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

• Piko wrote on 2010-08-14 23:48
  I don't know if I have vector brushes or not o3o; /uses cracked version of photoshop
• Jihui wrote on 2010-08-14 23:56

  Quote from Pikablu;125141:

  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 wrote on 2010-08-15 00:30

  Quote from Jihui;125149:

  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 wrote on 2010-08-15 00:42
  Free Photoshop Brushes at Brusheezy!
  
  A lot of brushes there.
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-08-15 00:43

  Quote from Byte;125185:

  Free Photoshop Brushes at Brusheezy!
  
  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 wrote on 2010-08-15 00:53

  Quote from Pikablu;124759:

  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.
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-15 01:17
  ASDF Do I win yet?
  
  

  [Image: http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting3.png]
• Jihui wrote on 2010-08-15 01:29

  Quote from Pikablu;125214:

  ASDF Do I win yet?
  
  

  [Image: 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 wrote on 2010-08-15 01:29

  Quote from Pikablu;125214:

  ASDF Do I win yet?
  
  

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

  
  
  Try adding some gradient maps :l
  
  The colours are too sharp, imo.
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-15 01:50
  Am I done yet? D:
  
  

  [Image: http://i286.photobucket.com/albums/ll110/Pikabluu/SignatureTesting4.png]
• Kazuni wrote on 2010-08-15 01:51
  ^ 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.
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-15 01:56
  /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 wrote on 2010-08-15 02:00

  Quote from Pikablu;125285:

  /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 ;-;
  
  

  [Image: 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 wrote on 2010-08-15 02:09
  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
• Piko wrote on 2010-08-15 03:12
  FUUUUUUUUUUU-GO 5th OR 6th ATTEMPT!!
  
  

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