Learning Dark Arts

Come learn the art of 3D computer generated art and animation. This blog deals with the lessons learned and the art created by Robert G. Male using DazStudio from Daz3D. Also covered are the ancillary software, tools, techniques, and processes needed both before and after rendering in the 3D software.

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Spell casting woman.


R.M.T.P. Co.


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April 26, 2010

Smooth and Easy Text Art

There are few simple methods that I have used in creating text art for my magazine. The first, selecting a font, is both simple and difficult. There are a lot to chose from even in the creepy and horror themed fonts. Some look good at certain sizes, some need to be bolded every time, some need to be stretched to be legible. Others need editing and almost all of them benefit from some kind of smoothing. Thankfully programs like PaintShop--which I use a very old version of--and PhotoShop have built in font smoothing in the font tool. Sometimes though other smoothing is necessary. One quick and dirty trick I use is to create a simple HTML page with the text at an appropriate size. The browser tends to have excellent text smoothing since it intends for you to use it to read for hours and hours.

A number of my text art pieces use gradients. I use the gradients most often like I would use spotlights in a rendering program like DazStudio. Even like I use normal lights and negative intensity lights you can use the gradients, like the radial one, in reverse sometimes going from dark in the centre to light at the outer edges. The centre of the gradient also need not be the centre of the text art. One of the constraints that I have to deal with creating these text images is that I have only a certain amount of space, particularly width so that I do not mess up the column layout of the articles. On the other hand I have some amount of leeway in contrast and brightness since I am working with issues to be read on a computer screen. Modifications will be required to move to e-paper.

Music: Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Iron Maiden.

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April 12, 2010

Words as Art

Creating text art is much the same as creating any art. You need to know what you want to show, what you want the art to express, and a number of other conditions required during the creation of the art. As well, what the art creates within the audience needs to be addressed. One of the easy parts about text art is that you can use existing fonts as a starting point. Be sure that the font you are using is not one that you have to pay to use outside of personal use. Not all of them are free to use however you wish. I have been creating a lot of text art for use on the covers of, and within the issues of, my magazine Killing Time - Horror E-Rag(TM). These text art images come in two flavours, article/story titles, and the first three or four words of the article.

The most important factor in creating these images, and the one that has to override all other considerations is legibility. Some font styles and colour combinations have been disallowed due to the legibility requirement. I have modified some of the fonts as well to make them easier on the eyes and the lettering clear. The use of drop shadows and auras have been both a help and a hindrance in keeping the writing readable as well. Up next is mood as a factor. The title text art must express something about the story beyond just the title. In some cases these titles are used in multiple issues such as the serialised story and the movie franchise articles. The introductory words need only set the mood for the beginning of the story/article in comparison.

Music: Having a Blast by Green Day.

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Robert G. Male

Name: Robert G. Male
Location: Ontario, Canada

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Suggested Reading:

This scary book

available at Battered Spleen Productions™.


Suggested Listening:

This free scary audio book

available at Battered Spleen Productions™.



Learning Dark Arts is a presentation of

Battered Spleen Productions™