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davescm
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 5, 2025 1:02 PM UTC
Question

Something for the Weekend - Part 255 - Bring down the gavel!

Thanks to everyone who took part in our 'Tarff' challenge.

This week I notice that James Christie, the founder of the famous art auction house Christie's, held his first sale on December 5th 1766. I therefore decided to make an auctioneer's gavel, using Blender 3D, Adobe Substance Painter and a seamless wood texture I created in Adobe Substance Designer. Of course a gavel is used by more than auctioneers, it is also used by officials in meetings and in courts. But the big question is, what can you do with it?

The “rules”:

  • Use the starter image as at least part of your own image entry.
  • Anything goes, as long as it meets the forum rules on decency, copyright, etc.
  • Anyone, and everyone, is welcome to have a go, whether you are a complete beginner or a Photoshop expert. This is not just for our forum “regulars”.
  • The challenge is not limited to Photoshop. Any Adobe software can be used. 
  • There are no prizes apart from the chance to practice, show off your skills, or bring a bit of humor and fun. Don't be shy, join in and have a go!
  • The starter image is made available for you to use in this forum challenge only.

 

To download the starter image, hover over the image and click on the circle with the arrows at the top right. Then, when the image opens in its own window, right click and choose “Save Image As/Save Target As” (or similar depending on your browser). It is made with transparency, so there is no cutting out do do.

867941i4111AB4D77C86664.png

 

When posting back your image — please use the blue reply button in this first post and use the 'Insert Photos' icon at the top of the reply box. If posting a comment on someone else’s entry, then please use the grey reply button next to their image post.

 

Have fun!

 

Dave

149 replies

Turtle.PSD
Inspiring
Dec 24, 2025 8:49 AM UTC

Merry Christmas =D

 

871417i8393E057DBB31643.gif

All animated in the PS Timeline window (video). Gemini did a great job turning my quick and crude watermelon doodle into a photorealistic watermelon using a quick prompt that included "keep the pose the same" (otherwise it kept making one that was looking straight at the "camera"). I used the same technique to generate the background.

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jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 24, 2025 11:09 AM UTC

 

Terrifying, and I love it!

 

Jane

 

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Dec 20, 2025 2:40 PM UTC

this is not a drill! get it? toy package style. Self learner....dont hold back haha happy weekend! Glad to have found this community! 

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Dec 20, 2025 2:42 PM UTC
weekly_challenge_toy_judge_hammer_copy.jpg
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davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 19, 2025 12:40 PM UTC
OussK
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 19, 2025 7:03 AM UTC

Photoshop

870648iACD6B45729D21C46.png

 

Eith some AI flavor 

870649i91D37939C03927A5.png

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davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 19, 2025 11:20 AM UTC

That second version would look good on the box of a family game. Now, we just need to figure out the game... 🙂
Dave

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dmcsween4
Inspiring
Dec 18, 2025 4:58 PM UTC

 

Get it?

870515i9C73C45FA09D6812.png

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davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 18, 2025 10:52 PM UTC

Welcome to SFTW, dmcsween4. Looks like we are sentenced to 'hard labour' 🙂
Dave

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Participant
Dec 20, 2025 4:13 AM UTC

Gravel...Gavel...nobody?

OK, I'll show myself out.

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Anna Natter
Participating Frequently
Dec 17, 2025 3:58 PM UTC

870258i94518BE7975BBC02.jpg

Who is ready to finish this year at the office? 😄

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3D Designer / Multidisciplinary Creative / Creative Technologist
davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 18, 2025 10:49 PM UTC

Now that's what I need to relieve the frustration when things are not going right . Perhaps every mouse should ship with one 🙂

Dave

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justlearn
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 11:57 AM UTC

menacing harley 

870003i0BEDF7ED104DA509.png

 

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m
davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 8:04 PM UTC

Is she not bad enough, without someone giving her a hammer?  🙂
Dave

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Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 11:32 AM UTC

Take that!870000iA93D1A7BA8EAC584.jpg

 

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davescm
Community Expert
davescmCommunity ExpertAuthor
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 8:02 PM UTC

Cosmetic surgery, the Christie's way. I'm sure my nose will benefit 🙂
Dave

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Turtle.PSD
Inspiring
Dec 22, 2025 4:34 AM UTC

That's what you get for unrelentlessly challenging us (jk haha)

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fbeaume
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 3:17 AM UTC

Nelson's wheel
869921iFEC194FDB99B8748.jpg

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N8.
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 7:27 AM UTC

Nelson would be proud.

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fbeaume
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 19, 2025 1:11 PM UTC

Thanks for your comment, Nate.

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jane-e
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 2:00 AM UTC

 

If I had a hammer...

869916iEF488902252DB6D2.jpg

...written by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger in 1949.

 

Jane

 

 

 

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Trevor.Dennis
Community Expert
Community Expert
Dec 16, 2025 3:21 AM UTC

Hah!  I should have guessed you'd use that reference Jane.  Top song!

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