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American--Pi's Graphics (Banners, Userbars, and more)

AmericanPi

AmericanPi

Write on
American--Pi's Graphics
Banners, Userbars, and more​

Hello! My name is American--Pi, but I like to go by Pi. I'm just a nineteen-year-old girl from the USA who likes a lot of things and likes to dabble in creative pursuits. I'm an amateur graphic designer and I know I'm not that great, but I enjoy graphic making nevertheless and I'm always hoping to improve my skills. Therefore, feedback is definitely encouraged here. This is the thread where I post all my kind of good graphics... there isn't much to explain, really. ^_^;

This thread is for showcasing the banners, userbars, avatars, and other digital graphics I've done that I'm at least somewhat proud of. Artwork is ordered from most to least recent.

I also draw and make sprites. My art shop is here. Completed art shop requests are there, not here.

For the record, all my art, including my drawings, doodles, and sprites, are posted on my Tumblr:
http://americanpi.tumblr.com/tagged/my-art

I also have two very old deviantART accounts that have some very old art on them, but I'd rather not link them here. I also have a Photobucket that I still use to host images. I have some good artworks that I've done on there, but I also have artworks done by other artists on that account (I've saved them to my own host because I like them; when I display the artworks I always credit the original artist). I also have some very old graphics that I'm not particularly proud of. Again, I'd rather not link that account. If you really want to see the accounts, you can go to my Tumblr and click on the "Usernames" link.

List of Graphics
  • Simple Banners
  • Avatar Banners
  • Animated Banners
  • Film Banners
  • TCG-Style Banners
  • Split Banners
  • Unique Banners
  • Extracted Signatures
  • Simple Userbars
  • Animated Userbars
  • Avatars

Simple Banners​
flight%20banner%20png_zpsykyhuzli.png

cupid%20popout%20banner%20png_zpsaixasbac.png

apple%20white%20popout%20banner%20png_zpsqiljzio6.png

raven%20queen%20popout%20banner%20png_zps7sk5kmqw.png

arts%20and%20sprites%20banner%20png_zpsy4ljhdsi.png

gwsc%20week%20142%20gwsc%20banner%20final_zpsudwnai2q.png

the%20feather%20static%20banner%20png_zpszhq3derm.png

characters%20banner%20final_zpsgj8xyyhg.png

lumineon%20banner%20final_zpsl8pzznt3.png

wildest%20dreams%20banner_zpscfxu4u6u.png

spwp%20banner%20v2%20png_zpseft1dggq.png

Experience%20banner%20final_zpsmxhmprtf.png

authors%20profile%20banner_zpslv0rqhty.png

Avatar Banners​
briar%20beauty%20avatar%20signature%20png_zps5klx4nub.png

apple%20white%20avatar%20banner%20png_zpsiudnt43d.png

raven%20queen%20avatar%20banner%20png_zps10whuzon.png

freaky%20and%20fabulous%20banner%20png_zpsehzlpiyj.png

fatherlyshipping%20banner%20png%20v2_zps21rlmcyg.png

eah%20banner%20png_zpsuo0h9ix5.png

Broken Banners​
mulan%20broken%20banner%20png_zpsiubsr6bf.png

hollyleaf%20broken%20banner%20png_zpsrnmd07f1.png

Falkner%20broken%20banner%20png_zpsfjhshe84.png

Animated Banners​
empty%20city%20ani%20banner%20gif_zpsyhoapbvi.gif

Alicias%20animated%20birthday%20card%20gif_zpsckvosq8g.gif

jigglypuff%20banner%20gif_zpsixenfhan.gif

joy%20and%20sadness%20animated%20banner%20gif_zpslh1dsbij.gif

apple%20white%20animated%20banner%20gif_zps2up3pqeg.gif

bunny%20blanc%20animated%20banner%20gif_zpstwfpuehc.gif

raven%20queen%20animated%20banner%20take%20a%20million%20DONE_zpsuruu1bq3.gif

Film Banners​
DoW%20film%20banner%20png_zpsraeoqjnp.png

alola%20film%20banner%20png_zps4s9cfb1r.png

maddie%20film%20banner%20png_zps0lj0k1gf.png

apple%20white%20film%20banner%20png_zps3bjodfi2.png

raven%20queen%20film%20banner%20png_zpsqq17gpdj.png

TCG-Style Banners​
eah%20boys%20tcg%20banner%20png_zpst42prpds.png

wonderlandiful%20tcg%20banner%20png_zpsv7jhh5fb.png

six%20school%20stories%20broken%20banner%20png_zpsrtr17sqi.png

stories%20of%20pokemon%20high%20banner%20png_zpsyh2doiyu.png

Split Banners​
Each banner is actually several images, each image designed to link to a different page, hence the name "Split Banners".
AmericanPi%20split%20banner%20part%201_zpsavs1dtlt.png
AmericanPi%20split%20banner%20part%202_zpss1seoxbo.png
AmericanPi%20split%20banner%20part%203_zps52pipjqs.png


my%20author%20profiles%20split%20banner%20part%201%20png_zps1sg5uj57.png
my%20author%20profiles%20split%20banner%20part%202%20png_zpspu8zhin4.png
my%20author%20profiles%20split%20banner%20part%203%20png_zpseirwpjxs.png


my%20art%20split%20banner%20part%201%20png_zpssll9dsx1.png

my%20art%20split%20banner%20part%202%20png_zpsuevt2hlu.png

my%20art%20split%20banner%20part%203%20png_zpsdbq1uoda.png

my%20art%20split%20banner%20part%204%20png_zpsbssx1ybh.png

Unique Banners​
Oricorio%20unique%20banner%20png_zpsbs6t6lvn.png

Extracted Signatures​
the%20storyteller%20extracted%20sig%20png_zpsev4ewamw.png

PIKIPEK%20extracted%20sig%20png_zpsyjritimn.png

apple%20white%20extracted%20sig%20png_zpsnuy7wyzr.png

raven%20queen%20extracted%20sig%20png_zpsz1ih7lem.png

kitty%20cheshire%20extracted%20sig%20png_zpsfzxygxmx.png

joy%20and%20sadness%20extracted%20sig%20downsized_zpsbqcjtfuq.png

pokemon%20degrassi%20extracted%20sig%20png_zps0dtp5yir.png

Simple Userbars​
All my userbars were made with help from here.
darling%20userbar%20png_zps4nqer2hn.png

cedar%20wood%20small%20userbar%202%20png_zpsvxu1yf1h.png

apple%20white%20large%20userbar%20png_zpsk2grze8i.png

raven%20queen%20large%20userbar%20png_zpspgkapgjq.png

arts%20and%20sprites%20forever%20userbar%20png_zpstpbjiudg.png

raven%20queen%20small%20userbar%20png_zpsagsl87ns.png

about%20me%20userbar%20png_zps78ij4uei.png

current%20stories%20userbar%20png_zpsqnhgmj40.png

completed%20stories%20userbar%20png_zps4ktc3hw9.png

future%20stories%20userbar%20png_zpstmxmbxyg.png

awards%20and%20honors%20userbar%20png_zpsh2zgbugg.png

credits%20userbar%20png_zpsp9vuqgrt.png

Author%20Profile%20Userbar_zpsc2ej5tso.png

Animated Userbars​
All my userbars were made with help from here.
syot%20userbar%20gif_zpsewpdgdcv.gif

retro%20articuno%20small%20userbar%20gif_zpsby04x39r.gif

about%20me%20userbar%20animated_zps54xcan8k.gif

current%20stories%20userbar%20animated_zps0pxk09yv.gif

completed%20stories%20userbar%20animated_zps68qk2taa.gif

future%20stories%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zpsf2w6v12d.gif

awards%20and%20honors%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zpslbjhjmni.gif

credits%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zps1vvt3yel.gif

Avatars​
To me, avatars are just square banners. I use the same techniques in making banners to make avatars.
small%20avatar%20png_zpsmqp6upmh.png

winona%20avatar%20png_zpsgjjot1uv.png

blondie%20icon%20png_zpsczhpaxwm.png

cerise%20icon%20png_zpsigbpll5v.png

apple%20icon%20png_zpsbjtbsegm.png

raven%20icon%20png_zps2uwz7vsn.png

rufflet%20icon%20tumblr_zpsgulx3bcu.png
 
Last edited:
S

Skarm™

Light It Up
I really do like the effort you've put into your work, especially with the pain that GIMP is. If you really wanted to delve deeper into graphic design, you can always find a way to get Photoshop without paying tons. I've used both GIMP and PS, and if you do decide to get PS then know that it looks intimidating at first, but check out some tutorials on YouTube for making something like a frag banner, and you'll learn the layout of the program as you create your own pieces.

If there's one thing I'd tell you to improve on, it'd probably be touching up your images. What I mean by this is just using brushes to add a sort of "shadow" effect that blends your image more into the background to create a nice consistency in the image. If you practice this, you'll soon develop your own unique style.

Other than that, keep up the good work and practice! Speaking of which, I need to brush the dust off the old PS book too...
 
Last edited:
AmericanPi

AmericanPi

Write on
Skarm™ said:
I really do like the effort you've put into your work, especially with the pain that GIMP is. If you really wanted to delve deeper into graphic design, you can always find a way to get Photoshop without paying tons (or for free in some cases). I've used both GIMP and PS, and if you do decide to get PS then know that it looks intimidating at first, but check out some tutorials on YouTube for making something like a frag banner, and you'll learn the layout of the program as you create your own pieces.

If there's one thing I'd tell you to improve on, it'd probably be touching up your images. What I mean by this is just using brushes to add a sort of "shadow" effect that blends your image more into the background to create a nice consistency in the image. If you practice this, you'll soon develop your own unique style.

Other than that, keep up the good work and practice! Speaking of which, I need to brush the dust off the old PS book too...
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for your advice! I'll admit that I've never tried Photoshop before, but that's partially because I've half-heartedly tried using Illustrator and ended up hating it. It was probably only because I was too used to GIMP and I didn't put enough effort into finding tutorials and understanding the software.

That said, I do have a question: What's the difference between Photoshop and Illustrator? Which program would you recommend more for making graphics?

Anyways, more graphics!

gwsc%20week%20142%20gwsc%20banner%20final_zpsudwnai2q.png

I made this banner for a GWSC contest. I lost miserably, getting no votes, despite the banner looking pretty good in my opinion. The reason why I lost was that I only used a single fan-made sprite, and the point of the banner was supposed to be showing off fan-made sprites (a fact that I overlooked). :p

about%20me%20userbar%20png_zps78ij4uei.png

current%20stories%20userbar%20png_zpsqnhgmj40.png

completed%20stories%20userbar%20png_zps4ktc3hw9.png

future%20stories%20userbar%20png_zpstmxmbxyg.png

awards%20and%20honors%20userbar%20png_zpsh2zgbugg.png

credits%20userbar%20png_zpsp9vuqgrt.png

Six static userbars I made for my Author's Profile. I made these before I learned how to make animated userbars, and once I learned to make animated userbars, I made the animated versions of the userbars (which you can see below).

about%20me%20userbar%20animated_zps54xcan8k.gif

current%20stories%20userbar%20animated_zps0pxk09yv.gif

completed%20stories%20userbar%20animated_zps68qk2taa.gif

future%20stories%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zpsf2w6v12d.gif

awards%20and%20honors%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zpslbjhjmni.gif

credits%20userbar%20animated%20gif_zps1vvt3yel.gif


I'll post more graphics tomorrow.
 
S

Skarm™

Light It Up
American--Pi said:
Thanks so much for your advice! I'll admit that I've never tried Photoshop before, but that's partially because I've half-heartedly tried using Illustrator and ended up hating it. It was probably only because I was too used to GIMP and I didn't put enough effort into finding tutorials and understanding the software.

That said, I do have a question: What's the difference between Photoshop and Illustrator? Which program would you recommend more for making graphics?
Click to expand...
Illustrator makes graphics using vectors, which are basically images that are defined by geometrics rather than bitmaps. Basically, vectors don't have a set resolution. You can zoom in and the image will never get pixelated/blurry. I personally don't have much experience with Illustrator, but from what I've seen it's used for different purposes than Photoshop. I believe that Illustrator is used more to create things like logos that can be resized any amount since they're made of vectors and don't have a set resolution. For graphic art, Photoshop is definitely the way to go since images on the Internet do have a set resolution, so zooming in/out won't matter. It's also more geared towards image manipulation than creation, which can be helpful like touching images up. Hope this helped!
 
FairyWitch

FairyWitch

Metroid Hunter
american you banners as well as your userbars look pretty good for using the gimp program which reminds me alot of ppl which isn't a bad thing because her work was awesome ^_^ I love the way you do you banners as well the text over and top of the banners looks nice and neat for starting the digital graphics :3 I don't navigate much through gimp so I can't say to much but I think for starting off your doing pretty well which I would like to see more of your work in the future :3 I would explore through photoshop though which yes it can be pretty expensive though since now they have the newest one out which is called photoshop creative cloud which is just the same as the old one I use to have on my old laptop before it died which was called photoshop creative suite 6 but creative cloud has more stuff on it. Photoshop is a very nice program to use which if you do want to try it out don't hesitate to ask me or skarm how to get around the place :3
 
AmericanPi

AmericanPi

Write on
Thank you both for the advice! I was heavily inspired by PPA, because I like her graphics a lot. I'm not so sure about Photoshop though, because I'm just starting to get familiar with GIMP and I don't want to spend a ton of money on a software I have no idea how to use. Maybe I can get it as a Christmas present, or something. :p

More graphics!

arts%20and%20sprites%20banner%20png_zpsy4ljhdsi.png

A banner I made for my art shop. It was a lot of fun playing with the GIMP filters, which is how I got the cloud and light effects.

arts%20and%20sprites%20forever%20userbar%20png_zpstpbjiudg.png

A simple userbar I made to advertise my shop.

raven%20queen%20small%20userbar%20png_zpsagsl87ns.png

A small userbar. The userbar maker I use doesn't make small userbars so I had to manually cut the size.

shattersoul%20tcoft%20banner%20final_zps9wlk1tvj.png

Monster%20Guy%20apple%20white%20small%20userbar%20png_zpspvmzaj6v.png

eliteknight%20sp%20bank%20small%20userbar%20png_zpsq1ktc9ty.png

eliteknight%20tl4%20small%20userbar%20png_zpstmc3hspc.png

redneckprick%20userbar%20png_zps7y9shs2i.png

Some art shop requests.

freaky%20and%20fabulous%20banner%20png_zpsehzlpiyj.png

fatherlyshipping%20banner%20png%20v2_zps21rlmcyg.png

eah%20banner%20png_zpsuo0h9ix5.png

I'm experimenting with avatar banners, and I plan to add them as a service to my art shop soon. I experimented with transparent images, images with backgrounds, different numbers of avatars, text, and different background effects. I like all of them. ^^
 
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