CGC 9.5 Rated: Darkseid Trading Card (DC Comics Villain Series 1 - 2023)

I took the Darkseid image edit I previously created and updated it to be a CGC-certified trading card for the imagined "DC Comics: Villains Series 1" released as a set of 48 cards in 2023.

Hi-rez image link [2160px tall]

The Circle Opens: Stonehenge Crossing Into Netherrealm

For thousands of years, the ancient stone circle known as Stonehenge has stood in silence, keeping its secrets. Yet on the morning of the summer solstice, the calm is shattered when the inner stones begin glowing with supernatural power at dawn's first light. Ancient runes and symbols ignite fiery yellow-blue, crackling with energy never seen before in present-day Britain. Within minutes, a beam shoots out from the epicenter of the towering monoliths, converging in an explosion of sound and light at the center of the circle. From the smoke and debris, a shimmering portal emerges—a doorway leading to a strange and mystical realm thought only to exist in myths. Now the door between worlds lies open.

Affinity Photo Workflow: A few image prompts using Bing DALL-E & Nightcafe Image AI to create some of the various objects.   Merged hell dimension within the gateway, added luminescent comet, scrollwork, and text intro.   Portal beam, shaman, and extra monolith work brushed/masked into the merged prompt images within Affinity Photo.  I rather like the text font "Ave Ave BB" once I added some outline weight to it. my first time using this font I think.

Hi-rez image link [2709px tall]

The Last Acorn - Animated Movie Starring Selena Gomez, Antonio Banderas and John Leguizamo

Here is my pre-production copy of the movie poster for The Last Acorn which is an upcoming animated movie starring Selena Gomez, Antonio Banderas, and John Leguizamo.  I brought four separate Bing Image Creator (DALL-E 3) prompt creations of mine into a single combined layout. 

Hi-rez image link.

Green Lantern power battery with logo text work

I tested out the new Affinity 2.3.0 release today (cool new spiral tool available, but not used on this image), and with it, I finally had a chance to utilize IamRensi lights, lens flare, and particle brushes. Started with Designer font for the Green Lantern logo, converted it to curves, stacked and edited nodes for a 3D look, along with more warp group tweaks, then converted it into a second warp group to get the perspective laid down, Then took my work back to Affinity Photo, added a gradient for the lens flare coloring on the text, plus lots of various live filters on different layers, while compositing it into the 3d battery image I found online. 

Hi-rez image link.

Commissioner Jim Gordon

My latest DC character bio-page features Batman's favorite former police detective, James Gordon. I created the GCPD badge from vector pens and then warped the interior letters to fit within the shield's shape. Hi-rez image link.

Batman Gets His Face Smashed with An Articulated Boxing Glove

I took Greg Capullo's incredible cover artwork from Batman #36 [Loot Crate Exclusive variant] and made some minor adjustments which included adding the missing SoundFX font work. Hi-Rez image link.

Ra's al Ghul

 Another DC character bio-page, this time of Batman's enemy Ra's al Ghul. Hi-rez image link.

Batgirl (Barbara Gordon)

Text overlay and masking playtime while compositing a clean Batgirl image, originally drawn by Bruce Timm. Hi-rez link.

Robin (Dick Grayson)

More text overlay and masking playtime while compositing a clean Robin image, originally drawn by Bruce Timm. Hi-rez link.

Darkseid Trading Card (#1 in the DC Villains card set)

I took the altered Jason Fabok Darkseid image from last week and used it to create trading card #1 for the DC Villains series.  Hi-rez image link for your zooming pleasure.

Clayface Trading Card (#31 in the DC Villains card set)

I've composed Clayface (Basil Karlo) to create trading card #31 for the DC Villains series.  Hi-rez image link for your zooming pleasure.

Batman and the Flying Bats

 Text overlay and masking playtime while compositing a clean Batman image. Hi-rez link.

The Joker Laughs

  Text overlay and masking playtime while compositing a clean Joker image. Hi-rez link.

Darkseid Omega Beam Eyes

I took the original duo-faced image of Darkseid drawn by Jason Fabok from Justice League - The Darkseid War trade paperback collection and then altered it into a single face, adding some Omega-beam blasting out of his eyes. 

Hi-rez image link [3021px tall]

Distressed Typography Play

 Some typography with vector play and watercolor washes. Hi-rez link.

Green Lantern typography play

A little bit of font play, source layering, and a paint gun for me to create this typography-oriented Green Lantern image. 

click the image to see a larger view [4096 pixels]