Tutorial #005: Troubleshooting (in English)
Text tutorial on troubleshooting of some technical moments arising from new (and even experienced) iconmakers that I promised to write.
Time showed that some of my visitors (especially english speaking ones) have troubles with using my resources. These troubles can be divided into 3 groups:
1) my Photoshop doesn't identify .rar files, what is that?
2) what is .pat or .abr file and how can I use it?
3) I have older version of Photoshop (or using other program) and the resources don't match, what can I do?
Now I'll answer all these questions.
1) my Photoshop doesn't identify .rar files, what is that?
What is .rar file?
Files with .rar extension that I use as containers for my resources, are archives. An archive represents one file (pretty like a folder) that includes all the other files: brushes in .abr format or textures in .pat format, and also resources previews (in order to make you not to forget who these are made by) and imagepacks (images in .gif or .png format). It would be rather unconvenient to share all this bunch of files separately one by one, wouldn't it? So these all are packed into the archive and uploaded via one archive file.
How to open and unpack it?
Archive can be opened with any archive program, most popular are WinRAR and WinZIP. If you don't have programs like these, you should download and install any of these. Download is available here (WinZIP, in english). Note: it's sort of try-n-buy, but if you want an archive program completely for free, try 7-Zip. It's an open source software which unpacks .zip & .rar archives, that'll be enough for your needs.
If you installed an archive program but archives still won't open, do the following: choose any .rar archive, right-click and choose "Open with..." - "Choose a program...", and then choose the installed archive program (you can checkbox "Always open in that program" in order to avoid further troubles with opening .rar files).
When opening a .rar archive at last, you'll see all the resource files inside. Choose those you need for work and press the button "Extract to..." Indicate the path to extract the files to, and - see! - these will appear in there!
2) what is .pat or .abr file and how can I use it?
What is a .pat file?
A .pat file is a file of patterns (also known as textures) for Photoshop. I can say that a .pat file is also like a container for single textures. Using .pat files is very comfortable when filling your image because texture from the .pat will fill all of it (it's called tile, it means that a texture repeats on the image). If you just open a texture file in any graphic format and drag it on your image, it will stay solitary.
Where to store .pat files?
You can create a separate folder on your computer just for .pat files and store them there (you may even not search for a pattern folder in Program Files).
How to use .pat files?
Using such files is quite easy. You should choose Paint Bucket Tool and then choose Pattern in the pulldown. The small window with a pattern preview will appear. Click on the small arrow and you'll see all the textures that the .pat file contains.
To open other textures, you should choose from the following:
- Reset Patterns - this will reset your textures and open standard ones;
- Load Patterns - this will open other textures after those that are already loaded;
- Replace Patterns - this will reset opened textures and load those you choose.
Save Patterns menu will allow you to save opened textures with any name you give.
All this process looks like this:
Don't be afraid that if you reset you textures and replace with standard ones, you'll not find your ones. Photoshop remembers the path to your folder with textures and will open it when you decide to return them back.
Now, it's .abr files time!
What is an .abr file?
An .abr file is a file of brushes for Photoshop. The way of working with this file is pretty much the same as working with .pat file: it's like a container for single brushes. What is the comfort of using these? You can use brushes in any color and size, and besides Photoshop has Brushes Editor (F5), where you can alter dozens of parameters, such as stress, noise, texture etc. That's why I always convert suitable images from the imagepacks to brushes and work with them directly.
Where to store .abr files?
Similarly, where you want them to be:) It'll be more handy to create a separate folder for them, just like for .pat files.
How to use .abr files?
You should choose Brush Tool and then click on the small arrow near the 'Brush' word and a brush preview. In the pulldown you'll see all the brushes that the .abr file contains (hint: if you right-click the opened image while Brush Tool is active, you'll result the same).
To open other brushes, you should choose from the following:
- Reset Brushes - this will reset your brushes and open standard ones;
- Load Brushes - this will open other brushes after those that are already loaded;
- Replace Brushes - this will reset opened brushes and load those you choose.
Save Brushes menu will allow you to save opened brushes with any name you give.
All this process looks like this:
3) I have older version of Photoshop (or using other program) and the resources don't match, what can I do?
I have Photoshop CS2 installed, so I don't deny the chance of incompatibility with resource files made in earlier versions with older versions of Photoshop (though I haven't checked it out). That's why I always include imagepacks into my archives with resources.
What is imagepack and what's it for?
Imagepack is a base image for resource, its exact copy. This image can be in any graphic format able to save its quality. For textures, the best format is .jpg and .png. I use the latter, because it lets save gradients properly (.gif doesn't) and doesn't make artefacts of bad quality like .jpg with high compression, and the weight for 100*100px image is quite the same. For brushes, I use .gif or .png (it depends on quality & weight of both images, only the best will win).
How to use imagepacks for making .pat files?
For creating .pat files, I always try to make imagepacks in actual size. When I make tileable patterns with repeating edges, I can also make a bigger imagepack in order to show what the pattern is (for example, for my latest "Festive Ribbons" texture set I made imagepacks in several times longer to show how it looks). Every imagepack for making a .pat file purpose goes separately, that's why using these is very simple.
So, you should open in Photoshop all the imagepacks at once and do the following for every image:
in main menu 'Edit' choose Define Pattern and press ОК, then close the image and do the same with the next one. All this looks like:
And you can simplify even this easy operation: I assigned a handy hotkey for 'Define Pattern' operation and now I don't even go to main menu.
Textures in a .pat file can be easily removed: for this, in the pulldown with textures right-click on an unnecessary texture and choose Delete.
How to make .pat files from imagepacks more easily?
Make a blank .pat file (almost blank to be exact, because Photoshop doesn't allow to save a .pat file without patterns): in any .pat file delete all textures except one and save as, for example, blank.pat. When it's necessary to create a .pat file, open your blank one, delete the texture and fill with your textures. Then save it with any handy name.
How to use imagepacks for making .abr files?
For .abr files, I create one single imagepack that contains all my brushes fron the set, in black on while layer. That helps me to avoid distortion of image when making .abr file. For me it's much more easy, than to make a separate image for every brush (except when the brush is 100*100 px). To use this imagepack for making .abr file, an effort should be made - but I think it's a reasonable price for nice brushes, isn't it?:)
So, you should create a mask for every brush image in the imagepack with help of Polygonal Lasso Tool (you can do it not very accurately, the point is not to mask parts of other brushes) and do the following (this is the same with making a .pat file).
When the mask of a separate brush is active, you should go to main menu 'Edit', select Define Brush Preset and press OK, then make a mask of the next brush image and so on.
I assigned a hotkey for 'Define Brush' operation, so all is very simple in use.
Similar to textures in .pat file, brushes from the .abr files can be deleted, the principle is the same.
How to make .abr files from imagepacks more easily?
Make a blank .abr file (almost blank, with one brush): in any .abr file delete all brushes except one and save as, for example, blank.abr. When it's necessary to create a .abr file, open your blank one, delete the brush and fill with your brushes. Then save it with any handy name.
And now I'll tell you about my solution vor a very individual question:
How to put .abr and .pat files in order?
Can't tell you anything about files of brushes yet, cause these are still in mess:) But I already found out how to beat chaos in the textures folder.
First, I store all brushes and textures files under the name in "maker name - set name" format. Saving the maker's name helps to credit properly without forgetting anyone. Besides, every maker has its own style, so I quickly learn what resources are contained in a set.
Second, there are some ways of putting such resources in order:
1) making large sets of every effect. For example, you can open all sets of light textures and save the whole set as "light textures". Then, when opening this file, light textures will be all put together, and the only question is to choose. But this solution has its minus: if the set is very big, it can be slow (for me, I have this problem). So I refused from this way of storing files.
2) marking the sets with sort of tags. For example, I rename the file from "maker name - set name" to "effect: maker name - set name": e.g., "light: vol4itca - lightning". So I always know who made the set, and all light sets are arranged side by side. I also made tags 'color', 'grunge' and so on.
So, there are all my secrets of optimization in making pics. Using these will help spend time in creating, but not solving technical troubles.
Good luck and inspiration to you:)
Time showed that some of my visitors (especially english speaking ones) have troubles with using my resources. These troubles can be divided into 3 groups:
1) my Photoshop doesn't identify .rar files, what is that?
2) what is .pat or .abr file and how can I use it?
3) I have older version of Photoshop (or using other program) and the resources don't match, what can I do?
Now I'll answer all these questions.
1) my Photoshop doesn't identify .rar files, what is that?
What is .rar file?
Files with .rar extension that I use as containers for my resources, are archives. An archive represents one file (pretty like a folder) that includes all the other files: brushes in .abr format or textures in .pat format, and also resources previews (in order to make you not to forget who these are made by) and imagepacks (images in .gif or .png format). It would be rather unconvenient to share all this bunch of files separately one by one, wouldn't it? So these all are packed into the archive and uploaded via one archive file.
How to open and unpack it?
Archive can be opened with any archive program, most popular are WinRAR and WinZIP. If you don't have programs like these, you should download and install any of these. Download is available here (WinZIP, in english). Note: it's sort of try-n-buy, but if you want an archive program completely for free, try 7-Zip. It's an open source software which unpacks .zip & .rar archives, that'll be enough for your needs.
If you installed an archive program but archives still won't open, do the following: choose any .rar archive, right-click and choose "Open with..." - "Choose a program...", and then choose the installed archive program (you can checkbox "Always open in that program" in order to avoid further troubles with opening .rar files).
When opening a .rar archive at last, you'll see all the resource files inside. Choose those you need for work and press the button "Extract to..." Indicate the path to extract the files to, and - see! - these will appear in there!
2) what is .pat or .abr file and how can I use it?
What is a .pat file?
A .pat file is a file of patterns (also known as textures) for Photoshop. I can say that a .pat file is also like a container for single textures. Using .pat files is very comfortable when filling your image because texture from the .pat will fill all of it (it's called tile, it means that a texture repeats on the image). If you just open a texture file in any graphic format and drag it on your image, it will stay solitary.
Where to store .pat files?
You can create a separate folder on your computer just for .pat files and store them there (you may even not search for a pattern folder in Program Files).
How to use .pat files?
Using such files is quite easy. You should choose Paint Bucket Tool and then choose Pattern in the pulldown. The small window with a pattern preview will appear. Click on the small arrow and you'll see all the textures that the .pat file contains.
To open other textures, you should choose from the following:
- Reset Patterns - this will reset your textures and open standard ones;
- Load Patterns - this will open other textures after those that are already loaded;
- Replace Patterns - this will reset opened textures and load those you choose.
Save Patterns menu will allow you to save opened textures with any name you give.
All this process looks like this:
Don't be afraid that if you reset you textures and replace with standard ones, you'll not find your ones. Photoshop remembers the path to your folder with textures and will open it when you decide to return them back.
Now, it's .abr files time!
What is an .abr file?
An .abr file is a file of brushes for Photoshop. The way of working with this file is pretty much the same as working with .pat file: it's like a container for single brushes. What is the comfort of using these? You can use brushes in any color and size, and besides Photoshop has Brushes Editor (F5), where you can alter dozens of parameters, such as stress, noise, texture etc. That's why I always convert suitable images from the imagepacks to brushes and work with them directly.
Where to store .abr files?
Similarly, where you want them to be:) It'll be more handy to create a separate folder for them, just like for .pat files.
How to use .abr files?
You should choose Brush Tool and then click on the small arrow near the 'Brush' word and a brush preview. In the pulldown you'll see all the brushes that the .abr file contains (hint: if you right-click the opened image while Brush Tool is active, you'll result the same).
To open other brushes, you should choose from the following:
- Reset Brushes - this will reset your brushes and open standard ones;
- Load Brushes - this will open other brushes after those that are already loaded;
- Replace Brushes - this will reset opened brushes and load those you choose.
Save Brushes menu will allow you to save opened brushes with any name you give.
All this process looks like this:
3) I have older version of Photoshop (or using other program) and the resources don't match, what can I do?
I have Photoshop CS2 installed, so I don't deny the chance of incompatibility with resource files made in earlier versions with older versions of Photoshop (though I haven't checked it out). That's why I always include imagepacks into my archives with resources.
What is imagepack and what's it for?
Imagepack is a base image for resource, its exact copy. This image can be in any graphic format able to save its quality. For textures, the best format is .jpg and .png. I use the latter, because it lets save gradients properly (.gif doesn't) and doesn't make artefacts of bad quality like .jpg with high compression, and the weight for 100*100px image is quite the same. For brushes, I use .gif or .png (it depends on quality & weight of both images, only the best will win).
How to use imagepacks for making .pat files?
For creating .pat files, I always try to make imagepacks in actual size. When I make tileable patterns with repeating edges, I can also make a bigger imagepack in order to show what the pattern is (for example, for my latest "Festive Ribbons" texture set I made imagepacks in several times longer to show how it looks). Every imagepack for making a .pat file purpose goes separately, that's why using these is very simple.
So, you should open in Photoshop all the imagepacks at once and do the following for every image:
in main menu 'Edit' choose Define Pattern and press ОК, then close the image and do the same with the next one. All this looks like:
And you can simplify even this easy operation: I assigned a handy hotkey for 'Define Pattern' operation and now I don't even go to main menu.
Textures in a .pat file can be easily removed: for this, in the pulldown with textures right-click on an unnecessary texture and choose Delete.
How to make .pat files from imagepacks more easily?
Make a blank .pat file (almost blank to be exact, because Photoshop doesn't allow to save a .pat file without patterns): in any .pat file delete all textures except one and save as, for example, blank.pat. When it's necessary to create a .pat file, open your blank one, delete the texture and fill with your textures. Then save it with any handy name.
How to use imagepacks for making .abr files?
For .abr files, I create one single imagepack that contains all my brushes fron the set, in black on while layer. That helps me to avoid distortion of image when making .abr file. For me it's much more easy, than to make a separate image for every brush (except when the brush is 100*100 px). To use this imagepack for making .abr file, an effort should be made - but I think it's a reasonable price for nice brushes, isn't it?:)
So, you should create a mask for every brush image in the imagepack with help of Polygonal Lasso Tool (you can do it not very accurately, the point is not to mask parts of other brushes) and do the following (this is the same with making a .pat file).
When the mask of a separate brush is active, you should go to main menu 'Edit', select Define Brush Preset and press OK, then make a mask of the next brush image and so on.
I assigned a hotkey for 'Define Brush' operation, so all is very simple in use.
Similar to textures in .pat file, brushes from the .abr files can be deleted, the principle is the same.
How to make .abr files from imagepacks more easily?
Make a blank .abr file (almost blank, with one brush): in any .abr file delete all brushes except one and save as, for example, blank.abr. When it's necessary to create a .abr file, open your blank one, delete the brush and fill with your brushes. Then save it with any handy name.
And now I'll tell you about my solution vor a very individual question:
How to put .abr and .pat files in order?
Can't tell you anything about files of brushes yet, cause these are still in mess:) But I already found out how to beat chaos in the textures folder.
First, I store all brushes and textures files under the name in "maker name - set name" format. Saving the maker's name helps to credit properly without forgetting anyone. Besides, every maker has its own style, so I quickly learn what resources are contained in a set.
Second, there are some ways of putting such resources in order:
1) making large sets of every effect. For example, you can open all sets of light textures and save the whole set as "light textures". Then, when opening this file, light textures will be all put together, and the only question is to choose. But this solution has its minus: if the set is very big, it can be slow (for me, I have this problem). So I refused from this way of storing files.
2) marking the sets with sort of tags. For example, I rename the file from "maker name - set name" to "effect: maker name - set name": e.g., "light: vol4itca - lightning". So I always know who made the set, and all light sets are arranged side by side. I also made tags 'color', 'grunge' and so on.
So, there are all my secrets of optimization in making pics. Using these will help spend time in creating, but not solving technical troubles.
Good luck and inspiration to you:)