C'est Moi!

[wook77]

Random ramblings as I'm bored at work and I need to remind myself that today will eventually end and that I have plenty to be doing that's not even work related -


slashfest's mini round is going to be starting this weekend. I've got the posts all ready to put up but I can't do it until January 31st as that was the promised date. There are LOADS of fantabulous prompts that are just begging for my flist to pick them up *nods*.

My mini slashfest round crossover story is going along swimmingly and I'm hoping notthequiettype's is going as well (I've read some of it and it's really good). If life is good and kind to me, she'll have more to tease me with.

I have a gadzillion things to work on... springtime_gen, hpslashnotsmut (when I get my assignment), picfor1000 (which is done and part of the mini round slashfest that I mentioned above), serpentinelion (as long as I got the one I claimed but I'm not sure on that), a little project kaalee and I thought up (*drools at the thought*), a few birthday projects plus a project for drusillas_rain that pwns me with the helpful link to a photo editing piece of software.

Speaking of a photoshop sort of thing, I've been playing with it and I made a few things. To the graphics people on my flist especially but really everyone - wanna give me some concrit? I know there are things off but I'd love to hear your opinions on them.



first - my first icon.



I know the text is a bit off. It's boring but I'm still dl'ing text so I'm in the process of fixing that. What else do you think?

First attempt at a colourbar -



as mortenvida pointed out, the red isn't very good so she recommended I switch around the colours and I came up with -



Do you all have favourite tutorials you could link me to? Some hints/tips you've discovered on your own? I know some of you make brilliant things (I'm looking at you, elethoniel, irrevokable and mortenvida especially) so I really respect your opinions.

Finally - as that barely alleviated the boredom - do you all have a favourite story of yours that you'd like to pimp? A fantabulous piece of artwork you've done? There are so many new people on my flist and I'd love to see what you think represents you in your opinion. A favourite song? A favourite graphic? A favourite photo? A favourite book? A favourite movie?

Pimp it all to me please.

Comments

[neekbreek.livejournal.com]

The Facking Motherload of Tutorials

There are some pretty ones there & there's also a section for things like Wallpaper & Headers :D

[irrevokable.livejournal.com]

Most of my stuff that I learned was from arsing around on PS at one in the morning. What I really got be learning about PS was really just downloading neat brushes and fonts and experimenting with the tools. but I would check out:
grrliz_icons & her good tutorials
&enVOGUE
gender
crumblingwalls
and I can't think of anymore and there really isn't a good PS community that is any help. I would just start with the major names in the fandom that are known for their graphics and check out their affiliates and tags for tutorials.

[irrevokable.livejournal.com]

Oh, just found this community: photoshop_lover and in the memories are some good tuts.

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

I like the colorbar! :D

Of my HP fics, I think this is my favorite: No Understanding no Sound from Above (http://kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com/379173.html) (nominally Sirius/Remus, mostly Remus gen)

[snegurochka_lee]

I have no concrit, because I am too busy staring.

DAMN YOU AND YOUR SEAMUS/DEAN CONVERSION OF ME!!!! :)

*stares*

[masteroftrouble.livejournal.com]

There's some stuff on my old journal (dertodesengel) in the communities. Mostly icon tutorials and whatnot. I think my memories and the old journal memories might have some stuff, too, but I haven't gotten around to labeling them. When I get time (aka, after today), I can probably find some more stuff for you! <3

[archon-mentha.livejournal.com]

Mmmm...Diet Coke. Serious icon love.

I'm of no use to anyone, graphic-wise. Good luck! :)

[ficlette.livejournal.com]

I'm of no use to you in the graphic department, but here. Have some... things. To keep you entertained for the next few seconds.

-This drool-worthy piece of art
-This funny shirt that Elle showed me
-This ass-kickin' song and its lyrics
-And this picture of me when I was nine. Yep, pretty awesome.


Sorry, that's all I've got right now on short notice with class in a half. I hope it somehow distracted you from work/your hands. ♥

[ficlette.livejournal.com]

Just kidding on that last link. This is what I meant. :)

[elethoniel.livejournal.com]

Ah I love your colourbars! The contrast on them is excellent.
And ohgoodness yes I have a bunch of tutorials, here ya go!

I LOVE THIS! It shows you what your Layers box should look like. I found it extrememly helpful!

This one is really helpful too! And te oclouring is great!

Here's how you make those dotted lines

Ah this one's good! A simple tut about colouring (when it says screen, that means right click on the layer and go to duplicate and then go to the drop down box that says 'Normal' and set it to screen.
To merge layers, click on the small triangle within the circle and go to merge layers.
For the next step you will have to create a new layer. Press shift ctrl and N to create one. Fill it with the colour they have specified, then go to the 'Normal' drop down box, select exclusion. Next to that box there will be one that says opacity, click on that and pull the tab down so it reaches 80%
The next step you do the same, expect instead of choose exclusion, set it to soft light. Then merge layers.
The the rest should be easy to do.
(Uh I hope I didn't sound condesending, or patronising, I'm not sure how much you know about PS so I tried to make it as simple as possible because I know just how confusing it can all be! Meep!)


Awesome Pop Art Tutorial - It's probably best that you use this once you are aquainted a bit more with PS.

I love this Tutorial! It's on Selective Colouring Again, probably best to save this for once you've figure dout the basics :)

I don't know if anyone else has said about it, but icon_tutorial is brilliant. It has so many tutorials, at all levels.

[jehnt.livejournal.com]

Someone above me mentioned weapon_icons huge tutorial list, but they didn't mention this part of it, which I think is better for beginners. The ones listed near the top that don't come with pretty pictures are just the bare basics, and they were some of the first tutorials I ever encountered. I'd suggest making sure you thoroughly understand that stuff before moving on to more complex tutorials. And also, although this should be obvious (but you'd be surprised at how many times it isn't), don't just blindly follow the tutorials -- even when following the tutorial, the icon should be 10% tutorial and 90% you mucking about.

And here is my tutorial. It's the only one I've made thus far, but I'm always willing to make icon tutorials for any icon I've made ... I save all my PSD files so the tutorial only takes like thirty minutes to write up. (And I'm working on the header image for you but I can only do it when I'm at home ... which means like every other weekend.)

[jehnt.livejournal.com]

Oh, and this too may be obvious, but if you come across an icon you like (or batch of icons) SAVE IT (or bookmark it, whatever). Then the next time you make icons, open it up in photoshop and stare at it longingly, wondering why you can't make icons like that. Then go around pushing arbitrary photoshop buttons until you think your icon is nearly as good as the other. Then -- and this is the key step -- leap out of your chair and scream "TRIUMPH!" at the top of your lungs, possibly while pumping your fist in the air. This is how you will let the world know you have achieved success. Well, that and posting the icon to lj. Naturally.