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[Biondo]

EDIT (09 April 2012): The rules have changed in the running!
The competition is no longer a competition, but a collaborative effort to get a collection of nice banners that will be used in rotation.
See this TheDoctor's post for details.

New Banner Contest!

The new forum style needs your help.
What we really need is a large nice image, taken from a game screenshot, to fill the page banner/header (see image below).



I want to stress that the banner is of the greatest importance since it should give to the distracted visitor a clear idea of what Smokin' Guns game is, with its strengths and its flaws. It should be able to communicate all the fun of our game, in its glorious "spaghetti" feel.

Subject: a scene, preferably with some players, probably with some action, possibly in a well known map. A good collage of more screenshots is also allowed. Please note that "Smokin' Guns" name and logo will be partially superimposed over your image (not necessarily in the centre of it). Moreover, it's possible that your image will be further altered to adapt it to the overall style.
Image height: around 270px.
Image width: at least 960px, but if it's wider better.
Graphic effects: Allowed, but please don't overdo it.
File type: PNG, JPEG, TIFF, or any other common image format.
File submission: Publish your file where you want (eg at ImageShack) and publish the link/preview here in comments.
Deadline: 10 days since now.
Award: the winner will be credited with his name printed in the footer of the new site.

Take a place in history, participate in the New Banner Contest!

Edited by Tequila: Splitted to a new topic
Edited by Tequila: Set topic to sticky

[Bart202]

Gave the info to my members Hope 1 can help maybe

[TheDoctor]

Edit: The image previously contained here is superceded by this post.

[subjectnamehere]

I'm pretty much new to this forum. I've never posted anything, I've only read a little, that sort of things. So Biondo decided to put on this contest and I decided that it'd have been pretty nice if I tried to post my little entry. Ok, I know, it's not great, there aren't even players, plus, I probably pushed too much on the graphic effects but oh well, it looks what it looks like, you may like it or not.
So, the idea was: we have a header image to do, right? So it must be a lot wider than a screen resolution. Cutting the edges may sound a good idea at first, and it actually is, but that kinda leaves the image partially destroyed, doesn't it?
And then I thought, why don't we make one of those 360° landscape images? They're a lot wide, and not very tall. Plus, they can be repeated seamlessly.
So I had to search for some console commands that make you turn right (or left) without touching the mouse. Because touching the mouse will make the point of view turn up and down, and I didn't want this. So the command used, if someone's interested in making this kind of stuff to make something better than what I tried to do, is \+right or \+left.
Then I took some screenshots (hiding the HUD and viewmodel) and put them together in Hugin, a free program to make 360° images.
This is what I came up with:

Tweaking, tweaking, tweaking. I really exceeded with this one. I can easily make the effects more subtle if you prefer. I used Blender, a free 3D modeling, animation and rendering program.

I know I know, no players, no action, too much effects. It's WIP anyway. Players will be featured soon. I don't even know why I post this if it's not finished, but I guess some feedback would make this work fairly better.
And there's another problem. On my screen the images look fine, but I have noticed that on another monitor (which is usually a bit darker than mine) they look pretty dark, and that's really not what I want. So please tell me if it's just that particular screen.

[torhu]

I like your first one, Mr. subjectnamehere. Cool idea!

Your user name sucks, though

[Bart202]

I like it also and this with the weapons great

[*lame*jesse james]

I like also your first one, MR.subjectname.

Hope there will come some more respons, I will try to make a screenshot with some action, but I'am a n**b to work with pc's,...

[subjectnamehere]

Ok, so, I realized that the effects were, uhm, a bit of a failure, if I am honest. So we can go with the non-edited picture (that is not final, however), anyways I tried crossing the two images so that each one is exactly 50% of the final image. Here is the result:

Effects are less noticeable now, I can go with a smaller percentage or just with the non-edited image. Let me know what you think.
Thanks anyways for the feedback!

[Pardner]

I actually like the effects one! I think an action one would be cool, but this has some problems. Our animations are very crude and it may be hard to get a good looking action still due to the clunky-ness of the player models. A first person shot might be nice with the Golden Boy on El PAso... I'll see what I can do.

[subjectnamehere]

Actually, this is just a shot to test the effects and the image making. Players will be added soon.

[ReD NeCKersoN]

A lone player shooting a gatling gun with several dead bodies in the street might look nice.
Since "pic-o-the-week" never really lived up to it's name on the last forum, maybe the header contest could run indefinately? The header could be replaced every month or two, showcasing different maps.
As an example, each contest could be limited to scenes from a particular level. Sort of an assignment type thing. Winner of the contest could sign his name (in small print, just big enough to read) in a corner of the image?
Just an idea.

[Bart202]

great idea red

[Biondo]

ReD, you thought what I thought (almost)

That's a good idea. In that case we should keep a fixed size for all banners (960x270px) and we'll have to keep an eye on new submissions. That's OK for me.
I was thinking of a rotating banner, but since the banner is heavy and its downloading would slow page load, your idea is better.

[Biondo]

Ten days have passed since the opening of the contest. I have to officially close it, just to officially declare it open indefinitely.
It's not an April fool, but in meanwhile contest rules have changed: after ReD NeCKersoN proposal, the header will be replaced every month or two, showcasing different maps. So there is still space for everyone who wants to submit his art.

We had only 2 contenders, with 2 nice submissions that will soon become the banner of new site. Considering the minimal number of participants I declare them both winners.
Congratulations to subjectnamehere and to TheDoctor!

[subjectnamehere]

I realize the contest ended but, uhm, I just had to make some other tries and, as Biondo said, there's going to be this rotation showcasing different headers. So, there's only two headers here. The Doctor's one is indeed really nice, but, still, only two headers. And I thought, can there be a rotation between only two headers? Yep, but not much of a rotation. So here I am with another little try.

Please zoom it up or you won't see it completely.
So here it is. Hope you like. Probably I'll be making more.
So, I realize I shouldn't monopolize the topic in this way but, oh, well.