Kandy-Sugar's Photoshop 7.0 Attempts

[Kandy-Sugar]

Will post all my updates in this first post as well!

Random Avatars:

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Random/Request signatures:

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Total AOTW Wins: 7
Awards: 1​

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AOTW entries:

AOTW 21 - Final Fantasy VIII - Didn't win. XD

AOTW 22 - Vibrance - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 24 - Women who changed the world - Didn't Win. XD It sucks really. I tried to do something different with it and it came out crap. I entered it anyway though.

AOTW 31 - Legend of Zelda - Won and Tied with Twin Fangs. =D

AOTW 35 - Final Fantasy Tactics - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 36 - South Park - I Won! =D

AOTW 38 - FFX-2 - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 39 - Full Metal Alchemist - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 40 - Hatred - I won! XD

AOTW 42 - Life and/or Death - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 43 - The Seven Sins - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 44 - Preset Renders - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 46 - Something From The Year You Were Born - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 49 - Buildings - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 50 - Freestyle - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 51 - Naruto - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 53 - Blue - I won! =D

AOTW 55 - FFVIII/FFIX - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 56 - Sport - I won. =D

AOTW 58 - Dissidia - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 59 - Star Ocean Series - Won and Tied with Vikki. =D

AOTW 60 - Reality Television - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 61 - Peace - I won. =D

AOTW 63 - Love - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 65 - Friendship - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 69 - FFXIII - Didn't Win. XD

AOTW 70 - Twilight - Didn't Win. XD

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Total SOTW Wins: 1
Awards: 0​

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SOTW entries:

SOTW 90 - Passion - I won! XD

SOTW 94 - Preset Renders - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 96 - Something From The Year You Were Born - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 100 - Lucky Dip - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 105 - FFVIII/FFIX - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 106 - Comic book heroes/Villains - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 108 - Dissidia - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 109 - Star Ocean Series - Didn't Win XD

SOTW 120 - Twilight - Didn't Win XD

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[VegaNovus]

Im not a huge fan of larger sigs but I think your 2nd attempt at the Twilight one was good

Im not a big fan of the type of border in the 1st one

Other than that all it could do with is some light effects or maybe some blending.

Other than that very very good I approve.

 

[Mitsuki]

The first sig is fairly good. I thought the border was unique actually - a little different from what I normally see. The background color doesn't really go well with the subjects though. I think something darker would suit better along with something bright in the middle if you want to give them that real focus. Actually you managed to do that effect in the first tag - just the pinkish color that doesn't really look too effective. The line effects are a nice touch, but I think there's a tad bit too much going all over the place. You want to make it look "contained" and manage how you do your effects - be in control of it rather than placing random effects all over the place. Remember, sometimes simplicity is elegance. Solid backgrounds work well too - with soft and subtle touch of effects in it. But blending is a great tool to master as well, so keep practicing and you'll definitely get the hang of it.

As for the second signature, not too bad either. I like the orange effects on the right and how it comes down at an arch. My advice though is don't be afraid to try and make the background effects "touch" your main focal. If you have to erase some of the character's body a little, by all means do so just to make it seem like the background is blended in well with the character. Just make sure you use a soft rounded brush for that and make it very subtle. You wouldn't want to erase too much. Erasing is one tool I really like to use when blending. And last but not least...make good use of gradient maps and blending the layer, setting some of them to either Color Dodge, Soft Light, Overlay, etc. Works wonders.

And that's it for now. Looking forward to more of your work!

 

[Takaiki]

Alittle too bight for my taste but otherwise I can't find anything wrong with it.

This one don't have the brightness problem and looks really good. If it got entered into a SotW I would vote for it.

This one looks like it is missing a lot of stuff that could go nicely in it but otherwise looks nice.

 

[Big Casino]

I really like the simplicity to your designs they're very clean and pretty.
As above has said if you darken your background slighly it will make your render pop out and catch the attention of whos looking at it. However i do llike the bright glow in your tags.
I would like to see you work with different sizes and maybe some messy backgrounds i like what i see so far

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Hey thanks guys. I didn't expect to get so much positive feedback considering I'm a beginner.

It's given me more motivation to work on this more. Encouragement always helps. =)

This one don't have the brightness problem and looks really good. If it got entered into a SotW I would vote for it.

Thanks for that. Means a lot. =D At least my work isn't making anyones eyes bleed. =P

Well I will post more of my work soon this week. Hopefully my work shows that I've listened to what you've all said I should improve on.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Hey just thought I'd update with a few avatars.

I made these for Avatar of the week comp's and 2 have won so far. XD

It's only because there's not that much of a selection with AOTW because no one really enters lol.

AOTW 21 - Final Fantasy VIII - Didn't win XD

AOTW 22 - Vibrance - Didn't Win XD

AOTW 24 - Women who changed the world - Didn't Win XD It sucks really. I tried to do something different with it and it came out crap. I entered it anyway though.

AOTW 31 - Legend of Zelda - Won and Tied with Twin Fangs.

AOTW 35 - Final Fantasy Tactics - Didn't Win XD

AOTW 36 - South Park - Won!

So that's just an update and any C+C is welcome! =D

 

[Sabriel]

they were all fab! espescially the sigs. and congratulations for the AOTW!

and btw, the sigs are bright, but i appreciate the simplicity, like lagunas...

 

[Big Casino]

i remember that vibrance avatar, i voted for it. Your pretty good at avatars i gotta say, they look neat and tidy and your use of colour is very good. The zelda one is by far my favourite of the bunch, the red blur next to his face sets the whole piece, well done there

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Hey thanks XD.

Yeah I'm actually kind of scared when it comes to signatures.

There's just so much space to work with and I get put off really easy. XD
So I try to stick with avatars at the moment.

Thanks for the comments once again. =D

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Hey I was playing around in photoshop again today and came up with these. I'm not exactly happy with them because I fail at lighting.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to work on lighting or anything else that you think is wrong with them?

And I'm aware I used the same textures for a couple of them. By accident though.

Thanks! XD

 

[Big Casino]

I like the third ones the best, its a great stock and i love the lighting and the colours. The second one i find a bit hard to decipher, i wasnt sure right away what i was looking at. The first is nice aswell but its maybe a little bit too dark. Number 3 is win though, its perfect. Youre really good at avatars, its something i just cant get my head around unfortunately ><
My tips on lighting would be to play around with gradients, use them to your advantage to help put the light in a particular spot thus drawing the eye. Glow brushes are effective aswell, youl find some if you do a quick google search.

 

[Rey]

Hey you know your siggys are actually pretty good. But for your avvys I love the cloud and Tifa one. The colors for it are great and everything. Your Twilight siggy is lovely also Kandy. Even if your squall and Rinoa did not win I still love it.

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

I was bored and made these. XD

Hope you like them. I tried to make them look pretty. XD

 

[Coco]

Delicious.

Very nice colors. Nice angle and the softness works.


Keep up the good work, Kandy! <3

 

[Ness]

Seems you've got quite the flair for avatars...especially those most recent ones.

Those last two are quite good, if I do say so myself. I really like the use of lighting in the first, and the "texture" of the second. You do a fine job of making avatars, that's for sure. You should try your hand at sig-making again!

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Thanks again for the nice comments guys!

I just made this request for someone on the forums. They may not use it but I want to know what you guys think.

Also this is my first signature in ages! But I needed the practice.

I personally prefer the set with the borders.

 

[Daenerys]

That's a really good piece, the avatar in particular is brilliant ^^ I like seeing your work develop. Are you using photoshop 7.0? There are ways to get CS2 PM me if you're interested. xD

I think the set with borders is the better of the two as well ^^ Particularly like the blue box thing on the left xD

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Yah I am using 7.0. XD

I had CS3 at one stage until my computer decided to eat it!

And I'll take you up on that offer! XD

Thank you for the comments! It means a lot!

 

[Kandy-Sugar]

Hiiiiiiii!

Another update again!

I'm not sure which one looks better. The softer looking one or the darker one?

My entry for AOTW 38: Theme FFX-2 - Didn't win XD