round two results

・how the scores work・

you're judged on a 110 score, which details are under the 'scores' chapter. All the judges are judging from that layout. The scores here are averages between the judges that gave me their scores. Any ties were broken by the number of votes. This means that you could be placed 1st by one judge but be placed 3rd by your averaged score. This helps disable any bias (if applicable) as well.

・commentary・

There will be two commentary sections. One section is from me (kris) and the other is from one of our co-judges (Eva). This shows two different perspectives on how we saw your graphic which will hopefully give you more feedback to take in. Commentary can be harsh as we're speaking honestly, but I promise we still love you <3

・other・

the points you've earned can be found on the 'prizes' chapter

As you can see some of your scores jumped, while others' plummeted. This shows us (and you) where improvement is needed in helping everyone in being a well-rounded designer. Don't feel down if your score dropped (or get a big ego if it rose) because the rounds in the future may flip it around!

・THIS SAID: ONTO THE SCORES・

1st place・dark || darkwizardess

score: 93/110

kris commentary: Congrats on first again! I love that even though there's a lot of elements here, it looks very put together/cohesive. This said, I do have some comments. While your background (the mansion) is in extremely high quality, the same quality isn't present with the model. I know you talked about image quality issues, but even just a little blur to the bg could fix the presentation. Here's where I nit-picked:: I can also see the harsh lines of where you erased your overlay on the model, the chair, as well as on the ash (?) pile next to her. Simply using a dispersed brush could fix that, though. I also think the shading on the hair is odd at the top, too. Last nit-picky thing is the end of the sword, and how that doesn't have the same effect on it as the part below it. Nevertheless, this cover is extremely impressive. Good job.

eva commentary: I love it, it's really my favorite. The fire effect is magnificent, the sword super, the lighting well done. The policies used go well with everything. The seated model is also a very good idea. The only one that bothers me a little is the swape face but nothing else to say. 

+ + +

2nd place・sheen || seocides

score: 90/110

kris commentary: I love this graphic (and it was first in my scores haha). I really like the creativity here and the aesthetic. I just have an issue with 2 things. The first thing is the text. I don't think the subtitle looks that good with the graphic, mostly because of its color. I think if you put a soft light or overlay setting on it instead, it would've looked a lot better. The title text is also kind of difficult to read. The second thing (which is kind of a nit-pick) is the statue by the girl in the center. It's probably just me, but it looks like a big-brain alien and I keep staring at it lol. Regardless, this graphic is super cute & I can't stop looking at it (not just the alien head).

eva commentary: I like. The green is present without blinding and you have very well cut and added all the images. However, what is really annoying is that I find that quality spoils everything. I think it's a bit blurry and it saddens me because it's really beautiful. Then your subtitles are a little too much. The fonts are not very well chosen and I am not a fan of their locations. And your title would have won if you had changed font and color. Or maybe a little less embossed.

+ + +

3rd place・molly || btswaffles

score: 78.75

kris commentary: This cover placed second in my scoring, and I really do love it. The aesthetic overall is really pretty and everything looks so good (I'm super impressed with the model). My only issue here is the text, which was also said last round (sorry you didn't see your score earlier to see this). I think if you didn't emboss it, then it would've looked better. Maybe even making it a little blurred/faded like her dress & the chess pieces would make it match better as well. Even so, I think this cover is super pretty.

eva commentary: Very pretty, really. I love the dress you added, it is very well done and the colors go well together. The background is very beautiful. Unfortunately, there are a few things I would like to talk to you about. Firstly I think you would have gained that it was not as bland and the contrast of the mo. If you had raised the saturation a little, it would have been much better. Then your subtitles are almost invisible. There is enough room to enlarge them a little more. And last thing, I don't particularly like the font you used, but it's not bad. 

+ + +

4th place・nia || niagraphics

score: 78.5

kris commentary: This cover is super pretty. I really like the hair & makeup you have on the model. I do, though, have some comments. I don't really like the effect you have to make the border on her arms like that and wish you would've erased the border it created. Secondly, I don't like the horns, I think their color makes it look kind of odd and doesn't match with the look of the model that well (maybe changing the hue could fix that). I also think that if you didn't overlay the text and instead embossed it or something else, it would've looked much better.

eva commentary: I love ! The colors are well-chosen and the title and the font you used are beautiful! If you had made the lighting more logical, it would have been much better. In addition, I find that the horns that you added are a little too much and not very well made. Also, a better cut would have made it more beautiful. 

+ + +

5th place・sakura || wordgazing

score: 76/110

kris commentary: I really like the background of this cover, it looks very pretty. I just wish that the model would've matched better with it (maybe changing lighting would've corrected this). The dress on the model looks iffy and could be improved (same with the wand). The last thing is I wish that the style of the text was different, since it doesn't match the same style as your background.

eva commentary: This is one of my favorites. The colors are super beautiful, the fonts that you used are very pretty too. The magic circle gives the touch to finish it all. The only thing I have to say is that the assembly of the model with the skirt could be better done. And I don't see the 'TGW entry' anywhere

+ + +

6th place・sadaf || sadafkhan551

score: 76/110

kris commentary: You've improved a lot from last round! I'm glad to see it. I think the cover is pretty, I just have a few issues. Starting with the model, I think the hair and dress could look better (especially since the dress is just black). I also think adding lighting on the model (also mostly the hair and dress) could improve this graphic a lot. Another thing is the wold in front. It looks kind of blurred, which the other is high quality; I would change one of these so they match. Another thing is the moon, which isn't well blended. Also logically, the moon would be behind the trees. The last thing is the green sparks. If they were white or blue-ish it would've added to the cover instead of taken away from it which the green does.

eva commentary: Good job ! Just a few mistakes to report. First the hair. I don't know why but I don't really like them. And the moon which seems closer to the model than the trees. Then there are also the green sparks, I would not have chosen this color; it doesn't go with the rest. Last thing; the wolves. I don't know why, but they don't seem to blend in. Maybe if you had put a little grass in front of their paws or played a little more with the lighting, it would have been better.

+ + +

7th place・alex || froglock

score: 75/110

kris commentary: I really like how this graphic turned out. I do think though, that some things could be improved. Both the model and the wolf don't blend well with the background, and it makes it look kind of odd. I also think the hair could've been better blended. Another thing is the sizing. The girl looks incredibly small compared to the background imo. I also think this could've been more fantasy-like maybe by adding slow/ice coming from her hand or something.

eva commentary: Nice manipulation! I love the blue and the snow is very well made. The background is also a very good choice. The wolf, on the other hand, has a little problem. So I don't know if you did it on purpose but if he's a normal wolf, the proportions are wrong. Also, its lighting is not very well done. It does not seem to me to be part of the decor. I like the hair. But I think they don't look natural. And last thing, what is on the right side of the model's hips? The cutting is very bizarre on this side. And there is also a problem with the natural effect and the proportions.

+ + +

8th place・renn || rennzai

score: 70.5/110

kris commentary: I'm kind of surprised you placed this low despite getting the most votes. I think the thing that brought your score down the most for me was the lighting. The model doesn't seem to blend in with the background along with the dress/hair. I also think a different background choice could've improved your score as well (maybe with more fire). 

eva commentary: I like the idea! The colors go well with the theme and the dress you added is very well made. Unfortunately, your handling is far too busy. The flame effect is well done, but the quality is not the best, as is the dress. Also, the hair is not well made. I have nothing more to say than a good job.

+ + +

9th place・shay || stha2501

score: 70/110

kris commentary: I think the cover looks pretty cool (I like the title most) but there are improvements that could be made. I don't like how blurry the model is, for starters. This makes me focus more on the background than the actual vampire. The blood on her face isn't done well, too, and if you blurred the model that also should've been blurred. The crown should be on top, and I think the one upside-down is necessary- maybe putting blood there instead would've been better. The blood splatters are also not blended well, especially the one at the top. Changing the coloration and setting it on multiply could've fixed this. The last thing is the subtitle, which should be placed behind the title, not in front.

eva commentary: Very nice cover, I like the way you made the title, even if the crown should be in front, not behind. But I would prefer that you didn't do the ''Vampire'' like this. Also, it's annoying that the model is blurry, it is not very well done. And the blood effect isn't very well done either. The teeth are well put, and I like the throne behind. Unfortunately, you didn't know how to play with the red shades and that gives a bland side to everything.

+ + +

10th place・mars || marxdolan

score: 65.5/110

kris commentary: I honestly really enjoyed this cover. I think the colors are pretty and I really like the title. My biggest issue here is the amount of overlays. I like the colors of them, but I think toning it down a bit would help the cover (especially the white stars). I also think the blend of the sword in the model's hand could definitely be improved. Her forearm down is also abnormally large in comparison to the rest of her body (and is missing the same coloration).

eva commentary: So I like the colors. They are well harmonized even if they are a little flashy. Unfortunately, your cover doesn't really charm me. First, the proportions have a big problem. Either the horse had to be bigger, or the model had to be smaller. Like this, it did not work out. Then I don't like the brightness and the contrast of the model at all. But I like the lights around her! And I don't find the ''TGW entry'' anywhere.

+ + +

11th place・thalia || spiderkru

score: 60.75/110

kris commentary: This cover is cool, it's just way too dark, even with my brightness all the way up. The model could be better-done, especially the cut and blend of her. I also think the butterflies are too distracting on her face. The wings could be better blended as well. My biggest thing, though, is the text. I don't like the placement and that it's very hard to read. Placing it at the bottom would've made it a lot better, even if you didn't change the style.

eva commentary: Very pretty, good work. But unfortunately, I don't really like the colors you have chosen, nor the background. The lighting is very dark, which does not let us see the details and the title is almost invisible. The cutting is also not perfect; there is a line on the arm of the model. The wings have strange colors on them, too. And I don't like the little butterflies that you put on the model's face. Finally, I don't see the TGW entry anywhere

+ + +

12th place・annabel || curiousIy

score: 59.85/110

kris commentary: I'm kind of shocked you placed this low, to say the least. Your cover is very pretty, I just think there are some things that are lacking. First is the quality of the model. I know the images weren't the best quality but making the dimensions of the cover could've compensated for that to make it look of higher quality. I'm also bothered by how the free leaves are of higher quality than the model & don't match the color. Another thing is the body blend with the mode. The biggest issue, though, is that it doesn't give off a "fantasy" feel. 

eva commentary: Beautiful. I love the fonts you used on the title as well as the subtitles. The name is original and I love the color you have chosen. However, the first thing that struck me was the proportions. The body is too big for the head. If you had just made it a little smaller, the face swap would have been almost invisible. Then I like the background. But to use a black background, you had to do something that quickly attracts attention so that we only look at it first. The green you used was a good idea, but it is way too bland. If you had raised its saturation a little higher, it would have done something much better. And I'm not a fan of the glow around the model. But the main problem that it is more an aesthetic graphic than a fantasy one. I don't see the fantasy manipulation here and I don't know if it is just me but that's what I think.

+ + +

13th place・layla || einhxrnchen

score: 48.7/110

kris commentary: I know you were going for Early Bird, but I think spending more time on this cover would've greatly benefitted you. I don't really like the emboss effect on your text, and it doesn't really match your cover because of that and the color. The model's skirt is also poorly blended with the top & the coloration needs to be adjusted. I also don't really like the fog border you've placed; it makes the cover look a little bland. Last thing is that this doesn't look like fantasy, and instead looks like historical fiction/romance.

eva commentary: Pretty. You have harmonized the colors well and I like the font you used. But there are several issues I would like to share with you. First, it is very obvious that the upper body is superimposed on the skirt. The colors don't go together and it looks like it was cut. Then, the border of fog. I do not find it very pretty. Since you did not choose pep colors, it gives a slightly bland rendering. The model also doesn't seem to be part of the background and it's something I don't particularly like. If you had played a little more with the lights, the colors and the shadows you would have had a much more beautiful rendering. The last thing that bothers me is the texts. The title is clearly visible but I am not a fan of its colors. However, the two subtitles are almost illegible and the same goes for the colors. And the main problem is that it hasn't a fantasy vibe. More a historical one

+ + +

14th place・chloe || blondie_x_girlie

score: 48.5/110

kris commentary: I like the idea here, it just needs to be improved technically. I don't like the text both due it its font and its style.  Everything also needs to be blended better. The model's face is very like and it's pretty much white. You can tell which pngs you used and that they were simply placed on the cover in layers. Even adding a filter over the cover would make it look a little more blended. I also wish you did something with the model other than just placing her to make it a more technical manip.

eva commentary: Not bad. I really like the background you have chosen and the little fireflies around the model. Only there are certain things that spoil it all a bit. First, the lighting. Since the backlighting is dark in some places at the bottom, the model's legs, neck and some places should also be dimmed. Then I like the idea of a fairy. Except that the wings you used are of poor quality and I don't particularly like their colors. The model's skin is almost white and his features are difficult to see. I almost feel like it's a source of light so much it shines. You might have had to play with the brightness and contrast to not have it made so blinding. And last thing, I don't particularly like the fonts you used. I do not know why but I have the impression that they do not go with the rest.

+ + +

15th place・mak || makxdolan

score: 46.5/110

kris commentary: The manip of the siren body on the model is pretty well done, I just think everything else needs more work. To start, I don't like your text choices. Not only do they not go together, but they also don't go with the cover and seem to take away from it. You also have too many shades of purple which almost none of them match; the smoke, the next shading, the background, the light swirls, the model, the circle- they're all different shades and make the cover look kind of messy. The lighting on the model is also strange, and it doesn't match the background. Maybe even putting a filter on top would make it look a little more cohesive. 

eva commentary: The first thing I saw; it's the violent contrast of the cover. The idea is good, but there, with the cut not very well done, the background, the color that comes back in almost everything, I do not really appreciate the manipulation you have done. I'm really sorry, I can see that you worked on this cover, but the technique is not yet perfect. And, I don't see the ''TGW entry'' anywhere.

+ + +

16th place・lock || taking_revenge

score: 28.75/110

kris commentary: I'm sad to see you at the bottom again. Your cover has an amazing quality, there's just things you need to improve. I don't know what's the idea of your cover, and I can't tell what the title is. I didn't even notice until after I scored that the word 'the' is in the cover. The images are also not well placed/blended. I will though, say that you did a good job coloring the dress of the model. In the future rounds, I recommend you tone-down on the image amount and focus on blending/editing.

eva commentary: Like the cover of the last round, this one is too busy. The photos you used are of good quality and are pretty. But not together and not with such saturated colors. The cutting is not very well done since there is a white line on the right side of the model. This purple is far too present and I first thought that the wings were an open whale's mouth. Sorry if what I say hurts you, but I'm here to say what I think. And I try not to be too hard in my opinions. Fonts are not a good choice and the title is poorly typed. You have potential. But to use it, try to reduce the number of images you use and less saturate them. The last thing : I don't see the TGW entry anywhere

+ + +

no entry: raevansdesigns & Milochondria

・CLOSING THOUGHTS・

The manips this round were very impressive, to say the least. I really enjoyed seeing everyone's technical side, even if I forced it out of them. I hope my commentary helped you all see what to improve in for the next round and further, especially since we're now doing eliminations.