The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

Zipper Sisters and Others => Deryni Movies => Topic started by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 09:34:46 AM

Title: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 09:34:46 AM
OK, I remembered this website last night and have been having inordinate amounts of fun with it:

http://www.morphthing.com (http://www.morphthing.com)

Ever get stuck trying to cast the Deryni movie, or trying to visualize a story character you're creating, because you can't think of any celebrity who quite looks the part?  Maybe the closest thing you can come up with is something like "Well, I think he'd look something like Hugh Jackman, only the eyes would be blue, maybe something like Paul Walker's, except he'd need red hair..."?   Well, this is a fun website to play with and see just how well those sets of features would morph together!  Just as an example, here's a couple of morphs I made:

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemberfiles.freewebs.com%2F75%2F18%2F60161875%2Fphotos%2FDuncans-Anamchara--I%2FCatriona%2520morph.jpeg&hash=eeab75ed57befeb391016c0f1cc952d0210a1595)
My attempt to recreate Catriona, the Lady of Llyr from ANAMCHARA (see the Deryni Fanfic section for a link to that story)

and ...

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemberfiles.freewebs.com%2F75%2F18%2F60161875%2Fphotos%2FDuncans-Anamchara--I%2FThe%2520Kyle%2520morph.jpeg&hash=be30d5d171bb57ba78eed8a67457bfcacc14a0f2)
I morphed a young blond male face onto the "Catriona" picture to get an approximation of what she might look like in her shapeshifting illusion as "Kyle."  

Neither is exactly how I envision them--for one thing, the eye color is still wrong, as both are described as having clear light green eyes--but the one drawback is that the morphing is limited to the existing physical traits of the photos uploaded into it.  However, I think if you want to morph someone's features into a picture and that person isn't in their photo database, you can upload a photo of your own, I think.  It just has to be a shot directly from in front rather than from the side, and with hair as much out of the face as possible.  But the morphing is a good way to at least establish general facial structure and get an idea of what a character might look like, and sometimes you can get lucky with the coloring as well.

Now I'm off to see if I can figure out how to make my own Alaric, Richenda, Kelson, Dhugal, etc.  (And yes, I've already experimented with a Duncan! *grin*)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Shiral on June 17, 2010, 12:55:58 PM
Oh Man, you had to show me this, did you?   :) Why do I foresee hours of wasted writing time, ahead?

Been thinking of writing another fanfic after a hiatus of a few years.  And I have this mental image of Araxie, but haven't ever been able to create her adequately in my head or in paintings...

Melissa
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 01:04:59 PM
Quote from: Shiral on June 17, 2010, 12:55:58 PM
Oh Man, you had to show me this, did you?   :) Why do I foresee hours of wasted writing time, ahead?

Happy to be of service.  *smirk!*
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 01:26:48 PM
Would this work for Araxie?  The hair came out a little less golden than I'd hoped, but I seem to have managed gray eyes....

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27077659%2FEvan-Rachel-Wood--Keira-Knightley--Hayden-Panettiere--Scarlett-Johansson.jpeg&hash=a10c0d8b9982f9aefdb6f7abbe67bf2ea094f2c7) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27077659-Evan-Rachel-Wood-Keira-Knightley-Hayden-Panettiere-Scarlett-Johansson)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 17, 2010, 05:37:51 PM
I tried this one for Alaric:-

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F8142%2FDaniel-Craig-and-David-Wenham.jpeg&hash=dadaa8b6ec0a449549322d65d31f9f68793e31d7) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/8142-Daniel-Craig-and-David-Wenham)

Which is getting pretty close to my idea for the guy!  I just need to get the hair a little blonder ...
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Shiral on June 17, 2010, 05:51:48 PM
Quote from: Evie on June 17, 2010, 01:26:48 PM
Would this work for Araxie?  The hair came out a little less golden than I'd hoped, but I seem to have managed gray eyes....

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27077659%2FEvan-Rachel-Wood--Keira-Knightley--Hayden-Panettiere--Scarlett-Johansson.jpeg&hash=a10c0d8b9982f9aefdb6f7abbe67bf2ea094f2c7) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27077659-Evan-Rachel-Wood-Keira-Knightley-Hayden-Panettiere-Scarlett-Johansson)

Not bad... not bad at all!  She comes pretty close, actually.

But I need to do some experimentation of my  own....

Melissa
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 09:50:16 PM
Rothana?

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27094296%2FJennifer-Lopez--Aishwarya-Rai--Ashley-Greene.jpeg&hash=37797d51aa76e8685faae349ca6f634873c5ce16) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27094296-Jennifer-Lopez-Aishwarya-Rai-Ashley-Greene)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 17, 2010, 10:40:10 PM
This is getting about 90% towards my idea of Richenda.  Just needs the slightest touch more red in her hair, and perhaps slightly deeper eyes - but at least these are a lovely blue.

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27096077%2FCameron-Diaz--Brooke-Shields--Grace-Kelly.jpeg&hash=f4ac99243f71476fded194bcad751d3c3f15b49c) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27096077-Cameron-Diaz-Brooke-Shields-Grace-Kelly)

Or perhaps this slight variation?
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27096600%2FCameron-Diaz--Grace-Kelly--Milla-Jovovich.jpeg&hash=001a1b0216840f5e1f81d73edf503952f071560b) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27096600-Cameron-Diaz-Grace-Kelly-Milla-Jovovich)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 10:55:54 PM
Maybe someone could add some red tint via Photoshop?  I added red hair to my morphs by putting Ann Margret into the mix, but she can't be the last layer or the hair ends up too red.  Maybe, if you can remember the other woman in the morph, you can try putting Ann Margret about one or two layers from the end and see how that turns out?  Though she's lovely as she is now, and I can easily imagine the added red, especially in the second picture.  You did a good job of getting the heart-shaped face as well. 
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 17, 2010, 11:12:00 PM
Interesting - when you use Ann Margret, you can end up with something like this:-
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27097179%2FAnn-Margret--Milla-Jovovich.jpeg&hash=96a14b11d7dad0272a8f2dec0abd766cea6938d9) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27097179-Ann-Margret-Milla-Jovovich)

But I think this ends up just a little older/harsher - or perhaps more Oksana style of 'sultry sex goddess'.  Richenda is 22 is HD, and still only 27 in KKB and so for her I prefer my previous one where I used Cameron Diaz, Milla Jovovich and Grace Kelly.   I could see Alaric losing his heart completely for her!   But Ann Margret may be a very good basis for Jehana ...

*must stop playing, must stop playing*
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 17, 2010, 11:20:02 PM
Yes, I like your first one best too. 

And I'm not getting any writing done, even though I had some ideas for the story earlier, because I got sidetracked designing a character for it....   :D
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 18, 2010, 03:12:33 AM
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27096790%2FCate-Blanchett--Milla-Jovovich.jpeg&hash=1dc7e8083293e19c60b4c7e4d9dc664594c5f4c8) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27096790-Cate-Blanchett-Milla-Jovovich)
An equally good Richenda? 

I am still, er, "playing" with Duncan (wretchedly difficult man!) and possibly Derry - who along with Dhugal, is the most eligible bachelor at present!
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 18, 2010, 09:19:07 AM
Hm.  I think I like your earliest set of Richenda pictures better, because they capture a vulnerability that this one lacks.  Though I can easily imagine this Richenda as tougher, more experienced, and quite a match for Morag as her guardian--then again, though, the first Richenda would be someone Morag would be more likely to underestimate at first, much to her cost if she tries anything underhanded and discovers that Morgan's Duchess is much tougher than she appears.  Which, btw, I'd love to see....   :D

And oh lordy, yes, Duncan is difficult, isn't he?  I've created a Duncan, though mine is more of a "This picture will do" rather than "This is definitely him for me."  I've made several attempts at Derry, but don't really have him down yet either, and as for Dhugal...well, there just aren't any redheads in that database to work with, though I might try loading in a picture of one of the Phelps brothers and try again later.  It's better than trying to graft Ann Margret's coloring onto some man's face and hoping the results don't turn out ludicrous!   :D
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 18, 2010, 06:08:22 PM
All right ladies, I submit a couple of Alarics for your consideration. 

#1 is 
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27131707%2FDaniel-Craig--David-Wenham--Alex-Pettyfer.jpeg&hash=02ba6253af5c80365de34468437d597892f8cfdd) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27131707-Daniel-Craig-David-Wenham-Alex-Pettyfer)

And #2 is
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27132136%2FDavid-Wenham--Christian-Bale--Alex-Pettyfer.jpeg&hash=b03695ef2360eff1c5eb699f887d28e3c75e5661) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27132136-David-Wenham-Christian-Bale-Alex-Pettyfer)

I don't think Richenda would would have problems being all warm and loving with either of them, though I think #2 is the better  ;)

And this younger one is rather take-home gorgeous, though not sure if it's Derry or a younger Duncan ...
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27132727%2FJamie-Bell--John-Mayer--Christian-Bale.jpeg&hash=fecf8d65821d28a0416b5ebf3e7e3f56b758955f) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27132727-Jamie-Bell-John-Mayer-Christian-Bale)


Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 18, 2010, 11:19:05 PM
I'd agree with your choice of Alaric #2.  (That sounds like something from a 1970s era game show.  "Richenda, do you pick Alaric #1, Alaric #2, or Alaric #3?  Or would you rather have the mystery gift behind the curtain instead?"  :D )

As for the other picture, the curly bits of hair put me more in mind of Derry, though he doesn't very closely match my mental picture of either man.  He comes a bit closer to my mental Derry than my mental Duncan, though, so I'll lean that way.  Besides which, I've not created a Derry yet....  (My Duncan's uploaded to my Anamchara website, but I can link to it here also if that would help.  And assuming the server there is back up again, as it was down earlier.)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 12:51:55 AM
Alkari, I stumbled on this picture completely by accident tonight (it wasn't one I created), but if you like the redder shades of hair for Richenda, how about this picture which blends the softer features similar to your original two morphs with the bolder coloring of your later two?

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27144925%2FAlexis-Bledel--Ann-Margret--Fiona-Apple--Kate-Winslet--Kate-Beckinsale--Cate-Blanchett--Alexis-Bledel--Scarlett-Johansson--Winona-Ryder--Alana-De-La-Garza.jpeg&hash=d347e0759e967f9bbfdbbe29c3c18111f68df3f5) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27144925-Alexis-Bledel-Ann-Margret-Fiona-Apple-Kate-Winslet-Kate-Beckinsale-Cate-Blanchett-Alexis-Bledel-Scarlett-Johansson-Winona-Ryder-Alana-De-La-Garza)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 01:03:53 AM
OK, this seems to be the closest I can get to Dhugal for the moment, and I had to upload a picture of either James or Oliver Phelps (not sure which) to get any red into the final hair coloring.  It would have to be an older Dhugal though (KKB era or after), since this guy looks older than the 16 or 17 year old he'd have been in QFSC, although by that time he was already sporting a mustache, so it's not too much of an extrapolation he might have decided to experiment with a beard as well a few years later. (Or maybe it's a picture of Older Dhugal after several days into a military campaign, when shaving might not be uppermost on his mind?  Who knows?)

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F2eea3d22a63f23409a6a0162d6f327a6%2F0%2F27144955%2FDhugaltemplate-jpg--Josh-Holloway--Matthew-McConaughey.jpeg&hash=e58b292cfd8c035cda6de505cb976b600bbc9c87) (http://www.morphthing.com/image/27144955-Dhugaltemplate-jpg-Josh-Holloway-Matthew-McConaughey?key=2eea3d22a63f23409a6a0162d6f327a6)

There's just absolutely no hope that I can see of duplicating the amber eyes, and you'll also have to imagine that the back of his hair is gathered into a Border braid, but it works for me as a prototype anyway.
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Shiral on June 19, 2010, 02:15:00 AM
Follow this link to my photoshopped version of Alaric and Richenda.

http://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=111

Alaric is a morph of Viggo Mortenson and Jude Law, his coloring lightened and corrected.  Richenda's coloring has just been  heightened to match what's described in the books as I see them. I'm not totally pleased with Richenda's hair--doesn't quite look natural.  But the color is pretty close.

Melissa
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: AnnieUK on June 19, 2010, 03:53:34 AM
Well I am certifiably rubbish at this.  I did find that adding Miley Cyrus into the Richenda mix gave the sort of colour I imagine for her though.  (Sorry, I have a 12 year old daughter, OK, and Miley is BIG in this house!!)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Alkari on June 19, 2010, 05:22:41 AM
Thanks for that suggestion!  Actually, a very simple mix of Miley Cyrus and Milla Jovovich gives this one, though I think her eyes need to be wider and slightly bluer:-
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F25344789%2FMilla-Jovovich--Miley-Cyrus.jpeg&hash=3ecb274ef0dd7b971c36dcea7f05af51aba37a2f) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/25344789-Milla-Jovovich-Miley-Cyrus)

Jude Law was a face I hadn't tried, though I had done some morphs with Viggo.  But adding Jude Law to my original choice 'blend' (sounds like I'm brewing coffee!) of David Wenham and Daniel Craig, I got this:-
(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F27152344%2FDavid-Wenham--Daniel-Craig--Jude-Law.jpeg&hash=97e0ed9ca508ea7a2d253608d81997c70a40170b) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/27152344-David-Wenham-Daniel-Craig-Jude-Law)

Hmmm - not bad at all  :)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: AnnieUK on June 19, 2010, 08:56:45 AM
I'd be happy with that last Alaric - that's getting pretty close for me.

Continuing my theme of using teen favourites as bases for characters, Taylor Lautner and Nick Jonas make a passable Kelson apart from the eye colour. 
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 09:59:22 AM
Adding Miley really does help add in the red tones! Too bad I can't add her to Dhugal, but I don't want him riding off to Transha singing "Best of Both Worlds" .... ;)

And I don't think Richenda would toss that Alaric out of bed for eating crackers.  :D
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 11:00:39 AM
Here are my attempts at Kelson and Nigel....

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemberfiles.freewebs.com%2F75%2F18%2F60161875%2Fphotos%2FDuncans-Anamchara--I%2FMaybe%2520Kelson.jpeg&hash=51a6dbd31bdcd46408ee457dfb77d98090e41da6)

Kelson, though I couldn't get the gray eyes in.  But I've got the Haldane resemblance to....

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemberfiles.freewebs.com%2F75%2F18%2F60161875%2Fphotos%2FDuncans-Anamchara--I%2FDenis%2520or%2520Nigel.jpeg&hash=1037bd1b2771c060dac8282a6936391c8701ae41)

Nigel.  I was actually trying to make Denis Arilan when I created this one, but after seeing how closely the result resembled my picture of Kelson, I decided he had to be Brion or Nigel instead.  I think I'll try for Denis again once I can upload a good picture of Timothy Dalton, because for some reason I've been imagining Dalton as Arilan lately, even though I have no clue why!

And here's the closest I could get to my image of Duncan:

(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmemberfiles.freewebs.com%2F75%2F18%2F60161875%2Fphotos%2FDuncans-Anamchara--I%2FDuncan.jpeg&hash=8fdac2a2b037d7b258fe7fb755436a4b7d679c7a)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 11:09:45 AM
Quote from: Shiral on June 19, 2010, 02:15:00 AM
Follow this link to my photoshopped version of Alaric and Richenda.

http://www.rhemuthcastle.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=111

Alaric is a morph of Viggo Mortenson and Jude Law, his coloring lightened and corrected.  Richenda's coloring has just been  heightened to match what's described in the books as I see them. I'm not totally pleased with Richenda's hair--doesn't quite look natural.  But the color is pretty close.

Melissa

Have you ever worked in Gimp?  I can't afford Photoshop right now, but I've got Gimp and have been experimenting with some of the filters, trying to learn how to create painted portrait effects for the scenic "oil paintings" I sell in Second Life.  (BTW, if anyone here is familiar with Second Life, two of my avatars there are Deryni from an alternate universe 19th Century Gwynedd, stranded in a steampunk Victorian city-state in a different nation from their own. That's actually how I got back into writing fanfic; I was re-reading the books to re-familiarize myself with the Deryni spells so I could write stories for those characters, and ended up writing Kelson-era fanfic instead.  :D )
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Gyrfalcon64207 on June 19, 2010, 03:09:24 PM
You all are getting steadily better at this faces thing.  Very fun to watch.  (I don't know celebrities well enough to try on my own--and I'm not kidding about that)  But you're getting some pretty good results.
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on June 19, 2010, 03:18:17 PM
Quote from: Gyrfalcon64207 on June 19, 2010, 03:09:24 PM
You all are getting steadily better at this faces thing.  Very fun to watch.  (I don't know celebrities well enough to try on my own--and I'm not kidding about that)  But you're getting some pretty good results.

I don't either, but you can browse the pictures in the database and pick the ones with the right look.
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Gyrfalcon64207 on June 19, 2010, 03:43:37 PM
A lot of the pictures in the database were creepy!  I'll let you all keep working, unless I have any moments of inspiration.  Like I said, it's fun just to see what you've come up with.
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: AnnieUK on July 27, 2010, 04:17:04 AM
How the heck do you put photos on threads?  Do you have to have them hosted somewhere?
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Gyrfalcon64207 on March 19, 2012, 01:09:26 AM
I got someone who knows actors to try.  Here's what we came up with.


(https://www.rhemuthcastle.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.morphthing.com%2Fshowimage%2F2%2F0%2F0%2F45324221%2FJensen-Ackles--Eric-Dane--David-Wenham--Jensen-Ackles--Eric-Dane--Brad-Pitt--David-Boreanaz--Chad-Michael-Murray--Cillian-Murphy.jpeg&hash=205b5b6e8499b2a06e5b1a2f25944ea284386a4a) (http://www.morphthing.com/celebrity/45324221-Jensen-Ackles-Eric-Dane-David-Wenham-Jensen-Ackles-Eric-Dane-Brad-Pitt-David-Boreanaz-Chad-Michael-Murray-Cillian-Murphy)
Title: Re: Create-a-Deryni!
Post by: Evie on March 19, 2012, 09:04:52 AM
Nice!  Now, who is he supposed to be?  I think I recognize a few features; looks like one or two of the actors who went into making my Jass MacArdry ended up in this morph as well.   :)