TopHATslash Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 The Ultimate Guide to Tags This is a guide that will be improved every day. So check back frequently for updates, and new techniques. I've seen many people on the paint.net forum start to make photoshop style sigs. Well in this guide I will explain techniques, terms, and resource sites. Hopefully, many people will like this tutorial and will use it to improve as they make more and more tags. So let's start with terms: Sig: A image usually to follow every post on a message board; forum.Tag: Another word for sig. But a tag consists of flow, depth and lighting.Flow: This is how your eyes want to look at the focal. It also means the direction of the effects.Depth: This is how you make your tag not look flat. This means blurring or sharpening.. which we will discuss later in the guide. Render: A cut out character, vehicle, scenery, etc. It has a transparent background.Stock: A regular picture. No cut outs.C4D: A 3D render made in Cinema 4D. These are for flow and effect. Usually set them to screen. Okay so now that you know what I'm talking about, let's get started. Techniques to Improve your Tag Flow: You now know what flow is. So let me demonstrate. Here is a render: This render, when turned into a tag, will have a flow like this: When choosing you flow, be sure to decide on a good point of view. If the focal is looking to the top right, then you should choose the effects to mainly flow top right. Usually, bad flow and be fixed by rotating. Depth: Here's a simple stock placed into size. [so what? I used a vader stock, you got a problem with that?!] Now to get the focal, vader, to stand out I ran sharpen. [Photo>Sharpen]. You have to be the judge of the settings. Don't go over 20 though. Then I used my eraser tool to erase everything on the sharp layer other than vader. Then what you should do is blur the background. Since as of me posting this, there is no blur tool.. we will have to improvise. Duplicate the original stock layer, then gaussian blur it. Then use clone stamp on a new lyer to just get the background, or use your eraser to erase the blurred focal. That is a good way to depth'n up your sig. C4D Usage: Alright, this is our first update. I was brain storming on a C4D section. So here, I have two of the same render, but different background colors. One tan, and one black. So I placed a normal 'ol C4D and then set it to screen. Well.. it turned alright for the black one, but not the tan. Do ya agree? =P To fix this, I will be introducing a new type of C4D that not many people in the PdN Community know about. They are transparent background C4Ds. Amazing looking. They are so much better than ones with a black background. I used these types in this tag: http://im-vital.deviantart.com/art/Expr ... g-92696622 So here is a great pack that I could find for this tutorial: And now with one of these C4Ds, this is what the tag looks like: Lighting: Okay, so here I will demonstrate some lighting. Let's start off with your tag. This is mine [yes I know it is absolutely terrible but it also is only like 3 layers haha, nothing complex]: Alright, as you can see, this sig is very bland. It seems like I just put a render on a background. Which is never what the maker wants. So now I brushed a little white with a 60px brush [the brush tool, not the plugin] on where we can tell by the render where the lighting should be. Now we need to blur this. I blurred at 81px using gaussian blur but it all depends on the sig. Play around with the blurring and the opacity. As you can tell now it is more blended and has a light source. But now we need to add a darkening to it. So let's repeat the previous steps except with black and toward where the light source would not be shining on the render. And now blur it like above following the steps in the lighting, and voila! *Make sure you play around with settings. Blending: Here will be a couple [more to come] ways of doing things for tags. Here is a quick blending technique: Take your brush tool and brush around with a flow with 30px brush. Then do a good frosted glass to spread it out nice like this: Now run dents to blur/distort it nicely: Another one: Here is a way for you to colorize your tag without using any color plugins. This is all about your opinion. So, I made a quick tag for this tutorial, nothing complicated: Well, I really don't like the colors. So, let us change this! Make a new layer. Then choose 2 colors.. this is very hard to make right, but.. with practice, it will be easy to get a good eye for it. For this tutorial I made three gradients. Here are their blending options: 1 - Overlay; 32 Opacity2 - Reflect; 11 Opacity3 - Darken; 36 Opacity There ya have it. Now the tag is blended and well tinted. Text: Text is a very unique thing. Many people master it yet others don't. Here are some tips on text. Never use black on black. Applys for all colors.Drop shadows are nice, but black or white only.. other colors are distracting imo.Blending is great. But don't overdue it. Here's a little text demonstration: I am taking the tag that I used earlier in the Color Blending section of this guide. One thing to do is always look at the flow of your tag before placing your text. Here are our flows: Stay away from corners. All this will do is distract the viewers eyes! So let's choose our flow. For this tag, I'm going to choose the flow going up his arm, the first one. So I'm going to use a good font to suit the tag. (Just because this is a knight, doesn't mean the text has to be knight-ish!!) I chose Continuum Bold at 12px. I placed my text on his arm and ran two black Outline Objects at 2px and 255 softness. But this is rather.. un-blended [] so let us blend it! Basically, what I did is moved the layer down below the Gradients from the Color Blending section of the tutorial. And voila! Text Designing Text may seem an easy thing to do, but it isn't. If not done correctly, the tag/signature could be ruined entirely. That is how important it is. I see many people who put it on just for the sake of it but now this part of the guide will prevent it from further happening! First of all, I'll be demonstrating a simple but effective text design. I'll be using this signature I've made recently: As you can see, the text is simple. It has 2 different colours used and and an effective font, Arial, that overlaps eachother. Here's how to do it in 2 easy-long explained steps: 1. Choosing the colours To choose the correct colours, you must use the colours that are used for the signature so that it can blend and match. In this case, the signature's colours are mainly purple and white. Choosing the colours from the "Color ToolBar" may not entirely match the signature; so this is where the "Color Picker" Tool comes in handy. Choose the tool in the "Tool Bar" that looks like the image below. Then, simply click on a part of the signature where it has the colour which you want to use. 2. Adding the Text: Pretty much you know how to do this though I'll still have to explain since this IS a guide. *sigh* Select the tool where it shows an "A" from the tool bar. And now the way to making the style. I added a new layer of course and selected the colour white. I used the font Arial; setting it on bold with a size of 15. Using Top Hat Slash's part of the guide, "Text", find an area where you want to place the text. I then again added a new layer and set the size and font to the same settings as before. Using my colour I chose from the "Color Picker", I typed in my text and dragged it slightly on top of my other white text. That's all there is to it. Try experimenting text styles and test other designs too; using some of the essential tips from this part of the guide. (I will add more styles to this part of the guide once in a while) External Sites Here are some good sites for resources on tags. PlanetRenders.net GameRenders.com deviantART.com I hope you like this guide. Everyday it will be built upon so keep checking back for new techniques to make your tags, even better. Log Tutorial Written - July 31st, 2008C4D Usage Added - August 1st, 2008Color Blending - August 2nd, 2008Text DemonstrationLighting - August 18th, 2008Text Design (By Yipppiyo) - August 24th, 2008 -TopHATslash -Yipppiyo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slj Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 wow never realized sigs 'n stuff were that hard Nice tut, will chech again certainly!!! Create cool burned-in images!!! Flash version of the tutorial Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Ryan Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Good stuff! Can't wait for the updates, cuz you gotta keep 'em rolling This really is one aqful tutorial. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks for the comments! ...Mike, you're an aqful person. /inside joke Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFC4EVER Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Once this is improved, if this doesn't get stickied then.. umm.. i'll do something .. :evil: :? Simply great tut! ☆★☆★Merry Christmas★☆★☆  .::.My Gallery.::.Make Gold Text!.::. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 What do you suggest I improve on? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFC4EVER Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Ummm.. well by improving it, i meant adding more ways to add depth, flow etc.. Then its up to the mods to sticky it. ☆★☆★Merry Christmas★☆★☆  .::.My Gallery.::.Make Gold Text!.::. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 Alright. This is a guide that will be improved every day. So check back frequently for updates, and new techniques. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocknroll93 Posted July 31, 2008 Share Posted July 31, 2008 Thanks Top Hat! this helped me lots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted July 31, 2008 Author Share Posted July 31, 2008 No problem. Glad it helps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonArtist Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Great tutorial! I found this very resourceful. Motion blurring brushes is another great way to work on depth and flow. Quickies: Here will be a couple [more to come] ways of doing things for tags. Here is a quick blending technique: Take your brush tool and brush around with a flow with 30px brush. Then do a good frosted glass to spread it out nice like this: Now run dents to blur/distort it nicely: I like this way the most in this tutorial. Gamertag 360: xX 8 Balll (Three L's) Free Web Hosting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thejester24 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks for making this. I maybe able to make my current sig better or even make a whole new one. [Second Attempt] [First Attempt] Private: Commander Commander: Yes Private Private: Permission to fire Sir Commander: Permission granted BANG BANG BANG!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks both of you. I'm adding some more to it in the morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJXD Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Awsome dude keep it up |My Sig Tut| Deviant Art |Advanced Grunge Texture|My Gallery The Birthplace of Life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pipp92 Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Really great guide, love to see more of it Personal Gallery Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Thanks for the comments. Added a C4D usage part. Hope ya like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KonArtist Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 Planet Renders also has some transparent background C4Ds, but it is your tutorial I really love the C4D part since it shows the flow in it covering up the parts that would take your eye away from you focal point! Keep up the great work love to see more work about flow! Gamertag 360: xX 8 Balll (Three L's) Free Web Hosting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 1, 2008 Author Share Posted August 1, 2008 Tomorrow or tonight I will be adding a brushing part. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LFC4EVER Posted August 1, 2008 Share Posted August 1, 2008 YAY! Can't wait tHs, i'm sure it'll be an excellent part *waits eagerly* ☆★☆★Merry Christmas★☆★☆  .::.My Gallery.::.Make Gold Text!.::. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 lol. Well I'm glad that you're excited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Expiration- Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks for this guide tHs, its really helping me learn more as I go along. I'm going to have to try that C4D trick sometime. Looking forward to additions! Call me expired. Please. Don't go counting your chickens before the pack of rabid ravaging foxes attacks. -Sozo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks expired. Glad ya like it. :o So what does everyone want for the next addition? Any particular requests? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yipppiyo Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Great tutorial THS! Good write up just like your other tutorials. I'd have to say the depth helped me the most. The blending and C4D's may come in handy some day. A good addition to the tutorial could be: -More ways of doing blending, text, depth, etc. -Techniques of Smudging -Using Brushes .:Latest:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
~L1ke 20 N1njas~ Posted August 2, 2008 Share Posted August 2, 2008 Superior tutorial. I had actually never heard of 'C4D's before reading this. excellent tutorial. 9.5/10. Click my signature to go to my deviantART. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopHATslash Posted August 2, 2008 Author Share Posted August 2, 2008 Thanks both of you. I'm going to a bloc party in a sec but when I get back I will add a brushing part. Any suggestions on style? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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