Back about three months ago, I had the idea to make myself a wallpaper in photoshop containing REDLINE, as seen in my signature graphic. For one, I wanted to practice and learn new photoshop skills (I've just started using it about mid-summer). As my idea for what exactly to do for the wallpaper was forming, I thought "how cool would it be if I could make a scene involving the board's Boombox as well? (He's been so under-used, he needs some love!)What about a scene that looks like it was straight out of the show or comic?" So, I PM'd Tony Bacala about it to get his approval before I even started. He's a busy busy man, so it took awhile, but I finally did manage to get his approval, provided that I let him see the final product for his approval before I ever thought of posting it anywhere. So I set out. I got in contact with Laserbeak, my photoshop sensei (he's taught me pretty much every PS trick I know) and laid out my idea for him, and asked if he would mind helping me create an all new original background as well as any new tricks that I might not know yet. He enthusiastically agreed! So we both browsed around the 'net looking for a photo to base the original background off of when a tourist beach photo was found. The photo was flipped, the tourists removed, the sky was changed, weather was changed, craters and fires were added as well as their lighting effects. I then took my picture of RL(redline), and one of the few pictures of BB(boombox), and cut them out and pasted them into this new background. Then they had to be scaled, placed (this was pretty extensive in the case of RLs spot) and appropriate lighting effects were then added to them to make them "belong" in the background. I could have stopped here, the photo was beautiful to not only me, but LB as well, but It wasn't perfect! the upper left corner was missing something, it was the only spot that was well and truly empty, so hey, why not a seeker battle way in the background? I didn't want them too close or they would be distracting from the picture's focus. I used two aerialbots, and the three original seekers, shrank them, motion blurred them, colored them to match the "planet"'s atmosphere, and drew in contrails to help their scene be visualized. Its now the end of the year, three months later, and Tony Bacala has seen and approved of this picture to be shared with the world!! Here's the final product, in a board-friendly size. Don't fret, I havn't forgotten that I said "wallpaper"! Tony B had me zip up all the various wallpaper sized versions and e-mail them to him so that he could place them in the board's official wallpaper gallery!!! So, look at this sample, enjoy, and please please tell me what you think!! And while you're at it, keep an eye out in the galleries for Tony's posting of the wallpapers! -Andy PS don't forget to tell Laserbeak your thoughts as well, although I did the work, he was instrumental in this photo's creation, I couldn't have done it without him
Ah, finally the unveiling! I never tire of seeing this pic. I'm real impressed with how far RL's come in his PS skills. He's certainly been a great "student", and it was a pleasure working with him on this pic. Here's hoping for many more projects!
actually, in light of the fact that REDLINE's tech specs are based off of Rodimus Prime's and Springers, and compare that to Boombox's, I think RL could take him Andy
"Don't try it, Anakin!! I have the high ground!" Some pretty nice stuff going on in that picture. Matt
