Adventure Game Studio

AGS Support => Beginners' Technical Questions => Topic started by: szabod on Tue 18/11/2008 19:25:35

Title: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: szabod on Tue 18/11/2008 19:25:35
Hi!
I can't draw with free hand, and my question: Is there any tutorial that, teaches me Lucas Arts and comic strip style drawing? Or just a simple drawing tutorial, that can help for me.
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: on Tue 18/11/2008 19:57:11
This'll probably get moved, since it isn't exactly a *technical* question.

There are many tutorials for general cartoon-drawing (but not as many a you'd think), so I think your best bet is a google search: tutorial+cartoon did crop up quite some interesting results. Apart from that I can only give the age old, hackneyed phrase: The three Ps. Practise, practise, practise.
Before you copy a certain style, you should have a good idea of general drawing- how to construct a character out of simple geometrical shapes, how to create a basic 2-point perspective and so on.
Start reading webcomics. Search for the Sam&Max cartoons. Check the tutorial section of DeviantArt. Make some screenshots of games you like, and trace the characters, figure out how they are often based on simple shapes. Also, make peace with your inner druid and buy a shitload of paper and Practise, Practise, Practise.

Also, since most LA games were low-res, their characters at least are more an issue of pixel-art, and you will find that this comes easy to people who otherwise feel they're not that good with pencil and inks.

Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: szabod on Tue 18/11/2008 20:03:56
Thanks!
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: szabod on Tue 18/11/2008 20:43:56
This is ok. But my problem is that, if i learn drawing from a tutorial, then i can only draw in that style i leared. For example, i learn from drawing real faces, and after that, i can draw a human face very well, but if i try draw a cartoon face, i can't. Sorry if incomprehensible. I'm hungarian.
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: Khris on Tue 18/11/2008 20:59:41
You can find plenty of good tips in here:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=33702.0
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: abstauber on Tue 18/11/2008 21:01:00
Maybe then you should take a look at the stuff by preston blair:
http://www.animationarchive.org/2006/05/media-preston-blairs-animation-first.html

He just explains the techniques, but leaves the rest up to you.
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: szabod on Wed 19/11/2008 14:03:56
I copy Max (Sam and Max) from an image, and my question is:  this is practise? Because i can draw Max, but i can't draw my own character. If i copy Max a thousand times, then i can't draw anything else very well yet.
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: Trent R on Wed 19/11/2008 14:14:04
Yes it is because it helps with coordination and pencil use, and to example what Ghost said, it is not my forte--making me better with programs like Photoshop.

Also, if you draw your own character you can post it in the Critic's Lounge and get tips on how to improve and continue discussion like this. Whereas this thread will be locked soon because it's in the wrong place.

~Trent
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: Khris on Wed 19/11/2008 16:35:26
Try to come up with your own character design using paper & pencil.
Then scan the drawing, scale it down to an appropriate size (e.g. 80 pixels high) and trace over it using a program that is optimized for pixelart (ProMotion, GraphicsGale).

The three important ways to success:
1. Practice.
2. Practice.
3. Practice!
Title: Re: Freehand draw, like in the Lucas Arts games
Post by: szabod on Wed 19/11/2008 17:39:45
Thanks for everything!