any pictures YOU take during the challenge period are legal in expert. you can aslo draw in rain. You aren't allowed to use any brushes you did not create or downloaded.
To me, Expert is basically a free-for-all, with very few restrictions. There's not a whole lot of editing that will get you into trouble under this ruleset. The one rule that I'd be concerned about is: "You may not add graphics or clip art images to your entry or its border during editing."
For that reason, I'd be concerned about drawing anything into an entry in case it is deemed a "graphic." I would see no problem, personally, with taking a picture of rain and overlaying it onto the shot. Or even taking a picture of something else, and editing it to look like rain.
But you should be fine with doing pretty much any kind of editing to any of the photographic elements of the shot... blurring them, twisting them, whatever. Just be sure you're using photos that were taken within the proper timeframe.
Anywho... those are my thoughts.
EDIT: And the rules even say that things that are being used as textures don't need to meet the date requirements. ("You may use images that do not meet the source or date requirements as textures in your entry if they function specifically as textures and not to circumvent other rules")
What about creating a new layer, filling it with noise, adding motion blur to create rain? Is that a texture creating a feature and is not allowed? Or is that acceptable?
Your edited statement is one of the issues -- is rain considered a texture, or is it considered a feature and you can't use textures (aka noise & motion blur) to create a feature.
we had some rain, but may need to augment it... are we sure this method of creating a rain "texture" or effect is OK in Expert??
-mefnj
Yes. You're using tools in photoshop to create it. If you were for instance, borrowing a picture and using it as an overlay it might get touchy. But this way is within the rules.
What about creating a new layer, filling it with noise, adding motion blur to create rain? Is that a texture creating a feature and is not allowed? Or is that acceptable?
By these rules, this is OK...
apply a full range of editing tools to all or part of your entry.
use layers, layer masks, and alternative layer modes.
eta: The no new features rule is not part of the expert rule set.
What about creating a new layer, filling it with noise, adding motion blur to create rain? Is that a texture creating a feature and is not allowed? Or is that acceptable?
By these rules, this is OK...
apply a full range of editing tools to all or part of your entry.
use layers, layer masks, and alternative layer modes.
eta: The no new features rule is not part of the expert rule set.
oooh -- good noticing, Kelli! Good answer!
Mine actually is real water, but I've been discussing this with people and surprised at some of the responses. :)
In the future, please submit a ticket to SC well before the deadline... that way we can discuss it internally and give you a better, cohesive answer. Waiting until just before the deadline and trying to get quick responses isn't going to necessarily yield the best answers, I'm afraid...
The only trick with textures is that in order to qualify for the extra leniency of that file type, those files MUST be used as textures (and not something else).
when i "expert" edit, if i took or created it myself withing the time period, its legal.
I'd really be curious to find out what if anything in expert editing would go against that mindset. i doubt there will be any.
fwiw, i recently had an image validated in expert where i use motion blur to create rain and replaced the entire background with a gradient. passed with flying colors.
See now I am confused because I have an idea for superpowers where I would need to draw something in to the picture or at least extend a part of the picture by hand drawing and manipulating parts of a fairly major element in the image.
I thought we had pretty much a free hand in Expert I didn't realise drawing some elements in or generating elements from scratch would be cause for concern. I do know that I the guideline is to keep it photographic in nature and I believe I can draw the element I want in a fairly realistic manner but don't want a DQ on my hands....
The image is going to take me most of the week as it requires a fair amount of planning and lots of trips out to get various photos, so I am not sure I will be able to submit it to SC before hand to get a verdict on the final image, could SC confirm if we are allowed to hand draw an element even if it's only under certain circumstances, because if this is not the case then I will need to approach the who picture from a different angle.
See now I am confused because I have an idea for superpowers where I would need to draw something in to the picture or at least extend a part of the picture by hand drawing and manipulating parts of a fairly major element in the image.
I thought we had pretty much a free hand in Expert I didn't realise drawing some elements in or generating elements from scratch would be cause for concern. I do know that I the guideline is to keep it photographic in nature and I believe I can draw the element I want in a fairly realistic manner but don't want a DQ on my hands....
The image is going to take me most of the week as it requires a fair amount of planning and lots of trips out to get various photos, so I am not sure I will be able to submit it to SC before hand to get a verdict on the final image, could SC confirm if we are allowed to hand draw an element even if it's only under certain circumstances, because if this is not the case then I will need to approach the who picture from a different angle.
TIA
Mark
I know in past expert challenges, it was ok to render an element from scratch. The one that comes to mind is the winner of the Michael Jackson tribute challenge where Jackson's silhouette was drawn in.
Might possibly make a difference as to how big the element is? Not sure.
• apply a full range of editing tools to all or part of your entry.
You may not:
• add graphics or clip art images to your entry or its border during editing.
• add text or any legible characters to your entry or its border during editing. This includes copyright statements.
As I interpret the rules, you can use painting/drawing tools to create elements, but do not use "clip art" or special brushes with pre-defined shapes, or the text tool(s).
Right, but they are sometimes bundled with editing software, and so might be considered (by some) to be "part" of the program, as might be packages of pre-defined brushes. Just trying (in vain) to cover all the ways people might make a mistake ...
Originally posted by (attributed to) H.D. Thoreau:
It is impossible to make anything foolproof, because fools are so ingenious.
