Saturday, May 1st, 2010
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Interview with Cyrill Clunev

Cyrill Clunev is a Russian designer with a very impressive abstract design style. This unique artist talks about why he likes creating abstract illustrations, and walks us through one of his best works. On top of all that we discuss how bad artwork inspires Cyrill to create amazing artwork. So lets get into another great interview.

1. Welcome to Psdtuts+, please introduce yourself. Could you tell us where you’re from and how you got started in the field?

Hello everyone! My name is Cyrill Clunev (aka dualform), and I’m a 24 year old designer and art director from Saint-Petersburg, Russia. About five years ago I found
deaddreamer on the net. I got a massive dose of inspiration and decided to get into art. So cyber punk was my first influence. Shortly after that I quit studying business in the university and started practicing really hard.

In a year I got my first job as a graphic designer in an agency. It was a big victory because I didn’t have any art education and my portfolio contained some crazy cyber photo manipulations and one ugly vector girl. So I got into vector design and continued on studying Photoshop. I’ve been working for different studios as a graphic artist and even motion designer for a few years, and now I’m the founder and owner of Goatelier design studio in Saint-Petersburg.

2. In a few words how would you describe this abstract style of yours? Why did you decide to go with this specific style over others?

Well, lets call it a “super-future-plastic-sex.” I’m actually a big architecture and modern furniture lover. I think making designs like those is a way of being an architect myself in some way because I’m pretty confident I won’t ever get into it.

3. Most of your art incorporates simple 2D and 3D shapes. Why does incorporating shapes appeal to you? And what do you think they bring to your art that you wouldn’t be able to get with anything else?

Incorporating shapes is the result of experimenting. I love shapes as the stand alone elements and I just make compositions to show the uniqueness of simplicity. Clean and sleek shapes bring aesthetics and fresh air to art. I suggest there are many ways to make it, but my method is the one I really feel.

4. You are also talented in designing typographic pieces like “Unitype.” Do you approach a typographic illustration different from your abstract pieces? If so how does it differ?

Actually, “Unitype” was a single experiment that turned out pretty nice. Honestly I don’t think I’m that good at typography so I don’t work with it even if I want to. It’s very different from the random abstract illustrations I usually make. Typography is a unique way of expressing emotions and information. If you want to be good in it, you have to practice hard in typography only.

5. “Magen-ethic” is one of your great illustrations, it has some amazing color combinations that light up the canvas. Please walk us through how you created it and what inspired you to make it.

First of all I have to admit it was a collaboration with Simone Magurno. He sent me the “wip” and I reorganized the composition a bit and continued on adding details. So we then worked on it for a while and finally got that cosmos bubble burst.

First color combination was really amazing and original. Blue, green purple and other colors that even shouldn’t work together at first sight. But Simone had a great feeling for it. Step by step we added new colors and overall it turned out messy in my opinion. So I started experimenting with it and got a few versions. One satisfied both of us and now you can check it on our websites.

6. When you are low on inspiration where is a common place that you turn to?

First place I turn to is Google with “ultra modern architecture” or something similar to that. I also have an inspiration folder on my PC where I collect unique and impressive designs. I’m a big fan of Ari Weinkle, Nelson Balaban and some other talented artist. If I need inspiration I check those guys for updates. But the most powerful thing is bad design. When you see badly executed abstract art you really think you should change the world and make a good one.

7. What do you think your biggest challenge was in terms of designing? Have you overcome this obstacle yet? If so tell us how.

I think I’m never 100% satisfied with my work. We always see designers that can make illustrations much better than our own and it really de-motivates me. But finally I figured out one clever thing, and it’s that I should take my own place in design and life. I don’t mean you should stop expanding your skills to the next level but just remember not to jump over your head.   

8. Thanks again for providing Psdtuts+ with this opportunity to interview you. Any final thoughts for our readers?

Thank you too, it was a pleasure to me. I wish everyone to keep the good things coming! And don’t forget to buy my prints to make Cyrill damn rich!!! Kidding, I don’t sell prints.

Where to find Cyrill on the Web

Zodiac

How to Create a Stereoscopic Image for Crossed Eye Image Viewing

Posted: 08 Jan 2010 07:10 AM PST

In this tutorial we will create a stereoscopic image for cross eye viewing, which means you will be able to view the final image in 3D and full color without the use of any special glasses.

I will be creating a simple piece from scratch for the sake of this tutorial but the final technique learned can be applied to existing artwork very easily, granted you are the creator and have the PSD file.

Final Image Preview

Take a look at the image we’ll be creating. Want access to the full PSD files and downloadable copies of every tutorial, including this one? Join Psd Plus for just $9/month. You can view the final image preview below.

Tutorial Details

  • Program: Adobe Photoshop CS2 (any version will work)
  • Difficulty: Beginner
  • Estimated Completion Time: Less than 1 hour

Step 1

We are going to start with a 900 pixel by 900 pixel image with a black background.

Step 2

Add some white text in the center on a 45 degree angle, I went with “PSDTUTS” in Century Gothic Bold at 200 pixels tall. Let’s add some color to the text, on a new layer I added a 45 degree gradient to a selection of the text in pure green. Let’s also add a black Inner Glow using a layer style just to soften the edges.

Add a 2 pixel white stroke of the text on its own layer. Move it up 5 pixels and to the right 5 pixels. Then let’s add a red Outer Glow layer style to it. We are done with the text so let’s clean up our layers a bit. Put all of the text layers in their own group and call it “text.”

Step 3

Now let’s start adding some elements around the text that we can move around later that will give us our 3D effects. On a new layer use a 65 pixel soft edge brush and create some random white dots around the text with it (a single click of the mouse). Do the same thing on another layer but with a 21 pixel size brush.

On another new layer, using the same 65 and 21 pixel sized brushes, draw a bunch of random dots all around the text, use both black and white colors.

Then apply a 45 degree motion blur of 500 pixels.

Duplicate the blurred dots layer twice and set their modes to Color Dodge. Let’s continue to keep our PSD clean and put all of these layers in their own group and call it “Dots.”

Let’s add one more line of text before we start modifying the layers to create our 3D stereoscopic effect. I went with “Stereoscopic Imagery” in white and placed it slightly on top of our “PSDTUTS” text. I added a Drop Shadow, black Inner Glow and 1 pixel red Stroke using layer styles.

Step 4

Now that we have our basic artwork created we are going to begin modifying all of these elements so that they appear 3D once we view them using the crossed eye method (more on that in the next step). To keep things organized let’s put all of our layers in a group and name it “Left Eye.”

Increase your canvas size from the center left so that it is double the width (1800 pixels).

Duplicate the “Left Eye” group and name it “Right Eye.” Then move it all to the right portion of the canvas.

We are going to slightly move some layers around on the canvas in the “Right Eye” group, use the arrow keys on your keyboard for this part. Select the “Small Dots Copy” layer and move it up 7 pixels, then to the right 7 pixels. Select the “Big Dots Copy” layer and move it up 10 pixels, then to the right 10 pixels.

Now select the “Stereoscopic Imagery Copy” text layer and move it up 7 pixels, then to the right 7 pixels. Select the “Stroke Copy” layer and move it up 7 pixels, then to the right 7 pixels. Select the “Color Copy” layer and “PSDTUTS Copy” text layer and move them up 4 pixels, then to the right 4 pixels.

Step 5

Now that we have our stereoscopic image complete, it’s time to view it in 3D! This might be easy for some, and tricky for others to do, but once you get the hang of it you will have no problems doing it in a matter of seconds. I have added a red circle to the center of both images to help you train your eyes on how to do this.

Continue Reading…



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