Icontaking Awards Friending Meme!

[esgeee.livejournal.com]

FILL IT IN:
<b><u>ABOUT YOURSELF</b></u> Name: Age: Place: <b><u>Share Your Interests!</b></u> Favorite Show: Favorite Movie: Favorite Character: Favorite OTP: Favorite Food: <b><u>LET'S GET TO ICONING!!</b></u> 2015 Roundup Icon Questions: <b>What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?</b> <b>What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?</b> <b>What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?</b> <b>What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.</b> <b>What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?</b> Other Icon Questions: <b>What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?</b> <b>What's your favorite character to icon and why?</b> <b>Closecrop or far-crop? Why?</b> <b>Vibrant or muted? Why?</b> <b>Text or minimalistic? Why?</b> <b><u>Let's Ask Some Questions!!</b></u> <b>List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!</b> <b><u>AND THE END....</b></u> <b>Any last words?</b> <b>A gif or image that describes you rn:</b>

PIMP:
<img alt="" src="http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/esgeee/76278792/99789/99789_original.png" title="" /> ICONTALKING FRIEND MEME

**disclaimer: this friending meme was generated by picking and choosing questions from other icon memes that I've seen across the internet!

Comments

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!
Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ (https://www.dreamwidth.org/support/faqbrowse?faqid=303).

[rizbef.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Rizbef
Age: 26
Place: America's Storage Room

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Doctor Who
Favorite Movie: Spirited Away
Favorite Character: Princess Jasmine
Favorite OTP: Dawn/Paul (from Pokemon)
Favorite Food: yellow curry chicken with potatoes and rice

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Bold colors, I think. Last January I posted a Tangled set for disneykrumkakes, and in that set, I first started experimenting with colors on soft light. I also started using a high pass filter for that little bit of sharp contrast my icons would sometimes lack.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I got so much better at cutting out an icon's background! I feel like my negative space icons are my strong point now. In 2016 I really want to keep improving my text... It has gotten better over the years, but I still hate working with it. I read a lot of tutorials but I feel it doesn't help much. Perhaps I just don't have an eye for text composition, fonts, etc.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?
Disney! Probably due the colors... and just my love for animation.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
I'm not sure I have a favorite character for iconing...
Closecrop or far-crop? Why?
Far crop... but only because I don't think my close crops turn out that great.
Vibrant or muted? Why?
Vibrant!!! I just love colors. I try muted every now and then, but my contrast never feels right, like my blacks aren't black enough for some reason. My good muted icons are usually made by accident~
Text or minimalistic? Why?
Minimalistic. Text and I... do not get along.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. How do you get your blacks so perfect? 2. Do you pick caps first and then create the icon, or do you get the vision of an icon first, and then go find a matching cap? 3. How do you grunge so well??? (this question comes from my grunge icons looking terrible)
AND THE END....
Any last words? I really don't want to go to work at 4am...
A gif or image that describes you: since I just got into Hetalia...

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

1; I use a medium to dark grey on a layer set to soft light or overlay, depending on how dark the shadow is to begin with. Then blur it a bit. That either fixes it or I use a levels layer on top of that. I usually do final touches at the end as well, sometimes the blacks have a light overlay on them.

2; Usually, I just go through a screencap album and pick out the best looking ones or ones that draw my interest. I pick a variety, ones that are good for close crops and others for far crops. Sometimes I'll get a specific idea but usually that only happens after I've found a cap.

3; Practice, but even then many turn out like shit. Examples;

*shudders*

[applepips]

I feel you on the text. I've gotten a little better at it but I still do find it intensely frustrating. One thing I've realised about text is that you've got to keep at it and be patient. I'm not that patient. And even the times I am, it just dosen't click. :/

2. I pick caps first and then decide.

3. The thing for grunge icons is you've got to keep track of the details. Sometimes grunge textures can overwhelm your icon and take away details, other times, it can make certain parts of the icon overtly sharp. It's good to set grunge textures to Lighten, Screen or Softlight and then playing around with the opacity. And once you fiddle with the opacity, use a layer mask to take away the bits that are obscuring or too sharp.

Also, work at 4am? :O

[scoobyatemysnax.livejournal.com]

1. I always play with Selective Coloring's blacks, because I love the contrast it gives without messing up the quality. Also a B&W gradient set to Soft Light C:

2. I can literally never visualize an icon. I wish I did, but nope. I get my caps first, open a few, then open a couple of textures and start experimenting :D

3. Tbh I think your grunge icons are awesome! Just looking at your best icons - 1, 4, 7 and 8 have grunge textures and they look gorgeous. Most of the time when I use grungy textures, I end up duplicating it and setting on screen to make it stand out more. Or the bottom texture on Screen, while the top one on Soft Light. And I mask out the parts where it's too overpowering.

[akilah92.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Teresa /Terrs
Age: 23
Place: Italy

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: you mean show(s), right? :D If I have to pick one, I choose doctor who
Favorite Movie: I'm not into movies, maybe honeymoon? or horror movies in general!
Favorite Character: Vanessa Ives - Penny Dreadful
Favorite OTP: none in particular
Favorite Food: LASAGNA ♥

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

This is not the prettiest icon, I know! But the original screencap was a nightmare, dark and grainy, so different from the ones I use! It's been a challenge and I'm happy with this result!

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.I'm not sure I have an answer to this one! I made few icons the past year, about 50 I think, between january and march, then ZERO. I didn't have the time to experiencing a lot; I think I did the things I already did the previous year.

What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
First of all, I'm happy to be back to iconning! I sort of missed it? So weird. Right now I'm stuck on a couple of things because after a year I'm a bit lost!
My main target this year is to make a lot of icons! I'll try to work on my close crops, compositions and colors! I need clean and bright colors this year, so I'll focus on these! Oh, and creativity. I like to make weird and new things.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Doctor who is my first choice! I like the shots and the colors. I really want to make icons on anime/comic/videogame, maybe I'll try this year!
What's your favorite character to icon and why? none in particular.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far-crop, but only because I can't do creative and interesting close-crop.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant, I love colors on my icons! But I like a lot of 'muted-makers'.
Text or minimalistic? Why? I love text, I'm terrible at minimalism.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. How do you do close crop? What screencaps should I pick? How can I make them interesting?
2. What are the things I need to improve, in your opinion?
3. Where do you find inspiration? and what do you do when it is missing?

AND THE END....
Any last words? I hate mood swings!
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

1. Close crops are a hit or miss for me buut I find the easiest route is to find where someone's face is angled or in profile so you can get something like these,


You can use others but I find it harder to pick the right crop and they're usually more boring to me lol These are some that went well,


2. Nothing's standing out to me. I think it all looks great! :]

3. I get inspiration from music, art (behance.net is perfect, just saying), movies/tv.

[poisonfield.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name:Hannah
Age: 26
Place: Australia

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Red Dwarf
Favorite Movie: Demolition Man
Favorite Character: Dean Winchester
Favorite OTP: none because I want everyone to be as pathetically single as I am
Favorite Food: Cheese covered anything

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
I've tried work on those areas of icon making that I suck at so I tried avoid muted colouring and defaulting to greyscale and also tried to make more simple icons
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I don't think I improved at all this year, I really didn't do enough icon making to notice anything better. I plan to work more on colouring, get a bit more adventurous with text and really get back to making the crazy 'down the rabbit hole' style icons I was making a few years ago.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?
Supernatural: it's the show I started iconning to, so I'm just very suited to the lighting used in the show and I find they have a great variety in shot types so you can always find a cap that fits what you are doing.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
Dean Winchester because Jensen Ackles is just so pretty... like crazy pretty... and I like that in an icon. But I mean, I love the angsty, conflicted and sometimes fun-loving nature of the character so he fits into whatever mood I want for the icon.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why?
Far-crop because it gives you so many options of composition/texture/text/fun
Vibrant or muted? Why?
Muted because it's just so much easier to get right
Text or minimalistic? Why?
Text 'cause when you get it right it's like '*WOW*' and when you get minimalistic right it's like 'nice'

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
- How the hell do people manage to be so good at colouring? TELL ME YOUR SECRETS!
- If you had to merge your skills with one other icon maker to make an icon-superstar-blob which would you choose and why?
- Why the hell did you even start icon making? Like what made you want to spend hours on 100x100px when you could have idk learnt a language or invented a substitute for parallel parking?

AND THE END....
Any last words?
It's looking like I'm gonna loose my job. Prayer circle for the last shreds of my hopes and dreams.
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

1. Uh...I learned by throwing stuff on and seeing what would happen, like a mad scientist. If it was irl, I probably would have blown something up multiple times and started a forest fire.

2. There is literally no way for me to choose. I'd be Frankenstien with little bits and pieces of everyone elses skills that I love and want. :P

3. Eons ago 8 years ago, I started by making band icons of AFI, MCR, 30STM and the like. It was...a dark time. Then I discovered the icon challenge communities somehow and it snowballed from there.

ETA: Also, I really like 2 & 4 of your 'worst' icons, they're pretty great! :P

And I hope you don't lose your job!

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Veronica
Age: 24
Place: USA

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Doctor Who
Favorite Movie: Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Favorite Character: Luke Skywalker
Favorite OTP: Han/Leia
Favorite Food: Chocolate

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Whatever challenges that I entered were what inspired me as I was pretty much inspiration free 90% of the time.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
Definitely animation. Also, I think my knowledge of coloring has expanded, what works and what doesn't. I know how to better use more layer settings in PS and focused more on using adjustments, gradients and color layers instead of mainly textures.
I don't have any plans for this year, just going to kinda play it by ear.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?
None in particular lately. I just go with whatever sparks my interest when going through my caps when choosing what to icon.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
None really.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why?
Ugh, both have so much potential! Far crops you can go wild with textures, fonts and what not. Close crops you can..do the same really? There aren't that many limitations, depends on how much you want to break out of the box.
Vibrant or muted? Why?
Vibrant...obvious choice is obvious. :P I like to push the limit and make things more fun and exciting. Vibrancy catches the eye, makes things more interesting to look at.
Text or minimalistic? Why?
Minimalistic. Because my text skills suck; except those 2 icons I did last year..

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!


1. Team Spike or Team Angel?
2. If your life could be anything, what would it be?
3. What's your favorite ~unpopular~ tv show/movie/anime/what have you that you want the world to know about?

...I have no legit questions. I'm sorryyy ;A;

AND THE END....
Any last words? I have several but cannot form the correct word placement to say them because my brain is melting.
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[rizbef.livejournal.com]

If I may ask, why is this one of your worst icons? (I think I nominated it at bestof ehehe)

#3... Hell Girl is my favorite anime, but it's not very well-known. I'm also obsessed with the new Miraculous Ladybug cartoon.

[laxirya.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Chiara
Age: 23
Place: Italy

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Lost (or Fullmetal Alchemist, if non live action is allowed)
Favorite Movie: Big Fish
Favorite Character: Albedo from Xenosaga
Favorite OTP: Roy/RIza (Fullmetal Alchemist)
Favorite Food: Capelletti (traditional kind of pasta from where I live)

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Mostly watching other makers' icons. Watching other people's colorings and compositions or trying out some tutorials. The two rumbles and the halloween challenge @ calendarsquares were a lot of help as well.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I think I improved a lot last year, expecially when it comes to composition, texture use and coloring. They are still not perfect, but I really like my most recant icons a lot more than the ones I made in January/February.
What I really want from 2016 is to cure my lazy attitude and do the best I can for every icon I make. No more "I'm not really satisfied but it's good enough". Also, complex icons.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?
I really like to icon for a lot of differerent fandoms so if the caps are good and the colors are not too dark, any anime is okay.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
Too many, I don't have a character in particular.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far. I absolutely adore negative spaces!
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant
Text or minimalistic? Why? Text

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1) How do you reach complexity? Do you start from a simple icon and then just add texture and screenshots experimenting during the making process? Or perhaps you start with the composition already in your mind?
2) How do you cut your subjects out of their backgrounds so perfectly?
3) @ animation icon makers: how do you make close crops?????

AND THE END....
Any last words? I should really go back to my Uni projects...
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

1. I usually do it the first way. I just throw stuff on and delete, erase and blend til I get something that looks good. Sometimes I have something specific in mind but not usually.

2. The pen tool! Then, after I get my selection I go to select > modify > smooth and set it at 2 or 3. I always cut it out at full size before cropping, that helps with smooth cutouts as well.

[applepips]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Pips
Age: 26
Place: India

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Community i'm sure its a suprise
Favorite Movie: Amelie
Favorite Character: Annie Edison
Favorite OTP: *takes out long list, uh where do I begin?* long story short, I do have plenty because I take delight in shipping. However, my enduring faves are Jeff/Annie from Community and Ron/Hermione from HP
Favorite Food: Dosa (an Indian crepe)

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?




What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



All of these were made for battles/icontests and were last minute jobs. Clearly, I can't do last minute stuff.

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
For some reason, this year I was on a very matte-colouring kick. It only began half through the year but idk, I dig it? I know it dosen't reflect in my examples but that was what I focused on.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I dont think I've improved all that much. Most of my stuff tends to be hit and miss. I guess I could say that I am exploring other avenues of colouring but other than there was nothing earth-shaking about 2015. I was just doing stuff I wanted to do. One thing I do want to do for 2016 is pay more attention to detail so that my icons look more polished than half-assed.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Community. Because it brings me joy.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Neither. I'm all about centre crops?
Vibrant or muted? Why? VIBRANTTT YEAHHHHHH
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimalistic. I like making simple icons. I appreciate the text skills of others tho. Just not that big a fan of it myself.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!

1.Share one icon that you absolutely adore made by a maker you admire.
2. On a scale of 0 to bajillionty, rate how much you enjoy making icons? BAJILLIONTY IS THE ANSWER IM LOOKING FOR
3. Share one of your earliest icons!

I know these are not questions per say but I hope they count ;_;

AND THE END....
Any last words?
I want an ice-cream sundae. I'm going to have to settle for rice and spinach. Which is not that bad either. BUT. ICE.CREAM.
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[neonspider]

1. I checked my old inspiration folder and this gem by calikalie caught my eye:


2. I'm gonna say bajillionty minus one, because there are times when iconing frustrates me (when I can't make something work, when I can't find a fitting cap or when a deadline comes and I have to rush through it). but mostly it's fantastic :)

3. from the very first set I ever posted:

so pretty...

[littlemissnovel.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: May
Age: 21
Place: Somewhere in the universe

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: I have too many shows that I am into but it's a toss up between: Reign, Agent Carter, Pretty Little Liars, and The Flash
Favorite Movie: Sunset Boulevard, Gentleman's Agreement, Young Sherlock Holmes, any films by Alfred Hitchcock, and Sleepy Hollow (Tim Burton)
Favorite Character: Barry Allen from The Flash, Queen Mary from Reign, Spencer Hastings from Pretty Little Liars, and Peggy Carter from Agent Carter
Favorite OTP: I tend to be a multi-shipper, but I am going back to my first otp: Helga/Arnold
Favorite Food: pizza! XD

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. challenges, gameofcards, having fun creating icons to relax/not stress out when feeling stressed in life
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? Cropping. Using textures/text

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Reign, such pretty set, costume, and scenary
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Queen Mary cause she's a strong character
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? far-crop, get to see more of the subject
Vibrant or muted? Why? muted cause vibrant colors tend to sometimes end badly for me.
Text or minimalistic? Why?minimalistic, simple is better

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers! 1. How to get complex icons without making a mess? 2. How to get any vintage coloring? 3. How to get black and whites to look so good?

AND THE END....
Any last words? I feel sleepy.
A gif or image that describes you rn:


Thank you esgeee for hosting this!

[neonspider]

why don't you like the 3rd of your worst icons? I think it's really pretty, I like the corner crop + negative space and muted colors.

As for the questions...

1. haha ok I'm not sure I'm the best person to answer this since I'm pretty sure lots of people do see my complex icons as messes, and I don't particularly mind that. but I think it's important to have some sort of plan/idea in mind, and to add clarity too whenever you add complexity. so for example if I want to use complex blocking, I also try to add clarity by separating the blocks clearly enough (maybe some of them are b&w, or another color, or maybe you cut out all the messy backgrounds to make all the tiny blocks clearer?). Or if I use text, that's added complexity, I need to also add clarity by finding a place where the text is readable enough, so preferably on a clear(ish) background or making the text much darker/brighter than the bg.

2. when it comes to vintage colorings, nobody can beat hauntes; here is a great coloring tutorial by them.

3. hmmm I don't make almost any bw icons myself but when looking at other makers bw icons I'm mostly drawn to clear, strong contrast; I find that in bw the contrast usually needs to be higher than in colored icons for it to look good. (but of course you can break rules too if you know what you're doing, a bw icon can have a light grey look too and be amazing as long as it looks intentional, but very few makers pull this off imo)

[neonspider]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Tommi
Age: 27 :/
Place: Finland

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: LOST
Favorite Movie: The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Favorite Character: Benjamin Linus :)
Favorite OTP: I love shipping! All the ships for me, esp. everything non-canon yet epic and angsty with a sense of ~destiny. Ben/Locke from LOST is my all-time fave, but rn I'm in love with Rin/Haruka from Free! ♥
Favorite Food: I don't much like food but if I have to pick, maybe french fries, lol

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


many of my favorites are shippy icons of my OTPs, cause if I'm working with a subject I love that much, I really want to make them good enough that I'll want to use them

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?
I love coloring in general, but was particularly happy with these


What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
OTPs and favorite characters

What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I think my colors look better than they did pre-2015; I got bolder with the saturation and tried some new methods. But for the most part I stayed well within my comfort zone, so I didn't make progress, except maybe in refining those techniques.
This year I want to learn to use textures and brushes in more creative ways, I want to work more with animation effects, I want to come up with more creative ideas, and I need to learn to use anime subjects which is really scary and new for me! (any tips? :D)

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Lost, because I have such a perfect cap folder system for that and I know the show so well
What's your favorite character to icon and why? anyone I love enough!
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far, it leaves more room for colors and textures and composition
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant :3
Text or minimalistic? Why? All the text, and then some x) I love how you can use text as a composition element or as a way to highlight the mood of the icon (like make shippy icons even more shippy or funny icons more funny). but I can't say I find text use easy. I totally envy makers to whom it comes more naturally!

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. which challenges/sets are you working on? how is it going with them?
2. what has been your all-time favorite set you've made?
3. use a random number generator to pick an icon from your last icon post. Talk about that icon!

AND THE END....
Any last words?: I never have time to interact with my flist so tbh I'm just here to chat, not make friends :p hope that's ok!
A gif or image that describes you rn:

(when looking at all the amazing icon posts that people have made lately!)

[littlemissnovel.livejournal.com]

I like your complex icons (they don't look messy whatsoever!) I also like your third icon under the worst icons because of how unique/different the cropping is (and close crop too!)

1. finished my 20muses set and working on episodes20in20set/10in30/heroics20in20 sets (and still have no idea why I decided to join all of these this month!) It's going alright with them :)
2. Probably episodes20in20 last round set, I enjoyed doing the one cap and make 5 different icons out of that :)
3. Sometimes I need to reign under my experimental posts.

[raiindust.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Jess
Age: 28
Place: A land down under (and quite embarrassed by it 90% of the time).

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Well now you've stumped me! Daria is the first thing that came to mind, followed by Parks & Recreation. So let's just pretend I can have an animated favourite and a non-animated favourite.
Favorite Movie: The Hairy Bird (aka Strike! aka All I Wanna Do), Clueless & 10 Things I Hate About You.
Favorite Character: Currently I am on a protect Raven Reyes at all costs kind of kick.
Favorite OTP: Forever otp is Michael & Maria from Roswell. Current fave otp is Bellamy & Raven from The 100.
Favorite Food: Chocolate. Chocolate counts as a food, right?

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. The 100, awesome battle prompts & time off work. The first three months were fantastic in 2015, but alas - work swallowed me whole and sucked up my inspiration.

What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? I think I pretty much perfected the removed background with centre crop last year. This year it's just about actually making icons, and making finding inspiration in some of the newer shows that I've really enjoyed.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? According to my tags, it's Doctor Who (TV) and The Virgin Suicides (Movie). The first most likely because of the every changing cast, which gives up so many new and pretty screencaps to icon, and the second because it is a visually stunning movie that just makes me want to icon all the things.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Quinn Fabray because HAIR.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop. I find close crops to be freaking challenging, and when I do them they still mostly come out as a mundane close crop.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Both! Depending on the mood I am in, the colours in the screencap, and the types of textures I'm in love with.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimal, all the way. Text and I have a very love/hate relationship, where I love text on icons but I hate putting text on my own icons. Minimal and I are always friends, so it wins out.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. What are some new textures or texture makers you have found recently?
2. What is your favourite screencap (or selection of screencaps) that you find re-using in icons?
3. Which new TV show has inspired amazing icons from you? (Yeah, this is me looking for TV show recs...)

AND THE END....
Any last words? It's so early, and I have to excursion today with my work, but this is me trying to be proactive and not disappear like I did in 2015. Replies will come later this week after I've done all the annoying extra-life things I have to do in the next 48 hours.

A gif or image that describes you rn:

[neonspider]

Have fun on your excursion trip, and hopefully all the annoying extra-life things will be at least somewhat enjoyable!
If chocolate counts as food then maybe I can like food too :>

I'm super surprised to hear that you hate putting text on your icons though, cause you use it quite a lot and it looks so good and effortless and it seems like you have tons of different fonts too so idk I always thought you liked using text!

answers:
1. I have so many textures (like, way too many for me to need that much) that I rarely look for new ones anymore, but while browsing for adriftingsea's icons for nominations I came across their textures too and they look fantastic, especially the painty ones!

2. I rarely use the same cap twice, mostly cause I usually use random caps. I honestly can't think of any caps I've used more than twice (if 'same cap' category sets for 20in20s don't count)

3. hmmmm. New show, idk, I never watch anything new. Keeping up with Teen Wolf and OUAT and that's it basically... does LOST count as a new show? I think it counts as a new show, 2004 is not that long ago

sorry about these non-answers :p

[dixon.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Rebeca
Age: 22
Place: Spain

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: The Walking Dead, but you know, if you ask me tomorrow maybe I'll tell you a different story...
Favorite Movie: I can't pick one. Because I have three. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Gone Girl and Black Swan.
Favorite Character: That is a tough one. I have A LOT. But I guess that Daryl Dixon, Caroline Forbes, and Beth Greene.
Favorite OTP: Bethyl. I'm still not over Beth's death, and it's been more than a year :'(
Favorite Food: WHY ALL THESE QUESTIONS HAVE TO BE SO HAAAAARD. ARGH. Okay, I'm a food lover. I love food and I love to cook so you just can't ask me this question. But anything sweet will make the trick.

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!
2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

1.I noticed with shock that a lot of people liked it. I don't know why I just hate it lol.
2.I really don't know how I even saved that icon, even less that I entered in a lims with that *scream emoji*
3.That is my worst icon ever. I hate it with my soul. I must've had fever or something.
4.I don't wanna talk about that. Nope.
5.You can name it 'How To Fuck Up A Beautiful Screencap'
What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Lana Del Rey's new album. Music is kind of important to my icon process and that album is pure gold.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I think maybe creativity? Looking back I just see a bunch of minimalistic and muted icons. I think I'm making more 'creative' icons. I don't wanna say complex because they're not really.
I want to keep improving in text. I know it's my weakness, but I really like to work with it and this past year I made a couple that I'm really happy with :)

[dixon.livejournal.com]

I had to cut the comment because lj didn't let me post it :////////////////////////

...

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?
I don't have a favorite, but I do have a least favorite, that is The Vampire Diaries. I know the show is not so popular anymore but I still like it very much and it's a pain in the ass working with those caps.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?
Caroline Forbes. I love her hair so much and she has amazing shots in the show.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why?
Close crop, definitely. Even better if it's an extreme close crop. You can see all the emotions in a close crop. And as I said before, I'm not good at complex icons, wich are easier to do with far crops.
Vibrant or muted? Why?
Muted. I find that close crops usually go better with muted tones. Not always, of course, but the emotions with muted tones are kind of raw, and I like that very much.
Text or minimalistic? Why?
I'm a minimalistic girl, though I like text very much but I'm not so good at it, so...

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
How do you people find good caps? I think that's the hardest thing! I could be really inspired but I the cap is trash, the icon will be too.
Recommend me some new good movies so I can make icons of them? Don't say Star Wars please. I mean, I like the movies but I'm kinda saturated right now.
What do you ALWAYS use when you're making icons?

AND THE END....
Any last words?
If you read everything then congratulations! I know I sometimes sound like a massive crazy person.
A gif or image that describes you rn:
Two gifs actually because one is not enough...

[hbics.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Emma
Age: 24
Place: Canada

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Fringe
Favorite Movie: Stardust
Favorite Character: Hannah Burley
Favorite OTP: Hannah/Temperance
Favorite Food: Pizza

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. Not much. I made a grand total of 30 icons. I guess what inspired me the most though, would have been a lot of the concrit I received, especially in concrit memes, and tutorials. I completely changed the way I brightened/coloured icons over the past year, and I think it's helping me get inspired now.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? Complex icons and vibrant vs muted colouring. I'm really going to try to submit to a lot of the weekly challenges with different technical requirements, as well as to more things that go out of my comfort zone.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Once Upon A Time, there's just so many different characters, settings and emotions to choose from.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Anyone who's been screwed over by their narrative (i.e: this year it was Marian)
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop, mainly because I'm better at it. I'm going to try and improve close crops in 2016.
Vibrant or muted? Why? A bit of both. Probably muted a tad more. I love vibrant too, but I've found my icons convey much more emotion when they're muted.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Text. It is and has always been a strong point of my icon making, plus I love the feeling of finally finding the perfect text set-up for an icon.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. Because 2015 was a giant one for me, how do you get yourselves out of a rut/inspiration block?
2. How do you make vibrant colouring so bright? (Whenever I try it always hits a middle...)
3. What are your tips for really close crops?


AND THE END....
Any last words? I am actually 23/would have been when I wrote this. My birthday's on the 13th.
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[littlemissnovel.livejournal.com]

Happy early birthday! <3 (Mine is coming up soon too and I am not looking forward to it.)

1. Listening to music, watching new episodes, seeing different challenges in different communities.

3. Try and see what angle works best for your subject.

[esgeee.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: uma
Place: USA

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: White Collar forever ♥ Neal Caffrey is a beautiful human being.
Favorite Movie: As of right now, Star Wars VII. I don't really have an all-time fav. movie.
Favorite Character: Harvey Specter. His sassiness will always amuse me. And yes, I totally have a thing for USA Network shows!
Favorite OTP: Harvey/Donna from Suits I guess. Who wrote these questions anyway?!?!? I can't just pick ONE.
Favorite Food: mac & cheese

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?



What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What has inspired you this year?
This year, iconpraise literally was my best inspiration. and the inspiration posts @ a_big_adventure and thetenthgate really also helped me!
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? I've really improved in my text usage and making more complex icons!!! WHOO!!! I'm going to make more gif icons in 2016 and learn how to use more fancy PS stuff in my icons and use more stock in my icons.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? I love to icon Marvel movies since they are just so perf. There are far-crop scenes, close crop scenes and it's just wonderful. Also, the movies have the most wittiest one-liners perf for iconing.
What's your favorite character to icon and why?Donna Paulsen. Her hair is so bright and wonderful to color. And, I kinda love her character too.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop since I always fail at close crops.
Vibrant or muted? Why? VIBRANT. Read above - I clearly love to use bright colors!
Text or minimalistic? Why? Text because it is harder to do!

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. Any gif icon making tips?
2. How'd you get into iconing?
3. What makes you want to keep iconing?

AND THE END....
Any last words? Thanks for participating in this, y'all!
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

2. Eons ago 8 years ago, I started by making band icons of AFI, MCR, 30STM and the like. It was...a dark time. Then I discovered the icon challenge communities somehow and it snowballed from there.

3. idk, it's just fun? I could probably be doing something more 'worth while' with my time but I just can't let it go. lol

[geckoholic]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Katrin
Age: 33
Place: Europe

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: That is a mean question and I will NOT pick just one.
Favorite Movie: Stand By Me
Favorite Character: Clint Barton (Marvel 616, I have very few fucks left to give for the MCU version)
Favorite OTP: Hawkeye Squared aka Clint Barton/Kate Bishop (Marvel 616)
Favorite Food: Strawberries, though that has gotten a little starcrossed lately; I've become allergic.

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

1. Hot mess.
2. IDEK
3. 2007 called and wants its iconning style back.
4. And this, kids, is why I don't make many complex icons.
5. So much yellow, such a weird crop.

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What has inspired you this year? Rarefandoms, maybe, because Help Yourself is what brought half my icon batches this year into being.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? I've gotten more selective with the icons I finish and post. Which... is probably not what you meant. XD

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Uhhhm. Daredevil and Killjoys. Both just fly with my style in regards to coloring and crops I guess.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Matt Murdock. CC's face is ridic cropable.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Neither? I try to aim for natural coloring.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimalistic, because in 98 out of 100 cases text is my mortal enemy.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
- How do you make icons with less than 20 layers? I mean. Theoretically.
- Galleries or downloads? Why?
- What's the best icon-related advice you ever got?

AND THE END....
Any last words? I have no idea what I'm doing, but I've somehow been doing it on and off for nine years. Ooops?
A gif or image that describes you rn:

Because a) I made a face like that at a number of people today, b) I kinda also made it at myself for messing up a fic exchange deadline and having to speed through the first porn I've written in months and c) I have fallen into The 100 and this little asshole right there and I'm still not sure if I'm mad at or grateful to the people who got me into it.

[starkwars.livejournal.com]

1. I had to go and check a few psd's of mine to see how many layers I actually have.
My latest one (that I can't show, sorry) has 12 layers.
This (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/starkwars/63941253/377066/377066_600.png) one had 29...because it looked like this (http://i.imgur.com/SHuLk9C.png) before I slapped on a b&w gradient map.
18 with (http://ic.pics.livejournal.com/starkwars/63941253/380947/380947_600.png) this one.
Annd this one (http://i1340.photobucket.com/albums/o721/starkwars45/Icons/Challenges/sw9j0o_zpsbzyc1qhz.png) has 20.
...well so much for that. lol idk how one keeps it under 12??

2. galleries because I can (usually) randomize them and find obscure caps that way. And downloads take up too much space.

Part 1 of 2

[crusading-soul.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Mary
Place: USA

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: The Flash (Just finished S1 and thought the villain was brilliant!)
Favorite Movie: Star Wars! :) (Currently TFA has the top spot, but I also love ESB and RotS)
Favorite Characters: Kylo Ren. Anakin Skywalker. Padme Amidala. .. kind of on a Star Wars kick right now. XD Non-Star Wars: Mulan, Belle, Luna Lovegood
Favorite OTPs: Anakin/Padme. Harry/Luna. Harry/Hermione.
Favorite Foods: French fries, spaghetti, veggie pizza, tea. <3

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?



I'm super happy that I've gotten so much better with coloring + integrating textures into my icons. I used to be able to work both of those in a lot easier, but it's been a battle since I've come back to iconing in 2015.

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



Aaagh. I really need to get better at black/white contrast and shading, along with making sure the image quality is excellent. Part of the image issue stemmed from trying to squeeze images into 20in20 categories - I need to work on finding some flexibility there as well in how I think about prompts!

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



I am so happy that I've finally managed to get some decent looking neon icons! :D

(TBA in Part 2)

Part 2 of 2

[crusading-soul.livejournal.com]

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Subjects:
Guardians of the Galaxy
Star Wars
Bleach
Kingsman: The Secret Service (not iconed, but the humorous tone at points and coloring of the movie inspired me a bit!)

Challenges:
Scenery Challenge at iconanimated (http://iconanimated.livejournal.com/8969.html)
February Color Palette at calendarsquares (http://calendarsquares.livejournal.com/118320.html)
Purple Punch Challenge at iconsomething (http://iconsomething.livejournal.com/215666.html)
Pastel Prettiness Challenge at iconsomething (http://iconsomething.livejournal.com/250494.html)

What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
- 2015 improvements: coloring, especially with neon and brighter colors like yellow + better crops of images + better usage of light textures.
- 2016 improvements to make: black and white contrast in icons + integrating more textures into my icons + learning how to make better muted/sepia icons + learning how to make text look more natural in icons.
- New things I'd like to icon in 2016: Sherlock, Adventure Time, high-res scenes of Star Wars TFA!!, Noblesse, Soul Eater, Kingsman: The Secret Service.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Air Gear and Bleach - there's a variety of great scans and animated screencaps to choose from! :)
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Padme from Star Wars! So many outfits and hairstyles and colors, so little icon space. ;)
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop! I'm trying to get better with close crops, but I just love the far crops so much - they give a better glimpse into the scene.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant!! I'm not the best at muted icons and I love to make super colorful icons. Really, the best muted icons I've made were for the pastel challenge at iconsomething - I'd love to learn how to refine that and make more!
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimalistic! Again, trying to work on text and I love simple, clean icons. :)

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. Do you have links to any good tutorials on muted, black and white, &/or pastel icons?
2. What are your favorite sites for screencaps?
3. What is your favorite less-well-known texture maker?

AND THE END....
Any last words?
A gif or image that describes you rn: (AKA; iconing Star Wars.)

[scoobyatemysnax.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Vel
Age: 26
Place: Austria

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Supernatural. Idc how downhill this show goes, I go down with it lmao
Favorite Movie: Mulan
Favorite Character: Sam Winchester
Favorite OTP: Sam Winchester x Castiel and Ron x Hermione have been my longest ships, but currently I'm all over Bokuto x Akaashi (basically all the Haikyuu!! kids tbh)
Favorite Food: sushi

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
Lots of new TV Shows, battles, lots of tumblr graphics and art.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I guess close crops? I used to stay away from them, but this year I discovered I genuinely enjoy making close crops. Especially when the subject has something in his appearance that makes them stand out a lot *U* Also animanga icons. I used to stay away from anything other than Disney, but now I have fallen into the pits of anime hell and there's no going back but that's the one mistake I will never regret in my life lol.

[scoobyatemysnax.livejournal.com]

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? I guess Supernatural. I've been a fan from the get go and as I said above, no matter how crappy the storyline and everything goes, I'm going down with it, because I've just invested so much time, YEARS in this show, I'd feel like a traitor if I gave up lol. Plus first and second season caps are the darkest and hardest to work with imo, and I like a challenge :D
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Sam Winchester. Because his face is really aesthetically pleasing to me and I think it's perfect for close crops. Same with Dean Winchester.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Closecrops. As long as I don't stare at the canvas with the icon for too long, it's great. Once I start questioning to the left or right looks better, the icon has become a lost cause lol.
Vibrant or muted? Why? I love both. It all depends on the mood I guess? Vibrant icons are so *fun* and pretty, instantly catching your eye, while muted can get your attention with a close crop and gritty textures.
Text or minimalistic? Why? I'm such a massive text fan. However, text is my ultimate nemesis when it comes to icons and graphics in general. I spend way too much time picking the font and in the end am never 100% satisfied. Every once in a blue moon I might create an icon with decent text, and I know I should practice more to get better, read more tuts etc, but I guess I can always excuse myself with minimalistic aesthetic :P

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. When you're doing an icon battle, do you prefer to work with given caps, tropes or simply words? Which is most inspiring for you?
2. How do you pick your default userpic?
3. Do you have a go - to technique whenever you're having difficulty with a turrible cap, or do you always hope for the best & wing it?

AND THE END....
Any last words? My boyfriend and I invited some friends over for dinner and I told him to let me cook but he was all no, no you rest up, you're always cooking, and I know his cooking abilities are basically egg??? So idk why I let him take the reins in the kitchen (bc there were Friends reruns on TV, that's why) and now he just made me taste his tacos and I guess we're having take out *cackles*
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[thyla87.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name:Niina
Age: 28
Place: Finland

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: This is so hard.. Maybe The walking dead but I also really love Sons of anarchy, Supernatural, Vikings, Spartacus, Teen wolf, The 100.. Ok, I will say The walking dead. LOL!
Favorite Movie: There is a lot but one is Star Wars
Favorite Character: Carol Peletier, Daryl, Dixon Lydia Martin, Dean, Murphy.. omg, I am so bad at choosing :D
Favorite OTP: Rick/Daryl and Sam/Dean
Favorite Food: Macaroni

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?




What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?




What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. Challenges because I need something challenges and deadline :D
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? Hmm.. I have maybe improved my colorings and texture work. Next I really want to try more text (and that scares me :D), paint more (I mean characters hair etc) and focus the colorings even more.

[thyla87.livejournal.com]

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? I do a lot Supernatural
What's your favorite character to icon and why? I change characters a lot.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Maybe far crop, because you can play textures and composition more.
Vibrant or muted? Why?Both but lately muted.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimalistic. I mean, I like to play different texture but I am so bad with text.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. What are yours favorite texture/or texture makers? I really want some new textures.
2. What kind of icon battle would you like to participate in?
3. Do you prefer working with animated or live action caps?

AND THE END....
Any last words? it has been great to see the new icons challenges this year
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[tinny]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Tinny
Age: 41
Place: Germany

Interests
Favorite Show: The Librarians, Elementary, iZombie, Sense8, The Americans
Favorite Movie: Brazil
Favorite Character: All the smart men, e.g. Sherlock, Spock, Gil Grissom, and all the kick-ass women, e.g. Eve Baird, Buffy, Aeryn Sun, Dana Scully.
Favorite OTP: currently Eve Baird/Flynn Carsen, but also Destiel, John/Aeryn, Mulder/Scully
Favorite Food: anything sweet and cinnamon-y

ICONING

Top 5-10 icons from 2015?

Maybe not best, but definitely favorite:





5-10 worst icons from 2015?

So frustrating, because I knew while making them they were going to be crap. *sigh*




Best colored icons from 2015?

Yellow ftw!




What has inspired you this year?

The Librarians. My muse was on overdrive.

I was overjoyed to find that the icon maker community hasn't died, unlike the rest of LJ.

I joined a lot of 20in20s. My favorite were inspired20in20 and episodes20in20.

Have you improved in 2015?

Oh, a lot! :D

I have improved contrast and sharpening, I have learned how to use Gradient Maps and my text use has gotten better.

What will you improve throughout 2016?

I know there's a lot more I can do, and as long as I'm having fun, I'll keep doing it. This year, I will focus on honing those text and composition skills, and learning different types of coloring. I already have a few tutorials to read lined up.

Favorite show to icon?

The Librarians. I love looking at them. My main reason to icon is to look at pretty things. *g*

Favorite character to icon and why?

Flynn Carsen / Noah Wyle. Same reason. I like to look at pictures of him.

Closecrop or far-crop? Why?

Both. Far crop has a more stylized feel, and close crop is more emotional. It really depends on what I want to express with an icon.

Vibrant or muted? Why?

Vibrant. I love colors.

Text or minimalistic? Why?

Mostly my icons aren't minimalistic. I like to work with them, fiddle with details. I like them to say something, too. I often stop before adding text, but that doesn't mean my icons are minimalistic.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!

What is your favorite icon tutorial? Or the most recent you can remember. ;)

What software (and process) do you use to make gifs? Would you recommend it?

Who are your favorite artists? Classical artists - painters, comic artists, etc. Tell me why, too.

Last words?

Would you like to talk about iconing, exchange concrit and praise? I'm looking for a more personal connection - more than mandatory comments on challenge posts.

[scoobyatemysnax.livejournal.com]

1. tbh i prefer guides to tutorials. and here are some that i love C: by mm3butterfly (http://encorevous.livejournal.com/11612.html) , by raiindust (http://aintafairytale.livejournal.com/52230.html) , by absolutelybatty (http://reflexive-verb.livejournal.com/54611.html)

2. i don't do gifs. i used to aaages ago, with gom player and then make it into a gif with java animation shop ;_; i would most certainly not recommend it because it took sooo long. i'd suggest photoshop, because the newer versions already have ~animation option C:

3. i'm a huuuuge fan of pop art and my favs are andy warhol and roy lichtenstein. back in uni i took graphic design with a minor in advertisement, mostly because i was so awestruck and inspired by their art work 8D

i love talking about icons! and would love to talk icons with you C:

[nightbulbs]

Hope it's not to late for this... Ugh, finals.

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Mathilde
Age: 22
Place: France

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Doctor Who
Favorite Movie: Tough one, probably Trainspotting
Favorite Character: Lol I was going to go with Emma Swan but I'm not watching OUAT this year (don't spoil me!!! it's basically a strategy to spend less time on fangirling and more on studying). So I'm going to go with Gina from Brooklyn Nine-Nine (or basically anyone from B99, it's the best show).
Favorite OTP: I'm not sure I still have OTPs. I've been watching a lot of Twelve/Clara videos though, so I'll go with that.
Favorite Food: It's a tie between sushi and any kind of stuffed pasta.

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?



What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

[nightbulbs]

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
I'm always inspired by music and art styles I guess. This year I decided to embrace the vibrant aspect of my style and focus on composition. I started using stock pictures in my icons and got better at building my compositions around conceptual ideas. So I improved in terms of composition and learned a few new tricks like colouring with gradient maps (though I don't do it often), using paint brushes, painted hair... I wasn't around enough to really improve in any area though, imo.
In 2016 I'd like to keep getting better at basically everything, but my priorities are to improve my cropping and work on blocking and blending because I still sky away from those techniques most of the time.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why?Once Upon a Time because I know how to work with the caps and often have ideas for OUAT icons. Same thing with Doctor Who only I tend to struggle a bit more with the caps. Sitcoms are always nice to icon.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Statistically it's definitely Emma Swan. I made quite a few Tenth Doctor icons this year as well. Same answer, I have icon ideas for them and it makes the whole process a lot easier. Also, when it comes to Emma: the hair.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop! I love close cropping but I'm really bad at it. I used to be more adventurous with my cropping though, so like I said above it's something I want to work on again. But really, the reason I prefer far crops is 1: I love negative space, whether it's scenery from a cap or a fake background and 2: the more room you have, the more crazy composition elements you can use.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant! I just love strong, flashy colours? Idk. I do love a good muted icon, but when it comes to my own stuff, my vibrant icons tend to be more creative and just work better.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Well, an icon with text can be minimalistic, and a textless icon can be very complex, so I'm not sure how to answer this question. But I'll pick text over textless. (Haha, I just realised my picks all have text on them except for that Winter Soldier icon.) I really fell in love with text in 2014 and since then I've been using it more often than not, to "finish" an icon, as a decorative element, but often as an important element in terms of composition. I sometimes even start with text on my canvas. So like you can see, my top 10 picks are when the text worked and the fails are when it fell flat (along with colouring, sharpening and everything tbh, there some some uglies up here :/ ).

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. How do you make icons with lots of levels/blocking look HQ and perfect at 100x100px?
2. Does anyone have a good technique to get screencaps from Youtube videos? (If you have a downloader,etc).
3. Idk...Anyone up for a Galavant battle??

AND THE END....
Any last words? Planet Earth is blue, and there's nothing I can do.
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[novindalf]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Nia
Age: 22
Place: England

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Castle ♥ Also Outlander, Agent Carter and OUaT
Favorite Movie: Ever? Probably something Disney (The Lion King or The Little Mermaid?), or maybe Stardust or Johnny English. Recently? Kingsman!
Favorite Character: At the moment, Kate Beckett. Also Peggy Carter, Jamie Fraser, Regina Mills and Catelyn Stark
Favorite OTP: Still got to be Catelyn/Ned I think, although I have a LOT. Chemistry between characters is one of the things that gets me hooked to a show/film to be honest - I'm a hopeless serial shipper!
Favorite Food: Anything home-cooked (but not too spicy)!

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!
2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?


What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. Definitely starting some new shows and having the resolution for 2015 to work with text more inspired me a lot. I'd also say the opening of ouatchallenge and all the awesome battles here at icontalking too!
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?

continued...

[novindalf]

What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? I think I'm pretty happy with my negative space icons, and I've improved on cropping. Definitely want to get better at text and complexity in 2016!

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? OUaT, because there are so many pretty people, costumes and shots it makes it so much easier than iconning something with say really really dark lighting.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Emma Swan and Kate Beckett for the hair porn. Yes, I am that shallow.
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Depends on the screencap and the 'feel' of the icon/scene. For more emotional things I'll go close crop, but for more superficial/pretty things I'll go far crop.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Lately, vibrant! I think it's because I'm watching shows/films that have more vibrant colours in to start with, so vibrance seems the more obvious choice when iconning, but also I never really used to make vibrant icons and now I really enjoy it.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Minimalistic, always! Text doesn't quite send me running away screaming anymore, but I definitely prefer minimalism!

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. If you could have one superpower, what would you choose?
2. What's the laziest / one you put the least effort into icon you've made lately - it can't just be me that gets lazy sometimes :P
3. What character/fandom/style/whatever would you associate with me? Curious to know if I'd be able to disguise my icons for something like turbo_rumble! (I'll do it for you too if you like :P)

AND THE END....
Any last words? Seriously need to stop procrastinating right now and go write up my lab report...
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[apologizeg]

I'm so late to the party :(

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Ida
Age: 21
Place: In the north

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: Right now it's The Walking Dead and The Leftovers. Of all time it's Breaking Bad, Lost and Fringe!
Favorite Movie: Hot Fuzz, Spy and Big Fish
Favorite Character: There are so many o_O Carol Peletier, Michonne, John Reese, Sun Kwon, Walter Bishop, Astrid Farnsworth and so many more.
Favorite OTP: Carol/Daryl, Rick/Michonne right now
Favorite Food: Don't really have any

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?


What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. turbo_rumble, jsfunction's icons, Vikings (tv)
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016? Text definitely. That was also one of my goals for 2015. In 2016 I hope I can improve my compositions.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Vikings because the cast is beautiful and there are so many great quotes. The Walking Dead because it's always challenging to icon the caps.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Idk
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far, because you can play with so many elements for background/text/colors.
Vibrant or muted? Why? Vibrant, because I'm not very good with muted :P
Text or minimalistic? Why? Text, because I am an addict.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers! How do people color? What canvas size do you work with? Do you share all your rejects?

AND THE END....
Any last words? I never know what to say in these things :x
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[neonspider]

Never too late! :)

All of your favorite picks are spectacular, but why are there more least favorite picks than favorites?? And also why on earth is that Jack&Kate icon one of them? o.O it's stunning, I'd totally use it if I liked J&K together a bit more. I love the colors, text and composition on it!

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want. turbo_rumble, jsfunction's icons
omg are you kidding me. You're way too wonderful and I'm so happy & flattered if my stuff can somehow inspire someone as amazing as you. THANK YOU. ♥___♥

Haha, that gif is perfect and spot on description of northern europe winter. It's been FREEZING for the past week or two... ugh can I just hibernate through the winter please, I don't want to leave the house in this weather -.-

ok, answers:
1. My favorite coloring tools are gradient maps (ofc!), selective coloring, just painting with colors, color balance, variations... I try to do all kinds of stuff with colors, but these are my go-to techniques :)

2. Good question. It depends in the icon and what I'm going to do with it. If I know it will be a simple icon, or complex only in texture use + maybe text, I do it on 100x100px from start to finish, the plus is that I get to use 100x100 textures. If it's an icon that requires a cutout or a very detailed coloring, I do most of the coloring and the cutout on a 40-50% of the original size cap. Then, if the icon needs composition work like blocking or blending, I use a 200x200px canvas, and do composition and some more coloring and texture use here. The last phase is always 100x100px of course, there I may do some final fixes on contrast, coloring, sharpness and maybe some additional texture use now that I can use any sized textures. Sometimes I also like to do text in this small size but sometimes I do it on the 200x200 size. So yeah, what size I start on depends entirely on my plan or intuition on what I'm probably going to do with the icon :)

3. Hmmm, I don't actually have almost any rejects to share because if I'm not feeling an icon, I don't even finish it most of the time. I definitely don't share those unfinished awful ones :p But when I do have rejects, I share them if they're not completely horrible, sometimes in the actual post, sometimes in a later icon dump.

[shameless666.livejournal.com]

ABOUT YOURSELF
Name: Senko
Age: 23
Place: Bulgaria

Share Your Interests!
Favorite Show: There are so many .. The 100, Sense8, How To Get Away With Murder, Suits, Banshee .. okay, that's enough :D
Favorite Movie: I'm not really into movies, but Into the Wild comes to mind.
Favorite Character: Clarke (The 100), Fitz (Agents of SHIELD), Wolfgang (Sense8), Connor (HTGAWM), Harvey (Suits) and many more.
Favorite OTP: Clarke/Bellamy (The 100), Fitz/Simmons (Agents of SHIELD), Harvey/Donna (Suits), Liz/Tom (The Blacklist), Danny/Alex (London Spy)
Favorite Food: Pizza .. and everything italian tbh

LET'S GET TO ICONING!!

2015 Roundup Icon Questions:
What are your personal picks for the top 5-10 icons that you've made in 2015?
This is hard, because I really like big part of my icons last year, but let's say these:

What are the 5-10 worst icon(s) that you've made in 2015?
Again, there were so many of them, I'm really inconsistant :D

What is/are the best colored icon(s) that you've made in 2015?

What has inspired you this year? (techniques, subjects, challenges, etc.) Provide examples if you want.
I don't know tbh, usually when I'm not feeling like making icons I spend time making screencaps, so I guess that brings back my inspiration. Also new fandoms and other peoples pretty icons.
What area(s) do you think you've improved upon in 2015? What area(s) will you focus on improving throughout 2016?
Although my icons are still hit and miss most of them, I think I have improved the overall quality of my icons. I'm not afraid to use texture anymore, I got better in text (I guess when I'm not pushing myself to make icon with text, sometimes it just feels like the right thing to do and that's when it really works out), improved cut outs (still not sure how the layer masks work, so I'm still using the eraser lol :D). Overall, I think it was way better year than 2014.

Other Icon Questions:
What's your favorite show and/or movie to icon and why? Sense 8 and Teen Wolf, because the caps are georgeous and very easy to color.
What's your favorite character to icon and why? Lydia Martin, Sara Lance, Wolfgang Bogdanow, Connor Walsh. Beautiful people with striking features .. and again - easy to color. Although I icon so many characters and fandoms :D
Closecrop or far-crop? Why? Far crop, it's easier for me :D Most of the time I try close crops they just seem weird and awfull :D
Vibrant or muted? Why? Definitely vibrant! Because I love working with different colors.
Text or minimalistic? Why? Text is probably my favourite thing in icons and I want so bad to master it. It just looks cool and adds an extra something to the icons.

Let's Ask Some Questions!!
List three questions that you would like to be answered by other icon makers!
1. Do you post most of your icons or do you scrap a big part of them?
2. What's the secret of muted coloring? I've accidently made some muted icons, but I have no idea how I made them work :D
3. How do you sharpen your icons? I can't seem to find the balance yet ..

AND THE END....
Any last words? I'm not really updating my journal, but I wanted to participate in the meme :D
A gif or image that describes you rn:

[neonspider]

Great to see you here too! :)
I loved your text work last year, you definitely made a lot of progress in that area. All your faves have really good use of text. I also quite like the 3rd least fave, the coloring is so strong and clear and I like the texture use.

answers:
1. I post almost all that I finish, but I scrap a lot that I start if it feels like they're not going anywhere or (more often) if I run out of time in a challenge so there's no reason to finish the icons. (I guess it's relevant to mention here that the way I do challenges is that I work on multiple icons at once, so if I run out of time, I'll only have a few finished ones and lots of unfinished ones :/ Idk how to stop this insanity! I know it makes NO SENSE. I guess I give up sort of easily when I'm making an icon and when I do I move straight to the next one and see if I can make any progress on that one instead)

2. not the best person to answer this since I rarely do fully muted, but I think gradient maps can really help with muted colors. Like, making a normal coloring, then making a bw or sepia gradient map and setting it on normal on some low or middle opacity should get you some nice muted tones. Also, playing with contrast is always great in muted icons. Both really low and really high contrast fit them well.

3. Lol alright I'm so not the best person to answer this either, since I think my icons tend to be a bit on the too sharp side?, but I like sharpness so whatever! :D I have many sharpening methods:
- if I'm starting on a 200x200px canvas and am ready to resize, I often sharpen at that point using the Paint Daubs(?) filter. (I'm not sure if I'm thinking of the right english name for this filter but it's in the 'artistic' menu anyway). I leave the sharpened layer on 20-40% opacity only cause the effect is so heavy. (After resizing I usually do more stuff to the icon and usually need to sharpen it more by the end). Sometimes I may use this filter in 100x100px too if it's a closecrop, cause those need more sharpening imo.
- on a 100x100 canvas, usually as the last step, I use either the Unsharp mask filter (100%, 0,2px) or the smart sharpen filter (30%, 0,3px). I don't play around with these settings much cause I've found the things that work for me.