Beta Awards 08 - Guidelines & Submissions

[moonrabitt]

I see a layout as another sketch (not to offend)
But the ones I've seen have a red box around them....or just black boxes around them...Besides that it looks the same.....or to me anyways.....
I've seen some layouts that are almost exact copies of a sketch....
And besides that, like you said, how would they be judged??

then you might make a :genga, douga, or rough sketch category.....

Original settei/storyboard - Sound idea but unsure as to how to enforce the 'original' aspect due to amount of copies on market.

I do like the Settei category idea.....
Since settei could not fit under any other category....
I mean if there's a Hanken , and Harmony category, then why no settei?
Actually it's not hard to tell if the thing is original or not. It's done in pencil, and you can tell if it's a copy or not.....
Originals look very LIGHT, since the pencil is grey....
Copies are very dark black...

[wELCOME cONSUMER]

Original settei/storyboard - Sound idea but unsure as to how to enforce the 'original' aspect due to amount of copies on market.

I do like the Settei category idea.....
Since settei could not fit under any other category....
I mean if there's a Hanken , and Harmony category, then why no settei?
Actually it's not hard to tell if the thing is original or not. It's done in pencil, and you can tell if it's a copy or not.....
Originals look very LIGHT, since the pencil is grey....
Copies are very dark black...

I think she meant it was hard to tell from a scan. Depending on how you scan it and/or color correct it, you could make a copy lighter in appearance or make an original darker in appearance. Either way, it's hard for the organizers and voters to confirm authenticity.

[beatrush]

I see a layout as another sketch (not to offend)
But the ones I've seen have a red box around them....or just black boxes around them...Besides that it looks the same.....or to me anyways.....
I've seen some layouts that are almost exact copies of a sketch....
And besides that, like you said, how would they be judged??

then you might make a :genga, douga, or rough sketch category.....

That might be a good compromise to the cel vs sketch issue. Have all the categories that have been confirmed (allowing sketches in them) and then have a best Genga, Douga, and Rough category.

[zerospace]

What exactly will be our voting criteria for layouts? Because, other than the fact that the item is a layout, what exactly will a voter possibly judge on? Execution of art? Colors, if any, used? Emotion? Whichever piece of arse looks the hottest? All of the above?

Good question! (I like the 2nd to last answer, personally. )

Actually, how do we decide if a sketch is a layout -- for determining eligibility in the category? This seems to be a more serious issue, since everyone seems to have differing ideas on what constitutes a layout vs. a genga. Most of the layouts I've had/seen are drawn on the paper that has a box pre-printed on it... but I suppose its always possible that that isn't the case. After all, I've had sketches that were drawn on the back of layout paper. Since I believe a layout is supposed to be a rough sketch of an entire scene, I would say that anything entered into the layout category should be a full image - not a partial ...

Oh and duo -- I knew what you meant about the hurt feelings... I just couldn't help myself with that joke. *snicker*

[irmgaard]

Here is a list of previous layout entries:

Layouts in 2007 Awards

Accessory - #8

Female -#2

Shocked -#2

Layouts in 2006 Awards

Action -A13

Couple- D16

Cutest- F17

Hentai-K6

Layouts in 2005 Awards

Best Genga -#1

Best Genga -#10

Best Genga -#15

[Killua]

You're a font of information, irmgaard. Thanks.

[Leedz]

I don't really think there should be any real 'instruction' for how to vote, because everyone's going to have their own standards anyway. It was mentioned earlier that some people are just going to vote for items from their favorite series, regardless of anything like artistic quality. I would HOPE people wouldn't do that, but every year that I myself have voted, I just went with that which struck me the most, for whatever reason. It was never a consistant reason; sometimes it was emotion, sometimes it was composition, etc. Mayhaps we should just go by our own intuition instead of conforming to a rigid set of standards.

[cutiebunny]

Good question! (I like the 2nd to last answer, personally. )

Bring on the 'Sexy Bedroom Eyes' catagory!

Actually, how do we decide if a sketch is a layout -- for determining eligibility in the category? This seems to be a more serious issue, since everyone seems to have differing ideas on what constitutes a layout vs. a genga. Most of the layouts I've had/seen are drawn on the paper that has a box pre-printed on it... but I suppose its always possible that that isn't the case. After all, I've had sketches that were drawn on the back of layout paper. Since I believe a layout is supposed to be a rough sketch of an entire scene, I would say that anything entered into the layout category should be a full image - not a partial ...

Which is why I'm kinda leaning against the idea of a layout catagory, and simply allow layouts to be added to any catagory(maybe not harmony...I don't think harmony applies to layouts). If we add layout as a catagory, in similiar style to other specialized catagories, then we'd have to eliminate their submissions into other catagories. Additionally, how would one realistically vote? Unlike other catagories where an emotion or technique is used, the topic is really ambiguous.

And, you brough up a good point about how one will define what exactly a layout is. And including it may also give the CG fans a slight boost in competition, as many layouts are far more detailed than the sketches used for the sequence.

I don't really think there should be any real 'instruction' for how to vote, because everyone's going to have their own standards anyway.

What I'm attempting to do is set-up a minor guideline, not only for voting, but for entries as well. I liked WC's system last year, which put the catagory in bold, and maybe a few words as to what kind of characteristics are associated with that catagory. Catagories based on emotional concepts are easier than a lump-type catagory, such as 'Best Male' or 'Most Heroic'. The definition of 'best male' and 'most heroic' vary from person to person. There are some that view 'heroic' as someone whose bloodied up after a hard battle, while others view it as the handsome bishounen riding the white horse. So, by giving some kind of guideline, you can look at your artwork prior to submitting, ask yourself if your piece fits that catagory.

[Cloud]

Huh. You believe that? I think you mean "it's" or "it is" not "its". Under what circumstances?

[moonrabitt]

I saw some categories on the 2005 awards that look interesting....
Like:
BEST EFFECT:
http://www.bbakira.co.uk/beta/fx.htm
Best Genga:
http://www.bbakira.co.uk/beta/genga.htm
And Best Yaoi and Yuri....
just click on the button here:
http://www.bbakira.co.uk/beta/entries.htm
I myself don't have any from that category...and I'm not sure how many people have them.....

I've seen some layouts that are just fast drawings, and some that are done VERY WELL....Maybe Layout could be Fused with rough sketch???

I think she meant it was hard to tell from a scan. Depending on how you scan it and/or color correct it, you could make a copy lighter in appearance or make an original darker in appearance. Either way, it's hard for the organizers and voters to confirm authenticity.

Ohhhh.....Well the settei I have look very rough, and Settei copies going around are usually copies of the final thing.....
But I guess it could be easy to manipulate a drawing to make it look real, but then that would be low of a person, and quite sneaky.....

Proposed new catagories -

Injured/Dying/Dead - Favorably received thus far.

I like this idea. There is quite a difference between the "Sorrow" category and "death and dying" like the difference between "happiness" and "joy".
Though instead of "Injured, it should be Extremely injured (maybe close to death) Beacuse I have a cel of someone close to death, and they don't look sad....Just look between a mix of shock, sorrow and just seem almost dead (hard to describe) but almost all characters have the same dying look....with the pupils dissapearing and just seems sadder than sad.

[syan]

I like the idea of a layout category, simply because I like looking at them, even if it means not allowing them in other categories.

Additionally, how would one realistically vote? Unlike other catagories where an emotion or technique is used, the topic is really ambiguous.

How do people vote for the 'Backgrounds' category? It's an equally ambiguous category that has no real cohesive theme around it except for the type of art it is and how it's used in production. I think it's been a great category in the past, and no one seems to have voiced any kind of issue on judging that one (that I noticed). Same goes for Hanken. Historically, if people have objectively voted on backgrounds and hankens, I think they can do so with layouts too.

[miz ducky]

Looking at the 2005 awards, I like how that one was done. Because last year when I was voting I was thinking..."What kind of Female am I voting for, they are all female?" and the same for the male category. At least with 2005's you have a bit more direction with Hunk and Babe.

I think all voting is pretty much based on simply which one appeals to the voter most in a given section.

It really shouldn't be over thought. Otherwise you'll probably be disappointed that the 9yr old kid doing nothing won out over the 5yr old playing with toys in the children category, because (doesn't everyone KNOW) playing with toys is a much more "child" thing to do.

Seriously, just because one person might think long and hard about which one piece MOST fits the category, I would bet that the far Majority of voters simply go with the one they Like the best.

Why would layouts be any different?

[zerospace]

miz ducky - I think you make an excellent point. There was more definition in the 2005 awards than last year's, as far as some categories go. Though, in a way, the vague-ness of the female and male categories made it more open to what each person (voter) appreciates about each gender. I actually remember the 2005 awards - I participated in them . Overall I think it was done really well. Then again, I wouldn't say that any of the years in which I've participated have been done very poorly.

I do like the idea of "best genga" as a category... so something like "best genga" or "best douga" might be nice for sketches, as well as to allow them into the other categories where they fit.

Also - on a side note, I've begun to work on the site for this year's awards, but I may need some volunteer testers to help me make sure it functions properly in a wider variety of browsers (call me anal, but I like to test things). If you use a non-mainstream browser (anything other than IE6, IE7, or FireFox on Windows), especially on a Mac OS, please PM me if you're willing to test some things out for me. I'm nowhere near ready for testing yet, but I'd like to have a few volunteers lined up before I get there.

[Belldandy16]

i can test some things for you!
i have OSX with safari.

[zerospace]

i can test some things for you!
i have OSX with safari.

Excellent, thank you!