An introduction to GFX

~An introduction to GFX~

Taken from Wikipedia:

"Graphics (from Greek γραφικός; see -graphy) are visual presentations on some surface, such as a wall, canvas, computer screen, paper, or stone to brand, inform, illustrate, or entertain. Examples are photographs, drawings, Line Art, graphs, diagrams, typography, numbers etc."

GFX is a word commonly used for Graphic Design.
There are many programs used for this. Such as:

• Photoshop
• GIMP
• ImageForge
• Serif PhotoPlus

Using these programs a user can manipulate an image, creating a new one. On message boards you will see artist making things called sigs (forums signatures; usually not larger then 450x150 pixels) and avys (avatars; usually not larger then 120x120 pixels).

An example of a signature (sig):

An example of a avy (avatar):

Another very common thing are the so called "LPs" which stands for Large Peace/Pic.
This are manipulations of much larger images. By some standards LPs are those images which have been edited in a photo manipulation program and are larger then 400x400 pixels.

An example of a photo manipulation (sometimes called photo manip.):

Original image:
http://www.letsgo-europe.com/Italy/Venice/venice68.jpg

Finnal Outcome:
http://i33.tinypic.com/2dcihdv.jpg

What is GFX used for apart from this?
Well it is indeed used for many, many other things. From designing websites to designing games.

Here is a list of few styles used to make signitures:

• Abstract: Lacks a traditional render. Use of shapes, brushing, and lighting to portray a feeling.
  
• Anime: Render/Stock is in the anime style. Usually bright colored
• C4d: Uses special 3D renders. (Commonly called c4d as Cinema 4D is one of the more common programs to make those renders.)
• Grunge: A down and dirty style. Earthtones and a gritty feeling are par the course.
• Real People: Render/Stock of a real person used.
• Smudge: Use of the smudge tool to scatter the render. A lighter more flowing effect than grunge.
• Sprite: Use of a sprtie image ripped from a video game as the render.
• Vector: Uses 2D shapes, bold lines and gradient to create an image. Pentooling can also be used.

What are Rippers?
Rippers are people who steel other people work and claim it to be their own. If your active around a lot of GFX websites then finding possible rippers is very easy, however sometimes you may be a victim of a rip. How can you prove you made the thing which was ripped? Simple! If you use PhotoShop always save your work in form of a *PSD file then in a form of JPG/PNG what ever. A *PSD file provides and shows a list of all things which you have made on your work, and is perfect proof that you in fact made the sig.

What are Stocks/Renders?
Renders are parts of an image which were cut out and were saves in a PNG format. Stocks are normal images which can be used to form the basic background of your image. More info on this can be found using a simple google search.

Where can I get burshes, redners, c4ds etc. ?
Again, google is your friends but just for the sake of answering the question bellow is a great list of websites which will allow you to download brushes, renders, c4ds and other things you might want to use.

Photoshop Brushes:

http://hybrid-genesis.net
http://damnapple.fredfarm.com/
http://dubtastic.com/
http://linzeestyle.com/imprints
http://www.short-things.gr/_brushes/brushes.html
http://triberadio.com/triberadio_com/brushIN.htm
http://hem.passagen.se/kluckybrushes/
http://brushes.500ml.org
http://claudia.tunapuff.net
http://nadine.fan-arts.net
http://www.spy-glass.net/brushes
http://memento.im-pulse.org/brushes.htm
http://glitter-tramp.com
http://websoup.org
http://www.colour-dreams.net/downloads/brushes/
http://www.damnedinblack.net/brushes.htm
http://www.23outlet.com/html/main.html
http://couleur-rouge.chez-alice.fr//anglais.html
http://qtone.sidez.net/v02/brushes.php
http://policeman.free.fr/brushes/brushes_01.php/
http://kathrynmerteuil.free.fr/brushes/
http://www.youthless.net/yl/brushes.html
http://www.ex-posed.com/brush/
http://www.shipperx.com/kessia/brushes.html
http://www.brushes.obsidiandawn.com/
http://www.peamarte.it/02/download.html
http://photobreed.com/brushes.php
http://www.sfaustina.com/sfaustina_fall_....html#downloads
http://frescostar.ktonix.com/brushes/
http://www.vanillaeyeliner.com/amnesia/brushes.php
http://7-days.net/ps_brushes.php
http://www.toastsnatcher.com/brushes/
http://brushes.artric.com/
http://www.arty.dk/downloads.html
http://www.jeffsdigital.com/brushes/
http://design.vainpeach.com/brushes.php
http://www.pixelchick.dk/pc.php?file=brushes
http://www.brushes.artric.com/
http://www.starrlight.net/brushes/index.html
http://www.aethereality.net/brushes.php
http://brushes.glamorized.net/
http://www.amandashome.com/brushes.html
http://home.wi.rr.com/ashandmanda/brushes02.htm
http://www.inxplicable.org/design/mybrushes.html
http://miincbrushes.topcities.com/brush.htm

Renders:

http://www.gamerenders.com/
http://render-world.com/
http://www.clantemplates.com/renders/gallery/
http://corsalus.com/gallery/
http://www.planetrenders.net/renders/
http://www.pimpmysig.com/
http://www.iphotoshop.org/renders/

Fonts:

http://www.dafont.com/en/
http://www.fontgarden.com/
http://www.abstractfonts.com/
http://www.1001fonts.com/
http://www.fonts.com/
http://www.larabiefonts.com/
http://www.fontfreak.com/index3.htm

Note: If you find any broken links, please report them so I can remove them.