How To Make Amazing Graphics

[Kdizzle]

Hi All,

 

I'm currently trying to teach myself slowly but surely in graphic design - mainly flyers and banners, things like that..

 

Anyhow, I keep coming across flyers made by one of the nightclubs not too far from me and I just wonder, HOW THEY MAKE THEM LOOK SO DAMN AMAZING?! Like I look at photoshop and I literally can't figure out where to start if I even considered trying to remake this flyer from scratch..

 

For example.. http://i48.tinypic.com/2z55a28.jpg

 

Where would they get the images from? How do they get them to just look the way they do? Oh I don't even know how to explain but it just looks amazing and I am so jealous haha..

 

Any graphic experts out there who'd be able to briefly describe how they have made this flyer?

 

Thanks so much

[Narcis_speed6]

Moved to Visual Arts.

[blitz]

You need advanced photoshop skills for that, they use stocks, brushes, blending options, etc.

 

Start low, like what you learn, and slowly you will progress.

[DeeperRed]

I am not master at graphic design, heck I am novice through and through but to me good graphic design such as that flyer is about the tone you want to get across and how all the elements within a piece fit with each other.

 

Don't look at that flyer as a whole, look at each element and then break down that element to see what it adds to the piece and what it does to the tone and how well does it fit with the rest of the elements. When I do something, usually I don't actually make a solid plan. I have the tone I want to get across and a basic idea of what I want to achieve then its really just trial and error. See if something fits, try and modify the colors/texture/blending etc to make it fit if not. Then add something else, maybe try some idea of join them via color, orientation etc

 

This is my method though, and it works for me when doing all types of graphic art from flyers, posters, menus to motion graphics. What you do need to do is learn the capabilities and the tools available in the program of your choose and the best way to do this is via tutorials. Messing around with tools is great and you can learn a lot but when you do a wide range of tutorials that get you using all the tools you really start to understand what you can do with them and how to exploit them to achieve your aim.

 

Not the best advice, but I hope it helps.

 

 

Also do you happen to live in leicester ? That flyer seems awfully familiar

 

EDIT: @Blitz, I have to disagree somewhat there however its personal preference. I think starting advance is the best way to go, go for the really hard tutorials as they tend to be the ones who use the most tools. Unless money is involved or some other risk I always tend to jump straight into the deep end, this does come with a hell of a lot of frustration but the pay off, for me, is well worth it.

Edited July 18, 2012 by DeeperRed

[Graven]

Ads, flyers etc. are not usually made using Photoshop. And I mean by professionals, hobbyists can use whatever because there is no-one breathing on your neck. That´s because editing text and shapes, which play a major role in 2D design is so damn awkward with Photoshop, or any pixel-based editor for that matter. You won´t understand it before You have used a vector editor for quite some time. If your client throws You a logo or flyer order, you ain´t doing it using Photoshop. Because You´re ripping your hair with the most basic things like binding a text correctly on path in Photoshop when Your design is ready in Illustrator. Everything takes multiple amount of time. Of course You also need a pixel editor, for the things and parts that require pixel editing.

I´m far from pro but my day work has involved some 2D editing, which I did in 90s using Freehand and later CorelDraw. Inkscape has its drawbacks compared to shareware applications like lack of formats, huge lag when using filters, not as intuitive interface etc., but it´s enough for home use.

If You have zero experience with Photoshop, use Gimp. Everything You can do in Photoshop, is doable with Gimp. And it is not any harder to use. It even beats Photoshop in some areas, and has now 1-window GUI. I use Gimp 2.8.1 "Partha" build, it´s bug-fixed version of the official and there´s an easy to install package of plug-ins too.

 

What comes to stock and amount of downloaded crap, that won´t matter in the long run. Your artistic eye will get better, just like learning to play instrument.

You´ll get better by time with the software, whatever You choose. Good luck and have patience! Probably most important...

 

 

 

[GunWrath]

Eh, personally, I've learned from just adding my own insight and ideas into some projects.

 

As far as OP, Alot of artists use the simple Google Images for some photos, images, shapes, renders, etc. Especially for quick requests, such as signatures and what not. But for the more hardcore artists, that actually make a living or make side money will use professional resources, such a pay to use Stock images and whatnot. By looking at that flyer, I would say they used alot of basic brushing for the effects, such as the clouds, glow spots, possible overlays for the colors and maybe abit of gradient (maybe), but it just looks like overlay to me. The shield in the center is a possible custom shape they've made or downloaded, just with simple layer add-ons to give the beveled looked and what not.

 

I would highly recommend you just get Photoshop (unless you already have it), or GIMP and watch some easy tutorials on YouTube or go to our Graphics Resources links here http://www.gtaforums.com/index.php?showtopic=486263. Look at some of the sites there, they host great tutorials, there is also links to resources such as brushes, textures and just a general idea for inspirations and what not.

 

If you don't want to purchase Photoshop or don't have the money, just go for GIMP, which I used in the early days of graphics and just to give a broad sense of basics and understanding for graphics. It's free and can be located here GIMP. It's very similar to PS and best of all, it's Free

 

Good luck.. (Also, there are tutorials out there for club flyers, promotional flyers, etc. that may help you)

[Dystopia]

 

Hi All,

 

I'm currently trying to teach myself slowly but surely in graphic design - mainly flyers and banners, things like that..

 

Anyhow, I keep coming across flyers made by one of the nightclubs not too far from me and I just wonder, HOW THEY MAKE THEM LOOK SO DAMN AMAZING?! Like I look at photoshop and I literally can't figure out where to start if I even considered trying to remake this flyer from scratch..

 

For example.. http://i48.tinypic.com/2z55a28.jpg

 

Where would they get the images from? How do they get them to just look the way they do? Oh I don't even know how to explain but it just looks amazing and I am so jealous haha..

 

Any graphic experts out there who'd be able to briefly describe how they have made this flyer?

 

Thanks so much

Hey man, basically and honestly. This is my profession, so I'll try and answer as best I can;

 

The flyer isn't THAT great, it's pretty standard, would take an hour or so to complete. It's just stock imagery and photoshop brushes.

 

The main thing is the shield, probably would of been downloaded as a vector and coloured, which is a little advanced but not that hard once you get the hang of it.

 

And for example, stock imagery

 

- Sky (Background)

- Turntables and speakers

- The guy above the shield

 

The stock imagery can be found on specialist sites, or just google images. Look for PSD files for people though as it saves time, if you find something on google you will have to cut it out. And when searching google for stock, ALWAYS search for LARGE sized images. When working on things like this you're probably going to be working in Photoshop A4/A3 which requires huge images. So large images are a must, everything is going to look crap otherwise.

 

The Photoshop brushes are the abstract colourful shaped things in an around the speakers and turntables, see the red and green scratch type thing by the shield.

 

Other than that it's just coloured shapes with text over the top. It's a pretty simple design to do, but if your completely new to the design scene, take it a step at a time. Find a flyer you like and learn little bits from it at a time, for example look up - Shield tutorials or lense flair tutorials, every asset of the poster you like there will probably be a tutorial for it. And within time you will be able to make your own.

 

Also other things you will need to know:

 

Software used it undoubtedly Photoshop and maybe Illustrator for the shield as it looks a lot more sharp than the rest suggesting it's vectored.

Dont create flyers in RGB like this person has, use CMYK. Unless its only intended for online, in which case use RGB.

Edited July 19, 2012 by Dystopia