k0n's stuff etc.

[k0n]

Derp. This was my first idea for SotW 90, but I don't know where to go with it. orz /scraps

[Gaap]

Character in that sig looks cool. :O (Google-headphones?)

[TheRevolutionist]

Type: http://img3.lln.crunchyroll.com/i/sp...48824_full.jpg
Size: 400 x 200
Theme/Stock: Whatever works with it
Style: Any style is fine but can you make the colors close to the colors on the picture, just the person.
Text: TheRevolutionist

[k0n]

I had to cut that picture Anyways, I gave it a shot -

[k0n]

I've been working on this for a while now (roughly 2 hours of work since my Photoshop crashed on me). I'm working on my vectoring skills. How is it? :P

[Gaap]

Looks really good, k0n!

[k0n]

Thanks Timer! ^^

So here's the end of January -






With a new profile style

Spoiler!

[k0n]

Tutorial time! I made this for anyone who's curious of what I do in some of my signatures :> Feel free to comment, critique or ask questions :>

Spoiler!

I don't know how to describe the style of this sig, but basically, I just want to focus on one part of the image and make anything else not so interesting. It's kind of like an explosion (something like that)

So I chose this stock image because it's not doing anything else in my stock folder besides acting cute.


I want this part of the sig to be the focus.


I just made a random background using the same exact stock and applying Ripple (filter -> distort -> ripple; amount 166%/medium), and just spreading it all over the place using copy and paste.


So now my plan looks like this.


It looks pretty boring right now. There's no opposite color or anything yet, and I want the focus to a be a little more interesting.


I duplicate the stock and increase the size.


Change the entire thing into a single color ((ctrl+u) Hue -> -100 lightness)


And change the color (Hue -> 100 saturation/40 lightness/changed the hue to something other than red and checked colorized)


Added a Color Halftone (filter -> pixelate -> Color Halftone; 10 radius/108 channel 1/ 162 channel 2/ 90 channel 3/ 45 channel 4) and change the layer style to Exclusion. Then Dropped it behind the main stock.


Added two Gradient Maps
Purple, Green, Orange/ Color Dodge/ 20% Opacity
Red, Green (reversed)/ Color Dodge/ 40% Opacity


Now I want to add a light source so my focus is even more interesting than the rest of the sig. I added Hue & Saturation fill; -60 Saturation/ -40 Lightness


Now, using the soft brush tool, I added a dark brush on the Lay Mask of the Hue & Saturation filler.


Now I want to sharpen the focus. It looks kind of blurry. I created a new layer on top, and applied the entire image on it (ctrl+j) and duplicate it. Then sharpen the top image (filter -> sharpen -> sharpen) and changed the opacity to 40% because it was too sharp.


Now I erase the non-focus areas and the edge using a soft brush eraser.


I added a text for random :V


So, now my light source is on the top, I make a new layer and brush using a soft brush on any areas I think I want the shadow will appear.


Changed the layer style to Overlay and decreased opacity to 40% because it's too dark.


Now for the extra lighting. I did the same thing - add a new layer, using a soft white brush now.


Changed the layer style to Overlay and decreased opacity to 60%.


Now I want to make the rest of the image less interesting. New layer, Apply Image, and duplicate. Now I add a Surface Blur (filter -> blur -> Surface Blur; 12 Radius/ 50 Threshold)


Soft brush erase the areas around the focus.


Change Opacity to 70%


Now I want to add a little more contrast to the sig. I added a Levels filler (0.44 midtone)


And finally I added a black soft brush on the layer mask near the focus. Tada~ :>

[Rtothef]

I see what you did thar.

[k0n]

I hope my tutorial inspires your creations :V

[MintyVampire]

Very nice =]!~

[k0n]

Thanks Minty :> I'm planning to make more tutorials. I just don't know what kinds yet.

[Nekcihc]

HEY, U. WHY YOU SO GOOd? >:C

[Gaap]

Thumbs up~

I followed most of the Tutorial until I crashed myself (not literary) due that I use Photoshop Elements to do my sigs. :V (So I have troubles finding features like "Surface Layer"...)

Oh well. I did my fail sig. (Will bump at my guild forums.)

[k0n]

@NinjaDoughnut - iunno :V (Seriously, though lots of experimenting and practice)

@TimerRabbit - Usually when I crash on my Photoshop, I press my print screen button before force quitting the program. At least all is not lost. It sucks to hear your work being ruined like that though :<

[Nimera]

hai k0n, I tried your tutorial



I got lost of the step with the surface blue (couldn't find wut2do in Elements 8/apply image duplicate part) q_q

I don't know Elements at all, and find it really hard to use (PS7 is on my desktop), so I figured following a tutorial might get me a bit more aquainted.

[k0n]

Apply Image can be found in Image -> Apply Image
Duplicate is found in Image -> Duplicate

There isn't a hotkey for it so on my Photoshop, I hotkey them to F10 (Duplicate) and F11 (Apply Image). I usually use those hotkeys when I do my work since I like to use functions that apply to my entire work :>

Also that's a pretty nice sig I think you have the idea of some of the functions. If you want a little critique though, the left side of the sig is a little too bright as in my eyes wants to shift to the left a little. I would apply another Level map and erase it accordingly.

I'll make/find more sig tutorials if anyone else would like to learn some more tricks :> There's other things like, using flow, color schemes/wheel, using C4D, text, using the pen tool, smudge brushing etc. if anyone else is interested

[Nimera]

I definitely knew I was drifting left and I thought because it was kind of a gap lol ;; I definitely learned a few new things though /o/ I found Elements kind of annoying to use, I used to be able to right click the black/white circle and get all sorts of cool things x_o

And those tutorials sound hot, I've never really known how to use C4D's and what not /o/

[Gaap]

Not literally crashed. My stuff is saved. But I did almost lag once while doing it. I have to find other shortcuts to make mines int he okay stage... So here's mine...



/yes i'm using one of my Neopets for this. :V

[k0n]

@Kyzuumi - C4Ds have many uses. Some people use them as the actual background. Some use them as special effects and others use them to fill empty spaces in their sigs. I'll go find some tricks or make a few tutorials of how I use them

@TimerRabbit - Not bad there for a start The lighting is kind of dark though. Maybe it's from the Purple/Green/Orange Gradient Map? I'm not sure though. It also looks like you were using the hard edge brushes on your sig. I'm not too sure, but the fade between the lighting and the shadows seem too narrow. If you use larger soft brushes, the fade becomes a little wider so the eyes can easily transition from the center to the edges of your work