When making graphics

[Tritogeneia]

So all you who fiddle with graphics and make icons and sigs I have a question! When you start making anything do you know what you want to do with it, what the final result should look like? Or do you, like me just start out with the pic and then try many different things until you get something you like and say: Oh this looks nice, I'll take it!
Because in many icon making tutorials I've read: first determine how your icon is going to look like and what is it you want to with it. I can't do that! I just go with the flow of when I'm in a mood to do icons. That is probably why I don't make much icons these past weeks since I am totally out of ideas. My muses have abandoned me. ;D

[Breeze]

Neah, I just try and try until it comes something I really like XD just like you.

[Lemonachi]

Usually I have a general idea of what I want the icon to look like, but it always turns out just a little bit different than imagined.

[Tritogeneia]

lemonachi said:

Usually I have a general idea of what I want the icon to look like, but it always turns out just a little bit different than imagined.

I can never do that even tough I do try. I try to imagine the general mood of the icon I want to accomplish but that is as far as I can go. How do you do than, imagining exactly what you want to make?

[Ellethwen]

I usually have some sort of an idea, but it's not until I get the pictures opened that I really know what I'm going to do, and even then...basically, it's just me fiddling around.

I guess this works:

Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get.

Karma to the first person who is able to recognize where that quote is from :-P

[Amy-Chan]

lol forest gump if i've spelt it right never actually watched it though

anyways graphics - i think of something, then end up with something vaguely similar ;D lol

[Lemonachi]

tritogeneia said:

lemonachi said:

Usually I have a general idea of what I want the icon to look like, but it always turns out just a little bit different than imagined.

I can never do that even tough I do try. I try to imagine the general mood of the icon I want to accomplish but that is as far as I can go. How do you do than, imagining exactly what you want to make?

Err well I just think of the effects in my head what would look best then apply it and hope it comes out as I had imagined .

[Tritogeneia]

lemonachi said:

tritogeneia said:

I can never do that even tough I do try. I try to imagine the general mood of the icon I want to accomplish but that is as far as I can go. How do you do than, imagining exactly what you want to make?

Err well I just think of the effects in my head what would look best then apply it and hope it comes out as I had imagined .

OOohh...you imagine effects, cool.
Well I thought about it and it seems I have a minus in the fact I am only moderately familiarized with Photoshop so there are a lot of things and effects which can be done that I don't know of. For example, I've "discovered" today that I can, in fact use gradients in more ways then just linear application.
But I've made 7 icons today and I've tried to first sort out in my head what is it that I want to do. I think it kinda helped. But as for colours and which gradients to use, I just fiddle around with different colours/gradients and different blending modes till I get something I like.

EDIT: I really REALLY must read the Photoshop Help. It might prove useful.

[matrixsakini]

princessserenity said:

Neah, I just try and try until it comes something I really like XD just like you.

same! i just know which images i'm going to use when i start. then i play with textures, modes, brushes, fonts... untill i like it : )))