Starlight Celebration Comic Strip Contest (EU) - Discussion Thread

Please feel free to use this thread to discuss the Starlight Celebration Comic Strip Contest and practice submitting your entries.

Please remember, you cannot edit your entries in the entry thread once you have posted.

The full contest details and rules can be found here.

When you are ready to make your entry, please do so by posting in the Entry Thread.

I am so excited! It'll be a pleasure to come up with a comic for the contest.

I have two questions.

1. I understand that you want a 4 panel comic. However, I could not find the desired size of the submissions. What dimensions would Square Enix prefer?
2. Would it be okay if I outline the panels and speech bubbles? I do this as a matter of course with my regular comics because it makes the finished product neater.

Thank you for your time,

Kacho

An example of my work. Not a contest submission!

Hello Kacho_Nacho,

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1. I understand that you want a 4 panel comic. However, I could not find the desired size of the submissions. What dimensions would Square Enix prefer?

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There is no size limit in terms of resolution. Given that screenshots are to be used, which are allowed to be cropped, we expect and number of size combinations up to 1920x1080 (and more) per image. In other words – it’s up to you.

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2. Would it be okay if I outline the panels and speech bubbles? I do this as a matter of course with my regular comics because it makes the finished product neater.

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Please submit the comic in the form of four screenshots that have been minimally edited – outlining the speech bubbles should be fine. The rules for the contest have been made with simplicity in mind to give everyone the same chances, no matter their level of skill.

From the rules:
“Submit four screenshots related to the theme of Starlight Celebration (an in-game seasonal event) with speech bubbles and/or brief captions (“Text”) and post them in the dedicated contest participation thread”

But we’re sure you’ll make something nice out of that as well – it’s the content that counts, after all :)

Can I only work in the small panels used as example in the banner for the event, or can I work in a more square shape? Two panels across and two panels below it.

I understand that some form of text is required right? So I should rule out any idea for a "mute" strip? If I add a title to the first panel, would it count toward having text?
It's okay if mute comics can't be accepted, I haven't started yet; I'm just trying to figure out which ideas are OK to be used and which should be scrapped. Thanks for your attention.

Just wanted to write a note to people making comics, just remember to make your font readable when you make your comics :p. A LOT of the entries I cannot even read because the font is way too small ><.

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Originally Posted by Chiramu

Just wanted to write a note to people making comics, just remember to make your font readable when you make your comics :p. A LOT of the entries I cannot even read because the font is way too small ><.

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Right-click the images -> copy image link -> paste URL to view image at full scale
The website tends to shrink the images, a lot of people actually have quite view-able font, it's just shrunk on the actual page when the image is posted.
It's quite unfortunate.

I was wondering if we could get a forum mod to tell us about the border issue for comics :(. I did only crop my images, I didn't edit the content of the screenshot in any way. I just cropped my screenshots in various shapes and in the layout of two across and two below.
I'm a little worried we have had little mod answers for these questions T-T.

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Originally Posted by Chiramu

I was wondering if we could get a forum mod to tell us about the border issue for comics :(. I did only crop my images, I didn't edit the content of the screenshot in any way. I just cropped my screenshots in various shapes and in the layout of two across and two below.
I'm a little worried we have had little mod answers for these questions T-T.

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In the NA thread they mentioned any resolution and shame works. You can crop them you just need to make sure not to edit the screen shot in any way besides the text bubbles.

TO add to the last post:

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Originally Posted by Dav

If we use 5 panels are we disqualified? I see some of the best entries so far on the EU side are using more panels.

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From the official rules:
Entry rules:
-Only one entry per person.
-If multiple entries are posted, only the first one submitted will be accepted.
-Entries cannot be edited after submission.
-Entries using more or less than four screenshots shall be disqualified.
-You may only use image editing software to crop your screenshots or add text captions/speech bubbles.
-Your character must be visible in at least one screenshot
-The screenshots and explanation text must be created by the user who is submitting.
-You may not use image editing software to alter, enhance or add more features than requested to your screenshot.

sorry that was in response to Chiramu

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Originally Posted by Zephrey

In the NA thread they mentioned any resolution and shame works. You can crop them you just need to make sure not to edit the screen shot in any way besides the text bubbles.

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Thanks for the response Zeph :), I hope my entry is alright :p.

Idea has been decided on, screenshots taken and story set out. Now I just have to get my mate to put it together for me, as I doubt my terrible paint skills will help me with this one xD

Testing image

http://i.imgur.com/W0LCpsH.jpg?1

I've read through the EU and NA discussion pages and looked at the entries, and there still seems to be some confusion which I hope can be cleared up before I enter as I've got my screenshots but haven't yet cropped/added text as the answer to this will of course affect how I do so...

When we submit, should we do it as 4 separate images like this entry, or as one image with 4 panels like this entry?

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Originally Posted by yazpanda

I've read through the EU and NA discussion pages and looked at the entries, and there still seems to be some confusion which I hope can be cleared up before I enter as I've got my screenshots but haven't yet cropped/added text as the answer to this will of course affect how I do so...

When we submit, should we do it as 4 separate images like this entry, or as one image with 4 panels like this entry?

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The answer is yes. Both comics are legitimate. We use 4 screenshots which may be cropped or not.

I just submitted my contest entry and concerned that others may struggle reading the text, I also provided a direct link to my comic underneath the entry as well to help avoid it being resized.

Turns out even the link I've given has resized my comic and it's not in its full resolution. I understand why editing to entry posts is not allowed, but is there any chance I can alter the link in hopes of providing others with the full scale version?

I hope mine is simple enough. I have slightly formatted text, a simple background gradient behind the cropped screenshots plus simple captions. :s

Test.

http://i.imgur.com/T2HKf77.jpg

Character: Falka Redwind
World: Odin
Prize: Ahriman Choker

Test 2.

http://i.imgur.com/iH9NruU.jpg

Character: Falka Redwind
World: Odin
Prize: Ahriman Choker

Test

http://i.imgur.com/WaBcOg2.png
http://i.imgur.com/KNsWuZu.png
http://i.imgur.com/0PtZWvx.png
http://i.imgur.com/AU4w1Be.png

Direct links for full size
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4

Info
Info
Info

where are people posting their pictures please? i tried photobucket but that comes out really tiny :/

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...BrhCzWjfUYPCHs

https://photos.google.com/photo/AF1Q...BrhCzWjfUYPCHs

Ok hope this works...

http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/a...psfculfp9v.jpg
http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/a...psmusdpgvi.jpg
http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps5eosgrgd.jpg
http://i953.photobucket.com/albums/a...psnbdv4ho9.jpg

I used Imgur. I find it works a lot better so check it out if you don't want to use photobucket

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Originally Posted by kuma_aus

I used Imgur. I find it works a lot better so check it out if you don't want to use photobucket

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You can always use the lodestone image storage. Check out your icons on your lodestone front page.

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Originally Posted by Calley

where are people posting their pictures please? i tried photobucket but that comes out really tiny :/

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Unfortunately that's exactly what happened to me and my entry. It looked fine until I fully posted it. :( I wish mods would allow us to replace image links on request. For now I've left the full resolution version in my signature.

Starring in the comic is Lumina Nionel, also from the Sargatanas server:

The Main Course

http://i.imgur.com/DEuZUgR.png

Link to full-size version: http://imgur.com/DEuZUgR

Test 2

I added in thin white rectangles between frames to make it easier to tell them apart.

http://i.imgur.com/WaBcOg2.png
http://i.imgur.com/LT0tWiT.png
http://i.imgur.com/KNsWuZu.png
http://i.imgur.com/LT0tWiT.png
http://i.imgur.com/0PtZWvx.png
http://i.imgur.com/LT0tWiT.png
http://i.imgur.com/AU4w1Be.png

Direct links for full size
Image 1
Image 2
Image 3
Image 4

Character Name: Paca Kuma
World: Chocobo
Choice: Bluebird Earring

I have been told by support to contact 'Melchly' regarding this event, but I don't see a PM function on here.

I love going through these entries. they are all so funny and nicee