Background art needs to suck less.

[Meowster]

Hello there!

Unfortunately I'm woefully crap at painting, so maybe you can help me. Basically, this is the intro for a project I'm working on. Starts at the top of the image, then scrolls down slowly (with different layers moving at different speeds to create a less flat, static look).


http://shutupload.com/dl/be40faa9d593/

Originally it was meant to reach a drain at the very lowest level, and the camera was to pan down through the drain until it faded into darkness. But I can't figure out a way of making the perspective work (The camera would have to be very close to the drain, and I can't figure out how to get it that close seeing as at the top of the image everything is so distant, with things gradually getting a bit closer to the camera, if that makes sense...)

So I replaced it with bushes which look rubbish.

Has anyone got any ideas on how to make the drain perspective work, or any other suggestions?

Furthermore, the entire picture is fucking terrible, anyone got any suggestions? Because I can't paint. Any critique, changes, advice etc welcome.

Here's the PSD
http://shutupload.com/dl/27e579ae5211/

[NsMn]

Don't use a file hoster to upload images. Use something like tinypic  or imageshack instead.

[Anian]

First off all, you kind messed up the layers a bit at the end (the chimney one had some of the bushes in it so you deleted/hid the chimney as well -> check out what you loaded up, there's a white square where the chimney should be).

Are you talking about those drains that are in the actual street and horizontal or the ones that kind of go "into" the pavement? Also I didn't quite get

If it's the second, well I think the problem is (if I understood you corectly) that you're thinking a bit too realistic - the house is much closer than the blue city behind, so make the fence even closer/bigger.
As you go lower make the impression" of distance between objects bigger - just as an example - if the house is twice as big as it would have been in the layer behind (the citiy background), then the fence (which is in the layer in front) should be 4x bigger, pavement 8x bigger etc.
The only thing that should move by 1 point perspective should be the vertical lines that make the bottoms of the object (where house meets grass, where fence meets grass etc.) But you're actually trying to trick the eye with layers of different magnification, not get exact perspective.

I dont know how you're gonna do it, cause there's not a lot of width, but try for example making the fence layer 2-3 times larger than it is right now (keep the bottom of it in the same position, stretch it upwards). After big magnification of the fence, the next bush/pavement etc. should have even bigger magnification. That way when you get to the actual drain it'll be ok.


Now that I've confused you even more, I shall leave.    

[LimpingFish]

For the benefit of the lookey-loos and those allergic to clicking a link...


I'd suggest adding a road (footpath outside the house> road> opposite footpath, nearer the "camera") and positioning the drain beside the footpath in the foreground.

Or something like that.

[Tramponline]

Yeah, the whole thing looks pretty crap to me... :o

Couldn't you just 'simply' fake the perspective i.e. the panning down effect

After the bushes, maybe a more detailed patch of grass and then the drain from a top angle - but it would probably look very, very retro scrolling down then - like amiga intros back in the days?

update: Ok, I'm sorry, next time I will read anian's post first before I post!
              By the way I think this scene has loads of atmosphere, very nice!

[Monsieur OUXX]

Unfortunately I'm woefully crap at painting

Not a real, helpful critique... But I love it! Reminds me of Alone in the Dark.