It's all his fault for being an artist!

Chapter 50: The Texture of Unpolished Jade, a Face, and a Painting Delivered to the Door

Cheng Wang patiently began to paint, steadily employing his skillful techniques to create a portrait of Xu Dabao.

A painting is just a painting; there aren't that many plot points or personal touches that need to be included.

How players create derivative works is their freedom; it's their unofficial activity.

Even if the operation of "Three Kingdoms Kill Online" is so abstract, it would never deliberately vilify a powerful general.

Aesthetic appreciation is universal.

To sell good cards, at least at first glance, the male character needs to look imposing and domineering.

The thick coating provides a realistic three-dimensional texture, making it exceptionally well-suited for this purpose.

To emphasize robustness, the brush can repeatedly add contact surfaces to create realistic thickness; conversely, thin surfaces represent distant parts, creating a contrast in three-dimensional relationships.

The general's cloak, which I wanted to emphasize, was treated with a thick coating effect, covering the overlapping areas of the fabric with a deep green that gradually transitioned from dark to light until it became a dazzling emerald.

The use of variations in shade makes the expression more vivid and greatly enhances its expressiveness.

Under Cheng Wang's meticulous drawing.

Xu Sheng's half-closed cloak quickly took on a form like uncut jade, its bright green hue radiating a vibrant spirit.

Light and shadow shuttle through the decorations, which are as dashing as soldiers, bringing out a slight yellow halo from the direct sunlight, clear and condensed, expressing the memorable effect that Cheng Wang sought.

There's no need to overdo it, lest it backfire, but that doesn't mean you can't add something beautiful to an already perfect piece.

If you clearly have the ability to improve in a particular area, then why hide your strengths when you're competing?

The official selection criteria go beyond commercial considerations; an artist's professional competence is also taken into account.

Players in 2014 didn't see that portrait of the future, so they might not feel these memories as deeply.

However, in the eyes of their peers, these unintentionally revealed display techniques are more valuable proof than any written packaging or boasting.

With the overall color scheme complete, Xu Sheng's image was almost fully formed, perfectly replicating the appearance in his mind. However, it still felt like something was missing.

Cheng Wang stood up, took a half step back, squinted his eyes to examine the scene, and immediately sensed something in his heart.

When I returned to the table

He added another new layer—

Masking layer.

In short, it's a filter.

What era are we living in? Still using traditional art?

The most convenient aspect of digital drawing compared to oil painting is that it allows for quick and easy handling of light and shadow relationships using pre-set software effects.

Select the original layer, then use Alt+Delete to select the highlighted areas you want to process, and copy them to a new mask layer.

Immediately.

Chengwang quickly fills the newly copied area with a layer of very low saturation white.

With a simple tap and a parameter adjustment, you can reduce the opacity and soften harsh edges.

This final step is not about skill, but about experience.

What may seem insignificant, a process that only takes a few seconds, is actually the culmination of many years of experience and expertise Cheng Wang has accumulated throughout his outsourcing career.

Working against the clock, some modern techniques might be criticized by old-school artists as being too industrial-minded, yet the results remain quite good.

Traditional art painting, in the face of the overwhelming tide of high efficiency, is inevitably heading towards decline and decay.

When this mask shadow is applied to the original portrait, the contrast between the lit and shadowed parts becomes even stronger, and the metal luster of the character's armor immediately becomes apparent.

The drawing of "Jie·Xu Sheng" is now complete!

Cheng Wang completed this thick-painted work.

After careful examination, I confirmed that there were no errors.

Compared to what I remember, the characters are even more complete, with richer details and no shortcomings.

Finally, he exported the images, downloaded the official card templates, and applied the skill mechanics that had drawn countless criticisms.

"Done!"

Cheng Wang is very confident in the quality of this finished product and is sure it will stand out in the original design competition.

However, this is not enough.

It's getting late now, so I'll move to a rented room and do some painting.

The bottom right corner of the computer screen clearly shows that it is 11 p.m.

"It's getting late, we can discuss other plans tomorrow."

After a quick wash, he lay down on the bed to spend his first night in Yuhang City.

The next day, Cheng Wang woke up early, changed into clean and presentable clothes, and prepared to go out.

The reflection in the mirror shows a cheerful face.

Cheng Wang knew that he couldn't be described as extremely handsome; he was only of average appearance.

A high school boy who is willing to take care of himself is young and energetic. Maintaining neatness and vitality will ensure that his overall demeanor is not too bad.

It wasn't until he came to Yuhang City and had important business to attend to that Cheng Wang finally had time to calm down and gaze at himself in the mirror.

Perhaps experience and mindset really can change a person.

He saw that feeling that boys his age had again in the mirror after a long time, yet it felt somewhat unfamiliar and different.

The face, untouched by the ravages of time, sheds all its flamboyance and clamor, leaving only tranquility and composure, devoid of joy or sorrow, yet concealing a hidden sharpness.

"Okay, let's go."

Cheng Wang went downstairs and hailed a taxi, heading straight for his destination: the location of Bianfeng Network Company.

The normal entry process requires submitting your submission to the official email address.

However, considering certain special circumstances, the event organizers allow printed copies to be mailed to the company for printing and uploading.

The original military commander design competition is open to both professionals and amateurs, and many college students also participate.

At this age, one may not necessarily be a skilled artist using electronic devices, but one might get lucky and discover a potential talent. For potential geniuses, it is worthwhile to open special channels for them.

Cheng Wang was very familiar with the ins and outs of this matter.

The mailing did not specify which courier company it had to be.

Xiaocheng Express delivers to your door personally, no problem at all!

Registering at the company counter and showing your student ID makes it easier than you might imagine to walk into a game company openly and legitimately.

As for the intention...

Just to get some recognition, it's that simple.

The organizers will remember the excellent works, but it's not so easy to remember a contestant's name, especially since most contestants use online names, which are all kinds of names.

If you come to us yourself, the results will be quite different.

There is a front desk for identity registration, and a relevant person in charge to receive you.

When the time comes, it won't just be about a certain work, but will be easier to associate with it—

"Oh, he's a student. I remember him; he brought his work over himself that day."

Cheng Wang didn't intend to rush things and make a name for himself in the industry in one step.

But how can we let such an opportunity to connect with industry professionals slip by?

After getting out of the taxi, he found the location of Bianfeng Network based on the address registered on the official website.

The receptionist was a young lady wearing round-framed glasses.

When she saw Cheng Wang walk in carrying a laptop bag, she looked up and felt quite strange.

He was tall and thin, with a youthful look, and you could tell at a glance that he hadn't experienced the harsh realities of the workplace.

However, she remained quite polite and asked, "Hello, what brings you here? Did you make a reservation for visitors beforehand?"