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[JollyRoger]

Just a rough idea; first penciled on a sheet of paper, now in PS with actual photos.
TT ad tagline have been done by hand on the wacom.

Man, I'm so rusty!

[ripley]

Nice idea, indeed...
can't wait to see if you're going on a matching back or something totally different.

[Fidi]

I can't believe seeing a WIP from you.

As ripley I also like the idea very much. In my opinion maybe the title but especially the tagline is to prominent and takes away the attention from the image.

Maybe a smaller tagline in a regular font might work better?

For the sword I think you should change the expoaure compared to the landscape. Compared to it the left part of the hold should be darker and the right brighter since the light is somewhere on the right.

And the blade looks a bit strange to me. I don't know how to explain but for me it looks like it's twisted about 90 degrees (left to right) from the top under to hold down to the point where it hits the ground.

Maybe adding a shadow to the blade right unter the hold on the left corner might fix that.

[Bazzah]

I love this concept. I agree with the others. And as Fidi said, that sword is strange. It is like the handle is at 315 degrees, and the blade is at 180 (if that makes sense)

It would be good if you could sketch in some waves, and maybe drawings of Viking ships, in the sea. And maybe make it pale blue?

[chouette]

Nice start JR. I have nothing constructive to give, but I love WIP because I always learn so much from them. Looking forward to what comes next.

[JollyRoger]

Nice idea, indeed...
can't wait to see if you're going on a matching back or something totally different.

I have a rough sketch of a back design. The front image won’t be used on the back, but I will of course make sure they fit together.

I can't believe seeing a WIP from you.

As ripley I also like the idea very much. In my opinion maybe the title but especially the tagline is to prominent and takes away the attention from the image.

Maybe a smaller tagline in a regular font might work better?

For the sword I think you should change the expoaure compared to the landscape. Compared to it the left part of the hold should be darker and the right brighter since the light is somewhere on the right.

And the blade looks a bit strange to me. I don't know how to explain but for me it looks like it's twisted about 90 degrees (left to right) from the top under to hold down to the point where it hits the ground.

Maybe adding a shadow to the blade right unter the hold on the left corner might fix that.

At the moment, this is all very rough. Tagline might go on the back, maybe etched on a stone (think rune stone). I may add actors names at the very top or bottom, in regular capital letters serif font, haven’t decided yet. Tt might also be etched in, maybe in the land, maybe on a stone or something. I’ll see where it takes me. For now, I’m pleased w having each letter, word dividers and top/bottom lines all on different layers.

As for the sword it is a stock image, done in some 3d program. I have a few versions, but only one at an angle. As for perspective, I think it’s just a trick of the eye, but something I could work on, once I get to actually add lighting, shadows and such. Maybe it’s simply the way it is cut off. I can easily make the ‘cut’ the other way once I zoom in to work on the area where it hits the land.

The landscape itself is also largely untouched; the idea is to recreate the map from the intro of the series, where you see flames devour 6 of the 7 Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Viking age England. So I’ll darken the landscape (think soot) to give an impression of it having been devoured by flames, which is also to be added along the way. I was thinking to add the names of the kingdoms too, for those with no idea about European history (yes, I am pointing my finger at you, all Ye Muricans, hehe!), emphasising the map idea.

I love this concept. I agree with the others. And as Fidi said, that sword is strange. It is like the handle is at 315 degrees, and the blade is at 180 (if that makes sense)

It would be good if you could sketch in some waves, and maybe drawings of Viking ships, in the sea. And maybe make it pale blue?

I’m thinking to add a fleet of Viking ships in the North Sea. Waves would be added as well of course I just need to track down a few decent stock images of longships. I already have some. Just need them at the right angle and ofc good resolution aso.

And if I wasn’t clear in my first post, this is really just a VERY rough idea. I have done nothing to colours, lighting/shadows or anything. It will be slow. It will be arduous. It will be painful. Returning to PS I feel like a noob; there’s whole range of tools I have no idea how to use, some new ones I know exist (like content aware cloning), and things I do know how to use missing or renamed - and where the F is my good ol’ paint bucket ffs?!! Haha!

I am working in a subscription based vanilla version of PS 2019 (latest version my old iMac can handle), with no add on programs or anything like that.

This post has been edited by JollyRoger: Jan 6 2025, 07:35 PM

[bankska22]

Looking good. Nothing constructive to add. Looking forward to the end result. I do like the sword.

[JollyRoger]

Can't decide if this works? Maybe my idea sucks, lol

Maybe I should leave out the names of the 7 Anglo-Saxon kingdoms? Or maybe it's the flames that doesn't work so well yet.

I think I did fix the sword problem, altho some highlighting/more shadows and such still remain. I was thinking of giving everything a final touch much later in the process.
So, for now it's just a matter of getting the idea to work; see what fits, see what needs to be left out. TT/Actor's names aso. aso. will be placed eventually; still have some work to do on them, once I've fixed the background.



This post has been edited by JollyRoger: Jan 9 2025, 12:30 PM

[M0vieM0nster]

I like it, it's moving in the right direction!

[JollyRoger]

I like it, it's moving in the right direction!

Thanks Clint.

Did a bit more on the the flames, and the areas where they devour the land...

TT is just a placeholder. Maybe I will ditch it altogeher and go with a font instead... Let's see where it takes me..



This post has been edited by JollyRoger: Jan 9 2025, 02:59 PM

[Bazzah]

This is shaping up really nicely

[ripley]

If i may...
And it is very personal, but...
The font used does not seem to correspond to the idea you want to put in this work.
Something bothers me about this font (sussex, etc).
But i don't know what.

[JollyRoger]

If i may...
And it is very personal, but...
The font used does not seem to correspond to the idea you want to put in this work.
Something bothers me about this font (sussex, etc).
But i don't know what.

Thanks Ripley. New font for the kingdoms.
The longships are a wee bit large, still. To be adjusted.

[Bazzah]

Looking good Jrr.

I am curious. I know you haven't got to this bit yet, but will you use a water graphic for the sea, or make it a yellowy orange like on an old map?

[JollyRoger]

Looking good Jrr.

I am curious. I know you haven't got to this bit yet, but will you use a water graphic for the sea, or make it a yellowy orange like on an old map?

Uhm, that would depend on what I can find for texture/graphic for the sea (not sure I have something appropiate in the old dusty folders); I'm likely forced to go image hunting - and also if it can be incorporated without looking tacky

This post has been edited by JollyRoger: Jan 10 2025, 05:11 PM

[Bazzah]

I'm looking at it, thinking that a blue sea may look good with the green land and red ships. But as you say, it could look tacky too. Otherwise you could just use an old paper texture. I have a few, if you need them

[Bunny Dojo]

Very stylish concept, JR!
Maybe the easiest route would be to separate the elements a little bit?
For example, if you treat it as 3 pieces (map, sword, title treatment), you could contrast the map and the title treatment.
So, on the first design, you could make the map dark (black or dark stone ocean?), and go for a light title treatment.
Or, on your recent design, you could make the map a little bit lighter (some paper texture?), to contrast with dark title treatment.
And then the sword is kind of its own thing as the centerpiece of the design.

It's great to see you back in action here!

[JollyRoger]

Very stylish concept, JR!
Maybe the easiest route would be to separate the elements a little bit?
For example, if you treat it as 3 pieces (map, sword, title treatment), you could contrast the map and the title treatment.
So, on the first design, you could make the map dark (black or dark stone ocean?), and go for a light title treatment.
Or, on your recent design, you could make the map a little bit lighter (some paper texture?), to contrast with dark title treatment.
And then the sword is kind of its own thing as the centerpiece of the design.

It's great to see you back in action here!

Thanks a lot, Tim. I haven’t really thought too hard about ocean/Scotland/Ireland yet. But funny enough I do have some hidden layers turning them black. Just haven’t decided, if that obliviate the burnt ground of what-will-be-England, but I do concur, that something need to be done to ensure the right areas are in focus - while the rest take the backseat of attention. Of your 2 versions, I like the look of the right one best. I’ll tinker a little and see what I like.

[Fidi]

In addition to the made suggestions maybe you could add some red heat to the blade caused by the fire around?

[JollyRoger]

A bit more. Want to test some water overlay on top of the paper texture.
Longships adjusted, and added the names of the surrounding (non-English) kingdoms and earldoms.