Photoshop: Creating an LED Sign in Perspective

LED Sign in Perspective

This is a part of a whole. I needed to add a sign to a rendering.

Totally '80s Photo Collage Portrait

Make an '80s Portrait

I painted a wild multi-color frame and needed a photograph for it that exuded class and style.

Poster Design: Brewfest

This contest was to design a poster for the Bright Leaf Brew Fest. I entered last year winning first and third place. Here are my entries from last year.

My first idea was a heads up view of a bar. I wanted something futuristic looking. I ended up doing a '80s style pub and a more traditional pub. When I started drawing the pub it started out looking more traditional. I liked both, so I finished and entered both.

Futuristic pub.

Like, Totally '80s Text Tutorial

Each of us has wanted to be Rick at some point, stuck in the '80s, mullet blowing in the breeze, while killing rodents with a device that resembles a proton pack. We can't be Rick, but we can rock Rick's logo.

UFO Sighting

I've always found the idea of drawing a cartoon in photoshop a bit daunting. I've done a couple of quick sketches and wasn't happy with the results. I decided to try again. I was happy with this result. I'll walk you through what I did and why. 

Just your typical UFO beaming up a hapless individual.

Zombie Text!!

The finished image.

This is how you can start creating awesome titles. This title is for a short film I've yet to begin.
The style looks like something you'd see on a zombie movie poster. Here is how you can make your own title.

Create a Custom Steel Button Graphic

If you need a custom icon, it's time to start reading.

I created a set of steel icons for this blog. Check out how it's done.

Green Screen - Setting Your Photos Anywhere

A green screen can be had for very little. It's best if your setup has very few wrinkles, you can obtain a backdrop support system that will help. I didn't have a support system, so I ironed the green screen before clamping it to two doors I pulled off the hinges.

Below are a few pictures from the green screen. An unwrinkled green screen makes it easier to remove the background and insert a new background. You can remove any background but it will take longer. I used a layer mask and removed the background using the wand and eraser tools.

Pick your new background images and insert them below the character layer.

Adding shadows and shading can help tie the pictures together This layer would be below your character layer and above your background layer. I used the burn tool to darken edges and shadows of the characters. The brightness/contrast was adjusted as well.

Movie Poster Text

This is a great way to generate titles for your video or other applications. I'm going to use Sketchup and paint.net. Both are free applications.

The finished text.

I'm going to walk you through each command as we create the text.

It's the Map, It's the Map, It's the Treasure Map

Who doesn't want an ancient looking map? Here is how to make your very own treasure map.

The finished map.

Do I Have Your Attention?

I got the chance to create flyers for the local Toastmaster's club. Toastmasters is an organization that helps develop speaking, communication, and leadership skills.

The goal was a flyer that would attract attention and provide basic information on the club, explaining what the club offers and when/where it meets.

The main hook is the image and text, thus it is centered at the top of the page. The logo follows on the page with what the club offers and then meeting times next.

The toastmasters logo has a gradient, stroke, bevel & emboss, inner glow, and a drop shadow applied. The white glare is a brush stroke with the opacity lowered. The rest of the text is formatted and sized according to importance.

Graphic Design: Directory Cover

I was asked to design a church directory cover.

On my quest to design an awesome directory cover, I settled upon an art deco inspired style.  It's classy, evokes that sophisticated, upon the edge of greatness feel, and I like it. Here is the final image.

 I also went with an interior image, bucking the trend of a steeple image on the front. I did this for a couple of reasons- a steeple is typical and what you would expect.  Second, the church had just renovated the sanctuary, so it made sense to show it off.

The finished cover, less text.

Free Christmas Card & Wallpaper Downloads

Free designs by WardWorks.

I decided to polish my photoshop skills, and being December, I chose a Christmas card theme.

These are the results, and I will let you reap the benefits. I only ask that if you choose to download an image, either for your Christmas card or as a wallpaper, shoot me a message and let me know which one you chose.

All cards have a text greeting, not all of the desktop images do.
The cards are sized for 5"x7" and are ready to print.
The desktop images are sized for standard screen 1280x1024 and wide screen 1920x1080.

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

Standard Screen Desktop

 Greeting Card

Wide Screen Desktop

 Standard Screen Desktop

How to Turn an Image into a Blueprint

Blog posts have slowed down since the inception of the blog. Unfortunately I've been tied up with projects. Expect a post or two in the next week!

For today, here is a quick tutorial on how to turn an image into a blue print. Also, the object depicted will be one of my next projects.

This was done in sketchup (which is free) and photoshop, but the same techniques can be applied to paint.net or gimp.

More Photoshop: Spoofing Holiday Classics

A few months ago we were talking about my contributions to the Christmas production. Today I have a few photoshop renderings.

The plot of the Christmas production is a modern take on A Christmas Carol using life size DVD's in lieu of ghosts. The entire thing is a spoof, that's why the below images will look oddly familiar, yet distinctly different. Faces have been blurred to protect the innocent.

Logo & Sign Design

I was recently commissioned to design a sign for an upstart business.

The client had sketched out an idea of what was wanted and referenced my previous work as a basis.

This is the design.  I designed it so that it would fit on a business card as well.  I didn't want to design something that only worked as a sign and couldn't be transferred.

Graphic Design: Bright Leaf Brew Fest Poster

This contest was to design a poster for the Bright Leaf Brew Fest. It's a beer convention. I immediately had two ideas.  One was more diagrammatic, communicating community, celebration, and enjoyment.The second idea depicts the victory of a beer after a long day.

My entry 'Victory Beer' garnered first place, and 'Cheers!' tied for third. I will receive a cash prize, event tickets, and my entry will be used to promote the event

Victory Beer

Cheers!

Paid Writing Gig: A Christmas Production

I was recently asked to assist in writing and designing a Christmas production for a local church.  It's a great opportunity that would put my work in front of around five-thousand people. And it would be my first paid writing gig.

I'm an assistant writer with free reign over graphics and set design. Since my fellow collaborator attends the church, he's  head writer as he wants final approval on the draft.  Something about my writing and his reputation at the church. I'm all too happy not to have to censor my writing.

As of now, it's titled "A Very Special Christmas Special". Corny? Yes.
Here is the logo I drew up. I have to admit, I'm quite pleased with the design. The snow is my favorite part.

As exciting as the writing aspect is, I might be more excited for the set design. The church has a significant budget for the set, a luxury I've yet to ever have when building a set. I'll get to build (and/or help build) a professional level set.

Expect to see this topic on my blog a few times this fall as graphic and building  progress occurs. I won't bore you with writing updates. (All of my blog posts contain at least one image if you haven't noticed. I'm providing for those of you who don't like to read.)

Graphic Design: Boy Scout Banner

Provided with a pencil sketch and some direction, I had the opportunity to create a banner for a Boy Scout troop.

The finished banner. It's eight feet wide and one foot tall.

This banner will be used at the 2013 Boy Scout Jamboree.  The Jamboree is held every four years, and 50,000 scouts from all over the country attend.

Graphic Design: Photoshop Silliness

The silliness started with this image.

This is a muftak.

Silliness is a great way to further photoshop skills.  The final image is nothing amazing, but it does include a few subtle details that will help any photoshopping effort.