So how do people change the whole texture of their wallpapers or e-cards? They use certain images to create textures. So what kinds of images create textures? What kinds of textures should you use?
Above, I've included one example of a texture. A texture can cause changes to the light and color of a scan. They can also cause a scan to look older, shinier, and more. They are what make each wallpaper/e-card look better than their scans.
Remember the previous post on layers? That's what textures use. First, go on google or devianart and type in what kind of texture you'd like. Are you making a sad card? Search up textures like "old paper", "grunge", etc. Are you making a happier one? Search up things like "bright texture". You can also search up certain shapes for your scan or color such as "red texture", "butterfly texture", "blurry texture", etc. Save them as images.
Go back to your program whether it is GIMP, Photoshop, or whatever. When you've finished choosing what part of the scan you'd like to use, add the image/texture you'd just saved as an image and open it up as a new layer. From there, you can choose effects from the layer. My favorites are "overlay" and "screen", but play around with it until you find a perfect one. (I believe there's different ways to find these buttons for different programs, so if you need help looking for these functions, look it up on Google)
Sometimes, you won't be able to find the perfect texture right away. That's fine. Look at other people's wallpapers. Sometimes, they contain links to where they got their textures from. You can save those and use them later on. As long as the image doesn't have actual drawings on them, and is just like a little design, you can use the image as a texture. I recommend also keeping a folder in your computer marked as "textures" where you can store all these images.
Have fun!
Quick overview:
[x] Textures can be found on Google and devianart.
[x] Just save the "texture" as an image, and use functions such as "screen" and "overlay".
[x] As long as it is a design of some sort, the picture can be used as a texture.
[Some of you may recognize this e-card as one that I've posted onto theO before.]
I remember when I first started making e-cards (before I made wallpapers). There were a few questions that I had.
Where did the images come from?
Did the people draw it?
But then again, there're links...
So then what kinds of websites should I get the images from?
Google doesn't have that many good images....?
When you're first starting off, I'd recommend using minitokyo.net. It has images from practically all animes and mangas. You can also search up a color and it'll give you things related to that color.
Now, after you've found your image, check to make sure IT IS NOT A WALLPAPER! Using a wallpaper to make your own wallpaper/e-card is considered using someone else's creation without having their permission. I've gotten 2 e-cards removed from theO because I did not know this.
So what can you use? The scans. After searching on minitokyo.net, click on the scans tab. It should be on the right side of the webpage. Anything from there is allowed to be used.
When making a wallpaper, don't just save the image right off. Get the image to its full size (it should cover your whole computer's window) and save that. Otherwise, when you make your wallpaper, the image will become blurry!
So, that's about all the tips for this section. A quick overview:
[x] Images from minitokyo.net are great for wallpapers and e-cards.
[x] Make sure your image is a scan and not a wallpaper. Wallpapers on minitokyo were created by its users. (Therefore, are copyrighted)
[x] Save the full size image, not the little preview one!
