Steve

I think they are guidelines more than rulez

Review: You have really taken to this style, it looks great. I forget what it is called, maybe cartoon effect of something along that line. I really like it and I use that method often. I like the whole layout of this graphic. The background is fitting, and the render is front and center, a well balanced graphic that is interesting enough to warrant a review. Logo swap fits well, though a collar tag would have been nice. I like the texture overlay, it adds to the effect the render is showing off. Good stuff and it took some effort to get it to this point. Well done. 9/10

Review: I really like this graphic for a couple of reasons. First off, the player indeed looks confused, something I can relate to. Second, your logo swap is very good. I mean, with the shadow effect and placement of it, it looks damn nice. The text is functional and easy to read. I like the noise it has. Maybe the NHL collar branding could have been replaced with the league's swatch. Overall, I think you made the most out of something with very little effort. Saying that doesn't imply that this graphic isn't worth the point task, it's a compliment for making a workable graphic with just a few changes done well. Keep them coming. 8/10

Presser for the week ending 12/8 1. Davos played really well against us, what went wrong with our team? 2. It looks like Moscow might make another early exit to the team that beat us, thoughts? 3. What are your plans for the offseason? 4. Did you have a good holiday? 5. Who will win the cup? 6. It was good to see Calaway have a good season. Should we throw him a party now that his career is over?

It was a long season, but not a bad one. Riga played really good in some games and had a good share of stinkers. It's all part of the VHL experience we all know and love. The playoffs were brutal for us. We played against a very determined Davos team and lost in seven games. Well done Davos. It looks like they are beating up on Moscow now, interesting. The better team will win and move on while the losers are welcome to join me at the course, tee time is 7:00am. I have enjoyed the last two seasons with Riga. I am not sure about where Gunner will play next season, but I hope the best for the league and maybe get a few more active players on some teams. Looking at the other teams rosters makes me feel like the league is dying. I hope that isn't the case and a strong rebound will happen sooner rather than later. Good luck to those that are still in the playoffs. Word count: 171

Always a class act. Good luck my friend.

Review: You must have a template you use and just plug in different backgrounds and renders. They all look very good but the style is spot on the same. I wish I had that system. Text looks really good with the trademark folded paper look running through it. I like the effect and it has served you well. The chaotic background looks to fit the part and adds the texture needed to make this style work. The renders look fine, although I think the little one in the front looks too small for some reason. Overall, I like your work and can appreciate the system you use to pump these out. 9/10

Review: Cool looking graphic that has all the right stuff to be great. I like the render and how he is looking to the right. Positioning is everything. I really like the mottled background, it isn't taking away from the main elements and is working within the color palette. The text is huge and the font fits the theme, so not much to say about that. The lighting highlight looks good but I wonder if you had the render have a bit of that light, it would have made more sense. Overall, great job. 9/10

1. Yes, you will hold onto it. I believe you will break the curse. 2. Strong builds throughout the team and playing a lot of games against the weakest conference I have ever seen. I think that just boosts the stats and 1st place would be likely either way. 3. I'm hoping for Riga to make it to the conference finals. Huge underdog with a little bite. 4. Keep doing what you been doing. 5. Hanging out with my friends. 6. I'm still stuck in the past, so Pink Floyd is my main band to listen to.

The season has ended. It was tight at the top of the European conference for second through third place as Moscow totally dominated the league from day one. It look like Riga will face Davos, a tough opponent and I expect it to not be an easy series. The team has played well for the most part. Too bad the conference is so weak. Half the conference has played with limited players making it easy to get wins. I think the real power teams are in the North American conference. Time will tell which one comes out on top in each conference. I am hoping Riga can get into playoff mode and push hard. It's the playoffs, so throw the regular season standings out the window. We have seen in the past that it is a whole new league come playoff time. That could change this season though. Good luck to all the teams that made the big show. I hope the teams that didn't compete this season can improve and be able to compete. Word count: 175

I have a few thoughts about the state of the league. Teams with just a few players are concerning and it seems to be getting worse. That is a very small example of things I haven't been happy with. Thank you for your comment.

Review: I really like this one. Not that I don't like most everything you make, this one has a bit of refined detail that always gets my attention. Yes, you have a cool background with some paint splash that seems to always work. Huge text that always fits in with style and color choice. I really like the render. It is hard to get a good enough photo of him when he was really young but, this one is very nice. This must have been made before you found the folded paper texture... Great sig, I expect nothing less from you. 9/10

Review: Cool looking graphic. I really like the texture you used. One thing I have found is that a good texture can take a project to the next level, you did just that. The render is super clean and I am curious as to where you find such a gem. The muted background is spot on, it doesn't distract but adds to the overall look. The big ass VHL logo is rather plain but I think it fits in well. I am not a huge fan of the font you used but that is more subjective than something written in a book of fonts to use. Overall, great job, I like it. 9/10

As the season comes to a close with only ten games left. The playoffs will be the focus for the team and I think I can speak for several players that they want to see Moscow shit the bed in the first round. Taking nothing away from my former team, they are stacked. We saw it happen last season and a few before that. Riga has a strange way of playing and I am not sure how the playoffs will treat us. I think we will have a good showing but you just can't tell sometimes. We will wait and see. Gunner, as my player and myself, as a member has come to a crossroad. I am not sure what the future, if any, will bring for myself in the league that has seemed to gone a different direction from where it was a handful of years ago. It's not like I am anyone's favorite member. I have butted heads with several members over where we are headed and how things have changed. I have to wonder if the league left me or I am leaving the league. I am a man of routine. I do things on a schedule, even when it doesn't really matter. I don't like change and it has become clear that the league has changed. I used to make graphics that I put some effort in. Now it is just for the point task. They rarely get liked or reviewed and that is okay by me. I have always made graphics for me and of course to satisfy the task requirement. It is what it is. At least my future is in my hands. I always wished for a Hall of Fame player. Gunner could make a strong case for that maybe later but at the moment, that seems like a hollow goal. I will have to think about my choices this off season. It has been fun to play with some really nice players over the years. Word count: 333

Presser for the week ending 11/24 1. Who do you think we will face in the first round? 2. Have you been building your player or just keeping him/her as is? 3. Do you think Moscow with slip on a banana peel and fall down in the playoffs or win the cup? 4. It's good to see Calaway have a good season. Should we buy him a watch of something? 5. It looks like Red Panda has matured into a reliable goalie. Do you have anything thoughts on his performace this season? 6. What are the real chances of winning the cup this season?

Broken The struggle is real

Review: I really like this style. It is fun to take a photo and with a bit of effort, make it your own. I have used this method many times and it isn't as easy as the end result displays. I like how you kept the color palette within the logo range as it removes any odd colors that end up being less attractive. Very nice logo swaps that many have overlooked in the past. The text looks really good with the 3D effect and doesn't take away from the main element. I find this style to be easy to look at and often overlooked. Great job with this one. 9/10

Review: Interesting composite style graphic. There is nothing wrong with this style as it is all up to interpretation. It looks like you did a good job with all the elements needed to make a complete graphic. I like the player with the name stretched on his jersey. The background looks interesting as well. The secondary render is rather fun and adds to the overall theme of the players involved. I think the icing on this graphic cake is the quote. It looks like it has some meaning and works well with this theme. If you put all these elements together, then hat's off to you. Well done. 9/10

The season is running down to the last twenty-ish games left. The standings are tight for most teams in the top five in each conference. The North American conference looks to have a more teams competing compared to the European conference. It seems to switch back and forth every other season. I am not sure how the playoffs are going to play out, but there should be a few good series to keep an eye on. I don't really know what to expect from Riga. It seems we have some extra muscle in the playoffs so we will just have to wait and see. Gunner has been doing his thing. Very low key this season and lacking some grit that he showed earlier in his career. His points are just fine. On par with just about every season he has played but things like hitting and power play scoring seems to be in his past. You just never know what, who or how things will all work out. So far, the season has been fine. Word count: 175

Presser for the week ending 11/17 1. It looks like we are hanging with the big dogs, do you think we can finish the season in 2nd place? 2. Do you see an obvious issue with our team that you would like to comment on? 3. Do you think Moscow doesn't get swept in the first round? 4. Can we do the unthinkable and beat Moscow in the playoffs? 5. Is it too early to ask questions about the playoffs? 6. What do you like for Thanksgiving, turkey or ham, or both?

I did not copy Tate's idea..............

Review: You picked a couple of my favorite players so that is fun to see, though it doesn't effect my review, it's just a great choice. I like the frosted look to the logo and background in general. Not sure what is going on at the top of this graphic. I suspect some sort of blending issue. Overall, the background does it's job and compliments the main elements. Logo swaps look very good. I would have liked a total brand removal but it kind of looks more realistic with them intact. I think the only thing that I can see that might have been corrected is the black level. The black in the jersey is really crushed and lacking in detail. It's tricky to pull out detail and retain the level of black that is needed. Drew's beard also shows sign a higher black level. I can't fault you on that because it could simply be the original photo's issue. Overall I really like this. Simple and to the point. 9/10

Review: This is a perfect example of how to make a multi render graphic. It looks very professional and well thought out. First with the background, amazing filler that adds to the main elements. The renders clamped to the team logo looks very good and I can't see an error in any of it. Nice detail in both the render's faces that sucks your eyes right to them. Logo swaps are top notch. The text looks very good and I think this graphic would only work in portrait form. Great graphic, good effort. 9.5/10