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The 2nd Probonoversary

Join Henry, whose idea it was, Andrew, who adopted the baby, and Tanya, who’s been a constant support, for an open and frank discussion about the principles, benefits, and challenges of the ProZ Pro Program. And then chip in with your questions!

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feu de joint
curage jugulo-carotidien
May 21, 2011 10:15
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term

dans une épaisseur veloutée

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature sculpture
La nuit calme le mélange des couleurs dans une épaisseur veloutée.
Quand elle commence de nouveau à briller dans les nuances des couleurs matinales,
On peut essayer de deviner :
Proposed translations (English)
3 into a velvety blackness
3 +1 At night the colours become muted into a soft vevety blend
4 in a velvety depth
3 night cools the colours with a deep soft haze
3 deep velvety hue
3 At nightfall colours soften in a cloudy haze

Discussion

Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche May 23, 2011:
a bit of everyone`s...sounds perfect!
kashew (asker) May 23, 2011:
I'm going for something like: "Night appeases the mélange of colours with a velvety cloak"
Thanks all.
B D Finch May 23, 2011:
Late clue Have you any explanation of how the text you posted with your question and this "late clue" information fit together? The only explanation I can think of right now is that this is a, not very profound, conceptual work about the nature of light and colours (white is what you get from a "mélange des couleurs" of light) with a bit of poetic guff probably taken from a Wikka website. At night, white also becomes "black", which is what you get from a "mélange des couleurs" of pigment.
kashew (asker) May 23, 2011:
A late clue: The sculpture in question is a up-on-end dinner-plate size frosted glass disk - white!
So the "fade to black" ideas won't work. Fade to white maybe.

Proposed translations

9 hrs
Selected

into a velvety blackness

Following this line of thinking:

épaisseur = pitch (thick) darkness, depths of the night

velvet relating to velvet painting

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velvet_painting

the absence of all colors creates absolute black. i.e the colors fade away (literally mix) into black.


Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks - it put me on the right track."
26 mins

night cools the colours with a deep soft haze

an idea
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47 mins

deep velvety hue

Night turned the mixture of colours into a "deep velvety hue".

or

The night transformed the colour medley into a "deep velvety hue."

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Note added at 48 mins (2011-05-21 11:03:25 GMT)
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Or maybe:

The night SOFTENED the colour medley into a DEEP VELVETY HUE.
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

At night the colours become muted into a soft vevety blend

Just a try.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2011-05-21 12:57:17 GMT)
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velvety............
Peer comment(s):
agree Laurette Tassin
13 mins
Well, thanks. Others may improve on this!
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5 hrs

in a velvety depth

I think this would work. E.g. Night mutes the profusion of colours in a/its velvety depth.
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

At nightfall colours soften in a cloudy haze

Hi, a try...
Something went wrong...
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