Banner constructive crit.

reina__ · September 2013

Hi, I am offering free constructive critique to banner makers out there. You may remember me. I have been making banners since 2008 and am a freelance graphic artist. I've made banners for numerous dog breeders around the globe and magazine/book advertisements. I am self taught. This can happen for you too, with practice!! The program I "grew up using" was Paint Shop Pro 9. I currently use Photoshop Elements 7. These tiny, basic programs can do all you want them to do and need them to do. I offer help with either of these programs. I do not offer help with GIMP because I don't have it and frankly, I didn't like it very much. Please post your banner in link form. I will reply to yours separately. Please do not enter your banner if you get offended easily or cannot take critique. I will not be rude or mean... but I will tell you what you could have done better or how you can improve. My most recent banner: <img src="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/260/d/7/foursaken_banner_by_reinafawn-d6mmveo.png"; alt="http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2013/260/d/7/foursaken_banner_by_reinafawn-d6mmveo.png"; class="bb-image" /> Gallery: <a href="http://reinafawn.deviantart.com/gallery/25512449?offset=24"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://reinafawn.deviantart.com/gallery ... ?offset=24</a>

PaperWings · September 2013

This should probably be in the artist section....

lovefrompaige · September 2013

*cough* i miss you *cough cough* I don't think I have grown at all. Though I haven't been practicing consistently like I would like too. APE 9.0 is what I have but I'm familiar to 5.0 and 7.0. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png</a> <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png</a> A little older but hey, <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png</a>

reina__ · October 2013

PaperWings wrote:

This should probably be in the artist section....

I thought it was the correct place. It's in Artist's Corner and I'm offering services. I'm not trying to show off my artistic skill. Though, I will close this and move if it is, in fact, what I am doing.

MrClean · October 2013

reina__ · October 2013

lovefrompaige wrote:

*cough* i miss you *cough cough* I don't think I have grown at all. Though I haven't been practicing consistently like I would like too. APE 9.0 is what I have but I'm familiar to 5.0 and 7.0. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png</a> <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png</a> A little older but hey, <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png</a>

I've missed you my darling! I've always loved your banners. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i37 ... 4a6055.png</a> -Right off the bat it is a very aesthetically pleasing banner. The color palette you have chosen, blues, greens, and yellow, all lgo well together. -JaneAusten is a nice font for a banner like this. -The backrounds all blend beautifully, especially with the blue line behind the girl's legs and behind the hands. -I do have to squint to read the writing, and I have pretty good eyesight. I've love to see a simpler font for the white text, maybe Century Gothic super small and anti-alias switched on. I do like the Romance Fatale Serif in the light yellow though. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i37 ... c63a2c.png</a> -I automatically like this banner because it all breeds I love! Hehe. Except, Rotts and CCs aren't bully breeds but I don't think you have anything to do with that, lol. -I like the orange to grey, I've done that before too. -The cropping is hard but clean for the most part. It could have been maybe 1px softer and wet better. -The subtext is hard to read again though. It sorta blends in with the main text. I like using will&Grace with Trajan Pro, it keeps the professional, simple look but is easy to read. For the Wolverine one, I don't have a lot to say other than good job on balancing, the pics are on the right side and the text is on the left side. Good use feathering and colors. I would have liked to see maybe something in the shadows on top of Wolverine, maybe eyes of a wolf or something faded in. Thank you !! Talk soon :}

reina__ · October 2013

bryson wrote:

I make simple banners and personal pics...I hope you don't mind critiquing a few dog pics as well...? My work is admittedly simple. I don't plan on doing this professionally or anything but I still welcome any advice 8) Thanks in advance Banners: <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/BBBPhotoManipbanner_zps572a1b4e.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 2a1b4e.png</a> <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/PRPbanner_zpsa4c5c157.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... c5c157.png</a> <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/partners_zps3f203864.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 203864.png</a> <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/Rockiedesktop_zps9cb55838.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... b55838.png</a> <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/eventingbanner_zps398f7950.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 8f7950.png</a>

Hey there, I will critique you to help you move forward, even a professional artist can move forward from where they currently are. <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/BBBPhotoManipbanner_zps572a1b4e.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 2a1b4e.png</a> -Nice cropping job. I love it especially in the foreground, whereas in the background it gets a little blurry but I have a feeling that's just what the original photo looked like and not of your doing. -The text is really trippy.. not in a good way. I would try a simpler font, either that or completely take out the duplicate text. This font is a preinstalled font and I don't often condone using preinstalled fonts for the main text. Reason why is because it can look much too plain and basic for an image meant to be special or advertise. -I won't tell you how I feel about rainbow gradients. -Try making "By Bryson" smaller and in some type of subtext or pixel lettering. It is still readable but isn't the main focus of the banner. <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/PRPbanner_zpsa4c5c157.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... c5c157.png</a> -Your cropping/erasing is very good! If you erased all these on your own, I commend you, if not, I'd love to know where you got this image from. -There's that font again. There's a lot of nice bold script fonts to download for free, try it if you haven't. -The purple and yellow you have chosen clash. Maybe try a darker purple and a different text color, maybe a dark or light neutral. I have to strain to read the subtext. -In your subtext, the use of the same font you used for the main text seems a little plain again. <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/partners_zps3f203864.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 203864.png</a> -Nice background! -The cropping of the dogs in this isn't as good as the other two I've looked at of yours. You want to get right to the dog's body and fur. -Get rid of that yellow color. Bright, saturated colors rarely look good in a banner for the text unless it calls for it. For me, a sunset banner with a field of flowers already has enough bright colors in it. And, as I always say, a banner always needs a black or grey neutral in it. It adds structure. -Good banners have structure and balance. The fluffy edge of the background doesn't really have either of these. <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/Rockiedesktop_zps9cb55838.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... b55838.png</a> -Get that erasing right near the dog's body. -You have used a very simple bold font again. Try using some downloadable script fonts from dafont.com or others. -In my opinion, the red and blue you have chosen also clash. Colors that go together are ones that are found in nature. I can't think of anything in nature that is rich, dark red and dark, rich blue. Maybe flowers, but not along with light brown and white and light blue. I think white or light grey would have looked better. Pull colors from your banner for the text. <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/eventingbanner_zps398f7950.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... 8f7950.png</a> -I like this everything about this banner except the font/color of it and the ball. If you are adamant about using bright colors, at least do it with a neutral or use a pinch of it instead of all of the text being the same, unpleasing color. -Again, try a downloaded font instead. It's amazing how much a font changes the first impression. -Softly erase the feet of the rescue dog like you did with the puppy in the top corner. Try these tips out. They are usable for your dog pics as well. I think you have tremendous potential to be a professional or at least professional-level banner maker, the way you use lots of photos in your manips. If you have a desire to, you can do anything.

MrClean · October 2013

Thank you, this critique was very helpful! I will say that, for the banners, the color scheme was usually pre-determined (by the person the banner was for or the layout it was made for), but I will work on using more neutral colors, especially for the text... I've just recently discovered a font site that works for me, so I won't be using any of those same fonts anymore

I will also work on the structure and balance of my banners. Thank you for taking the time to help! How's this? <a href="http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y490/RaeBryson/CSTIce_zps3fdb381f.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1277.photobucket.com/albums/y49 ... db381f.png</a>

lovefrompaige · December 2013

reina__ wrote:

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lovefrompaige wrote:

*cough* i miss you *cough cough* I don't think I have grown at all. Though I haven't been practicing consistently like I would like too. APE 9.0 is what I have but I'm familiar to 5.0 and 7.0. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png</a> <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png</a> A little older but hey, <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/wol-1.png</a> 

 I've missed you my darling! I've always loved your banners. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/skkeosk_zpsf84a6055.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i37 ... 4a6055.png</a> -Right off the bat it is a very aesthetically pleasing banner. The color palette you have chosen, blues, greens, and yellow, all lgo well together. -JaneAusten is a nice font for a banner like this. -The backrounds all blend beautifully, especially with the blue line behind the girl's legs and behind the hands. -I do have to squint to read the writing, and I have pretty good eyesight. I've love to see a simpler font for the white text, maybe Century Gothic super small and anti-alias switched on. I do like the Romance Fatale Serif in the light yellow though. <a href="http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i371/StormGrEshAm/Random Graphics/kiyg_zps38c63a2c.png" target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://i1090.photobucket.com/albums/i37 ... c63a2c.png</a> -I automatically like this banner because it all breeds I love! Hehe. Except, Rotts and CCs aren't bully breeds but I don't think you have anything to do with that, lol. -I like the orange to grey, I've done that before too. -The cropping is hard but clean for the most part. It could have been maybe 1px softer and wet better. -The subtext is hard to read again though. It sorta blends in with the main text. I like using will&Grace with Trajan Pro, it keeps the professional, simple look but is easy to read. For the Wolverine one, I don't have a lot to say other than good job on balancing, the pics are on the right side and the text is on the left side. Good use feathering and colors. I would have liked to see maybe something in the shadows on top of Wolverine, maybe eyes of a wolf or something faded in. Thank you !! Talk soon :}

Thanks so much love!

Howdy, Stranger!

Banner constructive crit.

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