Background critics

Monsieur OUXX · Mon 31/01/2011 08:51:04

Hi all,
I'm contributing to the next game by Technocrat by drawing this background.
What do you think? Do you see any big issue with it?

Please note that the graphics have to stay rather simple with a good contrast, to maintain the overall consistency accross artist, and to maintain a rather readable scene.

It's upposed to be some sort of high-tech cell. I think I drew it a bit oo clean, but I don't want to overload it with stains everywhere. (or at least not too much).

Well, anyway, tell me what you think needs improvement.

theo · Mon 31/01/2011 09:14:25

Good job! You hit the technobabylon style right on, but pushed it further with smoother shading!

Monsieur OUXX · Mon 31/01/2011 09:57:50

Quote from: theo on Mon 31/01/2011 09:14:25
You hit the technobabylon style right on

That's because I did a paintover of Technocrat's draft ;-) (And re-used some of the items he drew)

StillInThe90s · Mon 31/01/2011 14:39:25

Looks really good. The mirror effect in the floor could be tricky to apply on moving characters though. But I guess that's not necessary.

Monsieur OUXX · Mon 31/01/2011 15:05:22

Quote from: StillInThe90s on Mon 31/01/2011 14:39:25
The mirror effect in the floor could be tricky to apply on moving characters though. But I guess that's not necessary.

Yeah that's why I kept it very light. Good point, though. We'll see if it works well. If not, I'll remove it.

Technocrat · Mon 31/01/2011 15:26:53

As I said before, that's bloody awesome! I have to say, my draft *sucked* (see below). Monsieur OUXX's captures the "bright and sterile" feel that I was hoping for in this, I think!

cianty · Mon 31/01/2011 16:19:53

Ha ha, that's amazing! When I saw the picture I IMMEDIATELY looked to the upper left-hand corner, expecting to see "technocrat" I was surprised to find it wasn't him. You indeed captured the feeling of the series perfectly!

I think the "mirror effect" is light enough to work with normal characters on top. Actually I am already seeing this problem in my own game, where I am missing the shadow of the character since all the normal inventory of the rooms usually have shadows. My next game will definately have built-in shadows in the character sprites.

quo_sp · Mon 31/01/2011 16:59:04

WOW :o, brilliant, it is really good background .

nihilyst · Mon 31/01/2011 18:21:18

I think you nailed the bright and sterile tone Technocrat wanted to have. It captures the mood just right. But I'm not too happy with the room's "offset". I just can't concentrate on one part of the image, because my eyes are drawn to the empy black spaces in the corners.

Dualnames · Mon 31/01/2011 18:25:40

I think the background looks really great. Technocrat has a great technique, but just makes it dead-boring in terms of colors. When he finally decides to use some lively colors the backgrounds look amazing (look part 2).

Your draft is great over Technocrat's background is the least to say amazing. Not that Technocrat can't draw, I'm not implying that in the least way, it's just that compared it looks more lively.

Calin Leafshade · Mon 31/01/2011 19:57:15

The reflection shouldnt be a problem (See EU for an example)

Just break the current sprite into horizontal strips and draw them with decreasing opacity and then draw a mask on top (if needed).

Igor Hardy · Mon 31/01/2011 20:35:12

I can't help but love everything with the Technobabylon brand on it.

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 01/02/2011 09:06:17

Quote from: Dualnames on Mon 31/01/2011 18:25:40
Technocrat has a great technique, but just makes it dead-boring in terms of colors. When he finally decides to use some lively colors the backgrounds look amazing (look part 2).

That's exactly what I thought after trying out part 2. All I had seen from Technocrat's art so far was this background's draft (and also Operation KnifeDuck -- but that was in a different context). Very grayish. But after seeing Part 2 I realized he has great skills, it's just all about the dull colors.

Technocrat, I hope you're reading this, because I'll kick your ass until you reach the ultimate contrast. These are words of passion, because I fell in love with the Balcony background and the Subway/Terrorist background.

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 01/02/2011 09:07:44

Quote from: nihilyst on Mon 31/01/2011 18:21:18
my eyes are drawn to the empy black spaces in the corners.

Critics accepted, but I don't really know what to do about it.
Maybe adding black objects outlines in the foreground would help as a "diversion"?

markbilly · Tue 01/02/2011 09:13:54

Just draw the ends of the objects/walls, but darken them quite a lot. Then the effect is still there but the eyes aren't drawn so much.

You could even draw the ends like cross-sections and add wires and inner workings to the walls - ala Star Trek: Newton

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 01/02/2011 09:17:08

Quote from: markbilly on Tue 01/02/2011 09:13:54
Just draw the ends of the objects/walls, but darken them quite a lot. Then the effect is still there but the eyes aren't drawn so much.

Yeah I must admit I forgot to darken the corners in the scene.

Quote from: markbilly on Tue 01/02/2011 09:13:54
You could even draw the ends like cross-sections and add wires and inner workings to the walls - ala Star Trek: Newton

Alternative : Draw some pipes/whatever all around (not only in the walls). Keep it simple and very dark, almost invisible.

Moresco · Sat 05/03/2011 19:06:23

The only thing that strikes me as odd is the whiter value of the sky roof. Is it a lamp? It seems dark outside and there's this shadow along the wall beneath it. You've done some great indication of light on the left and right walls, but if that's a lamp in the sky roof, it doesn't seem right to me.

Also, this is probably nitpicky, I'm sorry...but the shape of your sky roof changes from the back (a flat edge), to the front (cut inward and then flat). I'm not sure if you meant to do this, it seems like a strange shape.