The August Tips and Tricks discussion

[Gare]

I'd mentioned, while we were talking about creating flags and displacement mapping in July, that I'd write a tute on it for August.

Here it is >>Displacing a design<<<

...let's talk about it once you've run the steps!

My Best,

Gary

[angelize]

I really like the use of the levels for this. I've learned something new! (I've also learned that its hard to type with a bandaged finger so apologies for any typos)

here is my tutorial result and an image I put together with some of the free maps and textures

[Gare]

Hey Frances—

You're the first to post, so you win...a minor critiqué.

You need to watch the areas you're displacing to make sure there isn't "shredding" going on. What happened in this close-up I took of your work is that the displacement program couldn't reconcile an abrupt change in the brightness values and produced some aliased, unpleasant areas.



There are three ways to approach and remedy this:

1. If you have an honest-to-gosh image editor that has a toning tool as a brush, you can blur or decrease the contrast in the problem area of the displacement map image.

2. Increase the Smoothness value of Image Skill's displacement filter.

3. Decrease the Amount of Image Skill's displacement filter.

Displacement is an unpredictable sport. In modeling where the changes aren't permanent and they're dynamic, you have the opportunity to reset key values. Xara's Live Effects are much the same why because they're non-destructive. You go back and change a value.

And this is why you make a bitmap copy of your work only after you're positive the filter and your composition are the way you want it.

Thanks for reviewing the piece this month!

My Best,

Gary

[germaine]

using all different effects and transparancy and maps
I had to export regularly and continue on the exported jpg or png once the images skills is used

[Big Frank]

excellent tutorial, well worth reading

[angelize]

Hi Gary Thanks for the critique, it will help improve my work in future. Here is a second go at the Xarxonia flag. There is still a bit of shredding so I didn't get perfect but it is better! I also found that changing the angle can reduce the shredding a bit too, but you have to be careful because it can also make it worse. I also applied the displacement to a rectangle using the same map (and I noticed that the displacement seems to have more of an effect on vector shapes) made a bitmap copy of the displaced rectangle ran it through the bitmap tracer and used the resulting shape to clip the flag.


Edit: I just had to go back and make it better I added a background (a free texture) and hung the flag up!

[Gare]

using all different effects and transparancy and maps
I had to export regularly and continue on the exported jpg or png once the images skills is used

@Germaine—

You actually exported regularly? As in File>Export?


If so, did you know that you can make a bitmap internally? Ctrl+Shift+C makes a bitmap copy. Be sure to specify TrueColor as the Depth and not TrueColor+alpha, because alpha channels can mess up the success of a few Live Effects plug-ins.

Save yourself a trip, and nice, very intricate work! The text is a little faint—I assume this was intentional.

Good going!

P.S. Go watch The Tutorial Video for August! It shows how to ake a bitmap copy the easy way.

My Best,

—g

[Gare]

@Frances—

Your work is superb.

(Except for the conceptual part about bolting a waving flag on to a brick wall.

You must have specialized home picture-hanging equipment. )

—g

[stygg2003]

I agree with you Gary, really nice work from Francis. I have not got that far yet but here's my first attempt at the tut.

Stygg

[Gare]

It's perfect, Stygg.

Now do what you always do: you innovate, you create a variation on the basic theme.

Of course, you can love the Xarxonian flag and salute it and sing the National Anthem for Xarxonia (I'll publish the lyrics as soon as I think of them), but let's get some original work outa you, eh?



Good show,

Gary