Photoshop Derpin'

[Kelranox]

I've been messing around with Photoshop for quite some time now. Nothing too large scale, mostly sigs and avatars. I dig photo manipulation and can't stand it when painters or illustrators point out that my field of interest doesn't qualify as 'art'. But I suppose I'm not posting this to harp or complain, rather to display some of my work. Also, critiquing is appreciated...but being an asshole is not.















This isn't -all- of my work, but more-so what I'm most proud of.

[Amphetamine]

i'm glad i'm not the only person that uses the term derpin'

[Oblivion Fenrir]

the quality of some of these pieces are kinda driving me off, but the Ryu one is probably the only one I probably like most

[Kelranox]

i'm glad i'm not the only person that uses the term derpin'

Thanks for adding to the conversation. Wait, you didn't.

the quality of some of these pieces are kinda driving me off, but the Ryu one is probably the only one I probably like most

When critiquing, it's often appropriate to detail what you don't like about something, just as much as what you -do- like about something. This helps people improve. Otherwise succinct notions such as yours simply amount to 'I don't like your stuff because it doesn't fit my style'.

[soraking10]

This one right here is my favorite of the selection. the tannish-white bg really goes well with the purples, and cyans. Definitely a great piece with much depth.

I do think some of the other pieces just lack a certain "oomph". I think the prime example of it, is this one http://i992.photobucket.com/albums/a...gs/Emmyart.png
You have a great concept going, but either too much on the levels or whatever you did, it makes it a little too washed-out. Perhaps a Black and white G-map would help it out. Usually thats what I do when something is too washed out.

[Kelranox]

Thanks for actually critiquing and not just commenting.

I'm slightly getting the hang of exposing light in the background properly without making everything look blurry, while also making the render look destroyed, yet alluring at the same time.

Funny you mention that, because I also have a black and white version:

And no, I can honestly say I didn't adjust it recently. If I'm unsure about the colors, I usually make both a colored and B/W version, just the same with text. I'm often indecisive, example:

Thanks for giving your honest opinion, though. Admittedly, with Emilie Autumn it was hard to cut out a render, so I just stuck with a stock photo. Never have been good at editing stocks, nor lasso'ing out people.

[soraking10]

I think the Black and white version looks a ton better. I don't know why, but everything blends so much better in b/w. lol

[Kelranox]

It generally does, as long as the lighting is -just- right. I can't recall how many times using a B/W gradient has saved my sig because the colors just didn't seem to mesh. Ala, my current sig. You don't wanna know what that looked like prior...

[soraking10]

It generally does, as long as the lighting is -just- right. I can't recall how many times using a B/W gradient has saved my sig because the colors just didn't seem to mesh. Ala, my current sig. You don't wanna know what that looked like prior...

You spark my interest. Though, I must say it is very nice as it is. I do want to see what it looks like in its colored form.

[Professor Ven]

They're all either too bright or too blurry


My eyes


My corneas

[Kelranox]

You spark my interest. Though, I must say it is very nice as it is. I do want to see what it looks like in its colored form.

Unfortunate for you, but quite fortunate for me...I don't keep psd's for all of my files. So, that possibility is happily buried.

[Wolfedawg]

All of these feel somewhat very generic, almost like you followed a basic tut found on deviant art, especially the first 4. Yes, its a personal opinion of mine, but the whole gaussian blur on lighten does not add to any tag. It just seems super artificial and basic I suppose. In my opinion, the last 3 are a much bigger improvement from the first 4. You have a nice direction in the larger piece, but it is just way to washed out. I feel as though it would look much better if there was more contrast around the stock and the browns were more blackish (I know you don't keep many of your psds so whatevs).
As for the last one, I think you can add a lot to the depth of it. Depth doesn't magically appear just from blurring the background. Also, the lighting is off. Your light source is on the (our) right side of his head, but it's actually supposed to be more on his left side.

[Zangetsu.]

Also, critiquing is appreciated...but being an asshole is not.

Thanks for adding to the conversation. Wait, you didn't.

Ugh so many things.

Dude, I get that you want critique on your pieces but don't go out of your way to call someone out just because they didn't fulfill a sanction of yours. Heck, you didn't even specify critique as a necessity; just as an appreciation. This place has seen its fair share of people that try and prove a point by being as serious as they possibly can. And I'm gonna be straight up with you, if you're gonna be a regular here you're gonna deal with basically the most laid back group of KHI. Sure we like to post things for critique but we also like to have fun with it. Heck, some people would love just to have some of the comments made on this thread in theirs so don't take it for granted or just take it to another forum altogether.

As far as my critique goes, I'm gonna have to agree with Pablo. This is 2012 and most if not all of them have a 2005-2007 style going on. The gaussian blur on lighten/screen just doesn't cut it anymore. P sure the scene is all about adding subtle effects and textures rather than drowning pieces in blur or splatter brushes. I suggest doing what most of us already do and look at more of the 'current' pieces that are displayed elsewhere around the web and try to experiment what you see with your own style and see how that works.

[Wolfedawg]

And I'm gonna be straight up with you, if you're gonna be a regular here you're gonna deal with basically the most laid back group of KHI.

a wild cloud appears

[CaptainMarvelQ8]

There's a huge quality difference between the tags showcased in this thread and the one in your sig (that you claim you did,from what I understand) which really makes me wonder if you actually did it.