Dorking out over Photoshop =)

[the_muppet]

So I've been dorking out over Photoshop a little bit lately =) I installed it on Wednesday and spent the whole frickin day working through my highly anticipated hissy fits over how I didn't understand any of the tutorials, etc. Which, seriously, I didn't. Actually, just one I did understand. The rest of them claim to be basic ones for beginners, and then just go off on one about "then I did this and that and some other highly unlikely word I've never heard of" and they think that's for beginners? *snorts* It isn't.

So here's what I did so far. And I kid you not when I tell you I've no idea what I'm doing - I randomly click shiny buttons and see what happens - *clickety* - and that's about the extent of my 'knowledge' so far. I barely understand layers, I've yet to use a brush or a texture cos I have a mental block in understanding those too - oh, and text is beyond me. Literally. Although suzyx has kindly offered to help me out with some text advice, and from_the_corner has been great in offering concrit to every effort I throw in her direction ;) And although I understand you need some knowledge to use 'curves' properly, I can't resist the urge to fiddle around with that little squiggly line *lol* so I've sort of experimented with that =)

So - here they are so far. I know they're all pretty bland, but I'm learning - I hope!
{ batch 001 }

1	2	3	4
5	6	7	8
9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20
21	22

Anyway, only posting these here for you guys to tell me where I'm going wrong with cropping, etc, and if any of you would like to offer any advice/tutorials/guides, please make sure they're idiot-proof. Please. I'm not sure how many more hissy fits my desk can take =)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY bookwormprinces!! Have wonderful birthday sweetie =)

Hope you're all having a lovely weekend =)

*hugs all*

Comments

[from-the-corner.livejournal.com]

Yay!

I guess we've been through all of them already, so let me say one more time - great job. Really.

Although - did you do something more with House?

My favorites are 16 and 20. And 9.

And remember, you can always channel your hissy fits to me =)

*lots of hugs*

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

20 is one of my favourites too =)

I haven't changed the House one at all since I showed it to you - is it less boring now?! *lol*

Thanks for all your help with my hissy learning curve, much appreciated =)

*hugs*

[from-the-corner.livejournal.com]

I haven't changed the House one at all since I showed it to you

Huh. The difference is probably because of the background. Here is white, while it's gray in PS.

=)

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I didn't realise you'd looked at it in PS - but I'm glad you think it's okay =)

*hugs*

[tearful-eye.livejournal.com]

I randomly click shiny buttons and see what happens - *clickety*

isn't that the point of photoshop? *g* (cause i do that too) & there are so many shiny buttons to click too... it's fun!

& i actually think these icons are real pretty - i especially like #12 & #9, the colouring/or whatever it's called is awesome in that one, & #22 = aww.

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

Well it's all I know how to do - click the shiny buttons and hope for the best - so I'm just enjoying doing that right now till I actually learn something! *lol*

Thank you very much for saying you like them - that really means a lot to me =)

*hugs hard*

[sue91.livejournal.com]

Hey, I think they're lovely :) Especially for a first attempt :) I like the style of #12, #17 & I think my absolute favourite is #22!
I fail to see the difference between #19 and #20, but maybe that's just me *lol*
And I have no idea who most of these people are *lol*

I'm seriously bad at adding text to my icons/graphics myself, so I understand what you mean xD I can never think of something intelligent to write on my icons, so 99,9% of them are without text ;)
And I've still got no idea how the whole curves thing actually works, but I agree, fiddling around with that squiggly can get quite obsessive *lol*

There was a lovely 'how to use textures' tutorial somewhere, I'll look for it and send you the link. I think it was 'idiot-proof', but I'll read through it again ;)

*hugs*

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

The difference between #19 and #20 is very subtle actually, and it's just that #20 is lighter than #19 =)

I will go through and tag these properly sometime, but they're Emily Browning (16-20), Jennifer Garner (22), Audrey Hepburn (21), Drew Barrymore (14 & 15), Billie Piper (10 & 11) and... some model (8, 9, 12 & 13) =P

I do have ideas for text to add, and a bunch of text only ones I want to do, but whenever I try and do text it just looks crappy, so I need help there - though suzyx - whose text icons I love - is gonna help me out there after the weekend =) Though of course any idiot guides you find are more than welcome, please!

And *lol* at your super-quick email reply last night! Mine will be... not quite so quick today I'm afraid =P

*hugs*

[sue91.livejournal.com]

Okay, thanks for clearing that up - now I can actually see it =P

Thank you =) I did recognize Billie Piper and Emily Browning, but not the others ;)

Looking forward to seeing your text-only icons, after suzyx has helped you :)
I guess, with text on icons you just have to keep it simple, meaning no overly curly fonts and yeah... If I had ideas for text to put on my icons, I'd manage, somehow... At least I think so. Although I really need to get myself one of those great simple fonts everyone seems to be using *lol*

And, as long as you had to wait for my email, you can now take all the time in the world to reply =P

♥

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I have a collection of silly/funny badges I'd like to make icons from, so that's a starter for me ;)

I just got your email with the tutorial link so i've bookmarked that to look at later - my computer time is a little limited today so I'll probably check it out properly tomorrow - though I'm hoping sometime this evening to get on here long enough to reply to your latest email ;)

*hugs hard*

Photoshop

[ms-3m.livejournal.com]

Darn. If I were home right now, I would try and help IM you through using Text. That was another thing that I discovered how to use by accident.

But right now, I'm at the airport....off to see my Mom for a couple of days. Back to home on Monday afternoon.

'Clickety' is not a bad way to learn. Also.... I really like Curves. I wish I had discovered it a lot earlier. Some of my piccies would have been so much better....with a lot less struggle. Also the Band-Aid is a good touch-up tool.

*hugs*

Re: Photoshop

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

Have a good weekend with your mum - maybe I'll be whining for help when you get back Monday =)

*hugs*

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

I'm nabbing #20 because it's BEAUTIFUL.

Where you beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen? I've missed you!

♥

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

OMG someone snagged one of my icons! And it's one of my favourites! *completely flails* You're the first to snag one =)

I've been... here and there =) *hugs hard* Sorry I've not been around more. Funnily enough, I got poked a few times yesterday by people asking me where I was, which kinda made me chuckle, and wonder if people are used to me spamming LJ and then wonder where I am when I go quiet =)

*heffa hugs*

[dazzlebug.livejournal.com]

Well, it IS gorgeous, lookit!

Can't help wanting to see posts from my favourite Bournemouth gal! I didn't get to send your stuff today because... well it'll be in my Twitter later but basically I was up waiting for the girlfriend to get online and then I fell asleep with my computer in my lap and missed her completely D: And I ended up waking up at like 2 or something stupid. But it'll be on its way to you soon - I'm getting paid again at the end of the month, yay money!

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I wish you could see the dorky grin on my face right now - that makes me so happy, thank you =) *hugs hard*

Well I'm back at work properly Monday - no more days off *pouts* so i'll look forward to your little package ;)

*more hugs*

*still grinning*

[vuleimoor.livejournal.com]

They are brilliant for someone who is *learning*. My first icons, I can't even look at them now :P

I love your cropping and the colouring is cool too. Favourites 9,16 :D

Fantastic job :D

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

Thank you so, so much =)

*hugs*

[suzyx.livejournal.com]

These are great! Really! You would never know these are from your first attempt. The coloring in the first one is very nice. Mmm, Jasper. I also love #14 (can I have that one? I'll credit) and #22. I really believe black and white is the best. :D

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like the Jasper ones - they're the first ones I did and it's frustrating cos there just aren't enough decent pics of Jasper out there... yet =)

I also love #14 (can I have that one? I'll credit) and #22.

Are you frickin kidding?! I'd be really chuffed! *hugs* And thank you =)

[nicole9514.livejournal.com]

nice girl i esp love the b/w and number 21 that got amazing coloring :) playing around is how i learned honestly. Your cropping is fine girl, it's always fun to crop them in odd ways. you can turn them and flip them as well, that can get some interersting results. Just rotate them left, right, 90 degrees etc.

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon - it's nice to know I'm on the right track and getting somewhere, and you're right, playing around is probably the best way to learn, it's how I learnt to use Video editing software so *shrugs* might as well take the same approach here =) Still, it would be good to get a little actual knowledge, too!

Hope your weekend has gone okay - and thanks again for the lovely card =)

*hugs hard*

[bookwormprinces.livejournal.com]

YAY! Thank you, Muppet!

Okay, who is the loverly girl in icons 16-20? I do believe you also have a color one of her that you use somewheres...

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

*showers you with balloons, cakes and confetti*

Hope you've had a lovely day today =)

Okay, who is the loverly girl in icons 16-20?

That's Emily Browning, and yep, I do use this icon of her *points above* sometimes - which I got from lovefumes, one if my favourite icon comms =)

Enjoy the rest of your birthday!

*hugs*

[aruna7.livejournal.com]

*hugs you heffa tight*

YAY for photoshop!!! Seriously hon, for a beginner you rock way more than I did!!!!! *bows*

When it comes to cropping, I think you have a pretty good eye for it.

As for not really knowing what you are doing, this is how I learnt photoshop cause tutorials??? WTF???? mwhhahahahha

I never used curves O.o (yet lol)

My favourite of the batch are : 14,15,16,18,19,21,22.

*more hugs*

[the-muppet.livejournal.com]

*hugs hard back*

Aw thank you - it's good to know I'm doing okay for a beginner and (hopefully) and headed in the right directions =)

Hmm, the vast majority of the tutorials I've read claim to be for beginners but actually assume at least some level of knowledge of the process or the terms - and that's not really a beginners tutorial IMO. So yeah, just winging it for now really =)

I'm glad you liked them, thanks hon =)

*heffa hugs*

[bellasianna.livejournal.com]

Oooo shiny! ANd pretty! Great for a first try!
I want Photoshop *pouts*