Gears of War 2 Boxart Wallpaper

[Crotale]

I was going to make a Gears 2 box art but decided against it. Instead, I opted for a wallpaper. Well, sort of a wallpaper. This image is 5120x3200 and is 8.5 MB, so 56k'ers beware. This image was linearted from the Gears 2 box art and was repainted by me.

Enjoy!

Image removed by Crotale, no longer sharing on here.

[qwerty334]

HOLY-
Is that a filter or did you actually paint it in PS?
It looks fantastic.

[Crotale]

It was linearted and then repainted.

[Ladykiller]

If there were no filters used whatsoever, then I tip my hat to you.

However, it really does look like it used a few filter effects here and there. Not too mention that I find it very hard to believe someone would go through all the trouble repainting this HUGE artwork when about the same thing can be achieved by a filter or two.

EDIT: Also, if this was indeed repainted, it would take quite a long time...and considering that the new material for this game only came out a few days ago, I have some doubts.

[qwerty334]

Hmmmm.................
*waits for him to reassure us*

[Crotale]

I can totally understand the skepticism. You'd be surprised what you can do with a tablet. I simply took the original image, which was about 1874x1050 px, blew it up to about 5500x3200 px wide and cropped it a bit. I then linearted it and made some changes to the characters faces. Additionally, I modified the layout of the upper portion a bit, with relaying the logo. I then repainted the image. I did use most of the original texturing in the lineart because my drawing and painting skills are not yet complete. I also used a few filters for effect, but would bet that most of you would never guess what they were.

Yeah, I know, why do it? Well, is there another copy of this image in this resolution anywhere to be found? Fact is you simply cannot enlarge an image this much and NOT have to at least retouch every pixel. At that point, why not redo it? It's only about two days' worth of effort.

Check out the lineart below. It shows the texturing and outlines of everything in relation to the final product.. I did NOT draw this entire image, only bits and pieces of it. All I did was color refill and smudge in the paint. It wasn't difficult, just time consuming. So, yeah, I cheated.

Image removed by Crotale, no longer sharing on here.

Edit:/ Tools used were Photoshop CS2 and Wacom Tablet. Filters used were Topaz resizing, smart sharpen, surface blur and gaussian blur. Several gradient overlays were used as well for effects.

[master_general]

Wow
i'm still working out my wacom tablet

[Shadow the Hedgehog]

I love FiOS. That loaded in exactly 3 seconds.


:D

[Dersnap]

I love FiOS. That loaded in exactly 3 seconds.


:D

Same here, I also have FiOS and it loaded up in about 3 seconds. :D

[Crotale]

I have 10Mb connection and it doesn't load that fast for me.

[Don'tbanmeI'mavirgin!]

It's blocked for me. >____<

[Vengeance]

oh...my...zod...

[Jbone]

I also used a few filters for effect, but would bet that most of you would never guess what they were.

Most of us :P did you use the poster edges filter at all? (also known as the cartoon filter) but seriously REALLY GREAT JOB.

[Crotale]

Most of us :P did you use the poster edges filter at all? (also known as the cartoon filter) but seriously REALLY GREAT JOB.Nope, I hate those. If you noticed the image in the explanation post, you will see the linearted outlines. That might be where you get the impression of the poster edge filter. Tbh, I hate that filter, as it is too easy to spot. That is why I use other techniques. Maybe I take the long way around, but I get my results...my way.

[Don'tbanmeI'mavirgin!]

*really wants to see this*

[Crotale]

*really wants to see this*That's weird, I'm not blocking anyone from my server.

[Crotale]

This is a composited, linearted and repainted image of my own take on Carmine. Yes, the image is huge, 2400x3200 px. He took about 6 hours on my Wacom tablet. Filter used were Gaussian Blur and Smart Sharpen. Topaz Cleaning was used to smooth out my brush marks without blurring out the entire image. Enjoy!

Please click on the image for full view
Image removed by Crotale, no longer sharing on here.

[Vengeance]

I'll buy it. Name the price.

[xIAMHUNTERx]

No, it's my stupid filtering software on my laptop, it blocks that site for some reason. >___O

[Mad Spike]

I can totally understand the skepticism. You'd be surprised what you can do with a tablet. I simply took the original image, which was about 1874x1050 px, blew it up to about 5500x3200 px wide and cropped it a bit.... Well, is there another copy of this image in this resolution anywhere to be found?
Well, original artwork is 11880x7260 px. So after such a big work with filters/tablets/other the image looks cartoony and it has half size of the source artwork :o

[Crotale]

Well, original artwork is 11880x7260 px. So after such a big work with filters/tablets/other the image looks cartoony and it has half size of the source artwork :oExcuse me, but I only have seen the image in a much smaller setting, as I described earlier. Do you have a link to the full size piece? I'm sure Epic's artists have much larger imagery than what I have presented, but I have not seen it.

So, you're saying I've wasted my time? Good call coming from a person who cuts out other people's images and pastes them onto a box shape and calls it "art."

[Mad Spike]

Excuse me, but I only have seen the image in a much smaller setting, as I described earlier. Do you have a link to the full size piece? I'm sure Epic's artists have much larger imagery than what I have presented, but I have not seen it.
It's your problem that you never seen the original artwork. You could just ask me about it. But now you have few days wasted remaking thing that already bigger, better (and more badass ;)).

So, you're saying I've wasted my time? Good call coming from a person who cuts out other people's images and pastes them onto a box shape and calls it "art."
I guess, you are talking to every member at VGBA, right? :) You take a great artwork, add some bad filters and now this artwork looks like crap. So this is what you call the "art"? Why you made it? Just to tell us that we never guess wich filters do you use?
Gather all your "skills" and try to make a good box - this is not so easy as just filtering image ;)

[Crotale]

It's your problem that you never seen the original artwork. You could just ask me about it. But now you have few days wasted remaking thing that already bigger, better (and more badass ;)).Why would I ask you? I do not even know you. And I am not sorry to have spent time on it, regardless of whether you or anyone else thinks that I ruined a perfectly good image.


I guess, you are talking to every member at VGBA, right? :)Well, from what I've seen so far...


You take a great artwork, add some bad filters and now this artwork looks like crap. So this is what you call the "art"? Why you made it? Just to tell us that we never guess which filters do you use? That is your opinion. Art is subjective. But no, I didn't do it so that we could play "guess the filter."


Gather all your "skills" and try to make a good box - this is not so easy as just filtering image ;)Oh, so I don't have any skills is it? Who cares? I simply came to this website in the first place because someone used my original artwork without my permission and I wanted to get it removed. Believe it or not, I do make some of my own art.

[Venom1]

It's your problem that you never seen the original artwork. You could just ask me about it. But now you have few days wasted remaking thing that already bigger, better (and more badass ;)).

I guess, you are talking to every member at VGBA, right? :) You take a great artwork, add some bad filters and now this artwork looks like crap. So this is what you call the "art"? Why you made it? Just to tell us that we never guess wich filters do you use?
Gather all your "skills" and try to make a good box - this is not so easy as just filtering image ;)

*Bows down to you*

[Crotale]

Do either one of you have any "box art" in which you created the entire image and did not "borrow" from other images?

[ELCrazy]

Believe it or not, I do make some of my own art.

*crowd cheers*

Seriously though, I don't understand why most are taking VGBA so seriously. It's just a community with gamers with graphic skills who come up with fake game covers. That's all.

To quote the Joker, "Why so serious?"

And to answer your question Crotale, most of us have not. But so what?

[xIAMHUNTERx]

Being belligerent isn't the best route to getting people to see it your way, just to let you know.

And Mad Spike can outbox anyone on this site any day of the week, so yeah.

[Venom1]

Do either one of you have any "box art" in which you created the entire image and did not "borrow" from other images?

You seriously underestimate MadSpike. (not me because i am not that "skilled" like he is) But he doesnt just put a render on a background and a "box" and call it art, He AND most of the artists on the site edit the shit out of renders and wallpapers and blend and all that. So they dont just "borrow" images and make a box.

Whoa, when did you're account get unbanned hunter?

[Long-Pal]

Oh, so I don't have any skills is it? Who cares? I simply came to this website in the first place because someone used my original artwork without my permission and I wanted to get it removed. Believe it or not, I do make some of my own art.

Who said anything about you not having skills?


But Its pretty funny that the only reason you joined was to start insulting this community.

[xIAMHUNTERx]

Whoa, when did you're account get unbanned hunter?

Yesterday. =D

But let's not get off topic.

[Mad Spike]

Oh, so I don't have any skills is it? Who cares? I simply came to this website in the first place because someone used my original artwork without my permission and I wanted to get it removed. Believe it or not, I do make some of my own art.
Honestly, I don't care. You just some guy that always speak about how often some bastards (without skills and morality) stoles your super great "artworks".
I see only arrogant words from you and insults about VGBA and all it's members.

[Crotale]

The guy asked me why I bothered, in his opinion, to post an image in which he believes that all I did was used a few filters and claim to have remade an official image. I already stated what I did to bring the piece, which was an official piece of art, to the stage it was at when I posted it. I assumed that Epic Games has a huge version of the piece, but all I could find was the very small resolution of it. So maybe not everyone liked what I did with it, but why treat me like I am a hack when that is what this site specializes in? I have not yet seen any original artwork on any of the boxes I've looked at on this site; original as in created solely by the author.

Like I said before, I only came to this site because someone stole one of my actual pieces of original work. I did not come here to insult anyone. I was asked to make some boxes and I don't really care to do that. So, I thought I'd post a couple of things I was working on. BIG mistake there. I find it ironic that people who use other people's artwork are treating me like I'm a hack. Honestly, the last thing I want to do is to insult anyone, but I also won't take insults on me without fighting back.

[Crotale]

Honestly, I don't care. You just some guy that always speak about how often some bastards (without skills and morality) stoles your super great "artworks".
I see only arrogant words from you and insults about VGBA and all it's members.When did I use that word? I only mentioned that one piece was stolen, and that may have just been an oversight on the author's part, I don't know. Also, I never said that anyone here is without skills and/or morals. You read that into it. Seriously, most of the authors here appear to take other people's work and manipulate it. Can you show me a totally original piece on here, because I have not seen one? I'm not saying none exist but just that I have not seen it.

[Long-Pal]

When did I use that word? I only mentioned that one piece was stolen, and that may have just been an oversight on the author's part, I don't know. Also, I never said that anyone here is without skills and/or morals. You read that into it, not me.



You left out the part were you said "All you do is copy and paste". ;)

[Crotale]

Don't get me wrong, as there are some nice looking boxes on here, so obviously there are required skills. I just find it particularly odd that with the type of art that is posted on this site that I get accused of doing a hack job (ie-using a couple of crap filters and calling it done).

[xIAMHUNTERx]

I didn't see anyone call it a hack job. :confused: Everyone's really impressed...

[Mad Spike]

The guy asked me why I bothered, in his opinion, to post an image in which he believes that all I did was used a few filters and claim to have remade an official image. I already stated what I did to bring the piece, which was an official piece of art, to the stage it was at when I posted it. I assumed that Epic Games has a huge version of the piece, but all I could find was the very small resolution of it. So maybe not everyone liked what I did with it, but why treat me like I am a hack when that is what this site specializes in?
I don't like when someone filters the original image. Filters are created for textures, not for post rendering. And resolution of the artwork doesn't matter. Anyway, now you know that this art can be found in gigantic resolution (and not only in Epic).


I have not yet seen any original artwork on any of the boxes I've looked at on this site; original as in created solely by the author.
I have few boxes with my own artworks but I don't think that this is matters, cos this is not an issue of this topic. This website is not a deviantart - we don't create the artworks. This website is about design. And here is a lot of ppl who are a great designers.



So, I thought I'd post a couple of things I was working on. BIG mistake there.
Show us your real artworks, not just some filtered posters.

[Crotale]

I don't like when someone filters the original image. Filters are created for textures, not for post rendering. And resolution of the artwork doesn't matter. Anyway, now you know that this art can be found in gigantic resolution (and not only in Epic).It wasn't a filter job. You just can't understand that, can you? I used some blurring and sharpening; otherwise used was a resizing tool, since I enlarged the smaller image I had by over 300 percent. Also, did you not see where I linearted the image, modified some parts and then repainted over it? No, but even if you had recognized it, you still would say it's a bad job, which is fine, since you are entitled to your opinion. And, I'm entitled to disagree with you.



I have few boxes with my own artworks but I don't think that this is matters, cos this is not an issue of this topic. This website is not a deviantart - we don't create the artworks. This website is about design. And here is a lot of ppl who are a great designers.I kind of figured as such.



Show us your real artworks, not just some filtered posters.Why, so you can tell how bad I suck at graphics? Too bad you must have overlooked the Carmine image I had up.

[Mad Spike]

Show us a real artworks that you create from a scratch. If they will be good, I will admit it - I don't have a problems with that.
In VGBArting you can make a box that can be the same or even better then the one that is officialy in stores and this is the idea. In your Gears remake I see only that the artworks looks not so great as it was originaly. Maybe you have some good painting skills, but Gears artwork is the bad example.
2 Vengeance
No Holy War ;)

[Crotale]

Vengeance, thanks for the kind words.

Spike, this may sound a bit "weird," but, I'll show you mine if you show me your original work. Sound fair enough?

Edit:/ Okay, instead of double-posting, I'll just edit this one. I don't get the browbeating over my Gears "piece." I simply wanted to go through the motions of working on such a piece with my new tablet, as I replaced my broken one. I did not see any large scale versions of the image anywhere. I am new to this site, so if you had one available, then okay. But you still have not provided proof the image is available on the web or a link to it. The comment you made that it looks worse is not the point, as I never claimed it to be as good or better than the original.

You want me to respect the effort, skills and imagination required for making box art for games where the official box art already exists (except for possible concept games or future versions). I have to ask, if I am to respect what you and the other box artists do, why do I not receive the same respect? After all, I did not come into this forum disrespecting the place, but merely asking why was my image used without my permission. In you cannot understand and respect my intentions, I cannot be asked to respect yours. And I mean to say you personally, not all the other box artists on this site.

To be a repsected artist, one must have the capacity to respect other artists, regardless of their skill or genre.

[Long-Pal]

*Cracks up* *Dies Laughing*

[xIAMHUNTERx]

I'll show you mine if you show me yours

Hey buddy, don't ask don't tell. :p

[Ninty]

ZOMG CROTALE YOU DIDNT CREATE THIS WALLPAPER FROM SCRATCH.

THERES A RENDER IN THERE!

OMG! NO SKILLZ! COPY AND PASTE JOB!

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showpost.php?p=24943610&postcount=238

[Crotale]

ZOMG CROTALE YOU DIDNT CREATE THIS WALLPAPER FROM SCRATCH.

THERES A RENDER IN THERE!

OMG! NO SKILLZ! COPY AND PASTE JOB!

http://utforums.epicgames.com/showpost.php?p=24943610&postcount=238

You are absolutely right. I did not create the image. All I did was overlay the image from the box art, extend out the blood bars, put in a black background and call it a wallpaper. Not exactly art.

I find it rather humorous that you decided to pick that one out of all the others in that thread. But it makes your point.


*Cracks up* *Dies Laughing*Not sure how to take that.

[Ninty]

You are absolutely right. I did not create the image. All I did was overlay the image from the box art, extend out the blood bars, put in a black background and call it a wallpaper. Not exactly art.

I find it rather humorous that you decided to pick that one out of all the others in that thread. But it makes your point.

Not sure how to take that.
Im just showing you that so what if you use renders and stuff ? It can still look awesome (like your wallpaper)
i just dont see whats wrong with using them.

[Crotale]

I never said that using renders is wrong or bad. Personally, I abhor the term "render" in this use as the connotation normally indicates that the image was rendered in a 3D program.

Okay, here is the chance you have all been waiting for, the chance to really tell me I have no skills or imagination. Now, I spent over a week on this using Photoshop, a Wacom tablet and a little bit of Terragen for reference. But it's all me and no "renders." Be warned, I'm no Picasso, just some dude who knows how to spell Photoshop.

http://www.acliffhanger.com/images/gotlife22560.jpg

[Mad Spike]

You want me to respect the effort, skills and imagination required for making box art for games where the official box art already exists (except for possible concept games or future versions). I have to ask, if I am to respect what you and the other box artists do, why do I not receive the same respect? After all, I did not come into this forum disrespecting the place, but merely asking why was my image used without my permission. In you cannot understand and respect my intentions, I cannot be asked to respect yours. And I mean to say you personally, not all the other box artists on this site.
You said that you create this wallpaper/art/remake to increase the resolution of the original you have. So you add some filters and other stuff so it looks not choppy (and also delete old logo and add new). I sad that this artwork exist in the web in resolution 11k. And after that you begin insulting me and VGBA. I think you showed your disrespect first.

[Long-Pal]

You are absolutely right. I did not create the image. All I did was overlay the image from the box art, extend out the blood bars, put in a black background and call it a wallpaper. Not exactly art.

I find it rather humorous that you decided to pick that one out of all the others in that thread. But it makes your point.

Not sure how to take that.

Take it how you want to take it.

[Crotale]

You said that you create this wallpaper/art/remake to increase the resolution of the original you have. So you add some filters and other stuff so it looks not choppy (and also delete old logo and add new). I sad that this artwork exist in the web in resolution 11k. And after that you begin insulting me and VGBA. I think you showed your disrespect first.Well, I can see you do not believe me when I said that I actually linearted and repainted the piece after resizing the original that I had. There in lies the disconnect for me, in that you refuse to give me any artistic credit. That is why I came on a bit strong after your comments, especially after explaining myself earlier on the thread, and doing so then without attacking anyone.

You know, whether the end result was decent or not, I spent quite a lot of time working over every single pixel of that piece, by hand, with numerous layers. Too bad you cannot recognize the effort. I never asked anyone to sugarcoat their critiques, but you insulted me and my work in your first post in this thread, and continue to do so.

I find it fascinating when a Photoshop "expert" tries to tell me that all I did was use a filter to get my results. It's the same as me telling you that all your box arts are cut-and-paste and nothing more. Get the idea?

[Mad Spike]

Okay, here is the chance you have all been waiting for, the chance to really tell me I have no skills or imagination. Now, I spent over a week on this using Photoshop, a Wacom tablet and a little bit of Terragen for reference. But it's all me and no "renders." Be warned, I'm no Picasso, just some dude who knows how to spell Photoshop.
http://www.acliffhanger.com/images/gotlife22560.jpg
I can't check is this is truly your art, but I am sure that I don't need to do that. I can say that this one is much better then filtering (and other) Gears. Now, I am sure, you will earn much more respect from our members. Just don't forget that this is the Box "Arting" website and we used to work with another type of art ;)

Well, I can see you do not believe me when I said that I actually linearted and repainted the piece after resizing the original that I had. There in lies the disconnect for me, in that you refuse to give me any artistic credit. That is why I came on a bit strong after your comments, especially after explaining myself earlier on the thread, and doing so then without attacking anyone......
False. I belive in every word you said. Just look:
You take an image - resize it so now it's three times bigger.
After such actions I don't care how many filters/bluring/sharpening/texturing you did. You can't make image three times bigger and have a good result.
When I look at it - it looks just like the original one, but when I zoom it - I can't see the details like on the original, only thing I see is blured filtered image that was increased in three times O.O I think, it's not good.

[Crotale]

I can't check is this is truly your art, but I am sure that I don't need to do that. I can say that this one is much better then filtering (and other) Gears. Now, I am sure, you will earn much more respect from our members. Just don't forget that this is the Box "Arting" website and we used to work with another type of art ;)

False. I belive in every word you said. Just look:
You take an image - resize it so now it's three times bigger.
After such actions I don't care how many filters/bluring/sharpening/texturing you did. You can't make image three times bigger and have a good result.
When I look at it - it looks just like the original one, but when I zoom it - I can't see the details like on the original, only thing I see is blured filtered image that was increased in three times O.O I think, it's not good.There was a lot more to it than resizing and blurring. If that is all you see, then fine. Whatever. No need to keep arguing over this, as you see one thing and I see another and that will not change.

Are you going to post the link to the really big version? I don't see it anywhere but you claim it exists. Funny how I have to do all the proving here. Still makes me think you just wanted to fuck with someone today and I happened to be unlucky star of that show.

[Ladykiller]

I have few boxes with my own artworks but I don't think that this is matters, cos this is not an issue of this topic. This website is not a deviantart - we don't create the artworks. This website is about design. And here is a lot of ppl who are a great designers.

Well said.

And nice artwork there Crotale, I make artworks too so that I can compile it into a portfolio when I go off to college.

For this site, however, I don't see the point in making any artwork for the games I design for. It certainly wouldn't make it anymore official looking when compared to official artwork.

You can't expect to see alot of original artworks from the members in here and it's unfair to do so, since this is a design site for unofficial cover art. No need to bash the designers here just because we had some doubts or questions about your piece.

LOL @ Ryan's comment.


Still makes me think you just wanted to fuck with someone today and I happened to be unlucky star of that show.

That was unnecessary, I'm sure Spike wouldn't mean it like that. And that comment just came off as rude.

[Vegeta39]

*whistles* :rolleyes:

How about we settle this over some nice, chocolate filled cake? Anyone?

THE CAKE WAS A LIE!! :p

[Crotale]

Well said.

And nice artwork there Crotale, I make artworks too so that I can compile it into a portfolio when I go off to college.

For this site, however, I don't see the point in making any artwork for the games I design for. It certainly wouldn't make it anymore official looking when compared to official artwork.

You can't expect to see alot of original artworks from the members in here and it's unfair to do so, since this is a design site for unofficial cover art. No need to bash the designers here just because we had some doubts or questions about your piece.

LOL @ Ryan's comment.



That was unnecessary, I'm sure Spike wouldn't mean it like that. And that comment just came off as rude.
I'll retract the last statement. But I think you can understand why I am a bit standoffish at this point. And I thought I provided a reasonable explanation as to how I got where I did with the piece in question. And I provided that explanation without anger or resentment. But then to have another person come in and tell me that I either lied or wasted my time on a crappy looking image naturally set me off.

Fact is that the piece I posted would have been considered a fast sketch concept art, not a finished masterpiece. Too bad some here do not even realize this.

[Mad Spike]

There was a lot more to it than resizing and blurring. If that is all you see, then fine. Whatever. No need to keep arguing over this, as you see one thing and I see another and that will not change.
Are you going to post the link to the really big version? I don't see it anywhere but you claim it exists. Funny how I have to do all the proving here. Still makes me think you just wanted to fuck with someone today and I happened to be unlucky star of that show.
No, I don't like f*cking with someone here. My english is not perfect (I am from Ukraine) and a lot of things that is hard to translate for me :) So maybe, sometimes I sounds a bit too straith or rude.
I don't want to give a link here. I want to keep this artwork in shadow. Anyway, I am sure that anyone can send me PM. (by the way, thanks DS11 for another link to this image)
But I will show small piece of it. I found it in the web - be sure (no way I can take it from Epic sitting here in Kiev) :)
http://img382.imageshack.us/img382/5595/gearssamplefk4.jpg

There was a lot more to it than resizing and blurring. If that is all you see, then fine. Whatever. No need to keep arguing over this, as you see one thing and I see another and that will not change.
I agree. I already said my opinion about what you did. Arguing is wasting my and your time ;)
P.S. Now you know who to ask if you need some high res art LOL :D

[Ladykiller]

I'll retract the last statement. But I think you can understand why I am a bit standoffish at this point. And I thought I provided a reasonable explanation as to how I got where I did with the piece in question. And I provided that explanantion without anger or resentment.

I understand.

I was only questioning the method that you used to make your the GoW2 piece, not your graphic designing abilities.

To be honest, I found your comments to be perfectly reasonable for the most part. And I can tell that you have a good deal of skill and experience when it comes to design- you seem very professional despite some of your comments that came off as rude. That said, I'd like to see a boxart design from you, they're actually fun to do since I find that there are more limitations when making them than a normal artwork.


But then to have another person come in and tell me that I either lied or wasted my time on a crappy looking image naturally set me off.

Regarding that, this should sum it up quite nicely.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/Ladykiller_photo/1dbd63f250fef0eb86a76b648dae71018e2.jpg

[Vegeta39]

Regarding that, this should sum it up quite nicely.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa311/Ladykiller_photo/1dbd63f250fef0eb86a76b648dae71018e2.jpg

Wahoo! Applause for Ladykiller everyone! *claps* :D

[Mad Spike]

Ha, yeah, this pic is the true (but not about this topic, no way LOL :)

[Crotale]

Looks like we're done here. I didn't realize there might be a language barrier here. Thanks for posting the tidbit, Spike, although it is a bit grainy.

Ladykiller, thanks.

[xIAMHUNTERx]

*too lazy to read all the comments*

All I know is that I still want to see your art, Crotale.

[Mad Spike]

He already give link to it.

[xIAMHUNTERx]

I know, it's blocked on my computer.