Tech SocietyThis clan is a home for gamers and graphic designers (sigs, any formn of art on computer), this will include game reviews done by members, frequent competitions on different consoles (360, DS, PC etc) and graphics.
Ok since our clan has a vast number of sig makers i feel this is appropriate. Now i'm going to allow people to post other links which are handy and contribute to this thread k.
RESOURCES: GRAPHICS PROGRAMS
Spoiler: Graphics Programs
Please Report if any don't work so i can remove them from the list
Free
Gimp
- A paintshop pro ripoff, and a great program, GIMP is also free, and has most of the features paintshop pro has, however, it's missing a line tool :/. Gimp is good for advanced users, or a PSP fan that doesn't have the money to buy it.
Project Dogwaffle
- Project Dogwaffle, is free, Includes a line tool, but unlike gimp, doesn't involve layers, which can be vital in making sigs, or just doing casual manipulation. Overall it's an ok program, but not my favorite
Paint.NET
- So far, my favorite of them all, you have to download the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0, but this program is worth the wait, and if you already have it then you're set. This program uses layers, has a line tool, a great cropping tool, and it's an all around good program. This one is also a PSP ripoff, but it's a better one than Gimp in my opinion.
MS Gif Animator
- Usefull if you want to make animated GIFs, that's all it's good for, it can be a bit confusing at first, but it's not that bad, i also use this one.
WhitSoft UnFREEz
- It's a tiny tool, that will take any number of images, saved as separate GIF files, and create a single animated GIF from those images.
Not so free ($$$)
PhotoImpression
- PhotoImpression, a free trial (program is not free), but great tool, it's helful, and has a great cropping tool, and the ability to have two images opened side by side, PhotoImpression is really good. i use this one for alot of my image manipulation
PaintShop Pro (PSP)
- PaintShop Pro is said to be one of the best, i have never used it but i know that it has a hefty price on it. The site also includes Tutorials, which help you get started using the program.
PhotoShop
- said to be the best of the best by many a image manipulator, i've also never used this one, but it also has a great price on it's head. This one seems like it is the best of the bunch, however, i cannot vote for it since i haven't tried it.
PhotoShop Elements
- This software combines power and simplicity so you can make your photos look their best, share them in imaginative ways, and easily find and view all your photos and video clips.
Illustrator
- This software allows you to create sophisticated artwork for virtually any medium. Industry-standard drawing tools, flexible color controls, and professional type controls help you capture your ideas and experiment freely, while timesaving features such as easier-to-access options let you work quickly and intuitively. Improved performance and tight integration with other Adobe applications also help you produce extraordinary vector graphics for print, web and interactive, and mobile and motion designs.
openCanvas
- openCanvas is known for its unique blending style, something of a cross between Adobe Photoshop and Corel Painter. Unlike many similar programs, openCanvas is specifically designed for use with pressure-sensitive drawing tablets, like the popular Wacom's digitizing tablets. It is designed from the bottom up to be a sketch program rather than a graphic design program, which means it lacks many of the graphic design features.
PhotoPlus
- With many impressive editing, fixing, and sharing features makes working with digital camera images more flexible and fun than ever. This software offers automated photo editing steps with the improved, interactive, on-screen How To guides, a wide variety of special effects for enhanced creativity, a lot of power-features, and enhanced ease of use. Photo organizing and sharing is easy with extended searching and even more output features.
Texture Maker
- Texture Maker is a powerful tool for graphic development, it allows the user to create seamless textures on-the-fly and easily, whether you want to use a previously made image and convert it to be seamless or if you want to draw it in the program, either way it’s very easy to work with. Texture Maker has the option of making a texture seamless with just one click, it also has support for many formats and allows 32-bit textures as well.
RESOURCES: ESSENTIALS FOR SIG MAKING
Spoiler: RENDER/IMAGES/BRUSHES Sites
Renders
1. I've just discovered this a few weeks ago, but if you search photobucket for anime renders/_____ renders, you can find some pretty decent renders.
4. Celestial Star. This site also has a lot to offer in terms of brushes and textures.
5. Aethereality. Same kind of stuff as Celestial Star. Renders, brushes, and textures. There are a few tutorials too.
6. Nihonomaru. Anime renders.
7. K O M E T T A I L S. Same kind of stuff as Celestial Star.
Stock Images
1. Google.
2. Deviantart has good photography but you should get the creator's consent before doing anything.
3. Stock XCHNG. My personal favorite. <3 The images are very high quality and royalty-free.
Moonchilde-Stock on deviantART (Credits to BlizzarD)
Brushes/Textures/Patterns/Etc.
1. DEVIANTART. Everything you will ever need.
2. LiveJournal. Search and you will find. Also has tutorials.
3. Hybrid Genesis.
4. Brush King. Brushes.
RESOURCES: FONTS
Spoiler: Font Resources
DaFont dafont.com
Hosts a large variety of font types (Fancy, Foreign look, techno, bitmap, gothic, basic, script, dingbats, holiday)
You can browse the fonts by the style, or alphabetically ...
WantedFonts Wanted Fonts
Also has a large variety of font types. Also supports browsing by style or alphabetically.
Ninja Naruto is a free unofficial font font to mimic the text of the Naruto series. This font is used by a lot of people, one of them the famous ANBU subbing group for overlay on their fansubs. It can be used for forum elements, graphics, designs, or products.
RESOURCES: Tutorials (if the ones done by members are not sufficient)
Spoiler: tutorial links
Tutorials
1. Deviantart has some good signature tutorials. I most definitely recommend this one. The creator of the tutorial's signature style is a little different from mine but I learned a lot of my techniques from this tute. This one covers clipping masks, a tool which I have found increasingly useful, as well as many other good techniques.
2. Sigtutorials.com. Lots of tutorials here. Some general, some more specific. Take a look around. This site also has a section for renders.
3. This site has links to a lot of text effect tutorials that some may find useful.
4. General Photoshop tutorials may be found here
5. GIMP Talk- A place where I go if I want to learn how to create a certain signature on GIMP. The tutorials here are very helpful and descriptive. Once you practice them more, you'll get how to do them right away.
6. xxdarzie. Livejournal site with icon tutorials.
RESOURCE: TIP OF THE WEEK (DONE BY TECH SIG MAKERS)
Spoiler: Tip of the week
(PROUD WORK OF BLIZZ)
I know some of these things are old news to you but its for new people but I'm sure there's stuff oldies can learn as well. Please contribute if you can, Spam and i shall smite you though k
__________________
Last edited by Anime_master#1; 07-20-2009 at 05:41 AM..
Even though it has a black background, just set the layer mode to Addition or screen or Linear Dodge or some blending mode that looks good. Personally, I prefer Addition.
well daniel for c4ds, they have black background most of the time and yes you must use them in lighten, screen or other blending mode, which removes black background..
this deviantart user makes awsome stocks, you can use them in your signature as a background or part of background, make sure to read his rules and everything
Link Central
Spoiler: Graphics Programs 
Linear Mode
