I don't get why the pros say no filters. I'm always the rebel, so of course, I got fed up of people telling others who are new to graphics to never use filters. I say thats false, I don't even say stay away from filters when you are starting out, just don't rely on filters.

I sat down, and in no more than 10 minutes, I made this sig with filters



Original image here http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/603/aribeth006ku6.jpg

Now, I'm not saying that it's super amazing or anything, but I didn't really work too too hard on it. 10 minutes lol. But even someone new to graphics could do this. This is all filter and blendmode work, no brushes, and the only three layers that were not the original image is a black-to-transparent gradient going from the left to right set to overlay to darken that side, and the font, with a copy of the font set to red overlay and blurred with motion blur.

So, I feel that if you learn the filters, you can still further enhance the images you make, gives you even more tools to work with, etc. If they weren't supposed to be used, then why did Adobe make them? and I'm not saying that people on this forum say to never use them, it was on other forums I visit, and it just kind of irks me to see that.

I know this is sort of a rant, but yea, I just want to know if anyone else on this forum says to not use filters. I only ask this here because I know some of you know how to hold a discussion, unlike some people on other forums.

oh, and yea, if you want the sig, it's all yours. The woman is Aribeth from Neverwinter Nights. Never played the game, just have the picture lol.

Hehe, who are these professionals you're talking about? The professionals I read about use whatever they can in whatever way to pump out their images, so filters aren't certainly a "no-no" for them. (They concentrate more on the message the image is sending.)

You're possibly not talking about those crazy 2d art communities, are you?

I'm a filter-whore.

I find the photoshop-experience to be much more enjoyable if you use the base-set tools given. Although I do have certain limitations on what I can create, I have fun with it. Which I think is most important. The thing you have to remember is that this is a forum. Which means everyone is expressing an opinion. Just because they say it, doesn't mean it's correct.

Gemini_Bloodian

No filter? Does that means not using Blur, Gaussian Blur and Motion Blur? Nooooo~! I object to not using filters for stupid reasons like the pro (what pro?) says so!

Considering I was a brush newb to start off with, I have to rely on other means like filters and layer effects. If you told me not to use filter right from the start... I'll either blow you off or just stop doing graphics altogether. Seriously, I do use that much of them.

Just ignore the comments about not using this and not using that. Even if they are damn experienced, those are just personal preference and opinions. Art is about creativity, why so much restrictions?

I really don't see how whoring a bunch of brushes is any better, or more "pro" than using filters. Filters alone aren't usually going to give you amazing results anyway. Any "pro" would understand that it's best to make use of every tool accessible to you in creating artwork. By excluding an entire group of tools such as filters, you're merely limiting the possibilities and style-range of your works, which is by NO means "professional". Period.

lol, it's some forum that most of the artists are 2D based. I got into a big argument with one person there who everyone seems to idolize because I told him that his work is barely par, nothing great, creative, nor original. Then he said that 90% of my work looks like a filter orgy, and thats why nobody on that forum likes my work. I was kind of confused about that comment because as everyone can tell, I do not rely on filters, barely use them, although I do use them at least once in everything I make. But, what was worse than that comment, was everyone agreed with him. It was kind of sad. But, this is the main forum I've seen this on, yet, I have seen it on a couple other forums. I guess these guys are "pro's" and I'm not (note the quotation marks around Pro's).

But yea, I agree with everyone here that filters are good if you utilise them correctly.



I agree with this 100%. No pro would limit their resources intentionally, they would learn all of their tools, and try to understand the pro's and cons of using each tool. So yea... I was just ranting cause I was pissed, but I find those "pro's" on that forum to be completely ignorant.

show me the "pros" who say this, and ill show you how to do a colonoscopy with a broom.

Odd, because the forums I went to, the "pros" said to use a lot of filters, otherwise you are just another newb. Confusing people, confusing. Just ignore them, they sound stuck up, or cultish (j/k) because I really enjoy all your work a lot. Keep up what you are doing. Sure, try new things, but don't change what you do entirely because some idiots all say something.

Be a REBEL! Ha! (Sorry, sugar high at 1:09 AM)

If I can't use filters..then PS7 is a waste of megs on my computer. It's the only way I can make a sig. For example I made this:



That probably has 10 filters and 5 layers.

Trust me you need filters. The "pros" who said don't and call you noob, are same as those who handcode HTML and scream "dont use HTML editors!" I handcode but believe me, HTML editors are far easier and less time consuming. It's some fake confirmation to them that they have superior skills to you.

Oh trust me, they have no influence on my work whatsoever lol. I only post there to keep em pissed off. I think they are threatened by me (not saying I'm the greatest) because some of them feel that I'm better than they are, so whoever holds the influence there has to put everyone down (and he does that to pretty much everyone new to the forum, you should see people who make sigs, he completely bashes them).


Yea, it's like, people opposing cars as a means of travel because they are easier to get from point A to point B than riding a bicycle or something...

"Pro's" isn't really the word to title them at all. I have a couple of friends and relatives that are taking a GFX course at university and they're told to avoid using filters, not don't use them at all.

It's not really a rule for them not to use them at all, it's just a preference or a better word, an advice. It's just filters are usually seen as cheating, so when you're creating your own kind of "art" using filter's isn't really something original. Brushing and everything else you can pretty much control and do yourself so it makes sense to me. It's why most of my friends and relatives that are taking that course end up using illustrator since it limits them from using them.

I don't really use filter's anyways, so if someone told me not to use them... it'f fine by me xD. The only one I really use is Gaussian blur, and that's because I'm too lazy to blur everything myself.

As for telling new GFX'ers not to use filter's, I support that advice. I think it resticts them from trying to use other tools as often as they would with filters. But it's all about preference, I guess xP, because I prefer to not use the filters as much.

I wouldn't exactly completely disregard their opinions, even if they are being stupid about what they do. Despite what it is, I try and find validity in every bit of critique I get and use it.

As for not using filters, I disagree. I can agree with using them sparingly, but I more or less believe you should use them in different ways rather than relying on them for creating abstract backgrounds. There are tons of way to do tons of things in Photoshop, and its good fun all around.
Then again, my work is total ##### garbage, and I'm in no place to say anything about professional, or "good" work. So disregard this~!