[JR2000Z]

Alright, I got Photoshop version 4.0.1. (Since I got the hopefully decent version of Photoshop, I figure that I will able to do something impressive.)

I just need to know what are the basic tools/techniqes and such that you people do to make your renders.

( And if you know a easy-to-learn guide or something, that might help as well since I'm sure that barely of you mastered this from school (like you guys go there anyway...  ))


(I feel like such a newbie asking this question.)

[Stryke 9]

1. If you want to do particularly good renders, it'd probably be best if you got a 3D graphics program.

2. Photoshop 4? Not much beyond the basics there, I could show you how to do all sorts of fancy tricks with the standard aspects of Photoshop, but it'd take me several inconvieniently long months to teach you a good base of useful knowledge, and even that's useless if you haven't learned a good deal of the ins and outs yourself- direct experienceis the only way to properly learn almost any graphics app.

3. If you want to start simple, get a handful of plugins, learn to use the filters, Dodge, Burn, and some of the faders, and cut-and-paste.

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Purveyor of spurious wisdom.

[DragonClaw]

 

Originally posted by Stryke 9:
Photoshop 4? Not much beyond the basics there, I could show you how to do all sorts of fancy tricks with the standard aspects of Photoshop, but it'd take me several inconvieniently long months to teach you a good base of useful knowledge

Bah.. photoshop is so self-explanatory... you can teach yourself all the basics in about a week, and then not much longer for the more in-depth stuff...

About the rendering, it isn't done through photoshop. Photoshop can be used to create plug-ins... the guys that are new to renders usually use Glitterario(plug-in for photoshop) for their backgrounds...but I'm not sure Photoshop 4 is up-to-date in its plugin management, it might not work with glitterario.  
Renders are done using a 3D Graphics program, such as TrueSpace, Lightwave 3D, 3DS Max, Spire(not available yet, though Setekh has it because his brother makes it). Those are the most common ones, though there are many others. TrueSpace version 1 is free off of calagaris FTP somewhere, I forgot where. Someone might be able to supply the location. I hope this helps.