Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 00:37:15

Title: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 00:37:15
Tell me what do you think about this...

Thank´s to all
Homerus

http://yfrog.com/0vbackgroundanfp
http://a.imageshack.us/img31/1866/backgroundanf.png
http://img31.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=backgroundanf.png&p=tl' (http://a.imageshack.us/img31/1866/backgroundanf.png) (http://img31.imageshack.us/i/backgroundanf.png/)

http://yfrog.com/6ebackground1ap
http://a.imageshack.us/img230/2969/background1a.png
http://img230.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=background1a.png&p=tl (http://a.imageshack.us/img230/2969/background1a.png) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/background1a.png/)

http://yfrog.com/6ebackground001p
http://a.imageshack.us/img230/3374/background001.png
http://img230.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=background001.png&p=tl (http://a.imageshack.us/img230/3374/background001.png) (http://img230.imageshack.us/i/background001.png/)

http://yfrog.com/bgbackground002p
http://a.imageshack.us/img412/5708/background002.png
http://img412.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=background002.png&p=tl (http://a.imageshack.us/img412/5708/background002.png) (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/background002.png/)

try number 4

http://yfrog.com/jpbackground003p
http://a.imageshack.us/img709/4216/background003.png
http://img709.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=background003.png&p=tl (http://a.imageshack.us/img709/4216/background003.png) (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/background003.png/)

Number 5
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Anian on Fri 13/08/2010 01:04:25
Seems to be a blue light (from the Moon), so I suggest giving the skull, plants behind it and the earth a blueish tint, it'll fit in more with the rest of the picture and you'll get a better atmosphere.
Not too blue mind you (cause then it'll ve no different than than the sky and stuff in the foreground), keep some traces of the colours (green, gray, brown etc.) but give it a slight a tint of blue - it'll look like it's lighted by moonlight more.

Otherwise I think it looks nice. Might be some trouble with the height of the skull, don't know how big it's supposed to be and that thing on top makes it looks like it's from a Lego set.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 01:46:51
THX´s
From now, no more LEGO hahahaha, what do you think about de blue tint?
Thanks
Homerus
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Sughly on Fri 13/08/2010 03:06:50
I think that blue tint is doing heaps, looks much better. Everything seems much more set in the moonlight. Also it seems to me (though I'm no expert on the matter) that the lighting is a little inconsistent? It looks very bright on the top of the skull, but then there's not much shadow in relation to that light (on the ground for instance), so if it was me I might look to either creating more shadow or lessening the amount of light on the top? Again, I'm no expert...
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: cianty on Fri 13/08/2010 07:57:59
The second one does look better to me. I guess one can agree on the shadow aspect but I don't know if this is really necessary for a picture of this style. I really like this twisted DOTT style, btw.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 09:14:19
I clean the image a little more... thank´s for your opinion please, keep doing critics.  ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Sughly on Fri 13/08/2010 10:07:23
Yeah I'm sorry homerus, I think cianty's right  :( I think the second pic suits your style more. Like I said, I'm no expert  :P
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Khris on Fri 13/08/2010 11:20:04
I'm a bit irritated by the glare on the skull. Isn't it made of rock?
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 17:03:34
Quote from: Sughly on Fri 13/08/2010 10:07:23
Yeah I'm sorry homerus, I think cianty's right  :( I think the second pic suits your style more. Like I said, I'm no expert  :P

Don´t be sorry, but now im a little confused, about the third picture... hahahaha keep doing critics cos it´s a way to learn.
thank´s
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 17:06:58
Quote from: Khris on Fri 13/08/2010 11:20:04
I'm a bit irritated by the glare on the skull. Isn't it made of rock?

Hello, in the 2nd or the 3th picture or the glare on all of those?
Thank´s for your help.
keep doing critics...  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Khris on Fri 13/08/2010 17:49:27
Very quickly done shading suggestion:

(http://a.imageshack.us/img230/3374/background001.png)

(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4728/explhom.png) (http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4728/explhom.png)
(click to view actual size)
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Fri 13/08/2010 18:13:43
Quote from: Khris on Fri 13/08/2010 17:49:27
Very quickly done shading suggestion:

(http://a.imageshack.us/img230/3374/background001.png)

(http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4728/explhom.png) (http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/4728/explhom.png)
(click to view actual size)

Thank´s Khris, now looks like stone, im gonna take your advice and see what happens.
Keep doing critics.
Thx
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: cianty on Fri 13/08/2010 21:53:47
Wow... That had a huge impact, Khris. Nice!
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Sun 15/08/2010 18:38:20
thanks for the instrucctions, so tell me what do you think now...
(http://a.imageshack.us/img412/5708/background002.png) (http://img412.imageshack.us/i/background002.png/)
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Dualnames on Sun 15/08/2010 19:28:26
(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/JustLedZep/backgroundanf.png)

It's not as polished as it could be, but it should point some stuff.

First I'd prefer for the skull to have those cool symbols, and secondly it could be glowing. I also did pixelate it some much. And also forgot to paint over the plane on the left and on the right, so you can see some colour gaps there. I could go and have indirect lightning on the bushes (as the ground seems to have).

It's just an idea on the table, it may as well suck ass.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Sun 15/08/2010 20:19:29
Quote from: Dualnames on Sun 15/08/2010 19:28:26
(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/JustLedZep/backgroundanf.png)

It's not as polished as it could be, but it should point some stuff.

First I'd prefer for the skull to have those cool symbols, and secondly it could be glowing. I also did pixelate it some much. And also forgot to paint over the plane on the left and on the right, so you can see some colour gaps there. I could go and have indirect lightning on the bushes (as the ground seems to have).

It's just an idea on the table, it may as well suck ass.

Thx dualnames, the glow FX is awesome, im gonna to try and see what happens, i promise the return os the symbols  asap.
thx again
keep doing critics
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Mon 16/08/2010 11:44:37
I think there's a major issue with the original drawing and most of the paint overs. It's been bothering me from the beginning.

You've got to choose what kind of surface to "apply" to the skull.
It seems like you can't decide whether you want it to be shiny or not.

- If it's shiny, then you must also draw the cracks as if they were cracks made ina  shiny material.
- It it's not shiny, then you must stop drawing reflection effects that are inside of the skull's outline but don't reach the outline.

A picture is better than 1000 words :
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/228/a/7/shiny_by_monsieurouxx.png)


EDIT: I think that's what Khris was trying to address when he made shading suggestions, only in a more arty and diplomatic way than I did. :D
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Andail on Mon 16/08/2010 14:30:13
Not be impolite towards Dualnames, but his paint-over is a lot worse than the original.
The skull looks like rubber in your version, plus the entire colour scheme is just...worse.
Sorry :(
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Mad on Mon 16/08/2010 17:11:56
started to make a paint-over and noticed that Monsieur OUXX  already pointed out a lot of things I wanted to convey:

(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/Mad1978/BGskull.png)

I also tried to tighten your colour scheme, because some of the colours really clashed, imo.; especially the plants in the foreground with the bushes behind the skull. Unfortunately, my take on it turned out a bit dark and I have not got the time to tweak it anymore.

Some of the lighting on the rocks is a bit jumbled and confusing, but as I said no time anymore...

Hope it helps, nontheless!
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Matti on Mon 16/08/2010 19:20:28
MUCH better. That's the first skull that actually looks like it's made of stone.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Mon 16/08/2010 23:48:49
Quote from: Monsieur OUXX on Mon 16/08/2010 11:44:37
I think there's a major issue with the original drawing and most of the paint overs. It's been bothering me from the beginning.

You've got to choose what kind of surface to "apply" to the skull.
It seems like you can't decide whether you want it to be shiny or not.

- If it's shiny, then you must also draw the cracks as if they were cracks made ina  shiny material.
- It it's not shiny, then you must stop drawing reflection effects that are inside of the skull's outline but don't reach the outline.

A picture is better than 1000 words :
(http://fc07.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/228/a/7/shiny_by_monsieurouxx.png)


EDIT: I think that's what Khris was trying to address when he made shading suggestions, only in a more arty and diplomatic way than I did. :D

You are right, somtimes i can´t decide how to finish the job, hahahaha i think that is because im new and i have no experience, btw i like the people who critics in a good way.
so now im going to change a few things to improve the skull.
thx a lot
keep doing critics
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Mon 16/08/2010 23:54:38
Quote from: Mad on Mon 16/08/2010 17:11:56
started to make a paint-over and noticed that Monsieur OUXX  already pointed out a lot of things I wanted to convey:

(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/Mad1978/BGskull.png)

I also tried to tighten your colour scheme, because some of the colours really clashed, imo.; especially the plants in the foreground with the bushes behind the skull. Unfortunately, my take on it turned out a bit dark and I have not got the time to tweak it anymore.

Some of the lighting on the rocks is a bit jumbled and confusing, but as I said no time anymore...

Hope it helps, nontheless!

that was awesome  :o, and i dont know what to say, now i feel like a 2 years old kid hahaha...
im going to remake the skull, trying your way.
thx a lot, and you like the others are helping in a very good way.
keep doing critics
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Khris on Tue 17/08/2010 00:04:01
That's a great paintover Mad, exactly what I had in mind when I first saw this thread.

homerus, it's nice that you answer all the posts, but quoting the entire post every single time is distracting and really not necessary.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Dualnames on Tue 17/08/2010 01:12:08
Quote from: Andail on Mon 16/08/2010 14:30:13
Not be impolite towards Dualnames, but his paint-over is a lot worse than the original.
The skull looks like rubber in your version, plus the entire colour scheme is just...worse.
Sorry :(

LOL, it's okay man, it took me like 2 minutes and I just did the shading by randomness.

This will probably suck more or equal but I couldn't help it.
Aliens abduct the great skull.

(http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/JustLedZep/BGskull.png)
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Jim Reed on Tue 17/08/2010 02:17:45
I think you all put too much faith in this "art" thing. Here I made you a proper edit, and I bet you'll like it more than all of the other edits:
(http://i35.tinypic.com/dxejyp.png)
=P
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: The Last To Know on Tue 17/08/2010 10:02:34
No Lensflares?  :-\
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 17/08/2010 10:37:23
Pick. up. the. KEY!
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Jim Reed on Tue 17/08/2010 13:02:40
Damn, I knew I missed something! I'll edit it right away.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: DutchMarco on Tue 17/08/2010 13:35:07
Quote from: Mr. Matti on Mon 16/08/2010 19:20:28
MUCH better. That's the first skull that actually looks like it's made of stone.
I must say that it does, but I prefer number 4 above. Number 3 has a weird round (window?) hole between the eyes, like the victim's been  executed. I prefer the look of bone in the originals (colors look better than Mad's versin, IMHO), also Mad's version looks too messy, if you're going to make it look like it's made of stone, draw a brick-motif onto a smooth-ish surface.

I do like Mad's idea of teeth very much.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Tue 17/08/2010 14:28:21
Quote from: DutchMarco on Tue 17/08/2010 13:35:07
I must say that it does, but I prefer number 4 above.

Stone or not stone,  shiny or not shiny, I'll be happy as long as the material is consistent with the reflections.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: cat on Tue 17/08/2010 14:34:38
Polished marble will have different reflections than crude sandstone, so you should select the material first anyway.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Wed 18/08/2010 01:52:58
http://yfrog.com/jpbackground003p
http://a.imageshack.us/img709/4216/background003.png
http://img709.imageshack.us/shareable/?i=background003.png&p=tl (http://a.imageshack.us/img709/4216/background003.png) (http://img709.imageshack.us/i/background003.png/)

thank´s to all of you, i changed a few things in this one.
i start to think, there is imposible... hahahahaha
thx
keep doing critics
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Hubris Incalculable on Wed 18/08/2010 02:05:28
awesome runes! did you make them up yourself?

Edit by Progz:  There's no need to quote photos, especially ones directly above your post.  Please don't do this.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Wed 18/08/2010 02:24:13
yes Evil, the runes are made by my self... im glad to read "awesome" but it´s too much
keep doing critics
thx
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Mad on Wed 18/08/2010 08:48:31
OK, found some more time to verbalize some of the things I tried to address in my paint-over:

(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab12/Mad1978/BGskull02.png)

The skull does look a bit like a toothless old crone, and since I guess you're going for an eery mood, that is not a good thing.

Even if you're not going for the ragged look of my paint-over, you should maybe alter the base of the skull, since for now it gives the impression of tree roots.

If the skull is frequently visited, grass would not grow at the foot of the steps, and maybe a well trodden path would lead up to it.

As it is, the eye is drawn to the left hand corner. If there is an exit there or another game relevant feature, that is fine. If this is not the case, you should maybe close that area up.

Besides the clashing colour, the bush in the front has a lighter value than the background elements. This detracts the player from the important bits.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Khris on Wed 18/08/2010 10:28:04
Also, being on a CRT, the picture is currently skull, sky and a huge batch of almost-black.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Anian on Wed 18/08/2010 10:51:05
Quote from: Khris on Wed 18/08/2010 10:28:04
Also, being on a CRT, the picture is currently skull, sky and a huge batch of almost-black.
It's not your crt, it's very dark on my lcd as well. The bushes are just black shape.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Khris on Wed 18/08/2010 14:35:11
On my laptop at work, which I'm currently at, I can clearly see the different colors and what's supposed to be bush, ground, trees. The LCD's brightness is set to ~80% though.

I'd darken the foreground shrubbery to the right and lighten the ground and background bushes.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Wed 18/08/2010 22:41:57
Okay, a few people have tried to show you how to make the cave look more rocky (an object this large would almost certainly made from some kind of stone) but you still seem to be missing the idea, so rather than redo the entire image for you, I've taken half of the skull and redrawn/reshaded it to bring out the various shapes of the skull as well as to emphasize its construction.

1.  Adjusted the color values to bring the greens more towards blue/purple as well as to bring the highlights on the skull more towards yellow.

2.  Reshaded left half of the skull to bring out the native shapes (the ridge around the sockets) as well as applying stronger shadows around the nose and beneath the cheekbones.

3.  Gave the edges of the skull more of a 'carved' appearance, with jagged grooves and areas that either catch the light or are in shadow to emphasize a rockier shape.

4.  Added cracks, dents, rends, and sections of the skull missing or collapsed to show weathering and to make it look more visually interesting.

5.  Added a row of teeth simulating a raised portcullis and made the steps look like rows of teeth as well.

(http://i485.photobucket.com/albums/rr218/ProgZmax/skullcave.gif)


I didn't really spend as much time on this edit as I would've liked, and the top left of the skull in particular suffers for it, but this should give you a solid basis on which to build the skull with more interesting shapes.  Good luck!


Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Monsieur OUXX on Thu 19/08/2010 16:18:21
ProgZmax found the good compromise between the "shiny" material and the cracks.

In your original drawing, the skull was shiny, but the cracks looked like they were in a non-shiny stone type.
Here, the skull is still shiny, but the cracks also look like they are in a shiny stone type.
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Atelier on Thu 19/08/2010 16:49:03
Nice edit ProgZ, very Munch-esque. :)
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: evenwolf on Sun 22/08/2010 09:12:31
Y'all don't think the bushes are too dark?   Maybe if there was just a lighter backlight even..
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Mon 23/08/2010 02:24:14
Thank´s to all, for your suport... tomorrow im going to upload the new mods i made.
thx again
keep doing critics
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: Sughly on Mon 23/08/2010 03:05:27
Quote from: evenwolf on Sun 22/08/2010 09:12:31
Y'all don't think the bushes are too dark?   Maybe if there was just a lighter backlight even..

Yeah I agree, maybe a nice blue hue along the top of the leaves and whatnot to reflect the moonlight...
Title: Re: Background for a new game
Post by: homerus on Tue 24/08/2010 17:24:34
OK, this is my finished work...
What do you think?
Thx to all
(http://i988.photobucket.com/albums/af1/homerwan/Background007.png)