The Ultimate Graphics Guide

[ZG-kitty]

A lot of people on this site are well-aware that even though we're a Nintendo forum. We make graphic art just as much as real graphic forums.
Knowing that we have such a large crowd of graphic designers, I'd like to spread out a guide for everyone to learn and explore.

Part I: What is Graphic Design?
GFX: Also known as "Graphic FX - Graphic Effects" - is manipulating images and creating custom adjustments to it yourself.

If you don't know the basic elements of Graphic Design, see link64's guide on
What to look for in a Signature!

Quoting Wiki:
The term graphic design can refer to a number of artistic and professional disciplines which focus on visual communication and presentation. Various methods are used to create and combine symbols, images and/or words to create a visual representation of ideas and messages. A graphic designer may utilize typography, visual arts and page layout techniques in varying degrees to produce the final result of the project. Graphic design often refers to both the process (designing) by which the communication is created and the products (designs) which are generated.
Common uses of graphic design include magazines, advertisements, product packaging and web design. For example, a product package might include a logo or other artwork, organized text and pure design elements such as shapes and color which unify the piece. Composition is one of the most important features of graphic design especially when utilizing pre-existing materials or using diverse element

A lot of people see graphic work as putting a cool background behind a render, popping on some text and hopefully it looks good.
Not quite. When working with graphic art, think about it just like drawing...physical hand art.

It's a Real Art

Ever see those covers on magazines where the guys and girls look really awesome? Or the sleek look of the car advertisement?

Graphic Design.

It's a real job, people pursue it. It IS art.

If you are an artist, you know a lot about shading. You shade the dark parts and the light source is irrelevant.
The same deal applies for graphic art, you are conceptional...everything makes sense and it thought out. It's realsitic, but abstract in your own taste.

Pieces shouldn't look flat. They need to have life, that is why we manipulate images and give it our own feel and work. It's like reworking pieces into your own.

Part II: Resources / Understanding

Main Software:
Adobe Photoshop
The GIMP

Other:
Paint.net
Paint Shop Pro

Gimp can be found at: http://www.gimp.org/
Photoshop can be bought...but at really expensive prices.
There are other ways to get it, but I can't mention it here. ;P
Terms guide:

Tag/Signature: Anything you would wear in your signature.
*example
LP / Large Piece: a ...large piece of work.
*example
Userbar: a small bar in a signature that says something about you.
*example
Avatar: Avatar or image, usually used on forums.
*example
Render: an image that has been cut out of its original background... this allows other artist to use it for their own signatures.
*example
Stock Image: A stock image is stock photography, which is basically anything that is taken for the use of manipulation.
Anything is really considered a stock, any picture that is of good use to you.
*example
Gradient: a transition of two colors
*example
B&W: Black & White
Filters: Options within programs that provide image manipulation and effects.
Image Quality: The quality of an image is the level of pixelation. Is it blurry, too sharp? too choppy? Always check image extensions.

Default img extention for GFX: .png /.gif for animations

Note: a lot of the time when using .gif's (particulary in GIMP), the quality of the images go down.

Elements:

Lighting: The light source(s) of the work, where there is apparently lights and darks
Depth: The look of the signature that makes it look 3-D, there are apparent things in the front and back. There is dimension.
Flow: The overall direction and shape of the contents within it.
Composition: The layout / arrangement of the elements of art the piece
Concept: The thought and feeling behind what the designer is intended. Like a moral.
Text: The actual text, name...anything written on it.
(Again, for more help go to link64's guide)

C4d: an abstract image made in Cinema 4D (Professional graphing program)
used to enhance artwork.
*example
Clipping Masks: applied to digital images to "knock out" the background or other unwanted features, created by using clipping paths
*example
Pen Tool / Paths tool: Tools within your program that will help you do things like render, draw, create shapes, vectorize, etc.
*example
Smudging: The smudge tool will help you "smudge" with settings to create a nice paint like look.
*example
Vector: directional and flow-oriented style with shapes and abstract figures.
*example
Constructive Criticism (Cnc): Advice and comments that help build and improve for the designer. [BAD - "BOO YOU SUCK."]

Search it up!
Part of being a good graphic designer is to know how to use your program & finding your own resources.
Surf the net, look for resources that work. Save them all to a folder on your computer so that you'll have an arsenal of your own resources you've found to pick from!

Search for render sites, graphic forums, stock sites, any resources that you'll need.

Using these techniques and tools, you'll be able to find a style of your own.

Part III: Getting Started

Starting Graphic Designs, you will usually think...
oh lord, it's going to take forever for me to get good...
Of course, everything takes practice to get it.

A lot of people misunderstand how to practice and get better with graphics

Advice for anyone who is new to their program:
EXPLORE IT! EXPERIMENT!
Look through the program and play with all of the functions. Know what everything does.

After you fully understand your program, you learn to use them in your own choice.

Tutorials

If you are stuck and can't think of anything.
Read and try out tutorials.
other designers provide tutorials and guide that will help you see what they did and will possibly help you forge your own style.
Hopefully you don't rely on tutorials, but sometimes they are a nice start to boosting you up somewhere.
Soon, you can come up with your own signature techniques.

DL!!1

You've got to start downloading materials to help you out.
There are lots of guides to help you with that.

Download: Renders | Stocks | C4D's | Brushes | fonts | etc.


Don't know what something is?
Always feel free to ask other designers...they are there to help you out!
Don't feel dumb for asking questions because everyone has had to ask them at one point.

Getting Ideas

No, I'm not telling you to go out and copy peoples' signatures, but what I am saying is that a lot of the time... your style is inspired by others.
Just looking at other work can help you stir ideas and get an idea of what graphics are.

Part IV: Critique

Part of being a good designer is knowing how to give feedback.

A comment like " Cool sigs, looks good" is not critique.
Many people feel like they are being rude or mean when they give feedback, but it's like a teacher. They will be truthful and precise and what they have to say.
I'm not saying to bash someone out, but that's where it DOES get far.

The best way to critique is to go down the line of elements.
Don't tell them lies, don't tell them something is good when they're not.
Be honest and they will respect that more in the long run.

Words NOT to use alone, because they a vague.
Good
Not Good
Great
Awesome
Pretty
Fantastic

You get the idea...
You can say...That looks great!
...just remember to back it up.
If you're going to make a claim, substantiate!

[ZG-kitty]

Part V: The Rules

Rules?!?
Yes, their are rules when you are learning to be graphic designer.

Ripping
What is ripping?
Ripping is another word for ...stealing.
Copy + Paste + your name = stealing.
Don't steal other people's work and claim it as your own.
Even if you are taking it and manipulating it, that's stealing.
It's bad. It's the internet, but it's bad.

Be careful what you use for resources because that maybe another person's work.

LRO: Learning Rights Only

When someone posts a .psd or tutorial.
(A .psd is a copy of what they did - all layers)
(tutorial - obviously a guide)
there will be learning rights only, which is the designer saying you may ONLY use this for your rights to learn only. No stealing.

If you are posting a tutorial or sharing with other designers, ALWAYS credit.
ALWAYS ask for permission for usage of graphic materials.

Part VI: Bases and renders

When starting a base for a signature. There are many options for you to start with.

Color Scheme:
Have a good color scheme.
Monotone, Complementary, Triad. Just do.
See a guide on the site or elsewhere on basic visual art color concept.
Stock image, you just work right on top of the image. Keep adding effects on top. Usually there is a blurring involved, because stocks are the easiest to create even more depth than already presented to you.

Stock image w/ Render, do the same as above, but use a render in front of the stock. Make sure the render is proportional in size and placement to the background and that it fits with a theme.

Gradient / Solid Color, start simple and then build in. Start with a basic gradient.

Copy render, take your render copy it a few times and merge them all together, you will have a background of your render over and over a few times. Just manipulate with it! Or you can take your render and enlarge it and use that. Or just use other renders!

Picking a good render, When you want to pick a good render, you'll usually want one with a nice pose and there are nice points to focalize.

Focal: the main focus of the image, first thing that draws the most attention.
Usually done with colors and lighting.

Rendering yourself, when rendering, the best way is to use the pen / paths tool. It will give you exact measurements and edges for a nice clean cut.


Part VII: Effects

Using effects is a very powerful, yet abusable part in GFX.
Don't add too much effects, keep them reasonable, appropriate.
Make sure they make sense!

Techniques:

C4D's
There are two types of C4D.
Solid - solid c4d's are types that don't need any special lighting, they are just used in their solid form. Usually for backgrounds or basic foreground.
Main purpose:
Effect - These C4D's are ones that are used for more flow and lighting.
Usually they are put on layer types like: screen, lighten, linear dodge, color dodge, etc.

Note: always play around with different layer types

Clipping masksTo cover up and replace parts of stocks and renders you don't want.
Use clipping masks! They are good for vector styles as well.

Smudging
The normal use of smudging is to impress with your own ability to create depth with your freehand. They make good ways to start bases as well.

Lighting
Lighting is possibly one of the most important elements in a signature.
When you make a light source you pick a point where it can most-likely be a focal point. Making this source requires the proper areas of the signature and render to be properly lighted and that includes added dark.
DEPTH ++ Lighting is a major depth enhancer.

Filters
Filters are a big part in manipulating and changing images.
Distorting is always a way to make something unique to your art.
Stay away from the ones that don't look so great.
Some things are meant for photographers or people that use it for other things than the graphic design you do.
Some filters you should check out:

Video, High Pass, Wave, Ripple, Blur, Sharpen, & Noise adjustments.

Part VIII: Text

Text is a very significant factor in graphic designing.
Think of it like the FINALE of your work.
Usually people just add their name and words that describe their concept.

Sometimes it's a choice

Sometimes, tags look better off w/o ANY text.
This is b/c text can also take away from a signature.
Be careful if you decide to do this!
Something unnamed is just what graphic rippers look for!

Keep text simple, but sleek
People fret over text and make flashing bright colors and its massive , taking up 50% of the signature.
This takes away from the art.
It's like scribbling all over a painting.

Go with the flow

If your signature has flow, place it correctly.
Make your text blend with your sig, as if it were an effect going along with everything else.

Part IX: The No-No List

Here, I will list all the no-no's and bad things to do with graphic design.
Not everything is completely bad in every aspect, but generally in most cases.

1 pixel borders
I'll admit, I used them a lot, but I generally only do it rarely and on things like banners.
A lot of the time I don't even use borders because they aren't needed.
Sometimes if a signature BLENDS in with the forum background, then add a border to make it look not so confusing.

Random colors
Don't add random colors to make it look good, unless it's controlled, it sometimes looks like a mess.

Bad Renders
Make sure the render is clean cut because usually, the render is the most judged about a signature because it's the focus.

Too much text
Don't overwhelm it!
If you DO have lots of text, change the sizes to make it look not so...crowded.

The same text every time!
Change it up, we need refreshing texts!

Same sigs, different colors/renders.
Change your style up! Don't make them all look like you did the same thing w/ different materials.

Ripped Material
duh?

Bevel and Emboss
Only use this on SOME texts, and you have to change blending options or else it just looks funky if you have this metallic text on a non-metallic signature.

Random Brushes / Too much
Brush Spam = no! Use them properly to a good amount.

Burning my eyes
Don't make things to bright... it never works.

Side note: Contrast!
dark background? lighter render. Light background? Dark render

Not too dark / don't cover everything up!
Then we can't see all your work!

Raw Colors
Pure Red, Pure Blue...etc. Use natural colors!

[ZG-kitty]

This guide is never-ending.
I will always continue to edit and add to it.

Want more?
Need anything specific explained?
Just suggest it and you got it!

Thanks for reading all!
I really hope this helps a lot of designers out there!

[Mr. Ryan]

Like the Guide :3

atleast now i know whats kept you busy for most of today

[Nago]

Woot! It was very long XD Nice though, you really included like everything there I think... Pretty much xD

[Fury]

Very nice guide

[wobbyx]

Very Useful Guide as per usual the great zg reigns on us with the knowledge zg posses

[Fezzly]

the vector sig link is broken =o

[Juggernaut]

Nice guide, maybe for the Ripped material thing, add this link: http://www.wiipals.net/Forum/f52/ripping-is-too-easy-dont-do-it-d-39551.html

other then that... awesome

[yankeefan802]

This was very useful to me ZG. Great guide.