Design Challenge #4 - July 2012
 

Theme for Design Challenge #4 - July 2012 -- BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD

Deadline - Friday, July 27 (by 11:59pm CST)

There is a new submission process as well as updated submission guidelines and zipped folder size restrictions. Please scroll down to the http://www.marinecorpsmars.com/images/new.gif icons for more info.

As you are planning your contribution, please look through the things others are making so the kit doesn't have a lot of duplicate items. We want this kit to have tons of variety! Try something new, learn a new technique, and stretch your boundaries a little! Check out this thread for resources, tutorials, tips, and tricks for designers.

We would like to include two templates in this kit. A PhotoShop template with at least 25 layers will fulfill the minimum submission requirement. You should submit both a layered PhotoShop document and untrimmed PNG files named 1,2,3,4,5,etc. The first two people to send me a PM indicating a desire to create a template for this month’s challenge will be listed below. A backup person will also be listed in the event that one of the people creating the two templates indicates that they will be unable to complete it. If not used, the backup person will be offered a template slot for the following month.

Template 1: Gwendlite
Template 2: Fran98765
Backup:

We will also need someone to create a charm for the DC PP charm bracelet. The charm should use the colors from or follow the current month's theme. Send me a PM if you are interested.

Charm: ljritchie

Submission Guidelines:

• http://www.marinecorpsmars.com/images/new.gifSubmissions can be any combination of papers, individual elements (such as ribbons, scatters, frames, etc), word art, alphas, and clusters. The minimum number of unique items is 5; the maximum number of unique items is 25. The same paper/element in different colors counts as one. A full alpha fulfills the minimum requirement. Although you may submit any combination of items you want, we would prefer to see themed mini kits (which include a combination of papers, elements, and possibly a coordinating alpha).

[*]You may not submit items for which you do not hold the copyright. If you use overlays, elements, etc. to create your items they must be labeled for commercial use (CU) and if their terms require, include with your submission a statement that gives proper credit.[*]You must include a TOU/copyright notice in your submission. A basic fill-in-the-blank TOU can be found here if you don’t have one of your own.[*]There is no mb maximum for submissions, but please make sure you are sizing a saving your items according to the following guidelines.

• Papers should be:
  • 12”x12” 300dpi (which is 3600pixels x 3600pixels),
  • Saved as a JPG file that is about 3mb.
    • In Photoshop, after clicking on the “Save As” button, enter the desired file name and select “JPG” from the dropdown menu; click on “OK”. A popup screen should appear entitled “JPG Options”; change the quality value to “8” and click on “OK”. Saving the file with a value of “8 or 10” for quality will ensure it is the correct size (approx. 3mb).

• Elements/Alphas should be:
  • Sized appropriately for a 12”x12” 300dpi layout; make your items the same size you would want them to be when creating a layout. For example: 12"x12" is not a reasonable size for flower elements; 2"x2" is more appropriate,
  • Trimmed so there is a minimal amount of blank canvas around the item,
  • Saved as a PNG file—the file size (mb) will vary based on the size (inches) of the element.

• A preview of your submission is required. It should be:
  • 600pixels x 600pixels 72dpi,
  • It must minimally include your name (the one you used to save the files) and pictures of the items that you created for the challenge,
  • Previews may be as basic or elaborate as you want them to be.
    • A basic preview would tile the papers and/or line up the elements,
    • A more elaborate preview would arrange papers and/or elements in a more creative manner—as designers do to advertise their kits.

[/LIST]Some quality issues to pay attention to are listed below. If you have questions about what these things are or how to prevent/fix them, please ask! Everyone can benefit from adhering to these bullet points.

• Do not pre-shadow elements or elements on papers.
• Make sure paper textures aren’t blurry at 100%.
• Check that elements are not cut off or missing parts.
• When extracting or creating elements, be sure the edges are not jagged. Do NOT use the paint bucket tool to recolor elements--you will get jagged edges every time!
• After creating a paper or element, check to be sure it is in gamut.

You can find more information on QC issues here.

IMPORTANT:
You may NOT include:

• Any items trademarked or copyrighted by Disney. This includes but is not limited to names, words, song lyrics, and phrases (for example, you cannot create word art that says “Cinderella”, “Splash Mountain”, “Pop Century”, etc.).
• Photos, clipart, silhouettes, etc. of Disney characters—no Mickey heads either!
• Park, attraction, resort, restaurant, or movie signage/symbols/logos.
• Photos of buildings/structures on Disney property.
• Elements that are too similar to images copyrighted by Disney (for example: you may create a turtle that has similar coloration as Crush, but you may not create one with the same markings, eyes, expression, etc).

Your papers/elements should be useful for Disney layouts without infringing on the copyrights that Disney has on its characters, movies, parks, rides, attractions, etc.
The following website has a searchable database where you can look to see if a name/phrase is trademarked: http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/index.jsp

*** If there are any questions about minimum requirements or copyright infringement, please ask. ***

Files and Zipped Folder(s):

Naming your files:

Your MS username_DC#_element type_description

Paper Example: MMouse_DC50_paper_green.jpg
Element Example: MMouse_DC50_button_red.png
Alpha Example: MMouse_DC50_alpha_uppercase_A.png

Naming your folder(s):

Your MS username_DC#
Example: MMouse_DC50

If your username is longer than 8 characters, please use an abbreviation. Avoid using spaces anywhere in the file/folder name. If you design under a different name, you may use that name instead of your MouseScrappers name.
http://www.marinecorpsmars.com/images/new.gifPlease limit the size of each zipped folder to 50mb. If your submission is larger than 50 mb, please split it into separate zipped folders to help control download times. If you have more than one zipped folder, name them in this manner:

Your MS username_DC#_folderletter
Example: MMouse_DC50_A & MMouse_DC50_B

To zip files place all your elements and a TOU inside a folder, then zip that folder. This is automatically creates a folder containing your files in whatever folder the user unzips to.
There are many ways to compress (zip) a folder. You can use a program such as WINZIP/WINRAR or, if you are on a Windows operating system, there is a utility built into Windows that you can use.

• Right click on the folder containing your items and select “Send To”. Click on “Compressed (zipped) folder”. A new folder will be created in the same directory with the same name but it will be compressed (zipped).

http://www.marinecorpsmars.com/images/new.gifUploading Submissions: http://www.marinecorpsmars.com/images/new.gif
We will be utilizing DropITtoME to collect submissions this month. When you are ready to submit you items, send frogfish (Christina) a PM for the link and password. Don't worry, it's super easy and I will receive your submission immediately (no waiting to download).

Disclaimer:
The completed kit will be added to the MouseScrappers store for anyone to purchase. All proceeds from the sale of the kit will be used to keep MouseScrappers running. Every month you participate in this challenge, you will receive the resulting design challenge collaboration kit (for that month) free of charge, but will receive no compensation (monetary or otherwise) for your submission to the challenge or for the sale of the collaboration kit. Any and all proceeds from the sale of the completed kit go to MouseScrappers. Copyright of your submission remains with you.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. You DON'T have to be a designer; anyone can do this! The more people who participate, the bigger the monthly kit will be!

Sounds good.

Count me in!

A fun theme! Sounds great! :yes:

I'm super excited to see how this one turns out! I think a lot of the old west kits miss the "feel" of Big Thunder so I can't wait to see what some real Disney buffs come up with!

:help:I know we have no color swatches to use but I started playing by looking at photos of the ride and came up with these colors. Before I went too far with these colors I wanted to know if you guys thought they would be good. If not I want to change my color scheme. So what do you think?
http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/n...alette_web.jpg :thanks:

They look like good colors to me! I quickly checked gamut on them and some of the colors aren't in gamut. Here is the swatch with the colors mapped to their closest gamut color.
http://i1157.photobucket.com/albums/...cmm-swatch.jpg

Lisa, Love the color scheme!!!!!!!
Brenda
------------

Thanks Christina & Brenda. What other colors do you think should be included? How do you get the Hex Codes for colors? I want to get started early I waited way too long on the last challenge :rolleyes:

Thanks a lot for the color scheme Leisa! It's very helpful!!

In PhotoShop, select a color with the eyedropper tool, then click on the foreground color in left menu bar (the color picker icon at the bottom). That will bring up the color picker popup and at the bottom in the center will be the hex code for that color. :)

WOW that is easy! I will use your colors:yes:

I assume we can all use these colors if we choose too?

You can use these colors if you want, but you don't have to. Since there is just a theme this time, any colors you choose to use are fine!

Count me in!! I'll do a Western Themed Mini

Count me in.
But I was wondering if I can also use some brown colors?

You can use any colors you want as long as you use the theme Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The colors listed in the previous posts were just possible choices; there isn't a color requirement at all. It would be nice to see a variety of colors since the theme is so specific.

Thank you Christina.
I just started and I'm using some of these colors (but not all and I added some of my own).

I've got my template done, just need to package it up!!

:yeah:

I want to join in again! I had fun with the first one...I will edit and update this when I decide what I am going to attempt. Unfortunately, I am on a laptop that doesn't have all my actions. We are in the middle of a military move and all of my stuff is on it's way here. Can't say my stuff will be great.
:yeah:

Changes...
 

There are some minor changes this time, some to make things a bit smoother for me and people who download the submissions, and another because of participant suggestions/requests (on the survey distributed last month).

They are listed in the challenge instructions (the first post in this thread), but here they are in a nutshell. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks!

1) Submissions can be any combination of papers, individual elements (such as ribbons, scatters, frames, etc), word art, alphas, and clusters. The minimum number of unique items is 5; the maximum number of unique items is 25. The same paper/element in different colors counts as one. A full alpha fulfills the minimum requirement. Although you may submit any combination of items you want, we would prefer to see themed mini kits (which include a combination of papers, elements, and possibly a coordinating alpha).

2) Please limit the size of each zipped folder to 50mb. If your submission is larger than 50 mb, please split it into separate zipped folders to help control download times. If you have more than one zipped folder, name them in this manner:

Your MS username_DC#_folderletter
Example: MMouse_DC50_A & MMouse_DC50_B

3) We will be utilizing DropITtoME to collect submissions this month. When you are ready to submit you items, send frogfish (Christina) a PM for the link and password. Don't worry, it's super easy and I will receive your submission immediately (no waiting to download).

Add me to the blog hop I have more than 25 items :D So is the same flower (or any element) in different colors counter as one as well?

You can add me to the blog hop too.
I already have 8 different elements and 3 different papers.
I also have some items for the add-on as well. Hopefully, I'll finish my kit by the end of the week.

Done already??? I have a couple ideas in my head but I'm not even close to starting on it...

You can have up to 25 unique elements, so if you have the same flower in 6 different colors it only counts as 1. The same is true for any element or paper. The items just have to be exactly the same (except for color) to count as 1.

Okie Dokie I sent mine:thumbsup:

Me too, i participate as usual ! :hooray:

You can add me to the blog hop too and i send you my contribution ( kit) after the WEnd ;)

I'm finished. Got 1 alpha, 7 papers (5 different ones) and 17 elements (12 different ones).
Just need to make the preview.
I hope to send it in this evening.

I love that we have the Thunder Mountain Railroad as a "Theme." I am off to a running start making papers in NEUTRAL Colors. I wanted to do a kit in all neutrals but then with this challenge not having a color palette it was a no brainer to use the neutrals I had already started playing with. I am accumulating embellishment possibilities at the moment and have several train possibilities and some frames so far... gotta brainstorm a little more :yeah:

Just shy of 2 weeks until we bring DC4 to a close and the submissions I have already received are awesome!

I just finished up my part and although I drew on my favorite parts of the ride and surrounding area, some of you who are still working may be able to find inspiration in the Big Thunder Mountain backstory I found on Wikipedia. I knew the basic story; that its set in an abandoned mining town (which coinsidently is the name of my mini), but some of the things on Wikipedia were new to me (I'm assuming this information is correct). Do you know the whole story?

That's great Christina! Can't wait to see what everybody made. I'm so excided for it.
Can you tell me when the kit will be revealed?

The release date and blog hop are scheduled for Friday, August 3! Woohoo!

Thank you Christina.
I'm going to make a sneak peek and some extras for my own shop, so I wanted to know when to put it on my blog.

Don't know where the month has gone. I need to get to work on this. Haven't even started yet. But I've got some ideas and will have a freebie on my blog.

I don't remember if I posted, but I will have a blog freebie too.

Add me to the blog hop, too! I'll definitely have a freebie! :yes:

http://www.bookladydesigns.blogspot.com

Blog Hop for me!

Blog Hop
 

Count me in on the blog hop too!
http://madforthemouse.blogspot.com/

I'll have a couple beauties to share!

Just got my entry in. Please include me in the blog hop, I've got some extras to offer.

http://www.mjajdesigns.blogspot.com/

I already let you know that I'm participating in the blog hop, but I forgot to mention my blog:
http://saaronline.blogspot.com

I'm in on the bloghop :hooray:

http://cindyrelly.blogspot.com/