Style test - Need Crits on background artwork

Trent R · Wed 29/10/2008 21:29:48

When I switch between both pictures in my browser, I can see the difference and it looks good. But it's too little.
I think you should at least move it in until it at least reaches the bottom section of the floor (cause right now the foreground shadows are hiding the vignette and you can't tell it's there).

~Trent

Supernorn · Thu 30/10/2008 23:34:03

Thanks, Trent. I did the same thing you did, and the effect could do with being less subtle - So I'll work on it!

I've been struggling to get a main character down on paper, I've got a sketchpad that's filled with all kinds of failed designs and mangled attempts at human beings. But at around three in the morning I had a bit of a winning streak with my latest one and didn't hesitate to get him into the computer. He's all coloured, but they aren't finalised or anything.

I just wanted your feedback on whether this guy fits with this style? He's simple enough that animating him shouldn't cause too many problems, but he's also at a detailed resolution. So I'm pretty happy with it so far. We'll see what happens once I get him into AGS/start the animation process. Are there any tips for getting high resolution sprites into AGS? I haven't run into any issues with it yet but can't find details in relation to this.

- Thanks

edit: Image went down, back up:

Ryan Timothy B · Fri 31/10/2008 02:03:18

Are you going to be using image scaling? I noticed he is roughly 70 pixels higher than the door.

His style looks good and he seems to merge well with your background style. Bravo.
I realize you said you aren't done with it yet but I'll state this anyway. I don't like how both the pants and shoes are black. His hands are odd looking. The fingers also looked joined.

Alarconte · Sat 01/11/2008 20:45:35

The last edit is superb, truly art.

But I think character don't fit much with the background... Too Tall and thin. Maybe a character more thougth fit better.

Congratulations and wellcome!!

Misj' · Tue 04/11/2008 15:42:08

Quote from: Supernorn on Thu 30/10/2008 23:34:03
I've been struggling to get a main character down on paper, I've got a sketchpad that's filled with all kinds of failed designs and mangled attempts at human beings.

Though sometimes annoying, spending time in the sketchpad phase with rejected designs is actually one of the most important things to do in character design.

QuoteI just wanted your feedback on whether this guy fits with this style?

The style itself fits quite well with the background, but especially shading-wise they are quite far apart. Personally I do not mind, but it's a matter of taste.

However, anatomically there are two things that really annoy me (especially since most of the anatomy is actually quite correct for a 1-6-head-body-style): his arms are way to short, and his eyes are too high on his face. Another thing that is not really my taste is the shape of his jacket...I would have preferred something that fits a little closer to his body.

I've created a re-interpretation to visualize these points (in my own style to make it easier for me).

-- click to enlarge --

Another thing that bothers me, is, that your design is very symmetrical. In general the rule is to try and prevent symmetry...mostly, since symmetry is kind of boring, and therefore lacks character. You might want to experiment with his pose to make him a little less generic (character- not clothing-wise). I decided to keep the generic pose in my re-interpretation, since I don't know anything about the character, which makes playing with the right poses impossible.

I do like the style (I like high-res), and hope to see more from you in the future.

Supernorn · Tue 04/11/2008 18:11:29

Wow, thanks for the awesome feedback. I'll work on what you've suggested. I think there's room for improvement in the areas that you've mentioned. Your re-interpretation is a little extreme for my tastes, But it'll probably be somewhere inbetween.

Thanks again.

Alarconte · Tue 04/11/2008 20:33:12

The character has improved a lot, but the hands seems Alien... Too big.. and seems he had only 3 fingers :S

Misj' · Tue 04/11/2008 22:10:04

Quote from: Alarconte on Tue 04/11/2008 20:33:12
The character has improved a lot, but the hands seems Alien... Too big.. and seems he had only 3 fingers :S

Hands are important for cartoon drawing (face and hands are said to be the first thing people look at), so like the head (1/6th of the body rather than the anatomically correct 1/8th of the body) exaggerating the hands is common practice in cartoon drawings.

The reason why there appear to be only three fingers is because of the way I draw fists. It's a personal taste and style (just like four-finger-hands...I prefer them over the anatomically correct five-finger-hands).

But I'm sure Supernorn's version will be entirely different, and I'm looking forward to it.

Ps. I'm glad you liked the character.

Moresco · Tue 04/11/2008 22:42:51

I'm not really a fan of the coat in Misj's correction, I preferred the original coat more, it hangs out and is a big bulky stupid coat, just like my real coat. =]

Also the hands are strange to me as well, the wrists are sticks and the hands are boulders, seems wrong to me...I know it's a style thing, but even so.

Cool developments so far, though.

Snarky · Tue 04/11/2008 22:48:33

I think the arms and hands are problematic in the edit for a few reasons:

1. The arms are too long. (I don't know about you, but my elbows are not anywhere close to my belt.)
2. The hands are too big. (Yes, even for a cartoon.)
3. The pose, with both hands in front of the thighs, implies a stooped posture.

The overall effect draws almost all attention to the arms, and makes the character look somewhat ape-like. If all his personality is in his fists (e.g. he is primarily a fighter), this might be appropriate. Otherwise, I'd tone it down.

Misj' · Wed 05/11/2008 00:11:00

I'm sure Supernorn's final version will be nothing like mine (so no one has to worry

).

Anyway (I can't help commenting on some things, I'm sorry)...

Quote from: Snarky on Tue 04/11/2008 22:48:33
I think the arms and hands are problematic in the edit for a few reasons:

1. The arms are too long. (I don't know about you, but my elbows are not anywhere close to my belt.)
2. The hands are too big. (Yes, even for a cartoon.)
3. The pose, with both hands in front of the thighs, implies a stooped posture.

ad 1. I admit that his arms are slightly too long in my edit, but the elbow should be at the top of the pelvis, and in my version - as you can see from the sketch - he wears his belt at the top of the pelvis as well. So the elbows and belt should be close to each other (but I don't know where you wear your belt of course).
ad 2. I disagree with this. If you look at the works of - for example - Bruce Timm or Ben Caldwell the hands can be nearly as big as the head of the character. This all depends on who the character is, and what you want to focus on. I interpreted the character as a police detective who wasn't afraid to 'get into the action'. Big hands fitted this (and they are not even near as big as his head).
ad 3. I wanted to keep the pose close to the original. The arms follow the arc of the original arms, hence their position.

Quote from: theRedPress on Tue 04/11/2008 22:42:51
1. I'm not really a fan of the coat in Misj's correction, I preferred the original coat more, it hangs out and is a big bulky stupid coat, just like my real coat. =]
2. Also the hands are strange to me as well, the wrists are sticks and the hands are boulders, seems wrong to me...I know it's a style thing, but even so.

ad 1. I can understand why you like it. And I'm sure that Supernorn will choose the design that fits the character best...possibly including the original coat.
ad 2. I didn't know how muscular the character was supposed to be, so I overdid the skinnyness of his wrists a little. I agree.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sat 08/11/2008 01:17:18

Yeah, I think you made the arms a bit long there, Misj, though overall I like the version you drew much more, and I daresay it would fit better with the cartoony background than the original. In the original there's too much of the Homer Simpson face (the shaded monkey-mouth thing has never appealed to me) and your edit directly addresses that and improves on the shape and presentation of the face in many respects.

One thing that bothers me about both versions though, is the legs. Instead of giving the natural appearance of tapering down, the pants make it appear as though the legs are larger at the bottom than his hips, which is very strange indeed. I'd suggest widening his waist, making the upper legs larger and the pants at the bottom skinnier.

Less like this:

Style test - Need Crits on background artwork

Trent R

Supernorn

Ryan Timothy B

Alarconte

Misj'

Supernorn

Alarconte

Misj'

Moresco

Snarky

Misj'

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens

Trent R

Misj'

Sean

James--