So I've been doing graphics for awhile... I learnt the basics, working with images, applying textures & using gifs but I still feel like I'm having lack in something and that is: editing an image's colours, brightness, contrast etc so it looks good. I was wondering if you guys have any tips in it? ^^ So far I am only playing with the Brightness, Contrast & Sharpness in PS but I was asking myself if you have any other techniques in making the image look prettier?  I know everybody has their own style in making graphics so I came out with this topic to check out each of you's opinions & tastes. 

Thank you in advance. 

#ag #aghelp

I usually download a lot of .psds from Tumblr and then modify or experiment by making some of the layers visible/invisible and adjusting their opacity. For anime coloring in particular, I download a lot of stuff from anime coloring on Tumblr. You can see what types of adjustment layers people use in these .psds too and can eventually make your own! ^^

Sailor Mercury wrote:

I usually download a lot of .psds from Tumblr and then modify or experiment by making some of the layers visible/invisible and adjusting their opacity. For anime coloring in particular, I download a lot of stuff from anime coloring on Tumblr. You can see what types of adjustment layers people use in these .psds too and can eventually make your own! ^^

Ah, I see. I never worked with .psds... at all :bunnynarroweye It's like I didn't even know about their existence XD Thank you a lot for the tip Mercury!!

Just a reminder to always use the appropriate A&G tags [url=http://www.thegalaxycauldronforums.com/t4509-artist-and-graphics-index-of-threads]here[/url] when making a topic. I've already edited the tags in your original post for you. 


I also second what Mercury said. I usually use a mix of a .psd and my own when making graphics. I also heavily use selective coloring, vibrance, etc. 

I always, always prepare the image before doing something else to it, example:
duplicate/top layer on soft light or screen (depends)/sharpen first image/continue with the rest (adding psd, texture, etc), sometimes i first add some topaz on the main image and do the above.

it all depends on your "theme", or what are you looking for, if you are going for a bright theme or a mid dark, is all up to you =). PSDs are a life savior because they help you achieve what you want, of course not all psds apply to certain type of images, so be careful with that.

I usually just mess with an image my self using the brightness/contrast/vibrancy settings! I don't really know if there's any tips to it really. I just kind of play with the settings in each of the categories until I'm happy with it. Sometimes it just takes a bit of brightening the image, other times I feel it needs more brighter colors. Don't be afraid to mess around with the options and to use the 'lock to below layer' option. I don't know what this is actually called, but on my PS it's a little box with an arrow pointing down and it's found at the bottom right hand corner of the brightness/whatever boxes. It only applies to adjustment to the bottom layer, so you can make just that part of the image brighter and it won't affect the rest of the layers ^^ I'm sure you already knew that, but I hope this helped somewhat anyway xD

@Sailor Mars: Really sorry about it! I have no excuse. I just forgot to add them Won't happen again. And thank you for the tip
 
@Haine: Thanks for answering! I actually read somewhere else about this "topaz" filter too. Tried to install it but it's not working for some reasons. I get an error which I still got to fix ^^ As for psds I never used them until now. That's why I thank you guys a lot for telling me about them. XD really saved me... I really like your NaruHina signature by the way

@Diana: Yes I've been playing a lot with the brigthness/ contrast (vibrance :O never used it o_O Gotta try it) too. Just wondered if there are other ways to enhance the colours of a picture since I know there are really many photoshop options to do so. Thanks for sharing! And yes I am using the lock thing too.

Oooh the Topaz Clean is really nice!! I never got it to work with my PS either, so I tried to install it for my Gimp and it works perfectly there. It's annoying to not be able to do it all in one program, but it's worth it for the awesomeness of Topaz xD So maybe you could try that if you have both =o

Diana wrote:

Oooh the Topaz Clean is really nice!! I never got it to work with my PS either, so I tried to install it for my Gimp and it works perfectly there. It's annoying to not be able to do it all in one program, but it's worth it for the awesomeness of Topaz xD So maybe you could try that if you have both =o

Oh! I never thought about a gimp version for it :O Thank you for your suggestion Diana!

Zoey900 wrote:

@Haine: Thanks for answering! I actually read somewhere else about this "topaz" filter too. Tried to install it but it's not working for some reasons. I get an error which I still got to fix ^^ As for psds I never used them until now. That's why I thank you guys a lot for telling me about them. XD really saved me... I really like your NaruHina signature by the way

Sankyu! i kind of got obsessed over the movie xD
if you have questions about anything don't hesitate to ask =)

Haine wrote:

Zoey900 wrote:

@Haine: Thanks for answering! I actually read somewhere else about this "topaz" filter too. Tried to install it but it's not working for some reasons. I get an error which I still got to fix ^^ As for psds I never used them until now. That's why I thank you guys a lot for telling me about them. XD really saved me... I really like your NaruHina signature by the way

Sankyu! i kind of got obsessed over the movie xD
if you have questions about anything don't hesitate to ask =)

I loved the movie too! I was so happy when NH became canon *-* And thanks! 

I've used topaz clean but I've never really gotten it to look good as other people have. I also use a similar method as Haine depending on the image. I usually duplicate the image, change it to overlay, duplicate it again and change it to soft light. Sometimes I duplicate it some more but it does depend on the image. I also use gradient fill/map too.