Ok, so I used to spend a lot of time on Livejournal, and Livejournal is all about icons. This is an icon:
Anyway, there's this whole underbelly on LJ about iconmaking, and it's basically about having pretty userpics and learning how to kick ass on Photoshop. Which is a useful skill to have, and a skill that many people struggle with at first, so I started a 'from scratch' tutorial community on LJ to guide them through the ins and outs of icon making. There's more I could add, although I don't have much time anymore. But it's a pretty good starters guide to Photoshop, so if you're trying to figure it out, this might well help you.
Introduction: Livejournal is all about icons.
If it were high school, the iconmakers would be the popular kids. Which is kind of ironic, really, as they're also the art geeks, and if Mean Girls taught me anything (other than that Lindsay Lohan looks way better with a bit of meat on her bones and Amanda Seyfried is the cutest thing ever) it is that art geeks are the unpopular kids.
Which is why LJ is awesome.
So, you want to be one of the good iconmakers? I'm going to try and show you how. When I first got an LJ, three years ago, I sucked. My first icons were made on MSPaint, and they sucked. Now, I'm not claiming to be the best of the best - I'm not, and there's a lot about graphics that I'm still learning. But I'm proficient, and it's my aim to make you proficient too.
The posts in this community will be a series of lessons, just like a school (hence the name). The first deals with the ultimate basics - opening Photoshop, starting a new document. The next, shows you how to make a very simple icon. Gradually, over the coming weeks I will show you how to use various different aspects of Photoshop. I will endeavour to explain everything. Anything you don't understand? Ask me.
The aim of this place is to go with you, from the beginning. To show you exactly what to do, with no complicated lingo, no jibes at your lack of knowledge, no criticism at your graphics skill (unless you ask for it).
Sites like icon_tutorial are awesome - they taught me a lot, and they'll teach you too. But for a complete and utter graphics newbie, it'll confuse the hell out of you. This place... shouldn't.
Now, are you sitting comfortably? Then let's begin...
Q&A
Help! I don't understand! What is this place?
graphics_school is a painstakingly simple tutorial site run by me. I will post regular lessons leading you through the process of learning to use Photoshop and how to make icons and graphics.
Can I apply for posting access?
No. I want to keep this site as simple as humanly possible, and to do that, I need to be the only person posting.
Can I submit a tutorial?
No. This isn't a place to show you how to make a specific icon, or how to do a trendy new effect. It's Iconmaking: From Scratch. The Basics. If you would like to suggest a tutorial that you'd like to see, or a style that you think I should deal with, let me know. It's entirely possible I might ask you to help me with it.
Do you think you're the best iconmaker on LJ? Is that why you're doing this?
Hell no! I'm pretty good, I know that much. I get enough ego-stroking comments to know that. But I'm not the best, and I'm still learning, the same as you. Sure, I'm a bit further along, but I've been trying to make icons for three years. I know how frustrating it is to start learning, and I wish I'd had someone to talk me through it from the start. I have several friends who have asked me for help with Photoshop, and this seemed to me to be the best way to start it. So here I am.
I use MSPaint. Can you post some tutorials for that?
No. I'm only going to say this once: you can't make decent graphics using MSPaint, no matter how proficient you are. You can't even save an image without it going all grainy when you use MSPaint. If you're determined to stick with MSPaint, there's nothing I can teach you. Sorry.
Can you post some tutorials for Paint Shop Pro/Photoshop CS/Painter/Anything Other Than Photoshop 7?
No. I use Photoshop 7. I don't know how to use the other programmes, and I really don't have time to learn. Now, most versions of Photoshop are fairly similar, so if you have an older version of Photoshop than 7, you should be able to work out what I'm talking about.
Paint Shop Pro is also fairly similar to Photoshop, but some things are named differently. I really would recommend that you learn to use Photoshop - it's widely renowned as the best programme in the graphics industry.
Where can I get hold of Photoshop? Can you send it to me?
God, no! That's illegal. If you download a copy there's nothing I can do to stop you. If you can afford the £600 or whatever it costs to buy it, then buy it. There are enough illegal copies doing the rounds, Adobe probably need the money.
|
