Beta Sketch Awards 2009 - Winners up!

klet · Post by **klet** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:43 pm

Quick question:

Are non-pan movie-size and HD size (yes, there are wide-screen anime out there now!) considered "standard size" (500 pixel) or "oversized" (600 pixel)?

zerospace · Post by **zerospace** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:23 pm

I like the idea rei posted--that if some categories fail to fill up, that folks be given the opportunity to submit a 6th piece. I think that was done one other year during the cel awards... but I can't be sure of that. If it's something that might be considered, I can make a way for the organizers to check how many pieces have been submitted by each entrant ...

Or at the very least a way for the organizers to see the information contained in the entry log files more easily.

Leedz wrote:I'm inclined to reuse my 'magnificent stallion' comment on Zero again, but she's heard that one before. I'll come up with something.

*snicker* Why does that comment... even one year later... still sound so very wrong?

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 2:31 pm

klet wrote:Quick question:

Are non-pan movie-size and HD size (yes, there are wide-screen anime out there now!) considered "standard size" (500 pixel) or "oversized" (600 pixel)?

If the artwork is oversized, then, yes. If the artwork is not oversized but was used for an HD production, then, no.

Leedz · Post by **Leedz** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:31 pm

You know, on the subject of pixel width and what qualifies as oversized, can I just publicly comment that I think the rule on pan cels is unfair to horizontal pans? With vertical pans, the 600 pixel width will account for the -smaller- of the two dimensions, which means it can be as tall as it wants, and will be able to show off much more of its glory than a horizontal pan, whose longer side will be restricted to the 600 pixels. The horizontal pans are effectively robbed of whatever accommodation the rule was supposed to create for them, since its vertical kin are allowed so much more breathing room.

zerospace · Post by **zerospace** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 9:59 pm

That's true leedz, but you've got me to thank for it, since the site does all the sizing by horizontal dimension rather than vertical. After having some enormous vertical stuff last year, I built in a way for the organizers to resize entries by the vertical dimension if something is really huge. It's up to the organizers if they want to enforce a 600 pixel high limit for vertical pan pieces.

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:04 pm

This is the first that I had heard that there was animation stuff designed for HD. I would have assumed that this would be done on pan sized paper similar to those used for movie production, but, I'm wrong.

Future organizers can indeed modify the system(that's the beauty of Zero's design) to meet whatever needs they'll have.

We're wrapping up the second day and while we had fewer entries today than the first day, there were still plenty of lovely items added. If tomorrow is anything like last year, I'm expecting a GA-ZIL-LON submissions tomorrow!

As for adding a sixth item, I wouldn't mind it, but then it would be only fair to give all participants the ability to add another item. Otherwise, I know there will be complaints as to the preferential treatment.

Let's wait until tomorrow to see where we're at. Although, I am somewhat worried that it will be difficult to fill up the storyboard section as original storyboards are rare and not too many people own one.

moonrabitt · Post by **moonrabitt** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 1:39 am

Still deciding on what to enter ^_^

I think that maybe the "Storyboard" category should be made optional so more people can add theirs...Since settei is optional....
Same thing with Fancels.... (and the people that entered stuff in those categories be allowed to enter another piece in another category...

Or let it be 6 pieces per person...either way is fine ^_^

p.s- the robot category should be good since I will be entering a robot sketch XD

benten · Post by **benten** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 4:07 am

Thoughts on the issue of a category falling short of the necessary 5 entries --
I am assuming that the organizers were thinking about giving 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place awards. Could the number of awards in a category be dropped by 1 for each entry short of 5?

Or, could submissions be accepted for any short category from anyone, irrespective of number of entries already made, until the necessary 5 is reached? Then cut it off. I know this could allow the swiftest to get more entries than others. But that would be OK. I would rather have the opportunity to vote on the category.

By the way, kudos to zerospace for the wonderful website.

cutiebunny · Post by **cutiebunny** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:22 am

All entries as of 7:15a PST have been approved.

However, if you submitted anything to the male category, please check your e-mail has we had a problem with one the images submitted. This email provides further instructs with how to proceed, so please, if you submitted to this category within the last day, please check ASAP.

We're currently talking about how to handle the possibility of categories not reaching the 5 entry limit. I liked Benten's suggestions, so, if worst comes to worst, we'll see how we can use them with the current system.

zerospace · Post by **zerospace** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:46 am

From the technical side with respect to benten's ideas:

Both are easily possible.

1. The way the system is set up, any number of awards may be given in any category. This was original done to facilitate ties

. So yes, you could cut it down to only two awards in categories with fewer than 5 entries if you wish, very easily. All the site does is count votes -- from there, it is up to the organizers how to actually assign awards. Award assignment is done independent of vote counts, as well. Basically, the human element is very necessary at this part of the process.

2. Extra entries. To allow entries into categories that are short, you can just leave entry submission open, and police the entries as they come in to be sure no one is submitting to categories that are full or not among those in danger of being eliminated. And of course, to be sure no one is submitting more than one entry to any one category.

---------------

On a related note: I like both ideas, personally. Perhaps you could do a quick round (say... 24 hours) of additional submissions to see if any additional categories may fill (if it's even necessary). If any still fall short of the required 5 entries, you could then reduce the number of awards in those categories accordingly.

Post by **sensei** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 9:03 am

I do think there should be some provision for participants who submitted sketches to categories that were later canceled. I had a heck of a time narrowing down my entries to the max limit, and at the last minute eliminated some items that I liked a lot.

From the list given above, two that I did submit went to categories now being considered for cancelation. If these two end up not being considered at all, then I don't see that it's any preferential treatment to let me submit two others. Rather, it seems preferential to reduce the number of items I'm allowed to submit (which is what this would in effect do) after the event has begun.

I like the idea of opening these short-handed categories to additional entries from participants who have already submitted, in the interest of being fair to those of us who began by following the rules carefully. But if a category is cancelled, then it seems to me a given that the participant should be able to submit another sketch to a live category.

Killua · Post by **Killua** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:37 am

Well, it's not over yet. Please keep the submissions coming! The deadline is tonight at 8 PST!

klet · Post by **klet** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 10:47 am

cutiebunny wrote:This is the first that I had heard that there was animation stuff designed for HD. I would have assumed that this would be done on pan sized paper similar to those used for movie production, but, I'm wrong.

Actually, I'd say that they're about the same size. I'd have to actually compare my HD sketches to some movie artwork I have. Regardless, there are some anime out there that are specifically done in wide screen for HD broadcasting.

The thing is, standard movie/HD sketches and cels aren't too much bigger than standard TV sketches and cels. At least, not when compared to some of the monstrous pan cels out there.

I'm all up for allowing a 6th entry. I do have a couple original storyboards that I could go through and pick a sheet to enter.

Z, in regards to the vertical/horizontal pan issue, how hard would it be to make the site resize based on a variable? For example, there are two boxes to check: horizontal pan and vertical pan. The site defaults to resizing by horizontal dimension, but if someone checks the "vertical pan" box, it resizes by vertical dimension? It seems like you already have something like that in place with the 500/600 pixel limits. Then, the contest could have a rule that pan cels are limited by their longest edge? Just a thought.

zerospace · Post by **zerospace** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:02 am

klet, it's possible.

This year I created functions for re-sizing on the vertical for the administrators to use. I guess the only real issue is it adds another dimension of complexity to everything going on behind the scenes when you upload a file. The other issue is, the primary reason for horizontal sizing taking priority is that it keeps the horizontal widths (much more important for page display) the same. As we all know, people don't mind scrolling vertically, but most of us detest scrolling horizontally.

Doing it now is .... pointless. Could I do it for future sites? Sure. But that's assuming what I've written is used again, and/or that it's worth my time to sit down, go over everything, re-write the code and then test it again.

Oh and.. one other thing. It's always something organizers should consider: perhaps vertical limitations should be stated in the rules. Truthfully, the site's ability to re-size images is purely to catch those who have not checked the physical size of their images, and NOT really to do all the resizing for everyone

.

ReiTheJelly · Post by **ReiTheJelly** » Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:08 am

Could we get an update on which categories still need to be filled? Also, I'm not sure that people realized that today is the last day to submit. I know that I figured it would be a week long - some folks may not have read the fine print. Perhaps change the thread title to reflect this info? Just a thought, since there may be some people who don't realize that they only have until tonight to enter their submissions.