How To Find and Create Amazing Images
by @FunkyJunkyGypsy
https://urstyle.fashion/styles/2205765
A fellow UrStyle User messaged me asking about images; how to find them, how to clip them, and whether or not I consider the images I upload to be mine. I thought it might be helpful to her and to others with similar questions if I created a Tutorial Set.
Image Use
• The images I use in my sets are not my creations or my property unless specified on the image file itself.
• Images entitled: SET BY FUNKYJUNKYGYPSY are ‘screenshots’ (clips) of Sets previously published on Polyvore and re-published here. In this case, the Set itself, and the image of it, is mine in -- the sense that I created it, so it should not be used elsewhere. Here’s an example: https://urstyle.com/shop/16143414
• Any other image I clip is not mine, though I may have renamed the image file (usually: “FJG”) since original file names tend to be lengthy and confusing. When clipping, I select the image itself and run my mouse over the file name to highlight it. I then hit PASTE, as I have already copied the initials 'FJG' and now can easily re-name everything I clip with one click. Doing this also helps me to see what I've clipped vs. what I've found on UrStyle, which is not a consideration that needs to be made. I just like doing it.
• Should an artist create an original image not to be used by others, frankly, uploading it to UrStyle almost guarantees that others will use it. There is no way to prevent or enforce this, so I suggest you rethink uploading personal images such as family photos and the like.
In this set (previously made on Polyvore) I did upload a family photo and it is now circulating the internet, available for anyone to use whether I want them to it or not. Placing a copyright mark on such an image won’t do much, as those can be easily covered or cropped out.
Creating Collections
UrStyle gives us the ability to create Private and Public Collections. If I find a particularly compelling image that I wish to use, I will place it in a Private Collection until I’ve created the Set I plan to use it in. Once published in that Set, anyone can access it, and access all other graphics in the Set, by selecting the tab "Used In Set". However, for etiquette reasons, I do not suggest this as a way to find and collect images, as artists frown upon this method, which is understandable.
If you’re looking to build your collection of images, the best way to do this on UrStyle is to either search through the graphics when the Create Set Window is open and Favorite/Like the offered items that appeal to you. Another option: Browse the Public Collections of other Users.
• Use Create Mode and the offered UrStyle Categories to collect items either by Favoriting the items offered for use or clicking on them directly so that they appear in a Draft Set. You can save the Draft should you need to stop for awhile, picking up where you left off. provided you keep the search window open. When the Draft Set is full, even if items are lying on top of one another, publish it as a Private Set. You can now view that Set and the Items Used, and click on/Like all of the items. Once Liked, use the Item Organizer to move the items into your Collections. Or, you can leave the Set just as it is (Only you will see it.) and take from it as needed. The cool thing about this method is the ability to search for specific types of items, such as "end tables" or "mini skirts" and further refine your search by color. It's fabulous!
• Collecting Collections
In the days of Polyvore, when someone Liked the items in one or more of your Collections, it showed up on your Activity Feed. Far too often, you’d log on to find page after page of alerts indicating another User had collected your entire Collection, image by image. This was beyond annoying and extremely frustrating, as many of us curate our collections over time, and add our own graphics (those we've designed) and with to use these items before others do. This is where Private Collections would have been helpful on Polyvore. For someone to help themselves to everything in a collection wa is considered lazy and disrespectful.
UrStyle is different. Not only do they give you the ability to keep some (or all) of your Collections private, should you decide to, those that we keep 'open to the public' are private for those who collect FROM it. UrStyle does NOT indicate when we Like/Favorite the items others have collected -- only when we like a Collection as a whole. UrStyle also shows you the contents of an entire Collection you’ve Liked/Favorited when in your Item Organizer, enabling you to take and transfer from there without pissing anyone off. You can select the items you wish to collect or even collect the entire Collection, moving all contests to a Collection of your own! Sound invasive?
Many of us encourage the use of our Collections, which is exactly why those Collections are made visible to others. Those who run or are involved in groups WANT members to have easy access to graphics that will be helpful to them in creating their Sets. After all, most of the items on UrStyle can be located and collected over time, but why spend time searching when you can spend time creating?
Others, those who create their own art and are proud to have their graphics used, offer them up with enthusiasm. Most of all, we like to be helpful to one another by sharing our collections so that we can all enjoy the experience that making art on Urstyle gives us. I personally enjoy seeing how others may use something I've discovered or created, as their art will differ from mine and I find those differences interesting and exciting. I am not alone...
There is a HUGE thread of UrStyle users sharing their items/collections with others. Read through it and you'll find many collections and types of graphics to collect.
https://urstyle.com/topic/665804/user-uploads-sharing-hunters-and-gatherers-unite?page=1
The UrStyle Clipper
If you don’t have or use the UrStyle Clipper Tool, you need to start. It will open a whole new world for you!
https://urstyle.com/about_clipper
I find Google Chrome to be the best browser for this tool, but that’s just me. I have also found that when others have trouble with the Clipper, switching to Chrome solves the problem, but again, you can use the Clipper in Firefox, on Apple platforms, and as an Android app.
Once you have it installed, you're ready to go hunting for awesome images. So now, all you need are some hunting grounds! One of my favorite places for photos is Pinterest.
Pinterest
• Go to www.Pinterest.com
• If you don’t have an account, create one for free. You can even sign in with your Facebook account if you like.
• Search for people/items/colors you want for to use in Sets.
• When you find an image you love, click on it. It will open and enlarge on a new page.
• Right click on THAT photo and select: Open Image In New Tab
• A page opens with the largest, clearest version of the image.
• Use the free UrStyle Clipper Tool to "clip" the photo which places it into your "My Items" area on UrStyle.
• BAM! Done. You can now create a Set using that image!
Wrong Way: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/644718502887633088/
Right Way: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fd/0b/eb/fd0beb4062cc2384588060d8a23fb4f4.jpg
I repeat:
Clipping from Pinterest has to be done by clicking on the image you wish to clip so that it enlarges and then RIGHT-CLICKING on the enlarged version to OPEN IMAGE IN NEW TAB.
Once the image is opened in a new tab, it is the only image you'll see. It will be all by itself against a blank window. This is when you should clip it. (https://urstyle.com/styles/2040173)
TIP:
When browsing around, go deep! For instance, once you search Pinterest and click on a few images that show up in your search results, you’ll find that the pages those images appear on are loaded with other images that did not appear in your results. Click on a few of those images, and so on, and before you know it, you are discovering a treasure trove of images more like what you’re searching for.
Also, try clicking on the suggested tags Pinterest offers at the top of your search results page to narrow down your results to more specific types of images.
Other Image Sources
Here are some websites to check out:
• http://www.pngmart.com/
• https://www.pngarts.com/
• https://picsart.com/stickers
• https://yandex.com/images/search/
When searching for images, use terms relating to what you're looking for IF the website offers a search feature.
If you're not fluent in French or any of the other languages some of these websites are written in, simply click on TRANSLATE THIS PAGE if using the Chrome browser and enjoy these websites:
• https://www.freeiconspng.com/ --- Use the SEARCH feature here set to PNG
• http://liledekahlan.eklablog.com/
• http://tubes-passion.eklablog.com/accueil-c101385
• http://creatieselly.blogspot.com/
• http://kira-scrap.ru/
Collecting images is time-consuming, yet if you’re serious about creating beautiful art on UrStyle, you’ll use some of your online art time to seek out the perfect images for your ideas.
Enhancing Images
I often crop the images I clip, and many times, add shading, highlights, tones, etc. through the use of overlays, transparencies, light effects, shadow elements, masks, sparkles, and other various enhancements.
It is essential to study Sets you like, and the items used in them, to see what was used to create depth, texture, highlighting, and other effects. Polyvore allowed you to run your mouse over a Set to see the placement of the elements in it. UrStyle doesn’t offer that feature, which may make using enhancements a little harder to learn, but it’s so worth investing your time in! The best way to learn is to play, so do play with effects and see what they do to a variety of images.
Enchanted Art
Another way to enhance images is to combine graphics to make it appear to be one image when it's actually a combination of many.
In our group Twisted Gypsies, we have an Enchanted Art Contest every now and again where all you have to do is use one image and enhance it with color, lighting, etc. Here is an example of this.
You can see the original image and the various effects I used to create the resulting Set by viewing the items "Used In Set"
And here's a Collection of Sets using this "technique":
https://urstyle.fashion/collections/69701
• I tend to enhance many of the images in my Moodboards, as well.
Here’s a tutorial on how to make Moodboards:
10 Tips and Tricks for Making A Magnificent Moodboard https://urstyle.com/styles/2165612
Lastly, you all need to know about the Remove Background App, a free, online graphic service enabling you to create transparent PNGs from images that would otherwise be great, but have a white or busy background. Backgrounds are removed with one click and you can further ERACE or RESTORE areas of the image before downloading the resulting PNG. Reformatted images download onto your device and then you simply upload them to MY ITEMS. https://www.remove.bg/
BEFORE:
AFTER - with just one click!
Edited in a photo program to lighten it up:
Images are saved and uploaded as transparent pngs. You can find the above images here:
https://urstyle.fashion/shop/22466845
https://urstyle.fashion/shop/22466846
Did I forget anything?
If so, just message me. I’m happy to help!
And do come join us in Twisted Gypsies for fun and excitement!
🤪 https://urstyle.com/groups/twisted-gypsies 🤪
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