SOTW - Gradient map attempt

Did you just use a black-to-white gradient map? Because all that does is desaturate the image... Normally when you use a gradient map you want to have it from color-to-color to give your sig a specific color scheme.

As for the sig, it is ok. There isn't really any depth, you need to either blur Green Lantern or the villain. The lighting is interesting... Really, I can't say very much else, I can't tell what else you did aside from changing the lighting and using a black-to-white gradient map.

 

When I want a black and white sig, I always use a black and white gradient map. There you can really mess around with the type of colors you want from there, well of course none lol. Um, I can actually tell you worked on this for a while, I can see how you really worked with the depth. Its a little blurry, try sharpening a tad. Overall, I think you did a pretty good job. Add some text

 

I find that it is easier to use a Hue/Saturation adjustment layer with Saturation set to -100 and then add a Levels adjustment layer on top. That gives you the ultimate level of customization as far as the brightness in your sig.

 

Well, I would do the reverse of what the example sig did... I would lightly blur the villain and sharpen Green Lantern. Also, make a Levels adjustment layer and tweak the lighting, everything is a bit too gray in your current version, and this would really hekp with that. Otherwise, I am not sure what to say... you did a nice job.