Cody's Homeroom.

[Cody]

Cody's Homeroom.


Introduction:
I have been using this program for 3+ years. The version I am currently using is Paint Shop Pro 8, but for many of the things I'll teach you it will not matter which version you use. The image sucks because I was lazy and cropped it out of a wallpaper that I made before. I'll make it all fancy later. Or probably not. I'll say I will then forget completely about it.

Current Students:
Phobia

Starting Assignments:
Create a 400x100 pixel signature based on this image. Any text is fine, but make it look like a presentable signature.

I just want to see your current skill at this sort of thing, don't worry. Also, tell me which versions of the program you are using.

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November 2007 Edit: The image I was using for the first assignment stopped working, so I replaced it with a different one.

[Nox]

It's the best I could do.

EDIT: I use Paint Shop Pro 8.

[Cody]

Alright, Nox. Now create an abstract wallpaper-sized (800x600) image from scratch, without using an original image, just using effects etc. For example. I want to see how you do at that kind of thing too.

When you finish yours, Dann, this goes for you too.

[Dann]

Sorry this took me so long. I've been pretty busy these past few days.

I know, it's not great. <.< I copied alot of elements from the original picture. I don't have any brushes installed in PSP (they're all in GIMP), so I couldn't do that much with it. My version is PSP 9.



Now, I'll get going on the wallpaper one. ^.^

EDIT: Now that I look at this again, the text seems crowded. Oh, well.

[Nox]

Here ya go, DD.

dann, you're pretty good at PSP. I'm jealous.

[Cody]

I'll just comment on these images so far before I move on. Sorry if I'm harsh, but I think getting to the point is the best way, rather than all this "11/10 lol ur sig is good" nonsense.

Originally Posted by Nox

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Sephiroth_the_Cool/Sigs/bebopsig.jpg[*/IMG]

So... umm... where did the original image go? I wanted a signature based on the image, not an abstract effect with the original image buried in there somewhere . Also, that particular combination of colours hurts my eyes. I inverted it to see what what happen (microsoft paint, press ctrl+i) and added a border, and I got this. I prefer this latter one, but probably mostly because it has less of that evil blue. It still looks off though. I think it's just a problem with contrast etc.

Originally Posted by dann

[IMG]http://img119.imageshack.us/img119/9052/image6uq3.png[*/IMG]

Actually, I'm impressed. That's better than several sig-makers that I could mention. The main issue I have is with that text, I don't think the font fits and it makes it look a bit messy as some of the text pokes through the borders etc.

Originally Posted by Nox

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/Sephiroth_the_Cool/Sigs/PSP%20Effects/CosmicLaser.jpg[*/IMG]

I like this one, but I think that images like that look better when it's symmetrical and/or has the main attraction at the center of the screen.

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A couple things:

Easy outside borders - In your effects section, there should be an option named "buttonize" in the 3d part. If you use these settings, you should get a black one pixel border. If you create a raster layer at the top layer for it it won't be overlapped, which can be important, as having an image overlap the border can look a bit messy.

Resizing - Press Shift-S. Getting a wallpaper sized image and reducing it down can sometimes give better quality images, but be careful not to enlarge an image too much, or the image becomes pixellated and annoying to look at.

Scan lines - This one can make a signature look crisper. Create a 1x2 pixel image, then magnify it as much as you can. Paint one of the two pixels black. Now, minimize it. Get the image you want scanlines painted onto, then go to the thing where you pick out paintbrush colours. Go to the pattern section, and your scanlines will be one of them. Remember to paint them on a new layer though - it gives you more control over its transparency, and the paint can does have problems painting over multicoloured images anyway. If you want to be stylish, you can use the paintbrush and only put scanlines on certain areas of the signature.

Also - Nox: Dann will be away for a little while, so as a filler exercise make a sig with the above things in it.

[Nox]

Here's that filler sig you wanted, DD.



BTW, why is dann gone?

[Cody]

Originally Posted by Dann

I'm leaving ZU for a week. I just thought I should let you know beacuse you're my graphics teacher. Sorry, I hope this doesn't mess things up for you (referring to the graphics school) but I really need a break (It's for my general well-being, I've been speding too much time on here ).

So, I will be back on April 1, and resume my studies then.

--dann

[Dann]

Finally, I finished the assignment. Sorry it took forever. Again.

Here is my abstract-thing. I'm not very good at abstract things, so, don't kill me.

[Cody]

It seems to me that you could learn from Nox about abstract, while Nox could learn from you about signaturing and all the cool little effects you use. You should help each other.

Now, make a signature with text. I have not yet seen Nox's ability to use text, and am not really satisfied with Dann's bebop signature text, so I'll ask for one more signature to critique and we'll move onto text theory.

[Dann]

I'm just letting you know that my old computer crashed and I just purchased a new one. So, it might be a few days before I get the program on again. (I've got to find that darned CD!)

[Cody]

I'm just going to bump this to point out that I'm not dead yet and I still want a signature with text. It's not that hard. Then we'll actually get to some theory.

[Nox]

Sig with text.

Glad to know your school isn't dead yet.

[Cody]

*Old stuff about Nox's sig here*

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Alright, next lesson. Turns out waiting for Dann was a bad idea again. This one is called "Color Balance". Depending on the options you choose, the opacity and the blend mode (overlay, screen, lighten etc.), you can change the colours or theme of the signature entirely. You can also pile several layers of adjustment layer with different themes on top of each other, or duplicate one to make the effect stronger.

Also, the Hue/Saturation/Lightness layer option is similar, but really does change the actual colour to the same colour. Try fiddling.

As your next assignment, I'd like you to use the following image and change its colours with the "Color Balance"



Example:

[Forseti]

Ok well I'm the new student to other students and here's what I did for the first asignment:



It's not that good but for it being my first thing I guess it's ok.

[Cody]

Hmm. I'd suggest you make the picture slightly bigger, and on a layer above the background. To get the best quality for your picture, I suggest having the zoom set to the size you want and then print screening. That wasn't in the below quote because I seemingly forgot to add it, but that's my tip for you. Now, use the picture of Link, but redo the signature with the tips below and the one I just gave. That's your assignment #2.

A couple things:

Easy outside borders - In your effects section, there should be an option named "buttonize" in the 3d part. If you use these settings, you should get a black one pixel border. If you create a raster layer at the top layer for it it won't be overlapped, which can be important, as having an image overlap the border can look a bit messy.

Resizing - Press Shift-S. Getting a wallpaper sized image and reducing it down can sometimes give better quality images, but be careful not to enlarge an image too much, or the image becomes pixellated and annoying to look at.

Scan lines - This one can make a signature look crisper. Create a 1x2 pixel image, then magnify it as much as you can. Paint one of the two pixels black. Now, minimize it. Get the image you want scanlines painted onto, then go to the thing where you pick out paintbrush colours. Go to the pattern section, and your scanlines will be one of them. Remember to paint them on a new layer though - it gives you more control over its transparency, and the paint can does have problems painting over multicoloured images anyway. If you want to be stylish, you can use the paintbrush and only put scanlines on certain areas of the signature.

[Forseti]

Alright I'm changing my signature around though I'm having problems with doing the scan lines. I did the 1x2 pixel image and it's where you said it would be though how do I put it on the signature while making it transparent enough to not block out the original picture?

[Nox]

Here's the color balance image, DD:

[Cody]

Er, just wondering if there's any students remaining. Didn't think so. ;_;

[Cody]

Okay, let's all pretend this isn't a double post.

Anyway, I don't have any students right now, but to make it look like I'm doing something, here is a PSP tutorial for glowing text.

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Ok, first, put in your text. Make sure it's on a separate layer to any image you have, and make sure it isn't a vector.



Now duplicate it. Now we're going to blur the bottom layer. Select Gaussian Blur.



Anywhere from about 1 to 10 will have a visible effect, but the larger the number the more spread out the glow will be. This image below is at about 1 or 2,



Of course, duplicating this blurred layer will strengthen your glow and make it more visible. This one is at about 6 or 7, but the blur is duplicated to strengthen it.




You can also experiment with making the blur a different colour to the image it is providing the effect for. This can provide some interesting effects.

[Fënor]

i would like to join but my question is how do you get photo shop i dont have it so i would love to join but i would obivislouy need the program.