is exactly the sort of problem where AI would really do the job well.

Yes I know. I am afraid I still suffer a prejudice against using it.

Not entirely sure what’s casting those long shadows from the walking kids.

Reflected light from the snail ........ plus an extra large dollop of artistic license.

Thanks Steve. A fun one.

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Posted on 07/06/24 12:22:02 PM

Frank
Eager Beaver
Posts: 1686

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