IcedEarth

IcedEarth, would you know how to do random particles effect with example, bees?
Like say I have a pixel bee and I multiply that to about 10 of them, is there a quick button to make it appear like they're just flying around or do I have to manually adjust that?

Thanks!

I'd probably do that with particular. You can set up custom particles. Here check these out. https://www.youtube....h?v=leTgvAXPQ3o

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=j0Kl3Nk5HR8

 

You could also duplicate the layer 10 times (ctrl or cmd + D) and use a random motion expression on position and rotation then play with the values.

http://motionscript....dom-motion.html

 

Hope that helps.

Oh by the way to add an expression to a property, alt click the stopwatch next to it and you'll see a text box appear in the timeline!

Sorry just having a little play around. You could  duplicate layers yourself and try using motion sketch for a quick way to create organic movement.

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=uBoeIogpR40

Here is a break down of the sprite signature I made. I'll go through the steps and include some resources to learn from.

You probably need a little bit of After Effects/Photoshop knowledge to understand it fully. I'll do my best though.

 

The stuff in bold is what I'll include resources for.

 

First thing I did was choose my sprite from hereand put it into Photoshop. I seperated the frames giving them a layer each and positioned them over each other.

 

 

I saved as .psd and imported it into after effects. When importing a .psd it's important to import it as a
composition rather than footage. Footage treats it as a video but we want our layers from photoshop to be translated into AE layers.

 

 

 

After effects will create a composition with your layers in it, I trimmed each layer to 3 frames.

 

I then used the keyframe assisant to sequence the layers. Click the first layer then shift click the last one.
This sequences them with in that order.

 

 

 

I put this composition into a new composition which would be the size of my signature. at 12fps. This is how it looks at this stage.

 

To key out the background from the sprite animation. I used the effect color key and used the colour picker
to select the background colour in the sprite.

 

 

To create the background I started with a four color gradient effect. I added a wiggle expression to
two of the colours. So they randomise in colour.

 

 

I then added 2 more effects, posterize enables you to change the frame rate of a layer. I made mine 1fps so the colours change every second.
And a mosaic effect (much like the one in Photoshop) to make the colours pixelated.

 

 

Next I added a rectangle with a stroke. Under the shapes layer I added a wiggle expression to the stroke size.
I did the same posterize and mosaic effects as well. but made it 2fps

 

Next I used the thrid party effect trapcode particular from red giant to create the smoke effects. I used a smoke preset and tweaked it a little. I put a stroke layer style (layer styles like in Photoshop) and added the mosaic effect to make it pixelated.

 

-->

 

I added another layer of particles, this time I used the default settings and added a stroke layer style. I did this twice
with a different colour and moved it slightly down.

 

 

 

To create the text, I used the text animators inside after effects. I added a scale animator and made it 125%.
I added wiggle expressions to the start, end and offset. I put a drop shadow and stroke. (layer style) Then added the
mosaic effect.

 

 

 

Final.

 

 

 

Resources

 

Setting up compositions - http://www.youtube.c...h?v=CCcvscLasKI

 

Sequencing layers - https://www.youtube....h?v=7SzfjP3YpH4

 

Color key effect - https://www.youtube....h?v=IKNJoM9xo-Q

 

Four colour gradient - https://www.youtube....h?v=EtOD1f13NXI (he also shows how to add the wiggle expression on the position of the colors)

 

Wiggle expression - https://www.youtube....h?v=KKYK2eEMaWo and https://www.youtube....h?v=M91x4beVxq0

 

Posterize effect - http://help.adobe.co...3a9d3c597-7a54a

 

Mosaic effect - http://help.adobe.co...3a9d3c597-7a6fa

 

Trapcode particular - https://www.youtube....h?v=S91rTHqZR1s and http://www.studiodai...e-particular-2/

 

Text animators - https://www.youtube....h?v=SZe5V3-9l3I and https://www.youtube....h?v=DJaVIODzjm4

 

Here is a tut on how to export a gif from AE - https://www.youtube....h?v=TRvsC2PJ_ks

 

The way I did it was export a movie from AE and put it into photoshop and save for web from there.

 

 

Anyway, I think that is everything. I hope this breakdown has given you an insight as to how I created this and inspires you to learn further.

Congrats to the other winners.

 

I will probably do a breakdown of how I made that sig (not tut) when I get some time.

Congrats Frankrin, Xarieste, Iomega and Georgina!

I hope someone uses the TV show as a theme. Because is it just me or are Jensen/Jared so adorably badass Anyway, SOTW seems interesting...I'm thinking of participating, but I don't want to embarrass myself by showing my terrible photoshop sklils. Does anyone know of any nice photoshop siggy-making guides?

You never know, you might just win. I PM'd you about guides.

Welcome to SOTW #44

This weeks theme is Desserts
Base your signatures on desserts. This can also include sweets/candy and chocolate!

Starts: NOW
Entries: 12:00 AM NST Sunday 23th September
Voting Ends: 12:00AM NST Wednesday 26th September

Please PM a link to your entry

Please read the Rules before sending in your entry.
Complete list of rules found HERE and we encourage the reading of the full rules so as not to be caught out doing something wrong.

Prizes:

First Prize:

Donated by Mew

Second Prize:

Donated by Mew.

PM if you wish to donate more prizes.

There are some inspirational images in the spoiler!

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

Check this out mate

http://www.webdesign...dentify-a-font/

WhatTheFont usually works for me.

I came across this really cool tutorial of how to create grass text on psdtuts. The outcome is below and here is the link.




I thought it was great because I picked up some useful techniques and I'm sure others can too. There is a lot of great tuts on psdtuts so be sure to check out those.
My attempt at this technique is below. I also added my own touch.

Happy birthday, hope you have a great day.

Cheers for the votes everyone! I think I've got the hang of it by now I'll have it up sometime today.

lol I don't blame you.

Go on, that will be good! I'll donate a Royal PB, you pick what place.

I've made a custom lens flares pack for people to use. It's my first time making these so feedback is welcome.


They work best on Screen or Linear Dodge (Add) blending modes.
If you want to tweak the colour or change it completely, I recommend you
use Hue/Saturation and then fade it with the Colour blending mode.

These are exclusive for Neocodex members only, please don't post them anywhere else.
PM me for the password to the .rar file.

http://www.mediafire...o6j6b5b0l5bxbm7

Enjoy and post up some of the work you create with these, I'd love to see it!

They catch the eye more than a still image. It's like NES vs SNES.

Also you should maybe look at most of the past winners with animated sigs entered.


ALTHOUGH, I do think that since it was brushed it is pretty nice, just generally unfair in a signature contest.

Signatures do have the tendency to include animation so I don't see it as unfair in a signature contest.

It may catch the eye but I don't think that means it'll get the vote.

View Profile: IcedEarth
YOU LIEEEEEEEEEEE D:

Lol, that's odd. It's there for me.

Fair do. I guess technically I did get first place by votes so I'll do the next one. Don't want people to think of it as unfair.

I'll have it up later today