Darker Woods

[Corby]

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Corby14-320x240.jpg

A darker section of the forest scaled down to 320x240

What do you think?

[Corby]

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Corby14-640x480.jpg

If this helps you see it better!

[Isegrim]

Really cool, but what irritates me are the light beams. They seem to come from various directions...
If they should be representing fading sunlight, they have all the same direction, or come from the same vanishing point.
But all the rest is very very cool!

[big brother]

The rocks seem like they're soft and wrinkly. Or maybe that's just my eyes.

[Corby]

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Corby14-b-640x480.jpg

fixed the beams!

[Isegrim]

Yep, that's better!

[Andail]

The beams still look like the searching lights of a UFO or something.
Try erasing all but a few, and make sure they are fairly parallell. I don't know if they add to the picture at all, thruthfully

[TheYak]

I think some of it is that fact that they're all nearly the same size.  If sunlight's filtering through a canopy, the beams will be randomly large and small.  Another way to address it is by doing a high-detail beam somewhere near the foreground.  If you can manage to depict light filtering through branches and leaves (by showing shadows thereof on the ground) then it'll show the viewer what the beams are with more accuracy.  Excellent work, and the beams are the primary strength of this scene.  Perfect them and you will rule the world.  Or at least make an even better looking background.

To others: a couple people have posted some background art that might demonstrate a couple different techniques?  Anyone remember who posted them?  Was one of 'em Amaranth?

[Corby]

Thanks for the advice, if I can't make them look better, i'll just take them out... I was just trying some new techniques. The problem is I didn't make the beams a seperate layer... but it wouldn't take too long to remove them.  I'll try those ideas yakspit, and some examples would be much appreciated!

[TheYak]

Well, to clarify: If a beam of sunlight passed through a leafy canopy - 1) the beam size is going to be quite random 2) as mentioned, all beams should be coming from the same light source.  This means they should either be parallel or in keeping with perspective, they ought to expand/spread as they come closer to the screen.  A matter of preference, really.  3) If you show at least one beam hitting the ground and show that the beam is shining past leaves & branches, it'll set the viewer's mindset more into the forest/sun range and less into the helicopter/searchlight area.  
Quick example of #3, a crop of a ground section I was messing with:

[Corby]

Thanks for the tips Yakspit, I'm gonna color in my new katrina sketch, then try updating my forest pic. I'll post the results here.