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Posted on 26/09/10 5:53:57 PM |
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Shidoshi
* Posts: 12 Reply  |
Problems With Pixelating and Size
Hello All! I just picked up this book and so far am really enjoying the stuff I am learning. Right now, I am using Photoshop CS2 and have been running into some difficuties designing the door in the first tutorial ("Setting The Scene"). When I zoom in to the picture to get as close on the details as I see in the book (such as the wallpaper and the edges of the door frame), my work is incredibly pixelated. It makes me wonder if Iam not using the correct settings or something since my zoomed artwork does not look as clean-cut as the photos in the book. My second issue is that I do not know what size to start creating my artwork on when I start a "New" project. I used a standard 1024 x 768 template and am finding I don't have enough room to include all the details that I need to make in this tutorial. I'm sorry of these are really stupid questions, but this is a brand new venture for me and I really just want to make sure I understand what I am doing every step of the way. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated! |
Posted on 26/09/10 8:50:03 PM |
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scoobyclub
* Posts: 29 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Here's a link to when I asked the very same "stupid" question. http://www.howtocheatinphotoshop.com/cgi-bin/simpleforum_pro.cgi?fid=02&topic_id=1279624975 I, in general, settled for creating each object as a 6x6in, 300dpi. When putting together a scene more like 3000x2000px. Steve left it as an experiment to determine what size is appropriate. Where something like the wood texture is concerned I created that on the larger 3000x3000 size. This was to allow me to get enough detail and variation that I can cut out a piece of wood to suit the purpose. As you'll find out, not all details/settings are in depth as it is better to experiment to improve understanding than follow a super detailed tutorial. |
Posted on 26/09/10 10:53:40 PM |
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trevor
* Posts: 35 Reply  |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
At the very least, you should have enough pixels to fill your screen, and double that would be better to allow you to zoom in. A lot of laptops are going to have 1900 x 1200 pixels screens, and the big monitors a lot of people use for desktops have the same sort of resolution. You can always down size before uploading, but you can't so easily go the other way. I would probably start a project like that with a 3000x2000 pixel file. |
Posted on 26/09/10 11:18:17 PM |
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Shidoshi
* Posts: 12 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Thank you for your help. As far as the wood grain is concerned, I've been having some trouble with that as well. Everything looks fine when I add the noise and the blur to get the streaking, but a soon as I try to apply the Distort > Wave effect, any settings that I use so badly warp the image that it's no longer the rectangle it strarted out as. There's a lot of white streaking thoughout the color that is present both in the preview thumbnail and in the selected item itself if I choose to apply the effect that way. I've tried using the exact settings I saw used in the book and I've tried dozens upon dozens of my own combinations and experiments to achieve a realistic wood grain pattern, but nothing seems to help me avoid those white streaks. Is it a problem with my version of Photoshop maybe (CS2) or is there a better way to do that? John |
Posted on 27/09/10 12:37:58 PM |
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scoobyclub
* Posts: 29 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Wood texture took me a long while to get and the preview function is almost pointless. I did a lot of playing and adjusting but had to apply the effect before I could ascertain the result. With the wave generator make sure you select "wrap around" for the undefined areas. This caught me out and it makes a huge difference. Just for my own curiosity I tried following the instructions again using the exact same settings and it came out fairly well. Don't forget the horizontal and vertical scale at the bottom of the wave filter dialog, makes a big difference too. It does work, but I can't verify if CS2 is any different. I have attached the result of the above attempt in case it helps.  |
Posted on 27/09/10 1:17:41 PM |
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Jota120
Ingenious Inventor Posts: 2615 Reply  |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Good clear advice. I went back and verified it works in CS2 as well. As well as Scoobyclub's advice, just incase, its important to do the Edit > Fade ~25% immediately after apply the filter, otherwise too white. Probably not as well tuned as could be, but my result for CS2: 
Trevor - Jota |
Posted on 29/09/10 04:41:13 AM |
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Shidoshi
* Posts: 12 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Thanks so much for the advice. Yeah - the preview screen is pointless when it comes to applying the wave effect. I tried using the liquify feature instead to see if I could make those waves myself, but I was closer to mimicing the mahogany sample on the following page than the sample you posted in your resposne to me. I will keep working with it. I did find that the "wrap around" selection helps to some degree, but I cannot keep the wave from affecting the edges of the selection I am manipulating or those white lines from appearing in the fill. I have always reduced the fade on the cloud effect to 25% before moving on to the wave effect and have even tried excluding the cloud effect altogether and it doesn't seem to have any effect one way or another. Perhaps it's one of those "you'll get it with patience and practice" type of things! In the meantime, I've found a good substitute to work for the project and am continuing ahead. Thanks for the help and I will certainly be back with another question soon, I am sure! It's very helpful to have a resource with such knowledgeable people answering questions! Respectfully, Shidoshi
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Posted on 29/09/10 07:59:21 AM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6994 Reply  |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
The wood texture does require a lot of patience and experimentation - and, as you all say, the Preview function is useless. Adobe haven't updated the Wave filter since, to my reckoning, 1995, when computers were only powerful enough to render tiny live previews. I have nagged them about this constantly! Perhaps one day they'll get around to fixing it. In the meantime, keep on trying out different settings. |
Posted on 29/09/10 10:24:58 AM |
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scoobyclub
* Posts: 29 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Just something I spotted in what you said, it may be nothing. You said "I cannot keep the wave from affecting the edges of the selection I am manipulating or those white lines from appearing in the fill." When I did the above it was applied to the whole area not a partial selection. If you are making a selection of part of it and trying to apply the wave filter to it that may be part of the problem. As I said I may be reading too much into it. |
Posted on 29/09/10 12:23:12 PM |
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Steve Caplin
Administrator Posts: 6994 Reply |
Re: Problems With Pixelating and Size
Scooby - this is actually down to having Wrap Around turned off, which brings in white areas from outside the artwork. |