Argaar Project : colored background

Evil · Sun 04/07/2004 19:53:11

Actually, I was kind of upset how this turned out. Dont get me wrong, it looks amazing, like a photograph. I was hoping it was going to be darker, with long cast shadows and such. Maybe some color will change my mind.

By 'scraping' the character, I ment make a new one. The character went well with the old style but the new background is too realistic. I think a more realistic character would suit better.

Ryz · Sun 04/07/2004 21:47:19

Congratulations Dorcan, it looks gorgeous!!!

How are you getting it colored now??

Hm, didn't I initially suggest the blending(transparency setting)?
anyway, it looks awesome..

How long did it actually take you?

Ali · Mon 05/07/2004 11:06:47

I must join the legion of people singing your praises - that's fantastic! But I'm not really desperate to see it in colour. It reminds my of film noir, I'd love to see a B/W detective game in that style.

[Cameron] · Mon 05/07/2004 11:10:28

Quote from: Ali on Mon 05/07/2004 11:06:47
But I'm not really desperate to see it in colour. It reminds my of film noir, I'd love to see a B/W detective game in that style.

Quite true, we really need a noir detective game. And proper noir not just a game in b/w.

loominous · Mon 05/07/2004 18:21:33

More noirish feel to it, although that may not be what you re after at all:

Just upped the black level and made the ceiling a bit darker.

Very nicely rendered btw.

Nhazgul · Mon 05/07/2004 18:58:05

Im amazed..Ã,Â the details and the shading is flawless! Good composition too.

I also understand Evil's feelings. Looking at the second picture and imagine a dark (poker and smoke) room gives a more impressive artwork than number 3.

loominous darker version isn't really right. Too bright floor and too much contrast, the chair is also too dark. I guess the smoke-feeling could be reached by focus and unfocus things. But Im not sure really. It's beyond my knowledge...

Good luck mr Dorcan, you who bring light to us amateur artists!

Evil · Mon 05/07/2004 20:29:21

Actually, I love Loom's edit. Thats exactly what I was thinking. Lets see some color!

mätzyboy · Mon 05/07/2004 20:35:35

Dorcan, I just love how the Manny Calavera doll turned out...

Morgan · Mon 05/07/2004 22:37:34

Well I think its about time someone said it this background doesnt suck. Some people might not be able to look past the obvious flaws but dont be put down by everyone elses negativity, this background is not that bad. As everyone says keep practicing and you will someday get better. Don’t give up!
(Seriously though I think that that second one you did with the faded smoky look would look great in some kind of dream sequence.)

Dorcan · Tue 06/07/2004 16:44:36

Wow, lot of repliesÃ,Â :o

SteveMcCrea : hehe thanks

Mr_Frisby : lol yeah, now it's in full color

Darth Mandarb : He, glad you like it

You're right about the monitor, I think it's better defined now.

Surge : In fact I've never done before a background with this amount of details, because I used to thought I could never finish one... But I realise now that I actually enjoyed a lot taking time for each detail. In fact, much more than when I just wanted to finish as quickly as possible...

Clueless3 : Thank you

TheDude : Yup, coloring in B&W first was quite usefull, because for exemple, it's easier to adjust the contrast & luminosity and to keep the balance between elements.

Evil : I understand how you're feeling, but my game will be a fantasy game, and I want it coloured. But, I also like contrasted and dark backgrounds, so I will try to get some inspiration from Tim Burton's movies. I said "try".
About the character : I imported the background in the game, and I think the character blend into the background pretty well : Screenshot

Ryz : Absolutely, you advised me on making the lines subtle, and I thank you for that. I simply changed the oppacity to 20%, like GarageGothic said. So, thank to you both

It took me... eerm I should have timed that...
Let's see : It took me about 3 hours to sketch and draw on paper. Making it B&W took me 10-12 hours, and 10 hours to color it...
So, I would say about 24 hours distributed on 6 days (I had to work for my exam too)

Ali : Hey thank you ! Well, a B&W detective game would be cool, but... I prefere a fantasy colored game

loominous : Thanks.
Yup, adjusting the level gives the background a stronger effect, but as I said before, that's not what I'm looking afterÃ,Â $:-\$

Nhazgul : Wow, thank you, but I don't deserve these praiseÃ,Â

About the shading, I tried to make them as right as possible, using a technic I saw a long time ago in a book.
Here you can see what it looks like (click on the picture to see it bigger):

MÃ¤tzyboy : Hehe me too

Morgan : mmh I haven't seen anybody saying the background sucks...

Ok thank you everybody. Just some informations about the coloring :

As in photos, colored pictures are much less contrasted than B&W pictures. So I first had to change the luminosity & contrast balance.
I set the b&w layer blending mode on "Hard Light", and filled the color layer (which is under the b&w one) with the "neutral" gray (127 127 127).
Then, all I had to do is select a color with a value near the "neutral" gray one, and painted over the color layer... yeah
I would have said it better in french

Darth Mandarb · Tue 06/07/2004 17:23:58

DM officially quits trying to be an artist

Dorcan, I thought the original was good. This is great!

I particualarly like the little red lights on the power strips. GREAT attention to detail.

I'm guessing you're still going to add some posters or something to the back wall? It looks as if it's started ...

The printer looks fantastic! Almost real. That's great.

The mouse looks like it should (maybe) be casting a bit more of a shadow? Just to my eyes maybe?

Anyway ... I'm being nit picky ... this rocks!

Great job!

YOke · Tue 06/07/2004 17:30:35

:o

ok...
People to kill to become worlds greatest artist.
New entry...D..O...R..C..A..N...there. Now sign in blood.

On a serious note tho... The technique you describe for lighting is really helpful! Thanks!

Can I be your friend?

mätzyboy · Tue 06/07/2004 17:43:55

:o :o :o

*Worship*

This is so beautiful.

BTW, is that a safe in the far lower part of the shelf? If so I think it should have one of those code turn wheels on it... But seriously, why bother? I could just sit and look at the image the way it is for hours...

Andail · Tue 06/07/2004 17:45:41

holy shmoly!
This is one of the most impressing pieces I've seen during all my years on this forum.

It's perfect, simply put.

mätzyboy · Tue 06/07/2004 17:45:48

Quote from: mÃ¤tzyboy on Tue 06/07/2004 17:43:55
:o :o :o

*Worship*

This is so beautiful.

BTW, is that a safe in the far lower part of the shelf? If so I think it should have one of those code turn wheels on it... But seriously, why bother? I could just sit and look at the image the way it is for hours...

EDIT:
I just noticed that some of the shadows are almost white instad of being darker the way shadows are... Look between the hind legs of the chair and I think you'll see...

EDIT again: Sorry for the double post, i pressed "reply with quote" instead of "Modify", by mistake...

LGM · Tue 06/07/2004 18:30:58

Were you an artist for the Iron Giant film?

Nhazgul · Tue 06/07/2004 18:46:18

You keep surprising me! This is actually better than my imaginated picture!

I hope you find out a way to massproduce these to a whole game!

What about that character? are you finished? I think you should make the guy to a new C&C so that he'll get fair looking. Now he's a bit stiff...

And to all other sad facec, you're wrong! this shows that with hard work (and ofcourse good technique) you can do miracle. It's just to start with something that seems impossible and fight!

Thank you Dorcan... you who bring light AND colour to us amateur artists!

ThunderStorm · Tue 06/07/2004 19:01:46

Wow, this is an awesome picture indeed!
I love the detail and the lights/shadows/colors work.

Now, I don't like to pester all of you artists with the same qestion, but - do you think you could turn the process of creating this background into a tutorial? I'd really like to learn more about the steps that led you from the sketch to the second and third version posted here. And I also don't fully understand the way you determined the shape and position of the shadows.

I really look forward to playing that game. Keep up the good work!

Ryz · Tue 06/07/2004 19:28:40

Dorcan, congraaaatulations.

It's beautiful, I assume you have done some light/shadow studies, for it really shows in your art.
I can say I have hardly seen such skill on this forum as well,. I know some ask for tutorials, and actually you should visit sites like: http://www.conceptart.org/
(thunerstorm)
They draw together, color each other pieces etc. What's important when you begin is try to train in coloring, not detailing. Color value/light/shadow studies. People there for example make a scene per 30 or 60 minutes, just roughly. the result is rough, yet you can evaluate the use of colors and logic in lightning everytime. Working like that pretty much means setting up a palet and imagining a scene(some perspective) getting it into photoshop and starting to color/smear and keep adjusting. For pure color/value work your goal would be to try to create a shape, purely on lighting and shadow. without light, there is no shape, no dimension. lines are something else, you know.

Anyway, .. Dorcan: it's so pretty, the beautiful blend of a cartooney touch with such lightning and warm colors. What I also often see a consistent shaprness or softness to a whole image, you however have beautifully defined certain objects, blurred others.

Morgan · Tue 06/07/2004 19:45:31

I couldn't quite tell if you got that my last post was sarcastic. I just thought you were getting sick of every post being this is great and WOW how did you draw this. Anyway when I look at this drawing I feel that I should just burn all my art supplies and never pick up a pencil again because what is the point. I could never draw as good as this. You are like the soup nazi of art. I got to sit down. (That was a reference from Sienfeld just in case you didnt know. I wasnt actually calling you a nazi.)