[GFX] Behind the Scenes with...

[Mitsuki]

I don't know what to title this. It's not really a video tutorial, but moreso a video of how I usually work around on Photoshop. This is all just very basic - I didn't use too much Filters except to blur. Usually I play around with Distort too, but not this time.

So, I thought it would be neat to see how we all do our signatures. I think @Six is doing one next...she better. She wanted me to do a Tifa signature again, dark theme. I used CamStudio to record the activity, but it was giving me so much issues. I couldn't minimize the program, otherwise it won't show up on desktop anymore unless I restart the laptop. Another annoying one was that it wouldn't let me record more than a minute. Once I hit the two minute mark, it gave me a black screen recording instead, and that's mainly why in the beginning of this video, you'll see that I've already done a few steps that I thought was being recorded. I couldn't be bothered starting over so I just worked with it and hit stop and saved every minute. Yeah, never again - that took forever. =/

So here's the video. I cut out bits and pieces here and there that didn't really affect anything, so I can shorten the length of the video. You'll see me undo a lot of my work, even though I'll spend a good 5 minutes on a layer. Erase tool is my best friend, as well as clicking the eye tool constantly.

I recommend not viewing it on Full Screen because it diminishes the quality of the video. There's also some weird lines appearing in the BG if you do so. If you really want to be able to see what's going on, view it on Large Screen, though that still lowers quality.

Anyone else wanna give this a try? Post your work here!


Signature:

Spoiler

 

[Steve-O]

That a pretty good idea.... Ill do one at some point in the future..... Maybe tomorrow

 

[Six]

As far as the name of this thread goes, how about... [GFX] Behind the Scenes with... It's pretty funny, I think. It's a shame the video didn't work for me that you posted, @Mitsuki, something about copyright. Oh well, I had the hardest time with CamStudio as well. I thought it worked fine for me, until I recorded an 11 minute tutorial/how I work video. It's just a little annoying, because the whole beginning of the video was completely spazzing out, and it didn't look normal until the end. It's really a shame 'cause the quality of the CamStudio is so much better than the screen recorder I'm using right now. Oh well.

As promised, here's my run. It's a small and simple tag, because it was the first time playing with this screen recording program.

Here's a behind the scenes with Six...

Personally not really a fan of how it pans full screen to the middle of the video, with the black bars on the side of YouTube, but this is sure a hell of a lot better than CamStudio messing up. Until I find something nicer, I'll stick with this.

End result:

Spoiler

 

[Mitsuki]

Loved what you did here @Six

For the most part, I can easily recognize most of your procedures since I'm pretty much the same way. Awesome job! The signature is excellent and I love the earthy tones.

I had to take down mine from earlier since I thought it was a little too long, and I didn't like the quality, so I decided to convert the avi files to MPEG4. Increased the speed from 2x to 4x as well. If only I could work that fast.

 

[Raiiyokuu]

I'd love to do this, since I'm not really good at explaining at what I do in GFX.

The only problem I'd have to deal with is the length of my video(s). Normally my average runtime for a signature is 15+ minutes, and I don't think people wanna sit down and watch a 30 min video of me adding and undoing crap. Kira knew what she wanted, or had a thought ready, I never have that, I just go with the flow on what I start.

One question though,

• I read CamStudio as your source of recording? Is that a free program?

And if not, then what did you guys use?

 

[Six]

* CamStudio is a free program that you can download: http://camstudio.org/ Mits and I seemed to have a lot of issues with it though, I don't know if it's like that for anyone.

* BSR Screen Recorder is what I use now. There's a free trial version: http://www.bsrsoft.com/downloadbsr.asp It's not a limited one, where you can only use it for 30 days. All the trial does is add two icons (the 4 colours) at the bottom left, and right of your screen. When using this program, the quality is pretty good, but Jeff suggested (by YouTube search on how to improve BSR Screen Recorder quality) to download the Xvid codec. Which is free as well. Just do a google search on that.

I also suggested, (my videos will be longer as well, mine was 7 minutes this time without even upping the time speed) but... my videos will get longer as well, so I suggested just doing as Mitsuki, add the speed up x4, or x2, whichever you prefer. Tutorial videos are supposed to be long, but "Behind the scenes" just showing how you work can be sped up a little, which easily splits your time in half.

 

[Kim Taehyung]

If no one minds, I may add my own, using GIMP as opposed to PS. I've been collecting a few images on Tumblr to use for a signature for myself.
...um, fair warning: prepare for Loki bombardment. I'm serious.

 

[Steve-O]

Here is another one to add to the list, for screen recording I use camtasia studio 'but I invested in the program as it pretty dam cool' and then I edit my videos in sony vegas movie studio hd as for the tag it just a simple one but I think it turnt out pretty nice 'apart from the text... my crap text skills strikes again' enjoy the video... and sorry it 12 mins..... your lucky... the raw video file was over 20 mins long, I managed to cut it to about 12 mins

Here is the Final Tag:

Spoiler

 

[Six]

Thread stickied. =]


Female Mage
by Six.

​

Having a lot of fun with these videos. I was kinda paranoid about the music being added to them, because even if you bought the CD, YouTube is going to be a pain in the ass about it. So, while I added music to this video, I made sure I didn't list the video, hopefully that helps as far as it being flagged goes. They really need to fix their shit, 'cause if you buy music, it should be allowed!

Here's a random image I used while making a signature, I have no idea where the lady is from. Enlighten me, etc. The "Maple Leaves" text was completely random. Tis cute, and it worked in a weird way, teehee!

 

[Six]

Ghost Recon: Future Soldier
Rain animated signature.

Result:

Had the attempt shown below made first, but I thought it was too dark along with other feedback I had gotten. I had closed the PSD, so I had to start over from scratch. The above is the new outcome, but below I'll show you my first attempt.

Spoiler: First attempt

Six out.
​

 

[Mitsuki]

Nice updates, Kira. I didn't know you posted more videos until now. The last one I made was the Bioshock tag, which was back in September.

Great video as well, Stevie!

Here's Big Daddy.

I had already started on the signature so there were already a few layers in the beginning, and I didn't feel like starting over again for the sake of a video.


Outcome:

 

[Big Casino]

Ive been wanting to see how you did that big daddy sig.

 

[Big Casino]

Hmmmm what version of photoshop do you use Mitsuki? Whatever it is it looks extremely handy as in it has everything close by. I still use cs2.

See i try to make one of these videos but i really dunno how to do it without speaking about what im doing? or Rather what i did. Its hard for me to go back and do this then this etc because i only recently made my folder organised. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm Its probably easier for me if i just redo a sig ive already done from scratch but make sure i remember how to do it...which would mean a easy sig. I am confuzzled

 

[Six]

Same as me, CS6, (got it through Mits). @Big Casino. You can customize a lot in CS6, from the dark layout to your tabs, etc. =] With these videos, (from what I imagine) Mits works very similiar, and what I do is just record when I start up Photoshop, and record all the progress when making the signature. I usually do my signatures in one take, but if I don't, I pause, or stop the video, and record the next part later on, and edit it in windows movie maker or something alike. Just record screen, record what you do.

I don't really consider the behind the scenes as a tutorial, so having to explain all your steps would be so tedious.... awesome, but tedious... This is more of a "what did I do/where/how". Without... the detailed explanations, and mostly sped up by x4. xD

 

[Big Casino]

I cant video edit to save my life

 

[Mitsuki]

CS6 is pretty similar to CS2/CS3. It did take me awhile to get used to the darker background, and I had to configure the settings a bit so that it matches the settings for CS2/CS3 (never tried CS4/CS5 - I imagine they're all the same). For example, one of the default setting for CS6 is when you open a file, it automatically creates a tab for you. I didn't like that. I want a new window to open on photoshop each time I open a file, because I drag pictures a lot. You can't really do that if you're in a tabbed window (well you can, but it's an extra step or two, which I find unnecessary). That was one of my biggest complaint, but easily fixed. There's more things to play with though, but I haven't really touched any of the newer features and explore its capabilities.

 

[Big Casino]

I cant work unless the item im doing so is on full screen. I notice you have yours up as little tabs so you can click and drag etc. I Need to have a full screen to work. It doesnt benefit me really because ive tried to work non full screen as its more practical when you have resources opened around you but it never lasts me more than a minute. I feel like the tab box around it is distracting me.

 

[Mitsuki]

I'm the complete opposite then. I tried working in full-screen mode. Something about it bugs me. I like the clutter and messy background for some weird reason. Sometimes I'll open up random files for the heck of it (usually the resources I want to use) before starting on a signature, and it stays there until I complete the signature (even if I know I wouldn't use them anymore) or if I have to close photoshop for the day.

 

[Six]

I don't work in full screen mode, but I like the current image I'm working on to be on wide screen as well, (aka me not seeing the other tabs, in windows, but just in actual tabs.) I like how mine is set up, like Lewis, I would just get distracted, and click things on accident, then I have to find my way to 500 windows to find the right one, lmao. I feel like doing one of these sometime soon, but I haven't made a signature in weeks.

 

[Big Casino]

Once i find someone to help with the video editing part i shall make a video. Its not odd for me to use Cinema 4D aswell when making a sig but mostly its all ps. Need to make sure i know how to condense the video because i go back and forth editing layers constantly. Sometimes il get 6-9 layers in and scrap the whole idea. You can usually tell around layer 6 if its gunna work or not. I took a callout with toni so that might be the sig to use. I think its favourite childhood cartoon theme. Which i like as my fy childhood cartoon has many good images.