Sky and Eyes
by Gecko

This tutorial is somewhat of a novice to average level user tutorial, and can even be implemented without the use of a tablet if you're good with opacity settings and have a steady mousing hand.

Bad.

First off, this is an example of a bad arrangement. The stars are evenly spaced, have almost the same brightness throughout, and is generally boring to look at. This is what you want to avoid in making your star field. This can apply to other arrangements as well, like a school of fish, a swarm of insects, raindrops, etc. Keep in mind that though the arrangement is random, there's a little order to it. Clustering a few stars together makes it look a lot more realistic.

Step 1.

Start out with your duller stars. These will make up the bulk of your arrangement, though subtle, they are what comprise most of the star field. The diagonal band across the sky is the milky way.

Single pixel paintbrush
Color: pure white
mode: Normal
Opacity: 30-40%
Double click in a few places for some brighter stars.

Step 2.

Add the brighter stars. These are what get noticed, so make them interesting. Note the extra bright one--it's a planet, of course.

Single pixel paintbrush
Color: pure white
mode: Normal
Opacity: 60-100%
Use the same double click technique from the last step. Slightly larger brush for the planet.

Step 3.

Now, you can stop at step 2 if you want, but if you want it to be even nicer to look at, you can add some celestial dust to the scene. Dark blue and purple work best. You can also stop at this step if you are content with your sky and don't want any surroundings.

10-30px 0% hardness paintbrush
Color: Darker Blue Violet
mode: Lighten
Opacity: 30-40%
Brush over desired areas once or twice.

Step 4.

If you want to continue to step 4, this is the first step in creating a dusky scene, albeit somewhat unrealistic, it's a pleasing, artistic thing to look at. I started with a dark purple color.

100px 0% hardness paintbrush
Color: Darker Violet/Darker Violet Magenta
mode: Lighten
Opacity: 10-12%
Create a gradual gradient of color, lighter at top and thicker at the bottom.

Step 5.

Then, some reddish/orangey purple.

100px 0% hardness paintbrush
Color: Darker Magenta/Darker Magenta Red
mode: Lighten
Opacity: 10-12%
Proceed similarly to the previous step.

Step 6.

Added the orange color for a nice, glowing, dusky horizon.

50-100px 0% hardness paintbrush
Color: Pure red/yellow Orange
mode: lighten
Opacity: 10-12%
Same as the previous step, except concentrate near the bottom.

Finally...

Finally, I've added some grass with a few quick strokes of black with the size setting set to fade in about 50 or so steps. You can also add a variety of other silhouettes if you want. Dinosaurs, army guys, aliens, deer... Looks kind of mysterious and unearthly. Hope you like it. :)

4-6px 100% hardness paintbrush
Color: Pure black
mode: Normal
Opacity: 100%
Brush Dynamics: Size set to fade after 50-100 steps.
This is pretty easy. Just make strokes until your brush size runs to 0 and you have instant grass.

And now for something a little more advanced...
(Click thumbs for larger image)

	Ever have a dull, boring, lifeless eye and not know what to do with it?
	Standard reflection just not cutting it?
	Try one of these interesting reflections today! Note the sun, clouds, and land in the reflection, as well as the eyelashes.
	This is a reflection seen from looking into the mirror. Note the double set of lights, nose reflection, both pairs of eyelashes reflecting, the figure in the middle, and the countertop.
	This is what an eye might look like while driving at night. Don't those glares just annoy you so much while you're trying to drive?.

Random Tiling Goodie:

If you see something in the border you are given and are almost sure you know what it is, don't hesitate to try to continue it, rather than trying to think of what will make it seem weird or surreal and funny. The tilers next to you will enjoy knowing they gave sufficient clues to allow you to continue it, as well as giving the quilt an overall better feeling of continuity.

See you next time! p.s. Any questions, crits, comments, suggestions, flames, bombs, viral diseases... drop me in the mail, or just post a message here. I check the boards quite often. :)

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Posts

ikeivup

Sweet tutorials

Clear and engaging. Going to have to break out the stylus now.

Acid11

yes

very nice work gecko

mors3

damn, iv only just found this place?

wow, this stuff is incredible.
you can find places on the net showing you the finished articles, but this is the best yet for tut's.
incredible work gecko...

Pavan Attavar

C, C++, tutorials

respected sir,

i have been searching all the websites for a tutorial on C&C++, but have
not been able to find one. can you please tell me where i can find a free
online tutorials for these languages.

thanking you,

Pavan Attavar

gecky

Re: C, C++, tutorials

Hmm... I honestly have no clue. I'm a graphical artist, not a computer programmer. I'm sure there's someone around here who knows about that stuff, though. Just not.. me.

slothy

Re: C, C++, tutorials

Well C and C++ are two different beasts. C is obviously the standard non-highlevel programming language. C++ though is an object oriented language and so you program with a different design style. You should learn both, but you will learn them separately.

I would recommend buying a book to learn these languages, as they are far more complex that you could explain in a tutorial. Sadly, I don't have any particular books to recommend. You might want to start with C though, since it is less complex than C++. It's what I prefer, and what we're using for our game. You can probably just flip through the books at the bookstore and see what C book you like best.

For C++, the Stroustrup book "The C++ Programming Language" is probably best, but as I said, I think you should check out C first.

Jon

ikeivup

Re: C, C++, tutorials

you can also try checking InformIT. They may have some free tutorials or general info.

killing_spree or riffmeister_

Re: Re: C, C++, tutorials

sorry for wasting webspace, but do you remember me ike? i was on AG: killing_spree and riffmeister_ (also myrighttesticle). I was thinking about your helicopter story. you should publish your stuff man, seriously. email me at [email protected]

carmele

Re: C, C++, tutorials

pavan attavar,

this is a friend, i think can help you,,, its just a sort of a coincidence! i am searching for an installer to download (c/c++ program) for me to be able to find tutorials or even have some examples on these stuffs at(www.download.com)for my final project proposals. When i visit this site to save tiles ready for printing, i have read your problem regarding this program. Have here in my PC a C/C++ Developer (windows based c/c++ program) and TCElite a DOS based, i can maybe send the zip to you if you want to. But before i do, visit this site: www.download.com (this is a search engine for programs and drivers)or www.learnem.com (for free book-zip)--->HOPE ITS A LITTLE HELP..

Gregory

Re: C, C++, tutorials

i know C++

Phrozen

Re: C, C++, tutorials

Cant find a C or C++ tutorial have you tried using a search engine? Like goggle, I have found like 10 in the first page.

mozzer

Re: C, C++, tutorials

Hmm... to be honest, I've spent a good while looking around for some free tutorials, but I havent found any!
Though I've just bought a really good book and I highly reccomend it to those who are new to C++ its called 'teach yourself C++' by Sams. It follows in a series of examples, tips and stuff. Each task is completed in 10 minutes. As for C, i havent found anything either. Sorry.
There is an online university (www.codeworrioru.com) where you can take a cource in many languages including C++ and C, though its only in the summer time.

carmele

your work is just so GREAT!!

well done gecko, its fantastic!!, wish i could be just like you..(this site brings life back from irksome). i got two thumbs up and foot overhead for you fellow!!

carmele

how can i?

gecko,
how can i make my own tiles? dont you have any format for us beginners to edit? hope so, there are some... well just tell me, im in hurry!!! thanks

gecky

Re: how can i?

Just go... Here!

There should be a tile ready for you to check out in the upper left corner. (You don't try to pick tiles on the quilt, it assigns one randomly.) After you click to check out the tile, there's some instructions. You might find Essobie's tutorial handy, the link should be there pretty easy to find after you check it out. Don't worry about messing up too bad on the first few tiles, do a few and you'll get the hang of it. :)

Good luck!

Suzume

YAY! ANOTHER GOOD TUTORIAL!!!

**Beams** i'm in heaven here.... that was so usefull, i'm so happy ^_^ eyes and skies drive me nuts, as it turns out ^_^

Gregory

I hate you

... you're too good... too good.

mozzer

Fab tutorial

I really like the third eye. although I'm sure most artists know this already, but its really easy to forget, and this tutorial brings inspiration! Thank you, talented person.

Kay S.E.P. Talent Management {Actor's}

Hello

I'm bulding a web site and like some of the styles I see and would like to use some for my site, I'm a manager of actors for film and T.V.
S.E.P. is short for Supreme Entertainment Personality's. Union actors only.
Please contact me soon.

[email protected] Thank You

quieroteayudaracreatirelmundomejor

I LIKE

Im sorry I just found this site...its great!! I was wondering what programs you use for the illustrations in the tutorials. Keep Up The Great Work!