Contest Triathlon Challenge #3: Transformation!

This is fantastic!

Now to learn to make a GIF...

 

The file size and dimensions required are the same as those on Tumblr, so there are tons of tutorials out there. Just remember to host it privately!

 

Oooh this is going to be interesting, may have to play around with a few ideas, do we have to start our gif with the doll looking as it does now? Trying to figure out how to get proper pics for making the gif.

 

So... do we need to make all props involved/shown in the story besides the clock and have them fit the materials/budget requirements, or is that just for whatever makes up the transformation? Or are props beyond the clock even allowed?

 

You'll need to start with your doll as it looks now, and show the progress of the transformation in some way.

Nope, your budget is only for the transformation materials, whether that is paint or clay or fabric or paper or whatever you want to use for that. Focus on a really good transformation, don't worry about making extra props. You can use any environment and any other props to tell your story - the only requirement is that it include your doll and your clock.

 

Ohhh thank goodness. Thank you for the clarification!

 

Ok wait. Sorry. Do you mean that the start of the transformation has to be the look we created for the first event? Or am I just misreading? Can our transparent outfit be part of the end result of the transformation but not part of the beginning?

 

Your transparent outfit does not have to be eliminated or replaced by the end of the transformation, though you may chose to do so. Your doll in its current state should be the start of your transformation.

 

This is going to be such an awesome contest. I already have some ideas sketched out for the outcome. Now I just have to start working on a storyboard for the transformation. Then I have to find some materials and put it together.

 

Glad I read questions hehe. This one really challenges my brain ...

So in end result I may fully disregard creation number 1 as long as clock is part of the image?

May the clock transform as well?

 

Yes.

Yes. The only thing the clock is required to do is illustrate the passage of time.

 

Whoa, awesome challenge! I have never done anything like this, but I was actually hoping for a challenge including a gif animation … This one's already making my mind want to explode …

For clarification:
The gif doesn't have to be a classic stop-motion animation showing actual movement, does it?

Can you give an example for changing your doll's appearance - if changing clothes is not to be the only thing that's changed? Would changing the wig count? Putting on sunglasses?

I don't quite get the "ready-made resin parts" thing. Does that mean, you could just add some fantasy parts made by a company and that's your transformation, or do you have to make the resin parts yourself ?

 

If possible could we get clarification on the rules for ready made resin parts? Since later on in the rules it says "the elements of the transformation must have been specifically created for this contest" which seems mutually exclusive.

(Not to mention anyone owning a Soom etc. could theoretically just swap the fantasy pieces for human/vice versa and call it a day)

 

Can we have the link to the previous gif maker?

 

If I use purchased meterials from a previous round do I count it as my reuse materials or purchased materials?

 

Yes, I second arlais. Is it possible to get some example of a gif maker we can use? I'm so lost on that end.
Also, what kind of platforms host gifs?

 

Hoo boy another GIF...this takes me back a couple of years. Still...this means I could potentially get this done after work in little bits throughout the week. *phew*

 

Oh geez, my mind is racing! I'm super excited and also nervous to tackle this!! I'm a total noob to gif making or anything like that, but I just did a super quick 10 stills this morning to test out some different gif makers. This one seems to be pretty easy: Online Animated GIF Maker & Editor - Create and Edit GIF Images Easily But I'm not yet sure what to use to host it, time to research I guess!

 

Let us know what you find! I'll be looking around as well.

 

giphy.com seems to be a good place to host...?

 

Tumblr hosts gifs right? I think...

 

Purchased materials from previous round now count as repurposed materials.

Tumblr and Photobucket can both host private GIFs, and the maximum file size matches that of Tumblr so you shouldn't have any trouble with that. I'll provide more info on GIF makers soon. Nobody should really need that quite yet.

Smooth motion requires at least 24 frames per second, so no, you can do what is essentially a slideshow if you'd like. We'd love to see someone really push the limits though!

 

So, examples of transformation:

A fairy godmother flies up, boops you with a glitter wand and your rags magically fluff out into a sparkly ball gown and your updo is fabulous. That type of transformation mostly involves good photography and sleight of hand costume changes, but could also involve face-up enhancement.

It's midnight on the night of a full moon and suddenly his eyes go yellow and claws pop out. Patches of fur appear under his shirt and moments later he's snarling with his long furry ears flat against his head and tail lashing. That kind of transformation will require multiple stages of modifications, and if you happened to have some magnetic cat ears from SWITCH, you could incorporate them into your other work.

 

So 12 photos is the minimum, right? We can do stop motion if we want to?

 

Oh wow- this is totally not what I expect! But it's gonna be fun to learn something new

Thanks @St. James for the examples, that helps get my brain in gear!

Question about the "ready-made resin parts" -- could we, say, swap heads with another doll? Or does it have to be only things like the cat ears, or different feet?

 

Yes, but you need to keep the file size under 2MB or the forum won't allow it to display.

You can swap whatever doll parts you'd like, just not the entire doll.

 

so clothes alone do not make a transformation
- but painting details (like changing a faceup) along with clothes orsomthg would work?

 

Correct!

 

Wow this challenge is awesome!

Just for clarification: is there a limit on how long or short these gifs are (running time-wise)?

Also, one of the rules requires minimal uses of photoshop, does that rule apply to the animated transformation as well? (ie minimal computer-generated special effects ala anime magical girl transformation)

 

Minimum number of frames (12) and maximum file size (2MB) are the only restrictions. We've had contestants make short films out of challenges like this in the past, but you'll have to see what you can fit. They should also be set to infinite loop, rsther than single play.

Yes, no Photoshop does mean you'll have to create magical girl transformation sparkles on set rather than in post production.

 

I see, thanks! ^^

 

Can we include other dolls with the main doll in our gif?

 

Yes!

 

Ooooh I hope I can make my idea work!!! I'm so excited to see what everyone comes up with, this is so cool!

 

Well I've got a plan (sort of) - it remains to be seen if the materials I'm intending to use are even remotely appropriate for what I want to do, but fairly excited about what the end result will be!

 

on the entry form it is saying we are required to have a purchased material photo?? Im not going to purchase anything this round. do we have to or is that a mistake in the entry form?

 

That's not required. I'll fix that!

 

Sweet!!!

 

So just to make sure I have this right.... Are we allowed to build on top of our outfits from challenge 1 as a transformation?

 

As far as I understand it, yes, but the doll itself has to change, not just the clothing.

 

Does the clock have to change time in each of the 12 photos?

 

You may build on top of the Challenge #1 outfit, but modification of the just outfit is not enough of a transformation.

Correct!

No. We just need to see it reaching whatever time you have chosen as the critical time that triggers a transformation.

 

GIF tips!

Here's a current article on apps for creating GIFs.
Here's a slightly older one with some nice specifics for non-smartphone users.

You can host them on Flickr, Photobucket and Tumblr (all set to private!). I have tested those three myself. Imgur should work as well, since they also have a 2MB limit.

 

You say you can't swap out a pumpkin for your doll but can parts of your doll be swapped out? Say the head for example... or the arms... provided you made the thing that was being swapped in?

 

Yes! You may even use other doll parts that you didn't make, you just can't replace the entire doll.

 

EXCELLENT! Muahahaha... Off to craft up a storm!

 

Which mod may I pm if I have a specific question I can't ask here without giving away my entry idea? o:

 

I've used the Ask the Moderators to ask questions in the past as only the person making the post and a moderator can view it. you can find it under the Help tab

 

Please post your question in the Ask the Moderators subforum using the Contests prefix. There is a link in the contest instructions above and in the Help tab at the top of the forum.

 

Thanks o: (thanks to you too dollyolly1 ^^)

 

so, as far as editing goes, can I edit two photos on top of each other, to create a fade in/out transformation sequence? Like setting one photo to 50% opacity over the other one. Or to have the transformed doll 'talk to' the un-transformed doll? I'm just trying to make sure before I get stuck on that idea...

 

1. a style shot of your transformed doll with the completed timepiece from Challenge #1

Is that supposed to say timepiece from Challenge #2?

 

One day in and already made a mistake I can't fix. Off to a great start, I guess... Oh well, I'm just gonna run with it and continue the plans I had, this is way too much fun to give up now

 

Maybe it will be one of those 'happy accidents' and you're project will turn out better for it.

 

Another question - so long as we show our clock changing time at the start of the transformation, does the clock need to be in all the other photos too or could the later frames of the gif just show the doll?

eta - okay, this is a question from someone who's never made a gif before, but all the tutorials seem to assume you start with a video clip. Can anyone link to a really straightforward tutorial for putting a gif together from jpg photos? (I'll be working on a pc, not a phone).

 

I asked more or less what you asked about the clock needing to be in all the photos in post 42# on this page:

 

Ok, so I got all my pictures taken. Unfortunately I couldn't go all out on this last event since school started for me this week (ugh so much homework). But I hope people like my entry anyways.

I just have to finish and submit this tonight and then it'll be back to school work for me.

 

omg this is going to kill me. i have like almost two days. OTL

 

So if our gif has to be no more than 500 pixels wide is it the same for height or was there a different measurement that I am missing?