Signature Critique

[Bennett 🚀]

Made using some c4d's from planetrenders.net and murkrow from gtsplus.net

Whataya think?

[Kami]

honestly, it looks like a background, with a cutout of the murkrow, with text that has either (A) a lowered opacity stroke text effect, or (B) a soft glow text effect. If I didn't know better, I'd say the bg was a premade, and you just added the murkrow & text.

it's decent for a beginner sig, but it's not very technique-infused. i definitely recommend looking up tutorials on dA, on how to better use c4d's in a tag. one comment that i got a few years ago is that the c4d should be 'woven into' your sig, rather than just using it as a pattern. c4d's can be used for lighting, texture, etc. you can even use c4d's as displacement maps.

i think something that contributes to the disjointed feeling of your sig is the fact that the scanlines are on the bg alone. there's nothing that 'marries' the murkrow in with the background. =/

the text also, seems a bit out of place, like it's just there. text should either be a focal point, or a secondary aspect (again, 'woven into' the sig). also, you might want to consider the rule of thirds when creating any sort of tag. =]

you also may want to play with colouring, the sig is very monotone at the moment. murkrow's got some yellows/gold, and some reddish hues (minorly). you could use these less-obvious colours to really tie the image together.

[Bennett 🚀]

Thing is, I don't know how to use c4ds as that on Paint.net (my main program). Actually, there were 2 c4ds. One was the curly one. One was the spikes. Idk, that was my first sig ever without rendering anything

[Kami]

Aug 11, 2010 18:14:20 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

Thing is, I don't know how to use c4ds as that on Paint.net (my main program). Actually, there were 2 c4ds. One was the curly one. One was the spikes. Idk, that was my first sig ever without rendering anything

I'd move away from Paint.net. =x I had a quick look, and it looks less capable than GIMP, tbh.

[Bennett 🚀]

It is. But it's very easy to use. I hate brush type programs

[Kami]

Aug 11, 2010 19:09:56 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

It is. But it's very easy to use. I hate brush type programs

well, then imo you're not going to get much better. =X
look up tutorials, though, i've seen amazing things created even on MS paint...

[Bennett 🚀]

Tutorials don't do anything to me when it comes to graphics. I would have to find that tutorial again. Or i'd have to do that graphic many times.

I'll look around on dA.

[Kami]

Aug 11, 2010 20:06:07 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

Tutorials don't do anything to me when it comes to graphics. I would have to find that tutorial again. Or i'd have to do that graphic many times.

I'll look around on dA.

if you have a dA account, just favourite it.
or dl it to your comp for quick ref. ;]

also, 'doing that graphic many times' - that's how you get good at a technique. the key is to practice different techniques as a beginner, then as you get better start combining the techniques. =]

[Bennett 🚀]

Thanks Kami

[Kami]

Aug 11, 2010 20:19:41 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

Thanks Kami

any time. i do highly recommend 'graduating' (so to speak), if you're serious about learning to make graphics / work in design, to a proper graphics program.

GIMP is a good free program, and I used it for about a year before I got my first copy of Photoshop. You can also get Photoshop Elements pretty cheap, and whilst it's not as good as Photoshop, it's still pretty good (I started my Photoshopping with Elements 2.0. :3).

If you're not going to be a serious designer (as in, it's just something you do on the side, and have no interest in improving), then Paint.net or whatever it is will suffice. But, if design is something that interests you, get something that is more widely used professionally.

[Bennett 🚀]

I have Photoshop CS2. Did I not mention that? I suck at it :X

[Kami]

Aug 11, 2010 21:12:32 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

I have Photoshop CS2. Did I not mention that? I suck at it :X

So because you 'suck' at it, that means you shouldn't try to get better. I see. =P

[Bennett 🚀]

Compared to Paint.net, PS is like hell xD It is very much more difficult. That, and I can't draw lines to save my life :X

[Kami]

Aug 12, 2010 11:25:23 GMT -8 Bennett 🚀 said:

Compared to Paint.net, PS is like hell xD It is very much more difficult. That, and I can't draw lines to save my life :X

So? =P You're not going to get any better at it / it's not going to get any easier if you don't practice. xD Also, pentool ftw. =P

[Bennett 🚀]

Yeah. Do you have any techniques you think are beneficial?