First ever try at Smudge Tags

So for those of you that know me, you'll know I'm shit at tags.
I've only ever made two before, this being my third and being my first smudge.
My previous ones were also to tutorials whereas this one was just freestyle.

I'd appreciate some criticism.

 

Bump.

 

I like it, the smudging is good.
But it's just so simple and plain.
Don't know how to say it properly ;/

 

It's lacking in a proper background mostly
The particle effects are too few to really give any sort of effect, but enough to be bothersome - I'd go for something more along the lines of a C4D render or simply something more filling.
The rest of the background could be improved with some sort of theme to it. Think of the last time you saw someone's picture on a solid color background - I bet it was in a yearbook cause the cheap ass photographers don't care about that shit. Every other picture has some sort of fitting BG to it. The actual render is done alright and I suppose there's room for improvement but it's a good start

 

Originally there were more particles but I felt they obscured the tag too much so I erased a few of 'em. I'm not sure how to include C4D renders into a tag very well. Do you know of any decent tutorials or anything to get me started?

I tried to work in a texture into the background but it mostly smudged away. What do you think would have worked well? I'm trying to get my head around smudging conventions and what looks well and what doesn't.

What is a good way I can improve do you reckon?

 

Hmmm, I'm no pro at tags but to me it look very.... plain. Add more stuff and emphasize on the focal. If you want some proper CnC get Nero on the case

 

It's a good start babe.

There's really no lighting, no depth, no blending of elements, and really no colors. Practice makes perfect, though. Take a look at some sexy tuts, though. Always the best place to start.

Check this and this out sexy

 

http://browse.deviantart.com/?q=c4d+render+pack#/d1f7c4p is what I mean by C4Ds by the way
Adjusting the those thing's colors and blending them in with the rest of the tag generally gives it something to use as a sort of tool for blending. I've seen them used alot to make a sort of barrier between the focal and the rest, but it takes skill to do it right

Instead of working a texture in for the background, try for a stock. I don't recognize the character so I can't really tell you what fits, but perhaps a cityscape or a city, with Gaussian blur set to 3 or 4, should fit well. Anything really as long as it contributes to the render's 'story' and blends in well

 

Yeah I know what C4D renders are.
I've seen them used well in tags but I'm not exactly sure how to replicate the effect without the render simply looking like I've dropped it onto the canvas randomly.

The render itself is of Daft Punk, but yea a cityscape or something could look decent, something futuristic anywho. I'm not sure how to combine the Cityscape with the whole smudge theme however.

 

Okay here we go:

The piece looks unfinished. Right now it is severely lacking in effects and the blending isn't done well. If you're going to use C4Ds use them to help blend and give your piece depth otherwise they act as focal points and that is not good. You need a color scheme. Right now there isn't really any. While I am on the subject you should really learn about color theory and lighting theory of photography because it will help you tremendously.

 

Best way for me to move forward asides from looking up color theory and lighting theory? I'm looking for some decent tutorials or something I can get into.

 

Look of BakaArts on YouTube.

 

Smudging is done pretty well, i like that.
The thing that bothers me is the background is plain, sort to say, if you could improve that i bet most of us would love it, its good now to but it just looks plain.