Gemini (a simple poster design)

[cheney]

http://www.createdbycheney.com/twist.jpg

This is a concept I am working on for a print project. This here is 10% of the original 6000x9000px image.

I am not sure how to go about adding scale texture that bends according to perspective, depth, and the winding of the snake body. A flat texture would be easy to create, but accurate transitions from far to near and wide to narrow are diffecult to consider by hand. So I need alot of advise.

I realize that if the texture were flat it would be a simple cross hatch. If this cross hatch were wrapped around a cylinder it would appear to be a spiral that is broad in the center and tighter at the edges. I also understand that this vertical tubed spiral would have to twist as the concept critter twists. Calculating this so that it does not appear to be of gross misguessing is where I find my diffeculty.

I am not looking for a filter instant kill method of solving my problem, but an explaination into geometric theory on how I can adapt such a texture by hand. I need all the help I can get.

I also think there is more design wise I should do as far as composition, texture, or overall balance outside the critter. But, I am not sure what. So any crits and suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Please help.

[rimwalker]

I think the serpents/dragons look okay as they are: sans scales. Although, if you figure out a way to wrap scales around them I'd very interested to find out how you did it. :)

Compositionally I think it looks good. The colors work well Will there be text on this? If so where will it be placed?

My only critique is that the negative space in the lower left-hand corner seems "dead" somehow. The space in the top right-hand corner works fine but somehow the lower left-hand space needs some extra.... something. I'm not saying it needs something in it, just... I don't know. Hard to explain by typing. Hopefully you'll know what I'm trying to say. :doh:

At any rate, I think overall it's a great job. :D

[blackhand]

I like the background a lot with the splotches and tribal patterns--it has more of a hand drawn/painted feel. The dragons, though, I think the way they are rendered clashes with the background. The geometric element in the center works fine, but that drop shadow on the dragons detracts from the piece.

I do think you need the contrast of having a different rendering style to set the dragons apart from the background, but that airbrushed look isn't quite cutting it.

I think it's mainly the drop shadow that's distracting me. It just flattens out the dragons too much.

[cheney]

http://www.createdbycheney.com/twist1.jpg

This is an update of the image. The image now demands more than 10GB of scratch disk space in addition to my 2GB of ram. So, its getting diffecult to work on.

It now contains about 350 layers and 20 channels still at 6000x9000px.

I still have not found a way to do the outter scale texture yet.

[Johannes]

Hi there
I was intrigued by your problem and thought about it. Heres a thought, not a solution (probably...) :/
http://hem.passagen.se/double-zero/test3.html
(oh sorry, but I doodled over your jpg... I hope I dont offend U)

If you do the grid (only need to do half of it I guess cause its identical. Then U can paste and transorm in the scales... Timeconsuming... :/

I´m also thinking maybe the scals could be done easier in illustrator? Like doing a special line which is actually a line of scales? But im not an Illustrator expert so I dont know if it canbe done.

Dont know if it was any help, but Ill keep cheking this one out, I want to see if theres a solution, and also how the result will be! :D

[cheney]

Thank you so very much. That illustration of yours is fantastic. I can probably do something like that with the selection tool. After all I did just about everything else with the selection tool.

You are probably right about using Illustrator. It would be alot easier to create something as vector then import it as I am running out of resources. But, I have never botherd to learn Ill either. Perhaps now I should if I wish to continue working so large.

Again, thank you!

[Johannes]

Ur welcome, Im just glad if I were able to help U in some way. :D

btw - U should check out Illustrator, I think, by seeing this illustration of yours, that that program would suit U good. Theres a bit of a big step to begin with though, but at least, it wont crave those HUGE memory and scratch space. ;)

Good luck, and do post the finished piece :)