Blobular Zine: Issue 1 Options

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On behalf of myself, and hopefully everyone else, we like to welcome you to the maiden issue of what will hopefully become a regular thing. We started this as just an idea to give some new ideas out. Many people won't, normally, go out and attempt to expand their horizons so we are bringing it to you! So. Consider this a magazine you wait for to come in the mail.

The Critique Corner & Second Opinion
Want some advice? Submit your work now and we might display it here with some constructive criticism.

Myspace 2.0
Myspce unveiled their new redesign and we are here to explain for you. Learn how to edit and improve those dull default layouts.

Contest!
There's nothing like a contest to get something going. Consider it practice too!

How To Make a Good Fan Graphic
For the sake of Twilight and Harry Potter, stop this madness! With this we explain how to improve your fan graphics. Don't think so 'in-the-box'. Try going out of the box for a change. And no, this does not mean make your graphic a circle.

Resources
Resources are vital to any graphic. Check some of these resources out for some inspiration and new ideas. Props to JC, our resident resource man.



Ideas? Suggestions for the next issue? Please PM any Design Staff member and we will surely take them into consideration.

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How to Make a Good Fan Graphic

In light of all of the WRETCHED Twilight graphics there have been, I am writing a guide that will save the eyes of everyone. Also, I, myself being a Twilight fan, must save it before it will forever have the reputation of having the worst fan-grahpics of all time. So, let this commence!

RULE #1: HQ Pictures are a MUST
First things first, you need to display your fandom. This is, of course, typically done by displaying pictures of your fandom. For all intensive purposes, I will be using Edward/Bella from Twilight. When you display your fandom, the pictures need to be in GOOD QUALITY. None of this low-quality, blurry, pixelated ish. That's just a whole bucket of WRONG. Once you have found the best pictures, we need to think of the best way to display it.

Tip #1: Limit the pictures
A lot of people will just do blends. Blends, yes they're nice, but people tend to over do them and make a large graphic and cover the whole document with pictures of everyone all blended together. Not only does it look INCREDIBLY tacky, but it's just annoying. There is no focal point, it looks awful, and it just makes everyone cringe. So, limit yourself on the pictures you display. Try to keep this limit in mind when selecting pictures. Make sure you pick some pretty good ones.

Tip #2: Rather Than Blending...
Rather than blending, try extracting! With extracting you are taking the subject completely out of the picture and transferring it over to your fan-graphic! This leaves a perfect edge, if done correctly, and will also allow for more editing/additions to occur. It also gives a "collage" feel to it. Try finding a good tutorial and experimenting with this new way. And no, i'm not saying there is anything wrong with blending. I'm just saying that there are more ways to display things. For the wallpaper, I did a combination of the two.





Rule #2: Don't let the background get all the attention
A background is vital to any graphic, but remember: The background is NOT the focal point. The focal point should be your fandom! So, don't pick a background color/texture/pattern/WHATEVER that would distract someone from not seeing your focal point.

For my wallpaper, I went with a grey color and also added a texture. Grey is a nice, neutral color and against that all of my other vivid colors "popped".

Next. Set the mood for your fan graphic.

Tip #3: Alterations give graphics a whole new perspective
By alterations I mean the coloring of the pictures and anything else you might use to alter the photo. This includes, and is not only limited to: Textures, Adjustment Layers, and Brushes (If used in color). All of these can effect the graphic and give it a whole new look.
Now I have decided to use a nice picture from a EW photoshoot. To me, this seems like a nice picture that represents the Bella/Edward relationship (according to the book). I'm wanting this graphic to show how happy the two are. So, to show this, I am NOT going to use a buttload of grunge textures and brushes. Those would be used for darker purposes, if for example I was making a darker graphic that was focusing on Edward as a vampire. But, i'm not doing that. I'm making a happy graphic, so my happy graphic will have a nice color palette and flowers. But remember, you're only limited by your imagination.

RULE #3: Less is more. Remember it.
While we are on the subject of alterations, now would be a splendid time to remind you of that good ol' proverb: Less is MORE. You don't need to overdo it. Overdone graphics are ew. 60 textures, 20 adjustment layers and a whole slew of brushes can only equal one thing: DISASTER. Limit yourself.



- I used smaller splatter brushes behind the picture of them to add some color
- There are 3 color layers (Color Balance, Selective Color, Curves) modifying the picture of KS/RP.
- There are 4 color layers used to color the brushes, that were on a separate layer.

With a couple of other layers, all in all this graphic at the end was less than 25 layers. You can LIMIT yourself. It is possible.

Tip #4: Balance it all out
If you're going to make a large fan-graphic, such as I am, you'll want to try and balance everything out. To me, the bottom left corner of my graphic was not feeling the love, so I duplicated everything I did in the top right corner, flipped it, and moved it down there and lowered the opacity a bit. I also did add some text, which is what i'll talk about next.


TIP #5: Pick Good Text
Don't just write, in my case, Edward/Bella. That's dull, plain, boring and SO UNORIGINAL. Also, way too obvious. The purpose of the fan-graphic is to represent the fandom in how you see fit. Of course stating the characters is obvious, but it's too obvious. So, pick maybe lyrics from a song, or a phrase from a poem that would fit your fandom. Here are a few examples:

Fandom: Romeo & Juliet
Text: Lyrics from "We Belong Together" by Gavin DeGraw
" We belong together, like the open seas and shores.
Wedded by the planet force, we've all been spoken for."

Fandom: Twilight: Jacob/Bella from Twilight
Text: Lyrics from "Swallowed in the Sea" by Coldplay
"You belong with me, not swallowed in the sea"
(You'd have to read New Moon to understand that)

These are all things that I would choose to represent those fandoms. Yes, i'm a hopeless romantic. But, what i'm getting at is don't state the obvious. Be creative!

RULE #4: Pick a GOOD FONT
A proper font, in which to display good text is CRUCIAL. Although this may seem completely obvious, a lot of people don't grasp this concept. Which is why it will get a lot of examples and a lot of attention from me. A font can also sway a lot of peoples interpretations on the graphics. If you are creating a fun, girly fan-graphic, then maybe a nice handwriting font would be best. If you are creating a darker, more serious fangraphic, then a more "grunge" type of font would work.

Tip #5: Make sure it's the best that you can make it
Make sure that this graphic is the best you can make it. Don't half-ass it. You should always put 110% effort into everything you do. And then you should file it away as a portfolio stuffer. You never know, one day, someone big and famous just might like it.



FINAL PRODUCT:

click to enlarge

So, here is everything that you need to remember. Any pictures that you may use MUST and SHOULD be of great quality. A low quality picture is a sin against humanity itself. After you have picked your pictures, think of the best and most creative way for the sake of your graphic as to how you should display it. Stray away from blending, and think of some new way of displaying. Also, don't over do it on the pictures. Make sure you've picked the best you can find that represent your fandom. Never let the background be the attention snob. Limit the alterations that you will do to the picture. If an overdone steak isn't good, then shouldn't the same rule apply for a graphic? Less is more. It's the rule of the gods. Balance your graphic out. Make sure one side isn't weighed down too much. Pick GREAT complimentary text and make sure that that text is in a fantastic font. And last, but most certainly not least, make sure that you have made a graphic that displays how much effort you have placed into it. Half-assed graphics look just that.





So. Please. Remember this. For the sake of Twilight!