#bea tutorial

understand placement (balance, proximity, alignment) - I personally think this is important because it helps guide the viewers’ eyes through your edit in the way it’s intended & can help make an edit look aesthetically pleasing!! 

For balance it’s all about understanding how each element carries it’s own visual weight / like for example in this edit the focus on the polaroids but I don’t like too much negative space so I added plants in certain areas to help frame the focus of the panel.

For proximity I just make sure that each element has enough space around it! So if you have a subject edit like this, I put the focus on Joshua and either layer elements behind him or use the gradient tool to make sure the background elements aren’t distracting

For alignment I would just keep note of the different elements you introduce and keep it consistent if things are meant to be center aligned, off-centered, etc.

So if we apply that to the two different edits below:

balance: left edit I keep it consistent with displaying “three” text blocks about their debut, and 3 eras; I also use the same rounded square shape in each // in the right edit I keep it balanced by using a few elements: polaroid + flowers. notice that the smaller flowers are on the right hand side of the polaroid and the bigger flowers are on the left side

proximity: on the left edit I use physical lines to show the end of one section and a new section, Also the rounded square images keep everything contained and since there are a lot of different styles (different seventeen logos and small icons) I use more white space to separate them. on the right edit I just use the contours of the flowers and space them evenly that way

alignment: left edit i use thirds to separate each element and everything is centered, whereas the right edit has a more organic feel??? so I layered elements more to make it look realistic

play around with colors!!! it helps to know a little about color theory: honestly I just use the colors I like the most, but even knowing how colors look against each other and knowing which ones can be used as accents helps bring the edit together! there’s a bunch of palette generators on tumblr to help you pick colors if you’re indecisive!!

try different styles! I think it’s super fun to dive into a LOT of different graphic design styles like vector art, infographics, manipulation (like my cyberpunk edits), or flatlay styles!

use tutorials!! There’s a bunch of tutorials on tumblr in achieving different styles, AND on behance.net there’s a BUNCH of mockups that can be used to spice up your edits!!!

don’t feel pressured to post everything you make or have an edit out quickly I feel like sometimes we are pressured to post everything we make, but sometimes you can use it as a learning opportunity!! I would say post what you are proud of!!

TOOLS FOR EDITORS

photoshop/phone apps - I know a lot of people on twitter use phone apps which is really cool in editing, but for me I think photoshop is my go to since it has so many capabilities!! hint: search adobe zii patch for Mac OS to get it for fr33

USE EDITABLE IMAGES!! - if you use fantakens please check to make sure they allow editing. I think hanwooz has a good tutorial of how to ask for permission, but usually on their twitter profiles they say if they allow editing. There’s also scans you can use from @iiashascans that are editable with credit. I personally use Seventeen’s behind the scene images OR their naver x dispatch photos since its so HD lol

1. Start with an image of your bias to ease into graphic making or edit your favorite picture! Make sure the image is editable if its from a fansite! Look up tutorials on cropping your subject so you JUST have your bias and paste on a solid background - add some text and coloring to make it how you want it! here’s an example below :’) I NEVER POSTED THIS LOL Its still a WIP but its an example of how simple yet elegant gfx can be!

2. Another route into gfx making is text on a background! when I make these types of edits I try to think of how the font/text can create a certain mood? Here’s another unreleased gfx as an example. I used a handwritten text over the HOME MV to give it more of a personal, calm effect. Text over a background is an easy way to start gfx making too!

3. Finally I think the biggest way to start is from inspiration. I go on behance.com to get inspiration from other graphic designers. Try to ask yourself why you like this certain graphic. Is it the font? the coloring? The layout? feel free to reach out to that graphic maker to know their process! Also check out @svtgfx and @caratgfx for inspiration from other carat graphics makers. Note that if you do take insp, leave inspiration credit! It helps people be accountable