Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Goal
The goal of this call for art submissions is to create a feature article in Wayfinder #7 that displays the artistic talents of Pathfinder fans. Wayfinder #7 will be accepting all art submissions that deal with the Pathfinder setting. Some pieces may be used to fill up space throughout the magazine. Many, however, will be included in a special gallery article that will be featured in the PDF version only. So feel free to give us your best!
But first, we have a few rules...
Guidelines
Submission Instructions
DEADLINE: April 15, 2012, 11:59 Pacific. All entries will be handled on a first come, first serve basis.
Any questions can be asked here on in this thread, or email your questions to: wayfinder.fanzine@gmail.com
Is there a particular theme for this issue like there was for Wayfinder #6? Now that I have plenty of time to work on a submission, I'd like to give it a go :)
Check the back of Wayfinder #6, but it's basically anything from Year One of Paizo's Pathfinder products.
I'm trying to talk my wife into submitting something. She doesn't get much opportunity to create art anymore(kids and music take up much of her time), but maybe if I give her a goal...
How have I not heard of this? What a great idea!
Please refrain from submitting material that has already been published elsewhere.
Would it be in bad taste to post my Wayfinder submissions on my blog before(and if) they get published?
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Please refrain from submitting material that has already been published elsewhere.Would it be in bad taste to post my Wayfinder submissions on my blog before(and if) they get published?
What this really refers to is if you've drawn something on commission for someone else's use, especially if it's published in their magazine, supplement, or website/product/PDF, etc. then, well, don't submit it to us as well.
However, if you have been posting your personal work up on a blog or in DeviantArt, and it's not published by someone who paid for it, then yes, I'm keen on seeing it.
Now, if you did a nice piece of someone's character for a commission, and THEY gave us permission to use it, then I believe that'd be OK as well. (That's how the cover of Wayfinder #6 came to be....)
It been a long time since I've contributed some art to Wayfinder I definitely like the chance to do so again.
One Month is Down! Are you drawing something yet?
I drew a blank at quiz-night, yesterday. Does that count?
I'm just about to send in my submission. I'm hoping to see some great art in issue #7!
Also my first actual post on the boards, Lurker no more!
http://canada-guy-eh.deviantart.com/
Besides open art submissions--does signing up for the art brigade work the same way? Who am I emailing for that? Although, I really should submit an article this time around...
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Besides open art submissions--does signing up for the art brigade work the same way? Who am I emailing for that? Although, I really should submit an article this time around...
Tyler, drop Wayfinder an email requesting your desire to get some illustration assignments. I'll pass it along to whomever steps in to be art director this issue.
And yes, you should submit an article too.....speaking of which.....
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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UPDATE!!!
You got an extra day today....being a Leap Year and all.
However, TWO MONTHS ARE GONE.
You have until April 15th to get your art submissions in to Wayfinder! And I don't presently have enough art to make a gallery article.
Don't make me abandon this! Send me art that we can share with the whole Paizo Community!
Hey Tim, I'm curious. If I submit a piece of art with an article (As an example, with a Weal and Woe piece) would it be possible for it to be considered for this open call as well?
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Hey Tim, I'm curious. If I submit a piece of art with an article (As an example, with a Weal and Woe piece) would it be possible for it to be considered for this open call as well?
I only want the art to show up in the issue once, so if you draw something for an article, and we use it for that article, then it's not going to the gallery as well.
However, most of our art pieces for articles are assigned to artists that we have picked for the issue. That said, if you blow us away with your art that you drew (or had a friend draw, had commissioned, etc.)for the article, then we will likely use it...and then ask said artist if they'd be interested in drawing some more....
The goal is to get you unseen artists SEEN. But, hey, if we get to see your stuff first...we should be able to utilize your talents first, right?
;-)
Hope that answered your question!
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Not that I'm some big deal guy or something, but the thing that got me illustration work for Slumbering Tsar and Frog God Games was work I produced for Wayfinder. Some guy named Greg Vaughan saw a few pieces I had made and said "the kid's got moxie!"(at least, that's how I imagine it) and I wound up with a fifteen installment project on my hands.
Sometimes people ask you to work for free and nothing comes of it but in the instance of Wayfinder, your work WILL actually be seen by people that can hire you.
I'm James Keegan and I approve this message.
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Well said James!
I may have my eye on the Submissions Deadline right now, but I REALLY REALLY REALLY want people to keep going on this call for art submissions as well. We tried to pull this off for #6, but ended up will not enough art to fill a gallery article.
I want that gallery article! Honestly, I look at the amazing art Paizo fans are putting up over on DeviantArt, and I keep wondering why they won't send Wayfinder some of that, so more people can see just how good and fun it is!
Seriously, folks. You send us art and it will be seen (see above testimony of James Keegan!).
Expect more of these reminders within the next week!
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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It been a long time since I've contributed some art to Wayfinder I definitely like the chance to do so again.
Jason, I was looking through Issue #1, and I saw all your drawing goodness in there. Your talents have been missed! If you want to do some comic strips again, just let us know.
But, yes...it has been a long time. We would love to get your art in there again!
Not that I'm some big deal guy or something, but the thing that got me illustration work for Slumbering Tsar and Frog God Games was work I produced for Wayfinder. Some guy named Greg Vaughan saw a few pieces I had made and said "the kid's got moxie!"(at least, that's how I imagine it) and I wound up with a fifteen installment project on my hands.
Sometimes people ask you to work for free and nothing comes of it but in the instance of Wayfinder, your work WILL actually be seen by people that can hire you.
I'm James Keegan and I approve this message.
The art you did for ST was purely awesome, James! Greg is good at spotting talent.
I also loved the piece in Wayfinder #5 that accompanied my little story. I never found out how to contact the artist to tell her she nailed my character.
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I've had a query from a friend, who's been working on something related to my article submission. He also did the Viking knotwork in WF6.
Is this callout only for the 'readers' gallery' feature?
Or is it to find a shortlist of artists to illustrate the articles?
Will there be a separate timeline for art to be linked to the specific final articles?
Should he apply for both?
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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I've had a query from a friend, who's been working on something related to my article submission. He also did the Viking knotwork in WF6.
Is this callout only for the 'readers' gallery' feature?
Or is it to find a shortlist of artists to illustrate the articles?Will there be a separate timeline for art to be linked to the specific final articles?
Should he apply for both?
If it is related to your article, let's wait and see who and what makes the issue, first. If this article in question IS selected, then we'll consider art for it. (one step at a time, folks!)
If he wants to submit some art for the fan gallery, that is open for all aspiring artists, until April 15th.
I'm chugging away on a piece for #7, Tim, but I'm going to be cutting it close. I'm hoping you'll see it by Saturday...
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Well, sweet! I have about a dozen pieces of art now...more than enough for a gallery article in the PDF!
But, I'm not limited on page counts in the PDF....so, if you've got some fantasy art that "fits" in the Pathfinder game, SEND IT IN TODAY!
Deadline is tonight, at 11:50 PM Pacific! I want your art!!!
Hi Tim,
Just sent mine your way. Sorry to cut it so close!
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Thanks to everyone that sent something in. We have about a dozen pieces, which is enough for a modest gallery article.
However, as much as I like my deadlines, I am going to continue to take art submissions as they come until April 30, 2012. That's two more weeks. So, don't be shy! Why, I see a lot of Pathfinderized art on DeviantArt.
Why does this art not grace my inbox??
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Thanks to everyone that sent something in. We have about a dozen pieces, which is enough for a modest gallery article. Lookin' good!
However, as much as I like my deadlines, I am going to continue to take art submissions as they come until April 30, 2012. That's two more weeks. So, don't be shy! Why, I see a lot of Pathfinderized art on DeviantArt.
Why does this art not grace my inbox??
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Wayfinder, PaizoCon Founder
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Many thanks to all that have sent some of their art in! Why, that's pretty darned good art there!
Oh, did I mention that sending your art in on this call is a great way for us to note you for future Wayfinder art assignments?
About 11 hours left to submit your fan art!
GO GO GO!
Thanks to everyone that sent something in. We have about a dozen pieces, which is enough for a modest gallery article. Lookin' good!
However, as much as I like my deadlines, I am going to continue to take art submissions as they come until April 30, 2012. That's two more weeks. So, don't be shy! Why, I see a lot of Pathfinderized art on DeviantArt.
Why does this art not grace my inbox??
If DeviantArt has a forum or a place to post community announcements, it might behoove you to make a request for Wayfinder art there for the next issue. It's always possible that there are Pathfinder fans there that don't frequent the Paizo boards.
Anyone have any good programs for scanning artwork? I'm a pencil and paper artist, and my artwork seems to suffer being scanned.
Every artwork suffers from being scanned, either in color degradation or in picking up schmutz like dust and eraser noodles. Make sure that your art and your scanner are as clean as possible, to start, and that you take the time to play around with the scanning software that comes with your scanner. I haven't found one that's superior to another, but they all take a bit of learning to really master it. I usually do final cleanup in Photoshop and play around with the levels, brightness, and contrast settings to get a clean(er) image.
One trick we used in my lit magazine days was to photograph artwork with a high-end digital camera. We used it for larger pieces too big for the scanner, but it should work. We'd shoot a piece from above while it sat on the floor, under florescent lights to eliminate shadows.
Anyone have any good programs for scanning artwork? I'm a pencil and paper artist, and my artwork seems to suffer being scanned.Every artwork suffers from being scanned, either in color degradation or in picking up schmutz like dust and eraser noodles. Make sure that your art and your scanner are as clean as possible, to start, and that you take the time to play around with the scanning software that comes with your scanner. I haven't found one that's superior to another, but they all take a bit of learning to really master it. I usually do final cleanup in Photoshop and play around with the levels, brightness, and contrast settings to get a clean(er) image.
I agree with what Lilith's said. It takes experimentation. I would add-- If you want to find things to fool around with-- I've heard scanning in b&w or grayscale instead of color can be useful if you're having problems isolating the background. I generally have to redo the picture entirely on computer, but a well-scanned sketch can have nice qualities.
As an extremely too-detailed set of instructions, here's how I used to do it, and some from other people I've talked to: (Assuming you're using photoshop)
First, you have to make sure the original drawing is really dark: as in it has a lot of contrast, because if you scan a light pencil drawing there's really nothing you can do besides draw over it in a digital program. It would really help if the picture has very consistent values with regards to line thickness, weight, and texture, because that is very hard to fix in Photoshop.
Second, scan at high resolution, and clean it up: Crop any edges that are strangely dark-- this will definitely happen if you're scanning a notebook-- then either magic wand out the paper texture or just rip it out with the Polygon Lasso if you have time. Do some brightness/contrast, but usually I auto-contrast it first just to get a feeling of how dark the computer thinks it should be.
Third, (if it still looks rough) just pop a photoshop filter (Easy way: "Filter" -> "Filter Gallery...') on it: Do something light with small brush strokes just to smooth out the rough edges you don't want to deal with. It's easy to overdo photoshop filters, but usually I've found people actually tend to be to timid about it. So just mess with it for about 15-30 minutes and then put your stamp on it and send it off.
TLDR: I don't know a lot about scanning techniques, --and I also don't know how much you already know about cleaning up sketches-- but when I was figuring it out, there were not a lot of options that were both fast and elegant. Basically, you just have to find some way of saving the qualities that get lost in the scanning process. At the very least, though, you should definitely scan at high resolution and do some sort of color/contrast/brightness adjustment.
If it's a spot illo, make sure to pull the picture to a new layer so any deleted areas end up transparent instead of white.
Was that helpful? Probably too long, but I just thought I'd give you a detailed starting point in case you wanted it.
Your best bet is photographing with a decent camera. It takes some setup though and requires a small investment. A tripod for the camera and a cheap lighting kit will set you back $200 or more.
Do a search for 'photographing paintings'. You'll want two lights at 45 degree angles to your art. And the camera perpendicular to the art.
There are two options to eliminate glare. A polarizing filter for your camera lens or reflective umbrellas on the lights. You can also hang polarizing sheets(which are cheep) in front of the lights, but the lighting kit will come with the umbrellas anyway.