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12hc12Emoticon Tutorial

Published: 2008-08-21 01:59:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 57964; Favourites: 1303; Downloads: 1550
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Description Attention!
Considering the great amount of time since I have thought about emotes, never mind the neglect I've put on my emoting programs, I can no longer truly provide satisfactory advice for all you budding emoticonists. I still love to see a new emote now and then, and the comments on both my tutorials are very uplifting. However, the flood of questions must come to an end.
But, I won't just leave you in the dark. There are many resources out there in the deviantART community that can really help.
Be sure to check out #Emotication for other tutorials and a long list of resources for all aspects of emoticon creation. If you need a mentor, they have a program set up to give you the kind of help you need.
If you have a specific question about emoticons or emoticon creation (including animation), head over to #WeEmote . The group there are sure to have an answer for you, or at least point you in the right direction.

And of course, dA has a massive section on tutorials for some of the most popular programs (as well as general tutorials) that can be easily found in the Resources and Stock Images > Tutorials gallery.

If you comment or send me a note, please don't be offended if I direct you elsewhere. I really can't provide you with the help you deserve.

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Warning: File size is fairly gigantic.

Well, seeing as how I had a tutorial for GIMP emoticon animations, I figured I'd make an actual emoticon tutorial.
This is a beginners tutorial, and the likelihood of me teaching more complicated colouring styles, how to colour and how not to colour, and things like that is fairly minimal. Be happy with what you have, people.

(Oh, and this one has a prettier layout than the last one. )

The tutorial covers programs, outlines, two colouring styles, and hands. And again, this is just a simple tutorial. Build off and learn from it; I recommend any new emoticonist that REALLY feels comfortable with the above two colouring styles to try their own; make more complicated symbols and gradually make your way to something unique to yourself.

And if you make an emote with the help of this tutorial, don't be afraid to show and tell. :D I'd love to see 'em. ^__^

Thank you, thank you, thank you and thank you for the DD, =davebold370 and ^Hanratty-Stock !
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Comments: 832

12hc12 In reply to ??? [2009-01-19 20:11:13 +0000 UTC]

Awesome doesn't even begin to describe it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TimeFalcon In reply to 12hc12 [2009-01-19 21:08:18 +0000 UTC]

it's supercalifragilisticexpealidosious! :-D

...don't ask me why that suddenly can to mind, it just seemed fitting...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to TimeFalcon [2009-01-19 21:29:07 +0000 UTC]

That does seem to be the only known word to express this.
I could, of course, make up a word... ;D

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

TimeFalcon In reply to 12hc12 [2009-01-20 06:28:25 +0000 UTC]

hehehe, yes, a made up word would be best, methinks.

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12hc12 In reply to TimeFalcon [2009-01-20 12:29:15 +0000 UTC]

Perhaps something with the letter X would fit nicely...

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TimeFalcon In reply to 12hc12 [2009-01-23 01:59:11 +0000 UTC]

XD

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

a-underground In reply to ??? [2009-01-19 08:07:20 +0000 UTC]

Great tutorial. I will use it for sure ^^

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to a-underground [2009-01-19 12:28:46 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. ^__^ Can't wait to see some results; be sure to link me to them!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

a-underground In reply to 12hc12 [2009-01-19 17:56:38 +0000 UTC]

My zombie emoticon ^^ [link ] What do you think about that? Some suggestions?

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

12hc12 In reply to a-underground [2009-01-19 20:08:36 +0000 UTC]

Oh noes! A strange, foreign website log-in screen!
I'm sure the emote is wonderful, though.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

a-underground In reply to a-underground [2009-01-19 18:20:30 +0000 UTC]

Sorry that link not always working

This is good --> [link]

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a-underground In reply to a-underground [2009-01-19 20:30:14 +0000 UTC]

That must work ^^ [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

JendiGirl In reply to ??? [2008-11-07 05:25:34 +0000 UTC]

I used this tutorial! (And the animation one.. sort of. )
[link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to JendiGirl [2008-11-07 12:13:05 +0000 UTC]

Aw~ They're cute. ^__^ I'm glad you got some use out of my tutorial. (:

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

JendiGirl In reply to 12hc12 [2008-11-08 00:49:23 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, and.. um.. Yay?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to JendiGirl [2008-11-10 00:35:34 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

LoneZapdos In reply to ??? [2008-11-05 03:25:34 +0000 UTC]

I should try to make something with this!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to LoneZapdos [2008-11-05 12:01:57 +0000 UTC]

Can't wait to see what you come up with!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LoneZapdos In reply to 12hc12 [2008-11-05 15:38:26 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I already have one, but I'm gonna make more!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to LoneZapdos [2008-11-05 19:57:09 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

LoneZapdos In reply to 12hc12 [2008-11-05 22:16:01 +0000 UTC]

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

reddybub In reply to ??? [2008-11-02 01:36:08 +0000 UTC]

Here's mine!
[link]
Now if only I could make him not be so still... do you know how I can make him move and flail his arms around like a crazy phyco or something? Heh. Just an idea...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to reddybub [2008-11-03 00:40:05 +0000 UTC]

Looks fantastic! A really awesome start! :D! (And, a great colour choice. ;D)
He seems to be moving fairly well; I see ~sunnyfairy213 helped you out with that. Now you just need to get a bit more creative and patient to make him truly wacky!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

reddybub In reply to 12hc12 [2008-11-03 01:17:57 +0000 UTC]

Thank you. I used a program called UnFREEz, and it's free, plus I used paint.net which is also free.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to reddybub [2008-11-03 01:59:13 +0000 UTC]

UnFreez is an okay start, but I recommend using The GIMP . It's both an animation program and a digital image program, and it's completely free, and gives much more versatility! :D
I also have an animation tutorial for GIMP in my gallery, if you decide to give it a try.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

reddybub In reply to 12hc12 [2008-11-03 03:12:27 +0000 UTC]

Yes, I have the GIMP. However, I am what you would call "programily challaneged." So I am virtually unteachable of the gimp.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to reddybub [2008-11-03 03:27:55 +0000 UTC]

It's not as difficult as you may think.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Cati-Joy In reply to ??? [2008-10-09 14:03:01 +0000 UTC]

I tried making two emoticons from this tutorial, both of which are made of fail.

[link]

[link]

Anyway, great tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Cati-Joy [2008-10-09 18:55:55 +0000 UTC]

They're a lot better than you think!
The first one is very good, but you might want to try going to a bit darker colours, so it looks more round.
The second is my favourite. 8D Very cute!

And, thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Cati-Joy In reply to 12hc12 [2008-10-09 19:48:57 +0000 UTC]

Yay! Thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

krista-silly-artist In reply to ??? [2008-09-28 15:45:06 +0000 UTC]

Hey thx for the tutorial.I made a emoticon thanks to you [link]

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to krista-silly-artist [2008-09-28 23:33:33 +0000 UTC]

Sweet! Lookin' good! Glad my tutorial was useful. ^___^
(And, thanks for the favourite! ;D)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

krista-silly-artist In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-29 10:58:59 +0000 UTC]

Hehe...no ,thank you

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Leedlepuff In reply to ??? [2008-09-20 01:41:05 +0000 UTC]

Oh! Nvermind! I made an emote! Thanks So much for the tutorial!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-22 00:20:42 +0000 UTC]

I'm glad the tutorial was helpful for you.
And, your emote is rather cute. ^__^ I wish you the best of luck in, hopefully, making many more~!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-22 00:23:40 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.. I can't get the white bg off

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-22 00:44:30 +0000 UTC]

Try using the magic wand to select the white parts, and hitting your delete key. You should see a checkered-like background. (And be sure to save it as a .gif! ;D)

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-22 00:45:44 +0000 UTC]

.gif?
that is why.. lol

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-22 00:46:44 +0000 UTC]

Haha, we all mess that one up once or twice... xD

👍: 0 ⏩: 2

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-30 01:41:59 +0000 UTC]

12hc12?
I made a smiley template, what I call it, but my computer won't open it for me!!
Could you make one for me or would that be a comission?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-30 02:06:15 +0000 UTC]

What do you mean your computer won't open it? I might be able to help more if I knew a bit more about what you're doing, and what's happening as a result.

(Oh, and, thank you for the Watch! o: )

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-30 02:27:27 +0000 UTC]

[Welcome]
When I press file + open Smiley template.xcf it says this note like.. sorry we can't upon this file because GIMP is being a butthole... take away the butthole part!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-30 11:11:12 +0000 UTC]

Could you be a bit more specific as to what the GIMP pop-up says?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-09-30 12:44:22 +0000 UTC]

ok
so I open the folder.. but it says: Opening '/Users/curtijoh/Desktop/Smily Template.xcf' failed:

GIMP XCF image plug-In could not open image

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-09-30 22:33:54 +0000 UTC]

Well, this has me stumped. I haven't had this problem myself, and I couldn't find anything directly related to it on Google, or GIMP help forums.
So I think you have a few options:
First, make sure that you're opening the file with GIMP; if you're not sure, right click on the file and select "open with" and select something like "gimp" or "gimp-win-remote."
Make sure you can open OTHER .xcf files with GIMP; if you can, just the Smily Template.xcf file is glitched (if this is the case, you may be stuck having to restart the image). If you can't open .xcf files, there may be something wrong with your GIMP files, and my best piece of advice would be to uninstall and reinstall GIMP from the GIMP website.

Sorry I can't be of more help. If you don't feel like having to reinstall GIMP, perhaps you could do your own research on GIMP forums; maybe you'll have more luck than I have.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-10-01 01:05:19 +0000 UTC]

Ok.. thanks
I have re-installed gimp but... it still won't open :-\

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-10-01 01:11:35 +0000 UTC]

Sounds like you'll just have to start the template over again.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-10-01 01:13:56 +0000 UTC]

awww.. stupid buttface gimp

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

12hc12 In reply to Leedlepuff [2008-10-01 01:17:51 +0000 UTC]

Eh, sometimes you've just got to deal with it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Leedlepuff In reply to 12hc12 [2008-10-01 01:19:22 +0000 UTC]

yeah.. i love your avatar!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1


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