Graphics F.A.Q

[Guest KAJN]

GRAPHIC F.A.Q

 

I've thought about doing this guide for people who will be & the people who are starting graphics. I will try to explain everything you need in details & hopefully answer all your questions. I'll be updating this regulary if any question isn't being answered.

Please PM me if you have a question you don't understand about graphics. I will probably add it to the list & answer it. Suggestions are also welcome, I would like to grow some ideas whether from a beginner or pro!!

ꃓ Please do not redisturbute this F.A.Q without written permission. ꃓ

 

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1) Knowing your ART

1. Definition of Signatures/Tags

2. Definition of Avatars

3. Definition of Large Arts

4. Programs to create graphic imagery

 

 

2) RIDE IT!!

1. My needs

2. Finding my resources

- Brushes

- Fonts

- Renders

- Stocks

3. What are Renders

4. What are Stocks

5. Finding my tutorials

 

 

3) How-To

1. Installing brushes

2. Knowing your rank/What is rank

 

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1) Knowing your ART

 

1. Definition of Signatures/Tags

 

Answer: A signature, also known as tag, is classified as a small art. It's dimensions are 500 x 200 or less. Tags are oftenly placed in your Signature space in Message boards. They're usually made with graphical program if not scanned & resized.

 

2. Definition of Avatars

 

Answer: Avatars are icons which are placed in message boards under or beside your name. People usually use it to represent theirselves.

 

3. Definition of Large Arts

Answer: LA's are usually classified as Wallpapers, Arts much bigger that tags.

 

4. Programs to create graphic imagery

Answer: There are many programs that you can try to create graphics. Starting with programs that are easy is always good. GIMP is a free GNU Manipulating program. Adobe Products such as Photoshop are more professional programs which need money to be used. These 2 are main graphic programs. You can download a free trial version of the Adobe Products. They will be active for 30 days, after the trial version finishes, you will have to purchase the program you want.

 

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2) RIDE IT!!

 

1. What do I need to start making sigs or any other type of art??

 

Answer: You will obviously need Render's & Stock to have at least a focal for your work. Brushes & fonts are more like to be your piece's accessories.

 

2. Where would be the best place to get my fonts, brushes & renders?

 

Answer: Before that you'll need to know that www.deviantart.com is prohibted for stock usage, so there is no reason taking images & using them from deviantart. Now to the main point, www.deviantart.com can give you many brushes, fonts & even C4D's which you will be seeing in a lot of tutorials. There are obviously more sites for brushes & fonts but you can search them in google. For renders visit www.planetrender.net & look at the render's gallery. You'll have to first register an acount to open any render in full size.

 

3. What are renders??

 

Answer: Renders are basically cut outs of an object in an image. Different methods can be used for this. There are many tutorials for it in here such as Blood Rose's Rendering tutorial & Simikimimi's Gimp Rendering tutorial

 

There is another thing called render. This is also known as C4D. Which stands for Cinema 4 Dynamics. These can be created with programs like Cinema 4D.

 

4. Stocks? What are they??

 

Answer: Stocks are simple Images which can be High Quailty or Low Quality. They're usually taken by professionals. From Portraits to In-Motion. finding stocks are rather easy. They're scattered all over the internet!! From google images to SXC. These can be used for manipulating. You can use them both in Large Arts & small arts.

 

5. All Resources?? Check

 

Answer: Now all you have to do is start reading tutorials. www.deviantart.com has actually a lot of GOOD tutorials. Try to ask some people around you to give you good tutorials also.

 

6. Why do I suck?!?!

 

Answer: Never think about this. All this will be gone in a few weeks or months. People just like to tease beginners. Just let it flow & practice.

 

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3) How-To

 

1. How do I install my brushes??

 

Answer: Depending on whichprogram you're using. If Gimp you could easily drag all the brush files from your folder to the brush pannel. (well my mac does this easily, sorry if it doesn't work for you). If you're using Adobe® Photoshop then I'll explain this easily,

 

Macintosh:

Go to your Application folder > Adobe Photoshop > Preset > Brushes then paste them in that folder. If Photoshop is already open, restart it.

 

Windows:

I guess it's that same as Macs :D

 

2. Knowing your rank!!

 

Answer: First you'll have to know if you're rated novice, it's not the end of the world. Ranks, imo, are just an illusion but I'll explain this now.

 

Novice rated artist: Your signatures have basic components, missing Wow factors & main concepts.

 

Moderate rated artist: You've passed basic knowledge. You're now ready to use Adjustment layers, filters, better fx & higher concepts.

 

Intermediate rated artist: This means you're knowledge is above normal & now you can get ready to make better concept, develop your own styles & create amazing effects.

 

Professional rated artist: This means you don't need to worry about anything in graphics anymore accept keeping your skills up & helping others.

 

Please, any thanks or regards about this FAQ, please PM me. Don't flood this with Messages.

[OMGAKITTY]

That's pretty handy.

 

A note about dA: There are accounts that specialize in stock photography, and the majority of them are ok with you using their stocks, as long as you credit them/link back to them when you post your work.

[Guest KAJN]

^ I'll keep that comment.

From now on, don't post thanks or w/e. If you have anything to add, consult me by a PM then I'll see if it's handy, post it here & give you credits for it.

 

Anyway,

Index

1. Render choice

2. Basic composition

3. Flow

4. Depth

5. Lightning

 

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1) Render Choice.

Okay, you already read what is a render. Chosing the render is a bit more complicated. We want the render to be appealing to the eye. The sig should show some action, so we don't pick static or boring renders. Also, don't go for low quality, or too much clothes or stuff hanging around it, because then the vectors, fractals, C4Ds, ect. cannot be appreciated, and might disrupt the composition.

 

[spoiler=Bad choices]

 

The first choice isn't too appealing. Plus, it'd take too much space in a signature. The quality is good, but there are better choices.

The second one is too boring. There is no action and it also takes too much space of the sig. Not too much as the last one, and it can be fixed, but it's still not too good.

 

 

 

[spoiler=good choices]

 

Now these are good. They have natural flow, and are showing action. They aren't plain, and are good quality. These are easier to work with. Most Marvel or video game renders are like this.

 

 

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2) Basic Composition

The composition is how everything is set up on the signature. Each signature has 4 powerpoints, which can be found by dividing the sig into 9 equal parts. The powerpoints are the intersections of these lines that divide the sig. If you want your focal in an interesting place, try to place it near a power point. Don't center it.

 

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3) Flow

You want your signature to have flow. Meaning that you want every part of the signature drawing your eyes to the focal on a smooth way. Your eyes should do hardly any effort to notice the focal on the signature, so they should rest and stay without getting tired.

 

[spoiler=Bad flow]

It took me a while to realize what the focal 'should' be. The left has a character, but the right had something really disturbing and the whole tag is way to messy. The colors don't help either, and my eyes struggle watching this tag.

 

[spoiler=Good flow]

 

 

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4) Depth

Okay, we don't want our sig to look like copy/paste. We want the piece to look realistic. It is easier to geth depth if you're working on a stock, but if you're working with a render, it gets a little more complicated. There should be a background or something near the focal. Usually, the background is blurred a bit, so the focal gets more attention, and makes it look more realistic. The render needs to blend in the stock or background, because if not, the depth will be for nothing. You also could use some things on top of the focal, so it adds more depth, giving it a feeling that it's more far away.

 

[spoiler=Bad depth]

Needless to say, this tag is plain, the render doesn't fit and it has no depth.

 

[spoiler=Good depth]

Credit to Shadius.

 

You can see the depth on this tag. There is color depth too. The walls help for the depth, and leads to the render, that isn't just on the front popped up on the sig, but it is also a bit backed up, and then goes the end.

 

 

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5) Lighting

Lightning helps with depth and flow. It also makes it seem that the render fits in and it's 1 whole piece. Lightning isn't so hard. You must pick a source of light, and use your dodge tool or something similar to make THAT part of the signature brighter. Then, make darker the other parts, that logically shouldn't be lightened, if they're away from the light source, or there is a wall or something that should prevent the light from getting there. It's common sense. Having a good light will also help the eyes to easily find the focal and it can appreciante the art. Also don't overdo it. The light should we stronger where it starts and then go fade.

 

[spoiler=Bad lighting]

 

Here the lightning is overdone. The light just goes away all of a sudden and it doesn't follow any certain flow. The light shouldn't be so strong on the render since it's coming from the back. Plus, the light also seems to just be affecting the render, not any other part of the tag.

 

[spoiler=Good lighting]

Credit to Shadius

 

You see how the light comes from the upper left? Good. The light has covered the left space. Then the render comes. The left part of the render is lightened, but the light cannot trespass him. Then the light shouldn't go after that. The right side is darkened. Perfect example.

 

 

~Frlf.

[Guest Morpheous Erebos]

There is nothing in the Good Flow spoiler... This is nice though...

[.Lost]

hahahahahah the bad flow and bad lighting sigs are mine from back in the day... lolfrlf, i miss that guy.

[Kizzi]

This is completely useless.

[Cin]

What parts Kizzi?

[chairman ali]

Pretty much yeah. This doesn't really explain anything. It needs A LOT more detail in it. A guide usually takes at least 6 post spaces

[Cin]

Ok then I'll lock and unpin this, does anyone want to make their own?