(01-21-2016, 06:56 PM)Kevin Wrote: Pro tip: Post original image so we can actually see what you've done.

(01-21-2016, 07:03 PM)OutOfSight Wrote: I dont like weeb stuff and it says Atomic at the corner?

(01-21-2016, 07:29 PM)MagicFlakes Wrote: Honestly, I like the signature, can you make me one? : )

(01-22-2016, 02:38 AM)Soup Wrote: Okay for smudges, most people (that I've seen anyways) dislike "cloudy" smudges, me being one of them. Try to stay away from all that cloudy, blurry stuff. Also try to add more depth and stuff. Personally I wouldn't have done black and white but that's more personal preference some nice color could really pop it like where the mouth is (I'm assuming it's a red?). Try to work on depth and lighting and flow.

Check out these tutorials and ideas to do with your smudges. Some people prefer to do mask clippings with paint splatter brushes, others tend to add bubble's and fractals to their smudges to add more depth and lighting to stay away from keeping it too flat looking. Others who do like the flat style tend to add topaz. This was very trendy before but now it sort of is looked down upon most of the time since it was overdone and overused but it still is a very useful tool.

Will help with basics, etc but not so much smudge style (unless you want to keep it cloudy as it does still look good)
http://www.sigtutorials.com/img/171/tutorial.jpg

Some inspiration specifically with the style you have gone with
http://creativedesignmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Upsidedown_Smudge_Tag_PSD_Pack_by_um0p3pisdn.png

Here are some techniques for smudging that I personally recommend as I used this when I tried to do smudging as well
http://deceptivx.deviantart.com/art/M-S-S-A-P-S-T-283659868?q=favby%3Ain-shane%2F57441112&qo=0

Here's some sharper smudges (the technique I do prefer) that involve a lot of good lighting, depth, and flow as well as coloring (since I don't really like B&W )
http://orig00.deviantart.net/c81d/f/2013/081/2/b/girl_in_smudge_by_aoi_heart-d5ywn67.png
http://orig08.deviantart.net/06ba/f/2013/251/9/8/zoom__collab_snakygfx_by_sebiss-d6lht9r.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/ca70/f/2013/167/b/1/wolverine_found_the_light_by_sebiss-d698r5n.png
http://orig13.deviantart.net/7bac/f/2014/177/3/e/29_by_rultix-d7o2sc1.png
http://orig09.deviantart.net/55f8/f/2013/269/2/a/flying_by_workingclasshero93-d6nzx8b.png

Different style but still sharp smudges
http://orig11.deviantart.net/36fe/f/2013/111/1/6/myrrah_smudge_tag__gears_of_war__by_nigglezngigglez-d62k19t.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/c23b/f/2013/313/b/4/watch_dogs_smudge_by_thunderbr-d6tlwrz.png
http://orig05.deviantart.net/c305/f/2013/058/8/4/chicken_cake_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5wfkpm.png
http://orig10.deviantart.net/df2f/f/2013/025/b/6/goat_milk_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5spkjo.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/59a6/f/2013/062/9/7/darth_vader_smudge_tag__star_wars__by_nigglezngigglez-d5wvhsk.png

Cloudyish styles
http://orig13.deviantart.net/7dc0/f/2007/266/4/7/smudge_tag_by_queilch21.jpg
http://orig00.deviantart.net/4245/f/2013/031/b/9/sakuya_izayoi_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5tf14u.png (sharp but on the soft side)
http://orig10.deviantart.net/86b4/f/2010/189/9/c/house_m_d__smudge_tag_v2_by_1337garona1337.png
http://orig06.deviantart.net/0061/f/2013/046/0/2/mage_smudge_by_rodthesecond-d5v0tle.png

As you can see a lot of detail goes into smudges and they usually take hours to complete so it'll be a pain, but if you keep at it and work on lighting, depth, etc you can really get far (:
I would personally try adding more effects to this one you have currently and more colors to it. Perhaps try adding some red to the smudges and make a sort of wave or something with the colors. Also add some depth to it with darker and lighter tones of the black and red so have some dark red and some gray, etc to bring them out more. Finally some nice effects and C4D's could really be blended well into it. Good luck!

(01-22-2016, 04:04 AM)Cranky Wrote:

(01-21-2016, 07:29 PM)MagicFlakes Wrote: Honestly, I like the signature, can you make me one? : )

I could use some practice, PM me when you get the chance. :wink:

(01-22-2016, 02:38 AM)Soup Wrote: Okay for smudges, most people (that I've seen anyways) dislike "cloudy" smudges, me being one of them. Try to stay away from all that cloudy, blurry stuff. Also try to add more depth and stuff. Personally I wouldn't have done black and white but that's more personal preference some nice color could really pop it like where the mouth is (I'm assuming it's a red?). Try to work on depth and lighting and flow.

Check out these tutorials and ideas to do with your smudges. Some people prefer to do mask clippings with paint splatter brushes, others tend to add bubble's and fractals to their smudges to add more depth and lighting to stay away from keeping it too flat looking. Others who do like the flat style tend to add topaz. This was very trendy before but now it sort of is looked down upon most of the time since it was overdone and overused but it still is a very useful tool.

Will help with basics, etc but not so much smudge style (unless you want to keep it cloudy as it does still look good)
http://www.sigtutorials.com/img/171/tutorial.jpg

Some inspiration specifically with the style you have gone with
http://creativedesignmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Upsidedown_Smudge_Tag_PSD_Pack_by_um0p3pisdn.png

Here are some techniques for smudging that I personally recommend as I used this when I tried to do smudging as well
http://deceptivx.deviantart.com/art/M-S-S-A-P-S-T-283659868?q=favby%3Ain-shane%2F57441112&qo=0

Here's some sharper smudges (the technique I do prefer) that involve a lot of good lighting, depth, and flow as well as coloring (since I don't really like B&W )
http://orig00.deviantart.net/c81d/f/2013/081/2/b/girl_in_smudge_by_aoi_heart-d5ywn67.png
http://orig08.deviantart.net/06ba/f/2013/251/9/8/zoom__collab_snakygfx_by_sebiss-d6lht9r.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/ca70/f/2013/167/b/1/wolverine_found_the_light_by_sebiss-d698r5n.png
http://orig13.deviantart.net/7bac/f/2014/177/3/e/29_by_rultix-d7o2sc1.png
http://orig09.deviantart.net/55f8/f/2013/269/2/a/flying_by_workingclasshero93-d6nzx8b.png

Different style but still sharp smudges
http://orig11.deviantart.net/36fe/f/2013/111/1/6/myrrah_smudge_tag__gears_of_war__by_nigglezngigglez-d62k19t.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/c23b/f/2013/313/b/4/watch_dogs_smudge_by_thunderbr-d6tlwrz.png
http://orig05.deviantart.net/c305/f/2013/058/8/4/chicken_cake_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5wfkpm.png
http://orig10.deviantart.net/df2f/f/2013/025/b/6/goat_milk_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5spkjo.png
http://orig03.deviantart.net/59a6/f/2013/062/9/7/darth_vader_smudge_tag__star_wars__by_nigglezngigglez-d5wvhsk.png

Cloudyish styles
http://orig13.deviantart.net/7dc0/f/2007/266/4/7/smudge_tag_by_queilch21.jpg
http://orig00.deviantart.net/4245/f/2013/031/b/9/sakuya_izayoi_smudge_tag_by_nigglezngigglez-d5tf14u.png (sharp but on the soft side)
http://orig10.deviantart.net/86b4/f/2010/189/9/c/house_m_d__smudge_tag_v2_by_1337garona1337.png
http://orig06.deviantart.net/0061/f/2013/046/0/2/mage_smudge_by_rodthesecond-d5v0tle.png

As you can see a lot of detail goes into smudges and they usually take hours to complete so it'll be a pain, but if you keep at it and work on lighting, depth, etc you can really get far (:
I would personally try adding more effects to this one you have currently and more colors to it. Perhaps try adding some red to the smudges and make a sort of wave or something with the colors. Also add some depth to it with darker and lighter tones of the black and red so have some dark red and some gray, etc to bring them out more. Finally some nice effects and C4D's could really be blended well into it. Good luck!

This is really helpful, I appreciate this A LOT! I'm saving all this in a notepad file. Thank you so much. :yus:

Spoiler:

(01-23-2016, 01:17 AM)Cranky Wrote: Original image used for the signature:

Spoiler:

(01-23-2016, 01:19 AM)Geek Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:17 AM)Cranky Wrote: Original image used for the signature:

Spoiler:

You're really done a pretty good job at it. The text could be a little more blended in with the background.
Good luck with your future works

(01-23-2016, 01:21 AM)Cranky Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:19 AM)Geek Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:17 AM)Cranky Wrote: Original image used for the signature:

Spoiler:

You're really done a pretty good job at it. The text could be a little more blended in with the background.
Good luck with your future works

I hope you don't think I made the image above your post, I made the one in the OP. :confused:

(01-23-2016, 01:21 AM)Geek Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:21 AM)Cranky Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:19 AM)Geek Wrote:

(01-23-2016, 01:17 AM)Cranky Wrote: Original image used for the signature:

Spoiler:

You're really done a pretty good job at it. The text could be a little more blended in with the background.
Good luck with your future works

I hope you don't think I made the image above your post, I made the one in the OP. :confused:

Yes, I was talking about the one on the OP.