Nicky
Member
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Welcome to AdventureQuest's very own Sigmaker's Dictionary! Here, you'll find a lot of terms that are commonly associated with signature creation and/or graphics design. If you lack the know-how to create a special effect or if you're wondering what something does, you've come to the right place!
Everyone is strongly urged to contribute to this Dictionary. Let's try and make it the largest one on the net!
If you wish to submit an entry, please post it in this format, or something of the sort.
quote:
Word:
Meaning:
If you want to search for a certain term, just press Ctrl+F on your keyboard and enter the word. If it's in the dictionary, it'll take you right to the word.
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3D Studio Max
As the name suggests, it's another piece of 3D modeling software. Generally, it rivals Cinema 4D as the best 3D modeler.
A
Abstract
A random, sharp, and usually crisp type of style. Usually involves some amorphus shapes in the background. This is generally the easiest style of signatures.
ActionScript (AS)
The main programming language of Adobe Flash. Comes in AS, AS2, and AS3.
Airbrush
A tool in GIMP (can be imitated in PS) that brushed by the length of your click. The more you hold the mouse button the more it paints in the same place and the less transparent it becomes
Animation
The term for something that moves on it's own.
Avatar/Avvy
A small image, usually square and no larger than 120x120 pixels. On the AdventureQuest forums, they can be no larger than 95x95 pixels and cannot exceed 10Kb.
B
Background
The area 'behind' anything that is happening in front. The opposite to the Foreground of an image.
There are many types of backgrounds that range in popularity. These include Cinema 4D, Brushed, and vector backgrounds.
Brushed backgrounds used to be very popular, but now they are generally thought to be novice.
Banner
An image mainly larger then 500 by 100 pixels
Blender 3D
Blender is a free open source 3D content creation suite. Somewhat similar to that of Cinema 4D.
Blending options
A mini screen in which you can select options such as belevel/emboss-inner shadow-drop shadow-outer glow-pattern overlay-gradient overlay etc..(for a specific layer).
Blur
A tool used to "blur" sections of an image. This can increase depth when used in strategic areas.
Blurring may also make things hard to view, so it is mainly used on the background, to bring forward to foreground. This makes it more catching to the eye.
Border
A line that encompasses the main image of a signature. The most common size is 1 pixel, with the most common color being black.
Brush (Brushes)
A brush like the default hard/soft brushes that are used to make a texture or effect generally used as a background, may or may not be combined with filters. Brushes can be used in programs such as Photoshop and GIMP, and are often sourced from sites such as DeviantArt, Brush King (both of which feature tutorials as well) or you can even make your own!
Brushing
Using a brush in a pattern to make a certain background, some may hold down the left mouse button and drag across a canvas, or click in different places.
Burn Tool
Use and brush this over a section of a render, or the whole render itself. whatever you want and it'll darken down the spot use a clicking motion.
C
Canvas
The working space where you create your digital image.
Cinema 4D (Made by Maxon)
A program that is used to create and animate 3D models within the program. It's tools range from distorting to lighting, and is a powerful tool in modern day signature making.
Cinema 4D Render
A Cinema 4D render is a 3D model that is created within Cinema 4D. This usually has realistic lighting and a complex or smooth body. These are often used in signatures to create effects and lights.
There are many types of Cinema 4D (C4D) renders. These include:
-Vector Renders (Not with outstanding detail, more blotchy colours, so to speak. Has a vector-style realism.)
-Line/Wireframe Renders (Usually white with all the lines black, with no detail at all except for the use of line.)
-Effect Renders (These are mainly used on blending modes to create an effect of light or bright lines.)
-Normal Renders (The main Cinema 4D renders described in the first part of the main description.)
Clone Stamp
Good for removing text. to use hold alt, click where you want you start the copy then drag to the place you want to use it. Unpress alt and start a brushing motion.
Colour
A substance, such as a dye, pigment, or paint, that imparts a hue.
More here.
Composition
The result of combining multiple elements together to create a unified whole. Used in Digital Arts when artists are referring to how your image was put together, and how it "goes" together as a whole.
Concept
The concept of a piece of artwork is the general idea, thought, or theme.
Contrast
The use of opposing elements, such as colors, forms, or lines, in proximity to produce an intensified effect in a work of art.
Copy
To copy a section of the image or text, for later use. You can "Paste" the same section back in.
Right Click -> Copy or Control + C will allow you to copy the selected image or text.
Crop
To "clip out" a selected portion of an image.
Cut
Similar to "Crop", but it also copies the section of the image/text.
D
Depth
The extent, measurement, or dimension downward, backward, or inward--provides a sence of verisimilitude in the sig (is used to give the appearance of reality). More information can be located here.
De-Saturation
To "De-saturate" is to remove the colour from an image, making it Black and White.
opposite: See: "Saturation"
Deviant Art
A site where artists can upload and host their art like Photobucket or Tinypic. It also has an active community and is like on big gallery. You can also use Deviant Art (dA) for stocks, renders, brushes, fonts and other artistic resources.
Dimensions
The length of an image on the x or y axis.
The length of the image horizontally is usually mentioned first.
Dithering
Use of few colors instead of a big amount in a specific way that tricks the eye to see it like multicolored picture with more depth. example: using lots of red and blue pixels can create the illusion of different shades of violet - this is basically the way dithering works.
Example: Picture with dithering
DodgeTool
Use and brush this over a section of a render, or the whole render itself. whatever you want and it'll lighten up the spot. use a clicking motion.
E
Effects
The Jasc/Corel Paintshop Pro equivalent of Filters. Available under the Effects and Adjust tabs.
Eyedropper Tool
A tool used to select an extract color from an image for later use.
F
Feather
A tool used in Photoshop to soften the edges of an image and make it blend in good. When you feather a picture, it will become transparent at the edges and more solid as you get far from the edges, This allows you to blend your image smoothly.
Filter
An effect that changes/distorts a layer or image without the use of a brush, vector, or font. Can be found in the "Filters" tab in most programs.
Fireworks
Image editing software distributed by adobe. Typically used for web pages, not recommended for digital artwork.
Floating Head
When your tag has just the head of the render, but no parts of the body at all, and the surrounded by effects.
Flow
An effect in which the sig blends to a point of giving the appearance of motion. More information can be located here.
Focal (Point)
The part of an image that your eyes first notice, or is the most prominent part of the artwork. Minimalistic styles are mainly the style that uses it. Chaotic styles usually do not have a focal point. This is also where people would (or should, in your opinion) look when they first glance at the image. More information can be located here.
Font
The style of text you choose to use.
Foreground
The area 'in front' anything that is happening in the back. The opposite to the Backround of an image.
There are many types of foregrounds (FG's) that range in popularity. These include Renders, small effects, and vectors.
Foreshortening
A visual effect which causes objects to appear shorter when they are angled toward the viewer.
Fractal
A mathematically generated pattern, usually created with Apophysis, when you zoom in it has more and more details since it's mathematically made. (when saved as an image you have only the details you can see in the size the fractal was saved) Is also usually of an abstract shape.
G
GAP
GIMP Animation Pack, an extension plug-in for GIMP for making advanced animations.
GIF
A savefile type, save a PSD file as a gif when incorporating animation. This filetype is best used for web images as there are only 256 distinct colours in a .gif file at maximum. It has high file compression.
Gigabyte
The equivalent of 1024 megabytes.
GIMP
A free photo-editing program.
GimpTalk
A common forum used to discuss GIMP tutorials, tips and tricks. Can be found at http://gimptalk.com .
Gradient
Effecient in in the use of vectors and minimalism sigs. can give depth, create abtract, give a metal effect, create a shine, can also be used as a simple background.
Graphics Tablet
A graphics tablet is something you can buy, which allows you to draw on a pad, and when any art program like MS Paint, GIMP, or Photoshop is opened it will show what you drew on your computer.
Grunge
A messy, gritty, hard looking style of graphics, and widely used in the Graphics world. Slightly more difficult to master, this is still a fairly simply style. There are two kinds of Grunge style as are about to be explained.
:Hard- A style of grunge that is messy, contrasted, and dark. This will make your signature have that heavy, junkyard feeling.
:Soft- This is a grunge style that is usually made up of a rusty, gritty sort of look, but not too dark, contrasted, or messy. Easier to use than Hard Grunge.
H
I
Imageshack
File Uploading Site commonly used to upload pictures and digital art.
Can be found here.
Inkscape
An Open Source vector graphics editor, with capabilities similar to Illustrator, CorelDraw, or Xara X, using the W3C standard Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) file format. can be found here
J
Jitter
When using a brush on either GIMP or PS you have the option to apply jitter to your strokes, which basically jitters them so the strokes spread out more.
JPE/G
A savefile type, second bets quality save. Higher file compression. use save @ 10, not 12. there is no quality difference other than 12 making youe filesize bigger.
K
KB (Kilobytes)
The unit used to measure the filesize of an image.
L
Layer
A layer is a picture, render, or other type of file that can be manipulated seperately from the rest of the digital art you are working with.
Lens Flare
Found in photoshop under (Filter > render). LF creates the effect of looking into a bright source of light (e.g. the sun). When not blatantly used, it can be useful.
LP
Large Piece, an artwork that exceeds the typical size limits of signatures(max is usually something like 500x200) and avatars (max~100x100). [These sizes aforementioned do not apply to AQ forums. The AQ sizes are 500x100 for a signature and 95x95 for an avatar.]
M
Magic Eraser
Same use a magic wand. Click on a color to erase it.
Marquee
A dotted line selection tool. Each shape of tool creates a differently shaped, selected area.
Mask
A special layer that goes on above another layer, or can be "joined" with another layer. Alters the lighting/color/contrst of an image in a non-intrusive way.
Megabyte
A larger version of a kilobyte, this one is 1024kb.
Microsoft (MS) GIF Animator
A microsoft program designed to animate Gif files. Ms Gif Animator will create an animation from pre-created frames and will not create all the frames of the animation itself.
Microsoft Paint
Abbreviated as MS Paint, Paint is an art program that comes with most Windows computers. It isn't as good as GIMP or PS, it has basic tools but no filters or layers. Not very good for making signatures.
Minimalistic
A very simple, smooth style.
Monochrome
Only a single shade of color. (Without variety.)
Monotone
Used for the same meaning as Monochrome, however, Monochrome is the correct grammatical way of expressing the meaning.
N
Negative Space
Where the tag has been deliberately left empty (boring with no effects) for effect. Negative space is also a place where you don't want people looking, this also brings out the focal point.
Nova Line
Large white lines outlined with blue. Extends from the end of the image to the center of the image.
Opacity
Synonymous to transparency. The more opaque something is, the more visible it is.
P
Paint.net
A photo editing software for Windows. Not as professional as Photoshop, but it can get the job done. As the name suggests, the corresponding website to this program is, indeed, paint.net.
Paste
Mostly used with "Copy". This allows you to "Paste" to copied section of a picture back in. Right click -> Paste or Control + V will paste the previously copied text or image.
Path Tool
A tool that's used for rendering. Same as the Pen Tool (as used in Photoshop), but in GIMP.
Pattern
A decorative design, as for wallpaper, china, or textile fabrics, etc.
More here.
.PdN
The Paint.NET equivalent of a .PSD
Pen Tool
A tool efficient in rendering and vectoring.
Photobucket
File Uploading Site used to upload pictures and videos. Does not always have correct file size. Needs registration.
Can be found here.
Photoshop
An art program just like GIMP and PSP. It is currently the best art program and is fairly expensive. A trial can be downloaded at adobe's website.
Picture
A setting. Includes a render and supporting objects.
Pixel Art- Art made from scratch in programs such as paint and photoshop. Known as pixel art because the artist makes the art pixel by pixel.
Pixels
The tiny little units that make up any digital image. Pixels are each transparent but can be filled with color to produce an image when they are grouped together. Pixels can be square, hexagonal, octagonal, or cross-shaped depending on your program's settings.
PNG
A savefile type, BEST quality out of any other savefile type. Use for transparencies, and is short for Portable Network Graphic.
Positive Space
Space in art where there is something there, usually a focal or effects
PS
[Abbreviation] "Photoshop" When using it in a thread title as a tag, include the version after it. (Ex. "[PS CS2]Signatures")
.Psd
A file type used by Photoshop. Usually so you can save layers seperately.
PsP
[Abbreviation] "Paint Shop Pro" Also can be referred to as "Jasc. Paint Shop Pro."
.psp or .pspimage
A save file for Paint Shop Pro allowing you to show all the layers unmerged in PSP. Similar to that of a .psd file used by Adobe Photoshop.
Q
Quality
The quality of an image. Saving as JPG lets you tone the quality. PNG is described as the best quality file type.
R
Raster Layer
In Jasc/Corel Paintshop Pro, a raster layer is a layer of the image that functions on a pixel by pixel basis. Is more common in the creation of sigs.
Rasterize
To convert any kind of layer (Mask, gradient, font, etc.) into a normal layer.
Render
From 3-d modeling, a render is a product of applying lighting and other effects to a model to create a "completed" image, often used to show what the model will look like in-game. In sig work, the term has come to describe an image removed from the background it is set upon.
Also used to name a Cinema 4D image commonly used in tags or large pieces.
A verb form of this word is to remove an image from it's background.
Rendering
The act of generating the render
Resolution
The size of your image or screen given by width x height (e.g. 500x100) in pixels unless specified.
Rip/Ripping
To steal, or copy someone else's work, without their permission. See the "Ripping" section here.
Rule of Thirds
The rule of thirds is a compositional rule of thumb in the art world. The rule states that an image can be divided into nine equal parts by two equally-spaced horizontal lines and two equally-spaced vertical lines. The four points formed by the intersections of these lines can be used to align features in the piece. Proponents of this technique claim that aligning a piece with these points creates more tension, energy and interest in the photo than simply centering the feature would.
Example of this would be: http://www.shutterfreaks.com/Actions/RuleOfThirds/RuleOfThirdsAfter.jpg
The main focus is in one-third of the picture. Not smack dab in the middle, creating unappealing composition.
S
Saturation
The multiple colours of an image. Decreasing the saturation down to 0 (for example; in Photoshop with it's Hue/Saturation adjustment layer) will make the image black and white. Making it too saturated will make it catching to the eye, but not very pleasing aesthetically.
opposite: See: "De-Saturation"
Save
Standard way of keeping your work.
Control + S is the common shortcut for this.
Save for Web
A different version of the standard Saving, used in Photoshop and Imageready CS+.
This allows you to save as .jpg, .gif, and both .png files. (8 and 24).
With this you may also alter the quality and some other options when saving your image.
Scanline Effect
A simple pixel pattern applied to a signature. Most likely, these scanlines with consist of 3 styles.
:Style 1- Dots.
:Style 2- Diagonal Lines.
:Style 3- Gridlines.
To get scanlines, follow this tutorial here: Scanlines
Sepiatone
Usually the de-saturation of an image, or making all other colors one shade of a color, giving it a certain feeling.
Sharpen
The act of "crisping" areas of an image, this makes that section more catching to the eye.
Used in partnership with the Blur tool to create focus points and negative space on occasion.
Signature/Siggy
A small graphic.Underneath my post,you will see an example.
Smudge
Any form of artwork (sig, LP etc) that involves the use of the smudge tool in generating the background and effects on the render.
Smudge tool
A tool used to smudge an image often with a variety of settings to change the outcome. Tool found in many Image Editing programs (Photoshop, GIMP, etc.) that smudges regions together and is mostly used to smooth out sharp edges and in smudge artwork.
Sprite
A very basic image. Shows few to great detail. Often used in games, or sprite tags.
Stock
Mostly confused with render. A stock is an image with a background, like a photograph. Also commonly called a 'Stock Photo' as well.
.SWF
Created primarily with Adobe Flash, these are multimedia files that can contain both vector and bitmap graphics. Often built into websites, they can contain images, animations, games, streaming video, and other information. SWF stands for "Shockwave Flash".
T
Tag
Another term for a signature.
Tech
This is generally the most difficult style to master. It involves lots of lines and points to give the signature a feeling of technology, science, or other sophisticated concepts.
Terragen
Terragen is a scenery generator for Windows and the Mac OS, capable of near photo realistic results for professional landscape visualization, special effects, art and recreation. Free for Non-Commercial use. web site
Terabyte
1024 gigabytes. A very large unit of file size measurement.
Text
Any writing on the image.
Texture
The visual and esp. tactile quality of a surface: rough texture.
More here.
TinyPic
A free image hosting site, but this one produces extremely short URLs, with a basic template of http://xxx.tinypic.com/FILENAME.<file-extension>. This URL is very short, compared to links from other image-hosting websites. Such as imageshack, which may produce something much longer, like http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/4209/FILENAME.jpg
Transparent
To make light visible through the image.
Tutorial
A step-by-step instructed guide on creating a work of art or technique. Adventure Quest forum's Tutorial Directory is located here. "Tutorial" is also widely abbreviated to "tut". Tutorials can also be found at alternate sites such as DeviantArt and Sig Tutorials.
U
Under-contrasted (U/C)
Dull and/or gray, little to no depth.
User Bar
A very small signature that usually says something about the person with it. Standard size for one is 100x50 pixels.
Another standard size for the userbars are 350x39, for the longer ones.
V
Vector
A special kind of mask that can be formed to resemble shapes. These usually have lower file-sizes and can be easily made in adobe/macromedia flash or Adobe Illustrator. More information can be located here.
Vector Layer
In Jasc/Corel Paintshop Pro, a vector layer is a layer of the image that functions by using shapes with editable points, or vectors, that determine the size, location, and in some cases path of the object. THese objects may include lines or text, as well as shapes such as rectangles or elipses.
Vector Magic
A free image manipulating online tool. Great for making vectors (see definition for Vector) and enhancing existing works. Website found here.
Video Tutorial
The same thing as a "Tutorial", except it is illustrated by using a recording program to record what the author is doing on the computer to give the viewer a better idea of how s/he is doing it. These sometimes come with a recorded voice as well to make the learning experience even better.
W
X
.Xcf
The Gimp equivalent of a .PSD
Y
Z
Special Thanks!
- LurkerPatrol (Letter Headers and update)
- Loki (Original structural update)
- Everyone else who submitted.
< Message edited by Nicky -- 11/25/2010 20:38:14 >
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