At Work On Goalie Masks
Sunday · Mar 16 · 2008 | 6:41 PM PDTYou thought I was going to go a whole weekend without a single post didn't you? Gotcha!
No but seriously I have been hard at work on things relevant to the blog, actually. I've been designing graphics for the upcoming NHL Tournament of Goalie Masks. Indeed, this isn't something I'm just throwing together. Just like I did with all the logo graphics, I'm putting my own spin on the helmets.
Check out some of what I have done so far.
Those guys are among the top vote-getters right now in the sidebar poll so obviously there's no need for me to explain who they are.
My goal was to make you look only at the mask and nothing else in the photo — that's why everything else has been grayed out. That said, all the photos I'm using are game action photos and I'm still looking for better pictures of some goalies. I'll post a list here when I get a chance if anyone wants to help out.
Apologies for the small images. You'll be able to click through to larger versions when the tournament actually begins.
Let me know what you guys think of these graphics. I encourage feedback!
Reader Comments (22)
Wow, they look absolutely amazing. I have been wanting a tournament for goalie masks for a long time, and now its here!
i think they kick ass.
i really like the effect.
great way to separate the art from the athlete. i simply cannot wait for this tournament to begin.
oh, one more thing. if possible, try to keep the cage in tact. Turco, Roloson and others have either coloured, chromed, and/or metallic finish. i think that is essential to the look of the complete mask. Thanks
Here's a cool link I came across for masks.
http://www.therinkrat.com/labels/mask.html
You should add Curtis Sanford to the list also.
I can't believe Ryan Miller is getting so many votes, his mask is completely unoriginal.
Chris! Look at Cristobal Huet's new helmet
Compared to the one he was wearing with Habs, the new one is KICKASS
Nice eagle, nice colors
Reminds me Ed Belfour:p
roloson has a surprisingly sexy mask
to cryorex...
have you looked at Brodures mask? there an unoriginal overly simple design thats getting more votes then it deserves.
i do kind of see your point, but the design is fairly complex.
Awsome job on the graphics!
By the way, here is a place with pics of all 60 NHL goalie masks, you may want to use some of these instead;
Eastern Conference Goalies:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=3645
Western Conference Goalies:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=3747
Hope this helps. Awsome tourney by the way, go Turks!
great link, ivan.
nice images and back story to the designs.
if possible, try to keep the cage in tact. Turco, Roloson and others have either coloured, chromed, and/or metallic finish. i think that is essential to the look of the complete mask.
Interesting you point that out. That's been very important to me in working on these. If you look close at Luongo's mask in this post, you'll see he's got a blue cage.
Turco simply has a chrome finish but Roloson's is copper — very cool! Emery, Hedberg and Lalime all have gold. Others have different colors as well. But no worries, I'm definitely keeping the colored cages intact.
Thanks for all the compliments. Glad you like what I've come up with.
turco has two masks does he not.. the home one is gold and road is silver both very sharp masks
NICE!!!!!! those are the coolest pics ive ever seen!!!
Why i can't vote for Jaroslav Halak ?
Here are a couple links for a gallery NHL.com used to showcase the goalie masks and a brief description of why those chose what is on it. Posting the reason might be a cool feature to include when you start this tournament.
Western:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=3747
Eastern:
http://www.nhl.com/nhl/app/?service=page&page=MediaGalleryPlayer&galleryId=3645
To echo Ivan's comment: you really need to add Sanford's mask to the list--his is certainly one of the most interesting.
Ditto for Toivonen, actually.
Looking through the page Ivan linked to, I'm really amazed at just how many bad masks there are in the NHL these days... so many careless collages of disparate imagery (why do goalies want to have a picture of the arena on their masks) and odd pop-culture references.
But I'm looking forward to the tournament!
roli's mask is pretty sweet with the copper cage.
Long time reader, first time poster (I've always wanted to say that).
Great poll! I look forward to it. I've been collecting pics of goal masks for a long time since I want to paint up my own this summer. Getty Images is a great spot for them.
I agree with previous posters, having the cage color definitely makes a difference.
I also recommend leaving their skin colors for the face and neck as flesh. I find it easier to see the mask and it will be less work for you to mask out the cages for 20+ goalies. Grey skin tends to make them feel dead.
chris i think winter classic helmets should not count if you do cont conkins then put millers in then or ask the public about it
to wozniak...
Brodeur's helmet is classic, been around for years. I know it's pretty simple and just uses the three colors, but the devil logo is really screwed up and has always interested me.
All I'm saying is that that the NHL has tons of great masks, way better than the generic monster head that miller dons.
Jaroslav Halak :D :
http://i.cnn.net/si/multimedia/photo_gallery/0707/gallery.nhl.goalie.masks/images/halak.jpg