Oz's GIMP failure (cp3)

[Oznogrd]

[J@3]

I don't use GIMP so I couldn't really tell you what to do, but in PS you can use Blending Options to make the text stand out. Give it an outline or a drop shadow or something. Maybe search for some GIMP tutorials. I've been using photoshop since I was like 14 but I'm still learning new things constantly.

[Oznogrd]

One last for the sig for the night added. Gonna possibly pop up a blog to host all this instead of uploading them all to the nlsc's bandwidth lol. Ill look into it thanks Jae.

[Oznogrd]

Alright so image shack it is. I'll even take requests if anyone likes these crappy things (contemplating doing andrew's bulls one later on today as possibility even though it'll look awful compared to if someone with more experience does it).
Rules for requests:
1. Ask politely in English
2. Dont be a douche about it, asking me every 5 seconds if its done
3. No kobe bryant.

[Lean]

3. No kobe bryant.

[Oznogrd]

adding dr. horrible themed one to original post. May be a few of these today.

Bulls and 2 more dr h. made today.

[buzzy]

Aight, I could help you out if you want to take it seriously. You can pull of some very nice sigs with GIMP.
First off, try to take some less eye-hurting colors, and either get some good fonts or use the simple ones you have. You don't know how much better Arial looks than all those other fonts you've been using (Comic Sans is a big fucking no-no).
For your first sigs, I'd suggest to either download some already cut pictures or just don't render them at all.
A picture with a background doesn't have to be bad thing, it actually gives you natural source you can work with.

Try to play aorund with the blending options, GIMP has them, you won't be able to pull anything decent off without using them.
They're usually located on the Layers window (It's a drop down menu that goes like "Normal, Dissolve, Multiply, .." Just dick around with them, you should get the hang of it quickly.

Some more tips I can think now off the top of my head:
- Don't stretch your focals (Carlin).
- Try to avoid pictures that are cut off on a site, like the Hicks one
- Save your stuff as PNG's!!!
- Try to do with shorter text, starting off with quotes is definitely not easy.


Oh and, for inspiration, check my dA VVVVVVVVV


2222nd post!

[Oznogrd]

Aight, I could help you out if you want to take it seriously. You can pull of some very nice sigs with GIMP.
First off, try to take some less eye-hurting colors, and either get some good fonts or use the simple ones you have. You don't know how much better Arial looks than all those other fonts you've been using (Comic Sans is a big fucking no-no).
For your first sigs, I'd suggest to either download some already cut pictures or just don't render them at all.
A picture with a background doesn't have to be bad thing, it actually gives you natural source you can work with.

Try to play aorund with the blending options, GIMP has them, you won't be able to pull anything decent off without using them.
They're usually located on the Layers window (It's a drop down menu that goes like "Normal, Dissolve, Multiply, .." Just dick around with them, you should get the hang of it quickly.

Some more tips I can think now off the top of my head:
- Don't stretch your focals (Carlin).
- Try to avoid pictures that are cut off on a site, like the Hicks one
- Save your stuff as PNG's!!!
- Try to do with shorter text, starting off with quotes is definitely not easy.


Oh and, for inspiration, check my dA VVVVVVVVV


2222nd post!

Thanks..I'm learning a little bit. Some of these i just rushed and the cuts ended up sloppy or whatever. (see bulls one). The tips are awesome. Im gonna have to sit down and really put time into 1 or 2 and play with and see how they come out...right now im just throwing these together quickly and not putting much work in at all. Its more a way to kill time than anything else. If i think of something epic enough, I'll take my time on it and do it well.

[Oznogrd]

pardon the double post...but based on the tips ive been reading and tutorials everywherei downloaded a metric fuckton of brushes and fonts tonight. No new work out yet (taking my time on this one) but there is a clue to what theme it is in this post (hint: a character uses a phrase from this post)


Edit: already posted...late here on the east coast. bed calls me...will play with new brushes more tomorrow

[shadowgrin]

With the exception of the fonts, the Knuckles sig is decent. Maybe you could add some effects to the font?

[Oznogrd]

With the exception of the fonts, the Knuckles sig is decent. Maybe you could add some effects to the font?

Yeah..was trying to use the Sonic game font on it. You guys have more discerning eyes than me i guess considering i dont give two shits what the font is as long as its readable

Edit: Where do you guys get good sports renders? Frikkin planetrenders is the only thing i get googling and it has almost no one I want lol

[J@3]

The six feet under one is an improvement. I think you're trying to do too much though generally and kinda repeating the same mistakes. You've probably made more sigs in a week than I have in the last three years ... I think TheDee's thread is a good place to look for inspiration/ideas. His sigs aren't amazing (sorry Dee) but they are a really good example of someone kinda still learning about PS/GIMP/whatever and keeping them simple/aesthetically pleasing. Simplicity is the key.

[Oznogrd]

i probably am trying to do much i kinda do that with everything. im not a very simplistic guy. Often times when i'm typing/writing my brain outruns my hands because i have too many ideas churning around. The second bulls one is a prime example to me..not only did i go with the red overlay and the crazy painting, i also tried to light up jordan. I'm also churning out so many because i have no life currently. Been sick as has the g/f so I've been stuck sitting at my computer all day every day (if you couldnt tell from my posts pretty much constantly all hours of the day) But what i'd say are my best ones (knuckles, Phoenix, Six Feet Under) actually are the ones i didnt think, i just made and posted. The others I had plans etc.he more time i have the more stuff i add and odds are fuck up. I loved the dexter one when i made it but looking at it now...the blood AND lightning was overkill. I actually think my buckethead one portrays the insane buckethead playstyle. I need to find some good text tutorials since i'm still semi struggling with it. Anything specific other than the trying to do too much? I'm going to try to simplify and only do 2-3 brushes instead of the7-8 im using currently. Also alot of my ideas come from what i find on google with images. I saw the raven and said "hey...thats a nice easy sig for six feet under" Others (Dr Horrible Red and blue) are what i wanted to make when i started this shit. I do appreciate the tips, im churning these out as ideas come, i may go back and give a new shot to some (The first 4 and probably captain hammer/dexter). I can tell which ones are utter shit...i just cant tell on some whats wrong with them.

[J@3]

Don't worry about having too many ideas, that's going to help you out a lot in the future. I have no tutorials for GIMP but maybe these PS ones will help in some way, if not just to give you an idea of what works/what doesn't. What I would keep in mind is that because the sig size limit here is so restrictive (which is my fault) it's hard to cram multiple pictures + a lot of text into one sig.

http://www.photoshoproadmap.com/Photosh ... tutorials/

http://www.good-tutorials.com/search/tu ... t?approved

http://www.good-tutorials.com/search/tu ... g?approved

Check those out. The last one is specifically about sigs so it might be helpful.

[Dee.]

Loving the Dexter one And Six Feet Under one.
Though i think you try too Hard..
Just make it simple,when you'll feel you become better,make more Advanced one's.

[Oznogrd]

Loving the Dexter one And Six Feet Under one.
Though i think you try too Hard..
Just make it simple,when you'll feel you become better,make more Advanced one's.

Yeah its hard for me to turn my brain off though. I get an idea...i do it...and usually by the time i realize it didnt work out ive already published it (see dexter lol). I worked on a watchmen one last night but it's not coming out as i hoped so I think im just going to axe it for now. I just dont feel like anything im doing is that advanced. Im literally using very little functions of gimp to make these (especially early on...4 total buttons b/w gradient, text, and free select). I just dont consider a picture or two and text with a background "advanced." like i said the text is giving me trouble making it legible...but the rest of it i think i've got down. Ive got the brushes/fonts to do pretty much anything currently: i just need to figure out what's next and maybe watch a vid or two on text legibility. Gonna grab some dinner currently but i may do a Hunter Thompson Redux tonight with my newer brushes and things and see what comes out of it

[Dee.]

I just dont consider a picture or two and text with a background "advanced."

Those are the no-skill-good-looking one's.
I did those at the start,till i got known with all the options and stuff.
Advanced are the one's ''I have 50 layers on,that make one Big Boom''.
Anyway,good luck on your signatures,I'm coming to this Thread time by time.

[shadowgrin]

Yeah..was trying to use the Sonic game font on it. You guys have more discerning eyes than me i guess considering i dont give two shits what the font is as long as its readable

The font type is ok but not so on how it is presented. It's too noticeable that it steals away the attention from the sig overall. Unless that's how you wanted it to be.
Your current works are much better in that regard.

[Oznogrd]

I'm often trying to match official logo fonts with subject matter. Buckethead's font is actually the KFC font. Would the knuckles one be better if it just said Knuckles the Echidna instead of Making sonic look like a pussy?

Couple of watchmen ideas done. Let me know what mistakes are on this. God it was hard to find any good comedian pictures...anyway: been busy so right now same kinda fare until i get some freetime to hit up the tutorials

[Dee.]

Now the new one's are Waaaaaaay Better.

[Oznogrd]

Thanks Dee: I love the watchmen (comic not movie..hence the two comic cuts) so i made sure they came out well. Tried to do a v for vendetta idea after learning to make flames on a tutorial tonight but didnt like how it turned out so i axed it. Girlfriend wanted me to make her a Repo! The Genetic Opera one so its posted above. I know i went a little more complex and insane...but the character is a drug dealer that steals the drug out of corpses. It had to be insane and over the top to work. The brush strokes are done in the color of the drug he illegally distributes. The text is a little too dark on it i think but i gotta sleep sometime.

[Dee.]

Like the new one,though it still can't beat Six feet under to me.
Just a thought,it won't make a big difference,but adding Frames (Stroking the sides of the Signature at the end) would look a bit Better.

[shadowgrin]

Would the knuckles one be better if it just said Knuckles the Echidna instead of Making sonic look like a pussy?

No, leave it be. Sonic is indeed a pussy compared to Knuckles.

[Oznogrd]

jack sparrow posted: very basic not alot of time. Just a quick time kill during watching the movies.

[Dee.]

It Doesn't look bad,but it would be better if Jack wouldn't be Transparent.
And it would look really cool with a Background of your last signature.