GFXing For Dummies


 Topic: GFXing For Dummies
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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:30
Elpizo
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#1
This is a guide to explain different GFX terminology. This guide is meant to help new GFXers and old gfxers alike understand certain things that are important in GFXing. I hope this helps out a lot. Also if you feel I may have left something out you can add it on.

The Basics

1. Flow- Flow is the direction of the sig. So that means that the components of the sig(the effects, focal etc.) must all be flowing in a certain direction to give the sig meaning.

2. Depth- Depth Perception is the ability to view something in three dimensions or 3D. So what depth means in GFXing is to make the sig look 3D-ish. So for example you would want to blur things that should be farther away to make them look farther away, and you would want to sharpen things that you want to seem closer.

3. Lighting- Lighting is well.... The light of the sig. Or where the light is coming from.
The lighting must be consistent with the shadows and light of the focal and the rest of the effects. If you put a lighting source in a place where the light points in a direction where the shadows are coming from that means they conflict and it does not look realistic. It looks bad.

4. Colors- The colors of a sig are well the colors the sig is composed of. The colors must be consistent with the effects and the focal of the sig. For example if you have a purple focal you'll want purple effects and everything else purplish. Or you'd want it purple and another color that fits well with purple like yellow.
Here is a basic guide for coloring:



Basic Vocabulary

1. Render- An image without a background.(Mostly used for focals)
2. Stock- An image with a background.(Mostly used for focals and effects)
3. C4D- An image that is used for effects to accentuate the sig.
4. Abstract-A visual language of form, color and line to create a composition which exists independently of visual references to the world.
5. Vector-The use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves, and shapes or polygons.
6. Sprites- Little animated, or computerized renders or stocks of focals. These are usually from games like Pokemon, Street Fighter etc.
7..PSD- This means Photoshop Document. These are usually used for learning purposes, allowing someone to open the document in Photoshop and see how exactly the sig was made layer by layer.
I probably didn't cover everything so please let me know what else to add.

Types of Signatures

1. Abstract Sig- A signature made to show a visual of something with no clearly defined focal.
2. Vector Sig- A signature made with different shapes and such. It is a sort of technological style.
3.Image Manipulation-These are signatures where not much is done to them. They may seem plain but they look very nice. Most of the edited things are depth, lighting, and some effects.
4.Pentool Sig- A signature made mostly with the pen tool. Focuses on hand made shapes and lines, circles, etc.
5.Sprite Sig- A signature that has a sprite as a focal.


Resources

Render Resources:
1. Planet Renders
2. Game Renders
3. Photobucket <You have to be a bit specific in your search here.
4. Google Images <You have to be a bit specific here too.
5.Anime Render


Stock Resources:
1. Photobucket
2. Google Images

Other Resources:
For most of these you must Register and then go to the Resource section!!!!!(Registration is Free and Simple)
1. National Sig League
2. Planet Renders Forums
3. Virtue Arts

Tutorials:
1. National Sig League
2. Planet Renders Forums
3. Spartan Tut(Basic Photoshop Tut)

Brushes:
1.Deviant Art(Photoshop Brushes)
2.Deviant Art(GIMP brushes)

Image Hosting Sites:
1. Photobucket
2. Tinypic
3. Image Shack
4. SYDN Dump

Fonts:
1.Dafont

I know this is short and I know it seems a lot like Takachi's guide, but I wanted to make one that was a bit more extensive. Please give feedback and if you know of any places to find resources that I don't have up there do not hesitate to tell me and I'll add them on.
Also if you do not understand a GFXing term and it is not in the definitions I put please tell me what the word is so I may put it up there. I would also like to add a tutorial section so please post some tutorials if you want them up there.

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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:32
bulletgun
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#2
lame everyone knows this already
  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:32
natenate96
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#3
hey how do i become a mod

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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:33
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#4
Quote by natenate96
hey how do i become a mod

gtfo!!!! And nice for people that are new to gfxing...........
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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:35
pikedog55
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#5
hmm nice guide. Good for the new gfxers and raters. Good job
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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:36
ZabuzaMomochi13
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#6
Niceee... .
  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:36
Beowulf_720
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#7
Nicely done.

Sources:
Renders: Animerender.com (Requires a post count of 25 for renders in the basic gallery, but it's well worth it.)
Stocks: Animestock.com.

Edit:
I would suggest adding links for finding brushes as well.
  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:38
Elpizo
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#8
Quote by Beowulf_720
Nicely done.

Sources:
Renders: Animerender.com (Requires a post count of 25 for renders in the basic gallery, but it's well worth it.)
Stocks: Animestock.com.

Edit:
I would suggest adding links for finding brushes as well.

Thanks

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  Posted on August 26, 2008 21:47
jouninneji
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#9
Very Nice. I think this is great for beginners.
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  Posted on August 27, 2008 17:54
Elpizo
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#10
Thanx
Does anyone have any links I could add up?

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  Posted on August 27, 2008 17:56
tj1425
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#11
this would definatly help those who want to know how to gfx

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