so i've just started playing around with photoshop, and i'm completely addicted. but idk how to make my banners and graphics look more interesting. i really don't know how to do anything, i have no manual so i'm just guessing. here are a few things i've made, i could use some advice

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Those are really good for you first things! I'd suggest playing with text, colors, and textures. You can make new layers of different colors and then set them to different Layer modes and find some cool effects To use a texture, you copy and paste it onto your image and then set it to a different Layer mode, such as screen, overlay, or soft light

I hope that helps at least a little!

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<center>icon & banner by me
skyward-thoughts</center>

Those banners are very good for someone trying for the first time (I like the Van Helsing banner...well because it's my favorite movie but still =P)

I'm not really very good with Photoshop (most stuff I do are flukes and with a bit of luck), but usually I read off some tutorials and play around with the layer mode and effects. Lately, I've been using textures too so you can always try those out.

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<p><center><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v292/RingetteStar/larajadesig.png">
-- photography done by lara jade

<img src="http://i79.photobucket.com/albums/j159/eofm/banner/twiclub1.jpg"></center>

hmm, how's this? i played around with some textures and lighting for a while.

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wow! that looks really good!

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<center>icon & banner by me
skyward-thoughts</center>

wow where did you get that texture? PM me any other good textures! I need some!

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<img src="http://www.freewebs.com/mountainoffire/lgo.jpg">
<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~michiganboy10/Samwise-so-cool-banner.jpg">

Have you tried playing with layer modes? You should try using brushes as well, they can be very helpful.

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<center>
<a href="http://raindrops.lemon-drop.net/">Between the Rain Drops</a>
[ + @ # ? : ]

This is very helpful for when you're using textures - it sort of blends the two images together so you can see the pics and the texture. I've found that the two best settings are usually Screen and Soft Light.
And those are quite good for your first attempts, certainly much better than my first when I first was learning!

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^Sig set made by me. PM for requests.

"I am he [she =P] that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."

i found the textures on magic box: http://www.themagic-box.net/textures01.php

i'm just starting on brushes, they're a lot of fun, though i'm not sure when to use them and such.

i'm trying to figure out how to layer more, but i've been busy lately (go figure)

here's a few experiments, the first one didn't turn out very good, but oh well:

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^Sig set made by me. PM for requests.

"I am he [she =P] that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death."