My Gallery: [link]

Feel free to edit any of my stamps in any way you please, and have fun.

Images for Dummies: Scroll to the waaaay bottom of this description for a more advanced/articulate view on Image Formats.

There are many different kinds of stamps. Once I get this text sorted I'll explain a few of them. The main difference being the format you save the stamp in. Each format, such as PNG, GIF, PSD, has its own unique purpose and abilities.


----GUIDE TO BASIC IMAGE FORMATS:----
The format of the image is identified by the three letters at the end of its name. These three letters are called the File Extension. Here are the basic formats...
1. PNG: Big file size, not as big as BMP, and very nice clean image. Lossless as far as I know. I use this for stamps because it can be translucent. No layers are allowed as far as I know.
2. GIF: Only 256 or lower colors can be used, but can be animated. This is popular for animated Internet banners. Nice low file size. In a GIF, only one color can be transparent, allowing the background to show through that one color you select.
3. JPG: The most popular because of very small file size, but your image becomes slightly distorted, depending on the level of space-saving compression you use. I would say 98% of dA images are JPG format. This is the format digital cameras use.
4. BMP: Obscenely huge file size, but perfect image clarity. No compression, so it's nice for clean desktop wallpapers. Windows prefers BMP for wallpaper.
5. PSD: Photoshop format. The image editing format, which can contain many things such as layers, transparencies, and selections. Web browsers do NOT understand PSD, because of its complexities. In-progress art images are stored in PSD. I don't know much else about PSD. Some of the art on dA shows up as a JPG or PNG but when you click "Download" it downloads the art in PSD format. Only some graphics programs can open PSD, and even less can edit PSD.

This stamp is PNG format, not PSD.
The reason to download a PSD format stamp, is that they contain layers, so you can place your stamp text underneath the glossy layer. Giving a far more polished effect over the text.

This is a blank stamp template, for you to place text and logo's.

Make sure when you submit the image that it is compatible for DeviantArt. PNG seems to work, along with the infamous PSD.

PNG and PSD both allow for transparencies on the image. This allows you to see the background through designated parts of the image. Such as the spiky stamp border.

Get the edges of the stamp TRANSPARENT. This is what makes it a stamp. When you upload the stamp, the "Add a File" preview area will show you that your stamp has transparent edges, because it'll place a blue background behind the stamp.

Let me know if I did anything wrong, I'm pretty new to stamp making.

Most stamp previews are PNG format, while the download file is Photoshop PSD format. The reason for this is Deviantart doesn't understand PSD files, and needs a preview image which is the PNG. Many graphics programs don't understand PSD. I don't use PSD files, I simply upload the file as a PNG(Typo Fixed) so i wont have to use a preview file. This makes it easier on me and you. But, PNG doesn't allow layers as far as I know. This means my stamp templates don't allow you to place the text underneath the glossy layer.

You may notice there is no black edging on the border of this stamp. At the moment I prefer this, but I'll play with adding black edging so the stamp will stand out for users who have a WHITE background on their profile page.

Update: Upon review of the nicer stamps on dA, I boldly prefer the shiny stamps with a light glare over the text. Giving you this stamp template in PNG format won't allow for layers. I'll have to install Photoshop and learn all the new features...Something I've been avoiding. It is time.

Update: My next stamp template will be PSD format, so you'll be able to use layers, the top layer being a shiny glass effect, and the bottom layer being the stamp. You can place the text between the glass and the stamp. As far as I know, only PSD is popular enough for many graphics programs to understand having layers. There are a large number of graphics programs that simply don't do layers. I think TheGimp does, and it's free. I may have to use this to save the image!

And you, beloved viewer, may need to learn Photoshop, if you want to do fancier things.















Update... Here is that Update I've been putting off for ages. I'll eventually combine the two descriptions and put this on RoyceBarber.Com my personal site.

Guide To Image Formats

* File Formats aka Extensions: When you download a photo of a kitten, it has a name such as "MyCat.JPG". JPG is an extension, it's the last three letters in a file name. Your photo is the file, and JPG is the format/extension, the way in which it's saved. Each image format, be it JPG/GIF/BMP, safe files slightly differently, and Internet Browsers may not understand some formats at all!

* Transparencies: PNG and GIF allow transparencies, which are places the background shows through. A window to what is behind the image. In PNG, you can blend transparencies and use any color. In GIF, only one color of the image can be transparent, and it can not be blended/blurred.

* Layers: Imagine having a stack of translucent(clear) glass plates, each with a drawing on them. When you hold them up and through them all, you see the full image. You can rearrange the plates. These are layers. Want to draw a chair behind someone? Simply move them out of the way. Layers are cool like that. Clothing layers are pretty much the same, but I hope to NOT see through them!

* Compression: Some formats allow you to make the file size smaller, by stomping/squishing it down, and this of course messes up the image, but makes it faster to download. 8% compression is nice for most photos, but 20% compression can make a photo blocky, grainy, and ugly.

* File Size: The size of your file is important because some people have very slow internet. If your image has huge dimensions, and or no compression, it may take a long time to send the whole image through the internet.

* Photo editing software:
* Free: Gimp is cost free, and does what earlier versions of Photoshop do: Not too complex and runs great/fast.
* Not Free: Photoshop7 is nice because it's old, runs fast, and wont suck up your hard drive. It's also far cheaper than the latest gigantically huge Photoshop. I use Photoshop7 and love it, and also Paint Shop Pro 7. Cheap and easy! There are MANY photo editing programs, but I seriously hope most of you will use Photoshop7 and newer, but also try the latest Gimp.





.PNG: No layers(?). No compression. Yes infinite transparencies plus blurring. No Animation. Infinite colors. One of the few formats that websites and deviantArt.com support.

.JPG: No layers. Yes compression. No transparencies. No Animation. Infinite colors. Most popular format. Awesome for Internet photos and thumbnails. Lowest/best file size. One of the few formats that websites and deviantArt.com support.

.PSD: Yes layers. No compression(?). Yes transparencies. No Animation. Infinite colors. Useful for saving in-progress art projects. Internet Browsers do not recognize PSD. Photoshop uses PSD best, but I hear the Gimp software has PSD now too.

.GIF: No layers. No compression(?). Yes 1 transparency but no blurring. Yes Animation. Limited to 256 colors. Often websites support GIF, but not all browsers support the animation, so you'll just see the first frame. When downloaded, often a GIF animation does not play unless you have a program to play it.

.BMP: Kill it! No layers. No compression. No transparencies. No Animation. Infinite colors. Sadly, HUGE file size. NOT good for the Internet.

.SVF: This is a vector, rather than a photo. A vector is an image made of a math formula. Can be a small file size, depending on complexity of the math. Not very common, but increasing popularity. Converting a photo of your cat into a vector will basically simplify the image, making it look cartoony. Flash (SWF) is also a vector, but is controlled by a huge scary corporation. SVF is open for anyone to use for free.