Howdi partners!

The world is moving on, so do I. With twitter a new chapter of internet history has been started and I want to be a part of it.

For everyone who doesn’t know what twitter exactly is, here comes an explanation:

• twitter is a microblog which allows you to share everything you want with the whole world
• post short messages (140 chars max.)  which will be available in a few seconds
• post messages from your webbrowser / mobile phone / instant messenger
• follow people to receive their ‘tweets’ and let people follow you
• twitter appears to be an influential news feed of a bunch of different users: politicians and popstars, marketers and business owners, huge corporations like W3C and custom software development companies, web developers and advanced bloggers, and of course of regular internet users

After your registration at twitter.com, don’t forget to follow me!
Follow r0man.de at twitter

Hey folks!

As I can see the number of RSS readers has increased very well. And after endless questions how to install the brushes or how to color them like I do, I’ve decided to write that ultimate Photoshop Brushes guide to explain everything you need for using my brushes.

That guide will give you an overview of using the brushes and a little overview of some nice tutorials. With that guide you will be able to create images like these:

Let’s start

Getting the Photoshop brushes

To work with brushes, you will notice that you need some brushes to work with.

In my Photoshop Brushes section you will find all my brushes I’ve ever created. To download them click on Download, then click on the left side of the page on ‘Download’ again.

Installation of the Photoshop brushes

Save the .rar archive to your harddisk, extract the file (you need WinRAR for that) and open Photoshop.

Select the Brushtool and click at the top at this arrow.
Now click that symbol and select Load Brush. Select the extracted .abr file. That’s it.
Your brushes are now available in your brushes palette.

Notice that you can’t use brushes made for CS3 with Photoshop versions lower that CS3. But you can work with older brushes, when you have a newer Photoshop version like CS3.

Using the Photoshop brushes

Check out the following tutorials:

• The Photoshop Brushes Tutorial shows you how to colorize the brushes
• With the Glowing Tutorial you can add a glowing effect to an object
• Creating Energy spheres using brushes
• Create an explosion effect using splatter and abstract brushes

Feel free to post other cool tutorials related to brushes, I will add them.
And of course: Feel free to link to that guide!

Hey there!

Some of you asked me whether I could create a tutorial for that artwork.

Well, ok! Here it comes..

Step 1: Getting the stuff you need

To create the artwork you will need the following resources:

• Brushset No.14
• Nightsky Brushes - I couldnt find the author’s name. Please tell me if it’s yours, I will credit it.
• (3D program like Cinema 4D - If you want to use 3D text-objects)

Step 2: Let’s start

Create a new file (I took 800×600) and fill it black.

Step 3:

Take the gradient tool and draw a vertical line (colors: black and darkgrey). Black at the top, darkgrey at the bottom.

Step 4:

Create a new layer, foreground color: #3a3a3a, background color: #dedede and use render -> clouds. Then set the layer on ‘overlay’.

Step 5:

Insert your object you want to give the burn effect. I took a 3D text object, which I’ve created with Cinema 4D.

Step 6:

Now create a new layer, take the last brush of the Brushset No.14 (brush size: ~700px) and click into the picture (foreground color has to be white!). Now transform the brush until you get a result like I got.

Step 7:

Use the eraser (soft pencilbrush) and erase some parts of the brush. Your result should look like this.

Step 8:

Create a new layer below the object-layer. Take the nightsky brush (called sampled brush #12) and create a starry background.

Step 9:

Duplicate the star-layer and use gaussian-blur (~10px).

Step 10:

Create a new layer (at the top again). Take the same brush (brush-size: ~100px) and form it like it is shown in the picture.

Step 11:

Duplicate the layer and form a crescent. Use Crtl+E to merge the layers. (Don’t worry, the other layers are just hidden.)

Step 12:

Place the crescent on the tip of your object and create a new layer. Then use the a pencilbrush (~40px) and draw another crescent above the other one (see picture).

Step 13:

Use gaussain-blur (~9px)

Step 14:

Duplicate the drawn-crescent and paint it orange (Crtl+U ; Color: 16 ; Saturation: 100 ; Brightness: -50).

Step 15:

Set the layer on ‘color dogde’.

Step 16:

Duplicate the layer and use gaussain-blur (~20px) and set the oppacity of the layer to ~90%.

Step 17:

To add some more color duplicate the brush-layer (first brush) and paint it yellow (Crtl+U ; Color: 45 ; Saturation: 100 ; Brightness: -40). Move the layer 3px to the right and to the bottom. Then erase the marked areas with the eraser (soft pencil, ~100px).

Step 18:

Create a new layer below the object-layer and take the pencilbrush (~120px). Choose an orange color and draw a bold line. Then choose a blue color and draw a line below the orange one (Attention: Both lines are in the same layer!).

Step 19:

Set the layer on ‘overlay’.

Step 20:

Create a new layer (at the top again), fill it black and set it on ‘color dogde’ (It should look like nothing has happened). Take a soft pencilbrush (~80px) and click on the marked areas (foreground color has to be white!). Set the layer’s oppacity to ~80%.

Step 21:

Final result

After a long break of creating brushes I return with the 15th set of abstract brushes for Photoshop.

Some facts:

• Photoshop CS3+ compatible (PS7 user have to use the sets 1-14)
• Symmetric
• 4 Brushes
• High resolution (1000-2000px)

How to achieve the coloring effect will be described in that tutorial on r0man.de

Download or Brushes section

If you are creating something like an artwork or advertising you’ll find out that Glow Effects can be used for very nice eyecatchers or at all for just stunning backgrounds. In that compilation I’ll present my favorite 10 Photoshop Tutorials using glow and lighting effects.

1. Seriously Cool Photoshop Explosion Effect

Create a very cool Explosion Effect with Photoshop using some brushes (in that case: my brushes :D).

Seriously Cool Photoshop Explosion Effect

2. Creating Energy Spheres

Add some kind of Energy Spheres to a photo. Really cool effect with use of brushes (mine again).

Creating Energy Spheres

3. Advanced Glow Effects

Glow Tutorial showing how to use layer styles and the pen tool to create that awesome glow effect.

Advanced Glow Effects

4. Vista Styled Wallpaper

Create easily a Vista Styled Wallpaper with gradients and shapes.

Vista Styled Wallpaper

5. Photoshop Light Effect

Learn how to achieve that light effect using layer styles, sparks and clouds.

Photoshop Light Effect

6. Super Slick Dusky Lighting Effects

Create a ‘chillout album cover’ with cool lighting and color effects. Based on a sunset background image.

Super Slick Dusky Lighting Effects

7. Abstract Light Rays with Bright Stars

The combination of the two tutorials will result in an awesome, but serious background.

Abstract Light Rays with Bright Stars

8. Fairy Glow Lightning Tutorial

Add contrast, tentacles and cool glow effects to a photograhpy.

Fairy Glow Lightning Tutorial

9. Flaming Meteor Effect on Text

Let a text looks like he’d come directly from space.

Flaming Meteor Effect on Text

10. Independence Day - Part II ?

Everyone knows the movie Independence Day. Now you can create a scene like in the movie!

Alien Invasion

In this tutorial I’m going to show you how to create an effect like this. Very simple and short. Some of you will recognize the tutorial. You’re right, it’s already at deviantArt, but I still get so much requests, so .. here it comes

Step 1

Start with a new file and choose any size you want (I took 560×226). Paint the layer black and create a new layer (!).

Step 2

Get some brushes from here and install them. Now set white as foregroundcolor, choose one (or more) of the brushes and add them by clicking on the image.

Step 3

Duplicate the layer, use gaussian blur (~5px) and set the oppacity of the layer to ~40%.

Step 4

Create a new layer and use the big 300px brush with 2 colors you want to paint over the picture. Take care: The 2 colors have to be in the same layer!

Step 5

Set the layer on color and create a new layer (and press D! - black and white as colors). Use render -> clouds and then the gaussian blur (about 10px). Set the layer on vivid light. Your result should look like this.

Optional Step

If the glow isn’t strong enough: Take the 100px pencilbrush, set white as color and set the oppacity of the pencilbrush to ~20%. Now you can add by simple clicking very nice highlights (same works with black as color).

Questions? Feel free to ask.

It’s official !

My favorite content management system Wordpress released finally the version 2.7.
2.7 contains a bundle of new great features helping the blogger enormously. The new version is being named for the American jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.

Maybe it’s time for me to update my old 2.3.1 Wordpress. I will see.

Some features:

• No FTP updates anymore - just update Wordpress from the Administration Panel
• Reply to comments also from the Administration Panel
• New interface (menustructure)
• Customization of the Dashboard using drag and drop
• Pluginbrowser embedded
• And many many more ..

Check out the official Video:

Usefull links:

• Wordpress Development Blog
• Download Wordpress 2.7
• Plugin Compatibility of 2.7

Sony Ericsson G900 - A Photoshop tutorial

As announced on the deviation, I’ve created a tutorial of the Sony Ericsson G900 picture.

I’ve tried to create it as easy as possible that you can understand every step. All right, lets start !

Step 1

Create a new file (I used 500×800 in the original) and fill it with any color (I used purple, #6d005c).

Step 2

Take the burn tool and darken the marked area (image). Then switch to the dodge tool and lighten the marked areas (image). The shadows and highlights create something like a room.

Step 3

Your result should look like this.

Step 4

Now, take the image (sonyericsson presslibary) of the mobile phone and delete the whole white parts (cut it out) and place it in the center.

Step 5

Duplicate the layer of the mobile phone and color it completly white (ctrl+u - lightness +100). Use the gaussian blur to create a glow and set the layer on overlay. Don’t forget to put the layer below the mobile phone layer.

Step 6

Get Spazz24’s Splatter Brushes and install them. Create a new layer between the glow and the mobile phone and use some of the brushes to get a result like I got.

Step 7

Create a new layer below the mobile phone, draw a dark bold line with the paintbrush and place it below the phone (phones shadow). You can also create a dark rectangle, blur it and rotate it slightly.

Step 8

Duplicate the mobile phone, flip it vertical and place it like in the image.

Step 9

Use transform -> distort and pull the topleft corner upwards (image).

Step 10

Add a layer mask (hide all), press D and drag a vertikal line to hide the bottom part of the reflection. Your result should look like this (image).

Step 11

Create a new layer (above the others) and use the pen (only paths) to create a zigzag form around the phone. Start in the bottom left corner.

Step 12

Now start rounding the paths using the convert point tool (image).

Step 13

Select the paintbrush, choose a 2px brush (soft) and set white as foreground color. Now switch to the pen again. Rightclick on the path and choose stroke path (brush).

Step 14

Select the lasso tool and select every second line that covers the phone .. and delete it.

Step 15

Select the eraser (oppacity 20%) and delete the endings of the line softly.

Step 16

Duplicate the line layer and move it 5px upwards. Press ctrl+u and color the line (hue 290; saturation 100; lightness -50).Press ctrl+e to merge the layers. Duplicate the merged layer and use gaussian blur (about 1px) to create a glow.

Step 17

Create a new file with the sizes 30×30 and fill it black. Go to edit -> define brush preset and name it ’square’ (or something). Switch to our phone picture, create a new layer and select the paintbrush. Open the brush palette and choose our new created square-brush. Click here to see the settings (sorry, but I use the german version).

Step 18

Create a new layer, set white as foreground color and click a few times on the 2 lines. If you like your result, set the layer on overlay.

Step 19

Make a new layer, select the ellipse tool and create by dragging a big ellipse. Switch to the eraser (oppacity 50% and a biiiig pencil) and erase the marked area (image). The gradient has to be very soft!

Step 20

Set the layer on soft light with an oppacity of ~40% and duplicate the layer. Now you can rotate and move the layer into a nice position.

LAST STEP

Don’t forget to add a cool text or something.

Questions ? Ask !

As you can see there were some changes in the last few months up here.

After a hacking attack has put the last version out of service, I’ve started to work on the new one.
I guess a greenhorn has found an exploit that gave him access to the server.

The new version is using the mighty software Wordpress which turns the new site into a blog. My intention was to create a site that should be updated regularly with articles and tutorials.
My Photoshop Brushes and the CSS Templates are still available in the download section.

While designing, two aspects played an important role. On the one hand it should have an extraordinary look and on the other hand a certain simplicity may not get lost.

Why English ?

Yes I know my English sucks, but my analyze tool tells me that 30% of my visitors are from the USA. Just 14% are from Germany. So it wouldn’t make sense to write in German.

Feedback ? Suggestions ?

Write a comment !