Meteor
This is a detailed version of the Final Fantasy VII logo and symbol for Meteor, the ultimate destruction spell in the game and perhaps FF universe so far. More info can be found here on the Wiki: http://finalfantasy.wikia.com/wiki/Meteor_(Final_Fantasy_VII)
This took 8 hours, excluding PS work -as usual-
I spent a while in PS fiddling around with the gradient and detail I could get with it. I ended up having to totally wash out the original image's levels so that I could properly select more white using the magic wand tool and its "similar" and "grow" functions.
Turned out quite well, the first gradient version I made looks quite amateur in comparison, I will keep it though as an example.
This was the earliest I took a photo but no matter. A4.
Filling in the meteor body
Nearly done
Close up
Not the final, I realised I had to extend the curved section further around towards the 8 oclock position, shown in the final, next
Final B&W, paper blemishes removed and levels adjusted in PS
Final. Several layers of black and white splits, each with various techniques added to them like stroke, inner and outer glows etc.
Black version. Not sure which one I prefer.
Reference, and comparison to the original.