Creating small images

[Kalo]

I've been around proboards for more than a decade and I've learned some coding aspects from it but i've always had anxiety stemming from anything graphical because I just really suck at any kind of artistic venture. But I'm starting to find myself developing the desire to fight that anxiety and take a stab at the graphic world. I was wondering if it's generally seen easier to start with smaller images or larger images in the design world?

Any graphical design input whether or not relevant to the specific question I have asked would be appreciated as long as it remains constructive in nature, anything not found to be constructive (IE: people being ***holes) will be reported for moderation because nobody has time for deconstructive input. 

Thank you guys for your help,
Kalo

[Kami]

Congrats on taking that first step!

Honestly, I don't think there's any one common majority consensus. The basic principals of design are applicable across the board, so the specifics of what is "better" to start with depends entirely on what you want to create. Do you want to try your hand at web design? Or something more like banners / signatures? Wallpapers perhaps? Avatars? Game graphics? Animated gifs? I could go on.

Your milage may vary but I started with signature images around 500 x 200px. From there, I branched out into forum banners, avatars, and wallpapers. After that I started getting more heavily into web design. I'd throw in my hat for starting smaller since a smaller canvas means a more controlled environment. It's easier to make sure that your piece has depth if you're looking at something that's only a couple hundred pixels wide than say, a 1920 x 1080 wallpaper.

Is there something specific you're looking to learn? Like, are we going for a more technical form of graphic design (web design, advertisements, etc) or are we looking artistic forms (banners, wallpapers, etc)?

[Kalo]

Right now my main focus is to learn the best way to skin my boards manually by each image, but instead of putting requests in as i've done over my tenure on proboards I want to learn how to create my own images and learn about different effective software and how that software is used efficiently to make quality images. I like to learn new tools and how they can be utilized to improve on an idea I may have in the future.

I'm already certified in HTML and Javascript by W3C so web design itself is mostly covered, I just don't know how to design the graphics involved in such endeavors. haha. I really appreciate your input Kami

[Kami]

Web design and web development are not the same thing.

I am off the computer for the night but I will post tomorrow with more info to get you started (:

[Kalo]

May 23, 2017 20:42:10 GMT -8 Kami said:

Web design and web development are not the same thing.

I am off the computer for the night but I will post tomorrow with more info to get you started (:

Gotcha, I've had a long day with my sick child so I apologize for mixing those up haha. I look forward to hearing more from you tomorrow.

[Kami]

Sorry for the delay! Before I write a giant essay are you wanted just tutorials on how to make like, smilies and folder icons and stuff? Or do you want an actual rundown of web design basics?

[Kalo]

I want to start with forum images like the icons and smilies lol

[Kami]

OK so honestly, a lot of designers now use resources such as icons8 and FontAwesome for their icons; the options are varied and you have a clean vector output every single time.

Now, if you want to learn to make your own (which is commendable), the first step I would suggest would be to get a copy of photoshop or illustrator, or something cheaper that is comparable. My personal recommendation would be to get illustrator or an equivalent of it so you can make vector images. (A quick explanation of the difference between raster (what we usually see) and vector images)

Now, if I'm going to be completely honest with you, I think learning to make the small images (details) of a design / layout before learning how to actually compose the layout itself is a bit like putting the cart before the horse. The way your icons look -- from colour scheme, to visual appearance, to size -- should be dependant on your overall layout design.

For example, while I may use a flat, minimalist design on my RP forum, it is unlikely that I would use the same icons / imagery on a business forum due to the different natures of the content. Similarly, if I were designing a general chat forum I would likely not use the same icons I would for a Harry Potter forum.

On that note, some resources:

design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/10-top-tips-on-creating-flat-design-graphics--cms-25888
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-set-of-flat-animal-icons-in-adobe-illustrator--cms-24710
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-set-of-flat-precious-gems-icons-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-26188
1stwebdesigner.com/create-flat-icons/
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-stylish-flat-space-icons-in-adobe-photoshop--cms-22984

As far as emotes and such, I'm afraid I never make them, so I have very little advice. More resources:
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/10-steps-to-a-quick-set-of-emoticons-in-adobe-photoshop--cms-21314
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-set-of-emoticons-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-6476

[Kalo]

May 26, 2017 10:10:03 GMT -8 Kami said:

OK so honestly, a lot of designers now use resources such as icons8 and FontAwesome for their icons; the options are varied and you have a clean vector output every single time.

Now, if you want to learn to make your own (which is commendable), the first step I would suggest would be to get a copy of photoshop or illustrator, or something cheaper that is comparable. My personal recommendation would be to get illustrator or an equivalent of it so you can make vector images. (A quick explanation of the difference between raster (what we usually see) and vector images)

Now, if I'm going to be completely honest with you, I think learning to make the small images (details) of a design / layout before learning how to actually compose the layout itself is a bit like putting the cart before the horse. The way your icons look -- from colour scheme, to visual appearance, to size -- should be dependant on your overall layout design.

For example, while I may use a flat, minimalist design on my RP forum, it is unlikely that I would use the same icons / imagery on a business forum due to the different natures of the content. Similarly, if I were designing a general chat forum I would likely not use the same icons I would for a Harry Potter forum.

On that note, some resources:

design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/10-top-tips-on-creating-flat-design-graphics--cms-25888
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-set-of-flat-animal-icons-in-adobe-illustrator--cms-24710
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-set-of-flat-precious-gems-icons-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-26188
1stwebdesigner.com/create-flat-icons/
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-stylish-flat-space-icons-in-adobe-photoshop--cms-22984

As far as emotes and such, I'm afraid I never make them, so I have very little advice. More resources:
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/10-steps-to-a-quick-set-of-emoticons-in-adobe-photoshop--cms-21314
design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-create-a-set-of-emoticons-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-6476

I played with gimp several years ago, is that still good for both kinds of images? Right now I'm focused mainly on the smaller images because I use the Hex Dec system on the forums to do a basic ground work on the design of my forum. I eventually want to get everything down I am just thinking starting small could be easier because it gives me a focal point to work with and I can learn the big stuff as I get comfortable with the smaller images. I have 0 design experience other than resizing with graphics. so I'm really starting blank slates here. Like a child on the graphics field. lol I really appreciate you baring with me while I learn haha.


Kalo

[Kami]

Hi, sorry for the late response.

GIMP is ... all right. I've seen people do some amazing work on GIMP, but a) it's a massive resource hog [my computer is only a few years old, has 16gb of RAM, has a great graphics card and processor... and GIMP still lags], and b) it doesn't have all the same capabilities as Photoshop.

If money is an issue, however, it is an acceptable replacement provided your computer can manage to run it. When editing small images it should be fine, but if you have an older or more low-end computer, larger images may wind up being difficult.

[Kalo]

Thats why I'm sticking to small I think for now, I have a bit of an older computer, it has 4gig ddr3 memory and a terabyte hdd so i have plenty of space just no good on the ram haha.

[Kami]

Then yeah, I'd stick to small things for now. Hopefully the above resources were helpful (:

[Kalo]

Very helpful I appreciate it Kami, I'll be using these tips to build some interesting new icons for my forum project I'm working on right now.

[Kami]

Glad to hear. Good luck!

[Kalo]

If you don't mind kami I'll send you some images when I get them all drafted up and formed so you can let me know what you think and where you think I could touch up and improve