TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Production Studio
-- Do any of you guys create graphics for your tracks?
Pages (2): [1] 2 »

Do any of you guys create graphics for your tracks?

Somewhat OT here, but I think that there is something to the visual element of music that gets overlooked by many of us. So, I was just wondering if any of you guys are into creating graphics for your music. I'm pretty much a PS hack, but I really like making banners for each of my tracks after I finish them. It gives me another opportunity to get creative from a different perspective but, since I don't have a background in graphics and can barely draw stick figures, it's a pretty big challenge for me and I just do it the same way many people learn to make music - look at tutorials for ideas and start playing around with filters, modes, gradients, etc.

I know Kysora and a few others here are pretty good at graphics, so I thought it might be cool to have a thread to talk about the visual side of music releases. I think it would be cool to keep this thread running as an opportunity to talk about different graphics ideas, get feedback, etc.

Anyway, here's a banner I made for our latest song.

what programs do you guys use to make grpahics

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd what programs do you guys use to make grpahics

I use Photoshop CS2. I also have Flash 8, but don't use it very often and I don't know it all that well.

I was going to pair this NASA image with one of my tracks, but decided not to:



I prefer using photos to making my own graphics.

Although that may change now that I am learning to use Processing:

http://processing.org/

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I use Photoshop CS2. I also have Flash 8, but don't use it very often and I don't know it all that well.

where did you get those fonts? i can't find them anywhere in photoshop cs 5

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd where did you get those fonts? i can't find them anywhere in photoshop cs 5

I found them on the web - just Google "free fonts" and you'll be overwhelmed.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles I was going to pair this NASA image with one of my tracks, but decided not to: I prefer using photos to making my own graphics.

That looks pretty fruity.

Doesn't it just.

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles Although that may change now that I am learning to use Processing: http://processing.org/

That looks interesting. How's the learning curve?

Nice one, Stu!

I really admire people who are good @ DTP, I often have a vision in my mind, but i am far from able to capitalize on it.

Though this banner is what i made myself and i am quite proud of (my own close-up picture, with a shitty SAMSUNG camera)

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik That looks interesting. How's the learning curve?

Easy to learn the basics, especially if you have touched programming before. It is based on Java. Tutorials on the site are good.

I made this after a day or two I think, and I don't have much programming experience:

http://jbj.raceriv.com/applet/

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie I really admire people who are good @ DTP, I often have a vision in my mind, but i am far from able to capitalize on it. Though this banner is what i made myself and i am quite proud of (my own close-up picture, with a shitty SAMSUNG camera)

That looks good, but I still think I did a better job.

quote:

Originally posted by Raphie ...I often have a vision in my mind, but i am far from able to capitalize on it.

I'm just the opposite - I usually can't/don't visualize the final product. I just start throwing ideas together until something sticks.

I like the banner - it gets the point across, although I'm thinking that having your URL on it would be helpful (unless you have another version with it).

quote:

Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles I made this after a day or two I think, and I don't have much programming experience: http://jbj.raceriv.com/applet/

That's pretty cool!

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I'm just the opposite - I usually can't/don't visualize the final product. I just start throwing ideas together until something sticks. I like the banner - it gets the point across, although I'm thinking that having your URL on it would be helpful (unless you have another version with it). That's pretty cool!

It's the banner/header for the website, good idea actually to make a smaller version for in signatures

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik I found them on the web - just Google "free fonts" and you'll be overwhelmed.

and you can put them on photoshop?

I think everyone who grew up listening to albums and spinning vinyl will naturally want visual art to go along with the music. That's just part of the package imo. It's weird to me that a thread like this had to be made. Things have changed.

quote:

Originally posted by orTof�nChiLd and you can put them on photoshop?

Once you download and install the fonts (copy the font files to your OS' "Fonts" folder), they'll show up in PS.

quote:

Originally posted by meriter I think everyone who grew up listening to albums and spinning vinyl will naturally want visual art to go along with the music. That's just part of the package imo. It's weird to me that a thread like this had to be made. Things have changed.

I'm not sure that I follow you. What's weird about this thread being made and what has changed? Don't get me wrong - I'm not arguing, I'm just not seeing your point. I agree that most people want to see some sort of artwork with their releases, but nobody here talks about it, I don't see graphics from too many TA members, and I just really wanted to know which forum members are making their own (vs. e.g., letting a label do it for them) and discuss it like we would any other part of the creative process.

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Once you download and install the fonts (copy the font files to your OS' "Fonts" folder, they'll show up in PS.

thanks cryo

Re: Do any of you guys create graphics for your tracks?

quote:

Originally posted by cryophonik Somewhat OT here, but I think that there is something to the visual element of music that gets overlooked by many of us. So, I was just wondering if any of you guys are into creating graphics for your music. I'm pretty much a PS hack, but I really like making banners for each of my tracks after I finish them. It gives me another opportunity to get creative from a different perspective but, since I don't have a background in graphics and can barely draw stick figures, it's a pretty big challenge for me and I just do it the same way many people learn to make music - look at tutorials for ideas and start playing around with filters, modes, gradients, etc. I know Kysora and a few others here are pretty good at graphics, so I thought it might be cool to have a thread to talk about the visual side of music releases. I think it would be cool to keep this thread running as an opportunity to talk about different graphics ideas, get feedback, etc. Anyway, here's a banner I made for our latest song.

it would probably look cleaner and more pleasing to the eye if it was all the same font...jus my opinion though.

lazy as fuck, i happen to know about photoshop but the few time i spent in the production matters is in front of the daw, i don't really care about the rest.

Re: Re: Do any of you guys create graphics for your tracks?

quote:

Originally posted by LoveHate it would probably look cleaner and more pleasing to the eye if it was all the same font...jus my opinion though.

That's a good point and something that I always labor over when making these banners. The fonts that I used for Aliciya and my name are our "official" trademark fonts (i.e., the ones that we use for our websites, logos, etc.). So, I wanted to stay consistent with that and have a font for the song title that set it apart.

These days I wouldn't put my music out without artwork to accompany it. Deviantart.com has an array of talented artists, many willing to give musicians permission to use their art in the desired context. I think a lot of you guys would really like what you see there. Granted, the site also has its fair share of not-so-good works

I've dabbled a bit lately with PS as I needed some logos done.

Here's an easy one :-




Then another one that's like an 80s album cover :-




And another that's not quite right :-

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.