No RPG links, no drama, no post pestering.
Post by S p e c t r a on Dec 27, 2009 19:44:09 GMT -5
Want some tips on technique? Here's a good place to start: Spectra's tutorial/walkthrough. It shows my basic blending techniques, including which tools and settings I like to use. However, the mane and tail are smudged, and nowadays I tend to paint them. You can find tons of tutorials on how to do that.
(In short, I start with a midtones layer to fill in the mane shape, then I add strands to the edges. Then draw strands in a lighter colour on a new layer to be the highlights. Draw more on the side the lighting is coming from. Finally, make a new layer and draw some shadow strands. You can now use the Brightness slider to adjust the shade of each layer.)
Aaaaaand if you're looking for critique from me, you probably already know the things I usually suggest:
- use the pen tool (paths tool in GIMP) for cutting, easy on the feathering though (0.5px is fine depending on the image size)!
- make your credit text small and simple!
- if you're painting a mane and/or tail from scratch, don't make it all a single colour
- colour balance the horse and bg! Sometimes throwing in a photo filter makes a difference in making them belong together
- OMG if the contrast isn't balanced I'm going to think you haven't spent any time looking at it!
- HOOF BLENDING ARGH. For grass: grass brush masking or erasing. For a solid surface: darken the bottom of the hoof so it matches the shadow. For water: mask/erase the legs and round the corners, then add ripples and/or splashes (redheadstock on deviantart.com has great water brushes).
- TEXT TEXT TEXT! If your text is big, in-your-face and/or opaque, I will probably have a problem with it. Subtlety and blending is key. Bring down the opacity, try some Blending Modes, and play with Blending Options!
So if you've paid special attention to all those things, go ahead and ask me for critiques! I love to help out, but I don't feel that I'm being much help if I'm repeating myself all the time.
