Hi Sylvia,
Actually the shield graphic is both a computer effect and a sticker. Let me explain - I was going to post about this anyway, since it started as something simple and turned into more of project than I had planned.
I initially did the avatar on the computer (using Photoshop) - I took a photo of the real Merboy klicky, but he had a lion shield. In Photoshop I pasted him into the background, as well as replacing the graphic on the shield with the dolphin one I found on the internet.
When Merboy saw his avatar he really liked it. In fact, he liked it so much he wanted to take the Merboy klicky to be with him that night. However, the problems began when he saw the shield with the lion. He demanded the dolphin shield. I explained it was done on the computer, and he understood, I think, but to him Merboy was not Merboy without the dolphin shield. So the next day I was forced (or at least persuaded
) to size the graphic properly and print it out on sticker paper. We put it on a blank gold shield and it looks great.
So, what began as a quick and easy way to make Merboy fit the undersea theme a little better became a project to recreate a Photoshop illusion in actuality! Phew!
(I'd better be careful not to show him the ghost pirates pix, or he'll want me to make his pirates really incorporeal!
)
