Creative Pictures 1

[LeBodge]

I have just one question - how do you start to produce graphics like the examples at :

http://www.digitaljuice.com/juicedrops/juicedrops_gallery.asp?page=3

Where do you start? LeBodge.

http://www.cgbsystems.co.uk

"You can't judge a book by the cover, but you can tell how much it's going to cost"

 

[wake83]

I'm with you bro. I can usually do a good job copying someone, but that's not my own work. It's extremely hard for me to come up with random ideas like everyone else does.

 

[SPYDERIX]

Hi,

The key to good design is to use elements that fit the profile of the overall theme. There are various elements that are used, but it's just the combination and creativeness of putting things together that gets you somewhere. As you explore your program you will find out certain effects that you like and learn more combinations of filters and procedures that help to make something really nice.

Most often you start with a background color and then play with some lighting effects and start adding in your design elements, play with blending modes and soon you start to gradually build up to something. All of those really well design wallpapers you see out there are never intended to look the way they look. Sure the creator know where he/she may want to play things and the overall concept of what it should look like, but just by playing around with alot of features you eventually come up with something.

A good place to look at very well designed wallpapers and graphics is

http://www.deviantart.com

There is alot of excellent work there. Study the different elements used then employ certain things into your own work of all different shapes and sizes.

As an example, this is my first kick at the can to making something half decent

http://www.spyderix-designz.com/sensation_1024.jpg

I just sat down and played with it. You can't teach design or creativity, the best way to do something is to do it.

Hope this helps!

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[sdraper]

Sometimes you start with a vision of what your end product will be sometimes the end result is a series of happy accidents. Or try to imitate someone elses work in order to absorb new techniques and concepts. Just keep playing around until you find what you want... I have to agree with Nate though, you can't teach creativity.
sdraper

 

[mscallisto]

Of course you can teach creativity, I learned about it in Sunday School, Let there be light!

Nate your sensation_1024.jpg is very well done for a "first kick" and quite better than half decent.

Did you have to make it so large (680K) for appearence or is there another reason?

sam

 

[SPYDERIX]

Disclaimer:

I have been advised to mention the fact that the copyright of any logos or other copyrighted material in the picture linked to in my previous post are held by their respective owners. Also, I am in no way affiliated with ID&T and this image was created solely for personal use.

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[SPYDERIX]

mscallisto,

That image just isn't optimized, the bigger 1600*1200 version even bigger, but when I uploaded it I just hadn't optimized it yet.

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[mscallisto]

I knew you had a logical explanation

 

[sdraper]

and there was light.
and it was good.
I stand corrected!
sdraper

 

[LeBodge]

Hi All,

After reading all the responses, I don't really think I am ready to start creating my own unique graphics, so maybe if I started re-producing some other artists work, I could pick up a few tips.

When you see a picture you want to copy, how do you start? I need to start somewhere so I've chosen this link to reproduce over the next few days (or even weeks) :-

http://www.digitaljuice.com/juicedrops/juicedrops_gallery.asp?page=6

I'd like at the end to be able to have my own version of the graphic second image down from the right (the orange one with the boxes) - this has been chosen at random.

Any clues as to where to start the copy process would be good!!! LeBodge.

http://www.cgbsystems.co.uk

"You can't judge a book by the cover, but you can tell how much it's going to cost"

 

[deecee]

hey nate howd you get your Map of the world like that?
sleep is good

 

[SPYDERIX]

deecee,

That came from the Sensation CD and I scanned it in and then enlarged the image to be really big, then on a new layer I made a cirlce filled with white and then selected the circle and some extra space and saved it as a pattern, then filled a new document with that pattern so that it was filled with cirlces then I put that overtop of the scanned in world and changed the color or the original scan to red and then changed the opacity of the top layer to 50 percent and then any circles that were lighter in red color I deleted until I was left with a non pixelated world in white cirlces, then I added it to my wallpaper.

That's how I did it.

http://www.spyderix-designz.com

 

[deecee]

cool, i havent tried it yet but the star is for the nice walkthrough....btw I like the wallpaper
sleep is good

 

[jamsa]

Hey LeBodge

If you want to try to duplicate the image exactly- that would be rather tedious! If you just want to experiment and try to learn how to achieve similar effects- that would be easier and more productive in my opinion.

Anyway, here's a stab at answering your question:
"When you see a picture you want to copy, how do you start?"

First, I would try to determine which effects were achieved with simple filters, styles, blending modes and opacity settings.

For example, the text effect here looks like a combination of an emboss style with an overlay mode and a reduced opacity setting.
There are other ways this could have been done, but just start with that and play around over any kind of background for the time being.

Next, you might take the golden rounded corner grid-like object. Now to me that looks like it was constructed with the round corner rectangle shape tool, then duplicated and moved slightly with a motion blur applied.
Pretty simple. Again, give it a try, play, experiment try putting your own spin on it...

The smaller light colored sqauares could be made a number of different ways. I would think the easiest would be to create a simple pattern using one square and some space around it(be sure to turn off the background layer when you make the pattern so it will be transparent around the square). Next, create a square selection on a new layer and fill it with the pattern. That will give you a solid "grid" of squares. Then it's simply a matter of using rectangle marque selections and deleting certain groups of squares to get the look you want.

I could go on and on here. The more I look the more I see how different effects masy have been achieved or at least how I might try to achieve them.

I believe that your approach is a very good way to learn Photoshop. But I also agree with what others have said that the best thing is to just play, experiment and doodle around. After a while you start to discover "tricks" and methods that you like and it just keeps growing from there.

I know it can be frustrating to see other designers amazing work and perhaps feel like you can't do it. Believe me, I feel that alot. Just remember that it takes a long time to get to know Photoshop and it takes a lifetime to fathom the sources of creativity. Just have fun and you've got what it takes.

Hope this was helpful in some way.

jamsa

 

[LeBodge]

hey jamsa,

thanks for the insight, that's just what I was looking for, just a few clues to help me on my way - thanks again!

LeBodge.

http://www.cgbsystems.co.uk

"You can't judge a book by the cover, but you can tell how much it's going to cost"