Opinions on the text of this piece?

This is a header for a site I'm putting together for my own personal use, as well as for practice/experience. I like the design and colors the way they are, but not the text. I'm wondering if any of you fine people have any ideas as to what I could do with the "SAVAGE" part. At the moment I have the fill set to zero because I don't want to block too much of the design behind it, but I still want the text to be where it is because it's what everything else in the design is centered around. Any suggestions?

http://img844.imageshack.us/img844/2764/header2z.jpg

PS Sorry if this is the wrong section, none of the other forums mention critique.

the stroke with one of the default gradients is really plain.

Also, you didn't do much with the actual text. try some text distorting and/or kerning.

Other than that, army fonts just don't seem appropriate. army fonts make you think of dark green and brown.

[Moves to Digital Arts]


The heading is alright, but it's way too busy. It took me a while just to find out that there was actually a word in the image because the detail behind draws too much attention.

I'm also confused as to what the meaning of the image actually is. Is it for a car site, wheels, guns, death, drugs, or just being a rebel?

What I'd do is start off with the Word and make some simple effects around that, bring it to it's full effect and basically create a heading. Then focus on the background and create something that compliments the text. Reduce the amount of thrown in effects and focus on bringing out the detail on each new addition until you find an equal balance between the amount of text, and effects to compliment it. :)

Keep it up, it'll take a while, but you'll eventually get it right. ;)

EDIT: Even removing the AK would improve it heaps.

I went and downloaded a batch of new fonts to work with, I know the one I used wasn't a good choice. What is kerning btw?

The header really has no purpose. It will be a header for a site I'm putting together that will only serve as my homepage when I get on Firefox and nothing else. And on the page it has links to all the resources and forums that I frequent. As well as some other things. But basically, it'll only be for my eyes, but I still want it to look good as I will have to look at it everyday.

I actually like the design/colors/images, its sort of just a symmetrical collage of some things I like. But if it's as shitty as you make it out to be, I might just scrap it.

PS The AK is my favorite part :p

Check out Papa's Text Tutorial for info on Kerning: [Link]

Also, Don't Scrap it cause I pointed out a few things. What I said was my opinion and what you have to remember is that there is a difference between making something that appeals to you, and making something that will please others. Often I make sigs or artworks that I like, but often some of the people I show it to don't really like it.

A good example is my current skater sig. That was originally a Comic strip that I painted, added shadows and effects and touched up. I got told by alot of people that it's plain and simple, I should add C4Ds, but if you look at the original [Link] you will see what work I have done to get it to this stage.

:)

Dude this is super messy and isnt needed. Headers should be as simple as you can make them without being boring.
In my oppinion you should try something like this: Open a new canvas, get the gradient tool and pick a light colour and a dark colour, then find a nice simple font with an overlayed black and white gradient over it on the blending options.
After this is shall be looking simple yet effective and professional. Now you can start to add small images like you've done above with a few minor new details such as shadows and reflections.

Hope i helped, and be sure to post the link to the finished website :)

i agree with shorter on this way tooo messy gotta keep it simple even complex stuff can look simple :) keep workin man and show is the full layout :)