Graphic/Layout Repair Shop

  • She Said Poptarts

    She Said Poptarts (150)

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    A thread for a quick-fix, and helpful opinions!

    Have you ever made two versions of one graphic that you love equally and is unsure of which one to choose? Or maybe you don't know where to put the text, or have the "something is missing" feeling? Think Do you have a layout that is missing something, maybe it looks weird to you (and you need another pair of eyes), or can't find the right background?

    Well, this is the thread for that!
    Explain your problem, paste the image (or link to the layout), and wait until other users reply and helps out!
    Other Links:
    1. The Graphic Help Thread - how-to questions, tips, mini-tutorials
    2. 'Name That Resource' Thread - asking for another's used resource
    3. Post Your Most Recent Creation - show off your work!
    4. Graphic Making Tutorials - main thread for banner, blending, etc. tutorials
    5. The Graphic and Story Resource Masterpost - a blog with resource links
    May 10th, 2015 at 04:11am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    This is such a brilliant idea! Happy face Half the time with my graphics I feel like it's missing that special something. Definitely will be using this thread in the future!

    BTW, this really is a fantastic idea for layouts too! It can be so hard to find the right background / pattern to fit with the image.
    May 26th, 2015 at 04:30pm
  • swell

    swell (150)

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    Hey friends,
    Made a layout, I'm on the fence whether I like it or not. Is the layout too white or is it balanced alright?
    Here's the link. Any advice would be appreciated!
    May 28th, 2015 at 05:26pm
  • hollow girl

    hollow girl (105)

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    I don't know if it's necessarily too white more as the white content box is touching the white square in the background too much. The colors are meshing together. Maybe if you added an overall stroke to the content box completely, or adjusted the background image so it what a little gray, like efefef instead of white. :)

    Idk. Just some suggestions! I quite like it though! :D

    @ swell
    May 28th, 2015 at 07:00pm
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    @ swell
    Because of the pink lined background, I don't think the layout is too white. If you add any more color with that background, it might be too overwhelming. On the other hand, if you where to remove the background, then I would say it's too white.
    There's just something off beat and unique about the layout that I really like.

    Maybe you are on the fence because of the background image you have chosen? If that is the case, I would suggest trying a new image with the same perimeters and see if you like it then and if you still feel like it's too white.
    I hope this helped in some small way. Btw, I'm really interested in the story.

    Edit: I agree with doofiqua, an overall color to the content box might be what's needed to help with your feeling of it being too white. @ doofiqua
    May 28th, 2015 at 07:03pm
  • swell

    swell (150)

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    @ doofiqua
    @ the dalliance.

    So I tried the grey background, but I think that just makes me miss the white XD
    May 29th, 2015 at 04:14am
  • hollow girl

    hollow girl (105)

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    @ swell
    Yeah... it makes me miss it too. I don't know. :3 the last time I made something bright was in 1956.... if you know what I mean. XD I'm the queen of darkness it seems. I'd say a drop shadow but that would look strange.

    Maybe if you got the grid that is the background a little tighter then there would be less white to bump with the white container.
    May 29th, 2015 at 05:19am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    @ swell
    I miss the white now too. The grey is just clashing with everything else. This is just one fickle layout.

    What if the grid was either on the sides or the bottom and top? If it was just on the sides, the grid picture could become wider, filling up the white space better.
    May 29th, 2015 at 05:58am
  • She Said Poptarts

    She Said Poptarts (150)

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    @ swell
    Maybe try a 1px light gray border around the content box? Eh? Maybe? lol
    Idk tbh I'm digging the original layout!
    May 29th, 2015 at 06:15am
  • swell

    swell (150)

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    @ doofiqua
    @ the dalliance.
    @ She Said Poptarts

    I tried the border / editing the grid but I wasn't really feeling it, think I'll just leave it as is because I'm feeling the white on white again now XD Thank you for the suggestions, though!

    As a side note, I quite like this thread. Definitely going to be coming here in the future Cute
    May 29th, 2015 at 06:21am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    @ swell
    I do enjoy the white on white layout.
    May 29th, 2015 at 06:32am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    Just wondering if the layout is too plain and if so what could be done to spice it up. Cute
    Layout

    I've tried spacey backgrounds but they all seem to clash with the border image.
    Example
    June 5th, 2015 at 12:21am
  • hollow girl

    hollow girl (105)

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    @ the dalliance.

    I don't think it's too plain at all! I really like the contrast from the white background to the galaxy and then back to the white content. Maybe if the galaxy bg was a little wider, but i like it. :D I really do.
    June 5th, 2015 at 02:12am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    @ doofiqua
    Okay, thanks. Smile Just double checking that it wasn't too blah since this is my most simplistic layout to date.
    June 5th, 2015 at 04:30am
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    A few questions on the page background for this.

    a) Is the gif background too much?
    b) Does the gif background work well?
    c) Would it / does it look better without it? click

    Thanks. Cute
    July 3rd, 2015 at 08:21pm
  • bellamy blake

    bellamy blake (3280)

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    @ the dalliance.

    I am, by no means, a layout pro, but just from a reader's perspective, I find the gif background to be too distracting Shifty

    I like the version without the gif much better, but it still feels like there's something missing with the lack of background/all the white. At the same time, I feel like the white background makes the content background image have that much more impact Think
    July 3rd, 2015 at 08:35pm
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    @ bellamy blake

    I thought it might be distracting as you read. Bye, bye gif. You will be missed. tehe

    Ugh, the dreaded white space. Facepalm It's like, 'oh it looks fine' and then at the same time 'something is not right with all that white'. Maybe I'll try to find a subtle background that does not clash. Think

    This is such a hard layout to find a background that actually looks half decent. But here is one. So what do you think? Background or no background?

    Thanks for the help! Smile
    July 3rd, 2015 at 09:12pm
  • bellamy blake

    bellamy blake (3280)

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    @ the dalliance.

    AGH, I'm no help at all Facepalm

    I love the new background, I think it matches wonderfully, but I'm not really sure if I like it or the white background better because I feel like that image stood out more vividly on the white. But then again...the gray wooden background is a little less jarring...so really, I'd say whichever you prefer Cute
    July 3rd, 2015 at 09:20pm
  • the dalliance.

    the dalliance. (305)

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    I guess this would fit here....

    Does anyone else reach a point in banner making when nothing will work with the background + the coloring layers? I'll have the background coloring looking good AF but none of the character images or other background layers want to cooperate with it. Facepalm Am I doing something wrong? tehe

    Image

    That's as far as the banner wants to let me go with layers before the coloring turns them to crap. I know your suppose to work first on layers than coloring but YOLO. And besides, I kinda like the coloring as it is. Cry
    September 16th, 2015 at 02:29am
  • Bangarang!

    Bangarang! (120)

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    @ the dalliance.
    I know exactly how that goes i always have that trouble it drives me mental!!
    September 17th, 2015 at 03:46am