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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsWyndforge releases new WoW character art
by Mike Schramm 
Mar 17th 2008 at 6:00PM
Very nice stuff. He really has a talent for sculpting the screenshots together, and keeping the original look of the characters while also adding a little extra to make them epic enough to be framed and hung on the wall.
[Via Incgamers]
Filed under: Fan stuff, Virtual selves, NPCs
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Chris Jahosky Mar 18th 2008 2:28AM
It looks to me like some of the swirly Photoshop brushes I've seen around the net (though I'm sure he's customized them, if not made his own outright). There are also nifty particle programs for creating cool swirls and the like.
Those are what I use (and have used, on some occasions). I think the effect is overdone to the point where you can't really tell what some of the weapons are -- not all magical weapons should exude magic *all* the time.
To his credit though, I think that a lot of time, work and effort has gone into it. It's not what I would go for personally, but I can definitely appreciate the work.
nobbie Mar 18th 2008 4:33AM
Hi!
There's an extensive (English) interview with Wyndforge over at WorldofWar.de:
http://wow.gamona.de/index.php?pid=343&seite=pp&sid=4
He talks about his work there, and any question you may have should be answered.
@Interrorator:
Maybe you want to step back a little so that others can enjoy the work of this nice guy. The last thing he wants to make from this is money; that's why you don't find any prices displayed on his site.
Baluki Mar 18th 2008 12:46PM
Ah, cool. Just what I was looking for:
"All the effects are done in Photoshop without the use of 3rd party filters and effects. I use a handful of techniques that quite honestly have evolved drastically over the years, and continue to evolve today. I will say this: Most of the effects begin with the airbrush tool. The rest? That is classified top secret Wyndforge material :) "
So, good to know. I guess I'll just have to figure it out on my own. I'm sure there are some tutorials out there that can help me out too. He must use a drawing tablet or something, because those lines seem too perfect to be done with a mouse.
Tenchan Mar 18th 2008 5:25AM
I love the idea, but I have to agree that his own additions to the shots are repetitive and very rarely harmonic with the pictures. Notice how every single image uses exactly the same kind of 'swirl' for the effects. If he keeps working on it and allows himself to learn some new tricks, something really awesome may come out of it.
nread Mar 18th 2008 9:19AM
I'm not impressed in the art aspect. All he is doing is taking some images cutting/pasting, and then adding relatively generic 'effects'... I'm pretty sure IRL, they call it scrapbooking. Any artistic quality in the actual piece is attributable to the wonderful artistic talent of the texture and model people at Blizzard. This guy is just piggybacking off of their work.
nobbie Mar 18th 2008 9:44AM
Since Wnydforge works in the film industry in Hollywood (3D/sfx), it's only natural that he "post processes" Blizzards screenshots (using his own unique style/talent).
Silverrealm Mar 18th 2008 10:32AM
Sean and Interro... you both disgust me... you turned this whole blog personal...
When all I was saying was that you are entitled to your opinion as I am to mine, I didn't say anything about "just beause it's popular doesn't mean it's good". That is expressing your opinion in a heavy handed way, and honestly, it's a bit like a kid throwing a tempertantrum. We heared you, but kicking and screaming on the floor whislt yelling about it repeatedly isn't going to change my mind sorry.
I do wonder what kind of satisfaction you could possibly draw from where you have taken this blog.
I am a supportive person, regardless if I would have used grey or darker purple. What you have done, and the way you did it, is not conscructive criticism, it's not constructive anything, it's damaging!
I still credit the artist for the work put into this... and if you WANT to go 'there' woth legalities and copyright infringement... half of 'deviantart' digital paintings are also all illegal and should be wiped from the face of the earth or SUED. They are clearly evil... yeah riiiight! *rollseyes*
Sean Riley Mar 18th 2008 5:59PM
Tell me where I made ONE personal attack.
I described a viewpoint as 'bullshit', it is true. But I never attacked anyone personally. I attacked arguments, opinions, statements.
I never made it personal.
jbodar Mar 18th 2008 6:16PM
Are they making a business out of selling their deviantart digital paintings? That's the difference. It's kind of like taking Jim Lee's famous penciling work on Batman, adding a really nice digital painting, then selling them on the internet without giving Jim his cut or asking permission.
As for his over-indulgence in flashy swirls, I'd bet that he does it because that's what sells.
Sean Riley Mar 18th 2008 7:56PM
And, actually, the only person who made this personal was Wearedoomed, who informed Interrorator that he had no talent and told him to go 'back to his basement'.
Sorry, but we didn't make this personal. Wearedoomed did.
Lyz Mar 18th 2008 12:03PM
Well, these photos are quite impressive, but the fact that he uses the same effect on just about everything kind of deters me from considering him all that great.
What I'm at a loss about is why we uses in-game screenshots for this. The model viewer would be a thousand times easier and wouldn't add any unwanted lighting effects.
nobbie Mar 18th 2008 1:00PM
As Wyndforge said in the interview, he likes to meet the player in person - that's all ;)
Krysti Mar 18th 2008 3:39PM
( leaving normal comment )Omg this guy truly amazes me, awesome work and thanks for introducing his site, since i've never really heard of him, I love it i was shocked to see how awesome he was, ^.^!
Sparx_Shammy Mar 20th 2008 11:34AM
Prices:
DIGITAL PACKAGE: $150
* You get your character portrait (as you see in the galleries) in digital file format.
* Digital files include: Original, raw hi-res image of your portrait.
* You will also receive a hi-res image of your character without the nameplate, so you can print it yourself. Click to see a sample HERE
* TIF files available if requested. TIF files are the common file format when getting professional prints made.
PHOTO PACKAGE: $200
* You get everything as described in the Digital Package.
* You also receive a 18x12 Photo Print of your portrait (on glossy professional photo paper)
* You also receive a 18x12 Professional Chrome Luster Print of your portrait without the nameplate. This is ideal for mounting and framing.
* Finally, you will also receive an 18 x 12 Canvas Print of your portrait, to be used for mounting and framing. Click to see an example HERE
* Free US Shipping
ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS: $100
* Extra characters in the same portrait must go through the same photo session as the main character.
* Pets, mounts and creatures are not considered characters, and are always free of charge.
EXTRAS
* CANVAS PRINT of any portrait in the galleries (with or without frame): $30
* PROFESSIONAL CHROME LUSTER PRINT of any portrait in the galleries (with or without frame): $25
* PROFESSIONAL GLOSSY PHOTO PRINT of any portrait in the galleries (with or without frame): $15
* INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING for PHOTO PRINTS - All non-US orders that include printed material will require an additional shipping fee of $15
chris Mar 25th 2008 12:58AM
wow, you guys are nasty. while you are entitled to your opinion, going on some random forum just to bitch about stuff really eludes me. is there a reason that all you negative losers felt it necessary to rear your ugly heads?
old sayings work best: if you haven't got anything nice to say, then fuck off.
if you don't like it, great. but what makes you think ANYONE gives a crap about your dislike of it? some of you are so self centered that you think people should chose whether or not to have some artwork produced based on your uninformed whining that probably stems from some deep seeded jealousy that you don't have any real skills that might be worth selling.
on a legal note, i discussed with my lawyer student friend, who reckons that blizzard didn't make said screenshot (or collection of) and therefore doesn't own the rights to the image.
alex, you seem to have sense, thank you for your comment.