I can't explain it, so I'll let Wikipedia do it for me:
"Information design is the practice of presenting information in a way that fosters efficient and effective understanding of it. The term has come to be used specifically for graphic design for displaying information effectively, rather than just attractively or for artistic expression."
The idea is, I want to design a custom template/layout/frame that communicates, more efficiently, the information you need to know about a card, and I'm not satisfied with anything I've produced. That's why I also asked what everyone's process is like, beginning with inspiration.
I'm just as lost as I was before I ask what it was.... But based off your second paragraph, the render below is the only thing I can think of that would efficiently display information removing everything except the color frame, border, text, and cost there would be no problems displaying information. Other than that, I don't think I'll be much help... sorry As for me I've always gone the for the more aesthetically pleasing and unique frames/templates. Wish you best of luck with your goal.
As I understand the question, I think it concerns rethinking the relative importance of various info as existing frames define them. For example, the standard frame places high importance on the rules text by defining a set space against a monotone background with a standard color font to make things readable. Some alternative frames flips the assumption of the rule text's importance by dropping it altogether. Compare standard Cryptic Command to full-art Magic Player Rewards version.
So to design an alternate frame, the first thing you want to figure out is the relative importance of various card info. For example, in my frame design, the most important thing I want to communicate is the art. So it gets the most card space and everything else is arranged around it. To give extra emphasis to the art, I reduced the frame eye candy textures to bare minimum of lines around the art. Ease of identification of cards in hand is second. So I rearranged the card name, type, cost and creature stats all on the left side for readability in a fanned hand.
Does this help? I can go further if this is what you're looking for.
Does this help? I can go further if this is what you're looking for.
Yes! It helps a lot!
I like your frame a lot. The only thing I'd really do different is to somehow abbreviate like symbols. Like UUUU would become U4, as an example. I tried sketching out my frame design, and so far I'm not very happy.
I've got the card type symbol in the top left corner. Then the name across the top still. Directly under the name, right aligned, is the card sub-type, if any. Along the left is mana cost, abbreviated like I mentioned above. And P/T is vertical, left aligned, similar to yours.
Also, I'm toying with the idea of making symbols for "core" keyword abilities, such as flying, first strike, reach, trample, etc.
I like your frame a lot. The only thing I'd really do different is to somehow abbreviate like symbols. Like UUUU would become U4, as an example. I tried sketching out my frame design, and so far I'm not very happy.
That sounds like OspreyDawn's way of handling mana cost. It is good for displaying any standard mana cost (no special cases like phyrexian and hybrid mana) within a constant sized box without much dead space. In other words, the mana cost box will always look similarly full whether the card is a Lightning Bolt or Progenitus. Downside is removal of the "empty space" info. Empty space can communicate just as well. The emptiness of the standard Lightning Bolt mana cost area tells you the spell is easy and cheap while the packed Progenitus mana cost area tells you the spell is hard to cast. So again, this is the type of trade-off you consider to keep in line with the priorities set in the first step (what's important to you).
I suggest that instead of sketching out the frame all at once, you get a piece of transparency. Sketch out areas for card name & type, mana cost, rules text, etc. Cut these shapes out so now you can manipulate their relative placement easily. You may find an arrangement that you didn't see simply by playing around with the pieces. This is a manual way of doing things. I usually manipulate the pieces as layers in my graphics program. Whatever way you do it, I consider this a more of inductive (bottom up) approach to design, letting how each piece of the jigsaw fit together one at a time shape the arrangement of the whole. The benefit is it lets you tackle creativity one piece at a time instead of requiring you to be able to envision the whole thing from the start.
I've got the card type symbol in the top left corner. Then the name across the top still. Directly under the name, right aligned, is the card sub-type, if any. Along the left is mana cost, abbreviated like I mentioned above. And P/T is vertical, left aligned, similar to yours.
Once you get identified your priorities and arranged the card elements accordingly, may want to consider a theme to overlay on the arrangement. For example, the Masterpieces (eye candy) themes added much flavor even though the card elements are arranged mostly similar to the standard frame. The ancient treasure map theme from Ixalan gives a lot of flavor as well. Perhaps you want to try frame themes based on card type like what I like to do. I created a new planeswalker frame along the lines of what I saw in the Expedition frame for land, Inventions frame for artifacts, Theros' nix frame for enchantments. Now I'm stuck the on rendering details for the sorcery and instant frames (my rendering skills are still quite lacking). Noentheless, I think you get the idea.
Also, I'm toying with the idea of making symbols for "core" keyword abilities, such as flying, first strike, reach, trample, etc.
That's a facinating idea. I haven't really seen a frame focused on that. Imagine an Inca-style theme frame (in keeping with the Ixalan set) with those square icon symbols, but done in a stylized way like this.
That's a facinating idea. I haven't really seen a frame focused on that. Imagine an Inca-style theme frame (in keeping with the Ixalan set) with those square icon symbols, but done in a stylized way like this.
It is definitely worth exploring.
That sounds like OspreyDawn's way of handling mana cost. It is good for displaying any standard mana cost (no special cases like phyrexian and hybrid mana) within a constant sized box without much dead space. In other words, the mana cost box will always look similarly full whether the card is a Lightning Bolt or Progenitus. Downside is removal of the "empty space" info. Empty space can communicate just as well. The emptiness of the standard Lightning Bolt mana cost area tells you the spell is easy and cheap while the packed Progenitus mana cost area tells you the spell is hard to cast. So again, this is the type of trade-off you consider to keep in line with the priorities set in the first step (what's important to you).
I very much like that presentation of Mana costs, but I understand what you mean. I just wanted it to be left-aligned and efficient, and that was the best example I could think of at the time.
I'll take your suggestions to heart, and work out what it is I'm trying to achieve. Thank you for your assistance!
If any of my ideas are interesting enough to anyone, feel free to use them in your own work. =)
Hey guys, I'm hoping to be able to find a couple of alters for a few things I've been meaning to stick into EDH decks, as well as updating the template I've got. If anyone could help, that'd be really appreciated.
The template I have is still the old "RoblintheGoblins Pro M15 Template v1.3" from 2014 and I know a lot's come out since then. Hopefully someone has a template with double-faced cards, four-ability planeswalkers, or even Masterpieces that they would be willing to share?
I'm also looking for any renders for Gaea's Cradle, Enlightened Tutor and Seedborn Muse, if any of those are possible.
Lastly, as I'm sure it's unfair to request a bunch of things and not share, here are a couple of the renders that I've done that I feel are worth sharing. Any critique is welcome as I'd love to be able to improve my own work to the levels I've seen.
@Everyone,
I'm happy to let you all know that I am releasing my Creature Masterpiece frame. In order to obtain it please click the "Templates" Link in my signature and use the following path: Templates>>Custom>>Exclusively Here>>Kentu's Creature Masterpiece.rar
Hi !
I'm new here, and i am beginning to do proxies, usually in French but i will try to post some here !
Looks nice, just a heads up.... the wizards copyright information needs to be on your render. Don't want you to get in trouble with mods.
Yes. Please include the copyright on all future renders. Also, try to keep the images in the PG-13 range. This one is borderline. The coverage of a standard bikini top for females is the bar we've set. Less and the image will be removed and warnings issued. Thanks - ZS
This frame was accidentally discovered and borrowed on internet. So far as I searched, I believe the credit of this frame should go to a long time old fellow called "Hamlet76" here. I do some changes on it. Thank you very much.
After spending some time working on it, I am at a happy place to release my Ixalan Land Masterpiece Template. It is still rough but hope to update and improve it as time passes. In addition to this, I have updated my templates section to include a new "Masterpiece" folder, and have moved all masterpiece templates that I have released in there. Keep up the awesome renders I've been seeing from you guys and I look forward to seeing your new creative ideas!!
As always, you can get your copy by clicking on the "Templates" link in my signature and use the following path: Template>> Masterpiece>> Exclusively Here>> Kentu's Ixalan Land Masterpiece Template.rar
As I understand the question, I think it concerns rethinking the relative importance of various info as existing frames define them. For example, the standard frame places high importance on the rules text by defining a set space against a monotone background with a standard color font to make things readable. Some alternative frames flips the assumption of the rule text's importance by dropping it altogether. Compare standard Cryptic Command to full-art Magic Player Rewards version.
So to design an alternate frame, the first thing you want to figure out is the relative importance of various card info. For example, in my frame design, the most important thing I want to communicate is the art. So it gets the most card space and everything else is arranged around it. To give extra emphasis to the art, I reduced the frame eye candy textures to bare minimum of lines around the art. Ease of identification of cards in hand is second. So I rearranged the card name, type, cost and creature stats all on the left side for readability in a fanned hand.
Does this help? I can go further if this is what you're looking for.
Yes! It helps a lot!
I like your frame a lot. The only thing I'd really do different is to somehow abbreviate like symbols. Like UUUU would become U4, as an example. I tried sketching out my frame design, and so far I'm not very happy.
I've got the card type symbol in the top left corner. Then the name across the top still. Directly under the name, right aligned, is the card sub-type, if any. Along the left is mana cost, abbreviated like I mentioned above. And P/T is vertical, left aligned, similar to yours.
Also, I'm toying with the idea of making symbols for "core" keyword abilities, such as flying, first strike, reach, trample, etc.
That sounds like OspreyDawn's way of handling mana cost. It is good for displaying any standard mana cost (no special cases like phyrexian and hybrid mana) within a constant sized box without much dead space. In other words, the mana cost box will always look similarly full whether the card is a Lightning Bolt or Progenitus. Downside is removal of the "empty space" info. Empty space can communicate just as well. The emptiness of the standard Lightning Bolt mana cost area tells you the spell is easy and cheap while the packed Progenitus mana cost area tells you the spell is hard to cast. So again, this is the type of trade-off you consider to keep in line with the priorities set in the first step (what's important to you).
I suggest that instead of sketching out the frame all at once, you get a piece of transparency. Sketch out areas for card name & type, mana cost, rules text, etc. Cut these shapes out so now you can manipulate their relative placement easily. You may find an arrangement that you didn't see simply by playing around with the pieces. This is a manual way of doing things. I usually manipulate the pieces as layers in my graphics program. Whatever way you do it, I consider this a more of inductive (bottom up) approach to design, letting how each piece of the jigsaw fit together one at a time shape the arrangement of the whole. The benefit is it lets you tackle creativity one piece at a time instead of requiring you to be able to envision the whole thing from the start.
Once you get identified your priorities and arranged the card elements accordingly, may want to consider a theme to overlay on the arrangement. For example, the Masterpieces (eye candy) themes added much flavor even though the card elements are arranged mostly similar to the standard frame. The ancient treasure map theme from Ixalan gives a lot of flavor as well. Perhaps you want to try frame themes based on card type like what I like to do. I created a new planeswalker frame along the lines of what I saw in the Expedition frame for land, Inventions frame for artifacts, Theros' nix frame for enchantments. Now I'm stuck the on rendering details for the sorcery and instant frames (my rendering skills are still quite lacking). Noentheless, I think you get the idea.
That's a facinating idea. I haven't really seen a frame focused on that. Imagine an Inca-style theme frame (in keeping with the Ixalan set) with those square icon symbols, but done in a stylized way like this.
It is definitely worth exploring.
Lol....I see what you did there
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I very much like that presentation of Mana costs, but I understand what you mean. I just wanted it to be left-aligned and efficient, and that was the best example I could think of at the time.
I'll take your suggestions to heart, and work out what it is I'm trying to achieve. Thank you for your assistance!
If any of my ideas are interesting enough to anyone, feel free to use them in your own work. =)
The template I have is still the old "RoblintheGoblins Pro M15 Template v1.3" from 2014 and I know a lot's come out since then. Hopefully someone has a template with double-faced cards, four-ability planeswalkers, or even Masterpieces that they would be willing to share?
I'm also looking for any renders for Gaea's Cradle, Enlightened Tutor and Seedborn Muse, if any of those are possible.
Lastly, as I'm sure it's unfair to request a bunch of things and not share, here are a couple of the renders that I've done that I feel are worth sharing. Any critique is welcome as I'd love to be able to improve my own work to the levels I've seen.
You need to reupload the images on a separate image hosting site, otherwise the mods will delete them.
@Mushen, mods may find that Scion a bit too NSFW
Shh!!! It's perfect.
Rishkar, Peema Renegade.
Thanks.
I'm happy to let you all know that I am releasing my Creature Masterpiece frame. In order to obtain it please click the "Templates" Link in my signature and use the following path: Templates>>Custom>>Exclusively Here>>Kentu's Creature Masterpiece.rar
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Looks nice, just a heads up.... the wizards copyright information needs to be on your render. Don't want you to get in trouble with mods.
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StaffYes. Please include the copyright on all future renders. Also, try to keep the images in the PG-13 range. This one is borderline. The coverage of a standard bikini top for females is the bar we've set. Less and the image will be removed and warnings issued. Thanks - ZS
This frame was accidentally discovered and borrowed on internet. So far as I searched, I believe the credit of this frame should go to a long time old fellow called "Hamlet76" here.
Dark Confidant
After spending some time working on it, I am at a happy place to release my Ixalan Land Masterpiece Template. It is still rough but hope to update and improve it as time passes. In addition to this, I have updated my templates section to include a new "Masterpiece" folder, and have moved all masterpiece templates that I have released in there. Keep up the awesome renders I've been seeing from you guys and I look forward to seeing your new creative ideas!!
As always, you can get your copy by clicking on the "Templates" link in my signature and use the following path:
Template>> Masterpiece>> Exclusively Here>> Kentu's Ixalan Land Masterpiece Template.rar
Hi-res Gallery
Templates
Resources
Fonts
Walkthroughs, Gimp Support & Add-ons
Come join us at The Proxy Factory - Reddit