Pointers for taking pics to make sigs from

[Chuggernaut]

I think I speak for all the sig makers here...

We like to pride ourselves in our work. So the better the sig, the happier you are with it, and the happier we are that you like it. However, the quality of the final work depends a lot on the quality of the pics you give us to work from.

1. Lighting. Make sure the sun is at your back when you take the picture. It's tough to show the detail of your truck if the sun is in our eyes as we look at the pic. This is absolutely critical on dark colored trucks.
   
2. Background. Try to take the shot with the background (and foreground for that matter) as uncluttered as possible. It's alot easier to isolate the truck from the sky and a clear field than it is a packed parking lot. Dark shadows from shrubbery or other parts of the background can also make it tough to isolate the edges of a dark colored truck. If the scenery can't be easily removed, don't be surprised if it winds up in your sig.
   
3. Foreground. Similar to the background advice, people can tell if we have to digitally fill in parts of your truck that are hidden by mailboxes, fenceposts, trees, etc. To put it simply -- how do you expect to show off a hidden truck?
   
4. Vary your shot angles. We can make much more interesting sigs if we have a lot of different angles of your truck to work with. A few front or front angle shots combined with a side shot or two and then closer detail shots of your mods or wheels are a few good ideas to consider. If your truck is bagged, try airing it out and then setting the camera on the pavement.
   
5. Zoom. I hate working with shots that are 95% environment and 5% truck. Remember this -- a shot can always be downsized when we work with it. But to scale up a small area of a large pic, the results are going to look hazy. On the same note, unless you're taking a close up detail shot of a wheel or an obvious modification, make sure your whole truck is in the pic and isn't cut off.
   
6. Clean your truck. I'm sure you'd rather have everyone focus on your mods or wheels instead of the bugs splattered across your windshield. A few mud splattering or smoky burnout shots would be the only exception to this -- but make sure you include some clean shots, too.
   
7. Patience. Nothing is more frustrating than to see someone complain because no one has responded to your post yet. Some of the sig makers would rather dive right into the work and surprise you with a kick *** sig rather than reply. So please, we see everyone's requests. There will be times when we get backlogged, in which case we'll try to take a first come, first serve approach to filling requests. Keep in mind that all sig work is volunteered. There is no obligation to fill them as soon as a new thread is made. We do it as time permits. For many of us, our limited time to contribute to other threads throughout the site has to be sacrificed in order to work on sigs. So please understand that it may take a while.

Thanks guys. Just trying to help you help us make sigs that you'll be proud of.


updated on 7-28-03

[Chuggernaut]

Here we go! Earlier tonight, I came across this ebay auction for an '05 Canyon that had pics that were perfect examples of what I had in mind when I made the above post 3 years ago. The auction ends on 6/12/05, so here are a few of the shots that were included in it.

Notice how there are only 3 distinct exterior shots of the whole truck, then the rest are specific shots of the mods. Also, not only are these pics perfectly clear, but the lighting and surroundings are great. And to top it off, they're smaller than 800x600. Keep in mind that the site rules limit sigs to no bigger than 500x200, so there's no need to submit gigantic 1600x1200's when you're asking for a sig.

[Chuggernaut]

From those few pics, these sigs took less than a 1/2 hour each to make and really didn't take a whole lot of effort. Proof that pic quality is a much larger factor than quantity of pics or their overall size. Hopefully these two new posts help you when you're out taking the next pics of your truck!

[Dezfan]

Thanks for the hints, pic's to be taken and then a sig request!

[AntiBling]

Wanted to renew this thread somewhat.

PATIENCE. There are very few sig makers on this site. Even I have cut back a lot.

The few times I do sigs is when I see people post photos that are inspiring. So re read these tips.

One thing about lighting, ESPECIALLY FOR DARK VEHICLES, if at all possible take them when the sky is overcast, or even better, take them with a background other than the sky and overcast, or at dusk. You lose the roof because it blends in with the sky when its sunny out.

And did I mention, have patience? Not many sig makers.

Also the bigger the pics you got for us to work with the better.

And have patience.

[mcfly]

Originally Posted by Chuggernaut

And to top it off, they're smaller than 800x600. Keep in mind that the site rules limit sigs to no bigger than 500x200, so there's no need to submit gigantic 1600x1200's when you're asking for a sig.

i havent read this thread in forever, but i gotta say i don't agree. i was never much a sig creator, but when i'm bored i look around, but none of the request threads appeal to me. bigger pics make it much easier to work on!
the overall quality is important and in contrary to chuggs i'd prefer some shots with a little more scenery. it leaves you more options and if the pics are big enough it won't be a problem to crop out only the truck if necessary

[Chuggernaut]

I agree with you mcfly, that typically bigger pics are better to work with. But I made that statement back when I was on dialup on a slower than dirt PC. There were plenty of times where I regretted giving out my email address for forum newbies who didn't know the power of photobucket and insisted on sending me two dozen pics that were a meg each. It isn't so bad now, but I still prefer to keep incoming pics 1024x768 or 1600x1200 at their largest for sigs.

[AntiBling]

Dont take your pics on grass either. That goes under the foreground deal. Blades of grass ruin cutting out a truck in photoshop.

[Chuggernaut]

Originally Posted by AntiBling

Dont take your pics on grass either. That goes under the foreground deal. Blades of grass ruin cutting out a truck in photoshop.

Thank you!! I couldn't agree more. I'm having a bitch of a time coming up with a consistent layout for the calendar because there's just enough grass entries to fugg it all up.

[spaulson]

I'm a personal fan of making sigs that have something original about them...I just put a guys dog in a sig, and a john deere in another one. It kinda it makes it more of a signature. Just a thought

[east1la]

Originally Posted by Chuggernaut

From those few pics, these sigs took less than a 1/2 hour each to make and really didn't take a whole lot of effort. Proof that pic quality is a much larger factor than quantity of pics or their overall size. Hopefully these two new posts help you when you're out taking the next pics of your truck!

good job man. THANKS FOR THE HINTS