Art HALP request for Era Buildings mod

[onmy6]

They all look really good except my apothecary one it looks blurry as hell. I'll upload it to photobucket instead of using civ5 attachment facility
apothecary 1

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apothecary 2

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Package plant, again if it's of any use

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pp2

pp1 refection was just firing for effect here's another one without the reflection

 

[LeeS]

They all look really good except my apothecary one it looks blurry as hell. I'll upload it to photobucket instead of using civ5 attachment facility
apothecary 1

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apothecary 2

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Package plant, again if it's of any use

Since I have the space in the atlas I'll throw the newer version of the 'Monk in the Apothecary' image in there and see which is better-looking ingame.

I think I'll change the in-game name of the building from 'Packing Plant' to 'Cannery' and then that 3rd icon would fit even better. Although I'm a little confused by the 'ghost-reflective' image. Though I don't think the average user will even realize there's a reflection-layer there -- it took me a loooong time to figure out that the library icon was an image of a guy stretched out reading a scroll.

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Cablemaker: (Classical Era)

Ugh. You know what? No. That is just bothering me; that looks awful.

Here, that's... well, it's better at least. Still not perfect, but at least I won't lose sleep over it.

For a splash, I'm thinking something like the Naval Buildings you made arranged showing the progression, like:

Spoiler :

Except with the icons overlapping a little between each one, with the Naval Yard icon at the end and 'on top' as it were in the overlap area. And however much 'blendery' coloring-in is not too much trouble. This to give the notion of the progression of the buildings as you advance and become more modern within the game.
Then just text similar to what you have on both sides of this image:

On the side with the mod 'name' I would just want 'Era Buildings', and then on the right like you did noting Sid Meier's Civ5 Brave New world blah de blah. 'Era Buildings' would be essentially placed where in your image you have the words "Mod Project" and in about the same size. As would the text on the lower-right: same text and size signifiying Sid Meieir's Civ5 etc.

Let me know if that's too, uh, greedy on my part, and we can simplify down from there.


PS: I've been going back and forth with myself on the naval icon 'progressions', and I think this will be the final progression I will end up using.

I really like the icon with the two age-of-sail vessels in port, and so will probably make that the default icon for the Renaissance Era, and only re-assign stuff if a player is also using the enlightenment era mod. Hence the arrangement of the icons in the spoiler.

Yeah, alright, I'll get to work on that; see if I can make something that looks good... unlike that train-wreck of an icon I initially made for the cablemaker.

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Alright, so here's a rough, first draft of that banner:

Personally, I feel like the space beneath the "Era Buildings" is a bit bare. I'm thinking that it needs something (maybe a second, smaller, icon progression) to fill it up.

Also, the "Era Buildings" text is bland; it could use a texture of some sort (I'm thinking bubbles, to emulate tech on the tech-tree being researched).

Thoughts so far?

 

[LeeS]

Alright, so here's a rough, first draft of that banner:

Personally, I feel like the space beneath the "Era Buildings" is a bit bare. I'm thinking that it needs something (maybe a second, smaller, icon progression) to fill it up.

Also, the "Era Buildings" text is bland; it could use a texture of some sort (I'm thinking bubbles, to emulate tech on the tech-tree being researched).

Thoughts so far?

Other than yeah I agree it's a little bare there on the bottom my first reaction is essentially

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Alright, how's this?

And on a related note, how's this for the Stupa icon?

 

[onmy6]

Alright, how's this?

And on a related note, how's this for the Stupa icon?

Wow that looks stunning Dok, did you do that all through gimp?

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Wow that looks stunning Dok, did you do that all through gimp?

I did indeed.

And, thank you kindly.

 

[LeeS]

Alright, how's this?

Nice^1,000! I think that will be quite wonderful, thanks.

And on a related note, how's this for the Stupa icon?

Very much that will work nicely.

In fact, already added the latest splash to the mod description page : http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=13885793&postcount=1

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Nice^1,000! I think that will be quite wonderful, thanks.

Very much that will work nicely.

In fact, already added the latest splash to the mod description page : http://forums.civfanatics.com/showpost.php?p=13885793&postcount=1

Horray! I helpded!

 

[LeeS]

Horray! I helpded!

hehehe.

On another note, when you post a mod to the Steam Workshop, do you find you need to resize and/or reformat a 'banner' image like that before the workshop will accept it?

Or do you do so anyway to keep Steam Workshop from doing one of those 'autodistort' algorithms that make your image look like a crayola smear ?

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

hehehe.

On another note, when you post a mod to the Steam Workshop, do you find you need to resize and/or reformat a 'banner' image like that before the workshop will accept it?

Or do you do so anyway to keep Steam Workshop from doing one of those 'autodistort' algorithms that make your image look like a crayola smear ?

Do you mean for the mod's thumbnail? That should be a square image (512x512). So if you use that banner as the thumbnail, Steam will squish it to fit, and it won't keep the aspect ratio.

I always make an image specifically for the steam workshop's thumbnail, for example:

I'd recommend having the same (which I can certainly whip up, if you'd like)

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Something like this tickle your fancy?

 

[LeeS]

Something like this tickle your fancy?

Wow! I went outside to shovel that [family friendly forum] white [family friendly forum] and when I come back inside to warm up and catch my breath, ta da!

I don't know whether my fancy has been tickled or my nose is just still an icycle, but yes, that's a sweet graphic.

 

[LeeS]

Hydroponics Plant: (Atomic Era)
(can't seem to make up my mind on which of these two)

Spoiler :

Hydroponics 1

Hydroponics 2

I kinda lean towards #1
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Food Replicators: (Information Era)
I couldn't seem to find anything that did not seem to bang up against unfair use of someone or other's copyright, so here:

Spoiler :

I always do say: "If all else fails: here, have a kitten!"

 

[calcul8or]

Hydroponics Plant: (Atomic Era)
(can't seem to make up my mind on which of these two)

Spoiler :

Hydroponics 1

Hydroponics 2

I kinda lean towards #1
----------------------------------------------------------
Food Replicators: (Information Era)
I couldn't seem to find anything that did not seem to bang up against unfair use of someone or other's copyright, so here:

Spoiler :

I always do say: "If all else fails: here, have a kitten!"

I would say Hydroponics 1.....and the cute kitten "awwwwww"

 

[LeeS]

If I had any real skill at artwork I would place the words "I Can Haz Placeholding" at the bottom, like the way words are stamped on the outer edges of coins.

 

[onmy6]

Hydroponics 1 works for me

Oh no, you didn't just open the Pandora's box of kittens did you

grumpy kittens gotta luv em

 

[LeeS]

Not sure about these. Not sure if the average user would ever get the reference or spot what is going on here.
Food Replicators: (Information Era)

Spoiler :

or

Spoiler hint :

google Charlton Heston Movies

 

[DoktorApplejuce]

Not sure about these. Not sure if the average user would ever get the reference or spot what is going on here.
Food Replicators: (Information Era)

Spoiler :

or

Spoiler hint :

google Charlton Heston Movies

Really? There are people that wouldn't get that? I mean, I guess a small handful, but still, "Soilent Green Is People!" is like the second most popular joke-spoiler on the internet, right after "Snape kills Dumbledore!"

Still, I like it. Mwahaha!