Looking for Feedback and such on New sig.

[Dannnybones]

I know there is a forum to test your sig, but what I am looking for is constructive feedback and such on the quality of the sig that I have just done.  I do these in my off time and am not sure if they are on par with others but its something I like to do in my free time.So here you go and Thanks in advance for chiming in.

[Lillaanya]

I think it looks pretty good <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  My only issue is the beveled edge you used, but that is probably more personal taste than anything.  I think a simple line rather than the bevel would look a little classier, beveled edges on sigs sort of shouts "hey I am new to photoshop" to me, but I know a lot of folks that just like them too.

[Sapphirius]

<p>I rather like the beveled edge. It does exactly what it's designed to do, contain the image. Usually, a big key factor in seeing someone new to photoshop or sig making is no border at all. Hehehe.</p><p>I like the colors and lettering and the asymmetric shape of the sig as well, but here are some suggestions.</p><ul><li>The font mostly seems all the same size, so determining which is your name and which is not is a bit difficult. Try making your name larger and more prominent and putting less focus on guild, rank, etc.</li><li>Try playing around with your screenshot some. Burn some shadows in, dodge some highlights. Add a little depth to it.</li><li>Action shots. I think action shots are always so much more beautiful than shots of people jsut standing still. This is just a personal preference of mine.</li></ul><p>I always cringe to see sigs where the people are just standing. I even cringe when  I'm sent screenshots where the characters are just standing there. I'd rather have to repaint a blown-up action shot than use a simple standing shot. Use your emotes and get them up close. Sometimes the strangest emotes make the most beautiful sigs. For example...</p><p>/flirt</p><p><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c348/Sapphirius/Shikaeshi_Signature3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p><p>/blowkiss & /howl (spliced together)</p><p><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c348/Sapphirius/Olivine_Signature3.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p><p>/thank</p><p><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c348/Sapphirius/Qadira_Signature-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p><p>/dance</p><p><img src="http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c348/Sapphirius/Bell_Signature.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></p><p>EDIT: And please don't think I'm a grammar militant or anything (I make enough errors in my own posts.), but for sigs, I always like to see correct grammar used. There should be a comma infront of "Naggy" if you are talking to the server. You can capitalize "day of reckoning" without breaking grammar rules if you're using it as a proper noun, so it can look like:</p><p>"The day of reckoning has come, Naggy."</p><p>or:</p><p>"The Day of Reckoning has come, Naggy."</p><p>/whistles innocently</p>

[Seagoat]

<p>It looks pretty good!</p><p>I have to say that I share Lillaanya's feelings on beveled edges...I think that's probably the first kind of "border" anyone learns how to do, but once you learn how to use other effects as borders, you're probably not going to bevel anything but text -- and even then, not very often.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I personally find the font sizes you chose for your text a little odd, and here's why:  IMO/IME, your character image and name are the two most important things on the sig; therefore, they should be the most prominent, which in the case of text, means the largest.  Everything else is secondary, and things usually fall in an order that looks something like this, from most important to least:- Character name / character image- Guild name / character class(es)- Flavor text- Server name</p><p>Practice makes perfect...keep at it!  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>(I started writing this hours ago; I guess that'll teach me to reply to forum threads <i>while</i> exploring the guild halls on the test server, LOL.)</p>

[Dannnybones]

Thanks for the feedback and to answer your questions about my use of bevaling what I was going for with the Sig was a glossy button type of feel and after adding a few differant things that I do in order to give it that feel, I went and bevaled the top edge so that it played into that feel. I do agree that bevaling isnt much of a border, but yes in certain cerumstances it proves useful, as it was said to contain the image.   But yes I will try to break free of that except when I am in the middle of doing a button style sig or something that I feel it will stand out such as tribal.About the text yes I can see where the size could create a differant feel, but My name will never be the largest on Mine or my guilds sigs, for other people that will work. But with us the Guild is bigger as a whole then any one individual. But your information does shed light on future sigs I do for others.  So thank you very much for the feedback on that, as I never would of thought of that, and it allows me to think outside of my personal thoughts.As far as the emotes Thank you that was probubly the best advice I have gotten so far, It means alot and I appreciate it.  This is probubly one of my biggest flaws that I tend to do, As most people send me headshots of thier avi and fail to send me any kind of Action shots Infact I will post one that I had to end up animating just so I could get something out of it.  But Yes I need to stay away from doing that myself, and I never would of thought to use those emotes. While Im not new to Photoshop or to Sigs I am semi new to posting them for feedback Thank you tho for your time Everyone its much appreciated..... A few other examples of my Free hand Sig Work.First the one that I had to animate to make it fun, you may have to wait 10 seconds for the loop.  As I didnt want it to feel too busy.<img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/SigNykkon.gif" alt="" border="0" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/Abimsig.png" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/signatureebonlore.png" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/Signature.gif" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/avantsig.png" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/enoesig.jpg" border="0" alt="" /><img src="http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d28/jokstar/zalkawe.png" border="0" alt="" />Personally some of them are a bit old and when I was learning a while back to do sigs. While I have done photoshop, [Removed for Content], Twisted brush, Fireworks, and flash for quite some time its been a while for me taking all the stuff I knew from each one and incorperating it into Sigs.But please keep the feedback comming I really enjoy it.And yes I hate keeping Boxed in sigs lol I like to get creative lol

[Seagoat]

No one's assuming anything.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  You asked for feedback on that particular sig, and we gave it based on our own experiences and techniques, which is all we can do.  No one passes judgment here...we're all here to help each other and to give opinions when they're asked for.

[Dannnybones]

Oh no I'm not hostile perhaps the conotation of the words I used were a bit harsh and for that I apologize.  But no I am thankful for all the feedback I was just pointing out some of the stuff that stuck out too me, I tend to stay away from bevaling unless Im doing something that involves Tribal, or Im looking for a glossy button style.   And you all have been very helpful, I can't progress without feedback, anything that I do is self taught as it is with alot of people.  So no I do like feedback.Hense why I posted even more examples of my work, I enjoyed hearing everyones thoughts and thought that I could use a little more.I will go back and reword what I said as to not insult anyone as that wasnt what I was trying to do.  Thanks again for everyones time.

[phatd42]

<p>Yep, you asked for feedback, they were only giving their opinions is all, no need to take offense <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I do have a question though.. did you do the artwork on the Abim, and other sigs? If not where did you get them? love the skull, and curous aboutthe templates for the others. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Dannnybones]

Well for the background for abim and Avant no I didnt do the hands nor the skull while it was modified quite a bit, they were given to me by a friend to use so I just decided to modify them I will get the artists name and site the work used. Untill I get a new stylis im limited in what Im able to do. As for the ones that were against the grain such as Axems and Devitios, all of that was freehand. I thought one day why keep everything to a simple box. Why not freehand a few things and then adjust it to the liking of the individual, If you take a look it is a tribal dragon type of feel and I liked the crystal ball effect.So much I feel can be done with non animated sigs using PNG format and even Gif images (keeping in mind to match the Matte with the background of the forum they are being used in) I just started getting really creative with those particular styles. And might try to pop something else out for myself stemming off of my experience with that.As for Zalkawe, Enoe and even Nyykon I incorporated some Brushes, and even free handed some stuff based on differant things that I thought fit their particular style such as the sheet music for the bard and well the guardian looking to come off a bit evil and solice.   I had fun with them and yes the lightning effect in Nykkon's is a brush that I found.No Im not offended and as I said I may have worded my reply a bit wrong and after re-reading the post I have learned never to post right when I wake up. I am greatful for all feedback.

[phatd42]

<p>Just, as a caution, beware using art from other artists, unless they specifically post that their artwork is free to use for commercial and non comercial use.  You dont want to violate any copyright laws, and it is disrespectful to the original artist.</p><p>Some artists distribute their work as stock, or free to use with few requirements ( like a link back or credit given) but many dont, and use of their art is a violation of copyright laws.  Now keep in mind I am not accusing you of any such thing.. I just say this whenever non original art is used and feedback is asked for.  Sometimes people dont realize the harm they can do using others' artwork <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Dannnybones]

Thank you for that bit of information, That is very informitive. But thank you as some others may be able to take in information from the posts provided. No as far as I am aware the artwork that I sampled from on those two individual sigs I contacted a friend whom I am in association with and he provided me with them stating he was the original artist.If by anymeans I come to find out differantly then by all means I will change thier sigs which they need to be changed anyways or are probubly not being used. Most of everything I do though is all my own work, I very rarely sample from anyone and if so its typically done from a stock and I personally talk with the artists to find out what they require.Most that I have become friends with dont mind me using simple things without posting anything as they dont see "Signature Work" as a professional avenue. Although I and some others would disagree with that. But yes thank you very much for that information once again, I know if I hadn't been aware of such things that it could be very useful and I hope others that come in here just glancing see that and take something from it.Professional curtesy is key in making sure you dont step on toes, and that is something I never wish to do.

[Sapphirius]

Ooooo, I like the ones you did for Ebonlore, and I agree about asymmetrical sigs (or out of the box sigs). Hehehe. Unfortunately, most of my sigs are boxed. I make so many of them that it's just easier for me that way.

[phatd42]

<p>I like the out of the box sigs as well,</p><p> unfortunately I just dont care to make my own GIF images, since they deteriorate my images so much, ( anything with over 256 colors) and PNGs are huge memory hogs <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[shirpa]

<span style="color: #666699;">Very nice! If you're interested in using the bevel a bit more, trying playing around with the highlight color a bit <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> As to the glossy button feel, there's lots of tutorials around on Google</span>. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.tutorialstream.com/tutorials/photoshop/glossy-button/" target="_blank">Glossy Button Tutorial</a>