22 replies to this topic

[Joanna]

Sooo... I haven't made a new signature in a while- for some reason I skipped out on this weeks SOTW.
So, I made this new one.

Comments, critiques?? (There are over 100 individual square shapes that I painstakingly placed myself. )



Positive and Negative critiques are welcome- just don't be a dick?

[Juturna]

I'm going to try to avoid being blunt because I dont' want to seem like a dick here.
I mean... It's an interesting concept, but it's not at ll well pulled off here. at all.

the colours on the squares aren't as nice as they could be. mess with them a bit. a luminosity layer or curves or something.

the black thing looks random and clashes with everything. the

But, I won't lie - the green text in the middle looks dreadful. The not 100% opacity thing doesn't work at all. Font kills it. It's too bright of a thing. And, really, just a word of advice in general - Avoid using outer glow effects in signatures for the majority of the time. It has it's place in graphics, such as typography, but in signatures, it just looks... bad. Just don't do it.

In general, it's not that good. Sorry.

If you want advice, take off everything but the green square arrangement thing (so the black thing on the left has to go) and try again. Try doing a focal point, or a small focal point. With the 2 texts, and the black thing, my eyes go mad at what I'm supposed to look at. Change fonts. The fonts don't work at all here.

[Joanna]

I'm going to try to avoid being blunt because I dont' want to seem like a dick here.
I mean... It's an interesting concept, but it's not at ll well pulled off here. at all.

the colours on the squares aren't as nice as they could be. mess with them a bit. a luminosity layer or curves or something.

the black thing looks random and clashes with everything. the

But, I won't lie - the green text in the middle looks dreadful. The not 100% opacity thing doesn't work at all. Font kills it. It's too bright of a thing. And, really, just a word of advice in general - Avoid using outer glow effects in signatures for the majority of the time. It has it's place in graphics, such as typography, but in signatures, it just looks... bad. Just don't do it.

In general, it's not that good. Sorry.

If you want advice, take off everything but the green square arrangement thing (so the black thing on the left has to go) and try again. Try doing a focal point, or a small focal point. With the 2 texts, and the black thing, my eyes go mad at what I'm supposed to look at. Change fonts. The fonts don't work at all here.

Well, the black thing cant go. Its a minecraft creeper face. The whole thing is supposed to be an abstract concept of a creeper exploding.

Spoiler

I agree with you about the text... I was debating on getting rid of it all together.
Can you explain more what you mean about the luminosity layer? Are you saying the color balance is off? I took the colors from an actual image of a creeper.

I've already reopened my .psd and started messing around. Its all about learning for me.
And don't be sorry for being honest... I asked for positive and negative critiques. At least you didn't say "Your sig is shit, and you suck." You said it much nicer and thats what I was looking for.

Before:


After:


Maybe fade the opacity of the "black thing"? lol... It can't completely go... it wouldn't be a creeper if it wasn't there.

Edited by Joanna, 29 October 2011 - 04:21 PM.

[Bone]

I actually liked the colors better in the first version! But I'd agree that the text was pretty confusing, and that it looks better without the part in the middle. The placement of the "tsssss" seems a bit off to me, and maybe the font could be smaller. But I'm no expert.

Overall, I like the concept and wouldn't call it bad by any means.

[Joanna]

I actually liked the colors better in the first version! But I'd agree that the text was pretty confusing, and that it looks better without the part in the middle. The placement of the "tsssss" seems a bit off to me, and maybe the font could be smaller. But I'm no expert.

Overall, I like the concept and wouldn't call it bad by any means.

I agree about my placement issues. I'm not sure if I like the brighter colors or the original ones yet though. I changed the font and moved the ....tsssssss.

What do you think?

[Bone]

I agree about my placement issues. I'm not sure if I like the brighter colors or the original ones yet though. I changed the font and moved the ....tsssssss.

What do you think?

That font looks like the in-game font, I love it! The placement looks better, but still off. I can't put my finger on why.

[Joanna]

That font looks like the in-game font, I love it! The placement looks better, but still off. I can't put my finger on why.

Hmm.. I'm not sure where to put it either. I just stuck it on there honestly. This sig only took me like maybe 20 minutes.

[Juturna]

By Lumonosity layer, I meant a gradient map (purple/orange is one of my favorite combinations for this) on luminosity blending mode. Then, it'd be best to use an exposure/curves layer to even it out. (you'll see what i mean) And then do colouring from there. ^^;

the "tssssst..." text still isn't that great. I have trouble with text, so i have no idea where to tell you to place it. Although the font still isn't good. Perhaps a more pixely font such as visitor or something would be better?

Ah. That makes sense. This is going to be a pain in the butt, but go to view - > New Guide (I'm assuming you're using PS) then 33% Try putting the black thing-ama-jig over there. It'd look much better and much more of a focal point. Rule of thirds and all that.

edit: how you manage to have like 3 replies while I'm typing mine up? um, ic an't see your edited version. sorry.

Edited by Juturna, 29 October 2011 - 04:33 PM.

[Joanna]

By Lumonosity layer, I meant a gradient map (purple/orange is one of my favorite combinations for this) on luminosity blending mode. Then, it'd be best to use an exposure/curves layer to even it out. (you'll see what i mean) And then do colouring from there. ^^;

the "tssssst..." text still isn't that great. I have trouble with text, so i have no idea where to tell you to place it. Although the font still isn't good. Perhaps a more pixely font such as visitor or something would be better?

Ah. That makes sense. This is going to be a pain in the butt, but go to view - > New Guide (I'm assuming you're using PS) then 33% Try putting the black thing-ama-jig over there. It'd look much better and much more of a focal point. Rule of thirds and all that.

edit: how you manage to have like 3 replies while I'm typing mine up? um, ic an't see your edited version. sorry.

Okay... focusing solely on this 33% thing... is this what you meant??

Edited by Joanna, 29 October 2011 - 04:37 PM.

[Juturna]

Yes, something like that. Meh. It looks better when i tried it. but yea. that's the concept of the rule of thirds.

It's probably not going to work well in this unless you did it all the way over (now that I see it) but keep it in mind for the future graphics and whatnot - it's a really neat rule, which is actually very accurate.

[Joanna]

Yes, something like that. Meh. It looks better when i tried it. but yea. that's the concept of the rule of thirds.

It's probably not going to work well in this unless you did it all the way over (now that I see it) but keep it in mind for the future graphics and whatnot - it's a really neat rule, which is actually very accurate.

I understand. Im still messing with this gradient map thing though... something I don't actually play with much.

[likerobots]

you'd be able to make it much quicker if you just duplicated a bunch of layers
if i were you, i'd do a different font, maybe arial/helvetica (<3) in italics, in small font, and nudge it about 20px lower.
and make each square smaller and uniform in size. the un-uniformite makes me cringe !

[Joanna]

Im wondering if it would actually work on this sig since the background is transparent. This is what I keep getting.

[Juturna]

Yea. Keep playing with those gradient maps. Although, for colouring, it's probably better to test it out on like a fancy screencap or something, since it has much more colours than just the colours you used in the blocks, to see it's full potential.

[Joanna]

you'd be able to make it much quicker if you just duplicated a bunch of layers
if i were you, i'd do a different font, maybe arial/helvetica (<3) in italics, in small font, and nudge it about 20px lower.
and make each square smaller and uniform in size. the un-uniformite makes me cringe !

Well the original font was very similar to Helvetica. Helvetica was the first font I tried actually. I didn't think it fit too well.
Also, I think the un-uniformite is the abstract part.... It takes some of the pixely block by block nature of minecraft and makes it all... abstract?

I will try the nudging however.

[Juturna]

wait wait wait.

gradient map. as in the adjustment layer.

not gradient.

they're two entirely seperate things.

(needless to say, It's actually interesting seeing the actual gradient. hadn't thought of that)

Edited by Juturna, 29 October 2011 - 04:53 PM.

[Joanna]

wait wait wait.

gradient map. as in the adjustment layer.

not gradient.

they're two entirely seperate things.

(needless to say, It's actually interesting seeing the actual gradient. hadn't thought of that)

OHHHHHHH! I see now. Okay.
So... this might not be the best result.. but at least I understand what youre talking about now.


Played with the gradient map... (purple and orange on luminosity... and played with exposure levels)

[Juturna]

Hmmmmmmmm. I've never particularly liked green, so I've never worked with it much. But yes. If you play from there, I think you should get some really good colouring. Try to play with the selective colouring and vibrace layers. Also, a black+white gradient map on soft light may look alright.

[Joanna]

[Juturna]

blegh. now it's bland again.

Huh. hold on a few.

also, fix the text. it looked better when it was small. ^^;

[Joanna]

Lol this sig is a pain in my ass. Maybe I'll just scrap it.

[Juturna]

I'm sorry? I didn't mean to make you scrap it. ;~; I probably should broaden my methods before I give advice, me thinks.

[Joanna]

I'm sorry? I didn't mean to make you scrap it. ;~; I probably should broaden my methods before I give advice, me thinks.

Oh no its not your fault. I asked for critiques because I didn't like it in the first place. And the more I mess with it the more I don't like it.