Origami's Photoshop 101

[Origami]

Due to a rise in off topic questions and an overflowing inbox of PMs regarding Photoshop questions I present to you, "Origami's Photoshop 101."

The title is misleading, I am not explaining the basics of PS in this thread, this thread is more of a Q&A and C&C thread. And before someone asks the redundant questions: Q&A = Question&Answer; C&C = Comment&Critique. So in other words if you need any help, ask it, I'll either provide an answer or give you a tutorial which may help you. Got a new piece? Post it and it can be C&C'd not only by me, but by those who participate in this thread.

Let the CG fun begin. D:


BATTLE ENTRIES! VOTING BEGINS TUESDAY AND ENDS FRIDAY! ENTRIES DUE MONDAY!
Origami:
Has 2 vote[s]
http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/Origamibattle.png

Aneklusmos:
Has 0 vote[s]
http://i41.tinypic.com/nntc8x.jpg

The-Never-Cycle
Has 2 vote[s]
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt9/Decman777/sigbattle.png

[Zazu]

Good idea Josh :)

[Oblivion]

C&C Me. Again, Photoshop CS2!
:P

http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/2918/firstsig.png

[Origami]

Oh wow, first time I saw this was from mobile, holy crap different. xD
Same as before mainly: Wtf is with that aura? And you need to work on the text.

Some extra C&C work on blending your render, use the render to make the background.
SIZE! Your sig is too small (I use 120hx400w) And in respect to your sig ratio, your border is too thick. (:
8/10 for a first sig, only basic errors, nothing major.

If you want a sig tutorial let me know: Abstract, Stock, Render, Smudge, or C4D.

[Oblivion]

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/734/secondsig.png

How do I blend it better? Also what was wrong with the text?! :P

[Origami]

Pop out sig, nice lol.
And as for blending it there are many ways.
You can smudge, which takes practice.
Or you can use a soft eraser to lighten the edges out.
These cases both only work if you use a smudge sig though, other than that it's color selection.

Text is hard to explain, shouldn't be a main priority really.

[Aneklusmos]

Yo josh, how do i keep the render from blurring as i scale it down?

[Origami]

Blurring? o.O Not sure what you mean, but when placing renders I:
File > Place (Select and open your render)
This will place the render so the edges of the file touch the nearest edges of your canvas.
your render will not be too large, your render will now most likely be too small.
To size is back up (It will already be in free transform[ctrl+t]) just grab any of the 4 corner, and while holding shift drag the render out. This will keep the aspect ratio and you will be sizing the render up to it's original size instead of down from that point.
Click on any tool to place the document. Then right-click on the render layer and hit "Rasterize layer."
Note: Without rasterizing the layer you will not be able to make any changes to the layer containing your render or any layers duplicated from your render layer.

[Aneklusmos]

Ok thanks josh! you da bomb
EDIT: it still isnt working! i rasterize it and its still blurry, just not as blurry. heres the link to the render on planet renders
http://planetrenders.net/renders/displayimage.php?pos=-26643

[Origami]

Good idea Josh :)

FYI - For retouches and photo help, I'ma most likely bum it off on David to answer since that's his specialty. Lol, beauty retouches I can do though. And not all have to be sig related. :D

[Oblivion]

How do you find renders that aren't really video-game related? And where can you just browse some?

[Aneklusmos]

try www.planetrenders.net. there are some video game ones there but also some object and other stuff

[Origami]

How do you find renders that aren't really video-game related? And where can you just browse some?

http://www.virtualteen.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40262
That is page 1 of my sig thread, at the bottom of my first post I have included a few resource links for stock and renders.
The best site would be PlanetRenders.

--EDIT: Caleb is catching on. xD

[Aneklusmos]

josh i edited my previous post.

[Origami]

josh i edited my previous post.

If you did it through place then I can't think of any reason why it would be blurry.
This won't guarantee that it will fix it, most likely won't, but Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen.
It MIGHT make it look just a little better, to the point where you can actually use it.
If not, try another render, see if it does the same.

[Oblivion]

I'm assuming that most of these images are created by professionals, then just rendered by users, but...
Is there tutorial to create your own quality images that you know of?

[Origami]

I'm assuming that most of these images are created by professionals, then just rendered by users, but...
Is there tutorial to create your own quality images that you know of?

Mos of these renders are just cut out game shots or high quality photographs.

Creating a quality image in Photoshop is questionable. The basis of the program is photo manipulation, not creation. Unless you are just really good at drawing with the mouse, you won't be "creating" much in Photoshop. I've seen how to digitally paint if you want one of those tutorials but no, as far as creation almost everything in Photoshop is derived from a base image or images, hence manipulation.

[Oblivion]

http://img132.imageshack.us/img132/7128/3rdattcopy.png

C&C?

[Origami]

You've got a good style going on, you really do.
I'm not gonna give as many pointers this time, but I will say:
Experiment with your smudge tool.
Experiment with layer styles.
Experiment with gradient maps.
(:

[Oblivion]

Ok thanks :D
BTW, I started with http://planetrenders.net/renders/displayimage.php?pos=-46132 and http://planetrenders.net/renders/displayimage.php?pos=-15674

[Origami]

Very good job on blending that fractal, didn't notice it was one at first. o.o

[Oblivion]

Thanks! :D

How should I do gradient maps?

[4th Attempt]
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3711/4thattcopy.png

[BuryYourFlame]

ooooh, i likey 8.5/10, sorry i cant go into proper detail, i dont really know enough :P im just going from aesthetics.

[Origami]

gmaps.
Unless requested color scheme I use:
Black and White set to luminosity 100% - This adds depth.
Violet and Orange on either Overlay or Soft Light 40% - This just looks hot. ;)

[Oblivion]

A black and white gradient map for me just makes everything black and white...?

[Origami]

Not when you set it to luminosity. :)
It plays with the colors and adds depth without changing the color scheme itself.

[Oblivion]

http://img36.imageshack.us/img36/6797/5thattcopycopy.png

Any better? =/
I don't like it much.
C&C?

[Origami]

There is noticeable depth in it from somewhere.
The colors unfortunately don't blend well at all, a bit disappointing after your last ones went well together, but still hawt.
What's with the outline around the render? o.O
And that (what appears to be) C4D looks a lil choppy and out of place.): Unless it was part of the render?
If you want I can give you the smudge settings I gave Caleb and you can play with those some if you like. :D
Work on blending, don't forget it, play with your text some, give it life. :)

[EverlostPoet]

im bored and dont hav e PS anymore, so C&c the one in my Sig.

[Oblivion]

Sounds good, I'd like the smudge stuff.
Yeah, I didn't like the last one much...
Did you see this one?

[4th Attempt]
http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/3711/4thattcopy.png

Plus
6th Attempt
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/4781/6thattcopy.png

Plus plus
7th Attempt
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1228/7thattcopy.png

[Perseus]

Wow, the 7th attempt is amazing and the 4th attempt is just awesome because halberds are just an awesome type of weapon. :P

[Origami]

4th attempt: All of the colors go well together.
6th: Iffy.
7th: Colors go well, render could blend better.

[Aneklusmos]

Likin the 7th. Render could blend better, as josh said. But I like it!

[Origami]

Blending can come heavily from gmaps if you get deep into using them.
I cheat blending by using a 65-100px eraser and using it to LIGHTLY erase the edges, sometimes completely depending on the sig. (: Helps it blend into the sig. Then smudging can help it blend too. :D

[Oblivion]

I did a 7.1 and 7.2...
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/3381/90470853.png (tried to blend a little)
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/3703/21243187.png (darkened gmap/shadows)

[Origami]

7.2 lost the detail 7.1 had.
The blend still isn't there. Color wise it exists perfectly though, I know how to do colors very well. :) Better than me for sure. xD

[Oblivion]

http://img34.imageshack.us/img34/5566/11082796.png
Any better?
Got any tutorials on blending?

[Origami]

Blur helps, it really does.
Crude, but effective. :D
And er no, I'll either go on EY and request one tomorrow or I'll make one soon in my free time for ya though.

[Oblivion]

I actually like this one. ^_^
I present to you: 8th Attempt.
http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/1102/24959652.png

[Aneklusmos]

Lol it's funny I like it

[Oblivion]

Hmm. Kind of feeding off the same photshop rendering, but I don't know enough to do much else.
http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/6941/61582656.png

[Origami]

PHS Studios [Several Tutorials] (http://www.phstudios.com/forums/index.php?showforum=27)
Ichimaru's Gimp Smudge Tutorial (http://i42.tinypic.com/vgprwk.png)
Redboy's Render Sig Tut (http://i40.tinypic.com/15yf8tw.jpg)
Redboy's Sig Tut (http://i44.tinypic.com/2hcouo9.png)
Redboy's Stock Tutorial (http://i41.tinypic.com/5b6wlx.jpg)
Redboy's Halo Sig Tut (http://i43.tinypic.com/52lx4.png)
Desirable's Tutorial on Flow and Render/Stock selection (http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv22/Desirable1/Flowrendertutorial-1.png)


Study. :D

[BuryYourFlame]

hehe, already read through all them :P (i have been around ey :P)

[Oblivion]

Whadya think about the two recent ones?

[Origami]

You're using lighting effects right? Try using a 300px soft brush and making a light source, it's more subtle.
You've still got colors but you should work on utilizing smudge, C4Ds, and a lil more work on blending.

[Oblivion]

What are c4ds? :P

[Origami]

Cinema 4 Dimensions.
Google them and get some good ones. :D

[Oblivion]

http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/9539/48470928.png
Ehh. Don't like the C4D... :cry2:

[BuryYourFlame]

hm, i would give the C4D more transparency, to make it more subtle, but still noticeable, and i would bring the text to the front of the render.

[Origami]

That sig has a lot of potential though, the C4D just didn't look good.
Deviantart.com and google images have some nice ones.
Play with your layer settings, C4Ds look good on linear dodge (add) with a custom opacity setting.
The text is hot, a lil flavorless though. dafont.com can fix that though.
Fix the C4D and work on the border and that'll be a hot sig.

[The Se.xsomniac]

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k62/Jeromelax17/AnimalTiger2.jpg

One of the pictures I made last night

[Zazu]

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k62/Jeromelax17/AnimalTiger2.jpg

One of the pictures I made last night

Did you do all of that from scratch yourself?

[The Se.xsomniac]

It is a combination of a few pictures of different tigers that I combined to get the kind of stance I wanted and messed with the saturation/levels/brightness and blended it all then I added a fractal filter and messed with different overlays and S/L/B again. Finally did the fractal filter again to get this. XD

[Origami]

From first glance on a mobile device I thought it was a fractal that would be used for general purposes. Very nice work, very aesthetically pleasing. 10/10


On another note:
Which do you guys find more appealing?
A)http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/ipodflat.png

or

B)http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/ipodvert.png

[Sunshine Girl]

i want photoshop ):
*sighs*

[BuryYourFlame]

i prefer B...i think it's cause of the C4D used in it...compared to A...both are great though :)

[Origami]

i prefer B...i think it's cause of the C4D used in it...compared to A...both are great though :)

B was my preferred as well, normally I suck at verts but it had a decent outcome this time. And each have 2 C4Ds, A's are just more subtle.

[vector]

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k153/blackconan/Signature-2.jpg

How that? i think it doesnt look right

[Origami]

Size is right.
Border is ok.
Text is creative.
Background is wtf?
Not all of the render blends well.
No light source.

[vector]

>.< i really dont know how to make a background and what are light source ...... T_T

[Poetic Folly]

Where the light is coming from.
I assume you are the photoshop king on this place from seeing all of the peoples' sigs you have made.
Here is one that I just whipped up that I think I'm going to use, how do you like it?
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/Aystaphius/angel11.png
And how do I get rid of that annoying 'resized' box?

[Origami]

>.< i really dont know how to make a background and what are light source ...... T_T
Backgrounds can be made with: Background stocks, Smudging tools, other renders, but these are just a few ways.

Where the light is coming from.
I assume you are the photoshop king on this place from seeing all of the peoples' sigs you have made.
Here is one that I just whipped up that I think I'm going to use, how do you like it?
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/Aystaphius/angel11.png
And how do I get rid of that annoying 'resized' box?
Resized: Make your image smaller.
PS king? Er not really, I'm sure there are better, just no one who actively does it.
It has a lot of potential, still remains kind of bland.

[Poetic Folly]

What would you suggest I add to it? I have in your face ones, if you like that better ;)
http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo200/Aystaphius/resistancealsig.png,
For example

[Origami]

That's a graphic ;o
Too big to be a sig
Too short to be a banner lol.
Text looks decent, but unfortunately it looks more like a googled image saved as jpeg with text on top.
Sorry but I've seen a lot. >.<

[Poetic Folly]

Actually, I was using it as a sig on another forum, and it was originally a design I made for Muse's album coming up, 'The Resistance', the bottom right on the original has the words 'MUSE'

[Aneklusmos]

Where can I find C4Ds that aren't abstracts?? All i find are abstracts, which are awesome but I wanna try with a non-abstract, like of a person. And I know they're around, since ive seen them in sigs

[Origami]

Why would you want one? And I've seen some around the net but sadly I can't recall where. ):
Sorry.

[Aneklusmos]

Well as I said, want to try it with real things. Oh well. Thankya

[Origami]

Oh yes!
I'm issuing VT's first Sig Battle!
I challenge ANYONE to compete!
Note: This will not be a drag out competition, I want voting to be done on the users personal skill and how well they do on this sig compared to there normal ones. All entries will be TEMPORARILY added to the first post along with the vote count.

Rules:
You have until Monday, June 22nd to submit your entry.
Tuesday the voting will begin, voting ends Friday night.
Winner will be announced Saturday morning.
Main Text: Anything
Sub-Text: Battle (Or Virtualteen.org or VT)
Color-scheme: Freestyle
Vert/Hori: Freestyle
Render: http://planetrenders.net/renders/displayimage.php?pos=-22840

:D Go go go!

[Aneklusmos]

Sweet! Can't wait to get to work on this. Are you going to be competing?

[Origami]

Sweet! Can't wait to get to work on this. Are you going to be competing?

Of course I am. :)
Honestly hoping I don't win though.

http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/Origamibattle.png

[Poetic Folly]

Not sure if I'm competing, but how do you like me new sig? Made it in a few minutes, pretty bland, but I wasn't sure which picture I liked better, so ;)

[Aneklusmos]

Alright, alright heres my entry. me thinks it came out ok
http://i41.tinypic.com/nntc8x.jpg

[BuryYourFlame]

oh i am so in...but i will probably faliorz...

gah, just saw i only have the weekend to do it >_< i better get to work :P

[Origami]

I'll be waiting Declan. (:
Highly anticipating your outcome.
Nice one, you really are improving quickly Caleb. I may have to have a Teamviewer with you so I can teach you to smudge lol.

[Aneklusmos]

I know, I know. I can't smudge for may life. Lol. Just comes out streaky for me. Oh well

[Origami]

Practice makes perfect, I actually got a C&C on the battle sig I made and got shit on for it. xD I gotta find a new style.

[BuryYourFlame]

Not my entry, gotta make some final adjustments, just an update:

http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt9/Decman777/sigbattlecopy.png

[Origami]

Text needs work but thats hot.

[Zazu]

On another note:
Which do you guys find more appealing?
A)http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/ipodflat.png

or

B)http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa244/relyh/ipodvert.png

That second one is just amazing, you're bloody good with this kinda thing Josh, I think I need to have a go at making some sigs myself sometime : )

[Poetic Folly]

Alright, I'm going to try at the sig contest.
Can't o it now though, planetrenders seems to be down/busy.

[BuryYourFlame]

lol, you better hurry mate, you only got today to do it :P

[Poetic Folly]

I though it was Monday!

alright, I need to get to work.

[BuryYourFlame]

ah, tis monday, i just assumed like...late sunday being monday :P lol, dont mind me, im still in homework mode :P

[BuryYourFlame]

My entry:
http://i592.photobucket.com/albums/tt9/Decman777/sigbattle.png

[Poetic Folly]

Can't do it, site wasn't working for me :(

[Origami]

Get someone to upload it, I'm grounded so unless a mod does it for me then the battle is pending for now.

--------EDIT:

I got a few mins on the computer so I'll change it now.
I vote: Declan.

[Aneklusmos]

Yeah, my vote goes with declan too

[Zazu]

I know that the competition is closed, I still had a go at making a sig, C&C welcome. Please note though, this is my first ever attempt at a sig in this style :)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3350/3654848508_5be4f9db38_o.jpg

[Origami]

A lil on the bright side.
Blend: 8/10
Text: 4/10 (Soz<3)
[-]No light source x:[/-]
Interesting background.
A lil too bright (Personal preference)

EDIT:
I notice the light source now.

[Aneklusmos]

Me like davids. I like bright things. 8/10

[Donkey]

Voting Origami.

[Zazu]

A lil on the bright side.
Blend: 8/10
Text: 4/10 (Soz<3)
[-]No light source x:[/-]
Interesting background.
A lil too bright (Personal preference)

EDIT:
I notice the light source now.

Thanks for the C&C Josh, I agree that is is pretty bright but me likes all the same :)

Me like davids. I like bright things. 8/10

Thanks Caleb :)

[Origami]

Lawls. I can't edit from mobile.
1-0-2

[Donkey]

http://i43.tinypic.com/14mgb41.png

What do you think? :)

[Origami]

What program was this made in?

[Requin]

It's schmexy jon. Very good.

[Donkey]

Gimp....

I have PhotoShop but I don't like using it as I never really got into it.

[Origami]

GIMP it's on the impressive side.
The background could have a bit more, kinda bland.
No light source.
Text is good.
Colors are decent.
No borders.
Overall for GIMP: 7/10

[Donkey]

Couple of changes here and there:

http://i44.tinypic.com/f0dnv9.png

What do you think now?

[Origami]

+Background (Still needs flow though)
-Border (Steals from the focal)

[Donkey]

The border is no longer a robber.

http://i42.tinypic.com/2zf5s9u.png

[Zazu]

The border is no longer a robber.

http://i42.tinypic.com/2zf5s9u.png

Me likes, decent colours, good focal. Seemingly no light srouce still, but I don't think that they matter too much.

Only one bad thing; the text could do with standing out a bit more imho, good sig though :)

[BuryYourFlame]

im gonna vote...even though it might ruin my chances of winning lol

Josh, you have my vote.

[Origami]

Updated, and no I really like both of yours.
Flaws.
Caleb: Smudge
Declan: Depth

[EverlostPoet]

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm255/callmejake/give-power.png

Sloppy i know... C&c and no im not nub just forgot a lot. x.x