Tutorials

Rinn - Pixel Button
If you're one of those who's into pixel buttons, here's a cool way to start off. Sometimes, pixel buttons fit in quite nicely when you need a bunch of options and don't want them stand out too much. Flickr's view page is a pretty good example.

1. If you don't have any bitmap fonts, go to dafont.com and download 04b03b bitmap font. So start off by typing out the text you want onyour button. Set the text to size 8 and the anti-aliasing method to"none". Then add a stroke layer style to the text with the followingsettings:



2. Using the Rounded Rectangle Tool, set to a 2px radius, draw a rectanglebox around the text you just created. Then drag the text layer abovethe rectangle box if the rectangle is covering the text. Your buttonshould look something like this:

3. Add a layer style on your rectangle shape and add a Bevel and Emboss using these settings:

4. Then add a Stroke layer style with these settings:



5. And you're done!

Rinn - Basic Text FX Tutorial
1. Open up Photoshop and create a text object using the text
tool. For this tutorial, I used the font, 'Gang of Three', at 28px. You
can really choose any color and font you want to.



2. In your Layers (Windows>Layers) window, double click on the
text object and Layer Style window will open up. Click on the drop
shadow option and set the parameters to the following:



3. Now click on the 'Bevel and Emboss' option and change the parameters to the following:



4. Finally, select the Stroke option and change the parameters to the following and then click OK:



5. You text should now look something like this:



6. With the Text Object selected in your Layers window, go to
Image>Text>Warp Text and set the parameters to the following:



7. And you're finished!

Rinn - 3D Spline Projection Tutorial
This tutorial will take you through the easy and handy process of spline projection in Cinema 4D:

1. Go to Object>Spline Primitive>Text, and type the desired text. Here's what it would look like afterwards:



2. Next, go to Objects>Primitive>Sphere and make a big sphere a bit larger than the width of the text. Then, move the text so that it's placed in front of the sphere like the image below:



3. Make the text object editable by pressing "C" on your keyboard. Next, go into point mode (look at image below if you're confused), and press CTRL+a to select all the points.



4. Left click on the spline, and click on the Project option:



5. In the Project Options menu, hit Apply:



6. The model should now look something like this:



7. Go to Objects>NURBS>Extrude Nurbs and place the spline beneath the Nurbs and change the settings to the image below:



And you're done! Your image should look something like this:



Feel free to ask me if you have any questions about this tutorial :)

Rinn - Easy Sepia Toning and Adding Depth
Learn how to use Photo Filter and photo retouching to get a sepia toning for your photos in Photoshop.

Rinn - Digital Girl Photo Manipulation Part 1
This tutorial will show you how to make a Digital Girl. This tutorial is intended for intermediate to advanced Photoshop users.

Step 1:

Start off by finding an image you of a model that you would like to use. I used a picture of Jarah Mariano, and I used the pen tool in 'Shape Layers' mode and outlined the outside contour of her body.
With the newly created shape layer rename is "Model", and set the color to #B9C2D3 and put its fill opacity to about 77%.
Then add a Stroke layer style with the stroke color set to white, and a 2px stroke radius. The image should look something like this:



Step 2:

So now we want to have only the image of the model without the background. Make sure that your on the layer with the model's image on it.
Hold down the ctrl button and click on the "Model" shape layer you just created. You'll get a dotted line around the outline of the model. With your Rectangle Marque Tool, left click on the document, and click on "Layer via Copy". That should have created a new layer with only the model on it, and the background should be transparent.
You can now change the background to a gradient or any color you wish. I made the background color black:




Step 3:

Now we're going to trace the inner contours of her body including the clothes she's wearing. To being with, click on your brush tool, and set it to a "Hard Round Brush" and set the radius to 2px. Create a new layer, and using the Pen Tool set to 'Paths' mode, start tracing an inner contour of the model's body.
Once you have one inner contour finished, right click and select "Stroke Path". Make sure that when you get the Stroke popup menu, that you have tool set to Brush and keep the 'Simulate Pressure' box unchecked. You should now have a stroke line on the new layer you created.
Repeat this step until you have all the contours of her body stroked. I Recommend that you put the contours of the models face, and clothes, on two separate layers so you can tweak them later. Once you finish creating all the inner body contours, put those layers into a layer set. Your Image should now look something like this:



Step 4:

Now, hide the inner countour layers and the 'Model' shape layer, and have the layer with the model's image selected.
Have the layer with the model on it selected and desaturate the image (ctrl+shift+u)
Go up to Image>Adjustments>Curves, and set your curves so that the shading on the model's body looks something like this:



NOTE: You can do the curves on a 'new fill or adjustment layer', but you'll have the merge the two layers anyways, so I recommend just putting the curves in at one shot.

Step 5:

Go to Filter>Noise>Median, and set the median to 1px. Your image should look something like this:


Step 6: Go to Filter>Artistic>Plastic Wrap and put in these settings:

Step 7:

Go to Filter>Noise>Median again, and have the radius set to 1px.
Make all the contour files you hid in step 4 visible.
Select the 'Model' layer shape and set the blending mode to "Multiply" and put an Outer Glow layer style:



Now put on an Inner Shadow layer style:


Now add a stroke Layer Style:


Step 8:

Now, with the inner contour strokes we created in step 2, set their blending mode to Soft Light.
I wanted to make the stroke lines of the model's face less noticeable, lowered the opacity until I got the effect I liked. Your finished image should look like this:




A/N: I apologize if this tutorial was a bit confusing for beginners. I may go back and simplify the steps more if people request for it. :)


BONUS TIP:

I was looking at the image and i wasn't happy with how the Plast Wrap filter left some parts of the image looking a bit...odd. So to fix that problem I used the Dodge and Burn tool to darken/lighten certain areas of the image.

Rinn - 3D Logo in Photoshop and Cinema 4D
This tutorial will guide you through the process of taking a 2D low-res logo taken from the web, altering it into a vector shape and giving it a 3 dimensional look in Cinema 4D.


1. This is the Shadowness.com logo that we're going to be tracing over using the Pen Tool in Photoshop. If you already have the paths made for your logo, you can skip straight to Step 4.




2. Since the logo that I've chosen to use is very small, I have zoomed up on the image. Now in order to trace the object with the Pen Tool, we need to lay down the anchor points on any edges and corners of the logo. I have shown where I'm going to lay my anchor points with the red dots. Once you lay down the anchor points, you will have something that look like this:










3. Now, click and hold on the Pen Tool icon. Select the "Add Anchor Point" option, click on the edges and drag the points to where you want the curves to appear. You might have to do a little bit of tweaking here and there to get the the curves right. Here's what the logo looked like after this step:







4. Now that you've traced your logo, go to File>Export>Paths to Illustrator then save it as "logo.ai".




In this tutorial, I used Cinema 4D to make the logo 3D. This tutorial can really be adapted in any other 3D program if you have basic knowledge of using splines and deformers.




5. Open up the "logo.ai" file in your 3D program (most 3D programs have .ai support). The pen lines you made in Photoshop have been made into a spline object. The imported file looks like this:




6. Go to Objects>Nurbs>Extrude Nurbs and drop the logo spline under the Extrude Nurb object and put in the same setting as the image below:




What you end up with is an extruded spline object.



7. You probably noticed that the object looks very linear and a bit jaggedy. So click on the logo spline, and change the spline setting to this:





However, you notice that you've lost some of the hard edges on your logo. So press "K" on your keyboard and you will get the knife tool. Drag the knife tool near the edges where you want that hard edge. You will notice that once you knife the spline, the edge will become more pronounced.

8. Here you'll probably want to smooth out the logo a bit. Click on the Extrude Nurbs object, then select the Caps sub menu, and change the settings to the image below:







9. Next, I went up to Objects>Primitive>Tube in order to create a ring around the logo. These are the settings I used on the Tube Object:



10. I thought that the logo looked a bit boring without any bends, so I put a wrap deformer on it. I placed the Extruded Nurbs (the logo) and the Tube in a null object (and easy way to do this is to select both the Tube and the Extrude Nurb and hit Alt+G). Then I clicked Objects>Deformation>Wrap and dragged it into the Null Object we just created. Here are the settings I used on the Wrap Object:




11. Now, we have to prepare to render this. First I created an enviroment object (Objects>Scene>Enviroment) and checked on the Enable Fog option in the Enviroment settings. Next, I put a material onto the logo. The material I used can be downloaded HERE.


12. Go to Render>Render Settings and click on Output in the submenu and set it to whatever resolution you would like to have. Then click on the Save submenu and click on the Alpha Channel, Straight Channel, and Separate Channel box. That way, when you open up the logo in Photoshop, you can go to your channels Menu and delete the background from the logo. Now go to Render>Render to Pictures Viewer, and you're done!

Rinn - Cinema 4D Mouth Modeling Tutorial
This is a tutorial for modeling the mouth in Cinema 4D. It can also be adapted into other 3d applications if you know the basic functions of the program. Enjoy :)!

Rinn - Website Header Part 2
This tutorial will teach you how to create a simple website header design.

1. I started off by filling my document with #9c9c9c color. Next, I created a rounded rectangle box using the Rounded Rectangle Tool with a setting of 10px:



2. Holding down CTRL + SHIFT, I shifted the box to the right, like the image below:



3. Move the rectangle to the left so that its partly off the page:



4. Add a Layer Style to the rectangle box:









5. Now, create your header text and place it on top of your header. I used Futura font with a drop shadow with an Opacity of 29%, Distance of 2px, and Size of 3px.



6. Create a long rectangle box (without rounded borders) and have it run horizontally across the whole header:



7. Add a Layer Style to the rectangle box:





8. Create a white rectangle box similar to the one we made before. It should look something like this:



9. Add a Layer Style to the white rectangle:



10. Now its time to add the desired text for your navigation bar. I used Futura Font again on mine:



11. You can also add an image beneath the header. I used an image from Shadowness, but you can find images to use on stock sites such as sxc.hu

Rinn - Website Header 2.0 Part 3

Rinn - How to "Anime-tize" an image
This tutorial will explain how to take an image and give it an anime-like style. "Anime-tize" it!

Rinn - Nose Modeling Walkthrough
I have to apologize that this tutorial is so vague, but when I did it step by step, I had about 30+ screenshots. Therefore, I've included the source c4d file that you can download :)
Nose Modeling Walkthrough.c4d (Save target as)
This tutorial is for intermediate 3D modelers

Rinn - How to Make an Animated Banner
End result:

Rinn - Stamp Icon Tutorial
Step 1: Start off by creating this stamp object by using the Stamp 1 shape with your Custom Shape Tool.


Step 2: Add these Layer Styles to your Stamp shape:








Step 3: Your stamp icon should now look like this:

Step 4: Choose an image you want to have on your stamp, and place it on top of the stamp object. I chose to use 7Shadows' wallpaper for this stamp:


Step 5: Add a Stroke Layer Style to the image:


Step 6: Using the Custom Shape Tool, create a 'Circle Thin Frame' shape on the bottom left of the stamp:


Step 7: Using the Custom Shape Tool again, draw a 'World' shape and center it inside the shape you made in step 6


Step 8: Draw a Line shape set at 3px like the image below:

Step 9: Hold down CTRL on your keyboard, and the transform box will appear around the shape. Right click on the line and select 'Warp'. Adjust the Warp points so that they resemble the image below:



Step 10: Duplicate the warped line four times and arrange them like this:

Step 12: Group all the object together and put them into a Layer Set or Group (depending on which version of Photoshop you're running). With the grouped layers selected, hold down the CTRL button and move the bottom right transform box to the left:


And here's the finished icon:

Rinn - 3D Eye Modeling
This tutorial isn't really program specific, so you can use this tutorial on any 3D application. I tried my best to keep this somewhat beginner-friendly, but you definitely need to have a decent grasp on the 3D tools and terminology for this tutorial. Enjoy!

Rinn - Stone Lion 3D Lighting Tutorial

Rinn - Creating Tiled Background in Photoshop

Rinn - How To Make A Folder Icon
This is a little tutorial on how to make folder icons

1. In a new document, make a rectangle and add Anchor Points to create a tab like in the image below:


2. Next, add a Layer Style to the folder shape:



3. Your folder should look like this:


4. Next, create a new layer and select the top half of the folder using the Rectangle Marquee tool. Then, fill the selection with a white gradient so that the folder looks like this:


5. Create another new layer. Hold down ctrl and click on the folder shape, which will create a selection around the object. Go to Edit>Stroke, and use these settings:


6. Set the layer opacity of the stroke to 37%. Your icon should look something like this:


7. Create a slightly smaller rectangle and place it behind the folder. Put the same Layer Style used in step 2:


8. Hold down the ctrl button, and shift the rectangle to the right:


9. No you have completed the basic folder icon.


10. I personally like to rotate the icon a bit:


11. Now you can add additional little graphics to your folder icon. I added the old Shadowness logo:

Rinn - Website Header
This is a simple tutorial on how to create a professional looking website header:

So this header was inspired by this template by Cerebus: http://www.templatemonster.com/website-templates/11783.html

Step 1. Open up a new document, (mine was 800x600) and fill it with this color: #CACACA. Next, draw a rectagle box like the image below:



Afterwards, rasterize the rectangle layer

Step 2. Next, double click on the rectangle layer, and add a Layer Style:




Step 3. Now, you'll notice that the header's drop shadow shows on the side of the image. So to fix that, make a new layer and merge it with the rectangle shape. Next, using the Rectangle Marquee Tool, clean out the edges of the shadow. You image should look like this:

Step 4. Next, using the Rounded Rectangle Tool set to 10px radius, draw a box like this underneath the rectangle:



Step 5. Duplicate copies of the rounded rectangle, and arrange them like this:



Step 6. Next, merge all those shape layers together so that they are all on one layer. Add a Layer Style to that layer:





Step 7. Your header should now look something like this:


Step 8. Add the navigation text to you buttons. I used Futura font for mine:

Step 9. Using Futura font again, I put the header text in along with a logo. I also put a reflection on the text. To do that, duplicate the header text, and go to Edit>Transform>Flip Vertical. Drag the text underneath the header text. Then add this Layer Style to it:
Step 10. Your header should look something like this:



Step 11. You're basically done with the header, but I decided to add a last minute touch to it with the opacitated stripe pattern. In order to do that, create a new layer and fill it with a diagonal stripe pattern. Then add a Layer Style, similar to the one from Step 9, but much more opacitated. You can adjust the settings to fit your liking.

Here's the final product:

Rinn - Cinema 4D Clothes Part 2
Cinema 4D Clothes Part 2 (Wrinkles and Folds)

Rinn - Cinema 4D Clothes Part I
This tutorial will take you through creating clothes in Cinema 4D. You'll need to have the Clothide module on Cinema 4D. I think that r8 and up have the Clothide module on them. I have more tutorials on the way, they're just taking much longer to complete then I expected =___=;;;

This tutorial is really for Intermediate to Advanced Cinema 4D users. I'm sure a beginner could complete this tutorial, but I haven't exactly made it newbie friendly.

1. Start off by going to Objects>Object Library>Human Meg. This will give you the default female model in Cinema 4D. In your Object Panel, right click on the Meg and go to Clothide Tags>Collider. Go to Objects>Polygon Object and switch to the front view (F4 on your keyboard). Make sure you're in the Point Tool and go to Structure>Create Polygon. Make a polygon like the image below:



2. In Polygon Tool mode, select all the poly gon faces and go to Structure>Mirror, and mirror the polygon and make sure the points running down the center are all aligned down the center of the model:



3. Select whole polygon (includes the mirrored side you just created) and go to Structure>Clone. Once you hit the Apply button, you probably won't see any change happen on the screen. However, there is a clone of the polygon made, so while you're still in Polygon Tool mode, switch to the move tool and simply move the object behind the Meg model and make sure that it doesn't collide with that model:



4. Now, hit Ctrl+A on your keyboard, and go to Functions>Subdivide. Only subdivide the model by 1:



5. You'll notice that once I subdivided the model, there are triangles. We definately don't want those, so select two triangles and go to Functions>Melt. This will connect those two triangles into a square:



6. Next, switch to your front viewport (F4 on your keyboard) and also switch to Edge Tool mode.With the Live Selection Tool activated, go to Selection>Loop selection and click on the outer edge of the polygon. What happens is that it'll select the whole outer rim of the polygon, which isn't exactly what we want (fig1). So de select areas such as the nick, arm holes, and bottom of the dress (fig2)



7. Switch back into your normal viewport, and the model should look like this:



8. Go to Structure>Stitch and Sew and make sure you hold down the 'Shift' key when you attatch the two sides. You can also use the Bridge tool and manually connect the two sides.



9. Select the seam you just created. You can use the Selection>Loop Selection function which will make it much faster:

10. Right click on the polygon object in your object panel, and go to Clothide Tags>Cloth. On the Cloth tag, hit the Seam Poly's button first, and then hit Dress-o-Matic button second. Now, depending on how good your computer is, this can take a few seconds or a few minutes. Just be patient while it's "dressing" the model:

11. Once the Dress-o-Matic is complete, click on the Init State button. Your model should look like this:



12. Right click on the dress polygon in your object panel, and go to Clothide Tags>Belt. And put in the same settings as the image below:



**Note: in order to put the Meg in the Belt On option, just drag the Meg object right into that tag's Belt On box**

13. Go into Polygon Tool mode, and select the waist area of the model (including the back of the waist too):



14 . Go up to Selections>Set Vertex Map and put in these settings:



15. Go into Point Tool mode, and select the same wast area points (including the points in the back of the waist):



16. Click on the Belt Tag, and click on the Points: Set button, and drag the vertex map you created in Step 14 into the Influence Map box. (I named my Vertex Map "waist" by the way):



17. Click on the Cloth tag, and click on the Relax button. Your model should look like this: