Pixel Pip || An Icon Journal

Moved.

baublez — Mon, 27 Jun 2005 11:22:13 GMT

frapple

this icon journal has moved - all new updates will be posted in frapple from now on, and while I will keep this journal up so you don't have to change your memories if you have anything bookmarked, nothing else will be posted here.

those of you that have joined, please friend frapple if you are still interested in my icons, and can my affiliates please update their links.

♥ love to you all. ♥

Natalie Portman

baublez — Sat, 28 May 2005 12:21:48 GMT

Guide: how to credit : FAQ : don't hotlink : affiliates

Here is the first part of that list that I made up, I'm starting with 8 Natalie Portman icons. I know it isn't a huge update, but it is enough for now - I'm making a lot of icons, I'm just sorting them to make it easier when I archive them. As always, if you like any of my icons, feel free to nominate them for awards =P

Teasers:

Resources:
Images from natalie portman.com : textures from colorfilter and crazyperfume

Please comment so that I know what you like or what you are taking, and so that I can improve my icons. If you don't comment, I don't know if you like my work or not. =P
subculturalgirl - I'm having trouble finding good Rutger Hauer pics. If you have some in particular, can you please email them to me? Thanks hun.

Misc | King Arthur | Clive Owen | Et Al

baublez — Sun, 22 May 2005 14:38:29 GMT

Wow sorry folks, I have had a crapload of work lately, I didn't realise it had been so long since I updated! And so with that thought, I bring to you a small icon update. It isn't much, but I have been busy ~~avoiding~~ doing work. =P I'm working my way through the fandoms I mentioned in the last post, and I'm not far off finishing the uni term! zomg! 3 months of heaven!!!one11

Without further ado:
[x] King Arthur [9]
[x] Fox Mulder [3]
[x] Clive Owen [3]
[x] Ralph Fiennes [1]
[x] Natalie Portman [1]
[x] Kate Winslet [2]
[x] Emilie de Ravin [1]

Teasers:

Resources: crystal_lily, colorfilter, crazy_perfume, crumblingwalls, inxsomniax, teh_indy, King Arthur Caps.

Usual Rules always apply.
[x] Comment
[x] Credit
[x] Don't hotlink - I regularly change my links so it will not do you any good.

PIMPING:
theimctheimctheimctheimctheimc
get your icon journal reviewed by other makers!

What's to Come?

baublez — Tue, 03 May 2005 01:48:58 GMT

I normally update on Tuesdays, but sadly this week there won't be icons until the weekend. *grumbles about uni work* =D So, instead of just not updating, I thought I'd let you all know what I have in the works, and give you a chance to make some suggestions!

Ok right now I'm rustling up images from these to make icons:
[x] Bridget Jones' Diary (1 & 2)
[x] ~~Natalie Portman~~
[x] David Duchovny and X-Files
[x] Angelina Jolie
[x] Some more Animes
[x] iPod People (Yes, I'm gonna give it a go!)
[x] Harvey Birdman: Attorney At Law (coz Peanut is my homie =P)
[x] Gerard Butler
[x] Sin City
[x] Desperate Housewives

So here we go! If there is anything you would like to see me make some icons of, by all means request it!

And finally, I have a new affiliate! ♥ go and check out faded_icons - she does great stuff!

Tutorial: Vibrant Coloured Screencaps

baublez — Sun, 01 May 2005 07:55:54 GMT

I've seen people asking around lately about how to get vibrant and clear colours out of screencaps, so here is a tutorial on making high quality bases from otherwise dull screencaps. This isn't the only way to do it, it's just how I do it, because it's quick and easy.

This tutorial is made using PS-CS 8, but should be easily transferred to PSP.

From this: To this:

Ok I'm taking THIS image of Hugh Grant from BJD, capped with love by the wonderful allqueericons. I have cropped out a 300x300 selection of the image to start as my "base".

step 1.

This is the base, cropped to 300x300, with nothing else done to it so far. What we need to do now is sharpen it twice, by going to Filter > Sharpen > Sharpen. When you've done it once, you only need to do Filter > sharpen to do it again. It will look grainy, but it's meant to.

step 2.

This is our sharpened base image. What we do now is use the blur tool, on an airbrush setting, size 22, at 30% opacity, over his skin (not his eyes and lips though).

step 3.

This is our base after the blurring. The skin looks smooth, but the clothing is nice and crisp. What we do now is resize the image by going to image > image size and resizing it to 100x100 pixels.

step 4.

This is our newly resized base. From here, we need to get our nicely vibrant and crisp colours. So we duplicate the base, and set the duplicated layer to screen, at 100% opacity.

step 5.

The image looks a lot brighter now, but it also looks a little washed out I think, so we need to make one last change. Duplicate the base layer again, and bring it right up to the top. Set this layer to soft light, at 100% opacity. Once you've done that, flatten the image.

The final result.

This is the final result. The base is vibrant and strong, and the colours are crisp. Feel free to take the base to use if you want.

This is a recap of the settings that you should have on the layers:

Hope it helped you! ♥

Women

baublez — Tue, 26 Apr 2005 07:44:04 GMT

Small update here, with famous women.

[x] oo1 - Christina Aguilera
[x] oo1 - Keira Knightley
[x] oo1 - Anne Hathaway
[x] oo1 - Angelina Jolie
[x] oo2 - Uma Thurman
[x] oo6 - Kate Beckinsale

Teasers:
........

[x] comment
[x] credit
[x] no hotlinking
[x] enjoy them

Multi-Fandom Icon Update

baublez — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 06:37:42 GMT

A bit of a mixed bag.

TEASERS:

....................

....................

....................

Yeah...I know..I'm kinda in love with a set of light textures that I just started playing with.

Rules:

[x] Comment

[x] Credit baublez or pixel_pip in the keywords
[x] ABSOLUTELY NO HOTLINKING
[x] Textless icons are NEVER bases, unless I say otherwise
[x] Enjoy!

note: from now on I will be joining up to icon stealing communities to watch them, so if I find my icons in any of them...someone is gonna cop it.

EDIT: There is a new layout up, with thanks to the lovely _sommeil and we have a new affiliate - magdalenaicons!

baublez — Tue, 19 Apr 2005 04:49:17 GMT

On May 1st, all icon makers and icon makers supporters will rise up against the abuse witnessed on icon-sharing/icon-stealing communities. Icon Makers are facing personal harassment by these icon communities for their creative intergrity are being threaten... support your beloved icon-makers and what they do on May 1st by filing an abuse report against these stealing communities!

X-posted this like wildfire! MAY 1st is D-DAY!*

*=saying that these icons are being stolen and they are copywritted won't get you anywhere since you do not own the copyright, but the first rule in the TOS rules of conduct for members is that no member shall post any material which may be found as offensive to others. Icon sharing communities are offensive to icon makers and those who support them (I sure as hell am offended when i see some user say "here is what I stole!!1!!1 and it has something I posted).therefore, using this legal language, icon makers may have a legal case :)

FO Banner and Icons

baublez — Sat, 16 Apr 2005 13:16:46 GMT

*hides* piddy, piss weak update this is. =P

I have NO idea why, but I always start to photoshop at like 10pm and later. This is SERIOUSLY not good for my eyes, I swear I'll squint like a mole by the time I'm 20. I probably should stop, but then again, I'm pretty OCD about icon making and photoshop so chances are my eyes will remain rooted =D

Ok so behind the cut are 4 Ioan Gruffudd FO banners, 1 Clive Owen FO banner and 3 anime icons. Go crazy, kiddies.

// //

The usual rules apply:

comment if you are taking them

credit me in your userinfo for the banners, or keywords for icons

hotlink and I keel you dead

textless does not = base - no customisation please

don't remove the watermark on the banners

enjoy them!

Fireworks! 100x100 brushes for PS-CS 8

baublez — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 12:05:57 GMT

Back again, I got a great response for my first brushes, so I decided to create some more. This set is 100x100 brushes for PS-CS 8 with an image pack, and is made from royalty-free images taken from sxc.hu of fireworks. They work really well as light textures with gradients over the top of them, but I haven't had a chance to post any examples of them being used on icons so far.

[ x ] comment
[ x ] credit baublez
[ x ] enjoy them!

|| .zip file contains .abr for PS-CS 8 and image pack||

x-posted to 100x100_brushes.

I made brushes! [for PS-CS 8 with an image pack]

baublez — Wed, 06 Apr 2005 01:19:59 GMT

First set ever, be gentle with me people!

This is a small set of lyrical brushes from the Massive Attack album "100th Window". It is small because it was 2 am and by that stage my eyes were beginning to burn out. =) The .zip file includes an .abr file made in PS-CS 8 and there is also an image pack for PSP8 users. As I have both programs, if I get enough comments, I will start making .zips with both .abr files and .PSPBrush files - so let me know if that would be helpful to you.

As this is my very first set, please:
[ x ] comment
[ x ] credit baublez
[ x ] enjoy them!

|| .zip includes .abr for PS-CS 8 and image pack ||

I really hope you like them, and if I get good feedback on them, I will make more! =)

x-posted to brushaddicts, 100x100_brushes and touchoftext

EDIT: I've had 22 downloads and only 5 credits total from everywhere these have been posted. PLEASE COMMENT if you're taking people, coz I can see it all on my deviantart page! =)

Multi-Fandom Like Woah

baublez — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 14:09:41 GMT

I am a dirty, dirty icon whore *hangs her head* LOL

There are icons of Clive Owen, Hugh Grant, FFX, Scarlett Johannson, Eva Longoria (Desperate Housewives), and Jack Davenport.

[ x ] Comment
[ x ] Credit baublez or pixel_pip
[ x ] Hotlinkers will feel the squirelly wrath
[ x ] If no text there be, a base it not for thee!

TEASERS:

Scarlett Johannson

Eva Longoria

FFX

Jack Davenport

Hugh Grant
01. 02.

Clive Owen
01. 02. 03.

Prince Frederik Icons

baublez — Sat, 26 Mar 2005 06:20:14 GMT

6 Icons of Prince Frederik, you know the drill.

[ x ] comment
[ x ] credit
[ x ] hotlink and die

Teasers:

01. 02. 03. 04. 05. 06.

Anime Icons

baublez — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 06:40:16 GMT

Just a few icons I have made, from various games/animes.

[1] Ah! My Goddess
[9] Final Fantasy
[1] Sutdeki

TEASERS:

Ah! My Godess
01

Final Fantasy
02 03 04 05
06 07 08 09
10

Sutdeki
11

[ x ] Comment if you are taking any.
[ x ] Credit baublez or pixel_pip in the userpic keywords
[ x ] Textless icons are NOT bases
[ x ] Hotlinkers will feel the squirelly wrath.

The Almighty FAQ Post

baublez — Fri, 25 Mar 2005 03:41:33 GMT

Welcome to the FAQ. This is the first stop after the INFO for all your questions. I will try and do my best to answer every question possible in here, so try and read through this before you ask. If however, your question hasn't been answered, then by all means ask away and I will do my best to answer it clearly. If I don't get back to you straight away, it is because I'm trying to think of the right way to answer your questions. =)

Do I have to join or can I just take icons?
Do I REALLY have to credit you? Does it matter?
How do I credit you?
Can I edit your icons or graphics?
Can I put your icons on my website?
If I make a request, will you do it?
Would you affiliate with my icon journal/community if I ask?
I want to nominate your icon at xxxx community for an award - can I?
What programs do you use?
What else do you make aside from icons?
I've read the FAQ and the INFO and my question still hasn't been answered
Awards that I have won

Do I have to join or can I just take icons?
While I can't force you to join, I would really appreciate it if you did, rather than just take icons. Joining shows me that you like my icons, and that you are interested in my work. You don't have to add me to your friends list if you only want to check in occassionally, but I would really rather that you did join - because it also means I can keep track of my icons and where they are going. The absolute last thing I want is to turn members only.

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Do I REALLY have to credit you? Does it matter?
Hell yes you do - it certainly does matter. It is a common misconception in icon stealing communities that it takes about 5 minutes and a few brushes to make a good icon. I spend on average about 25-45 minutes on each icon that I make, and as such, I ask that you credit me for any icons you take, as a sign of respect for the effort that I put in.

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How do I credit you?
If you are crediting me for an icon, I would like you to credit me with an lj user link in the comment. For those who are not sure how to do this, see the image just below. For moodthemes, or other graphics, I would like a credit in your userinfo with "xxxxx made by baublez". Really quite simple, and only takes about 30 seconds or so to do.

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Can I edit your icons or graphics?
Nope. Never. Not a hope in hell. The only time I will give people permission to edit something I have posted is if I clearly state that the graphics posted are bases. You will know they are bases if they have [BASES] clearly marked above them. If you would like something personalised, however, you can request it. Chances aren't good though.

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Can I put your icons on my website?
If you email me about it, and I see a clear credit link back to this community, then I will consider saying yes to letting you take some of my icons to post online. Generally I am a bit weary of this happening though, so I honestly am not sure about if I would be okay with it or not.

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If I make a request, will you do it?
Occaisionally if I am low on ideas of who to make icons of, I will invite you to make suggestions to me about who I should make icons of. Generally I would say no, I don't take requests, especially if I have already made a crapload of icons on that subject. I'm starting to archive icon posts, so if you don't find any icons on a particular subject in the memories, chances are I haven't made any and you could try your hand at requesting.

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Would you affiliate with my icon journal/community if I ask?
If you would like to affiliate with pixel_pip please leave a comment on this entry. Affiliates are always welcome, so just drop me a line - I'm more than happy to add you to this pimping list.
Currently Affiliated Journals/Communities of pixel_pip:
[x] clive_stillness - run by laced_corsets
[x] dinosaurrricons - run by yodaamidala
[x] firaga - run by ruuk
[x] magdalenaicons - run by divinecomedy
[x] faded_icons - run by idiosyncratic
[x] unamused_icons - run by hermintage
[x] icon_me - run by 13694
[x] bruisedrainbows - run by jennijube
[x] moonwitch - run by moonwitch
[x] rentboy_icons - run by valmontheights

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I want to nominate your icon at xxxx community for an award - can I?
Erm I guess so, if you think the icon is good enough to be nominated, go ahead, but make sure you let me know where abouts you nominate it, so that I can go and check it out to see if I win a banner - I'd love more to put up like the gloating trophy whore that you know I am =P

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What programs do you use?
I use Adobe Photoshop PS-CS 8 that came bundled with Adobe Image-Ready, I occaisionally use Paint Shop Pro v8 and Animation Shop 3.1, and I take screencaptures of DVDs using Nero Showtime that came bundled with my DVD burner. Any brushes I post are made in PS-CS 8.

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What else do you make aside from icons?
I also make header images, friends only banners, the occaisonal mood theme, some brushes and also I may write a tutorial or two. I'll see how things go before I try making anything else aside from that. I am considering branching out into screencaps as well now that I have le trusty DVD Burner and Nero Showtime.

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I've read the FAQ and the INFO and my question still hasn't been answered
Then by all means feel free to leave a comment on this entry asking me your question - I tried to be very thorough on this FAQ but alas, I tend to suffer from brain farts at times and I may have missed something pathetically obvious. =D

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Awards that I have won