Signature Levels
May 8, 2011 13:06:36 GMT -7
Post by Logi Shimizu on May 8, 2011 13:06:36 GMT -7
Original Post By Vel (V~). Reposted by Logi
Basically, I've noticed that this forum needs some help in the area of GFXs. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not the best in the world, but I am good. You see, most people don't understand what depth, flow, or lighting are, and I have a full understanding of them. My technique isn't up to my realization, but I'm able to share some help with you guys. I've seen a few people make signatures and Axcel and Yori have superior skills to most of the forum. Basically I want you to present me with a piece of your work, and I will pick apart the best and worst parts of it and try to help you improve on your style. Along with my own advice I will provide many many links of different sites to help you further your style.
Vel's Signature Tips
[/u][/size]- For my first tip, I will say this. Get photoshop. I don't care if you think you rock with your gimp or your paintshop pro. You will be better with photoshop, I can almost guarantee it.
- You need to understand what I mean by Depth. Depth gives your signature the look and feel of it being more than just 2D, and it gives life to your artwork. Here is a very good, but basic way to increase the depth of your signature. Create a new layer, and click on image, then apply image. Duplicate this layer and hide the layer on the top. Then go to Filter -> Blur -> Blur and it will blur that layer. Then unhide the layer on top and go to Filter -> Sharpen -> Sharpen. Erase all of the Sharpening except for the Focal point of your signature, and there you have it, a simple form of depth.
- Coloring. At the bottom of this page I will post a color tool that will help you pick colors that will work great together. Use this tool, and try not to over color and mix your render with your background too much.
- Flow is the feel that your render goes with the background that you stuck it into. When you make a signature make sure you make the background flow with the render, or else it ruins the tag right out. Try to use C4D's that give a good feel with your render to help create a flow, or even use the Pen Tool.
- Blending is how well you blended your render into your background. I alway blend the same way, but there are many ways to do it. Many people take a low Opacity eraser and erase the edges of their render for a simple blend. My blending technique is however, this. I duplicate the render a few times and smudge the crap out of the edges. Then with a low opacity brush I erase the edges of a render layer that I have no smudged yet, giving it that feeling that it belongs with its background.
- Search around the internet and learn other techniques. Look for signature tutorials and make something with the tutorial, before you know it you will be using a part of that tutorial in your very own original style.
- The text you use in your signature can make it ugly or bring even more life to it. My text isn't very good, but I've gotten it to the level of that it doesn't make things look worse. A good thing to do with text is to fool around with the blending options that are available.
*Disclaimer, I will be honest about how I feel about your work. I will pick out the best and worst qualities of your work.
Levels of GFX
[/b]These are not, and I repeat, NOT levels of how you yourself are at GFX, they are the levels of the certain piece of work you have made.[/center]
[Not all of these signatures are mine, some are examples used from other artists.]
- Novice-
- This was my first piece of work. There is absolutely no depth in this signature. There is a small amount of flow, but the background and the render clash. The effects are bad and there are too many of them.
- This is another of my earlier signatures. As you can see there is no depth or flow whatsoever. But the coloring isn't half bad. There are WAY too many effects in this signature and the blending wasn't very good.
- Moderate-
- This is another one of my signatures. This shows how I had begun to advance in my own style of tag making. There is a good flow going on in this tag, and the effects are right on. The depth is lacking though, and the coloring is pretty bad.
- This is also another one of my signatures. The effects work well with the render and the depth is pretty good, making focus on the face. The lighting is very bad though, as the face is too bright, and the text is no fun either. The coloring could use some real work too.
- (Not my Tag) This signature has superb blending. The signature is too bright though, and the colors are monotone. It also looks as if the text should be moved to the left a little.
- Intermediate- At this point your techniques have evolved into what you will be using for the rest of your photoshop career. You understand what all of your tools in Photoshop do and most of your signatures are pretty damn good. There is still work to be done, but at this level you have become "good" at making signatures.
- Another of my works. The coloring is great, and so are the effects. The depth is good, but it could use some work, and the flow is pretty good too. The lighting could use some work, but the overall composition is pretty good. This is a solid to lower level intermediate signature.
- (Mine) Another intermediate sig. Everything about this tag is good, but it it could still use some work in every category. This is a solid to high level intermediate signature.
- (Not mine) The effects are great, but they cover the face a little. The only real complaint is the text, as it is not very good.
- Semi-Professional- You can do some amazing works, but there seems to be a certain something missing in all of your work. Your style is impeccable and you are almost as good as you are going to get.
- [Mine]The effects and flow are exceptional. The only things wrong with it are the text is a little stand-out-ish and the coloring could use a small bit of work. A lower level semi-Professional tag.
- [Not mine]Almost nothing wrong with it. It seems to be missing a certain something though, and the text rockzorz.
-Wow. The only thing I can say is just blend the arms in a little more and this would be good to go.
- Professional- Perfect work. There is nothing wrong with it in the least. You have mastered the effects of you style and no one questions that.
- {not mine} I see nothing wrong with it, it is crazy good and its super hawt.
- <Not mine> This sig is teh sex.
- *Not mine* HHAAAAWWWTTTT
Render Sites
GFX Sites[/b]
Tools[/b]
- Color Wheel
(I will add more sites and more tips as they come along)[/size]
