Elements the Game Forum - Free Online Fantasy Card Game

Elements the Game => Card Ideas and Art => Design Theory => Topic started by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 01:08:40 am

Title: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 01:08:40 am
Here's an Advanced Tutorial on how to make your card idea become a reality.


Step 1 (Preparations):
Have a 256x256 image (.jpg or .png preferably) available (saved onto your computer) before starting your card idea - this is vital for the E* section of designing a card image. If you don't have an image, that's okay, but it's important to remember this resolution when it comes to making your final card art.

Example (Click on the 'Show' Button):
(http://imageplay.net/img/m7Gbd113920/question.png)
Step 2 (Design!):
Open the following link below, and begin designing your card idea!
http://helltgivre.free.fr/elements/card_beta/

(http://imageplay.net/img/m7Gbd113915/CardTutorial.jpg)Key:
A (Creature/Permanent/Spell Tab): Hit this button to open a scroll-down window to change what type of card it is - you have three options. Note that if the card isn't a creature, you don't have to do anything for 'J'.

B (Element Tab): Hit this button to open a scroll-down window to change the card's Element. "Other" is listed in the image above.

C (Upgrade box): Check the square if you want the card to have the upgraded background. Leave it unmarked as is if it's non-upgraded.

D (Cost box): Check this square if you want the card to require a specific type of elemental quanta when played. Leave it unchecked if it doesn't require a specific elemental quanta type (See Long Sword and Animate Weapon for similar effects) - the icon will appear in the 'box' below.

E* (Picture uploading): Self-explanatory. Please read Step 1 in regards to the resolution size of the picture; uploading improper sizes may result in picture shrinking or deformation.

F (Save as PNG): Save the card onto your computer - NOTE: When saving it as a PNG file, you needed to actually put the phrase '.png' (without the quotation marks) after the title of your image in order for it to save correctly, or else it won't save onto your computer correctly.

G (Title): Rename as necessary by clicking on the box and typing something in.

H (Card Cost): Adjust as necessary by clicking on the box and typing something in.

J (Stats): Adjust as necessary by clicking on the box and typing something in - note that this only needs to be changed if the card is a creature. Spells and Permanents do not need stats.

K (Art by...): Remove the '...' part and place in the artist's name if applicable. It's important to note that this does not need to be done with images that YOU have created, but it's important to cite the artist's name whenever possible if the art isn't yours. Credit should always be given to the artist.

L (Text box): Write description as necessary. Note that you only get 4 lines, so think carefully about what you want to put into the text box. The icons below can also be clicked on in order to add that icon in the text box.
Step 3 (Save):
Save the designed card images (one non-upgraded and one upgraded) onto your computer. (READ Part F in the Step 2 Spoilers for details!)

Step 4 (Upload):
Upload the images onto a image hosting site, such as this one: http://imageplay.net/

For the above, all you have to do is hit the 'Browse' button and find the card images you designed, and then hit 'OK' to upload them. Please DO NOT change any other variable. Upload the image, and that's that.

You should arrive at this page:

(http://imageplay.net/img/m7Gbd113922/Imageplaytutorial.jpg)
Remember the red box area.

Step 5 (Table):
When you're done making, saving, and uploading card images, copy the following code found here: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/topic,5039.0.html

When you preview a new post for your card idea, it should initially start off like this:


NAME:
***Insert name***
ELEMENT:
***Insert element***
COST:
***Insert cost***
TYPE:
***Insert type***
ATK|HP:
***Insert att|hp***
TEXT:
***Insert card text***
NAME:
***Insert name (upgraded)***
ELEMENT:
***Insert element (upgraded)***
COST:
***Insert cost (upgraded)***
TYPE:
***Insert type (upgraded)***
ATK|HP:
***Insert att|hp (upgraded)***
TEXT:
***Insert card text (upgraded)***
ART:
***Insert artist name***
IDEA:
***Insert card maker name***
NOTES:
***Insert additional information***
SERIES:
***Insert series name and link to series page (if any)***

Step 6 (Modifying):
For filling out the table...
Repeat these tasks for the upgraded card.

Step 7 (Post!):
Post your card idea in the Level 0 - Smithy section OR the main board of the Card Ideas & Art section here: http://elementscommunity.org/forum/index.php/board,6.0.html



...and CONGRATULATIONS! You've just used this Advanced tutorial to post your card idea. :) Well done! Now take a breather and feel free to do it again.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: ninjaclone09 on November 04, 2010, 01:30:03 am
Ahah! very helpful =P
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: moomoose on November 04, 2010, 01:39:54 am
14th dont spam the card ideas forum with bad card ideas.  think them through before posting.  one good card idea is far, far better than 20 bad ones.
Title: Sample | Sample
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 03:37:13 am
(http://imageplay.net/img/m7Gbd165981/Sample_Spell.png)
(http://imageplay.net/img/m7Gbd165982/Sample_Spellup.png)
NAME:
Sample
ELEMENT:
Air
COST:
2 :air
TYPE:
Spell
ATK|HP:
TEXT:
Demonstrates how an Opening Post for a Card Idea should appear.
NAME:
Sample
ELEMENT:
Air
COST:
1 :air
TYPE:
Spell
ATK|HP:
TEXT:
Demonstrates how an Opening Post for a Card Idea should appear.
ART:
Blarg
IDEA:
Blarg
NOTES:
See Opening Post of this thread for more information.
SERIES:
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuross on November 04, 2010, 03:38:05 am
14th dont spam the card ideas forum with bad card ideas.  think them through before posting.  one good card idea is far, far better than 20 bad ones.
here, here! Can't agree more ;)
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 04:51:41 am
November 04, 2010, 04:49:34 AM gmt http://imageplay.net/ is not working
November 04, 2010, 01:19:25 PM gmt it is back up and working like it shoud
As Anonymous points out there are alternative sites to imageplay such as http://my.imageshack.us/
http://www.imagehosting.com/
http://photobucket.com/
http://tinypic.com/
http://imagefra.me/
http://imagehosting.gr/
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: AnonymousRevival on November 04, 2010, 08:11:36 am
A good start Emerald, thanks for teaching, +1 karma for you (May I ask how do you view your karma in your profile?). Anyways, another editing photo site would be http://www.picnik.com/, however, you have to create an account. Another uploading site would be http://imageshack.us/.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 01:16:47 pm
about the karma thing goto modify profile/notifications and everything is self explanatory
ty for the karma. if you miss the message , it is gone
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: AnonymousRevival on November 04, 2010, 01:45:47 pm
Thanks. But I accidentally deleted the popup of my karma notification, so what do I do now to see it?
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 04, 2010, 05:04:34 pm
i think this needs to stay where it can be seen.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: AnonymousRevival on November 05, 2010, 12:04:37 am
i think this needs to stay where it can be seen.
Well, as long as useful comments are here, it doesn't need to move out of this page. Remember: USEFUL comments.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 06, 2010, 01:11:00 am
What are some image/art programs that people can use for little to no cost?
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: ddevans96 on November 06, 2010, 01:18:10 am
What are some image/art programs that people can use for little to no cost?
GIMP and Artweaver are two great sites for basic image creation and editing. You have to download them, but they are both free.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Drobbit on November 06, 2010, 01:19:16 am
Good job!!
It needs some editing work, separate a bit the paragraphs.... and those things.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: AnonymousRevival on November 06, 2010, 07:09:23 am
Just a suggestion, don't make the fonts red, it hurts people's eyes.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on November 07, 2010, 03:17:57 pm
does anyone know where people can get images for ideas besides http://www.sxc.hu/

that part in red needs to hurt the eyes because there have been too many violations of this rule.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuroaitou on December 19, 2010, 08:23:28 am
Hey Emerald! :)

You know, I don't know why this topic has been put into the CIA Level 0 section, but would you mind if I 'tidy' your post up a bit, and possibly make a sticky for it in the 'Design Tools' area? This way, new users who don't get the tables right can look at the thread and figure out what went wrong with their card frame/image/table/idea, and it'll mean less resubmission time for them.
Title: Re: Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on December 20, 2010, 05:09:58 am
Hey Emerald! :)

You know, I don't know why this topic has been put into the CIA Level 0 section, but would you mind if I 'tidy' your post up a bit, and possibly make a sticky for it in the 'Design Tools' area? This way, new users who don't get the tables right can look at the thread and figure out what went wrong with their card frame/image/table/idea, and it'll mean less resubmission time for them.
Yes, do what ever you think is needed.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuroaitou on December 26, 2010, 08:23:52 pm
Okay... if this advanced tutorial doesn't help anyone with images and flashy coloring-highlights added, I don't know what will. ^^;
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: ZephyrPhantom on December 26, 2010, 08:36:38 pm
It has been IMPROVED! Hurray!
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on December 26, 2010, 09:18:21 pm
Thank You, Kuroaitou, looks good.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Nadrin on January 05, 2011, 02:10:09 am
I did this the blundering way, trial and error then saw this. Nice guide tho! Great job.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Jappert on January 26, 2011, 08:29:19 am
I tried before with Imageshack but somehow this didn't work out, your tutorial helped alot! Mass karma for that  ;)
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: rohlfo on February 09, 2011, 11:06:49 am
Just read through this, is a good job :)
Only thing I'd say is:
Quote
Where it asks for the ATK|HP, put the values from the 'J' section of the image; if the card doesn't have attack|HP, (it's a spell/permanent), leave this section blank.
This is true, unless it is a weapon....they need attack|HP values put it, for when they fly
You could add something like: "The only exception to this is if you are creating a weapon. A weapon needs to include attack and HP values for the scenario where it is targeted by Flying (Animate) Weapon during a game."
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuroaitou on March 03, 2011, 08:45:32 am
Just read through this, is a good job :)
Only thing I'd say is:
Quote
Where it asks for the ATK|HP, put the values from the 'J' section of the image; if the card doesn't have attack|HP, (it's a spell/permanent), leave this section blank.
This is true, unless it is a weapon....they need attack|HP values put it, for when they fly
You could add something like: "The only exception to this is if you are creating a weapon. A weapon needs to include attack and HP values for the scenario where it is targeted by Flying (Animate) Weapon during a game."
Actually, that's a good point. I'll modify the OP to include that. :) I wonder how much Karma I would have received instead of ET if I just made a new topic with the advanced tutorial.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: agogo on March 17, 2011, 06:30:30 am
Hey guys, I tried reaching that image sharing site... turns out all it does is redirect me to the same site, with a different ending, which redirects it back to the site, and back again...
that imageplay site is playing up... and i'm not to happy about that...
Any alternatives?
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuroaitou on March 17, 2011, 09:19:53 am
Hey guys, I tried reaching that image sharing site... turns out all it does is redirect me to the same site, with a different ending, which redirects it back to the site, and back again...
that imageplay site is playing up... and i'm not to happy about that...
Any alternatives?
A different ending? If by 'different' you mean that the link doesn't send you to the 'link-directory' page similar to the image I posted, know two things:

1) Uploading multiple images will provide multiple links for those images, meaning you may have to expand the links
2) The site can't be accessed by your computer, which sucks. :(

Since it's probably '2', there are a few other options that you can choose, but the (most debated) one is using Imageshack (http://imageshack.us/) as an image uploader (not as a artwork resource!).  :) Hope this helps, and feel free to P.M. a Card Curator (like me) for assistance. ^^;
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: agogo on March 18, 2011, 05:50:16 am
Hooray Photobucket FTW.
Thanks for your response anyways!
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on March 18, 2011, 01:03:43 pm
November 04, 2010, 04:49:34 AM gmt http://imageplay.net/ is not working
November 04, 2010, 01:19:25 PM gmt it is back up and working like it shoud
As Anonymous points out there are alternative sites to imageplay such as http://my.imageshack.us/
http://www.imagehosting.com/
http://photobucket.com/
http://tinypic.com/
http://imagefra.me/
http://imagehosting.gr/
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: ninjamaster1991 on April 08, 2011, 04:57:43 pm
um... the helltgivre link doesn't work on my computer.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Blazken on May 05, 2011, 09:35:38 pm
When I Try To Make A Card, It Doesn't Upload.  :(  Help?
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Kuroaitou on May 05, 2011, 11:03:30 pm
When I Try To Make A Card, It Doesn't Upload.  :(  Help?
Are you sure you've saved it in the right format? If you forgot to save it as an 'PNG' file (adding the text '.png' to the end of the card before saving it to your computer), before uploading it to Imageplay, it might cause errors.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Blazken on May 05, 2011, 11:39:55 pm
When I Try To Make A Card, It Doesn't Upload.  :(  Help?
Are you sure you've saved it in the right format? If you forgot to save it as an 'PNG' file (adding the text '.png' to the end of the card before saving it to your computer), before uploading it to Imageplay, it might cause errors.
I'll Check That Out, Thanks
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Wadjet on September 06, 2011, 07:00:38 am
Updated Card Creator

http://helltgivre.free.fr/elements/card

I was bored and decided to erase the "beta" part of the URL. I'm not sure if this was already known about or not but I thought I'd mention it.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Xenocidius on September 06, 2011, 07:14:54 am
Updated Card Creator

http://helltgivre.free.fr/elements/card

I was bored and decided to erase the "beta" part of the URL. I'm not sure if this was already known about or not but I thought I'd mention it.
I think that's the old card creator.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: EmeraldTiger on September 06, 2011, 01:07:06 pm
http://helltgivre.free.fr/elements/card_beta/ is the current card creator by Planplan.
Title: Re: Advanced Card Ideas Tutorial
Post by: Wadjet on September 07, 2011, 06:16:05 am
Oh.

Fail, haha
blarg: