UPDATED 2/27: CourtneyDax Banners

[CourtneyDax]

So I'm now spending some real time making banner's that I like so I want you guy's opinion on them, because I really like other people's input, and I use that as inspiration. Anyways, I'm an EPIC newbie at this and I'm still learning stylistically what works and what doesn't. Constructive criticism makes me happy!

So I'm going to post the final cuts of all these banners that I made and then I'll post more up here when they're done.

Banners/Avatars






































Misc.

[willowsummers]

I think I like the bottom one best. The background effect is really neat but it detracts a little from Willow and Tara, so I'd say #2. The banner's really pretty though I like it. As far as your second question, I'm thinking either bottom right corner or going vertically on the right side.

[CourtneyDax]

Okay awesome. I could do a fade out technique on the swirly background but I'll do that later.



Hows this for the name? I didn't go with the same font because it looked too weird.

[Iceeh★]

Well, this is pretty great for a first attempt! I love the idea, and it's a nice picture, but the text is kinda distracting. It's usually a good idea to use a color taken from the picture, and not a random one, cause random ones tend to make it seem a bit off. And this is just a really silly pet peeve of mine, but it looks a lot cleaner if the font isn't touching/covering faces of people on banners. Also, I really liked the swirlies, but they were a little too strong.

forum.slayalive.com/index.cgi?board=resources&action=display&thread=7830&page=1

Xaphania here has some AWESOME tips and tutorials that are way helpful when it comes to computer art! They're in Paint Shop Pro form, but the tools are basically the same in GIMP. Anyways, I hope this helped some, and I know that you'll be an ace banner maker in no time!

[CourtneyDax]

Thanks Iceeh. I am so dumb at GIMP. I'll keep working at it though! I wanna make a really cool Spring Awakening icon to go with my creepy SA banner that I made 5 seconds ago.

[Randi Giles]

I think it's a good start. I like the bottom one.

[CourtneyDax]

EDIT: Apparently the quote was not "They eat mice", it was "They kill mice" so I changed it. Fail on my part...

New one. I've kinda let go the chance of ever getting GIMP to work for me so now I'm using a combination of iPhoto, Pages (It's like Mac Microsoft Word), and Photobucket. I don't think they're going to get any better than this visually but I don't mind too much. I was trying to go with the "not using weird font colors" but most of the colors are brown and that doesn't show up, so I went with white.

I wanted the avatar to have someone else with Tara. Does that work, or should I go with another single profile of Tara?

[Jaz ♀♀]

awww, crazy tara! i love it...way different than your first banner lol

i think the avatar just looks like a tiny picture....i think it'll work with 2 people if you zoom closer to Willow and Tara to try to remove much background as possible. I'm not sure how you get your screen shots but if you do want the avatar with Willow and Tara in it i re-checked that episode just now and saw 2 cool parts at: 29min25sec in and 29min52sec that could work....maybe....idk....

i'm not, nor will i ever be able to be a banner artist, so my input is purely from a fan perspective...hope my randomness of words help you.....

[CourtneyDax]

I'm getting my screenshots from screencap paradise so I just get the best of those ones. If I can't get a better close up of those two, then I'll go with an off focus Tara pic.

Okay, I've posted it up at the first post. I think I like the avatar like that. I'd do something else to it if I could but oh well...

[CourtneyDax]

Added the Horsey one. I think its funny.

The only reason that I don't like the accompaning Tara avatar is because its like a duplicate of the picture in the banner. Oh, and yes, I'm in a Crazy Pants Tara mood. I dunno why, but I am.

[Jaz ♀♀]

Nov 29, 2009 1:46:28 GMT -5 CourtneyDax said:

Oh, and yes, I'm in a Crazy Pants Tara mood. I dunno why, but I am.

any mood that's Tara-centric is an awesome mood to be in!

[CourtneyDax]

Haha, I very much agree with you Jaz!!

[CourtneyDax]

Yeah, the 500x150...I was thinking about how I kinda went over my limit. I'll work on that.

[CourtneyDax]

Updated with my Willow/Willow banner. I'm so lazy sometimes. lol.

I don't really like my I in Team banner. I wish i had better quality photos to work with. -sigh-

[CourtneyDax]

Dec 20, 2009 11:51:47 GMT -5 said:

heys, use this site to get screencaps, or take your own. That will make a difference.

Sadly, that is where I got those screencaps from. I will have to settle for what I have for now. I only have seasons 1 - 3. Darn it!

[CourtneyDax]

Updated with the new banner. Its way too long but its pretty. I'm going to edit it so it fits in my signature but I'm posting the original version here. Yay happy Buffy!

EDIT: I've posted the edited version too. I think its fun. I'll start using it now I guess. I didn't get the avatar the way I wanted it to but whatevs. I switched the order too, so that the new banners will be on top. I like it better that way.

[Jaz ♀♀]

^^ i like your new Buffy banner!....I when i saw it.

[CourtneyDax]

Updated! I made a cute little Kenlow banner. I made it seem that Andrew was getting all inappropriate with that footage with the avatar. Do you think that it works?

[lucifurl]

I like your new Willow banner, very vibrant colours and the simplicity is very effective.

[CourtneyDax]

Thank you Lucifurl.

EDIT: Oh and I made another banner!!! It's not like I didn't like my other banner. I was just inspired by the newest episode of Grey's. I love this one because it features my favorite couple!! Calzone FOREVAH!