Help - Please! This Year's Christmas Card: For our printed card this year we've decided to go back to a composite I did quite a while back - and some here will have seen it previously...

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

For our printed card this year we've decided to go back to a composite I did quite a while back - and some here will have seen it previously, prior to this year's 'Christmasisation". I may have posted it as my 'online' Christmas card previously too but this is entirely different in that respect and is intended for print. I've added a few bits of clip art scrounged from the ether and created a little sign for the loco. The picture is titled 'The Steampunk Christmas Special' and the figures are a mix of steampunk and Victorian characters that I've shot on various group shoots. I have stretched the image very slightly in order to accommodate the standard card width offered at my printers. I would be very grateful for your critique prior to printing - preferably angled at the intended Christmas theme rather than the overall composite - we thrashed that to death previously! Your time is much appreciated.

(Download)

R.G. Loc: Scotland

Yep, not too much, not too little.

yssirk123 Loc: New Jersey

Nicely done!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

R.G. wrote:

Yep, not too much, not too little.

My feeling too RG, thanks for the confirmation.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

yssirk123 wrote:

Nicely done!

Thanks yssirk!

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

For me, Santa's sleigh in front of moon is not needed. You already have so many wonderful themed and other elements to look at and enjoy. The rest is ultra-charming!!

Could the pile of presents on the left use a touch more dark (shadows) at bottom? They don't seem quite as grounded as the rest.

Fabuluous overall idea and construction, Dave!

Jimmy T Loc: Virginia

Wow, this is amazingly good just as it is.
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Bravo Zulu

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Linda From Maine wrote:

For me, Santa's sleigh in front of moon is not needed. You already have so many wonderful themed and other elements to look at and enjoy. The rest is ultra-charming!!

Could the pile of presents on the left use a touch more dark (shadows) at bottom? They don't seem quite as grounded as the rest.

Fabuluous overall idea and construction, Dave!

Yep, you’ve done it again Linda and picked on the two things I have concerns about! Great minds, and all that?
I’ll attend to both prior to print, many thanks.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Jimmy T wrote:

Wow, this is amazingly good just as it is.
Smile,
JimmyT Sends
Bravo Zulu

Thanks Jimmy!

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

Looks good to me!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

jaymatt wrote:

Looks good to me!

Thanks John. I’ve adjusted a couple of things that Linda mentioned and corrected a myriad of bits and pieces that existed from the original composite and think I’m happy with it now. We’ll see how it prints!

Jim-Pops Loc: Granbury, Texas

I would open up your shadows a bit more for printing. I have found most forms of print production will plug dark areas quite often loosing detail in the shadows.
This is from my experience maybe you've found better sources for printing than I.

Fstop12 Loc: Kentucky

Agree with Linda's comments. I also might add that the dog could use a bit of a shadow as well. It looks pasted in to me. Nice Christmas image!

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Jim-Pops wrote:

I would open up your shadows a bit more for printing. I have found most forms of print production will plug dark areas quite often loosing detail in the shadows.
This is from my experience maybe you've found better sources for printing than I.

Thanks for the tip Jim, I’ll have a look at that.

magnetoman Loc: Purbeck, Dorset, UK

Fstop12 wrote:

Agree with Linda's comments. I also might add that the dog could use a bit of a shadow as well. It looks pasted in to me. Nice Christmas image!

Thanks Fstop. Yes, I’ve attended to Linda’s points and sorted the dog, she looks much better now. Surprising how many other minor bits and pieces needed attention from the original composite!