Been having oodles of fun learning new things this weekend. My quest started as a search for 3-fingered hand shapes that could be downloaded into Photoshop. A set of such hands, in various positions, was needed by a friend at work who is on his own Photoshop project. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, no such hands were to be found.
This led to the first stage of my journey. I set out researching how to create custom shapes in Photoshop. After learning how, I made a set of 40 varying shapes, that I then uploaded into my DeviantArt account where they can be downloaded by anyone who needs them. Go check them out. Even if you don't want to download them, they are pretty nifty and the first set of shapes I have ever made, so I will love you forever if you give feedback.
I honestly can't decide if these were easier, or more complicated than I had anticipated. On one hand, the process of making shapes was much easier than I anticipated. On the other hand, the shapes themselves are apparently much more complicated than they appear to be. This conflict led to the second stage of my journey: making a video tutorial (I made my shapes in Photoshop 7, but they can be made the same way in any of the later Photoshop versions as well).
I've made video lessons before using Adobe Captivate, but I've never made a video for YouTube before. And, apparently, .swf files (the type of files that Captivate publishes) can't be uploaded to YouTube. So, even if I had the resources to purchase Captivate and a computer that was compatible with it, as my personal computer is not, my video making experience still falls short of what was needed.
Therefore, I went researching again. I ended up downloading Wink (a cheap and very STUPID form of Captivate) to capture screenshots of my actions. I then uploaded those screenshots into Windows Movie Maker and created the following video:
Yes, I am aware that this video is choppy. That is due to my own hack-job of putting it together...which is in turn due to a lack of knowledge of what programs to use to simultaneously capture recordings of my screen and tie those recordings together in a .wmv or .mp3 format. I'll try and find some better programs for future videos. If anyone reading this knows of any, now would be the time to speak up in the form of a comment.
Even with the choppiness of the video, I'm rather pleased with the weekend's exploration into new terrain. I've got pretty hand shapes, the knowledge to make new shapes anytime I want, and my very own new YouTube account complete with my very first YouTube video. Go me.
I'm even working on a tutorial lesson on making shapes and creating shape libraries (that may be two new lessons) for this site. So look forward to the new pages sometime this coming week.
As you're waiting on the edge of your seats for those new pages, feel free to comment below about the video, the hands, programs, or anything else that strikes your fancy. Seriously, leave comments people.
UPDATE: The new written portion of creating Photoshop Custom Shapes has been added to the Photoshop section of this site.
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Comment
1.
Anika, I don't know how you do it! There just aren't enough hours in the day to do all that you do. I know, you have some secret power guiding your hands while you're sleeping. And now you're into making videos, too? I even watched it. Nice job, nice subject, nice dedication. I belive the common expression these days is: You rock, Artist Anika! Can't wait to see what you come up with next. ^.^
Reply to Marie:
Thank you, thank you. *Bow*
LOL. Seriously though, the next project is finding better software to remake that tutorial. That one was a bit of a hack job and very choppy. I may have found a better program now (called SnagIt) but I'm still testing it. I need to adjust the resolution so the picture is clearer before I can use it. Then maybe I'll record some more videos. ^.^ I'm enjoying learning how to put it all together and edit it and everything.
And no, there really aren't enough hours in the day. Which is why I don't get around to drawing nearly as often as I'd like. Good thing I enjoy researching nearly as much as drawing!
Buzz it!
, but they can be made the same way in any of the 
as well).
, but I've never made a video for YouTube before. And, apparently, .swf files (the type of files that Captivate publishes) can't be uploaded to YouTube. So, even if I had the resources to purchase Captivate and a computer that was compatible with it, as my personal computer is not, my video making experience still falls short of what was needed.
