BTS: Avatar Creations 2015

a reply to: OpinionatedB

You start with an actual fire image and mask out the black.

I did that wallpaper in the contest that way

a reply to: dollukka

lol.. no your instructions were perfect.. no problem..

never mind for the rest..

Nah..if that is how you do it then I can do smoke too..

a reply to: bigfatfurrytexan

yep no brushes .. Stock image as brushes lacks depth of color

a reply to: OpinionatedB

If you have smoke stock image so that it has black background ( adjust curves so that black is really prominent ) you can copy and paste that and use it as it is as a layer mask.. then in layer mask brush out parts you don´t want to be seen.. piece of cake
If you want to make a brush of the smoke.. shift+cntrl+alt+e and invert it so it has white background and define brush

To give more depth in brushes, use brush in layer of their own.. lock in layer transparent pixels and paint over using color and brush modes ( linear light, color dodge, colorburn, overlay etc ) its a drop down option near brush preset picker

a reply to: dollukka

I can make my own smoke, drawing and using filters and such.. and I can also make fire by drawing... but I don't like the way my fire looks..

and the smoke brushes I have.. look no different than the smoke I draw..



its making fire look real is what problem I have..

And yeah.. I always invert when saving my brushes and use a separate layer when I use them.. I do make most of my own brushes..

a reply to: OpinionatedB

used the image you provided



Duplicated the original layer adjusted curves to make more prominent black and white
in blending options outer glow and hue settings in it and orange color opacity in 40%
gradient overlay and from darker orange to lighter and scale 41 opacity 100%
now lock transparent pixels
use drop shadow brush hardness very low and quite large scale red color.. turn brush mode to color burn about 40%
paint over a bit ( i painted lower areas ) turn brush mode to color dodge and brush upper areas
Upper layer ( gradient ) has gradient fill, partly transparent and white color turned into saturation mode

a reply to: dollukka

okay.. that looks good.. really it does..

I have a question for you also.. because you said brushes lack depth.. this is a brush I made about a week ago..



I just stamped it onto a black background for now.. since I don't have anything quick to put it in.. but I think that it has depth, perhaps it could have more with shadow and shading (and of course lighting) into a background..

but do you really think that a stock image that has been cut out looks better?

I think with texture and color that brushes come out good.. am I wrong?

a reply to: OpinionatedB

They lack color depth as brushes are always saved as black and white they do not have color information.
Yes stock image looks always better.. That is pretty good brush tho and workable.

a reply to: dollukka

for me.. even if its a stock image I am ALWAYS changing the color... and to me, its just as easy to start with black and white, that way I can make it any way I would like.. you are always having to change the colors, the lighting, and everything else about a stock image.. so I find brushes just as easy, if not easier because you are not dealing with changing and blending already existing colors (which I usually don't like!)..

a reply to: OpinionatedB

Both ways have their benefits Its late i need to hit sack here .. cya tomorrow

a reply to: dollukka

Goodnight!

Thanks for your help!

a reply to: tothetenthpower


you said change it up.. so I did..

I present to you relaxed Archer with old pickup truck and a keg... enter UFO.. what do you think?




so... do you like the idea?

Two things i will fix in the morning... so other than that... do you like it?

a reply to: OpinionatedB

Nice work OB!

Cheers
Ektar

a reply to: Ektar

Ektar !!

Good to see you man, how's the trials going mate ?

Cody

a reply to: Ektar

DP

a reply to: tothetenthpower

Okay, so this is about fixed to the best of my ability I think.. so here you are...



I do hope you like the concept anyway.. if not tell me and I will try for something else!

a reply to: Ektar

Thanks Ektar!

Good to see you!

a reply to: OpinionatedB

I do and it wears itself wonderfully

a reply to: tothetenthpower

I'm glad you like it!

a reply to: cody599

you know... i just love this animation!