Recently I just downloaded Photoshop CS2 trial version to test it out. I've been trying different things with it. So I figured I'll make a banner. I LOVE the one the talented ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
stilettos81 made for me, but I just want to have a clue in what is involved in making one from scratch. It turned out to be quite difficult--I don't really have any techniques and neat tricks at manipulating the images. In particular, extracting an image from its background is really hard for me. Style is another issue, but that can only come from talent and experience, and I don't have either one of them at the moment. Anyway, my first attempt turns out to be pretty crude. There were plenty of frustrations, but all in all, I did have fun making it!
One more thing I learned--Photoshop is at least ten times better than PaintShop Pro! Before I tried Photoshop, I downloaded PaintShop Pro (among other things, I used it in my first attempt at making icons). But the program keeps crashing on me all the time!
stilettos81 made for me, but I just want to have a clue in what is involved in making one from scratch. It turned out to be quite difficult--I don't really have any techniques and neat tricks at manipulating the images. In particular, extracting an image from its background is really hard for me. Style is another issue, but that can only come from talent and experience, and I don't have either one of them at the moment. Anyway, my first attempt turns out to be pretty crude. There were plenty of frustrations, but all in all, I did have fun making it!Oh what the heck--here's the first one I made:
After getting advises fromo_yannik, I've reworked on this banner a bit. In particular, I redid the 2nd and 3rd heads, and here's the result:
After getting advises from
o_yannik, I've reworked on this banner a bit. In particular, I redid the 2nd and 3rd heads, and here's the result:One more thing I learned--Photoshop is at least ten times better than PaintShop Pro! Before I tried Photoshop, I downloaded PaintShop Pro (among other things, I used it in my first attempt at making icons). But the program keeps crashing on me all the time!
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...but unfortunately work is calling!
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I hope you like constructive crit, because that's what I'm about to do.
You should chose the text color in some shade that is used in the drawing. Of corse it's hard if the text covers both light and dark objects, but this can be done. Keep experimenting!
I also think that there too many equal objects (as in heads). Graphic usually reads better if there is one central exposed object (accent) that viewer's eye can focus on. That's what I remember from drawing lessons long ago. ;) If this object is central - the artwork is static - if it's moved towards the side - it's more dynamic.
The pic in the background is a great idea. It adds to the depth of the picture, and the way you chose and edited this one is really great.
I hope to see much more of your works!
I was trying to make a slashy Lee/Sam wallpaper recently, but after seeing what
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I was having real difficult time in getting the right text color (and font). It not only have to work WITH the other colors in the graphics, but also need to stand out enough for the text to be seen. I'll keep experimenting with it.
The suggestion about the focal point is fantastic! It makes a lot of sense. When I was making the siggy, I did worry about there were too many heads here. But I didn't have a good way of extracting a head from the background. As a result, they were all cropped funny. So I had to stack them together to somewhat hide that fact.
I will take your fabulous suggestions into considerations when I make the next one--my hands are already itching... It was rather fun to stare at and work on the pictures of that beautiful man!
I'd love to see a slashy Lee/Sam wallpaper!
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Tip for corpping next time, because I have to kick my girl to bed. :p
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Actually, they ALL have many problems, but you are right, the second one was the worst! I had the hardest time with that one, and I finally gave up and faded it out quite a bit to make it "blend in." I thought if I gave these heads different intensity and opacity, I maybe able to get some kind of spatial effect going.
It was really hard with the first 3 heads. Part of the reason is because I was working with the crappy screencaps I made instead of the higher quality promo pictures where the other 3 came from.
I'd really appreciate your tips on cropping. But I can wait till you have more time!
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Back to cropping. I usually don't crom when I need a head, but erase. I use "brush" eraser, not "pensil", and it can have "hard" or "soft" edge (I have Polish version, so I don't know how it would be calle din English...). I use soft. Large zoom, but not too large, and some of the background stays, but it's softened, and if the background of the drawing is the right color it's not visible.
The only time when I use actual "cut" devise is when I want to have the background from the picture, but make it blend-out, and make the main character more sharp, or edited some other way. I did it here: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q198/o_yannik/bsg/song/dontknowme/?action=view¤t=5dream.jpg
in the right, upper corner (the scene with Cottle)
The face in this icon was erased out from the pic.
I use only the screencaps, no promo shots, mostly from bsgmedia, but if you're making your own caps that's the best thing. How high quality can you make? There might be some caps from HD verions of the epis, but I don't know where to find them, or if there are all episodes capped.
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I just rewatched more of those pics, and check this out: http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q198/o_yannik/bsg/song/dontknowme/?action=view¤t=4dont.jpg
Lee's face is erased from dark background, but put on the light bacground. It still blends, though if you know about it, it stands out, doesn't it?
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Congratulations! Best wishes to you at your new job!
Whoa, your advice on cropping is wonderful! I tried some of the techniques you've mentioned here over the weekend, and it worked really well. In the past, I did "Pencil" eraser and it always left jagged hard edge. Also I was zooming in too large before. The softer brush with less zoom-in made a world of difference!
I see what you mean about the scene with Cottle--how Lee and Kara stood out while the background is blurry. But I still don't quite get how you achieved this. And how did you make that scene blend in so seamlessly with the Lee/Kara scene down below? Even though I don't quite understand your technique here, you gave me the idea for this icon--I used "Blur Tool" to blur the background in this scene from HoG so that Lee can stand out a bit more.
I've always admired this icon of yours and never knew how you achieved the effect. This is such a cool trick! I shall try it sometimes.
The quality of my screencaps depends on the source. If I can make screencaps off episodes that have been released out on DVD, the quality can be a bit higher. But the few screencaps I did for season 3 are captured off the recordings from TV, and the quality is lower. My screencap sources are mixed--I also use common ones I found from google search.
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Banner
Lg Silwyna
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Re: Banner
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