Cobra's Homeroom

Welcome to my homeroom! Here I'll be taking in students who are wanting to learn Graphics. I use GIMP, myself, but I can help with Photoshop users as well who are needing help. Let's get started!



Rules
-No Spam/Flaming
-If you wish to apply, PM me. I'll post the form below.
-If I'm not active that much, or not on for a few days, don't panic. I have a whole slew of forums that I go to, and I do have a life outside of here, so I'm a busy guy.



Purposes/Functions of this homeroom

As stated above, this is for people to come in here and learn GIMP or Photoshop. Again, as stated above, I use GIMP myself, but what is done in GIMP can easily be applied to Photoshop. Sure, you might need to do an extra step or two, but it can stil be done.

Also, I'm here to answer questions as well. You have a question about GFX? Don't understand something? Post it here and i'll do my best to help you out with it.


Now, the form I'd like you to use when PMing me:

----------

How long have you been doing GFX:

What program you use:

Some of your work:

----------

When providing your work, just a few tags/sigs, and 1 or 2 pieces of your large art *if you have any* is fine. I'll decide if I'll teach you or not. Chances are i'll automatically take you in, but I want to make sure you're reading the first post, for one, and I want to see how good you are so i'll know where to start with you.


Assignments

#1:

Make me a signature. Rules for this assignment:

-Must be 360x135
-Must use either this stock or this render.
-I'd like 2 versions as well. One with text and one without text, please.
*Hint, don't put the text on until the end*


#2:

Sorry Sugarpoultry, but i'm stealing your idea this time. lol.

I want you to find a tutorial, and stick with it. As closely as possible. Planetrenders.net has them in the free section, and I have all of mine on my Deviantart, which you can reach by clicking here. You're sure to find one that you can follow. Please post your outcome and a link to the tutorial you used.


Have fun! There's no restriction as for which one to use, it's entirely up to you.


#3:

I'll post a sig, and I want you to pick out what you think is wrong with it. THEN, I want you to tell me how you would go about fixing it. Look carefully, and take your time. I don't want any guesses, I want full-fledged answers, and I want them in detail if possible, please. For example, if you think the text needed fixing, tell me where you would position it, what color you would make it, *html color if possible*, and what font you would use. And lastly, tell me why you picked what you think needed to be changed.

Again, I can't stress this enough: TAKE YOUR TIME. I'm not angry, I just want you to THOROUGHLY examine the sig. There's times where I'll just sit there and stare at my sig for 10-15 minutes, just to see what
fits and what doesn't. Alright? Let's roll.

Here's your sig:


*For the record, I made this today just to make it, but I think this is the perfect example for this lesson. *

Good luck!


| Students |

icehockeygoalie
Lysis
Sugarpoultry
Revo
man_with_thooo

| Resources |

My Resource Photobucket

Planet Renders

Anime Render

Image After

More will come in time.

Lysis, reporting in. Assignment #1 complete.





I wasn't sure how well this one would turn out, but I'm actually quite happy with these results.

Originally Posted by Lysis

Lysis, reporting in. Assignment #1 complete.





I wasn't sure how well this one would turn out, but I'm actually quite happy with these results.

Great job on finishing assignment 1! My CnC for your tag:


The text was cleverfully done in theme with the House M.D. show. Nice touch. I like the simplicity of the tag, and how you didn't overdo it with effects. Nice touch there as well. And I like the clipping mask effects, but I would have preferred to keep them in color instead of B&W. But as with the good, there is some bad.

The text is way too off course. It should be closer to the focal to draw attention to it. Right now it's providing a second focal, which isn't a good thing. Quality of the sig feels like it was killed a bit too. I see you tried to do the 1px outline of the focal as well, but to be honest, it's incomplete and the color doesn't really fit. Next time, take a 1px hard brush, eye drop a light color of your stock, and zoom in. Then you can start doing a rough outline, but keep it fluent and keep it flowing, right now you have it cut off in some spots.


All in all, it's not a bad tag. I'm pretty happy with the result as well. Great job! I'll be making a second assignment in the next day or two.

Cool, thanks.

ME! STUDENT! *huggleglomps*


Hai.
I figured I'd keep mine simple. I love it.

With text:

Wow...that's really nice SP. Now i feel bad about mine...then i remind myself, sp is just awesome XD

I haven't touched GIMP in a while, and I need to figure out everything since i updated the version (Yes, making excuses)

Here:





I need to get better, but that's why im here right?

Originally Posted by sugarpoultry

ME! STUDENT! *huggleglomps*


Hai.
I figured I'd keep mine simple. I love it.

With text:

Lol, okay, you're in. *huggleglomps back*

My Critiques for your tag:

Definitely one of your better ones. I like how you've been keeping things simple lately. Very nice. Love the colors and the feel of the tag. It all goes together so well. Great job there. Now for the bad.


The text is a nice idea of going with the flow, but I think it would have been better placed on the right side by her shoulder. Remember, text is supposed to add something to the sig, and be interesting to look at. *Not trying to be harsh* Other than that it's not bad. I'd normally say add some more effects to it, but in this case, it would be a very tedious task, as it could easily be overdone.


Overall good job!

Originally Posted by icehockeygoalie

Wow...that's really nice SP. Now i feel bad about mine...then i remind myself, sp is just awesome XD

I haven't touched GIMP in a while, and I need to figure out everything since i updated the version (Yes, making excuses)

Here:





I need to get better, but that's why im here right?

Exactly. That's why we get critiques! We're trying to get better.


I agree though, trying to figure things out with the latest version after not touching it for a while could be confusing. I like how you've used the eye as the focal, but it seems a bit low-quality for me though. Also, I know what you mean by getting back into it, but this feels like a render on a background, with some text slapped on. Border doesn't really fit with it IMO, and it could use some effects. There isn't any in there right now, so no offense, it's just boring.


Just keep at it, and you'll get back into it!



-------

Updated first post with the Sugarpoultry as a student as well.



I apologize for not getting on, dad's been keeping the wi-fi off, so I haven't been able to get on. Heck, I'm using the neighbor's as we speak, so i'm not able to stay long...I'll get the 2nd task written up and whatnot, then upload it when I can.

Just an update:

Assignment #2 is up!

Hehe thats fine that you steal it. It's not stealing anyways, tutorials are great for learning!

Originally Posted by sugarpoultry

Hehe thats fine that you steal it. It's not stealing anyways, tutorials are great for learning!

Yep. Basically this is testing how closely you pay attention to detail and how well you can follow instructions, lol.

Heh, I might have hacked, cuz I used the stock for an assignment for my homeroom, but at least I did something.

Tutorial I used, for some reason, won't load. ImageShack hates me.

Originally Posted by sugarpoultry

Heh, I might have hacked, cuz I used the stock for an assignment for my homeroom, but at least I did something.

Tutorial I used, for some reason, won't load. ImageShack hates me.

Maybe Imagehustler? They usually work for me no problem, and I don't think you even have to sign up for it. As for my critique:

This one is pretty good, I think. Still a few things I'd change. I like the black and white parts mixed with some color. Nice touch.


As for what I'd change, the lighting is wayyyyyyyyyy too overpowering. it's just like, BAM! lol. Don't like the effects going on her neck there, and overall it feels a bit too blurred.


So overall, it's not bad, but still some tweaking is needed. You're improving!

Originally Posted by -=Cobra=-

Maybe Imagehustler? They usually work for me no problem, and I don't think you even have to sign up for it. As for my critique:

This one is pretty good, I think. Still a few things I'd change. I like the black and white parts mixed with some color. Nice touch.


As for what I'd change, the lighting is wayyyyyyyyyy too overpowering. it's just like, BAM! lol. Don't like the effects going on her neck there, and overall it feels a bit too blurred.


So overall, it's not bad, but still some tweaking is needed. You're improving!

Yeah.. the lighting in the tutorial was overpowering, that's why I did it. Glad it wasn't a total train wreck though.

Ah and here is the tut: http://www.imagehustler.com/0408/1213370324.png
Image Hustler worked, thanks!

Originally Posted by sugarpoultry

Yeah.. the lighting in the tutorial was overpowering, that's why I did it. Glad it wasn't a total train wreck though.

Ah and here is the tut: http://www.imagehustler.com/0408/1213370324.png
Image Hustler worked, thanks!

That shows you still followed the tutorial you chose though, which is a good thing. Great job!

first assignment done, now 4 teh second






Edit: second is done also:



tut i used: http://cobragfx.deviantart.com/art/H...orial-81181893

i dont like it as much as the house 1

Good work. I'll critique 'em now:


1st: V1 is better, as the text is just way off in the middle of nowhere, and it's adding a second focal. Text should be pleasant to look at. To quote a friend of mine, "If you half-*** the text, you will, in turn, have a half-***ed signature." Some of the effects feel a bit oversharpened, and the quality is pretty bad as well. Still though, love the color in it with the contrasting B&W.

2nd:

Atmosphere. Doesn't feel right. Think about it, you have him floating in the middle of the city. At least, that's what i'm getting. Effects are destroying the focal, as well. And his face is a bit too bright. Love the effects though, I just think you could have positioned them better.

I do have to say though, compared to your current, you've gotten better.

I'll get a 3rd assignent up when I can. This one will be......unique, to say the least. It's going to help you, as always, but it's going to test your GFX knowledge.

Assignment 3 is up!

Bump for the students.


I have a feeling the students here are thinking "What's the point of the new assignment?" Well, it helps to have good CnC, first off, and second off, this will give me an idea to see what your personal styles are, by seeing what you might want to change.

i under stand the assignment, but it slipped my mind i'll get to it now.

the background is too plain its just black, with some blue hear and there. i also dont like the blandness, the sig seems to have to similar of colors. i like the pink t the bottom it gives some contrast in colors.
corect me if im wrong but the render doesnt look like its from kingdom hearts.
and i would have overlayed the text instead of keeping it on normal.
i also would have used some gradient map(s) on it to give some contrast in colors.
i may have thrown on a cliping mask or 2 now that i know how to

I see no link for the sig anymore.