Creative Backyard - Open Discussion Thread

Anyone know a really good place to get p/shop CS3 brushes or brush packs? I'm sorely lacking in brushes and the last few downloads i got were incompatible with CS3.

 

http://graphics-illustrations.com/category/free-photoshop-brushes
http://www.blendfu.com/
http://www.obsidiandawn.com/
http://brushes.deviantart.com/blog/2877040/
http://www.brusheezy.com/

 

Superb man, thanks

 

Looks like sid had the SOTW closed. He only come into phun once a week anyway so i guess it's for the best.

 

the1 is taking over i think, just need to create a new thead for discussion i think

 

Quite right, new thread is open now.

 

If i put a gradient layer over text (or a shape) how can i "set" it to the text so that i can work on it further (adding lighting and stuff)?

Right now i can only affect text under the gradient.

 

like this?

psd cs5 file:
http://rapidshare.com/files/435541464/jammsbro.psd

 

not entirely sure what you mean there jamms, or what you're trying to do.

what type of gradient is it, one set in the layer properties? or a separate layer above the text?

 

On the text i went into layer and put a gradient overlay on it (layer, style, gradient overlay) . After that i wanted to add some lighting effects (filter, render, lighting effects).

But why i click on the lighting effects they don't show. But if i uncheck the gradient in the layer properties the lighting effect is there, just it's underneath the gradient.

I think that makes a bit more sense.

I want to be able to apply lighting effects over the top of the gradient for further effect.

 

This is the PSD. If you try to add lighting effects to either of ther text layers it doesnt work.

http://www.mediafire.com/?ogcbbeoe2bo2ywb

 

ah now i get it..
well u have to convert the text layer to SmartObject and then apply the lighting effect

http://rapidshare.com/files/435548378/Untitled-1__3_.psd

 

Aaaaahhhhhhhh!

First time i knew what smart object was for. Thanks you two. I tend to be a bit dainty in photoshop in case i fuck anything up.

 

and if double click the small SmartObject icon u can edit your previous gradient (photoshop will open a new psd with the text layer and the gradient)

 

haha cheers jamms, not sure i did anything except get confused though

the way you wanted to do it isn't the way i do it so i didn't even know what you meant! i do all the effects on their own layer then mask them to just appear over the text

 

I have no idea what that means. You got a vid tutorial or something for that? Sounds like something i should be learning.

 

basically, if i want to add shadows to some plain text, i make a new layer above the text and paint in the shadows by hand with a brush where i want them, then add a mask to it so you only get the shadow where the text is, not inbetween the letters etc like a big blob on top of it

EDIT: this is shadows ON the text, not shadows the text is casting

just threw this together (very quickly!) to explain what i mean

1. this is the text layer, plain text with a bevel added




2. then on a new layer above it i paint on where i want shade and light




3. apply a layer mask based on the text outline to hide any of the top layer that isn't directly above text.

 

Thats alot easier than i expected

So a layer mask is something that will only apply to items already on the layer and not empty space?

 

they do whatever you want them to. they take a bit of getting used to, and you have to get your head round how it works, but it basically creates a mask over any given layer, and you apply black or white to it. black means that area of the layer will be invisible, white means it's visible.


these are visual examples of how they work, not actual screenshots, in PS the mask is overlayed over the top of the layer, you never see it, just control whats visible and what isn't with black and white, be it a brush, a fill, a gradient or whatever









in the JAMMSBRO example above just used the outline of the text as the outline for the mask, so even though they're completely separate layers, the top layer is only visible where it overlaps with the text

 

That's really cool. All this time i had ni idea that existed. Such a terrible noob i am yet.

I'm going to go and mess about with that for a while