Gothir
12-15-2008, 06:36 PM
This is a compilation of tips and hints for beginners, if you're intermediate or above, then it's likely none of this is of use to you, but read it
anyway and comment ;)
- When doing the text, don't try to over complicate things. Simply use the eye drop tool to grab a colour from your render (or background if there's
no render) and use that colour with TNR (Times New Roman). Once you progress to the stage where you're creating your own techniques, you can
go crazy!
- It's advisable to use a simple 1 pixel, black, border when you're starting out. When you get the hang of photoshop, you can start using a 'frame'
border, where appropriate. This is done by doing New Layer (3 pixel black) > New Layer (2 pixel white) > New Layer (1 pixel black).
- Lighting; you 'can' use curve layers but when you're starting out it's easier to use this method. New layer > Apply Image > Filter > Render >
Lens Flare > Select a setting > Place it on your sig and set the layer to soft light. Nice and simple :)
- This border is particularly good with abstract images. Use the rectangle marquee tool to draw a rectangle at the top of your signature, going from
left to right. Fill it black, then copy the layer and move it down to the bottom of your signature.
- If you like to have your name and a word or phrase on your signatures, try laying it out like this.
Gothir (size 14-16)
Forgiveness (size 10-12) Sizes shown are examples.
- If you're resizing a render or image, be sure to hold down shift whilst doing so. This will hold the proportions of the image.
- Do you do alot of minor requests? Try spending a day making a folder of background, brushes. C4Ds and patterns!
- Have patience, nobody becomes a GFX artist overnight. Even more importantly, don't rush your work! If you rush it, you don't improve.
- When you post a piece for CNC, be prepared for criticism. Take it on board, these people are trying to help you! I'm not saying that you should
accept mindless spam like 'Lol, delete photoshop plox' or whatever they say these days - I'm saying listen to the people that are telling you where
you've gone wrong and where to improve.
- This is through personal experience... the further you get into GFX, the more you have to learn. Seriously. Great, you've learnt about pen tooling, now
go and learn about the 101 ways to make it work!
- Here is a list of things I advise you learn early on;
~Pen tooling - you can find my tutorial here (http://www.signaturebar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22675).
~Borders, very few people get away without using borders!
~Text, revise what I said earlier, basic and simple text >(to the power of 5446546) better than fancy text.
~Blending a render - you can find my tutorial here (http://www.signaturebar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22676).
~Using layer maks (this one, not so much, but they come into GFX alot later on so it's good to know).
- Learn what all those tools in the toolbar on the left of your screen (left as default) are, and what they do.
- Shortcuts, I said take your time, but if you can cut time by using key shortcuts the why not? Learn them!
Examples:
Ctrl + J = Copy Layer
Ctrl + Shift + N = New Layer
- Learn the layer effects such as 'Colour Dodge', 'Soft Light' and 'Saturation'.
- Practise! At the start, you should be following this pattern - 50% learning new techniques, 50% practising them.
Even once your a top flight GFX artist, you need to keep practising!
- When you're starting out, posting all your work seperately will simply annoy people... wait till you have a good amount of pieces, then post them so that
people can compare your work and give you better feedback and advice.
- Organisation... I'm terrible for this. Organise your graphics folders properly, and don't slip up!
You should definitely have folders for; (and sub-forums to define them)
Renders
Brushes
C4Ds
Signatures
Userbars
Avatars
Other Graphics
Stocks
Practise Effects
anyway and comment ;)
- When doing the text, don't try to over complicate things. Simply use the eye drop tool to grab a colour from your render (or background if there's
no render) and use that colour with TNR (Times New Roman). Once you progress to the stage where you're creating your own techniques, you can
go crazy!
- It's advisable to use a simple 1 pixel, black, border when you're starting out. When you get the hang of photoshop, you can start using a 'frame'
border, where appropriate. This is done by doing New Layer (3 pixel black) > New Layer (2 pixel white) > New Layer (1 pixel black).
- Lighting; you 'can' use curve layers but when you're starting out it's easier to use this method. New layer > Apply Image > Filter > Render >
Lens Flare > Select a setting > Place it on your sig and set the layer to soft light. Nice and simple :)
- This border is particularly good with abstract images. Use the rectangle marquee tool to draw a rectangle at the top of your signature, going from
left to right. Fill it black, then copy the layer and move it down to the bottom of your signature.
- If you like to have your name and a word or phrase on your signatures, try laying it out like this.
Gothir (size 14-16)
Forgiveness (size 10-12) Sizes shown are examples.
- If you're resizing a render or image, be sure to hold down shift whilst doing so. This will hold the proportions of the image.
- Do you do alot of minor requests? Try spending a day making a folder of background, brushes. C4Ds and patterns!
- Have patience, nobody becomes a GFX artist overnight. Even more importantly, don't rush your work! If you rush it, you don't improve.
- When you post a piece for CNC, be prepared for criticism. Take it on board, these people are trying to help you! I'm not saying that you should
accept mindless spam like 'Lol, delete photoshop plox' or whatever they say these days - I'm saying listen to the people that are telling you where
you've gone wrong and where to improve.
- This is through personal experience... the further you get into GFX, the more you have to learn. Seriously. Great, you've learnt about pen tooling, now
go and learn about the 101 ways to make it work!
- Here is a list of things I advise you learn early on;
~Pen tooling - you can find my tutorial here (http://www.signaturebar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22675).
~Borders, very few people get away without using borders!
~Text, revise what I said earlier, basic and simple text >(to the power of 5446546) better than fancy text.
~Blending a render - you can find my tutorial here (http://www.signaturebar.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22676).
~Using layer maks (this one, not so much, but they come into GFX alot later on so it's good to know).
- Learn what all those tools in the toolbar on the left of your screen (left as default) are, and what they do.
- Shortcuts, I said take your time, but if you can cut time by using key shortcuts the why not? Learn them!
Examples:
Ctrl + J = Copy Layer
Ctrl + Shift + N = New Layer
- Learn the layer effects such as 'Colour Dodge', 'Soft Light' and 'Saturation'.
- Practise! At the start, you should be following this pattern - 50% learning new techniques, 50% practising them.
Even once your a top flight GFX artist, you need to keep practising!
- When you're starting out, posting all your work seperately will simply annoy people... wait till you have a good amount of pieces, then post them so that
people can compare your work and give you better feedback and advice.
- Organisation... I'm terrible for this. Organise your graphics folders properly, and don't slip up!
You should definitely have folders for; (and sub-forums to define them)
Renders
Brushes
C4Ds
Signatures
Userbars
Avatars
Other Graphics
Stocks
Practise Effects