User:Previously Unsigned

''' Do you have a knack for design!? REDESIGN MY WIKI PAGE, I WILL BE ETERNALLY GRATEFUL!'''

You already know me, I have made posts on here before many times but anonymously. Not anymore.

I like to suggest things too, here is my feedback page! to do list if I have anything planned (probably not).

I made some stars for those who don't like to use the in game crosshair with pointer:
 * User_Previously_Unsigned_LBmm_oo400.png or User_Previously_Unsigned_LBmm_o400.png (change the 400 in URL to 30 for 30x30 version. They are based off Lord Biro's star).

Image tips
I've listed some of what I know below for good quality images. Nothing style wise, just technically.

First things

 * -bmp command appended to Guild Wars or you fail. Period. JPEGs that Guild Wars makes are highly compressed but bitmap images have no compression. If you cannot see the difference then you are too used to them or don't have any eye for difference and I wouldn't bother IMO. You should be able to see the difference if you play the game a lot of notice fine detail (hints of where to look: ANY chat text, highly saturated areas of color, like skill bar).


 * All graphical effects, with 4x anti-aliasing on. Resolution I like to have at least at 1152x768, closest to that, or higher ( the highest is best but you don't really gain a lot more detail with it ). I still see some not doing this. Most cards can handle this long enough for a still image, if not full action. Even the old ones (I have tried on it even on a 5200FX 128mb, so don't use an excuse if yours is a little old).

Editing

 * I recommend working in Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, The GIMP, or Paint.NET. These are all better than Paint, which sucks at making JPEGs, commonly used on the site.


 * If you are retouching your photos in ANY way, for the love of God, calibrate your monitor first. And even if you aren't retouching anything, you should still do it. All monitors, even high end, have flaws out of the box. Usually too bright, too blue (LCD), so what you're seeing is not accurate and you can't know what you're doing or seeing. Some downplay the issue but those people usually don't have calibrated monitors and shouldn't be speaking since they lack experience. Everybody should be calibrated. At least do it so your neutrals are actually neutral. And it is basic color management - achieving consistency between devices/mediums. Even if your monitor is on it's way out, a monitor profile is better than nothing. I suggest a Spyder3 Express colorimeter. Don't use your eyes, the visual system is easily fooled and you can't be 100% sure when you have the color balance just right.


 * Then go to my accurate color guide so that your calibration shows up while playing!


 * If you are sharpening an image, I prefer to do it only on the lightness channel. You can do this two ways: convert from RGB to LAB mode, then select the lightness channel and sharpen that (then convert back to RGB when finished everything else). Or you can sharpen as normal and immediately after choose Edit/Fade unsharp mask (or whatever filter you used) and then apply it only to the luminosity channel. Can also control opacity too here. This method avoids color shifts and halos that you might run into with sharpening. I use a simple unsharp mask, at 50%, 1.0 radius, 1 threshold.

Saving

 * When saving your images, use a Save For Web feature. Why? Finer control over quality, easily compare original and compressed versions, and it removes unneeded metadata to save space. It is built into Photoshop, can be installed into The GIMP with this plugin. If I find a Paint.NET version, I will post it. Also, 300% minimum zoom please when comparing versions. Just because you can't see the artifacts at 100% doesn't meant they aren't there. And when you get used to 300% you can see the differences at 100%.


 *  IMPORTANT TIP: Remember to uncheck "Convert to sRGB" if you see it as an option while in Save For Web. It may change the look of the image and considering that Guild Wars used no embedded profiles (bmps are not tagged with anything) I'd leave them untagged.

Other things

 * If taking an image of the mission map, move the map, then take a step, and while the map snaps back into place, take a bunch of images at once. The mission map has a tendency to blur or become less sharp once it stops, but while it's moving, you can see it at it's most sharp and get an image of that. The difference is really big too. Here's an example:




 * Write down what you've done in the comments section before you upload it here. Since there will be no metadata using safe for web, people won't be able to know what you used.


 * If taking images of weapons or armor (like for dye charts), do it in the dye preview window or Llye's window. Both of these have undistracting backgrounds and nice, neutral lighting. I do it in the larger UI size too, it shows the most detail.

Cannot forget these things

 * Wastrels Demise -> ignorance 2010 suggestion / imperial faction inspired by jq suggestion got your wish / shady luxon/kurzick (incorporated 20110603 -> my "suggestion" a day before
 * charr flamecaller = flare spam
 * elemental shift = gw2 ele
 * yes it is ok to use ALL attribues, you don't have to be primary and only one attribute. Having super high attribute skills means no real good skill use, just using high powered skills like a deadly weaposn. powerful whoever it goes off on. If you use them all, you need to know how to play.
 * monks who run only healing / HB party spam heals = I won't use the word noob since the build is pretty powerful for heals but seriously, TRY SOMETHING ELSE.
 * The following font/config is what I use when substituing in game Font (such as the picture of Party List)

Font: JasmineUPC / Regular Size:22 / Leading: Auto / Tracking: disables / Tracking: 0 / Vertical+Horizontal scale: 100% / Baseline shift: 0pt / Antialiasing mode: sharp / Fractional widths turned OFF
 * Most important updates: Devish Balance 3, Dervish Balance 2, Attunements faster, Embark Beach, 7 Heros, Party List, Survivor Changes 2011, Dervish Redesign 2011, Mesmer updates 2010, Elite and PvE skills huge update 2008
 * Is Aggressive Refrain really so bad? -20 armor should really be -4 considering you have a shield equipped.
 * NM cartographer is so much better than VQ + cartographer at the same time
 * Why do PvE Monks NEVER bring . What other skill maxs out armor and adds 60hp and is a 30s+ enchant?
 * Signet of Spirits really is based on Star Wars - no idea why it keeps being removed from trivia
 * Armor, healing, adrenaline caps
 * Damage reduction to armor conversion = match percent less to Armor rating
 * Attributes I'm following for GW2 (ie see a good video with them? MESSAGE ME IT!): Water Magic
 * Funny grief bars: Judas MonkL33THAX
 * NEW home of other wiki: guildwiki.org
 * NEW home of PVX: gwpvx.com
 * 2 grey dye = "intense" neutral
 * Report wiki bugs
 * | STOLEN FROM DANNY: Your argument is invalid.
 * SO USEFUL!: appends page name title into page. Such as [[File: map.jpg]]
 * custom userboxes made easy
 * This color is amazing. #EE5
 * TOC right/left: Template:TOCleft