A Background. Please C&C!

[Nacho]

But the cars must be parked in a line parallel to the wall... and that line should coincide with the vanishing point of the wall, IMO...

[TheYak]

Perhaps not a useful reply, but it's less likely that they're parked parallel (I'm thinking you mean perpendicular here) to the wall.  Particularly with a no entry sign at that end, it's likely a one-way road with parking at a roughly 30° offset.  He mentioned NYC, maybe perpendicular parking is more common outside the US, but in a cramped area like that, it's likely diagonal.

It's looking quite a bit sharper.  I agree that the horizon seems strange and that background more like the photo's might make it less movie set-like.  The blue rectangular buildings are, however, more aesthetic than vague brownish stuff in the background. I don't think I'd think about the horizon if it weren't for the photo reference though.   

I think it's time some artistic license was used and one of the dark cars' colored was changed.  Staring at it, it's easy to tell what's what now, but it's still confusing at first glance. 

For the tree's leaves (which, to me at least, look less artificial now) does ArtGem (that's the program, right?) support alpha or are you introducing haze by hand?  If the edges of the leaf bunches were faded somewhat into the background, it might not stand out as much.  Light and atmosphere of the scene probably wouldn't allow it to be that crisp. 

[Traveler]

InC,

Your image looks very nice - in fact, the first time I looked at it, I thought it was a photo.

There are a few (minor) things that I'd like to point out:

1. I feel that the center sign makes the image somehow flat. It's right in the middle of the image and it's waaay too prominent there. I think the image would be better without it or if it would be smaller.

2. The gray car (of the two black ones) looks too softened, smudged. I'd use some different color to set it apart from the black one.

3. The stain at the bottom of the building in the front (to the right of the doors) seems too strong. I've never seen such dark stains on an otherwise well-maintained street.

With all this nitpicking, very nice image indeed!

[beldin]

Looks great.
My only problem is the skyline. It needs to be higher.
It looks like the foreground is on a really high hill.

[Vel]

Wow :o... that's all I can say, really.

[InCreator]

...since bigger improvements that take heavy time again are something i'd rather avoid...

I hate you guys 

...

Just kidding. I hope you didn't forget my bg yet...
It was paused a bit since I don't have much time!

Anyway, newest version is here: I redrew whole right part, which wasn't even half as simple as drawing everything else.

Here it is (minus some details and pixel cosmetics), most of C&C was respectfully followed. Am I getting close to declaring it finished now?




ArtGem supports only up to 16 layers, so I had to pick a save few details,reflections and improvements ago. I'll add them as soon as big changes are not needed anymore and I can merge previous layers. Damn, I so badly need to advance to photoshop - but I just can't learn it!

Eh, and I DO know how badly middle left building sticks out, I'll try to cover it somehow later - even better were if you gave some good edit or ideas how to do this.

[José Luiz]

First of all, I have to say:
InCreator, your background is astonishing!!! :o

I think I understood what Farlander is trying to say: I notice (at least here, in Brazil) that cars can be parked in three ways:



Parallel to the street (0º)
Diagonal (45º)
Perpendicular (90º)

So, the cars in the background are parked in 45º. Aren't they?

[ildu]

Does it really matter how they're parked? So some people in an adventure game world chose to park a bit tilted on a spot without indication for how to park. So what?

[InCreator]

Though I didn't think I'd draw today anymore, I still ended up with adding details. I also used !Photoshop  to get rid of middle building problem by desaturating a bit.

Also, tried a thing or two on sidewalk/road area (cracks in pavement, tyre tracks), added minor details (window reflection, lamp, laundry, sign) and drew few pixels here and there.

[Play_Pretend]

I may not have any useful advice, I just wanted to say holy *carp* that looks incredible.  I thought it was a photo at first too, and then my jaw dropped when I realized you'd drawn it.  Wow, double-wow.

[Erenan]

I agree with Farlander. I think there's still something weird with that first car. In my opinion, it looks like its angle is off. But it's not a matter of what direction in which the car is parked. It looks like the rear tires of the car must be buried in the street as though the car were pointing slightly up in the air. Probably this has to do with how little of its roof we can see, and with the fact that the rear tire under the door isn't visible.

That having been said, this is already an astonishing background, and if I had created it, I would just leave it alone.

[Traveler]

Wow!

I know it's not very useful as C&C, but that's pretty much all I can say.

Strange Visitor: I don't think there is any problem with the car; I believe it seems pointing up because its headlights are tilted a bit. Some European cars are like that. (I may be wrong about the perspective, though, I didn't actually check it, but to me it looks fine.)

Awesome job, InC!

[TheYak]

I really think it's time to go on to the next BG.  This one's excellent. 

In case you're not () the stain at the bottom of the front-most building still stands out a bit.  Some lightening or some dark-wash on the sidewalk to blend it might help. 

The lamp's frame shows a bit of aliasing, even in the small view.  Some medium-dark gray to blend it in might help. 

As far as that car, checked the photo-reference again.  If you watch the fade-to-drawing, you can slowly see the roof of the car vanish.  It does seem odd that you can see so little of it, yet so much of cars' tops in the rear, as well as top of the fenceline. 

[Play_Pretend]

Traveler:  Heh. . .no, I was one of the in-awe crowd, it's Erenan you mean.

[seaduck]

It's Prague, coool!!!

Hey, InCreator, it looks awesome!

As a Prague resident, and a holder of a driving licence, I can confirm, that cars in Prague park the same way as in Brazil, so these cars are really parked diagonally. LOL!

[Revan]

wow... wish I could create something like that... Just seen that you used ArtGem, damn why did they have to disscontinue that programme... can't get it anywhere...  :'( You know of anywhere I can get it? 

[InCreator]

Maybe here?
http://www.increator.pri.ee/ArtGem13crack.zip
(now let's pray that moderators won't smash me for this)

Since it's discontinued and not sold anymore, I think that pirating (or specifically - cracking the 30-day trial bugger thingy) isn't that much of a sin. As the saying goes, art demands some victims.

I recommend ArtGem only to those who like my style, or currently use MSPaint and want to get to the next level. If you can use something more powerful, such as Photoshop, GIMP or Project Dogwaffle, skip the ArtGem.

But my own dream is to move on to Photoshop. Now why in the hell has it to be so discouraging, boring and complicated?

Also, I'm planning on making a complete tutorial of my style, going through everything from setup to complete detailed bg.
But then again, will it be useful to anyone?

Ah, and thanks for leading me to this image, everybody. 

[DoorKnobHandle]

Also, I'm planning on making a complete tutorial of my style, going through everything from setup to complete detailed bg.
But then again, will it be useful to anyone?

"Useful" is not even an expression. 8) A tutorial describing your amazing style would be great!!

[ElementalWhite]

I am impressed beyond impression. I would love to see your skills put to a fantasy genre...