MNFL Needs Advice Thread

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Used this as my render:

 

[GMJ]

ah, I see whats going on. First of all this can look VERY good. Here are my observations:

1. First and foremost its over-curved. Your curve layer resembles a tangent-function, yes? You can make over-curving look good, but make it more subtle.
2. If you want to keep it that curved, throw on a de-saturation layer, or a color balance layer to remove that red.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Better?

 

[GMJ]

Better! This is what I could come up with:

1. Altered the hue (+17)
2. Curved it lighter to remove the contrast
3. Then set a black/white "gradient map" to multiply to darken it down
4. "Gradient fill" to get some selective lighting and color that looks good
5. Repeated step 3
6. Another gradient fill
7. New layer, "Apply Image," brushed the background black, and set this layer to overlay, 46 % fill to darken just the background
8. New layer, apply image, then set this layer to color dodge, moved it around and erased all but his arm.
9. New Layer, apply image, guassian blur, and erased some parts
10. Same as 9, but sharpened.
11. Black/White Gradient fill, set to soft light, just so it covers his legs, and set to 49% fill.
12. New layer, apply image, horizontal type mask, shifted to the left.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Apr 10 2008, 07:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Better! This is what I could come up with:

1. Altered the hue (+17)
2. Curved it lighter to remove the contrast
3. Then set a black/white "gradient map" to multiply to darken it down
4. "Gradient fill" to get some selective lighting and color that looks good
5. Repeated step 3
6. Another gradient fill
7. New layer, "Apply Image," brushed the background black, and set this layer to overlay, 46 % fill to darken just the background
8. New layer, apply image, then set this layer to color dodge, moved it around and erased all but his arm.
9. New Layer, apply image, guassian blur, and erased some parts
10. Same as 9, but sharpened.
11. Black/White Gradient fill, set to soft light, just so it covers his legs, and set to 49% fill.
12. New layer, apply image, horizontal type mask, shifted to the left.</div>

I like everything about Jigga's version except the shading. This should be a bit more orange, sort of like how MyNets had it (but that was a little dark). I can't really make out "PALMER" at the bottom either.

Just some aesthetic thoughts.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I'm thinking about using the dodge tool on mine a bit.

 

[GMJ]

Yeah I've got a bit of a unique taste when it comes to these things. I like to have general color tone that's different than the team they play for, just to spice it up a bit. I'm kind of weird like that.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

 

[GMJ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MyNetsForLife @ Apr 10 2008, 09:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>

</div>

I'd make the render bigger, or maybe duplicate it, enlarge it, and screen/color dodge it on the right side

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I tried lightening up Carson's face.

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MyNetsForLife @ Apr 11 2008, 09:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I tried lightening up Carson's face.

</div>

I think it looks great. I really like the lighter touch on this, congrats.

Student has surpassed teacher?


...

(Nah, you're both very skilled).

 

[GMJ]

It's improved, but I don't think you've fixed the problem that the over-curving did. It really increased the contrast in your midtones, and artificially boosting up the lighting on his face doesn't change that.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I'm trying to add a better curve amount right now. Results in a few.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Not sure if that made it better or worse

I added two curve layers, and set the opacity on the darker one to 50, and a lighter one to 100%.

Tried burning it, to couteract the over dodging.

 

[GMJ]

ah thats easier on the eyes. No that you've edited the overall curving, take the fill on the face-lighting down a bit, and do something to fix the effect on his ribs, under his left arm

edit: I can't tell the difference between the two images

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

No idea how to fix the face lighting. But I did fix the rids, by just clone stamping it out

Blends in pretty well, maybe a bit too light in the middle.

Edit: Really? I dulled his face off a bit.

 

[GMJ]

The ribs look good. I suspect you added the lighting by using a new layer over his face? I'd just take the fill on that layer down a bit.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

In hindsight, it would have been a good idea to use a fill layer, but I rushed it and just dodged it.

 

[GMJ]

I add a new layer for each effect so its easy to backtrack. "New Layer" then "Apply Image" (on normal, not multiply, etc) is a great way to organize your work and helps if you're making an advanced sig that uses >20 adjustment layers

 

[huevonkiller]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MyNetsForLife @ Apr 11 2008, 09:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In hindsight, it would have been a good idea to use a fill layer, but I rushed it and just dodged it.</div>

What a contrast to the first version though. You seem to learn quick.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

Thanks for all the input on it, guys. No way it would have come out like it did without it.

 

[Master Shake]

No problem. Anytime buddy.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

I wonder if I can integrate fractals I've made into some of these...

 

[GMJ]

Yup, use Color Dodge.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

BS Work:

I just threw the fractal I made in there.

I think it could have potential, if I made the right fractal, and it fit with the render better. It will have uses later, I guess.

 

[GMJ]

Duplicate the fractal layer, keep it on color dodge, and put it in front of the render, then shade off everything above Palmer's waist, so it looks like Palmer is blended with in it, rather than just standing in front of it.

 

[Kid Chocolate]

MFNL or MNFL?

 

[Big Frame]

How the hell you guys do that? Im messing around with photoshop the picture I put in there, I have some white box's that block my background. Im stumped at that...

 

[Charles]

I just started messing around with photoshop as well. The only I've found is that I'm no good at it.

 

[#1_War_Poet_ForLife]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Apr 12 2008, 12:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Duplicate the fractal layer, keep it on color dodge, and put it in front of the render, then shade off everything above Palmer's waist, so it looks like Palmer is blended with in it, rather than just standing in front of it.</div>
I did the color dodge thing, but I can no idea what you mean by shading off.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (THE DADDY @ Apr 12 2008, 01:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>MFNL or MNFL?</div>
I have no idea what you're talking about.