Ask an Expert... All design rel. ?s here!!

[Poetic Wun]

keep it up G, you obviously have a grasp for it.

[born invincible]

nice work...

[Rob Belding]

I'm not sure if this has been covered in this thread, but I'd like to hear some techniques on getting the cleanest possible edges when either cutting objects out of images or creating shapes.

Is it true the pen tool can accomplish this if used a certain way?

[born invincible]

yes it can be done with a pen tool...

i always use the polygonal lasso tool... zoom in the image real close and trace it with the lasso. once you have the trace completed... right click > select inverse > press the delete key... if you take your time and zoom in far... you can get a nice cut.

[Poetic Wun]

i use the magic wand tool. its quicker if the image has a more contrasting background color then i just refine the edge. i like the lasso tool if i'm looking for a very defined cut.

if i'm doing something more complex then i duplicate a color layer then fuck with levels and the eraser with some other shit that takes forever but worth it if you can get it right

[Rob Belding]

Originally Posted by born invincible

yes it can be done with a pen tool...

i always use the polygonal lasso tool... zoom in the image real close and trace it with the lasso. once you have the trace completed... right click > select inverse > press the delete key... if you take your time and zoom in far... you can get a nice cut.

I definitely know of this method, but I'm still curious of how some of the best graphic designers in the industry make the edges of certain objects as clean as an X-acto knife cut.

[born invincible]

Originally Posted by Slang Gargoyle

I definitely know of this method, but I'm still curious of how some of the best graphic designers in the industry make the edges of certain objects as clean as an X-acto knife cut.

well i know the pen tool, once mastered, can make a wicked clean cut out...

and to be honest... there has to be a bunch of ways to do it, but like you... i am curious as to what the best/official way to do it is... ive always just done what worked!

[Rob Belding]

I was using it last night and it looked noticeably better when i cut stuff out, but yes it's definitely tricky to use.

Also I'm left handed but use my right hand with my mouse. I've always have, but performing intricate cuts or trying to write stuff can be hard for me.


I'm going to guess the only way to master the pen is using a Wacom graphics tablet and a stylus.

[Mumm Ra]

can anyone easily explain how to create custom textures in photoshop 7? i see Sean use them a lot.....i wanna use it on some text. youtube videos don't seem to be helpin me.

[born invincible]

Originally Posted by Mumm Ra

can anyone easily explain how to create custom textures in photoshop 7? i see Sean use them a lot.....i wanna use it on some text. youtube videos don't seem to be helpin me.

custom textures? you mean like custom brushes?

[Mumm Ra]

probably - i posted this ages ago lol and haven't used PS much since
i just remember seeing Sean texture his text however he does it

[King Tron 1]

is there anyway to make my own fonts? I don't mean get any custom ones from any sites or nothing, just wanted to know if I could have a font with my own handwriting.

[Razorsharp]

Originally Posted by King Tron 1

is there anyway to make my own fonts? I don't mean get any custom ones from any sites or nothing, just wanted to know if I could have a font with my own handwriting.

you can use the pentool in illustrator, or the brush tool and save each... because in illustrator, anything made with the pen tool, does not pixelate, its a vector, mathematics is involved, so it doesnt get distorted

[STYLE]

http://www.yourfonts.com/

or

http://www.high-logic.com/fontcreator.html

[Mumm Ra]

is there a quick/ easy way to insert a moving image on top of a gif?
without having to paste image onto each separate frame?