Topic: My First Sig (Read 175 times)

CattyKid · « **on:** January 15, 2006, 01:56:00 PM »

Okay. I literally just started using Photoshop today. It seems great, but pretty confusing.
I figured I'd start out with a nice, easy Halo Sig, overdone, I know. So, here they both are.
Tell me which you like better and have VERY open criticism on my work, but don't use many technical terms if you can avoid them (I can always look them up).
I understand that criticism is the only way I'll get better, so let me have it, and don't be shy.

First one:
IPB Image

Second one:
IPB Image

EDIT: Do you find the text a little hard to read?

EDIT2: I didn't follow any tutorials on this (Besides how to use the Extract function), it's all just the result of poking around.

deadparrot · « **Reply #1 on:** January 15, 2006, 02:00:00 PM »

QUOTE(CattyKid @ Jan 15 2006, 09:03 PM)

EDIT: Do you find the text a little hard to read?

Yes.

Do something more with those fibers. Make them colourful or something. Then fix the text. Gradient overlays or something along those lines.

Rylinkus · « **Reply #2 on:** January 15, 2006, 02:05:00 PM »

You could spell "Flaming" properly as well. I really dont like that text at all. I'd go with something else. And I don't know how I feel about that red with all the blues and blacks. It looks out of place.

CattyKid · « **Reply #3 on:** January 15, 2006, 02:16:00 PM »

Okay, thanks for the input, I'll see what I can do.

IPB Image

And a version with a softer background (I think it makes the foreground stand out more):
IPB Image

Finally, the second one with some lighting effects I played around with:
IPB Image

I appreciate the criticism, keep it coming.

soupy_31 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 15, 2006, 03:49:00 PM »

QUOTE(CattyKid @ Jan 15 2006, 04:23 PM)

Okay, thanks for the input, I'll see what I can do.

IPB Image

And a version with a softer background (I think it makes the foreground stand out more):
IPB Image

Finally, the second one with some lighting effects I played around with:
IPB Image

I appreciate the criticism, keep it coming.

Find some new renders,
Find some brushes,
Find some new fonts,
and finally, think about your colour scheme before you start.

CattyKid · « **Reply #5 on:** January 15, 2006, 04:55:00 PM »

QUOTE(soupy_31 @ Jan 15 2006, 05:56 PM)

Find some new renders,
Find some brushes,
Find some new fonts,
and finally, think about your colour scheme before you start.

Sorry, but what are renders (is that the picture, like the energy sword)? What do brushes allow me to do?
Can you suggest any fonts that look good with sigs? I've got a couple thousand.
I think I'll do a totally different sig with a totally different image.

EDIT: And thanks for your continued help.

soupy_31 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 15, 2006, 05:07:00 PM »

QUOTE(CattyKid @ Jan 15 2006, 07:02 PM)

Sorry, but what are renders (is that the picture, like the energy sword)? What do brushes allow me to do?
Can you suggest any fonts that look good with sigs? I've got a couple thousand.
I think I'll do a totally different sig with a totally different image.

EDIT: And thanks for your continued help.

Renders are the image you use for your sig. In your sig, yes, the render is the energy sword.
Brush's allow you have different backround effects for the different theme of the sig..
www.dafont.com had about every type of font you could dream of, check there.

And I would love to see some more of your work!
Keep it up.

speed_racer88 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 15, 2006, 05:42:00 PM »

QUOTE(soupy_31 @ Jan 15 2006, 03:56 PM)

Find some new renders,
Find some brushes,
Find some new fonts,
and finally, think about your colour scheme before you start.

that's pretty harsh coming from a guy who 2 months ago was in the same place. cattykid, i recommend that you look at this tutorial, it is a great place to start. also the term "render" pretty much means picture.

soupy_31 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 15, 2006, 05:49:00 PM »

QUOTE(speed_racer88 @ Jan 15 2006, 07:49 PM)

that's pretty harsh coming from a guy who 2 months ago was in the same place. cattykid, i recommend that you look at this tutorial, it is a great place to start. also the term "render" pretty much means picture.

Huh? I wan't trying to be harsh in any way.. If I sounded that way I'm sorry.
Just giving some advice...

w2kj · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2006, 06:41:00 PM »

It's cool; CK....everybody has to start somewhere. I don't think that anybody was trying to be cruel. I know that a few months ago these folks took the time to give me some constructive criticism....it gave me the chance to find some direction. I have a long way to go...but half the fun (and the frustration) is the way to learn.

--w2kj

CattyKid · « **Reply #10 on:** January 15, 2006, 07:46:00 PM »

Yeah, everyone's cool with me. I don't mind if people sound "harsh" as I know they don't mean to. I HATE when people step around an issue to try to be kind. If something's wrong, I want someone to come right out and TELL me, like everyone is. I don't like dancing around an issue, let's just get right to the point and save everyone some time.

So, I'm checking out the links everyone sent me right now. I should have a new sig up in a few hours (at least I WANT to).

Also, thanks for the encouragement. I got into Photoshop this week at school (newspaper editor, we have 7.0?). I used it to fix some girls's screwed up hair and TERRIBLE shadow in a picture. Since then, I've been hooked.

EDIT: Soupy's only been doing this stuff for 2 months? I thought Photoshop took a YEAR to get good at. Guess I was wrong.

soupy_31 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 15, 2006, 07:55:00 PM »

QUOTE(CattyKid @ Jan 15 2006, 09:53 PM)

EDIT: Soupy's only been doing this stuff for 2 months? I thought Photoshop took a YEAR to get good at. Guess I was wrong.

Yah.

It is always tough at the beginning, but once you gwt the hang of it you almost immediately take off.
BTW, Do you have MSN? I need to ask you something.

Modderxtrordanare · « **Reply #12 on:** January 15, 2006, 10:28:00 PM »

or just ask here?

I like the energy sword render, just not the background. I have a link full of grunged out backgrounds that look cool as hell. But I dont remember if I bought it or iffn it was free.

CattyKid · « **Reply #13 on:** January 15, 2006, 10:30:00 PM »

First to thank everyone here for their help and criticism. It has aided quite a bit.
I want to send a special thanks to Soupy, who spent at least an hour with me on MSN tonight.

And here, without further adue, is my last sig for the night. The background could use A LOT of work, but it was my first attempt using brushes (thanks again, Soupy). I got a master chief render (he seems a little sad and to e shielding his eyes) and an explosion. I blurred the explosion a little to try and blend make it look a little more natural. I put a light effect on the side of the masterchief facing the explosion. I looked through some text, andI though this one fit well in white (it stood out and was easy to read).
Here it is, my second sig:
IPB Image

Once again, open criticism please. You WON'T hurt my feelings, I promise!

EDIT: This may get scanlines tomorrow, IDK.

Modderxtrordanare · « **Reply #14 on:** January 15, 2006, 10:48:00 PM »

One word, Border.

It should make it drastically better in my opinion.

Author Topic: My First Sig (Read 175 times)