Challenge: Create a wallpaper that expresses performance and lightness

[thorwil]

Hi!

The Xubuntu project is looking for a wallpaper for the April 2011 release.

Besides being generally suitable as a wallpaper, the image should express performance and lightness.

Please read carefully: Details, requirements, suggestions.

We often get to see photos and abstract 2D graphics for wallpapers. 3D tends to be under-represented. That's why I'm bringing this up here, where talent and the capabilities of an amazing piece of free software meet

One wallpaper will be chosen by the Xubuntu team as their default wallpaper. But the real price to win is mastering this artistic challenge!

Deadline is the 10th of March.

[sdfgeoff]

I'm thinking of doing this. Can you find out what font the xubuntu logo uses for me?

[thorwil]

sdfgsdfg: the Ubuntu font. If you want to reproduce the logo you should use an SVG from https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu/Artwork, as you won't have the same tracking/kerning, otherwise.

But the wallpaper should not include the logo or text. Such elements attract too much attention. Constantly reminding the user of the name of the distribution does not communicate confidence. It doesn't help with getting performance and lightness across, either.

[sdfgeoff]

OK thanks.
I may still use the logo but will think about it a bit more.
All right, My entry is uploaded to the above group. I kept it simple and here is the result

[Casio23]

what do you think of this?
i can rework it or give up and try something completely different?
I know it doesnt follow any of the themes yet, but i was thinking of adding a bird flying off the cube.

derek

[sdfgeoff]

Green? the main color for xubuntu is blue, so you may want to think about that before you continue
Otherwise, I like it, and it is a good start.
(is it possible for the light rays to be in front of the cube?)

[sdfgeoff]

Here's my second entry
I made the mountains and did the compositing etc. I did not make the ultralight plane though.
Any comments before I submit it on flickr?

[sdfgeoff]

Just for those who don't know, the final entries close for this contest on the 10th March 2011
also, images must be uploaded to the Flickr group here
(I would recommend having this information in the starter post)

[ed from america]

so I got this concept, and made a render.
but the gradient looks terrible.
I have no idea how to fix it.
I made it with 2.49, is it time to switch to 2.5?
here it is:

[Casio23]

@sdfgsdfg - a gentle sunflare might look nice there, dont over do it though. your second one is better you might want to tweak the colours a bit, and make the sun a bit brighter.

i was thinking that green might not go, but i read the competition, and it said the colour scheme was tbc. it probably will be blue but ill risk it, it might look good? the bird would be blue. the sun rays are in front of the cube, but it doesnt look like it. ill work on that.

[thorwil]

Casio23, #5:
You could create something interesting with these ingredients (currently the placement of the box feels random). The box could be used to emphasise the lightness and dynamic nature of another element by contrast, but the box alone just speaks of the opposite.

Regarding continuing this way or trying something else: do what seems more promising or interesting to yourself.

Thanks!

[thorwil]

Green? the main color for xubuntu is blue, so you may want to think about that before you continue

A specific blue is used in the Xubuntu logo and previous releases had lots of blue on blue with a bit of blue
I think this monochromatic look is not healthy and can only encourage the use of other colors in the wallpaper. Ideally use blue where it helps to get the right feel/expression, but don't use blue just to use blue.

[ed from america]

I get nothing, no response whatsoever?
I got dual monitors and the image I posted look different in either monitor....
does the image have "energy"..
feedback please.

[thorwil]

ed from america: if the idea is that the darts have been thrown through the logo, then you need to arrange things accordingly. But the Ubuntu logo shouldn't be there at all.

A shot from after something happened will tend to be static in character. A dart or darts in flight would work better, but are still not the best concept, if the flight will be short and will be stopped by a wall.

[ed from america]

thanks for the response...
earlier I went to the xubuntu website and they have that round triangular emblem on their homepage with the xfce mouse.
it was blue in color.
I figured it was a good place to start using what they already have.
seemed to me like a combination of both logos, which isn't such a bad idea to me.
The darts going through the blue ubuntu logo isn't what I was trying to do, the render was an abstract idea, which I can refine.
but basically I wanted one shadow for three darts and some type relationship with an Xubuntu logo (if there is an Xubuntu logo)..
thanks.

[thorwil]

(if there is an Xubuntu logo)..

The Xubuntu website needs an update (note that I'm not directly involved with the project). See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Xubuntu/Artwork for the current logo. Still: wallpapers without logo much preferred

[ed from america]

From what I can tell they are using the same logo they used in the Karmic release on their homepage.
The progression of change in the wallpapers and themes since Breezy to the Maverick release is gradual but definitely supports your sentiment about the style of the logo.
I might rethink a wallpaper without a logo.
thanks

[sdfgeoff]

A specific blue is used in the Xubuntu logo and previous releases had lots of blue on blue with a bit of blue
I think this monochromatic look is not healthy and can only encourage the use of other colors in the wallpaper. Ideally use blue where it helps to get the right feel/expression, but don't use blue just to use blue.

Well yes, I agree with your statement about the use of blue, hence some brown in the first image, and in the second (on the wing) paled out yellow and pink. It just breaks up the monotony.

Casio23, I am currently using the sky and atmosphere buttons under the sun lamp buttons, I really don't know much about them but will try to make a better sun.

Is this better:
The sun was added later in the gimp. do you think it has too much non-blue?

[thorwil]

sdfgsdfg: I think you should play with the angle of the plane. As you mentioned you didn't create it, what's the license?

The mountains are not convincing. It's not simple to do, but there's an opportunity to add considerable depth to the image with a nuanced mountain scape. Not exactly the reference I was looking for, but have a look at:
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/me...17/3173782.jpg

Though both mountains and the plane are candidates for reduction to primitive shapes as one possible artistic direction.

[sdfgeoff]

OK, I will now put the plane more into the mountains, rather than over.
Thanks for the idea