damn this stairwell. my head hurts.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

No steps visible here.

Tomas- what do you think this is ?




It's a difficult perspective to work with, in any case, especially when changing the surroundings.

[Tomas]

No steps visible here.

Tomas- what do you think this is ?




It's a difficult perspective to work with, in any case, especially when changing the surroundings.

I think it is the edge of the floor with a metal plate on it to protect it from wear. But I guess you could the entire floor a big step too.

[Goldmund]

With sliding doors closed:


...and open:


What do you think?

I'm quite happy with what I've got thanks to your helpful comments!

[GarageGothic]

I think the staircase works fine now. However, the new door frame and the sliding door itself clash with the rest of the background. Perhaps it's the sharp black edge around the door frame, but for some reason it looks more like a drawing than a photograph. I would suggest toning down the contrast for a better match - and note that I preferred the old door frame without visible bolts.

Also, the windows(?) in the door are very black, unless of course the light in the stairwell only turns on once the door is open. I suggest showing a hazy view of the stairwell through the glass, I know it will make it more difficult to animate the door opening, but it shouldn't take too much extra work. I realize though that the background showing through at that height might not work well with the door itself. Another suggestion would be to elongate the window to cover most of the door (showing more of the stairwell), or to remove it entirely.

After seeing the reference photo I'm quite intrigued by the way you construct your backgrounds. Great work!

[Goldmund]

I think the staircase works fine now. However, the new door frame and the sliding door itself clash with the rest of the background. Perhaps it's the sharp black edge around the door frame, but for some reason it looks more like a drawing than a photograph. I would suggest toning down the contrast for a better match - and note that I preferred the old door frame without visible bolts.

Yes, you're right, it has too much contrast. I quite like the frame, though, because it looks worn, not so pristine (it's not a drawing, I made it from a photo of a single metal plank).

After seeing the reference photo I'm quite intrigued by the way you construct your backgrounds. Great work!

Well, it's not much of a hassle, more like some quiet, relaxing past-time. Librarian's work. Only sometimes it's hard to find proper photos of things you want to collage. Like, you type into google images: 'glasses' and you get a photo of a girl in glasses with some other person's intimate member in her mouth. It's distracting.

Thanks for your opinion (valuable as always), but now stop reading the forums, go and finish Shadowplay. We want it.

EDIT: Back to contrast: I've checked it, but I don't know... it's more menacing the way it stands out. I want you to be scared to go down there. I will tone it down, but just a bit. And lighten the outer phase around the frame.

[esper]

Well, darken the area. It doesn't look menacing when the door opens. You're all, "Oh dear, I want no part of that," and then the door opens and you're like, "well, that's actually quite cheery. I think I'll go have some tea and crumpets down there..."

Another suggestion: you said you liked the frame the way it was because it seemed worn and not quite so pristine... But the rest of the room looks pristine, and I think that's why it doesn't seem to match. You might at least make the walls a little dirty, or at least dirtier the nearer you get to the door.

Also, why not darken the downstairs area (as I suggested in the first paragraph) and then make the window transparent? If you really want to make it look menacing, you could add a black area that animates, toggling on and off, to make it look like the lights downstairs are flickering. This would be visible through a transparent window.

Just some thoughts...

Oh, and Tomas... I know you just probably typed "stairwell" into Google image search, but I must admit I was slightly amazed that you managed to find the original image.

[Goldmund]

Another suggestion: you said you liked the frame the way it was because it seemed worn and not quite so pristine... But the rest of the room looks pristine, and I think that's why it doesn't seem to match. You might at least make the walls a little dirty, or at least dirtier the nearer you get to the door.

Yes, the corridor is very bare; my main concern so far was the damned stairwell. Adorning the walls isn't any problem now, I should do it.

Also, why not darken the downstairs area (as I suggested in the first paragraph) and then make the window transparent? If you really want to make it look menacing, you could add a black area that animates, toggling on and off, to make it look like the lights downstairs are flickering. This would be visible through a transparent window.

Well, it's a very good idea, but I'm afraid I've overused the flickering lights effect in my game already :-) The effect I've come up with for this stairwell it's the kind of unnerving type of light very quickly changing brightness - it looks like in the old silent films, very atmospheric.

Thank you for your suggestions!

Oh, and Tomas... I know you just probably typed "stairwell" into Google image search, but I must admit I was slightly amazed that you managed to find the original image.

Heh, I too was impressed; but note that it's actually the only image that comes up in Google which has the proper perspective.