Kaiju poster download
Hardware required:
- Either a computer mouse or graphics tablet depending on what you are more comfortable with, without one of these it is impossible to interact with the software accurately to create the desired image.
- As much RAM as necessary to run your computer and at least 1GB extra available for Photoshop. Ram is needed because a computer cannot complete any processes without it, RAM is useful for digital graphics because certain processes can be very stressful for a computer such as rendering complex effects in after effects and having more can streamline the process, having more RAM also allows faster previews which can save time and improve efficiency.
- A CPU because the computer cannot run programs without one.
- A hard drive with at least 2.5GB of space spare for photoshop installation. A hard drive is necessary for the creation of digital graphics because a computer can not be used without it, the hard drive contains the operating system and software required to allow the computer to function, without the hard drive you cannot save the operating system which is needed to run the software and create the digital graphics.
- At least 1 monitor so that you can actually see what you are doing, multiple monitors allows you to multitask; you can read this tutorial at the same time that you complete the instructions without switching between windows. Monitors are necessary for creating digital graphics because you need to be able to see your work to accurately edit it.
Software required:
- Adobe Photoshop, specifically I used photoshop CC for this,
- Windows 7 or later,
- Any drivers needed for your choice of peripheral,
- An internet browser so that you can view this tutorial,
The first step is to edit out the background of the crystal image, and remove some areas to make it look slightly more like it smashed into the ground.
First, using the lasso tool roughly highlight the outline of the crystal object/meteorite and then use CTRL+SHIFT+I to select everything else, then hit delete to remove the background.
Once that is done copy and paste the image over to the crater image and transform it until it has just the right size you find appropriate. You may find it necessary to erase some more of the image at the bottom in particular. I also added some more chunks of crystal into the crater to make it seem more like the object had broken a bit on impact.
Next up I highlighted and removed the bits of eye I wanted to show up.
I then added in the eye and re-sized it as appropriate.
To create the other eye I duplicated and warped the copy using transform-distort.
Before we get into the effects edits that will make it seem more convincing lets add in the claw first.
Again we highlight what we want, remove the rest and paste it in.
Copy and distort the claw for the right one.
Now using the brush that is between 30 and 50% hardness erase the edges of the claws where they overlap the crystal and erase around the eyes with hardness at 100%.
Next we create a new layer, select the main crystal layer and use the clone stamp tool to select various sections of it, then select the new layer and keep stamping over the claw until it is cloning in parts of the ground, dirt or claw, at which point you re-stamp the main crystal layer and keep going until you have entirely covered the claw in crystal, overlapping is fine.
The next step is to erase the tips of the claws and paint over them with black.
Select the claw layer, use quick selection to select all of it, use CTRL+SHIFT+I, switch to the overlap layer and hit delete. Set the opacity to 94% and set the overlay mode to Hard light.
Repeat for the other claw.
Create a new layer.
Set the primary and secondary colours to be either grey or black, one notably darker than the other is best.
Got to filter>render>clouds.
Set the layer to overlay or reduce the opacity so that you can see the image underneath, then erase all unnecessary clouds. Turn the layer back into normal mode and change the opacity, exact amount will vary depending on your image.
Repeat the smoke creating (or duplicate the smoke) until you have as much as you need where you need it.
Finally select the text tool, use font size 72, strong and font type Charlemagne Std, type in the title and rasterize type. Finally we go into layer options, bevel and emboss, then drop shadow and set the angle to 162 degrees.
And that is how I created the poster from 4 basic images.
M1
Disadvantages of different software:
Photoshop; relatively expensive, rather lacing support for vector graphics due to the amount of specialisation in photo editing,
Illustrator; unable to handle raster graphics or image editing to any notable degree,
Each of these bits of software is very situational, if you want to make a logo then unless it almost entirely consists of edited images which isn't a great idea anyway due to Photoshop's lack of vector support. The issue with illustrator is the exact opposite, it is well designed for vector graphics but completely useless for raster graphics and image editing, which aren't ideal for logos anyway as raster graphics look awful scaled up or down as opposed to vector with no loss in quality. One slight problem with illustrator and it's vector graphics in general is that it is harder to make precise edits.
Disadvantages of different hardware:
Computer mouse; less precise free-hand drawing,
Graphics tablet; harder to navigate menus and interact with menus, takes some time to get used to the proportions and positioning,
The biggest issue with using a graphics tablet is that unless you master learning how to navigate menus then you are also going to need a mouse, the problem with that idea is that you are constantly switching between the two of them which gets tedious, costs time and as a result costs money.
The biggest issue with using a graphics tablet is that unless you master learning how to navigate menus then you are also going to need a mouse, the problem with that idea is that you are constantly switching between the two of them which gets tedious, costs time and as a result costs money.
