Fleur-de-licious GFX Atelier

Linnaete

sus
Staff member
Editorial Staff
Veteran
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
6,411
Location
UK
Gil
1,043
Andre the Adamantoise
Chocobo Egg
Accessory (Head)
Accessory (Arms)
Build-A-Member
Chocobo Egg
FFXIV
Aoife Linnaete
FFXIV Server
Lamia
Free Company
None
♫ Yup, finally. I was meaning to make a GFX thread for a while but strangely never got round to doing it until now.

Just a short little description to begin with, I began with GIMP and while I loved it to death as a free-to-download program to mess around with, I did really want the full Photoshop experience, which I did manage to get (cheers, Lew :busta:) eventually.

I don't actually GFX that often. I often have no inspiration or any creativity left in me when I open Photoshop - other times I suddenly want to sit down and work on something even if it's take me several hours per tag just to satisfy the perfectionist in me as much as possible.

So far I've learnt that I'm not a big fan of making icons, hence why there doesn't seem to be any on here. Nor do I like large sigs (i.e. something like 500x200, it's just a personal preference I have). Also, I'm still rather new to GFXing, so there are many things I still have not tried using or am scared of using, be it the Pen Tool on Photoshop or C4Ds.

From my earlier GIMP days:

ZRUoG.png


OBQuj.png


l908Z.png


oB4Ad.png


w9lUB.png


kDcdJ.png


bZ1cT.png


4223l.png


kJ29H.png


Photoshop sigs:

zImPS.png


CCPmE.png


sizJr.png


v1MkY.png


n5WiF.png


NZHMU.png


geWln.png


5gdP5.png


bN724.png


Feel free to fire comments at me. I'll slowly update this thread as I go along. I'll be lurking around trying to make sense of the Pen Tool. :gonk:
 
CCPmE.png


8( Omg.

You're like... Almost a non-beginning-look beginner. :lew: Your tags don't look like you're a starter at all, it looks like you've had a lot of practice before. :wacky:

This one is definitely my favourite and the best out of all the tags I think. You can definitely see the huge improvement from GIMP to Photoshop. Loving it. Psyched you opened a thread so we can regularly see your updates! It's really exciting to see new GFXers start out!

Good luck with the pentool btw... I've been doing this for a few years and that damn thing still pisses me off.
 
The last 2 and the "when it rains" signatures are all excellent IMO. That L.A. Noire tag especially. You can easily see you've improved really quickly. :gasp: Just keep reading loads of tutorials and you're tags will just get better and better. I think it's a good idea to actually follow the tutorials word for word as well. I've read loads of them but whenever I try to do the same thing, I more often than not find out it doesn't work out as planned. You wouldn't believe the number of "tutorial steps" that are actually incorrect and/or badly worded.

About the pen tool... It's good you're trying to learn how to use it, but it's probably the most advanced tool on PS. I think you're probably better off learning the ins and outs of the more basic functions of PS like blending modes and the adjustments because those are really the main things you'll be using to make signatures/LPs/icons etc. Maybe try to experiment with different stocks and how each blending mode affects them or how different adjustments layers change the entire look and feel of your GFX.

Keep it up. :ryan:
Join LC.
:gasp:
 
Last edited:
He's right, the LA Noir one is pretty solid. I especially like the 1st and 6th.

I'm not a novice at this but I do have eyes for color. So if I missed the point due to lack of experience you can just brush aside my comment.
2nd (Aya) has a little too much emphasis on the background, I don't think those streaks or whatever engulfing her is the best choice. Maybe a darker more edgier background that complements her light hair and reflects the aggressiveness of the weapon she's holding would make her pop out more, tone-wise.
 
ZRUoG.png


I'm loving this one.. this has got to be your best one from gimp... colours are great.. and i'm epicly loving the sparkles in the background :D your really good at blending as well

v1MkY.png


This one is like amazing really nice colours.. good lighting and simple yet sweet text :D i can defo tell that your better with photoshop than gimp... keep up the great work XD
 
All of your sigs are great, but it looks like your art skills have improved. I like the polish on some of the later ones. They really stand out.
 
Woo im glad you decided to finally make a thread.
5gdP5.png


Thats defiantely my favourite. Seems your already good at placing text and picking fonts, for most people wer still trying to get that right. The whole sig is very nicely done :ryan: Adding to the lighting would add to the realism i think. You already have a good light and shadow on the render of the man. Adding a white soft brush around maybe 300px to the top left corner would make the lighting look quite realistic. Eitherway its class :ryan:

C4ds are good for depth. If your wanting some good ones lemme know and il send you a pack of the best ones i have. The pentool like ewan said is pretty advanced, i wouldnt worry too much about it for now. Adjustment layers, gradient maps etc are all great ways of dramatically changing a sig. The curves tool is one of the best imo. I would look at all these things before trying the pentool.

Keep posting tho, i enjoyed looking thru :)
 
Woah, thank you all for the comments, people! I have to credit each one of you guys as well because I do look at a wide range of tags on this site and get inspired by the styles used in them (I mean, where else would I have got the idea for using the colour dodge blending + soft brush technique from? xD). I usually try and make something similar in my sigs with mixed results.

Text is still something I'm not a fan of either. If there's one part of a tag I spend a long time in, it's the text. That can really be a nightmare, though I'm really glad I got it right somewhere. :lew:

Aaaaas for the Pen Tool, yeah. I'm not rushing into that yet. I tried looking at some tutorials and I get what Ewan means. Many steps are so vaguely worded that the author appears to have forgotten that he/she is writing this for users who have never really used the tool before. =/
 
/double post :gasp:

Teenie update from me. Thought I may as well post them.

B73Ay.png


Request #1
- Tried a bit of C4D here and wasn't too happy with the result however, but it didn't turn out as bad as I imagined it would.

Mfm6b.png


Request #2


Once again, c&c very welcome. :neomon:
 
I love your work, escpecially your lighting, it's very colourful and pretty, it makes me jealous. :gasp:

geWln.png


bN724.png


Mfm6b.png


These 3 are my favourites from you, the first one because it's a game I like :wacky:

The second one is fricking gorgeous, I love the placement of the lighting, the stock in general, and the text you used too.

The 3rd one is nice too, again the lighting is lush, and the text is great aswell, what font is it? I might steal it :wacky:

Anyway, in general all of your sigs are a good size, and the borders are always there, they always look clean aswell, so props to you! You've got yourself a fan! :awesome:
 
l908Z.png

Love her, I guess I'm biased :monster:

Nice work you have here Livi, so glad you decided to show us more of it. I always knew you did your own sigs and avvys...but I saw you did one for Adri recently so it looks like your work is spreading around a bit more. Keep it up you have some skills ^_^
 
The 3rd one is nice too, again the lighting is lush, and the text is great aswell, what font is it? I might steal it :wacky:

I haven't saved the psd file of that one, but looking at the S the font is likely to be "Sunshine In My Soul". I can't remember exactly where I got that from though, but I'm sure you'll find it. :lew:

And of course, thank you both! Very much appreciated. I'll keep them coming, though even if very gradually as I do often completely lose all inspiration and willpower. xD
 
I haven't saved the psd file of that one, but looking at the S the font is likely to be "Sunshine In My Soul". I can't remember exactly where I got that from though, but I'm sure you'll find it. :lew:

And of course, thank you both! Very much appreciated. I'll keep them coming, though even if very gradually as I do often completely lose all inspiration and willpower. xD

Rau-Rau, font is definitely Sunshine in my Soul, like Levi said, which you can find here:http://www.dafont.com/search.php?psize=m&q=Sunshine+in+my+soul

Levi, your work is gorgeous. I'm loving the request you made and the quoted three signatures above my post look gorgeous, loving the pink/blue/purple touches you gave them.

I think you're really good with text too, I personally always find things to look more interesting with 'out' there fonts. :lew: So, major props. :D
 
And of course, thank you both! Very much appreciated. I'll keep them coming, though even if very gradually as I do often completely lose all inspiration and willpower. xD

Yeah please keep them coming! I know what it's like to lose inspiration myself but you always find it again somewhere :)

Kira, thanks for the link! :awesome:
 
Yh keep them coming XD i'm really liking the work your doing :D

and thanks for the font XD
 
i know double post i'm sorry XD

did you make ur current sig urself..... if so i really like it... great sig or reimi XD
 
i know double post i'm sorry XD

did you make ur current sig urself..... if so i really like it... great sig or reimi XD

No, Martel/Lezard Valeth did. The whole sig is essentially making fun of my hate towards that very repetitive quote from Reimi in the game. As it's blue (total bias of colour for me), I couldn't possibly not like it. :lew:

I did make the last sig I wore (briefly) of Saber:

l1BpB.png


Looking at it now, I wish I hadn't put in the white line going diagonally across with the white orb-like things. I can't help but think it's graphically a bit messy. :olivia:
 
This latest one has some great tones of purple and blue. I like what you did with the blending, and the placement is great too. Not so sure about the faded, purple box, though; it seems random. All else is great, though. ^^
 
Quicky little update:

8jDS3.png


Request(ish) #3
- My first piece with the rounded corners after finally figuring out how to do them. Ehh, I dunno, I'm not happy about the slightly jagged corners there, I had it at 50px and I think I could have raised that a little higher or something.

vn297.png


Just another version of it without the rounded corners and the black half-borders.

Yeah, I haven't been making much lately, nor have I been on Photoshop very often to make anything productive. Things have just been hectic and I may be reaching the point where I may be getting slight burnout. xD
 
Back
Top