Help me Design grip for my 07 Ego

[peady15]

I'm having trouble with coming up with a design for grips, and since I know you guys are a lot more creative than I, I'm looking for suggestions. The marker is a Dark Trooper (black and white) and most of the time my 14 year old son Vader will be the one who is going to be using it.

http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu29/peady15/Picture004.jpg
http://i630.photobucket.com/albums/uu29/peady15/Picture005.jpg

[soulcar]

How about a reverse/negative image of a storm tropper?

[Hoot]

Black stormtroopers are bad ass lookin as you can see here:

http://withonebreath.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/black_stormtrooper.jpg

[PEOG]

Black stormtroopers are bad ass lookin


*snicker* I ain't touchin that comment

[Hoot]

Ha, I guess I DID put myself out there for that one.

[Hoot]

Peady, I'm currently designing a grip set for Check Yer 6, when he approves the final design, I would be happy to throw something together for you.

[tigar19]

I like the idea of a strom tropper on it, but I would somehow incorporate the eye covers because they just look like they are shooting up from the grip.

I dunno maybe have the storm trooper aiming his weapon up towards the feedneck and shooting a laser blast the same color as the eye cover, so it looks like the eye cover is a continuation of the laser blast coming from his rifle.

DJHoot, you hear what I'm trying to say?

[peady15]

I like these ideas so far.

[soulcar]

Using Tigar's suggestion, keep the red eye covers and have them be the laser blast coming off of the grip. I know you were wanting to keep it B&W. It's just an idea I had.

[tigar19]

Using Tigar's suggestion, keep the red eye covers and have them be the laser blast coming off of the grip. I know you were wanting to keep it B&W. It's just an idea I had.

Or since his name is "Vader" what about a picture of Vader and you could use red eye covers as an extension of Vader's red light saber??

[soulcar]

Here's a few pictures I found thus far.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp163/soulcar/StormTrooper.png

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp163/soulcar/online%20pictures/stormtrooper.jpg

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp163/soulcar/online%20pictures/TTMask_DV.jpg

This should help some.

[soulcar]

This one isn't B&W, I think it's kinda cool so I thought I would share it.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp163/soulcar/online%20pictures/vadermask.jpg

[soulcar]

I like the contrast in this picture, the reversing the colors of the helmets could be interesting as well.

http://i408.photobucket.com/albums/pp163/soulcar/online%20pictures/swvader3.jpg

[Rocco]

Or since his name is "Vader" what about a picture of Vader and you could use red eye covers as an extension of Vader's red light saber??

I was thinkin' something more like this, just b/c of Vader's callsign. I know... it's an obvious one, but I think it could work well, and I love Tigar's idea of using the eye covers as an extension of the lightsaber.

Or if you want to go back to the black/white them, you could do a speederbike trooper. Gotta love the Empire... they give us no end to the themes of black/white trooper types we can play with... :D

[peady15]

Since you guys are really thinking out of the box I thought I'd up load a second pic of the maker with the Red eye covers installed. I'm not sure you guys will be able to do what your talking about so good luck. All the maker is black and white the grips don't have to be in black and white only.

[tigar19]

Here's draft #1 and I don't take comments personally so speak up. :)
I tried to line up the saber with the eye covers. Let me know if you want to see "Vader" somewhere on it.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDS1.jpg

[Rocco]

DUDE! Tigar, those rock! Nice job... I like it. If I were to suggest anything, I'd look at changing the color or contrast on the Death Star. Something either w/ white/black contrast, or make it red. But that's just my personal likes...

Any way, I think it looks great... rep 4 u!

[Mutt]

Here's draft #1 and I don't take comments personally so speak up. :)
I tried to line up the saber with the eye covers. Let me know if you want to see "Vader" somewhere on it.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDS1.jpg

Those are pretty awesome but what do they look like with the Death Star in it's regular color?

[Hoot]

Actually, that IS the normal color of that Death Star.

Thats a Haloween Pumpkin carved into the Death Star.

[soulcar]

DUDE! Tigar, those rock! Nice job... I like it. If I were to suggest anything, I'd look at changing the color or contrast on the Death Star. Something either w/ white/black contrast, or make it red. But that's just my personal likes...

Any way, I think it looks great... rep 4 u!


I think I have to agree with Rocco on the Death Star coloring. I think White might work the best, to go with the rest of the marker.

[tigar19]

Thanks for the feedback!

Another variant with some more depth to it.

Some of the things I think about...
a - current death star or a complete death star?
b - placement of death star, now or like in other picture?
c - all of Vader or just some of him but closer?
d - background color - more grey, more silver, lighter or darker, or just another color?

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07EgogripsDarthDSBW.jpg

[peady15]

I like this one better, I think this is the iconic image of the Death Star, and should be the one used. Can it be enlarged a little?

[tigar19]

I like this one better, I think this is the iconic image of the Death Star, and should be the one used. Can it be enlarged a little?

Enlarged but remember where the screws are going to go...Somehow the death star has gotten blurry and I got to find out how to fix it.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07EgogripsDarthDSBWbigger.jpg

...and here's another option. I can also do this one with the half Death Star.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDrak.jpg

[peady15]

The second one is cool too. I think the black screws won't be to obvious in the Death Star, and if only it can be cleared up

[soulcar]

Tigar first you hoock me up with an awesome set of Thor grip and now you kick some serious butt on these for Peady and Vader. Brother you are true friend through and through.

Thank you for all your hard work and effort and I know Peady feels the same way.

Freaking top notch!!

[fireman]

Now I like that last idea of using Vader and the saber. That would make good sense for Vader.

[fireman]

I like the Vader idea. That's awesome. I didn't know you could make custom grips for your markers. Fricken awsome.

[peady15]

Vader and I both are leaning toward the second one but it's still a difficult choice.

[Mutt]

The fact that the Death Star is blurry in the first set leads it to look more realistic (I know it was unintended), like how the subject of a photograph is usually clear while background items are somewhat blurry. You're awesome Tigar!!

[tigar19]

The fact that the Death Star is blurry in the first set leads it to look more realistic (I know it was unintended), like how the subject of a photograph is usually clear while background items are somewhat blurry. You're awesome Tigar!!

Um...yeah...that's what I meant by depth...

Here's that second one with the in-process death star.

How do you feel about adding the name Vader to it?
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDark-halfDS.jpg

[tigar19]

The second one is cool too. I think the black screws won't be to obvious in the Death Star, and if only it can be cleared up

Here it is cleared up.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07EgogripsDarthDSBWclear.jpg

[peady15]

Um...yeah...that's what I meant by depth...

Here's that second one with the in-process death star.

How do you feel about adding the name Vader to it?
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDark-halfDS.jpg


Tigar add Vader's name to the one with the completed Death Star I think that's the one he likes best.

[tigar19]

Tigar add Vader's name to the one with the completed Death Star I think that's the one he likes best.

How does this look?
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDarknamed.jpg

[peady15]

They look great, I need to show them to Vader, but I'm sure these are the ones he'll want!

[Crazy]

How does this look?
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDarknamed.jpg

This is just my two cents, but i think you should tone down the red around the death star. The red makes it pop and makes it the focal point. Maybe thats the look your going for, but i would think that Darth Vader would want to be the focal point. Try making the red around around the death star look more or less like the light sabre. Red to white fade maybe? Just my two cents.

[tigar19]

OK.

Just know I can easily remover, thicken, thin, or change the color of the red ring around the DS. The more I look at it the more I want to make it less pronounced...maybe a silver glow instead which will make his light saber stand out more?? Sometime tonight I'm going to do this and throw it up here for you to see.

[tigar19]

This is just my two cents, but i think you should tone down the red around the death star. The red makes it pop and makes it the focal point. Maybe thats the look your going for, but i would think that Darth Vader would want to be the focal point. Try making the red around around the death star look more or less like the light sabre. Red to white fade maybe? Just my two cents.

Ha ha, I just saw your post after posting mine. Looks like great minds think alike! :thumbs up:

[Crazy]

Ha ha, I just saw your post after posting mine. Looks like great minds think alike! :thumbs up:

That they do. Lol. But i really would like to see them without the popping red around the death star. i think that really would make the work. And also, how about giving the text a little more glow? To make the name pop just a tad. Just a few suggestions.

Overall, i love the work. I really do.

**Not to thread jack** What did you do for that pic of darth vader to become like that? Was it a pic you found like that and just put it on a black back ground? If ya can pm me please, i am interested in that.

[tigar19]

And also, how about giving the text a little more glow? To make the name pop just a tad.

What did you do for that pic of darth vader to become like that? Was it a pic you found like that and just put it on a black back ground? If ya can pm me please, i am interested in that.

LOL I am no artist...I just make grip collages form images found on the web. I'll PM you with the image.

Peady & Vader - Here is an image without the red ring around the Death Star, but I did add a minor whitish ring just to give it that outlined look. I like this version more, but these are your grips and I want you to like them.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDarknamedsilver.jpg

In this second image I took Crazyfive2's suggestion and added a fine red outline to your name. Not enough to make it glow, but enough to tie the name back to the vader image. This is my favorite version so far, but again your opinion trumps mine.
http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDarknamedred.jpg

[peady15]

Man, I truly appreciate all the work you've done!!! I'm thinking you're right the last one is the best!

[soulcar]

I gotta admit, the red outline "Vader" name, is really good looking. Tigar you continue to do great work.

[tigar19]

Peady - I really had fun doing it while figuring out photoshop elements.
Soulcar - Thanks again buddy!

Now, if SPD will come out with an Etek3 template...

[Crazy]

Ok. i got to thinking. And i could be wrong, but im pretty sure when i was younger i seen a star wars movie and at the end, its like the credits was flying at you. Well heres my idea. I dont know how technical you can get, or how technical the printing of the grips can handle. But how about taking Vader's name and starting it small and increase the transparency and having it start at the middle of the death star and then slowly enlarge it and and then reduce the transparency so it looks more solid as it gets closer to you.

This is just an idea. I dont know if it will work as i dont know how detailed you can get the grips during the print process. If you decide to try this, and need help with this effect. Let me know and i might be able to assist.

Overall, I believe the last one where you reduced the red line of the death star and then added the red outline to the text looks great. Great job!

[soulcar]

Now, if SPD will come out with an Etek3 template...


Wouldn't it be the same as the 08 grips? I'm not a 100% positive on this at the moment of this post.

[tigar19]

Ok. i got to thinking. But how about taking Vader's name and starting it small and increase the transparency and having it start at the middle of the death star and then slowly enlarge it and and then reduce the transparency so it looks more solid as it gets closer to you.

I tried on one grip just for giggles. Something like below??

Wouldn't it be the same as the 08 grips? I'm not a 100% positive on this at the moment of this post.

For some dag gone reason, they changed the shape just a little bit to make the screw holes not line up. Eh, it just gives me time to think about what I want.

http://i326.photobucket.com/albums/k434/davidmeyers/07Egogrips-VaderDarknameddragged.jpg

[Crazy]

I tried on one grip just for giggles. Something like below??

Yep, thats it, but i would have had it coming out of the center of the death star instead of below it. Just an idea, keep messing around and you will soon find out you can create all kinds of things and effects using photoshop.

[tigar19]

Peady, Vader, at first I didn't care much for that last version, but this morning it looks cooler. The way the words come in from a distance really makes the death star appear like it is further away. I guess it's a better way to show depth without going blurry.

I'll leave it up to you two so let me know if you like it better.

Crazyfive2 - I hear ya, but I think it would take away from the awesome power of the Death Star! arrrgh

[Crazy]

Well either way. Its definitely an improvement from the beginning :D. Great Job!

[Melonhead]

I'm sure it would be different in person, but it's almost a little tough to make out Vader's figure there. Not sure why, but that's just what I'm seeing. And I bet Vader's TIE Fighter would be pretty sweet on a set of grips too. I really need to practice with Photoshop...

[tigar19]

Peady...Vader...just curious if you had more thoughts about your grips.