Photoshop contest - billboards

High Resolution

First time attempting something like this - please leave comments and advice.
Many layers, created shapes, reflections, etc. Most in depth I've done. And first time doing SBS. Let me hear it either way - I'm curious what you think.

greymval [lvl 10] [vp 559] [ 11]:

nice!! are u a smoker or how did u figure that out)
(181 days ago)

reaprevenge [lvl 11] [vp 1000] [ 161]:

now that is original . big points for that .. make your reflection a little bit lighter.. no pun intended
(181 days ago)

papakoolakov [lvl 6] [vp 1000] [ 13]:

ha, nice job man. good idea!
(179 days ago)

author:

Took your advice, reap - and brought the opacity down to 8%. I think it helped. Thanks, man.
(179 days ago)

mangoa [lvl 7] [vp 0] [ 14]:

GREAT IDEA!!!
(178 days ago)

kneff [lvl 1] [vp 512] [ 14]:

excellent work
(177 days ago)

madmandie [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 0]:

Nice to see something original
(177 days ago)

Norman [lvl 9] [vp 179] [ 1]:

I like the soft glow at the bottom of the lighter. Nice job
(177 days ago)

jack683 [lvl 19] [vp 1000] [ 76]:

hahahah excelent !
(175 days ago)

author:

thanks you guys . . . . appreciate the love. No, I am not a smoker - never have been - just sort of the first thing I "saw" when I read "Photoshop this image".
(175 days ago)

Lil_Flac_3 [lvl 5] [vp 0] [ 7]:

One day I'll be able ta make sumthang like this from scratch. Gave ya all good votes
(174 days ago)

mymyb37 [lvl 28] [vp 2000] [ 304]:

Did you create the metalic part of the lighter or does it come from an outside source?
(174 days ago)

suresh raja [lvl 25] [vp 1000] [ 171]:

Congrats!
(172 days ago)

SadMooney [lvl 6] [vp 18] [ 11]:

Congratulations
(172 days ago)

spaceranger [lvl 20] [vp 1000] [ 33]:

Congrats!
(172 days ago)

lchappell [lvl 8] [vp 1000] [ 62]:

Way to go big guy
(171 days ago)

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step 5

final score: 59.6 %

votes placed: 209

submitted: 181 days ago

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tags:GotLite

High Resolution

I really like mantis, so I've decided to try this one.

Thanks to
Background: uflorin, from sxc
Mantis: algiamil, from sxc

SeattleGuy [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 0]:

Cool! Nice work.
(181 days ago)

reaprevenge [lvl 11] [vp 1000] [ 161]:

great idea
(181 days ago)

jarcher [lvl 3] [vp 0] [ 0]:

very cool - I wonder if you enlarged the head and made the antenna continue out from the screen to the to the light poles
(178 days ago)

madmandie [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 0]:

Very cute..
(177 days ago)

Norman [lvl 9] [vp 179] [ 1]:

Nice body on that mantis
(177 days ago)

author:

Thanks all for your comments... ... Jarcher, I've tried that, but the antenna didn't look right because the dark colors on the tree.
(174 days ago)

Mario [lvl 10] [vp 12] [ 49]:

top 3 in my opinion
(173 days ago)

suresh raja [lvl 25] [vp 1000] [ 171]:

Congrats!
(172 days ago)

author:

Thanks, Mario and Suresh raja
(172 days ago)

spaceranger [lvl 20] [vp 1000] [ 33]:

Congrats!
(172 days ago)

step 1

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step 3

step 4

step 5

sources used for this entry:

• 1: Background
• 2: Mantis

final score: 56.2 %

votes placed: 222

submitted: 181 days ago

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tags:Billboardmantis

Sorry all, for some reason I wasn't logged in when I posted this before, anyways here's how I made this image.

I created this by using a gradient for the background a couple different cloud brushes, some water brushes, light beam brushes, lots and lots of layering, blending and a really cool filter from Digimarc called Flood at flaming pear http://photoshop.pluginsworld.com/plugin.php?directory=adobe&software=photoshop&plugin=201. I used a Tutorial I found online for the broken glass on the one billboard, the other billboard is my own artwork. I found all of the images I use at www.photobucket.com.

myworld [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 0]:

The dark pink colour behind the clouds is little loud, i feel, it makes the overall pic artificial, still i liked ur efforts, good job my friend.
(177 days ago)

Peace-Maker [lvl 1] [vp 0] [ 0]:

The island in the backround does not look very realistic.
(177 days ago)

kneff [lvl 1] [vp 512] [ 14]:

I like it
(177 days ago)

atg2 [lvl 2] [vp 0] [ 0]:

nice work
(177 days ago)

Mr Big [lvl 14] [vp 1000] [ 196]:

nice to see some originality.
(176 days ago)

papakoolakov [lvl 6] [vp 1000] [ 13]:

water part is cool, but I do agree that the island takes away fromt the overall quality of the pic.
(176 days ago)

Mr Big [lvl 14] [vp 1000] [ 196]:

Congratulations!! Nice finish . . . .
(172 days ago)

sources used for this entry:

• 1: Water Brushes
• 2: Clouds brushes
• 3: Light Beams brushes
• 4: Flood Filter

marked as favorite 1 time(s)

final score: 55.4 %

votes placed: 211

submitted: 177 days ago

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tags:OceanofEmotion

yeah, had pretty good idea for this one. Did my best on it. Hope you cuties like it!

Mr Big [lvl 14] [vp 1000] [ 196]:

that's great!! Love the sparks off of the cables . . . . .creative. Great Work!!
(179 days ago)

hilleke [lvl 35] [vp 2000] [ 584]:

It would be great if you could fix the perspective on the texts. Try to match it with the billboard.
(179 days ago)

author:

My problem was, I suck at making the text look not so 3D. But I think it's a good idea that stands out from most.
(179 days ago)

jarcher [lvl 3] [vp 0] [ 0]:

Drop the drop shadows on the text, then you may need to rasterize the text and use free transform > perspective to get them to look like they are on the boards corectly. I think this is good and very funny! wtf - lol
(178 days ago)

author:

dropped the drop shadows. Did some more work on the text. Think its little better, still awesome.
(178 days ago)

mangoa [lvl 7] [vp 0] [ 14]:

i agree, just a few minutes with the perspective, and it would look much more realistic
(178 days ago)

author:

I think too, because the font is slightly italic is another thing playing tricks with your eyes.
(178 days ago)

p3_sv [lvl 2] [vp 1000] [ 190]:

hilarious
(178 days ago)

solkee [lvl 24] [vp 2000] [ 615]:

Your far billboard's text still needs work. Look at the bottom edge of the billboard and then at the angle the text is running at. That should point you in the right direction to fix it.
(177 days ago)

Norman [lvl 9] [vp 179] [ 1]:

Try Transform-Skew on the text.
(177 days ago)

author:

yeah Ive been trying my balls off at making that text fit somehow. It's funny how something so simple can make you feel so retarded. I'm trying here people, don't worry!!
(176 days ago)

Mr Big [lvl 14] [vp 1000] [ 196]:

congratulations Papa . . .. . . great entry. I thought this would do better .. . . should have taken second . . . . it's better than that guys!!
(172 days ago)

step 1

step 2

step 3

sources used for this entry:

• 1: source1

final score: 55.1 %

votes placed: 238

submitted: 179 days ago

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3-steps-guide for this entry

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tags:SeeYahLater