Shiny balls in Photoshop

[SpikieMikie]

Hi...

How do you turn a flat circle of colour into something that looks 3D and shiny like a marbel like the balls in the following logo example...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fictitiouslo go.png.

I've been playing around like gradients and lighting effects and its not easy for someone not that familiar
with photoshop.

Thanks

[Buenchico]

There are entire books written about this subject and, as I'm certainly not an expert, I won't attempt to summarise them.

However I will tell you that producing shiny surfaces nearly always involves the use of 'plastic wrap'. (Filter > Artistic > Plastic Wrap).

Chris

[SpikieMikie]

Thank Chris...... entire books ?..... Theres an option for everything else, so why isn't there a 'create shiny ball' option :( .... I think I've managed to make the blue balls from that example logo red through ajusting the colour balance so I might not need to create my own....

I'm trying to design my own logo for something, its a nightmare....

[Nosha123]

Just remember... if you intend to use your logo in 'print' (ie business cards etc) you need to make sure the logo is created high res (300dpi)... not taken from a low res web file...

[SpikieMikie]

Thanks Nosha... how do I found out my dpi's then in photoshop ? Can I convert low res into high res by increasing the dpi's ? ..... I have no idea what I'm taking about but hopefully it makes sense....

[Nosha123]

No..that is committing the ultimate sin!!!

You can take a high res and make it low res but not the other way round.

Its all quite complex stuff - easy when you know how - but dont be put off...

Under the image menu - go to image size. What does it say the DPI (Dots Per Inch) are?
72 is low res - and so not usable in print (other than from your inkjet printer at home!) For proper print it needs to be 300 dpi.

You can take a very large low res image and make that high res (sounds confusing I know) but only by making the actual image size much smaller in dimension...


Does this help??

[SpikieMikie]

Thanks, yes.. very helpful.. However, I have pixels per inch is that the same ? ... if it is, its 150.012 so I dont think I can use the balls I pinched :(

[Nosha123]

sorry yes pixels per inch is the same as DPI

What are the dimensions in cm?

[sn�gs]

Hi Spike... 150dpi at 100% isn't high enough quality to print from...

You can take a chance and 'force' the resolution, with Photoshop's 'interpolation' (rescaling).

There are 'biocubic' options for sharp and smooth... try both and see what results you get.

As others have said, 'ideally' you want at least 300dpi..

[SpikieMikie]

Ok.... its tiny looking at it...

its 183K .... 250 pixels x 250 pixels & 42.33mm x 42.33mm...

I've just created a new blank canvas of 400 pixels, 65 x 230mm and thats 2600 pixels x 9200 !

Its a car stick and possibly tax disc holder I'm trying to make lol... with its own logo...

[Nosha123]

I wouldnt recommend increasing or forcing the dpi.
An image in Photoshop is created by a number of pixels. You cannot ADD to these pixels... nor can you enlarge a low res image to high res.

IF.. you have a fairly large low res image... you can go to image size and change the pixels per inch - BUT making sure you click on RESAMPLE image.
You will see that for example...a 10cm x 10cm image at 72 pixels if you change resolution to 300 dpi whilst clicking on resample image - the size automatically changes to about 4cm x 4cm

This IS acceptable - but only if you intend to use the image at that size... Rule number 1... you cannot blow up a photoshop image or enlarge it bigger than the original size...
Do you know anyone that has Illustrator??? That is much better for creation of logos... and you can enlarge them as much as you like as they are whats called vector files.

[Nosha123]

Soundslike you are having fun spikie!
Create a new file... at 300 pixels and whatever dimension you need it at.

Stick to 300 pixels... no more no less and you cant go wrong!

Just remember to create the logo at the largest size you will ever need it as you can scale it down but not enlarge it.

And keep everything layered until you are completely happy with it..then flatten the image.

OH!! and work in CMYK colour mode not RGB

Does that help???

[sn�gs]

What Nosha says is correct... 'however' in some cases using interpolation 'can' work... it depends on the original image file's quality, sharpness and resolution... and subject matter... and of course what size you wish to use it at.

I wouldn't advice increasing by more than 120%... I have done this numerous times when the client/job dictates for high profile brochure usage. It works but is not ideal...

[SpikieMikie]

Wow !... you sound like a true graphic designer ! Will take your advice. I've learnt a bit the last few night and you've just exceeded that knowledge 100 times in 10 minutes so thanks !

Cheers sn�gs, will have look at 'interpolation' too

[sn�gs]

Remember to save your 'layered' file as a .PSD - if it doesn't do it automatically...

[SpikieMikie]

One last thing...whats rasterize mean ? Seems to do something similar to flatten ...

[sn�gs]

One more thing... if you are going to print on a tax disc holder, what material will it be made of?

This 'could' determine the printing method... AND the resolution... just to confuse matters even more lol...

[sn�gs]

Spike... re: your original topic:

http://www.biorust.com/index.php?page=tutorial _detail&tutid=11

[SpikieMikie]

thanks sn�gs, the holders are 350 micron coloured vinyl... I'm just about to have a look at that link....

can't believe its so complicated, no wonder graphic designers spend so long learning their trade !

[Nosha123]

Ha ha - yes Spikie - did several years at a design agency...
Photoshop is the best program! So fun to learn!
Not 100% certain what rasterizing is but think its something to do with when there is a lot of information within a file.... As snags says - keep everything as a layered PSD until you are happy with it then flatten.

Happy learning!

[sn�gs]

''The holders are 350 micron coloured vinyl.''

That might need screen printing then rather than litho printing... which possibly means a different resolution or possibly 'solid/line art'... ask the company who are printing it...