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Post by joasht on Jun 4, 2009 17:16:17 GMT -9
As the title indicates, I can't seem to figure out how to do highlighting and shading with a smooth blended color gradient.... would appreciate some help.
Thanks!
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Post by moloch on Jun 5, 2009 21:57:51 GMT -9
The way I do highlighting is by using the blur filter... Let say a tile. I want to highlight certain areas, just use the brush (with the hard edge) and paint a line where you want to hilight then blur it. Now lets say I want the edges shaded on the tile, I select the tile, invert the selection (now the empty areas are selected). Create a new layer, fill it with black, and then deselect the layer and I blur it for around 100-200px (pixel). Go back to the tile layer select it and invert the selection; and then select the shade layer and edit>clean. So the empty space will be devoid of black and thats it. Oh before I forget, the hilights is also on a seperate layer so that way you can change the effect without affecting the base image. My stuff tend to go around 50 plus layers. You can also use the air brush tool to get a more gradual high light and shade also. I tend not to use the gradient tool to much... But then again I use to paint with water colors (transparents and opaques), also acrylics but not oils. So I tend to build up my highlights and shades in stages. Example of a completed tile that will show up in rpgnow... mind you the tiles are done seperately (with its own hilights) then put together into a completed room, then the room shading and hilights are added in (also the shadows). Same goes for the dragon and stuff... The highlights are a little hard to see since the originals are 300dpi and this has been reduce to 100 dpi. And here's a sample of a painting I did... for a former guildie in WoW (this had around 100+ layers, I had to merge some of them as my computer was slowing down everytime I did a new effect): Here, I really did not do any highlights its mostly shading... By doing that, whatever tend not to be shaded almost acts as a hilght. Both example, is done almost in a similar way...
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Post by moloch on Jun 5, 2009 22:32:34 GMT -9
Here's something I did real quick to show hilights: Base figure 1. create a layer. Select a brush (I select one with a hard edge) and paint where your hilight will go. 2. Now go to your filter then filter>blur. Select gaussian blur. In the dialogue box you can change the measure form inches to px (pixels) and imput the amount of blur you want. Here I select around 10px 3. Now, change the opacity to around 50 % or what ever percentage you want and thats it. If you want a more precise area you can use the pathing tool. Enclose it by selection>from path (that enclosed area now is selected). Make sure your foreground color is selected with white now go to Edit>fill with FG color, and then deselect it and blur it using gaussian blur. I'm sure there are other ways of doing it but thats how I do it. It might not be elegant but it gets the job done. If there is a better way I'd want to know about it too. ;D
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Post by onemonkeybeau on Jun 6, 2009 7:33:58 GMT -9
Hey Moloch!
Great explanation!
Are those tiles that you have done? When will they be on RPGNOW?
onemonkeybeau
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Post by moloch on Jun 6, 2009 12:12:38 GMT -9
It'll take a little bit... I only started like last week going to aim for this month. Its going to be like my tactical scenery line, basically it will be 3d with 2d version. It's design to be plug in to any companies' tile set. It's key locations. I've been keeping it low key while I build up my product listing, I know some of you recognize my work on RpgNow here's a free sample I've done a few months back actually last year, if you want to check out the quality: www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=58363&filters=0_0_0_0&manufacturers_id=2472
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Post by onemonkeybeau on Jun 6, 2009 21:29:10 GMT -9
That's some pretty sweet stuff Moloch!
Is your set going to contain 2D tiles for things like pits, treasure, bones, traps, etc... I've been searching for quality 2D trap tiles that I can drop into any tile set and have been coming up short.
onemonkeybeau
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Post by moloch on Jun 6, 2009 22:01:33 GMT -9
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Post by cowboyleland on Aug 14, 2010 3:40:59 GMT -9
I saw this post some time ago but it had been so long since I'd done anything I'd forgotten what I did.
I use the GIMP "fuzzy circle" brush tool with a lighter or darker shade of the base colour. 1 step, no fuss. ;D If that doesn't do it I use the airbrush. I'm just not adept with layers and filters and stuff.
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Post by tirick on Aug 15, 2010 4:52:38 GMT -9
One of the tricks I learned recently is to actually use the 'highlight' layer as a dodge or burn filter (select the layer drop-down as one of these) 'paint' with white on the layer (if dodge) or black (if burn) and the shading will apply to any color layer underneath it.
This allows you to swap out the base color layers without recoloring the highlights. Obviously some playing with settings and layer opacity will be required to get a really good result.
Tirick
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