Sarah's graphic design thread (taking requests!)

@Atina: Yeah, I saw your original request post and I asked if this was what you're talking about because I am not very familiar with TCW at all.

I'd be happy to make one for you! I just don't know what you mean by Republic Commando because I am totally lost when it comes to the EU

like um........ NOT TCW it is like clone troopers. I'll send you the link

http://images-mediawiki-sites.thefullwiki.org/01/3/2/1/85515491785534757.jpg

If i could make the graphic designs myself, I would XD It isn't from EU either. It is from the books. lol You don't have to be embarrassed I"m NOT into the EU stuff either.lol

EU IS the books.

I knew that.. lol i always though EU was Expand of the Universe.

Expanded Universe. It IS. It means all the books, comics and everything that isn't in the movies or TCW.

(Thanks Amaranthine) lol I SURE didn't know that.. lol *hugs*

@Atina: Okay, got it! So you're talking about the Karen Traviss books then?

And btw, Clone Wars is technically EU, because the EU encompasses everything that isn't strictly in the six movies.

@RachelisaJedi: Sorry for getting back to you so late but yes, I will definitely make an icon of Luke from ANH for you!

yes... we are... talking about Karen Traviss. ah.. got it! Thanks for clearing it up!

Quick update: Sorry I'm being a bit slow guys but I'm in the midst of exams and packing up to move back home, so I've not had time to make icons.

I should have them ready for you by Wednesday at the absolute latest. If I don't, feel free to Force choke me or something.

THANKS STG! I totally understand. Since i JUST finished my STAR testing. I totally agree. You don't HAVE to make the graphic designs if you don't have the time. No rush. We aren't going anywhere

Okay guys, sorry this took so long, but here you go! I went with the regular icon size but if you guys want the bigger size just say so; now that I'm on summer vacation I've got ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD~

@Atina:


@RachelisaJedi


And Atina, I know you wanted a tutorial on how I make my icons, so I'll post one tomorrow!

Those look great!! I'm going to steal the Luke one. XD Hehe! I love them Sarah! You're very talented!

sarahthegeek wrote:

Okay guys, sorry this took so long, but here you go! I went with the regular icon size but if you guys want the bigger size just say so; now that I'm on summer vacation I've got ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD~

@Atina:


@RachelisaJedi


And Atina, I know you wanted a tutorial on how I make my icons, so I'll post one tomorrow!

Thanks so much, I love it! I'm going to use it now!

Thank you Sarah! XD can you email me the tutorial?

Hi Sarah...
I recently got a Photobucket account, and I followed you and your designs. I LOVE all the avatars you have on there!!!!! I hope you don't mind that I took a few Han Solo ones to make a banner for FutureJediGirl. I love your Luke ones too. They are GREAT!!! Great job!

@Jedi~Chick: Thanks! And no problem, I don't care if you use the ones I've made.

@Atina: I've actually got the tutorial right here. Sorry it took so long; apparently summer vacation isn't going to be as relaxing as I thought it would be!

ALRIGHTY, so this is a super basic tutorial that I use for all my icons. I do this to all my icons before I start messing around with textures, cropping, etc. We will be using this screenshot of Leia from Return of the Jedi, and I included photo examples as we go along.

I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, which is a pretty old version (and I should be upgrading it soon). However, the tools I use are found on all versions of Photoshop, so the tutorial is transferable.

I don't have any experience with GIMP so I can't help you there though.

1. Add a brightness/contrast adjustment layer.
Open up your layers tab and pick "add new brightness/contrast layer" from the adjustment layer menu at the bottom.
For this picture I went with Brightness +15/Contrast+30 but it will differ depending on the picture you're using. Usually I've found that a good balance is when your contrast level is twice as much as your brightness leve (i.e., brightness+5/contrast +10, brightness +10/contrast+20, etc)

2. Add a white fill color layer and set it to "soft light"
Again, go down to the adjustment layer menu and choose "add new fill layer." Some programs might call it a "solid color layer" instead of fill layer, but it's the same thing. Make sure the fill color is white, then set it to soft light at full opacity.

3. Add a black fill layer and set it to "soft light"
Repeat step 2 but this time make sure the fill color is black.

Sometimes after this step, if the picture happens to be dark, I'll add another white fill layer, set it to soft light, and then lower the opacity to 50% or so until the picture looks lighter.

4. Add a hue/saturation adjustment layer.
Go back to the adjustment layer menu and choose "add new hue/saturation layer." Depending on the picture, I'll play around with the saturation of the individuals colors, but for this I just decided to add +40 to the master level. It really just depends on the picture though; play around with the sliders until it looks right.

5. Use the rectangular selection tool to select the entire image. Then copy merged and paste.
You can copy merged by either going to edit -> copy merged or by pressing shift+ctrl+c. Then paste. The new level should sit on top of all your adjustment layers, but if it doesn't just drag it up so it does.

6. Duplicate the new layer and set it to "soft light"

7. Apply the gaussian blur filter to the duplicated layer.
I usually have the radius set to around 2 or 3. This just softens the image some.

At this point I might play around with lightening the image some, either by using the brush tool or the dodge tool. If I use the brush tool, I make sure that my color is set to white and opacity anywhere from 10-20% and then use either the overlay setting or the color dodge setting. Sometimes, if the background is looks really pixely or grainy, I'll use the blur tool to soften it up even more.

And here's the final product!

In this picture I used the brush tool on overlay at 20% opacity and the blur tool on Layer 1, to lighten the image some and soften the graininess of the background. And then I selected the entire image again (using the marquee tool) and copy merged, then pasted it. This just makes it easier to make icons and graphics because it flattens all the layers down into one.

And now I can use the selection tool to make icons! I hope this was helpful and not too confusing; I've never written out a tutorial before!

Thanks you Sarah!!!!!!! Do you use photobucket for this? Or do you use gimp. Adobe Photoshop? Or.... Something else

Oh shoot, I knew I was forgetting to mention something!

I use Adobe Photoshop Elements 2, which is a pretty old version (and I should be upgrading it soon). However, the tools I use are found on all versions of Photoshop, so the tutorial is transferable.

I don't have any experience with GIMP so I can't help you there though. =/

/goes to edit that into original tutorial

Hey can you make one for me???? I'd like ahsoke in her new outfit! Also how do you take some pics from you itouch (that's what I use for all my Internet) and use them for your avatar??? Dose any one know??? Kuz I have some cool SW pics! also how do you take the pics you make and make them my Avatar??? Sorry in not that techie...yet lol

Alrighty sokafan, here you go!



And sorry, but I don't think I can answer your question; I don't generally use the internet on my iTouch. Maybe someone else can?

sokafan4ever wrote:

Hey can you make one for me???? I'd like ahsoke in her new outfit! Also how do you take some pics from you itouch (that's what I use for all my Internet) and use them for your avatar??? Dose any one know??? Kuz I have some cool SW pics! also how do you take the pics you make and make them my Avatar??? Sorry in not that techie...yet lol

I guess you could email them to a computer or find a way to upload to a site like photobucket from your ipod, then get the link and paste it into the image URL field of the Avatar settings. Hope I helped!

Sarah, your tutorial is amazing, I've really enjoyed using it to make lots of icons lately. I never thought I was capable of making such neat little icons, but your tutorial helped me improve vastly, thanks so much!

Ok I'll try it

Fantastic!!! I love all of the avatars on your PhotoBucket. If you're still taking requests, I'd love a really cool Cad Bane avatar.

Hey, would you mind making me an avatar of Toph from The Last Airbender?

Sure, no problem!