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Finally: How to render glow and make reflections on FlyFF characters~ -
08-04-2008, 07:00 AM
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Don't hesitate to ask me questions if you get stuck. P: If you have a question that does not relate to this thread's topic, PM me!
*WATCH ALL TUTORIAL VIDEOS AND READ ALL POSTS IN THIS THREAD BEFORE ASKING QUESTIONS, PLEASE*
Okay so I've decided to share my video tutorials on how to render FlyFF character's glow and make relative reflections!
When I first made these tutorials I didn't think of uploading them online, they were customized for SHFT only.
However I changed my mind, and uploaded the vids on Youtube and FileFront.
What will the result be like? Here's some of my own work where I've used the glow rendering, and reflection.
Click on thumbnails to enlarge! Signatures:
Wallpapers: (quite simple -_-)
The video tutorials ~ Programs used and recommended: Adobe Photoshop CS 2 (CS 3 is fine too, dunno about the lower versions) Fraps (Screenshots should be saved in .bmp format) FlyFF xd
These are my first tuorials ever, so don't expect anything too pro.
I kinda got carried away sometimes with the effects and music. ~_~ There's always a mute button ya know.
Note: The screenshots should really be taken with Fraps, and be saved in .bmp or .png format! NOT .JPEG! Note 2: At 3:11 it should say Background ERASER tool, not selection wtf >> Note 3: At 3:26-4:40 the Tolerance on Background Eraser Tool brush should be set to 100% and nothing else.
Questions & Answers Q: My glow is continiously coming out quite dark, Is there anything I can do to combat that? A:Take the background sample on the lightest part possible of the mountain background, where the red x is. [Background example]
Next, take the foreground colour close to the cyan-coloured core of the glow, the sample should have a tint of light blue~ [Foreground example]
Your result should look something like [this].
However if your glow still comes out dark, your foreground colour might be too dark.
If you took the screenshots in the exact same spot as me, try use #5bd4ff as foreground colour code, and #2c3b36 as background colour code
Q: The Magic Wand selects more/less of the glow/body then I want it to! A:It might not be that obvious to everyone, but you don't have to use the Magic Wand all the
time while making the selection; for the small details and pixels simply switch to Rectangular Marquee Tool!
For the pro's; try use the Pen Tool to make your selection, depends on how good you're with it but I tell ya it can be way faster.~
Quoting guorbatschow "you can make a selection with Brush or Pen: Press Q for Quick Mask
(or the button in the bar), draw the area you want to select. Then press Q again, the area is selected depending on the grayscale value."
Q: How do you smooth out the outline and making the character look less jagged? A: A lot of people have many different ways of smoothening their outlines. My way of doing it though,
is slow but precise, I use the Smudge Tool, 1 px in size, 25% hardness and 1% spacing, then I just smudge the edges out pixel by pixel. :>
Q:When I take a screenshot of my char doing a skill the red "You used <insert skill name here>"-text gets in the way! How to remove it?" A: I had that problem too, and solved it by simply dual clienting:
One character takes a screenshot of the other, you just have to be quick clicking ALT+Tab ;3
If you can't dual client, ask a friend to take the screenie and send to you, or something.
Last way of doing it is simply paint it over before you render it, you gotta have skills if you wish to do that though. ;x
Also I should mention, don't use glow bug while taking the screenies, looks awesome ingame but won't look that awesome in photoshop. :\
Tips from guor; "if you keep shift pressed while dragging a corner for resizing, the proportion of the image will be kept.
So you wont have to copy the resize rate of width to height (second video 1:40) ;p"
GIMP ----v
Spoiler
Can't afford Photoshop? 8D
Download GIMP, though instead of using Background Eraser Tool (which does not exist in GIMP) use normal brush tool,
set mode to Color Erase. Next set foreground colour to the colour you want to erase (mountain background colour).
Then just erase the colours of the mountain background 'till only the glow is left!
Thank you Eiche for telling!
How to render glow in GIMP:
Download the full version please, crappy quality on youtube is crappy. >>
Quoting Andhotiel; For the people who had a problem with GIMP using the Color Erase thingie, here's the solution so the brush doesn't act like normal =D
You have to right click on the layer you're gonna work on and select Add Alpha Channel. Then use the Color Erase tool and it'll work! =D
A small tip/inspiration/extension to those who wants to do something more with the glow rendered pics!
I'm going to show you a few things I use when I make my sigs/wallpapers,
you should be a little more then an amateur to understand what I'm talking about though. :b
clicky ->Before~
Here I've just rendered the picture the way I've showed you in the tutorial.
Changed the angle of the bloody staff by taking another screenshot and pasted in this one, looks better IMO,
Because of the bad flyff graphics I added a hand, and extended the spectacle frame, (?)
Softened the outline by using Smudge Tool (size 1 px, hardness 100%, strength 25%), a lot of people use
a lot of different techniques to make a soft outline but I think this is the most accurate one!
Increased Exposure/Contrast/Lightness of the body and glow, makes the image look more alive, <:
Added shadows on the body,
Added shadows and 'reflected glow' on the 'floor',
Increased body glow slightly by using Blur tool having 'Mode:' set on 'Color'.
The picture might not look that good, I'm not that satisfied with the 'floor' and some other things,
however, I just made this quickly and it's just for your inspiration's sake. ;o
Check out the mini-tutorial below. @@ Gonna explain my way of shading/lighting a picture.
Involves adjustment of Brightness/Contrast, Photo Filters and shadowing using Brush, Burn and Dodge tool.
I hope it will help you!
Spoiler
Paste your character on chosen background. Remember to keep the perspective right!
Spoiler
Make a layer BETWEEN the character and background, this will serve as ground shadow. o:
Spoiler
Go to Image>Adjustments>Brightness/Contrast... and adjust your character's and/or background's brightness and contrast 'till you're satisfied.
Spoiler
Go to Image>Adjustments>Photo Filter... and chose a filter that will blend your character better with the background. Since I have a background which involves autumn trees and sunlight, with colours such as orange, brown and yellow etc the Warming Filter (81) fitted just perfectly. 8D
Spoiler
Time to add first shadows, I mostly use normal Brush Tool for this.
Recommended settings:
Mode: Normal, Black colour.
0% Hardness, 75% Opacity, 10% Flow.
Just simply draw the shadows, keep in mind where the light source is coming from, how far you should draw the shadows and how dark you should make them. Doesn't have to get right on the first try, as you will see i'll add more later. <:
Spoiler
For body shadows, I recommend the Burn tool;
0% Hardness and 100% Exposure, start off with "Highlights" as Range.
Spoiler
Think realistically where the body shadows should be and follow the invisible path! *-*
Change range to "Shadows" and you'll get a...sharper shadow, I'm not too sure about the correct term for this but I think it adds more contrast. xd
I'm an English nab too ya know
Spoiler
felt like ground shadows needed to be corrected more. ;x
Using normal Brush tool.
Spoiler
For minor shadow details, I always use the normal Brush tool @@
I load the character's selection by selecting the layer, then go Select>Load Selection...
This will prevent me from drawing shadows outside of my character. o:
Spoiler
Another invisible imaginary path to follow 8D
Some final adjustments to Photo Filters and Brightness/Contrast...
Spoiler
And voilą. Okay, the shadows might be a bit clumsy made, but I just wanted to give ya an idea of the technique. xd
Spoiler
I didn't use the dodge tool on this pic, however I'm sure you'll know when to use it yourself and when not to, for exemple sun rays and such. ;x
Just want you to know, I might not be the first one knowing on how to render glow (even though I've never seen anyone succeed before me xd),
but I assure you I thought of everything that I showed you in the video tutorials myself.
No one else told me how to do it. >.> I'm quite proud. /blush
That's it for me! Hope you enjoy the tutorials and nonetheless understand them. xD
Last edited by Mygrapefruit; 05-06-2009 at 05:41 AM.
edit: cant resist to give one small tip: if you keep shift pressed while dragging a corner for resizing, the proportion of the image will be kept. so you wont have to copy the resize rate of width to height (second video 1:40) ;p
Last edited by guorbatschow; 08-04-2008 at 09:33 AM.
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08-04-2008, 09:57 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by guorbatschow
edit: cant resist to give one small tip: if you keep shift pressed while dragging a corner for resizing, the proportion of the image will be kept. so you wont have to copy the resize rate of width to height (second video 1:40) ;p
Tips and critism are always welcome.
And thenks, didn't know that. ;o
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08-04-2008, 12:44 PM
Well, I'm going to keep practicing before I get the courage to post anything. My glow is continuously coming out quite dark (and not nearly so great looking as you manage to make it!). Is there anything I can do to combat that? Or is it just a matter of practice makes perfect and chose better foreground and background colours?
Also, I haven't really chosen the best characters to play around with. An ele in the ellsis set and a RM wearing the blue ponytail >.> I'm a glutton for punishment
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08-05-2008, 02:36 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dons
My glow is continuously coming out quite dark (and not nearly so great looking as you manage to make it!). Is there anything I can do to combat that? Or is it just a matter of practice makes perfect and chose better foreground and background colours?
I had a hard time too making the glow before, but in time it came out perfect.
I'll show you an example on how I sample the colours:
Take the background sample on the lightest part of the mountain, where the red x is.
Spoiler
Next, take the foreground colour close to the cyan-coloured core of the glow, the sample should have a tint of light blue~
Spoiler
And here's the result o:
Spoiler
If you wanna cheat, it might work, put #5bd4ff as foreground colour code, and #2c3b36 as background colour code.
Other then that I can't figure out what you might've done wrong. o:
Last edited by Mygrapefruit; 01-31-2009 at 12:18 PM.
Finally: How to render glow and make reflections on FlyFF characters~ -
08-04-2008, 07:00 AM
Awesome. I might give it a whirl later on. If it comes out ok (half decent at best) I'll post the results (knowing me, I'll stuff it up though!!!)
Linear Mode
