If you have a question, CLICK HERE FIRST. Image Manipulation Q & A V.2.0.1

[50-fiftytrap]

Ok I just made this Makoto av, but the pic as you can see is crappy and it was my 1st one so I just made one to get better at av making. Can someone help me to get my pics clearer I didn't look at any of the links on the 1st page. Would the solution be there?

[denjin]

I did a search for 'vector' and I came up with stuff that isn't exactly what I'm looking for.

Okay, I drew some stuff on paper with pencil. Then I scanned it onto my computer.

Now, I think I can get some great colors off of Flash/Fireworks, so I want to try to do things with that.

My question: How can you have Fireworks convert lines into vector lines for you?
I was reading this book and it mentioned doing it by 'tracing.' Something tells me that's 'drawing' over the lines with my mouse. AKA, drawing my picture all over again. Sounds dumb. Sounds unnecessary.

Rei, you still read these? Can you help?
Can anyone else help?

[Rei]

I did a search for 'vector' and I came up with stuff that isn't exactly what I'm looking for.

Okay, I drew some stuff on paper with pencil. Then I scanned it onto my computer.

Now, I think I can get some great colors off of Flash/Fireworks, so I want to try to do things with that.

My question: How can you have Fireworks convert lines into vector lines for you?
I was reading this book and it mentioned doing it by 'tracing.' Something tells me that's 'drawing' over the lines with my mouse. AKA, drawing my picture all over again. Sounds dumb. Sounds unnecessary.

Rei, you still read these? Can you help?
Can anyone else help?
You are going to have to do a two step process no matter what. The first step is going to be the pencils, and the second step is going to be the inks. Essentially, the inking is going to go over the pencils and make a cleaner version of the pencil version that has no flaws. There are two ways to ink.

The first way is to use non-photo pencils (blue > red) and then go over that with artist's ink pens or a rapidiograph pen. Then, when you scan in the piece, the non-photo pencils won't be scanned, but the inks will. At that point you can use a tool like Adobe Streamline or IllustratorCS2 to convert the inked image into vector art.

Alternately, you can take a pencil drawing and scan that in directly. Then you can use the pen tool in pretty much any vector program (Illustrator, CorelDraw, Fireworks, etc) to "ink" the image.

Either way, you are going to end up tracing the image. For finished images, I don't recommend this because you might as well draw it again. I recommend doing this with pencil drawings that you know are going to be traced, because you can then take shortcuts in the penciling process.

[Jappo]

Can someone be kind enough to have this picture be no greater than 100x100 pixels in dimension and 10 KB in file size? I can't do it because whenever I try to set it with the program I use (infran, the only program I have =/), it loses image quality and sometimes it has a preset of (x) and (x) in pixles.

EDIT: Nevermind, got it.

[Xenozip.]

You are going to have to do a two step process no matter what. -snip-
This is something I've been thinking about too.

However, isn't it possible to convert the image to two colors (white and black). Then grab the white areas (cropping the BG), and convert the chunks to vector in Flash/Fireworks?

Or rather, just delete the black areas and you're left with the white areas, then just delete the BG.

If the lines aren't smooth or there's a lot of shading, I'd imagine there's ways around that too. Blur or smudge filters, then lower the color count gradually till you get 2 colors, I'm assuming would make averaged (and therefor even) lines.

Actually, that reminds me.. In Photoshop, you can use the Magic Wand tool and turn on the Anti-alias and Feathered options for grabbing smooth chunks. I'd imagine you could grab the black areas and because it's aliased and feathered, it should be smooth. Then paste it to a new image and lower the color count again.

I know that at least in flash you have options like Trace Bitmap and some sort of Split command that can take images and convert solid shapes into individual objects. You can then convert the pieces to flat colors and then piece the image back together. Which is actually less tedious than it sounds for just one image, IIRC. The question then would be how many images are you converting.

I recall doing something like this starting with a 32bit photograph before, so I'm thinking it would probably work for a pencil shaded image. But it's probably a lot easier to convert hand-drawn line art with no shading.

I dunno, I'm just trying to think of ways to avoid inking that doesn't involve tracing.

[denjin]

This is something I've been thinking about too.

I had trouble following the terminology, but what he's saying sounds like something I'd like to do. Hm.

Also, my scanner sometimes picks up things I don't want it to and sometimes doesn't pick up the things I do want it to.

Don't want: Dust on paper. (A purely black and white drawing will look like it has fog on it.
Do want: Things I've drawn.

[XAQshinor]

ok so i just got photoshop cs2 and decided to make my own avatar. my question is, i made four seperare 160x64 pieces now how do i combine them into one animated av?

[the T1AN]

ok so i just got photoshop cs2 and decided to make my own avatar. my question is, i made four seperare 160x64 pieces now how do i combine them into one animated av?
use ImageReady CS2, it comes with photoshop

the beginning of this thread has a bunch of information you'll probably find useful, btw

[XAQshinor]

i tried using image ready. i opened it but then i dont know wat to do from there. i also tried using animation shop 3 from jasc but it tells me this psd file contains unsupported adjustment layers. im a noob so i have no idea wat that means or how to correct it. nevermind, i had to change it into gif format. thanks for your help anyway though.

[SirSmooth]

hey...what are some nice ways to get some interesting background textures in photoshop...

[Onslaught2000]

Alright, I'm still a Photoshop novice and I still have much to learn about all the kinks and what-not.

Anyways, since I'm still into the whole iPod avatar bit, I tried to make one myself (it's the avatar I'm currently using). But, there are two things I want to know to "complete" my avatar. And I could'nt find this in the other iPod threads so that's why I'm asking here. Anyways

1) How do I put a border? Sersiously, I'm a noob and I can't figure this out and can't find it anywhere.
2) What kind of font do people use? I'm using Aerial (bold) so thats what my text looks like in my avatar.

Thanks for any help!

[DarkDragon]

Alright, I'm still a Photoshop novice and I still have much to learn about all the kinks and what-not.

Anyways, since I'm still into the whole iPod avatar bit, I tried to make one myself (it's the avatar I'm currently using). But, there are two things I want to know to "complete" my avatar. And I could'nt find this in the other iPod threads so that's why I'm asking here. Anyways

1) How do I put a border? Sersiously, I'm a noob and I can't figure this out and can't find it anywhere.
2) What kind of font do people use? I'm using Aerial (bold) so thats what my text looks like in my avatar.

Thanks for any help!

1 - Make a new layer and select it
- Select the square marquee tool in the toolbar (shortcut key is M)
- With the marquee tool, make a box covering your entire work canvas
- Got to Edit > Stroke
- Play with the settings (size, colour etc..) untill you have want you want. click ok
- A border should now be created
You could then use the Magic Wand Tool (its a subsection of the marquee tool), select that border and apply a gradient or any other type of edit you can think of to give it some spice.
Also, check out that "Photoshop Tutorial" thread to see how you can create custom borders

2 I don't know what font people use for the ipod avs, but you should have www.dafont.com bookmarked as it has one of the biggest font archives around and doesn't have any annoying pop-up adds or redirecting links.

[Onslaught2000]

Awesome, obviously I got the border, and I did'nt know about the font, but I fixed it a little better so it looks a lot more like the other iPod avatars.

But yeah, I did'nt know you could add more fonts (even though I was always curious as how to get some of the better fonts) to PS. I'll have to check out that shit tomarrow!

Big thanks once agian!

[XAQshinor]

question. how do you rotate text in photoshop, like make it slanted
and stuff. thanks alot.

[DarkDragon]

For Shatterstar: Adding animation to your work.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/DarkDrag0n/avatarxz4.gif

For this little tutorial you will need:

Adobe Photoshop/Imageready (I will be doing everything on version CS2/8)
3rd Strike Animation sprites (http://www.zweifuss.com/)

1. Create your avatar

http://img236.imageshack.us/img236/4172/avatarxz4.png

Since my main focus is on animation, I will skip this part. This av was provided by Shatterstar

2. Organizing your sprites for animation

Open up the super art folder in the 3rd Strike in-game effects folder.

There should be quite a bit of .png files recreating the special effects right before a typical super.

We only need .png files from 30265 to 30296 so delete all the other files in that folder. The next instruction will show you why.


3. Importing your sprites into Imageready

If you think you need to drag and drop each .png file into Imageready and postion each one by hand, think again.
Imageready has an import feature that will take all files from a folder and put each file into its own frame, thus positioning your work for you and animating it.
(ex: 30265.png = frame 1, 30266.png = frame 2 etc..)

Open Imageready, go to Window and make sure these tabs are on: animation, layers, history, optimize and tools.

Heres how I usually set up mine:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/DarkDrag0n/Tutorial%20stuff/interface.gif

go to File > Import > Folder as Frames.

Locate the superart folder and click ok.

All 32 .png files should be in one animation. You can use the "animation" tab to play the animation over to make sure it looks right. Sometimes, frames need to be re-positioned by yourself.


4. Prepping the animtion for your avatar

In the "layers" tab, select the 1st layer (30265.png)

There should be a little eye and brush icon right next to the layer.

The eye icon is telling you that this laver is visible on the current frame you are on (you can see the fames on the "animation" tab. You should be on frame 1)

The brush icon is just an indication that the layer is highlighted and ready to be work on in your canvas.

Click on the empty box where the brush should be on the layer above layer 30265.png.

The empty box should now contain a chain icon. This means the two layers are linked. When you move the contents of layer 1, the contents of frame 2 will move accordingly.

This is helpful when you want to move an animation in an artwork and not worry of mixing up each content's position.

With layer 1 still selected, do this for all other layers.

With layer 1 and frame 1 selected, click and drag the contents of the 1st frame into the center of the work area. You will notice that all the other layers will follow this lead.

Go to Image > Canvas Size. Change it to the same size as your avatar (160w x 100h for this example)


5. Bringing the Avatar and animation together

Open your avatar.

In the animation tab, click on the arrow button right below the white x (close animation window) button. This will open up a menu.

choose New Frame. This will copy the contents of frame 1 and make a duplicate frame (frame 2)

Highlight frame 1 and frame 2 and select New Frame again. Now 2 frames are made. The "New Frame" function will always duplicate the same ammount of frames selected.

Make sure the Animation has a total of 33 frames.

Go to the superart animation work area.

Select all 32 frames.

Go to that arrow button again but this time click on "Copy Frames"

Go back to the Avatar and select the first 32 frames

Go to the arrow button and click on "Paste Frames"

The superart animation should now be on your avatar workarea

Go to frame 1 and drag the 1st layer of the superart animation around to you liking.

Play the animation to see if the effect is in the right place of your choosing.

Go to the last (33rd) frame and set the Frame Delay to 1 second. (click on the "0 sec" in the last frame and a menu that contains the frame delay will pop up )

6. Adding Text

We're almost done so I'll make it quick.

If you want to add simple text, just go to frame 1, select the Type Tool located in the tool box and click on the work area. Type whatever you want then select another tool to get out of the Type Tool.

Now there is alot of things you can do to text. So much that it would need its own tutorial. For this tutorial, I went to Image > Layer Style > Stroke (or choose that lowercase f button in the layers tab and navigate to stroke from there)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/DarkDrag0n/Tutorial%20stuff/layer-style.gif

Heres the settings I used for that style:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/DarkDrag0n/Tutorial%20stuff/layer-style-window.gif


7. Saving your animation.

Go to the "Optimize" tab. It should be located at the top right of the screen

Change the "Preset" to GIF 128 No Dither

Go to File > Save Optimized > Give it a name (note: a default name is usually given)

Done!

[ying2yang]

i <heart3 penpensrk.

me too ; )

Onslaught 2000 : nube

[XAQshinor]

good shit darkdragon:tup:


question. how do you rotate text in photoshop, like make it slanted
and stuff. thanks alot.
=O

[Rei]

question. how do you rotate text in photoshop, like make it slanted
and stuff. thanks alot.

Ctrl+t

[Fadedsun303]

I'm taking my first steps into photoshop and making avatars.

I have a simple question. I cropped the part of the image that I want to use in the avatar, but when I image size it to the size of the avatar I want to make, it becomes really blurry and looks like it was squished. How do I fix this?

Edit-I'm stupid. I just figured it out. I just had to use the sharpen filter.

I do have another question though. How do I go about putting a background into my image?