The original:
The brief:
A couple of you have pointed out that the photo of my on the flap in the latest edition (and on the main How to Cheat website) looks a little young. To tell the truth, this wasn't just vanity - I simply carried on using the same picture I'd used in the first edition, without thinking about it. Looking at it now, though, it does seem rather too youthful. Anyone care to age me by a few years? I could, of course, have given you a photo without that hand in front of my face - but then I don't want to make it too easy for you. And just so you don't get any ideas about cheating, I've removed my avatar this week as well, so you'll have to do it from memory (or imagination). Have fun with this one.
Finished work:
As usual, click on picture to see full size version.
No original picture this week, as it was a design challenge.
The brief:
As Michael Sinclair pointed out to me, there's been a lot of consternation over the new logo for the 2012 Olympics in London. i have to admit that when I first saw it, I was rather puzzled and even horrified: but having seen it animated, it does make a lot more sense when it's moving, and when textures are added.
So here's your challenge this week: either produce a fabulous animation of this logo, or dump it and design your own from scratch. This is more of a design challenge than one directly connected with Photoshop techniques, but I think it's an interesting one.
Finished work:
As usual, click on picture to see full sized version.
Click on pictures for full size version.The original:
The brief:
Looking at Whaler's entry in last week's Challenge, I remembered that all clowns have their own distinctive make-up - and, I believe, their copyright is registered by them painting their make-up onto an egg. So I thought, who can I pick as the basis for a week of clowns? Only one face really sprang to mind. Fun aside, the hard part here will be creating the base white coat of make-up: how can we do that without losing all the detail in the face?
Finished work:
(Not trying to make a political statement!)
The original:
The brief:
Going through the archives, I came across this picture I took of myself back in 2001. For the life of me, I can't remember what I needed a body in this pose for - but it must have been something big to warrant changing into a jacket and tie for. And I can't remember whose head I put on here, either. Can you help me jog my memory?
Finished work:
(Sorry, Bill!) 
The Original:
The brief:
OK, so there's no body yet. But it seems to me this scene is crying out for a freshly done away with corpse, and perhaps a selection of murder weapons... Reverend Green with the candlestick, anyone?
Finished work:
The Original:
The brief:
My brother recently brought me back one of these rather nifty robot hands from a trip to New York. Turn it on, and the fingers move more or less in time with a piano soundtrack. Well, the batteries ran out fairly quickly, and to be honest I haven't replaced them. What I do like about it is the fact that you can see all the cogs, wires and electronics through the transparent hand. And it set me thinking: could we build a robot head to match the hand? I just happened to have this glass head lying around (sorry it's so dusty) and thought we could give it a go. It's not an easy project, so do feel free to put the head to other uses if you prefer!
Finished work:
