Wallpaper Season - Notre Dame Week

Submitted by jonvalk on

Ok, so I will hopefully be putting 2-3 different wallpapers up.  A lot of this will depend on how fast I can get my new TV mounted (also my computer monitor).  This first one is very simple, but I still like the look of it.  I will be working on another one tonight that will be a little more complicated.  In the meantime, enjoy the first one of the week!  Hope you like it.  Go Blue, beat the Irish!

Wallpaper 1 - "Touchdown Jesus"

- JonValk

Comments

BlueNote

September 17th, 2012 at 4:16 PM ^

A touchdown Jesus that looks like Denard (hair, etc..), doing the pose and stiff-arming ND player, and holding a football.  That would be nice.  Blasphemous, yes, but nice.

Rick's American Cafe

September 17th, 2012 at 4:37 PM ^

Agreed that the Denard "Heisman" photo is awesome by itself, but it's always a little tainted in my mind because his stiff arm didn't work - he got tackled right after the photo was taken.  Sad panda.  But then again, Michigan did win.  Happy panda.

soupsnake

September 17th, 2012 at 7:16 PM ^

It's not really just a matter of picking the right type face, it's spending some time on actually making the text fit into the overall composition.



You obviously spent a lot of time on the image, but it looks like once you were finished you grabbed a random grungy block font and typed it out in all caps.



Good typography can make an average designer look great, and bad typography can make even the best designer look like an amatuer.

jonvalk

September 17th, 2012 at 9:03 PM ^

Please explain to me how the typeface used doesn't fit. I can understand if your preference is a more subtle use of type, but that doesn't mean the type used is I'll-fitting. I went with more of a "in your face block-text" to frame up the bottom an also make it easier to read. I will re-work it for those who prefer a subtle feel. In the end, it's purpose is two-fold. Yes, it's art - that's where my passion lies. However, I've encountered lots of people who don't like the small, subtle uses of text and prefer more of a band-poster feel. This isn't me getting defensive, by th way, I enjoy the constructive criticism. I do, however, wish you'd provide a more in-depth idea of what you'd prefer. In the end, I do this because I like providing good wallpaper to the mgoblog community - so I need your insight to make it fit individual and collective preference. Thanks for the insight - I welcome more.

soupsnake

September 17th, 2012 at 11:35 PM ^

Please understand that all of these comments are in no way meant to be degrading to you as an artist and I am glad that you are open to constructive criticism. 



I realize that I didn't explain very well im my previous post, let me give it another try.



My problem with the typography isn't a matter of subtleness but rather how it fits into the composition. As it stands it's just a white text that sits on top of an otherwise really well done composition of some cool graphical elements. You want to try to find a way to make the text part of that composition rather than something that looks like a last minute addition. 



Try using blending modes (overlay, multiply, screen, etc) to make the text fit better into the composition. Another thing to try would be layer masks to add grunge to your text rather than using grungy fonts that come premade, which look sterile in comparison. I'll embed a couple examples below so you can see what I mean.







White text with an overlay blending mode. One click of a button and the text becomes part of the image.





Simply turning down the opacity or putting a texture over the text helps, and might be the most basic of all the ways to accomplish this.





Some more simple blending



Looks like blending and layer masking.



Obviously I don't expect you (or myself, or anyone) to live up to monuMental, but good typography isn't really all that hard if you put as much, or even a fraction of the time into it that you spent on the rest of the composition.

jonvalk

September 17th, 2012 at 11:39 PM ^

I see what you mean. I suppose I didn't do more blending in the game info text (as opposed to the elements of the art). You are most definitely correct in assuming that I spent the vast majority of my time on the image and not the type. I will put in some time to see if I can produce something you like better. Thanks for clarifying that you were more focused on the blending (making it part of the art) than the size and position.

FieldingBLUE

September 21st, 2012 at 8:39 AM ^

and I also agree on the typography critique above. It's the one thing from keeping this from being an all-time classic. Even if it was the same technique used, but with a non-outlined font, you might find it much cleaner.

That said, I love the different layers of meaning with the logos, current players, classic moments all in one. It's damn impressive.

Oh, and one other thing, a pet peeve of mine is the inaccurate use of EST. We're in Daylight time still, so it really should be EDT (or to avoid time zone problems, ET). 

Man, I'm a dick. 

Jon, might I add that you have talent I could never match, just trying to be helpful. :)