Photo Background Tracing

[frenzykitty]

So, I've decided that when it comes to drawing things from scratch I still have a long way to go. I've decided to take a stab at tracing some photographs for backgrounds. I've quickly knocked out an example, and would love your thoughts!

This took about 30 minutes. This is obviously still quite rough.



Becomes:

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/CICq5bD.png[/imgzoom]

[cat]

I think the result varies. But with another 30 minutes you could get a nice background.

The bed and large cupboard look ok, I can immediately see what they are. But the smaller dressers in the background and the bedside table need the drawers, maybe even the handles. I'd also add that vertical lines on the dark wall next to windows. The leftmost and rightmost part of the floor look off perspective-wise.
The pattern on the carpet looks strange. The pillows on the bed look flat. Depending on what objects you want use in your room, I'd add more stuff like the bedside lamps, books and flowers. Or just add other stuff that seems appropriate.

[Anian]

Knowing where to copy and where things will just look unclear is very important in tracing.
I think the picture above the bed is passable and maybe even the outside seen through the window, but the bedding, the carpet and the furniture without drawers are strange and don't work. Sometimes it's better that you make your own details that are clear and maintain the style, especially when it's not important like the carpet pattern. They might look ok in the picture, but when they're transferred, the details get lost and just looks confusing and messy when compared to the rest of the picture.

Additionally, the wall perspective lines are wrong on very edges on both sides of the painting. Gotta detect the perspective of the photo then trace and hold stronger to the perspective than to the photo.

And third thing, and this might not be correct, but I think this was a wide angle lens, which might distort some things that would be important when tracing over. For example the 2 cupboards on the right, they have almost the same depth as the big closet, so if you were drawing them, you'd probably show their side (almost as much or the same as the big closet), because they look very flat like this. Or at least add shadows (I am aware this is wip) to indicate their dimensions

[Grundislav]

Results definitely vary.  The trickiest part of tracing photos is finding ones that have good composition for a game.  If you stick to the photo 100%, it will limit your composition severely.  Personally, I would recommend tracing photos only if there's some kind of real life location you want to depict and can't get right on your own. 

As an example of varying results:

This background from Ben Jordan 5, like most of the others in that game, was traced from a photo.  Notice how the bar and chairs are much closer to the camera and therefore look gigantic compared to the characters at full size.  That chef is probably standing on a ladder to be able to see over the top of the bar, and those chairs are the size of giant thrones.  Also, the place mat nearest to the camera could probably make a decent beach towel for Ben.


This background from A Golden Wake was also traced from a photo, but I didn't stick to it completely and took some liberties.  This photo works much better as a background because it's a straight-on view and the main walkable area is the sidewalk, where there isn't much variety in perspective.  Also, the original photo was in black and white, so it gave me the chance to paint whatever colors I wanted.

This is the original photo:

[frenzykitty]

Thanks for all your feedback everyone. I completely agree, and can see where the perspective goes out (esp in bottom corners). As I said, it was a WIP, but I also agree with the lack of "details" (cupboard handles, bedside lamps, etc). At the moment it is very bare. I'm just trying to see if it would work I would probably aim to spend 3 times as long per background getting it to work nicely.

Also, I would probably outline in a darker shade of the fill color, instead of black (just seems to work better).

Thanks again.

P.S. Grundislav, I'd LOVE to see a roto tutorial from you

[Grundislav]

P.S. Grundislav, I'd LOVE to see a roto tutorial from you

I'll see about putting one together for the next big rotoscoped animation I do.

In the meantime I put a very basic description up on my blog

[Eric]

Slightly off-topic, but does that building say Coral Gables? My brother-in-law lives there. I forgot this game was set in Miami.

[Grundislav]

Eric: It sure does! A Golden Wake is mainly about the founding of Coral Gables.