TransFormers Adventures on Planet Arus

Discussion in 'Transformers Funnies' started by Keith Prime, Feb 10, 2011.

  1. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    What happens when the TransFormers encounter Voltron & arrive on Planet Arus? Learn the secret behind the origin of Voltron: Who created the Mighty Robot!

    This is Alternity Primax-Malgus 211.10 Beta Iota

    I also have a sub-Alternity where my Prime Figures will leave to join this comic (eventually). Tentative names for that are
    • Trimax 812.7 Beta Alpha Zeta (Trinex & Trimax were suggested by Sol Fury a year+ ago for the Prime Alternity)
    • Trinex 812.7 Beta Alpha Zeta
    • Primax-Tyran 812.7 Beta Alpha Zeta (combining G1 & the movie designations, since Prime is more or less a hybrid of the 2)
    • the official one, if there is one (TFWiki did not show one for Prime when I looked the day before posting)
    • one already in use in the Funnies Forum, again if one exists (not that I'm aware of at this point)

    NOTE: I've edited my links using the [NOPARSE][POST][/POST][/NOPARSE] tags, so they should now work no matter your Posts per Page settings.

    Rules for using my Multiversal Singularity can be found here or by contacting me. (now directly links to the usage section of that update. To read the update where he appears, look at Update 13: Convoy of Primes)

    This is my first attempt at anything like this, so please be patient. Also, sorry the lighting sucks in the first few updates... I'm hoping when I relocate to a different room, later (probably when the review starts), the lighting will improve... I'm using LED Flashlights in an attempt to offset the yellowing of the spiral Energy Saver bulbs used here. I also apologize for the clutter around the place. & the TOTAL lack of sets (though, there is going to be at least one recurring background element, when we get to Planet Arus). I'm also using my cell phone for my camera... Probably why it's so dark...

    Some thanks are in order: I used the following FX Tutorials:
    Polenicus's Explosions...with Pathos!
    Coolhand's on Fire, AKA: The Burninator & Glowing with Pride
    Riplclaw's 2 Minute Instant Laserbeam's, Mmmm (though, I worked out my own lasers)
    Granted, none of these come into play this update.

    Here's a Tutorial I made myself. Complete (it covers the basics & some advanced stuff, & I show the Menus!): Keith Prime's Shocking Lightening & Cybervenom

    Adding credit for fonts I forgot were downloaded here:
    • TransMetals Normal (used for:
      Tarantulas
      ) & Transformers Solid Normal (used for MP Optimus Prime) were made by Neale Davidson.
    • Knight Rider, used for the Dinobots (Classics & Animated) was made by L. Ross Raszewski
    • The Maximal & Predacon Script text in my original sig, which may be used in other things (including '
      Laserbeak vision
      '), was made by Jim Sorenson. I have his
      Golden Disc
      Font, too, which may or may not be used. (might as well be safe).
    • Dalek (used for
      TransMetal II Dinobot
      ) was made by Keith Bates (NOT me)
    • if I forgot to include any other custom fonts being used, I apologize. Most fonts are from Windows, & the customs mix in.
    • I have a couple other Doctor Who fonts I may use in the future, but can't read who they're by in the Properties menu. I've switched computers, so their accompanying info could've been lost in the transfer.
    • I have made no custom fonts. All Fonts used are Freeware or included w/ Windows. Since this isn't for profit, this list may not have been necessary.

    Credit for my Cybertronican backgrounds:

    Mandingo Rex (TFormers s/n) made the Teletraan Diorama print out, which I used digitally to create the G1-ish backgrounds for Cybertron, which will be used again to create the AEG HQ that will be set up on Arus. His TFormers profile page | Where I found the print out files


    The first bit is set up (no good story can get off the ground w/o set up), so it'll be a bit before we actually get to Planet Arus... But it will be fun, I can almost guarantee it...

    I had originally planned to post the beginning as an ACO's Reviews in the Box followed by a Running Battle, (both threads run by Polenicus), but I find making FX in Gimp rather simple, & have had good feed back on them & the story (a bit, from the few I've discussed it with at least), & thought I'd go on & post my first update in my own thread, instead.

    A word of warning: updates will be sporadic, as my head injury limits my activities.

    Constructive criticism is encouraged, as this is also my first attempt at decent humor... Though, there's a good chance this could end up being a more serious comic... I hope the comic relief I set up works well...



    & now for the first post of
    [aname]Update1[/aname]
    TransFormers Adventures on Planet Arus

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  2. Hype1

    Hype1 D Witwicky biographer

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    Looks like you are off to a really good start KP! As far as the lighting goes, have you tried the flash lights WITH the room lighting? The most important thing for ANY photo is light (for both film and digital) so if you use both it will give your phone a brighter base image to start with. With the main lights as fill lights your flashlights can actually serve as key lights and they will create some pretty dynamic highlights and shadows.
     
  3. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    I do have the room lights on. Sometimes 3, & my computer was down near those shots. I'll move the next bit under an over-head-ish light, & see if that helps. I have no idea why those are so dark. My initial test shots to experiment w/ Gimp were only that dark w/ one LED...

    However, I think the near total black background works for the shot w/ Bludgeon.

    Glad you like it so far. If my head injury cooperates, I hope to have part 2 up soon... (The shots have already been taken, but they're FX heavy.)
     
  4. Ripclaw

    Ripclaw DementedDino1

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    other than the problems you stated, i find this good so far, and have you tried raising the exposure on your phones camera? that helped me before i got a camera
     
  5. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    I'm glad you like it. You'll probably like how they get out of this.

    Hope to have the next bit up before noon...

    As to Exposure settings, I don't know how to, or even if I can, change the exposure. I didn't find a setting... Before doing this, I never really used my camera... I get cells to use as phones, & maybe organizers. When I took a test shot in my room of a white figure, he still looked white, so bulbs other than what are used out here should work fine. My phone does have an incandecent filter, or whatever it's called...
     
  6. Ripclaw

    Ripclaw DementedDino1

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    on most phones the left and right buttons control exposure, on the smart phones i think its in settings, im not sure cause my current one is fine without messing with exposure, in fact, its better than my camera without the flash turned on
     
  7. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Update 2

    Or is this update 1? Well, it's the 2nd posting, so I'll call it 2...

    I think I found it, thanks... We'll see if that helps next update.

    These were taken last night, however, but I intentionally kept the yellow in the first few (I was going for a lava flow feel, let me know if that gets across). This is about 1/2 the panels of the first update, but about 1/2 the shots had graphics, & this ends on a nice line.

    W/o further ado:
    [aname]Update2[/aname]
    Update 2: Dinobot Calvary

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  8. Hype1

    Hype1 D Witwicky biographer

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    lmbo, Screamer sure did change his tone mighty quick,lol
     
  9. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Well, this IS G1 Starscream... I see him as smart (he was a Scientist after all), a compotent leader, but his survival circuits are overloading.

    Besides, HE WAS FACING TWO Grimlocks! Any smart 'Con would reconsider engaging in battle against those odds... well, any 'Con 'cept Straxus & Bludgeon...

    Speaking of which... I have shots taken for the next update, but don't know if I want to edit & post what I have, or take the shots of the fight first & post it all/ most of it (may have to split the individual fights, depending on how I feel when I'm shooting & editing it)?

    & thanks Ripclaw, the next update won't be as dark.
     
  10. Ripclaw

    Ripclaw DementedDino1

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    no problem, always happy to help if im able

    nice update, two grimlocks against any number of 'cons = total ownage of 'cons
     
  11. ectoneon

    ectoneon Well-Known Member

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    TWO Grimlocks....starscream is fragged! I didn't expect the elite gaurd to be the first to show up! The Classic Jetfire shot was real nice. Kinda interesting to me that animated Snarl shows up. I Just got that toy last week. You seem to have a handle on effects so far. Still some lighting troubles though. Do you have any kind of desk lamp you could move to where you are shooting at? That might help with seeing the bots beter, of course, it wouldn't help the yellow problem.
     
  12. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Well, I'm focusing on the AEG, so kinda had to use Animated Grimlock... But Classics is too cool not to use too, so BOOM: 2 Grimlocks... But who will which fight? :p  I know, but getting those panels shot & shopped is going to test me...

    Thanks, I'm glad I pulled that Skyfire (that's Skyfire, G1) shot off so well... Wasn't sure if I got the perspective right, but it was close enough... & that panel was a beast: EVERYTHING in the drop panel had to be cut out (luckily, Gimp aids in that, though it's still a partly manual process), rotated, resized, or otherwise created from scratch... But I had to do it to get Classics Grimlock in for the dual "Me, Grimlock" quote. lol

    I really did expect the effects to be much harder. Especially since I've never tried anything like this before. I think my natural, God-given computer skills are making up for it...

    I'm also glad all the TFs already have personalities, otherwise I wouldnt've tried this.

    Don't you think if I did, I'd've used it by now? The next set of pics came out lighter, thanks to Ripclaw, I think... & if I shoot in a room w/ different light bulbs, the yellow should be fixed. But I had most of my initial stuff planned for this room (well, nothing going on now was in the original planning, as I was going to start w/ an ACO review), & the test shots came out better than the actual... Might be an issue of being closer to the floor?

    At least the few posts I've gotten so far have all been positive. ^_^ That's nice.

    Oh, & I'm on my 2nd page already...

    I've decided to go on & at least shoot the start of the fight before shopping & posting my next update, as there's a nice out-of-nowhere moment that would be ruined if I made it a cliffhanger. ^_^

    You're welcome to try to guess what I'm upto... But I seriously doubt any of you will... :p 
     
  13. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Ambition

    This is worth an intentional double post in my own thread:

    I think I'll be over my head shopping the next update... I've finished the next set of pics... Hopefully I can use them how I want to...

    Being a multi-opponent fight sequence, I had a vision in my head... unfolding as I went... I hope I do what was in my head justice... or left myself enough leeway if I indeed am over my head...

    Either way, I'll probably know the limit of the effects I can pull off at this point...

    As such, my ambition makes estimating when I'll have the next update ready impossible... I have enough shot to finish the current fight, & hence get us to the Review in 2 or 3 updates, if I can use them all...
     
  14. Autobus Prime

    Autobus Prime Transit Former

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    Good start! I think I like the spotlight effect, intended or not. It helps keep the focus on the figures.

    Beating up Starscream is always a good idea. :) 

    Of course, sooner or later, word of this is going to get to the Castle of Lions...
     
  15. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Thanks. I'm glad people are enjoying it. There are some twists coming up... & Voltron will appear in a few updates, but not during the fight...

    & I want my Decepticons be to a credible, but intelligent threat. How intelligent can you be if you don't recognize Grimlock, ESPECIALLY TWO Grimlocks as a serious threat?

    Right now, we're still on Earth, until the Review is done, then the action goes to the Castle of Lions. MP Voltron, along w/ MP Op, is slated to be one of the size comparison figures for Bruticus.

    I had intended to start w/ the Review, but Pol never got back to me for permisison to post in his ACO thread (probably been busy w/ work), & Gimp is suprisingly easy to use, so I just started the comic thread... W/ a set up before the review... So far, everything has been improvised. Classics & Animated figures really do write themselves...

    Hopefully, now that I'm nearly done w/ shooting out here, when I go to another room, the lighting will improve... Don't know if I'll keep the LED lights or not then... Depends on conditions & such... & if several people ask me to...
     
  16. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Update 3! Grimlocks' Dilima

    Still some lighting problems, but not as bad... Worked out for the Grimlocks... I now have access to a larger flashlight, so hopefully the next shoot won't be so dark/ yellow...

    Also of note, I had to go back for several panels to add Animated Grimlock's Flame effect... Most panels were saved & closed & another open (if not finished) before I realized I might've forgotten the flame... :dunce  Luckily, it's a simple, 2 step effect... At least for me... I know some of you may have trouble w/ it... (I recommend Coolhand's on Fire, AKA: The Burninator/ Flaming GIMP- How to burn down your comics; there are also Tutorials for Photoshop)
    This update has the twist I've been talking about... Still had to split it up, as the next bit is a complicated fight.

    Update 3: Grimlocks' Dilima

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    NOTE -- This panel is meant to be Nightstick attaching to Cyclonus & acting as a booster, to get him airborn while Offline.
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    The fights will be next... May reshoot Grimlocks', as the light makes it hard to see & some pics weren't usable. Drift's will be tricky...

    Let me know honestly (spoiler blocked for those who haven't read Update 3 yet):
    Who expected Animated Grimlock to attack Classics Grimlock, instead of a Decepticon, allowing them to escape
    ?

    I also left some toys where a shot that's not supposed to have them did :dunce  (mostly due to shooting out of order, in an attepmt to maintain fight choreography & continuity), so let me know how I did covering those up? (the other Animated Dinobots for instance). If you didn't noticel I shopped some of the carpet, then I did good.
     
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  17. Ripclaw

    Ripclaw DementedDino1

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    i expected the grimlocks fighting.....but not until after they bashed a feww decepticons
     
  18. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    Of course they're going to disagree when they aren't distracted! ONE Grimlock's ego could fill 3 Teletraan's. I wanted to change things up early. ^_^ Grimlock even argues/ fight's w/ Optimus, so that's bound to happen later regardless...

    What about my fixing figures in panels they weren't supposed to be in?
     
  19. ectoneon

    ectoneon Well-Known Member

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    Grimlocks fighting each other. Soemhow it just seems like what they would do. Loved the shot of Straxus Transforming! And no, I didn't notice the carpet being shopped till you pointed i out. Also, animated Grimmy's fire sword was nice.
     
  20. Keith Prime

    Keith Prime Advanced Engineer

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    I've decided I'm going to reshoot the Grimlock/
    Grimlock
    & Drift/ Bludgeon fights, as some of the pics weren't usable, making them shorter than I wanted, & w/ a Mag-Lite, I should be able to get better quality, & better lit pics for them...

    Forgive me if I forget to flame up Animated Grim's sword some panels... I want to do a LOT of effects for the battles.

    I do intend to try a burning effect & some explosions, so it may be a bit before I actually get the update ready to be posted, as explosions following Pol's tutorial take a bit... Glad AniGrim's sword is only a 2 step process for me. :) 

    After the fight, I'll start the Review (might have a non-conflict update inbetween). I was wondering if you guys would rather I post the review all at once, or in ~20 panel segments?

    *edit*
    Reshoot in progress
     
    Last edited: Feb 14, 2011