Diadem Graphics

One of my favorite subjects when it comes to graphic art is space. Space represents the unknown, the bastion of the remaining mysteries of the universe. It presents you with endless creative opportunities. However, this also means that space art is difficult to effectively compose in a realistic, believable way. That is why I love these two tutorials. They teach you how to make stars and planets, the most fundamental objects in sci-fi art. You can easily apply what you learn here to other artistic endeavors as well. Neither tutorial is rocket science, but the one on stars can be a little challenging if you're inexperienced.

I thought I would just post an example of the kind of tutorials you can find on websites like pixel2life. This one involves creating a realistic brushed steel look using Photoshop or a similar program. I consider this a nice tutorial to start out with, because it introduces you to the process of image editing/creation without getting overly complicated. A lot of the fundamentals are represented here, so even if you think brushed steel is the most boring thing on earth, it still might be worth your while to take a look. Oh, by the way, here's the link - brush steel tutorial.

Well, it has been a while, but I have returned . . . with a great website in tow. Meet pixel2life.com - a site devoted to all sorts of computer related endeavors, ranging throguh web design, game design, business applications, and, of course, computer graphics. Since the primary subject of this blog is graphics, that's the part I'll focus on. Why is this site so good? One word: tutorials. Good ones, and lots of them. There are also links to other sites where you can find even more tutorials. Overall, pixel2life gives you access, directly or indirectly, to thousands of tutorials covering almost every technique possible. I especially recommend the ones involving Photoshop/Gimp/other image editors, as many of them are very high quality. If you're serious about creating computer graphics, this is a great place to start learning the skills that are required.

While surfing the internet searching for material on computer graphics, you may have come across the term "pixel art." What is pixel art? The answer: a niche movement in the computer graphics world. Pixel art refers to "drawing" an image pixel by pixel. The emphasis of pixel art is the use of intricate techniques to create an image (pixel by pixel) without any artificial filters, smudge tools, or similar methods. I would call this an approach of intricate simplicity.

In pixel art you usually begin by drawing the outline of your image (usually called lineart). After this you choose the colors you want to use, called a palette. You then proceed to apply these colors. Sounds simple, right? Maybe, but from my experience it's not as easy as it looks. Every shading, effect, or whatever else you need must be done without the use of the fancy filter techniques often employed to produce a similar look. Many pixel artists even discourage the use of things like line tools, circle tools, or anything else that denies complete manual control. Some, however, fuse pixel art techniques with other methods.

So who uses pixel art? The technique was primarily utilized by the video game industry before its switch to using 3D models. Sprites, as they were called, could be easily controlled in terms of factors like transparency and animation. With the rise of the internet, sprites (and pixel art in general) also took on roles as forum avatars, and from there were used by amateur game designers and finally transformed into a little known art form. The whole notion is a little bizarre if you're not into game design, but interesting in its own right. If you're interested in pixel art, I suggest checking out a little site called Pixel Samauri, which has a bunch of tutorials and examples. I have also included a few examples of my own stuff below.

So what happens if you want to do more with 3D models than Anim8tor allows but you still don't want to drop the big bucks? Luckily, there is another free program that approaches professional quality. This is the open source Blender. Blender has almost everything found in top-line software like 3D Studio or Maya. Check out this site for charts comparing all the big 3D programs to see what I mean. Blender can run on all major operating systems. I suppose I could talk more about this program, but that would just mimic what is on blender.org. Check out this site to not only download the software but also access the many tutorials and galleries that illustrate what Blender is capable of. One note on Blender: its user interface is somewhat hard to use when compared to other programs. Unless you're a real pro, expect to spend a significant amount of time learning the ropes.

Three dimensional graphics applications are significantly different from bitmap programs. Technically, 3D is really just a 2D image that creates the illusion of depth using mathmatical formulas. 3D graphics are usually called objects or models, and in order to make them you need modeling programs. There is a large number of commercially available software for this purpose. Two popular ones are 3D Studio Max and Maya, which are used by both large companies and individuals. The problem with most of these programs is that they cost an arm and a leg. 3D Studio, for example, is priced at over $3500. Even the cheapest software usually costs around $300. Luckily, there are several very good freeware and open source modelers. If you are just starting out, I would recommend an obscure little program called Anim8tor.

Anim8tor is no 3D Studio Max. A professional 3D graphic artist would probably call it limited in many ways. For the beginner, however, it compresses the complicated process of both modeling and animation into a single, easily understood package. There are tools for creating and editing objects, figures, scenes, sequences, and materials. Its lack of complicated features, which is what many people fault Anim8tor for, is actually its strongest point. I consider it to be the best program to learn the basics with. Also, it doesn't lack any of the essential features of other 3D applications, just fancy stuff. You don't even have to install the program. If you want to create something really high quality, look elsewhere. Otherwise, head to animator.com for the free download. Don't forget to download the documention in PDF format (you can also view it online at the Anim8tor site).

Not matter what graphical work you do, from 3D modeling to making website banners, you will need a good bitmap image editor. Most graphic designers want a program with a lot of features and options. The long time standard in the graphics industry is Adobe Photoshop, which is popular with both professionals and amateurs. It's a great program, but the one problem with Photoshop is that it will set you back over $600. Some people (like me) cannot afford it, and others might not want to pay that much if they're just starting out. Luckily, there is a very good, free alternative in a program called the Gimp.

Weird name, huh? Look past that and you will find a great image editor. The Gimp is an example of open source software: programs made by talented individuals with the intent of freely distributing their work to everyone free of charge. Open source software is distinguished from freeware and other forms by the ability of anyone to modify the source code. The Gimp may lack a few of the features of Photoshop, but when you get down to it the two programs are basically the same. Most of Gimp's tools correspond with those in Photoshop, just with different names (for example, the stamp in PS is called the clone tool in Gimp). This means that Photoshop tutorials (which make up the vast majority of graphics tutorials on the web and in books) can quite easily be used with Gimp. In you already have another image editor or plan to buy Photoshop (or whatever), great. If not, then check out gimp.org for the free download.

Hey everyone, welcome to Diadem Graphics! This blog is meant for all you out there who think computer graphics, whether 2D, 3D, or whatever, are the coolest think in the world, and you want to learn more about them. But where to begin? Graphic arts are no simpler to create than oil paintings. The tools are different, but the concept is the same. As in a traditional painting, an artist's touch is still needed to create something breath-taking. However, not even those born with all the artistic ability in the world are able to just pick up a brush and a canvas and paint the Mona Lisa. Those with talent have the responsibility to hone their skills through practice, and every great arist had tons of practice before he painted his masterpiece. The old addage helps in this situation: practice makes perfect, no matter what your skill level.

This blog endeavers to offer a simple guide to those seeking to enter the wonderful realm of computer graphics. I do not claim to be a great graphic artist: I myself still have so much to learn. I do, however, hope to pass the skills I have learned on to beginners. Since every good artist needs tools, my next several posts will introduce some of the best, cheapest programs available for creating graphics. Until then, remember this: an artist is not just inspired, but has the will to follow his up inspiration with hard work.