Me as a graphic maker
I figured that I would do this, partially out of boredom and partially because I wanted to let people know how I go about making my graphics.
Real Name: Jess
Age: 19
Years Making Graphics: 4
Programs I have used: I started making icons in GIMP and then graduated to Photoshop CS3
How I approach making graphics:
-- For competitions I try to find pictures that fit each catergory the best, this takes me longer than actually making the icon, because I try to get the perfect picture (and I have a ton of screencaps to go through). I tend to mess with levels and contrast first, then adding colors and other aspects if needed.
-- for personal use, etc. I tend to grab a ton of random images and crop the down. As I go through each image if I can't get it to work right then I will just move on to the next one. I love using different levels and color layers.
Things I tend to avoid in graphic making:
-- for icons I tend to avoid text and using brushes, I rarely get text to work right and I am jealous of people who can make icons with text. And as far as brushes go, I haven't used them in a while, because when i was first making graphics I was in brush overkill mode, and I have realised that my icons are more successful without brushes
--for other graphics-- I rarely make any graphics that are bigger than icons, but when I do I try to keep them relatively simple, using mostly color levels and a very spare amount of brushes. I am trying to make more wallpapers and such things, but I want to refine my skills before I take on to many different things
What I have learned over my few years of making graphics
-sometimes simpler is better. ~~ I found that when I make graphics, in particular icons, the less add to them the better they turn out. This is mostly for me, because there are people who can go crazy with effects in their icons and have them look gorgeous.
-cropping is your friend ~~ when I first started making graphics I was afraid to crop off parts of people heads or other things like that. I found that cropping things differently can make the icon more interesting
-levels and curves are your friend ~~ I just started using these and they are amazing for making darker caps lighter, oh, how I love them
I will just keep adding things as I learn them
Real Name: Jess
Age: 19
Years Making Graphics: 4
Programs I have used: I started making icons in GIMP and then graduated to Photoshop CS3
How I approach making graphics:
-- For competitions I try to find pictures that fit each catergory the best, this takes me longer than actually making the icon, because I try to get the perfect picture (and I have a ton of screencaps to go through). I tend to mess with levels and contrast first, then adding colors and other aspects if needed.
-- for personal use, etc. I tend to grab a ton of random images and crop the down. As I go through each image if I can't get it to work right then I will just move on to the next one. I love using different levels and color layers.
Things I tend to avoid in graphic making:
-- for icons I tend to avoid text and using brushes, I rarely get text to work right and I am jealous of people who can make icons with text. And as far as brushes go, I haven't used them in a while, because when i was first making graphics I was in brush overkill mode, and I have realised that my icons are more successful without brushes
--for other graphics-- I rarely make any graphics that are bigger than icons, but when I do I try to keep them relatively simple, using mostly color levels and a very spare amount of brushes. I am trying to make more wallpapers and such things, but I want to refine my skills before I take on to many different things
What I have learned over my few years of making graphics
-sometimes simpler is better. ~~ I found that when I make graphics, in particular icons, the less add to them the better they turn out. This is mostly for me, because there are people who can go crazy with effects in their icons and have them look gorgeous.
-cropping is your friend ~~ when I first started making graphics I was afraid to crop off parts of people heads or other things like that. I found that cropping things differently can make the icon more interesting
-levels and curves are your friend ~~ I just started using these and they are amazing for making darker caps lighter, oh, how I love them
I will just keep adding things as I learn them