Normally I post the posters into a kind of void since I ask that no comments be included so we can have a complete unbroken visual history of the year. However there was a fair bit of feedback when I posted the newest in the Daniel O'Donnell appearance thread, so I thought I'd explain the process - its not magic!
Step One is to gather the images. My preferred method being to capture screenshots from videos of performances or interviews - that's next best to taking my own photos. Otherwise, its working with available photos.
When that's done I open PaintShopPro7, the program I use. In Year One, the posters are all different sizes which I came to regret, so in Year 2 I made a pattern of the largest size I felt I could get away with. I open that, and open all the images I hope to include and my program looks like this (5 pics, 4 showing, sitting separate from but on top of the background which always starts as solid black):
Next I add the images to the background. However - each image, and every other item (frames, text, etc) goes on its own transparent, completely separate layer. This allows me to move images about, crop, fade parts, alter in any way without affecting any other image. In the next screenshot, the 5 images are added, and the light grey thingie on the right shows the various layers:
They're all a jumble in the above shot, so the next step is to arrange them in the most pleasing way. As I do this, I'm also mentally choosing one or 2 I'll remove the original background from (it helps them stand out and adds variety). Its also vital to plan room for whatever text will be added near the end. In the above shot also, you'll notice the photos are in numbered order (thingie on right that lists them).
But in the next which shows them arranged, cropped and in their final position, the numbers are not in order because I've dragged images (layers) up and down and around :>) as well as cropping bits off and removing the backgrounds on some to get to this stage:
The next step is a simple fine tuning of positions, adding frames if any, or back shadows and possibly adjusting the tint of some images to match better with the others:
With all the images completed, the next step is the background. Sometimes I decide plain black is best. In this case, I've gone with a greenish-blue matched to one of the photos, and then added a lighting effect. This is done on the original first solid black layer:
All that's left to do is the text (it has to wait till the background is done in order to ensure whatever color the text is will be clear against the background). Then I merge all the layers into one and add that black and white border, the main purpose of which is to add a bit of a uniform look when viewing many posters on one page. This is the end result:
The most frequent comment yesterday was 'how fast!" By now I should be, shouldn't I? LOL I'm not making 'art' here, though I try to make them eye pleasing. They record the history of the most fascinating singer any of us have ever come across.
This poster - excluding the time to find the images - took 24 minute, including the time to take the screenshots as I went.
None of the posters could be done without the contributions of the many fans here who find and provide the links/videos/images used. Call them a Group Project - because in fact they are.
Step One is to gather the images. My preferred method being to capture screenshots from videos of performances or interviews - that's next best to taking my own photos. Otherwise, its working with available photos.
When that's done I open PaintShopPro7, the program I use. In Year One, the posters are all different sizes which I came to regret, so in Year 2 I made a pattern of the largest size I felt I could get away with. I open that, and open all the images I hope to include and my program looks like this (5 pics, 4 showing, sitting separate from but on top of the background which always starts as solid black):
Next I add the images to the background. However - each image, and every other item (frames, text, etc) goes on its own transparent, completely separate layer. This allows me to move images about, crop, fade parts, alter in any way without affecting any other image. In the next screenshot, the 5 images are added, and the light grey thingie on the right shows the various layers:
They're all a jumble in the above shot, so the next step is to arrange them in the most pleasing way. As I do this, I'm also mentally choosing one or 2 I'll remove the original background from (it helps them stand out and adds variety). Its also vital to plan room for whatever text will be added near the end. In the above shot also, you'll notice the photos are in numbered order (thingie on right that lists them).
But in the next which shows them arranged, cropped and in their final position, the numbers are not in order because I've dragged images (layers) up and down and around :>) as well as cropping bits off and removing the backgrounds on some to get to this stage:
The next step is a simple fine tuning of positions, adding frames if any, or back shadows and possibly adjusting the tint of some images to match better with the others:
With all the images completed, the next step is the background. Sometimes I decide plain black is best. In this case, I've gone with a greenish-blue matched to one of the photos, and then added a lighting effect. This is done on the original first solid black layer:
All that's left to do is the text (it has to wait till the background is done in order to ensure whatever color the text is will be clear against the background). Then I merge all the layers into one and add that black and white border, the main purpose of which is to add a bit of a uniform look when viewing many posters on one page. This is the end result:
The most frequent comment yesterday was 'how fast!" By now I should be, shouldn't I? LOL I'm not making 'art' here, though I try to make them eye pleasing. They record the history of the most fascinating singer any of us have ever come across.
This poster - excluding the time to find the images - took 24 minute, including the time to take the screenshots as I went.
None of the posters could be done without the contributions of the many fans here who find and provide the links/videos/images used. Call them a Group Project - because in fact they are.
Comment