Baaaaw...Pika wants tips on making nice signature backgrounds again.

[Hitaki]

I tried using a few of the tips that you guys told me before like using the smudge tool and etc. in Photoshop, but I still find my self unsatisfied and unable to make a good background :/

This was my latest outcome :

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignaturePikablu.png

I really want to make something good out of the render. It took me a good 2 hours to render with a few minor mistakes due to the incredibly huge size of the image (It was 1721 x 1200).

[mewball]

jeez that's a huge file to render then o.o I don't think it looks that bad, but your going to actually have to draw something or use some sort of vector tool to make a better background.

[Gaaramiguel]

daaaamn!
nice work on the render.

well you can check my DA Gaaramiguel on deviantART (http://gaaramiguel.deviantart.com/)
there i make some textures for Bgs

and if not...then make a Bg yourself, draw it,or use some textures,vectors,etc.

[BobYoMeowMeow]

yes, huge cleavage is what everyone wants to see
/sarcasm

[Science]

yes, huge cleavage is what everyone wants to see
/truth

cat=female?

[Hitaki]

yes, huge cleavage is what everyone wants to see
/sarcasm

Next time I'll render a Loli.

[Byte]

There are many ways to make a background.

1) Smudging the render & using filters.
2) Using a stock photo.
3) Using the natural background of the image.

Examples:
1)Smudging
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/HydraMeteor.jpg
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/Flowerz.jpg

2)Stock Photo(s)
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/Walkinthepark.jpg
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/SpacemanFull.jpg

3)Natural Background(Like using a wallpaper)
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/Hydrazone.jpg
http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/zz297/AKB990/Signatures/MabinogiDragon.jpg

[Baku]

I tried using a few of the tips that you guys told me before like using the smudge tool and etc. in Photoshop, but I still find my self unsatisfied and unable to make a good background :/

This was my latest outcome :
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignaturePikablu.png

I really want to make something good out of the render. It took me a good 2 hours to render with a few minor mistakes due to the incredibly huge size of the image (It was 1721 x 1200).

Get grunge brushes, fractal brushes. Use multiple layers, and try a bunch of blending modes (ie: Overlay, Soft Light). Use adjustment layers (ie: curves).
And read tuts! o;

[Hitaki]

Would you guys say this is an improvement? O3o;

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignaturePikablu2.png

[Time]

Looks better to me. Its nice that its darker and doesnt have that white space...

[Baku]

It's ok o3o Render needs more blending!

[Hitaki]

Alright, how about this?

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting2.png

[Byte]

Alright, how about this?

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting2.png

>_> nu... can I see the render :3

[Hitaki]

>_> nu... can I see the render :3

Monster Hunter: Monster Hunter - Asuru and Her Weapon - Minitokyo (http://gallery.minitokyo.net/view/422318)

[Jihui]

By blending, I think it's more of a "do something to connect her to the background," not literally blend her into it. Like, go get vector brushes and make something cool that adds depth to the background that goes on layers on top of her's and under?

[Hitaki]

I don't know if I have vector brushes or not o3o; /uses cracked version of photoshop

[Jihui]

I don't know if I have vector brushes or not o3o; /uses cracked version of photoshop

Time to download them o3o They're actually really easy to find. You can find a lot of them on devArt or just by using google.

[Kazuni]

Time to download them o3o They're actually really easy to find. You can find a lot of them on devArt or just by using google.

If you were like me you'd rename the brushes, too.

I hate the brushes whose names are like "snowflake_brushes_by_speedy1232344_set" or something. It's annoying.
I went through all 300 or so of my brushes and renamed them with proper capitalization, spaces, and numbers. NEATLY. Call me crazy, but I love my brushes :>

[Byte]

Free Photoshop Brushes at Brusheezy! (http://www.brusheezy.com/)

A lot of brushes there.

[Kazuni]

Free Photoshop Brushes at Brusheezy! (http://www.brusheezy.com/)

A lot of brushes there.

I think that's the one with the links to the artists' websites, some of them have those one-click downloads instead of click -> next page -> click -> download -> back -> repeat.

[Okitaru]

Next time I'll render a Loli.

I'll be waiting for that.

Really glad you made this thread, that way I can lurk for tips on my own BG failures after rendering.

[Hitaki]

ASDF Do I win yet?

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting3.png

[Jihui]

ASDF Do I win yet?

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting3.png

I think that looks a lot better than it did before. But needs moaaaar. D:

[Kazuni]

ASDF Do I win yet?

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting3.png

Try adding some gradient maps :l

The colours are too sharp, imo.

[Hitaki]

Am I done yet? D:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting4.png

[Kazuni]

^ not much of a difference :l

The render still stands out too much.
You should also try to get a point of focus, and some lighting.
The background is also too saturated, drawing attention away from the character. Its texture is also different and doesn't have much of a direction, so it doesn't flow well.

[Hitaki]

/Doesn't understand much of what you're saying because I'm still a completely unskilled at Photoshop nor are aware of most terms D:

[Kazuni]

/Doesn't understand much of what you're saying because I'm still a completely unskilled at Photoshop nor are aware of most terms D:

Hmm.. like there should be direction in a sig. It has to flow somehow instead of running around everywhere.

I have a sig tut site open so here're some examples:

If they let me hotlink ;-;

http://www.markedlines.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/deviantArtSigns/sosik.jpg
See, this one has flow (direction in the smudging and effects), and a light source. It brings the viewer's eyes across the sig smoothly without much chaos. It's basically a smooth, straight line as far as it goes to look at it.

And you see how the render is in the middle and is very noticeable and stands out from the background as well as blending nicely into it? You gotta find a balance.

Lmao, hope that wasn't too confusing. :<

[Byte]

I made a nice sticky of tutorials to try :)

[Links are in the code tags]

http://mabination.com/mabination-community/media-center/6429-photoshop-tutorial-resources.html

[Hitaki]

FUUUUUUUUUUU-GO 5th OR 6th ATTEMPT!!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting5.png

[Time]

FUUUUUUUUUUU-GO 5th OR 6th ATTEMPT!!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting5.png

Still looks good to me....*is a lot worse with these things as you know*

[Tiiria]

FUUUUUUUUUUU-GO 5th OR 6th ATTEMPT!!

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting5.png

I like but to me it sorta looks like your light is just divided in a diagonal line across the thing light vs dark.

[Hitaki]

Fine, I changed the spot where the lighting is and editted it a little D:

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting6.png

[Hiccup]

So much blu




Hurts me eyes. http://www.laymark.com/i/o/20.gif


I actually like the last attempt more

[Hitaki]

It's probably too blue for you to handle.

[Hiccup]

Yes, Pikablu is too much for the biebs D:



I can only try and become stronger, so it's not so bad..... :(

[Kazuni]

Mm.. those wispy white lines are kind of out of place. I'd make the thing softer on the eyes with less ridged edges and bright colours.

Use a black and white gradient map and lower the opacity.

Uhm, and...

Apply image -> Gaussian blur -> Soft light or overlay.

Oh and gradient maps are in layers -> new adjustment layer -> gradient map.

The solid bright blue in the background is kind of too bright, as well. You could add some more flow with either smudging with a textured/scattered brush or using a nice filter, but make sure it's less complex than the render.

[Hiccup]

I'd make the thing softer on the eyes with less ridged edges and bright colours.

The solid bright blue in the background is kind of too bright, as well.
Oh wuts that? Too much blu?


Oh ya.:thumb:

[Kazuni]

Oh wuts that? Too much blu?


Oh ya.:thumb:

Not too much blue, too much solid blue. And some desaturation wouldn't hurt either.

[Hitaki]

I'm starting to feel like all this editting is becoming less and less an original work for me :/

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting7.png

If I have to edit this thing at least 3 more times, I'm gonna start feeling like rage quitting D:

[Byte]

Pika, can I ask a favor? Upload the PSD for me to look at. I'll tell you what's wrong with it through that. [After the SoTW, I'm posting my entry's PSD ;3]

[Hitaki]

Photobucket was being a punk so I uploaded my latest psd update on it to mediafire. Signature Testing 7.1.psd (http://www.mediafire.com/?t6h7mwoglkdv5j7)

This one's the png version :
http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting71.png

[Byte]

okay, your background is really bad... which is probably why the rest is eh.

You never add layers to try to make something bad look better. Always something good. [I'll post more after this game of LoL...]

[Hitaki]

Aren't my bad background making skills the whole reason I made this thread? o3o;

[Tiiria]

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting71.png

I like it. =/

[Byte]

Okay, I'm going to make you start over.

Follow these steps.

1) Make a new document & place render where you want it.
2) Copy the render 4 times and move to places you feel they should go.
3) Merge the 4 copies AFTER you move them (ctrl+e)
4) Move the render above the 4 you're about to smudge if you havn't already.
5) Smudge. Mess with the brush settings, [Window -> Brush(F5 for CS5)] Use a brush like "chalk" in the default brushes.
6) Add C4Ds under the Render, NEVER PLACE THEM ABOVE THE RENDER LAYER. Erase parts you don't like.
7) Add a few Gradient Maps, but make sure not to over brighten it. I like the Violet, Orange on soft life with a lower opacity.
8) See if you need to force lighting, this can be done with a white soft brush about 150-400px, if there is natural lighting in your signature, dont follow this step.
9) Is it to bright? To dark? There's a brightness/contrast adjustment layer for that! :)
10) Make a blank new layer, no color[no white/black either].
11) Go to Image > Apply Image and it should take what you have and put it on your blank layer.
12) Go to Filter > Sharpen > Smart Sharpen (I'm not sure if CS3 has it) my usually settings are 50% at 1px.
13) Name and a Boarder.

Now I know it seems like a lot, but it really isn't. Please post results of a new one :D

[Hitaki]

What's a C4D? Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;

[Skye]

Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;

I agree. It isn't Pika's sig if Byte tells him exactly what to do. Then it's Byte's sig.
PIKA DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!
/runs
I actually like your most recent one. :/

[Byte]

What's a C4D? Also isn't it less original of me if I'm just following step by step directions and not attempting to do the signature myself? o3o;

Well, the first few are a good way to do BGs.


I agree. It isn't Pika's sig if Byte tells him exactly what to do. Then it's Byte's sig.
PIKA DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!!!
/runs
I actually like your most recent one. :/

Liez!~

[Hitaki]

After a few hours of rendering this and messing around with my newly obtained knowledge in Photoshop, I made this signature o3o;

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/HitakiSignatureTesting1.png

Are I improving yet? D:

[Byte]

Take out the fractal/c4d [the lines in the back/on her stomach] and I luv it :D

[Hitaki]

Used a brush for those o3o; Anyway, I accidentally saved that one with the brushing done on the actual render and not the Layers, so I had to start from a previous version to not have the lines and redo a few things. I also added a little more to it, but I dunno if I'm going too far with that :/

http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/HitakiSignatureTesting2.png