First question...did you create all the images?

Yes with XPS lara an XNA program. Characters are from the program but you must chose clothing, gear, lighting, atmospheres materials etc... Then all is post wirk with hand painting more lighting shading etc... Not sure as Characters were not clear if usable if not that's ok I will Post into gallery after more post work is done. And what is meant by stock images exactly as some images out there do not fall under the word stock. What about FREE backgrounds? Allowed or technicality? Just asking, maybe someone else needs to know too! Thank you

OK thank for the input was just wondering. Any input for suggestions for completeing this!?

With programs such as Daz and probably Bryce, Poser,etc… you get and can purchase images but I thought they were owed by the owner of the program, in other words when you purchase the program and images what you create with them is your property.

That makes sense, thanks

Hi there Stramp, like Jafo and Doc already pointed out a 3d model can´t be used even if you pose it in a different position or recolor it...for GUIC
I dont know if its allowed if its included in the program u use as free basic shape or model...still i think it should not be tollerated as worthy/self created art/ submission.
You can make wallpapers of it but you always have to insert the source and have permission from the original author... a model can take up quite some time to make on your own. It would also be unfair to use finished models even if those are pretty low res...or poly count ( models that you did not make from scratch )
A good example i can point out why it is not right to participate with such things: If i would load up MASTER models, would use poser to manipulate the stance and reassign colors and make a background for it - i would have good or amazing chance to win the competetion.
While i would know all the work i invested is close to 5% of each of the models i took that i did not originally create from scratch for my project and that is not the goal the goal is to show of your style and skill... thats how i see it.
Maybe i will be corrected from the moderation here but thats how i think and feel about it

 

An old desktop image from some time ago.  The background is a view of Albert Park lake...looking North towards the city [melbourne]...that's the Grandprix track below....sweeper between T10 and T11.  It's clearly morning [sun angle].  The plane [Panavia Tornado GR4] is a screencap from FSX - superimposed [cut-paste] but note the extra effort with the canopy glass....the 'new background' is visible through it.

That's the sort of thing that ties/stitches images together...

Adding a bit of Gaussian blur to the background, and feathering foreground images a bit (in still shots) helps as well.

Then perhaps some "Free Transform" and "Perspective" might help, as well as some "dodge on the left part of the chest and head... and a touch of selective blur to the tail and hind quarters?

Also, shadows cast on the ground would help. There are a couple of ways of doing it:

1) Duplicate the tiger and dog images with "Cntrl+J". Then, with the duplicated image's layer selected, do "alt+shift+back" and the image will turn black. The fill/opacity of that image can be changed and/or a gradient layer mask can be added (use the third one in the drop down menu and check "reverse").

or

2) Add a "drop shadow" from the fx button at the bottom of the Layers panel. In that window, make the opacity 100%. Then use the keyboard shortcut "v" to move the drop shadow away from the image. Now right click on the drop shadow listed under the layers thumbnail pic in the Layers panel and choose "Create Layer". A warning box will pop up, but disregard it because this works just fine for the drop shadow effect.

Then, all you need to pay attention to is the lighting source and perspective... as well as the layer stacking order (and labeling - a good habit).

The location of the shadow is effected with the "V" (move tool), and it's appearance with the perspective tool... adding a gradient layer to if necessary.

The edge of the shadow can be blurred using that tool.