Looking for Art/Graphics Guru, will pay $$$ for help

[Taborious]

Hello All,

     I am looking for a little help with my CPO design. I have some skillz with photoshop and a little with illustrator but I do not have what it takes to take things to the next level like I'm looking for. I have a vision of what I want and have some things down on paper, I even have the start of the psd file; basic shapes with an attempt at texturing/lighting/shading etc... but it doesn't look good. I am not a rich man but I am willing to pay for someones time and knowledge that can help me get things done.
    I do not have the psd image available as I post this so I will post that later but to give you an idea of the quality that I am looking for, there is a post on here by skid_68 http://forum.arcadecontrols.com/index.php/topic,27145.0.html
if you look at his marguees they are amazing. My CPO is not nearly as complex but this is the kind of lighting and shading and realism that I am looking for.
   Well like I mentioned I will post my pathetic attempt so you can see where I'm going but if you are interested please let me know and we can go from there...

[melidian]

hey post your sketch or whatever and i'm sure you will get lots of help...these guys are the best and i'm trying to learn this stuff to so it would give me a learning project too
chris

[Taborious]

OK, here is a jpg of the BEGINNINGS of my CPO. Be gentle as I mentioned this is just a starting point.

I should mention the name of my project is "The Taborious Experiment" so this goes along with the theme. I was planning on running wires from the player pad or the "Subject 1"; not player 1 again the theme thing, to the "Power Up" / Credits and "Engage" / start buttons. As you can see it could look ok with me doing a little tweaking but it could look great with the right person doing the tweaking. I'm up for suggestions as well, as now would be the time for them. If you think this is something you could help me with we can talk compensation I certainly don't expect someone to do this for free. So touch base and we can go from there...

[melidian]

i have a couple questions...
1. what are the 2 circles in the middle? trackball or just design
2. what do you mean run wires...the lightning bolts?

[darkmavis]

before you go any further, make sure your doing your cp at 300 dpi (v important )
and the texture for the stell overlay thing eeds to be resized coz it will look mad at full scale .
heres 1 i did for a member


open it here to see the detail better


www.thepolygraph.net/byoac/1.jpg
 

[Taborious]

Running Wires: I mean wires red, blue, green, something like that a visual connection between the credit/start button and the player pad. I have not gotten that far in the design yet but when I get a chance to work more I will post updates.

I am clueless as to the photoshop image setup before starting the project. I don't know what settings to use or why 300dpi is important; Im assuming for printing. I'm sure there is a lot that I am missing and that is why I have posted for help.

As for the Blue ord in the middle yes a lighted blue translucent trackball will go there, so the center you would never see just the ora around the trackball. I have also not gotten around to the "Control Panel" where the pause, shutdown, config, etc... buttons go. Again, as you can see this is early in the design process and I am looking for help before I spend a lot of time on something I don't even want to use.

DarkMavis, is this something you think you could "trick out" as it were? I would be open to design criticism as well...

[RayB]

Also looks like it's done in 256 color mode... pixelly!

But anyways, that's why you're asking for help, right? 

[Taborious]

OK, I'm cornfussed Jethro... When starting a project in photoshop what settings should I be aware of or have things set to? or should I just be learning Illustrator; have a little knowledge.

Should I be setting the image to RGB, CY.., 256 colors, 300 dpi...

I'm pleading ignorance on this one, pixelly??? grainy???

[BobbyG66]

The lightning around the trackball may need to be bigger.
It does not look like it's the right diameter.

Unless maybe you're using a 1" trackball...

I would check out those dimentions.
Good start otherwise.

BobbyG66

[RayB]

Tabor:

#1. A. Open your file.

B. Go to IMAGE -> IMAGE SIZE

The WIDTH and HEIGHT should be in Inches and should measure...well, what you want the actual width and height to be in real inches.

C. In same Image Size window, below the size there is "resolution". By default it's probably 72. 72 is "screen" resolution, for posting stuff to view on the web. You need to change this to 300.

Click OK to close the window and make the changes...

#2. Go to IMAGE -> MODE
Choose RGB

#3. Save your file.. use "PSD" format, so you can keep stuff in Layers.

#4. DO NOT post this new file to this message board! It will be way too big. You need to create a copy, and shrink it down to a reasonable size (resolution of 72 dpi, and a size probably no wider than 600 pixels).

You only need to do this to show us your work. Whoever helps you out will need the original PSD file though.

~Ray B.

[melidian]

if you are indeed open for criticism i don't know that the running wires thing sounds so hot but i definitely like the diamond plate...do you want the name of your arcade on the cpo or any lettering for that matter?

[Taborious]

RayB: thanks for the input I will make the changes when i get home. I was wondering why everyone else's files were so large...

Melidian: I am open for criticism. I was using the wires to create the effect that the Credit/Start (Power Up/Engage) buttons controlled the player pad and in turn controlled the energy source for lack of a better term. Just part of the overall theme. As for the lettering of course everything would be labeled; once i put it there but I didn't necessarily need the name on it. I will put that on the Marquee...

BobbyG: Apparently I have image issues with the whole thing that need to be resolved. Hence my looking for help. I am addressing them though...

[wrxh8r]

You can get wallpaper that looks diamond plate or actual diamond plate.It would be alot of work but imagine what it would look like.Also if where your wires ran you got some plexi and underneath had actual lit up elwires in three colours.Completly different style of doing things.Just throwing ideas around.

[melidian]

i could definitely see power line type wires surging power to the keypad...i have some sweet diamond plate backgrounds...i'll post a few pics here a little later of my thoughts.  what do you want on the black part at the bottom...is that at a radius of the control panel or is this thing flat?

[Taborious]

wrxh8r: I had not thought of that, have a little neon tubing...very interesting, I like it. I'll have to see if I can work it in and see what it looks like. Thanks for the idea...

melidian: cool I am looking at as much as I can. starting off like this the best thing you can do is research. As for the pick I posted the width and height are basically to scale or so I thought (thanks RayB) but the lower corners would be angled in a bit but the lower part I still had just black with lightning through it. If you can think of something cool to do give me the heads up. I have to complete my vision so I can complete the arrwork. This part has/is taking the longest but it's the most personal as well, so I want to get it right the first time...

[Taborious]

I have gotten an offer for help, so I'm moving closer to my goal...

Still open for ideas though...