maxymama:
Here is a great tutorial that helps explain Histograms, Levels, and Curves. And if you don't know what those words mean, don't be scared off. Before I read this tutorial, I would play around with the sliders and noticed the changes, but I didn't know what the point was and was mostly stumbling around in the dark.

While looking up references and links for a tutorial on animated icons, I found one specifically for Gimp, which many of you use: Here. I don't use Gimp, so I can't verify the quality of this tutorial. Remember that the size limit for icons is 40 kb for Live Journal (and elsewhere) and 100 kb for Insane Journal.

_alicesprings:
I was wondering if someone could give me a few tips on putting text on icons. I've had a scroll through the asylum and didn't see a tutorial on this subject.

I'm pretty useless at making icons but I can manage in a pinch, however I have never been able to do text. Can anyone help?

Oh! And I use Photoshop but I have access to GIMP.

brianslave68:

maxymama was asking over here how to make a particular image into a nice, clear icon.

My result:



( Just 4 little layers )

kari77:
Over the last months I learned a lot about lightening and cleaning up QaF caps, from tutorials by fellow icon makers or simply by trial and error.
Tonight I worked with a cap from episode 403, Brian and Emmett at Babylon. I was pleased with the result and thought that it would make a great tutorial. It is written for Photoshop, but I think most of it is translatable to Gimp in a way.

How to go from here to here ==>

Since there are a few fans here who recently got started in the world of icon making, I added a lot of blabbering in depth explanations why I did what I did (even if I didn't really know what I was doing. lol) So, beware of a long ass post by a non-native speaker.

( Here we go )

maxymama:
Can anybody help me color correcting this (taken by inner_justin, I believe). I have been using Photoshop and keep messing around with the color balance and selective color options, but I am not sure I am maximizing the change potential. Any help?

maxymama:
Is there anything to do to this icon to lighten it, to see the skin and hair color better?

brianslave68:

Several weeks ago maxymama asked how I made the header that's on my journal. I found the image that I used with the steps for how I made the 'sketch effect'. Not sure what else to call it! Anyway, hope this is interesting to someone out there.

( The sketch effect )

brianslave68:

I made this graphic today and thought it turned out pretty cool so I figured I'd share how I made it. This was surprisingly easy to do.



( Textures are our friends )

maxymama:
I come with a question! I am trying to make a graphic with a Polaroid-look, ( more info )

brianslave68:

This is in response to michira_70's post over here requesting help in lightening/cleaning up dark blue caps. This is one example of some methods I use. These exact settings won't necessarily work for every dark blue cap but will hopefully provide a starting point. Always remember to play around with the opacity of your layers and try different colors as well.

( Here we go! )

noteverything:
I know there are *real* artists at work here, so I'll just whisper and then I'll tiptoe out to leave you to it.

I, like 9,371 other QaF fans, would love to attempt icons. I've seen the acronym GIMP bandied about, so I Googled it and saw that it was primarily for Windows users. There was a version available for Mac, so I thought that might be the way to go. BUT...I thought I'd make sure. If you have a Mac, what do you use to make your icons? Is GIMP the way to go?

suze_y:

I'm all excited - this morning I set out to learn what background textures are all about and I found my way here. And then I tried on about 20 of them in my journal and now I wonder how anybody gets any work done because really I could do this all day!!

I also made a temporary banner for my journal (come see!) - it took me all of 10 minutes from screen cap to upload, and it'll do nicely until I figure out the finer points of Gimp. But honestly, I think once I start getting the hang of this I could tinker with my journal layout every week - how do you resist?

Ok. Enough with the gushing and run-on sentences - but did I mention I was excited? :D

michira_70:
I like icons in blue light.
How can I make them brighter and clearer?
Most of them remain to dark or to bright and fuzzy when I work on them.


( Like these )

maxymama:
I love the look of a picture being outlined, just its essence, like the header here: http://brianslave68.insanejournal.com/

How was this effect achieved?

Thanks for your help!

ETA- ( I think I figured it out. Or at least one way. )

brianslave68:

This is in response to suze_y's post over here. I couldn't respond as a comment to that post because this was way beyond the character limit of a comment!

( My version of Paddies icon )

suze_y:

OMG *looks around nervously* - I don't see any previous posts here other than brianslave68's Welcome post.

Well, ok, I'll go first.

I was admiring maxymama's lovely new summer banner today, and the discussion turned to graphics software and all the things it can do. Rather than reiterate the discussion here, I'll just point you over there: Over there

I'm a novice, just beginning to learn GIMP. And I don't really expect to learn to fly before I can walk. However, when I see icons like this one *points up to icon* by brianslave68, I am - well, blown away by how beautiful it is, but beyond that, I'm flummoxed as to where you begin to learn how to make the image so crisp.
( Read more... )

brianslave68:

Welcome to this brand spanking new community! If you have an interest in learning how to make graphics or need to hone your existing skills then this is the place to be.

New members feel free to jump right in!