Complex Graphics?

Hello,

I have a quick question...

I have been designing graphics and websites for a few years now. When it comes to less complex work I can handle it no problem. I'm basically at my "peak" of what I can do and I'm becoming quite limited as to how advanced I can make my graphics. I'm looking to expand. I see graphics like these all over the Internet:

http://www.digitalabuse.net/

I'm referring to the top header (blue lights with stars, etc). How exactly would I go about making something like that? What programs would I use and what plugins or techniques? I understand it's probably done with different pictures and layers but I've attempted it quite a few times with poor results.

Would anyone care to help answer my questions? Thanks very much!

Well, first of all.....those graphics arent "advanced". Dont under estimate your skill. If you can handle less complex work, you sure can handle those. The trick to those really......is patience. The way it works is you take a low opacity brush in PS, and just build up shapes & shadows etc. After a few thousand strokes, add some more detail (like stars....high opacity small brush....basically just "dots" ) and your there. Its all about the brush. Then if you want to take it futher....you can overlay or screen a few elements (shape tool > arrows....or squares or text etc)

Try the "Abstract Ligtning Tutorials" on that site. That should get you going in some direction.

Word of advice though. Time would be better spent learning the techniques of those tutorials to improve yourself rather than making a bunch of those images. They are past their prime (cheesy/noobish/trendy/whorish/so 2 years ago/insert any other words here you like etc.). Im not trying to put you off of them though...just giving you some advice so you dont get caught up in them and can focus more on learning.

I think I've improved on my graphic skills. I worked all day yesterday and came up with this site.

http://www.notoriousenterprises.com

What do you think? Any good? Just one thing. I'm using mouseovers for the menu & how can I make it load and respond faster? The mouseovers seem to be very slow. Thanks!

Your Portfolio doesn't work.

And I didn't see any mouse overs. where are they supposed to be?

I love the Graphic at the top of the page, I'd ask you how to do it but I'd like to figure it out on my own, if I can.

Later,
CryptoManiac

Hey,

Yea not all the pages are up yet. I finished the services and contact section as well as the home page. I'm working on the portfolio section. I still have about 25 sites to add and then finish the profile page and I'll be done. I removed the mouseovers because they were too slow and bogging down the site. It loads much faster and smoother without them.

I'm glad you like the image at the top. Thanks. First nice comment about the site. =0). I love it to. Some people arn't up with that digital/cool lookin stuff but I love it. Anything that is out of the ordinary will catch my eye. I've never been able to make graphics like that until a couple days ago. I found a ton of great tutorials on differnt effects and just kinda did them layer by layer and came out with a cool looking header. It was pretty easy once I got the hang of it. Thanks again.