Footfive Designs

Graffiti, Girls, and Grunge Stock Pack

Luongo — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:15:45 +0000

Download this free stock pack with over 80+ stocks. If you need a dark grungey urban feel, definitely check out this unique pack compiled by us and tech4talk. Free to download!

Download it here:

http://rapidshare.com/files/282714135/Graffiti__DJs__and_Women_Stock_Pack.rar.html

Make a band tour poster

Luongo — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:39:04 +0000

Learn how to create a poster for a touring band, based on their needs/wants.

Make a band tour poster

By Chris Luongo of footfivedesigns
I am going to teach you guys how to make a good tour flyer/poster for a band. They can post it up on they’re Myspace, not necessarily for print. But im sure you guys have seen tour flyers all over Myspace.

Here is the final product:

So Liferuiner (a band) asked for a flyer to be made. They wanted it to match the name of their tour: The 40 Ounce Bounce. They wanted in your face “40oz and women”. I thought why not theme this flyer, as a 40 Ouncer packaging. Using a quick Google Images search I found a picture of the generic Olde English 40oz. This is what im going to work off of, for colors to build my flyer.

The generic layout of a band flyer, is the tour title ontop, followed by the logos of the bands, followed by the dates, and finally the sponsor logos on the bottom. Keep all this in mind, and also, keep in mind the vision the band wants for the flyer.

Lets get started!

1) I create my new document that is 523pxx800px in Photoshop. Double click the bottom layer to unlock it. This is going to be the background. The 40oz bottle has mainly Yellow and Redish/Brownish color in it. Using my eye dropper tool in Photoshop (I) I can select the EXACT colors from my 40oz stock above. Using the rectangular marquee tool, draw out your different sections, the top where the tour name will be, the middle where the information will be, and the bottom where sponsors will be. In total I will have 3 different sections. Fill these all in with color, on the same layer.

2) So theres our basic layout. It already resembles a 40oz bottle packaging. Next I took the women idea they wanted. Using a Google Image search I pulled up some women. Created a new layer and paste this into Photoshop. Set the blending mode of this women layer, to “screen”.

3) Now lets add the tour name. I used the font “Old London (OT1)” and typed out the tour name. Mess around with your colors make it match (the yellow color we picked out, and i also used white to create a nice contrast between the colors) . Also dont forget to add the “featuring” text.

4) Most bands have logos to use on flyers. Luckily all these bands had professionally done logos, so all I have to do is drag and drop onto new layers. Piece the logos one ontop of another. Remember to put the bands in headlining order, from biggest to smallest. Also, make all your logos black and white, you can do this by desaturating them (CTRL+SHIFT+U). Make sure all your logos are on DIFFERENT layers.

5) A band was also playing select dates on tour. So we want to emphasize them. Make a new layer and using the Rectangular Marquee tool drag a box across the whole width of the document. Fill this with black. I then posted this bands logo ontop of that layer. I decided to add some more contrast so this stands out, making the middle word of the band, red. Also, add the “and select dates with:” text, same font as the tour title.

6) Now we need to add a dates section, to show the dates they are playing and where. I used a generic filler text just to fill it up fast (and if they used it, i would change all the dates). On a new text layer, using a black font, same font as above, type out the dates. Move them around so it looks nice.

7) These bands also have sponsors, who have logos we can use (thank god). Once again, you can copy and paste those logos on to new layers. Resize them with ctrl+t, which will allow you to scale the logos bigger, smaller, wider, etc. I lined mine up all across the bottom.

And there it is! A very nice looking flyer, representing exactly what the band wanted!

Questions/Comments, feel free to ask!

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Luongonetwork
http://footfivedesigns.com/ | http://templatepsd.com/
http://www.luongonetwork.com | http://www.tech4talk.com

Want to win 3 months of free advertising?

Luongo — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 16:32:55 +0000

Have your websites banner on the top of our sister sites forum or on the right of this blog, for 3 months! FREE. Read more inside on how to win!

We are running a new promo on our sister site, tech4talk.com. The main purpose is so we can get some activity going there and people posting. The rules are VERY simple:

You must sign up on http://www.tech4talk.com and make 15 legitmate posts through-out the entire forum. Thats it. You will then be entered in a drawing to win 3 FREE months of advertising on either of our sites. That means the banner ad at the top of tech4talk, or the square ad to the left on footfive.

Make a blog styled template

Luongo — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:15:14 +0000

Learn how to re-create this stylish and sleek blog template in Photoshop.

From my big collection of templates I have created I decided to write a tutorial for this blog template. It was meant for a Wordpress blog, but I never coded it. I will teach you how to make the general outline, and the necessitous, from there you can add the rest of your content.

Here is our final product:

Also, you can click the thumbnail images to make them larger.

1) Create your new canvas in Photoshop which will be, 1024×1050 pxls. Double click on the locked layer that is created with the document to unlock it, rename it to BG and grab your Paint Bucket Tool. Select this neat shade of grey, the hex code for it is: d0dbb3. Use the Marquee tool and select about 2/3 of the document, leaving a top space for the banner, fill this selection with our color.

2) Next were going to create the navbar will the text links will go. Make a new layer and using the Marquee tool drag a box the whole width of the document, and about 55 pixels high. Fill this layer with white, right click this layer and select Blending Options. Add ALL of the following as they are seen:

After you apply all the styles above, move the navbar down a bit so some of the BG layer shows above it. You should have this:

3) Next I created a new layer. Using the Marquee tool I created another box just like the navbar, except taller. I filled this with black and applied the following blending options to it:

and you should end up with this, placing the box we just created on the top top layer, right above the navbar:

4) Now duplicate that layer you just created, and press ctrl+t, scale it so the height is much smaller, not bigger then 10pxls high. Make sure this layer is the top top layer. Have it line up perfectly with the banner we just created, then using the arrow keys, tap down a few times so it overlaps just a tad.

5) Now go back to the first big black banner we made in step 3. Duplicate this again, but keep it underneath the box we made in step 4. Go to edit-transform-flip vertical. Now line it up so it touches the top of your document, and the box in step 4 exactly. It should create this little emboss effect.

6) Next I dropped in my logo, icons, navbar text, etc that I created beforehand. I will not go into depth with those in this tutorial.

7) To reuse elements in our template is a quick and easy way to get everything matching. As you can tell through ought the tutorial we have been copying and pasting. Thats how I next created the little “blog posts”. I copied the silver navbar, used the ctrl+t method to scale it. Then I duplicated the big black banner, and throw everything ontop of eachother. Once you made the shape you can merge everything onto one layer. I dropped in my text, and image placeholders.

8 ) Using the copy and paste (and transform) method, keep adding your content boxes until a full layout takes shape. Add more content, text place holders, etc, and eventually you will end up with a final layout.

Any questions feel free to ask! It is hard to follow for a beginner! Lets see some feedback in the comments, get involved!

Thanks for reading, and dont forget to subscribe to the rss feed!

We need writers!

Luongo — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 01:42:46 +0000

We need some bloggers to write tutorials/articles for us! Apply inside!

We will be needing a blogger or two to write some unique content for the blog. Topics can include:

Photoshop Articles
Design/Graphic Articles
Photoshop Tutorials
General Graphic Related Tutorials

Basically anything graphic related.

If you enjoy blogging and can write 1 to 2 articles a week (7 day week), please do apply!

Fill out the form below and include your:

Name
Age
Location
Areas of expertise

Make a web 2.0 logo

Luongo — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:40:37 +0000

Create this sleek and stylish web 2.0 logo in Photoshop! It’s simple!

I’m going to walk you guys through the steps of a logo I designed for a client a while ago. It’s a very simple and sleek logo, designed for the 2.0 web.

1) First create your new blank canvas in Photoshop. I like to have my canvas large when I make logos, so I can expirement with size and have lots of space. You can always cut it down to size later. Using the font “Ronda Light” I typed out my company logo name “Zippy” with a light green color.

2) When I said this is simple, I mean it. Were going to style our text in the blending options section of our text layer. Right click the text layer, and select “blending options”. Apply all 3 of the following blending options, as shown:

This is what you should end up with:

3) Now lets add the little reflection on the text. Create a new layer above everything else. Now select the gradient tool and use the settings shown below. Using the Rectangular Marquee tool make a box around the top part of the text as shown below. Drag and pull it down, like shown below.

4) Now ctrl+click on the text layer to select it. Now go to Select>Inverse and click once on the gradient layer, click delete.

And BAM! Your done:

Dont forgot you can always use different colors and make different schemed logos. Enjoy!

Check out tech4talk!

Luongo — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 22:29:49 +0000

Go check out our sister site’s technology forum! www.tech4talk.com

Check out our sister site forums. Tech4talk.com

Its a technology disucussion forum with topics ranging from HTML/CSS to Computer hardware to Photoshop and more.

They currently need some staff, moderators, support team, etc.

Tech4talk.com

Free Photo Manipulation PSD

Luongo — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 07:03:55 +0000

Here is a free download. A recent photo manipulation I did. Download the psd, mess around with it, do whatever!

Just thought I’d offer this for free. Its the PSD file with all layers. Open her up in Photoshop and futz with the layers, add more, and post results!

Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/261653548/toxic.rar.html

5 Laptop friendly work places (with wifi)

Luongo — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:31:08 +0000

It’s good to get out of the house to do your work. Here are 5 places where can move your portable laptop office.

1. Starbucks

Big suprise right? Everyone’s favorite coffee house, where paying $4 for an iced mocha latte is not only acceptable, but hip. The big comfy green chairs, aroma of fresh brewed coffee, and light jazz music playing makes this one of my favorite enviroments to work in.

If you dont want to contract a virus, you can sit at the large tables they have with outlets right next to them, so you can plug your power hogging machine into them.

The only downside is you DO have to pay for the wi-fi at Starbucks. I believe they charge around $3.99 for 2 hours a day, or $20 a month. You can purchase a giftcard though if your an avid Starbucker, and register it online. If you use the giftcard at LEAST once a month, your entitled to 2 free hours of wi-fi per day. If you go there all the time, just load up how much you spend monthly on a Starbucks giftcard. Win-win baby!

2. McDonalds

Don’t worry your not going to grease all over your keyboard. McDonalds is actually a very inviting place to do work. If you go early, or later in the afternoon there isn’t too many annoying children running around.

They also have very delicious coffee and iced coffee to keep you focused.

Oh yea, FREE Wi-Fi! Not to mention most McDonalds upgraded and arn’t shitty inside anymore. Just dont’ eat the Big Macs.

3. The Mall

The mall, I said it! Believe it or not there are lots of malls which offer free Wi-Fi. There are many places in a mall where you can setup HQ. If your mall has an Apple store, there are usually big comfy chairs outside it, where you can pick up free Wi-Fi from the Apple Store.

If your whole mall offers wi-fi, take shop in the food court. Grab some food, and get to work! A variety of places to eat, sit, and just get out of the house or office!

4. Barns N Noble

Select Barns N Noble locations are supposed to have AT&T Wi-Fi. I’m not sure if its free or not, I’m reckoning that it is from what I picked up. Barns N Noble is the IDEAL location to work on some designing.

Big comfy chairs, a nice relaxed silent enviroment, and a shit ton of books to help you out. Imagine how nice that is, pull out a book, and follow along while you have your laptop next to you, without having to buy it!

If you can find a B&N location that offers free Wi-Fi, please post here and let us know!

5. Your house?

Yea basically I just ran out of places to go. Your house is a lot better then the office im guessing. Get up early before everyone else, make some coffee, set up shop at the kitchen table, open the blinds, let that light SHINE in on your freshly shaven beard. (this applies to males only, i hope.).

You can eat for free, drink for free, get free internet. You can even sit around in your underwear and work.

Now thats some privacy!

Make a cool abstract piece (II.)

Luongo — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 03:48:19 +0000

Learn how to create another neat abstract piece in Photoshop! Get those brains thinking!

This tutorials isn’t related to my previous tutorial: Make a cool abstract piece in Photoshop.

It’s another tutorial to show you guys the general idea of how I come up with my abstract pieces. So this isn’t going to be broken down STEP BY STEP. It will give you a pretty good understanding though of where you should start and how you should go about.

(the images are all 90% to prevent page stretching)

This will be our final design:

So lets get this thing started!

Pre Game: Before I make my abstract pieces I always envision in my head something. Get in the mood to design first. I love to design early in the morning with a cup of coffee in my hand. I use some music to put me in the mood too. I had an idea of an almost sketchbook looking design. Like a mixture of paint, pen, and scribbles on a canvas. With that image in my head, I went on to design this. It is good to have a mental image of what you want at first, then go from there.

1. First step is to make a new blank document in Photoshop. Mine was 600×800. Once again I like the taller then wider, book page looking size. The first thing I did was double click the locked “Untitled” layer, which unlocks it. I renamed it to “BG” (which stands for Background) and filled it with the color: #feeb9b.

2. Basically for this whole piece I used brushes. So lets get out a brush set that matches that mental image of ours. To start off I wanted a nice painted looking brush. Using white, I painted ONE brush down. Just one click.

3. Next I created a new layer. I found a new brush to add on to the overal flow of my image. On this new layer I clicked ONCE again to place the brush, with a white color.

4. Once again, create a new layer, find a new brush. Using white again, click ONCE and create another brush.

5. Use the same technique and keep building onto your flow. Experiment! There is a history tool to delete your last actions performed. As well as “ctrl+z” erases the last action you did. Dont be scared to try stuff out. Here is what I ended up with after a few more layers with just ONE brush per layer. I started to add in more colors as well.

6. A neat technique I learned is if you use a brush with the same foreground color as your background, it will blend the rest of the brushes in pretty neatly. I used a splatter brush and on a new layer brushed with the same color as my BG. Look at how well it blends in.

7. Mess with your image more. Keep adding layers, keep brushing. Mess the with blending options of the layers and you can get some more neat effects. Here is what I got after doing just that.

8. I feel like I achieved what I wanted, so now I put on the text. Just a simple white, almost hidden. I used lyrics from I song that I was listening to at the time when I was designing this.

9. I added another layer of text, using the BG color. I positioned it over the brushes so you could make it our barely. I duplicated a few of the words and made it white, so you would notice the “bg color” layer of text. And THERE YOU HAVE IT!

End Result:

Art on the computer is just like physical art. You can get inspiration from anywhere, music, smells, sounds, enviroments etc. Don’t be afraid to experiment, because unlike with physical art, on the computer you can un-do stuff. Thats why I love this so much. And the possibilities are endless.

Lets see what you guys can come up with! Post your results in the comments!

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