Fedora 17 Wallpaper - "fireworks" concept - next step colorization

[Alexander Smirnov]

Hi team!

The next step of "fireworks" concept - colorization phase.

Placed in our artboard  [1].

Testing screenshots gnome, kde, lxde, xfce. [2].

[1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/101
[2] - http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/Screenshots/

Thanks,
Alexander.

[Martin Sourada]

Hi Alex,

On Fri, 13 Jan 2012 15:44:01 +0300 
Alexander Smirnov wrote:

>  Hi team!
>  
>  The next step of "fireworks" concept - colorization phase.
>  
>  Placed in our artboard  [1].
>  
>  Testing screenshots gnome, kde, lxde, xfce. [2].
>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/101
>  [2] -
>  http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/Screenshots/
>   
There're basically two things I'd like to say about them:
 1) I love them, they look awesome; however
 2) I believe they're too busy (well, they're very true to their name,
 aren't they ;-)) for a default wallpaper.

Anyway, either as default or as extras, I think it definitely deserves
to be included.

Maybe you could try something more subtle with more shades of blue and
less other colours? I'm not sure if that would work with that concept,
but maybe it's worth trying.

Cheers,
Martin

[Máirín Duffy]

Hi Alexander,

On Fri, 2012-01-13 at 15:44 +0300, Alexander Smirnov wrote:
>  Testing screenshots gnome, kde, lxde, xfce. [2].
>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/101
>  [2] -
>  http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/Screenshots/ 
I love the concept, because:

- Fireworks are a very nice tie-in to Beefy Miracle, see
http://beefymiracle.org 

- Fireworks can also make some really cool patterns that are abstract,
hopefully enough to serve as a greaet wallpaper base!

I do think we'll have to work through figuring out a way to render the
fireworks so that are able to fade into the background, providing a
pretty environment while at the same time not grabbing too much
attention! 

But, we're just in the concept phase, right :) So it's okay, we can take
it on as a challenge and help you work through it, right?

Here's some inspiration:

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/1021853 these are beautiful.
not all wallpaper-suited but, some are. the first one definitely is.

http://foglight.deviantart.com/art/Fireworks-170224190?q=boost%3Apopular
%20fireworks%20watercolor&qo=30

http://korpinkynsi.deviantart.com/art/Domestic-Fireworks-149314050?q=boos...

http://xxdarknessloveshimxx.deviantart.com/art/FireWorks-211480595?q=boos...

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Guinness-Alive-Inside/92979

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/480209 - these are too intense
but the lines are so clean. maybe some kind of weaving of the lines of
different bursts?

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Burst-Of-Bokeh/2495437 bokeh fireworks :)

http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles11/747141/projects/2773389/2f63b95048...
 this one is from this set http://www.behance.net/gallery/New-Years-Fireworks/2773389 )
which are generally shaky and not necessarily awesome, but in that one shot from the set
you see the firework burst getting dragged out... it might make for some interesting
wallpaper-friendly lines. it looks kind of 3D!

http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/2313692  the first one in this
set has interesting sparks coming off almost like stars... with the
lower intensity it seems like the spark pattern would be more wallpaper
suited

What do you think? Any of these strike a chord?

~m

[Sirko Kemter]

Hi mizmo and all other artists,

maybe thats a way to render fireworks, of course used my favorite tool Inkscape 
;)

http://gnokii.fedorapeople.org/fireworks.png

first draw a star with 25 edges, spoke ratio 0.110, rounded 0.080 and 
randomized 0.020

then I made 2 copies of it and added each 2 more edges and scaled them.

now, u can choose, I made path union of them all but u can do the next steps 
of each stat alone there will be a better result.

I used the path effect Bend and brought the middle of the control line a little 
bit up.

Then I filled it wit a radial gradient (each filled wit a little bit different 
looks more cool)
Then I made a copy of them and filled it with white and set down the opacity to 
30
Then I used some filter primitives on it, u can find them in 
http://gnokii.fedorapeople.org/firework.svg

br gnokii
>  
>  On Fri, 2012-01-13 at 15:44 +0300, Alexander Smirnov wrote:
>  > Testing screenshots gnome, kde, lxde, xfce. [2].
>  > 
>  > [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/101
>  > [2] -
>  > http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/Screenshots/
>  
>  I love the concept, because:
>  
>  - Fireworks are a very nice tie-in to Beefy Miracle, see
>  http://beefymiracle.org
>  
>  - Fireworks can also make some really cool patterns that are abstract,
>  hopefully enough to serve as a greaet wallpaper base!
>  
>  I do think we'll have to work through figuring out a way to render the
>  fireworks so that are able to fade into the background, providing a
>  pretty environment while at the same time not grabbing too much
>  attention!
>  
>  But, we're just in the concept phase, right :) So it's okay, we can take
>  it on as a challenge and help you work through it, right?
>  
>  Here's some inspiration:
>  
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/1021853 these are beautiful.
>  not all wallpaper-suited but, some are. the first one definitely is.
>  
>  http://foglight.deviantart.com/art/Fireworks-170224190?q=boost%3Apopular
>  %20fireworks%20watercolor&qo=30
>  
>  http://korpinkynsi.deviantart.com/art/Domestic-Fireworks-149314050?q=boost%
>  3Apopular%20fireworks%20watercolor&qo=46
>  
>  http://xxdarknessloveshimxx.deviantart.com/art/FireWorks-211480595?q=boost%
>  3Apopular%20fireworks%20watercolor&qo=45
>  
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Guinness-Alive-Inside/92979
>  
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/480209 - these are too intense
>  but the lines are so clean. maybe some kind of weaving of the lines of
>  different bursts?
>  
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Burst-Of-Bokeh/2495437 bokeh fireworks :)
>  
>  http://behance.vo.llnwd.net/profiles11/747141/projects/2773389/2f63b95048d9
>  5f82ee6461f3236f3302.JPG  this one is from this set
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/New-Years-Fireworks/2773389 ) which are
>  generally shaky and not necessarily awesome, but in that one shot from the
>  set you see the firework burst getting dragged out... it might make for
>  some interesting wallpaper-friendly lines. it looks kind of 3D!
>  
>  http://www.behance.net/gallery/Fireworks/2313692  the first one in this
>  set has interesting sparks coming off almost like stars... with the
>  lower intensity it seems like the spark pattern would be more wallpaper
>  suited
>  
>  What do you think? Any of these strike a chord?
>  
>  ~m
>  
>  _______________________________________________
>  design-team mailing list
>  design-team(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/design-team

[Máirín Duffy]

Hi Gnokii!!!

On Sun, 2012-01-15 at 16:40 +0100, S.Kemter wrote:
>  Hi mizmo and all other artists,
>  
>  maybe thats a way to render fireworks, of course used my favorite tool Inkscape 
>  ;)
>  
>  http://gnokii.fedorapeople.org/fireworks.png 
This is an awesome technique!! Would you mind writing it up as a Fedora
Planet post? Maybe folks can give it a try and submit their designs to
us to help Alexander and the rest of us brainstorm on the rendering?

~m

[Sirko Kemter]

Am Montag, 16. Januar 2012, 16:30:07 schrieb Máirín Duffy:
>  Hi Gnokii!!!
>  
>  On Sun, 2012-01-15 at 16:40 +0100, S.Kemter wrote:
>  > Hi mizmo and all other artists,
>  > 
>  > maybe thats a way to render fireworks, of course used my favorite tool
>  > Inkscape ;)
>  > 
>  > http://gnokii.fedorapeople.org/fireworks.png
>  
>  This is an awesome technique!! Would you mind writing it up as a Fedora
>  Planet post? Maybe folks can give it a try and submit their designs to
>  us to help Alexander and the rest of us brainstorm on the rendering? 
I took some time this morning and made an screencast about it:

http://vimeo.com/35248796

br gnokii
>  
>  ~m
>  
>  _______________________________________________
>  design-team mailing list
>  design-team(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/design-team

[Alexander Smirnov]

Hi Gnokii!!!

2012/1/18 S.Kemter <buergermeister(a)karl-tux-stadt.de&gt;

>  Am Montag, 16. Januar 2012, 16:30:07 schrieb Máirín Duffy:
>  > Hi Gnokii!!!
>  >
>  > On Sun, 2012-01-15 at 16:40 +0100, S.Kemter wrote:
>  > > Hi mizmo and all other artists,
>  > >
>  > > maybe thats a way to render fireworks, of course used my favorite tool
>  > > Inkscape ;)
>  > >
>  > > http://gnokii.fedorapeople.org/fireworks.png
>  >
>  > This is an awesome technique!! Would you mind writing it up as a Fedora
>  > Planet post? Maybe folks can give it a try and submit their designs to
>  > us to help Alexander and the rest of us brainstorm on the rendering?
>
>  I took some time this morning and made an screencast about it:
>
>  http://vimeo.com/35248796
>
>  br gnokii
>  >
>  > ~m
>  >
>  > _______________________________________________
>  > design-team mailing list
>  > design-team(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  > https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/design-team
>
>  _______________________________________________
>  design-team mailing list
>  design-team(a)lists.fedoraproject.org
>  https://admin.fedoraproject.org/mailman/listinfo/design-team
>  
The good screencast. It's very interesting technique. I try use it for
detailing the last concept.

Thanks,
Alexander.

[Alexander Smirnov]

Thanks all for feedback!

Yes, of course, we are at a very early stage of the work on the our
wallpapers.
This is not the final version.

I concentrated on two aspects:
1. Fireworks as an idea.
2. Abstraction for a unique idea.

This is the first very simple version, and it has many problems.
I want to try to continue this work by changing this variant (or other)
based on your opinions and ideas.

Alexander.

[Alexander Smirnov]

Hi team!

Other "fireworks" color concept [1] for fans of darker.

What do you think about this?

[1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/103

Thanks,
Alexander

[Alexander Smirnov]

Hi team!

The next iteration my "fireworks" wallpaper concept [1].
Test screenshots for various desktops and source here [2].

[1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/107/
[2] - http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/v2/

Thanks,
Alexander.

[Onyeibo Oku]

Awesome!

The dispersal/bang-sprays may need to be enhanced or it tends to look
like mere stars at a distance. I wonder were the burger and the beefy
'joke' fits into this ... but I LIKE IT!

On 23/01/2012 14:44, Alexander Smirnov wrote:
>  Hi team!
>  
>  The next iteration my "fireworks" wallpaper concept [1].
>  Test screenshots for various desktops and source here [2].
>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/107/
>  [2] - http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/v2/
>  
>  Thanks,
>  Alexander.
>

[Máirín Duffy]

On Mon, 2012-01-23 at 18:13 +0100, Onyeibo Oku wrote:
>  Awesome!
>  
>  The dispersal/bang-sprays may need to be enhanced or it tends to look
>  like mere stars at a distance. I wonder were the burger and the beefy
>  'joke' fits into this ... but I LIKE IT! 
Visit beefymiracle.org and all will become clear ;-)

~m

[Alexander Smirnov]

Thanks Martin, Onyeibo and other...

I posted update latest version of my "fireworks" concept [1].
Maybe it's first step to polish the alpha wallpaper?

[1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/108

Best regards,
Alexander.

[Sirko Kemter]

Am Dienstag, 24. Januar 2012, 22:46:39 schrieb Alexander Smirnov:
>  Thanks Martin, Onyeibo and other...
>  
>  I posted update latest version of my "fireworks" concept [1].
>  Maybe it's first step to polish the alpha wallpaper? 
I dont like it, I dont know the "stripes" arround look not so nice, the one 
before was better but I know on that one the "kicking" point was missing.

maybe more something like this
http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/109

just my opinion


br gnokii

>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/108
>  
>  Best regards,
>  Alexander.

[Paul W. Frields]

On Tue, Jan 24, 2012 at 11:48:06PM +0100, S.Kemter wrote:
>  Am Dienstag, 24. Januar 2012, 22:46:39 schrieb Alexander Smirnov:
>  > Thanks Martin, Onyeibo and other...
>  > 
>  > I posted update latest version of my "fireworks" concept [1].
>  > Maybe it's first step to polish the alpha wallpaper?
>  
>  I dont like it, I dont know the "stripes" arround look not so nice, the one 
>  before was better but I know on that one the "kicking" point was missing.
>  
>  maybe more something like this
>  http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/109
>  
>  just my opinion 
I see good things in both of these.  I like Alexander's rendering but
will try to explain in more detail how I feel it could be improved.

In gnokii's version, the trails of the exploding particles have a
softer, fuzzier look.  In Alexander's, they are very fine streaks with
what I would call a higher energy -- meaning (at least to me) there
are very abrupt contrasts between one color/brightness and another.
To my eye this makes for a more distracting background, when I think
the right goal would be a beautiful but subtle background that doesn't
make itself too noticeable.  Also, the center of the fireworks are
very bright, again making for possibly some excess distraction.

However, overall Alexander's rendering does have a great feel, and
perhaps softening or blurring these exploding trails outward from the
center of each firework would help reduce the energy somewhat.  I'm
not sure how much the brightness of the center of each firework could
be adjusted without sacrificing people's ability to know what they're
looking at.

I wish I had the skill to do a version based on what I'm talking
about, but I don't.  But I hope the explanation was helpful to someone
who does!

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
  gpg fingerprint: 3DA6 A0AC 6D58 FEC4 0233  5906 ACDB C937 BD11 3717
  http://redhat.com/   -  -  -  -   http://pfrields.fedorapeople.org/
    The open source story continues to grow: http://opensource.com

[Alexander Smirnov]

2012/1/25 Paul W. Frields <stickster(a)gmail.com&gt;

>  I see good things in both of these.  I like Alexander's rendering
> but
>  will try to explain in more detail how I feel it could be improved.
>
>  In gnokii's version, the trails of the exploding particles have a
>  softer, fuzzier look.  In Alexander's, they are very fine streaks with
>  what I would call a higher energy -- meaning (at least to me) there
>  are very abrupt contrasts between one color/brightness and another.
>  To my eye this makes for a more distracting background, when I think
>  the right goal would be a beautiful but subtle background that doesn't
>  make itself too noticeable.  Also, the center of the fireworks are
>  very bright, again making for possibly some excess distraction.
>
>  However, overall Alexander's rendering does have a great feel, and
>  perhaps softening or blurring these exploding trails outward from the
>  center of each firework would help reduce the energy somewhat.  I'm
>  not sure how much the brightness of the center of each firework could
>  be adjusted without sacrificing people's ability to know what they're
>  looking at.
>
>  I wish I had the skill to do a version based on what I'm talking
>  about, but I don't.  But I hope the explanation was helpful to someone
>  who does!
>  
A modified version [1] is based on the comments of Paul. I don't think what
it full realisation Paul's idea. This is middle  variant.

[1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/113


Thanks,
Alexander.

[Paul W. Frields]

On Tue, Jan 31, 2012 at 11:51:06PM +0300, Alexander Smirnov wrote:
>  2012/1/25 Paul W. Frields <stickster(a)gmail.com&gt;
>  
>  > I see good things in both of these.  I like Alexander's rendering but
>  > will try to explain in more detail how I feel it could be improved.
>  >
>  > In gnokii's version, the trails of the exploding particles have a
>  > softer, fuzzier look.  In Alexander's, they are very fine streaks with
>  > what I would call a higher energy -- meaning (at least to me) there
>  > are very abrupt contrasts between one color/brightness and another.
>  > To my eye this makes for a more distracting background, when I think
>  > the right goal would be a beautiful but subtle background that doesn't
>  > make itself too noticeable.  Also, the center of the fireworks are
>  > very bright, again making for possibly some excess distraction.
>  >
>  > However, overall Alexander's rendering does have a great feel, and
>  > perhaps softening or blurring these exploding trails outward from the
>  > center of each firework would help reduce the energy somewhat.  I'm
>  > not sure how much the brightness of the center of each firework could
>  > be adjusted without sacrificing people's ability to know what they're
>  > looking at.
>  >
>  > I wish I had the skill to do a version based on what I'm talking
>  > about, but I don't.  But I hope the explanation was helpful to someone
>  > who does!
>  >
>  
>  A modified version [1] is based on the comments of Paul. I don't think what
>  it full realisation Paul's idea. This is middle  variant.
>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/113 
Nice!  This is on the right track, but perhaps more fuzziness may be
called for to make the background less distracting.

-- 
Paul W. Frields                                http://paul.frields.org/
  gpg fingerprint: 3DA6 A0AC 6D58 FEC4 0233  5906 ACDB C937 BD11 3717
  http://redhat.com/   -  -  -  -   http://pfrields.fedorapeople.org/
    The open source story continues to grow: http://opensource.com

[Martin Sourada]

Hi Alexander,

On Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:44:40 +0300 
Alexander Smirnov wrote:

>  Hi team!
>  
>  The next iteration my "fireworks" wallpaper concept [1].
>  Test screenshots for various desktops and source here [2].
>  
>  [1] - http://publictest04.fedoraproject.org/artboard/post/view/107/
>  [2] - http://inkscaper.fedorapeople.org/Fedora17/Wallpaper/v2/
>   
Whoa, that's awesome! I like it.

On a side note -- as the deadline for colorization was last Tuesday and
we're slowly approaching deadline for alpha polish (next Tuesday) and as
this is practically the only concept that's being actively worked on --
anyone against it if we go with this concept for F17?

Cheers,
Martin

[Alexander Smirnov]

Hi team!

In the last three evenings I teached Inkscape for students (12-14 years). I
conducted an experiment asking them to put a wallpaper desktop selected
from standard wallpaper from Gnome, Fedora's 11-16 and some versions of my
concepts (they don`t know this). I was very surprised by the results of the
experiment. First place is my last variant - 50 % !!!, second wallpaper of
F13 - 25%, third - F12, F16 -  10% and all other - 5%. This is the choice
of a new generation of users Linux, Fedora and other open source software
;) And surprisingly they like GNOME 3 is more, than experienced users.

Thanks,
Alexander.

[Onyeibo Oku]

On 25/01/2012 21:22, Alexander Smirnov wrote:
<snip>

This is the choice of a new generation of users Linux,
>  Fedora and other open source software ;) And surprisingly they like
>  GNOME 3 is more, than experienced users.
>   
Not surprising to me. I've had to perform an installation of F14 for a
friend.  It was difficult finding the usual things -- funny, they were
in the usual places when Gnome2 was the norm (get what I mean?).

Which reminds me, I had a horrible experience printing a PDF letter from
Evince on that machine.  I couldn't control print margins at all. I
wonder if that is a known issue.

>  Thanks,
>  Alexander.