Moka (R+V Manga) Avatar

[DragoZERO]

v1



v2

I had a lot of trouble with the coloring here. Specifically to get the background a different color without having to pen out the entire image again. I tried a bunch of different ways that I know and had no luck. So I went with clipping mask and linear burn.

[RadiantBeam]

......

That is awesome.

[DragoZERO]

Yeah, thanks. But I'm not quite happy with her skin. The shade is too dark. I'm afraid I may have to pen it all out again.

Unless someone has a trick that can help that is.

[JRendell]

Not sure of anything that will help I'm afraid

However, lose the background, text and speech bubble (i.e. just have Moka) and you'll have yourself a beast (no pun intended) of a transparent avatar I reckon.

[Mi-Roo]

I really like the one with the blue background.
Then again, I'm a bit of a manga nerd. Hee hee...

[DragoZERO]

Originally Posted by JRendell

Not sure of anything that will help I'm afraid

However, lose the background, text and speech bubble (i.e. just have Moka) and you'll have yourself a beast (no pun intended) of a transparent avatar I reckon.

I think the speech bubble is too big. And the blue background is bugging me a little now that I have looked at more.

Anyway, did you mean something like this?



I think it needs a border. How do I do it with a transparent image like that? I always add it to the layer, so yeah.

[JRendell]

Ahh, thats great. I'm 50/50 on whether you need a border on it though.

To add a border, in Photoshop (I'm afraid that's all I know );

- Press 'Ctrl+A' to select the whole image
- Right click the image
- Select 'Stroke'
- Set the pixel size of the border (you'll probably want 1px (that's what mine is))
- Set the colour you want
- Click OK

Done. Remember to save it as a .gif file so that you maintain the transparency and keep the filesize low.

[Zwei]

Originally Posted by DragoZERO

I think it needs a border. How do I do it with a transparent image like that? I always add it to the layer, so yeah.

CTRL + Z
CTRL + A

Edit > Stroke > File > Save for web & devices.

[DragoZERO]

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. I usually just stroke the entire layer, lol.

I think I'll go without a border. Thanks though.

[Pellissier]

Originally Posted by DragoZERO

I think I'll go without a border.

Good choice. Personal opinion, a border is usually wasted (or useless) on a subject with a transparent background, while I think it's generally necessary in any other instances of a 100x100 icon.

Nice avatar by the away, can't never go wrong with Moka

[DragoZERO]

Pardon the bump.


I just found my avatar here being used by a stranger on another website and now I am thinking of putting my name on it. Any suggestions on where and how?

[NightWish]

Is it not a bit late, if they have already taken and used the avatar?

Well, anyway... Depending on the text length, I would put it across the bottom or in the bottom right hand corner using in a pixel font / hand draw characters; though I tend to avoid adding text to avatars personally.

[DragoZERO]

Originally Posted by NightWish

Is it not a bit late, if they have already taken and used the avatar?

Well, who's to say someone else won't do it? I use this on many sites, not just this one.

Well, anyway... Depending on the text length, I would put it across the bottom or in the bottom right hand corner using in a pixel font / hand draw characters; though I tend to avoid adding text to avatars personally.

The problem I have is that it has to be on Moka somewhere. The prime place is the top left but the person can just cut that out if they wanted.

I was thinking putting it on her hair, either rotated or vertical, but I don't think that'll look good. Is there anyway I can change the .png image so that proof is left on it? Like the properties. Someone can copy and paste it but the people who steal these don't go through that effort.

[NightWish]

There are lots of possible approaches, but if your aim is simply to stop people using it, there isn't much you can do. If you ask someone to stop using the avatar and they don't, they're probably not going to stop using it just because you can prove it is yours. Adding your name in a visible way that damages the image, to discourage them, is probably the most appropriate. The down side is you have to have a less than perfect avatar... so, I think you're trying to fight a losing battle

[felix]

To make the problem worse its usually not someone stealing it but rather someone stealing it and others and passing them as freebies on other sites. I do believe there was either a thread or discussion a while back about this -- I think it was in one of the workshop threads here somewhere.