Need C&C for my background tut (updated)

[Neutron]

I thought I'd make a very basic, easy to follow BG tut.Ã,  This is part 1, covering the making of: sky, distant mountains, and grassy plane.Ã,  It is not the final version though, so let me know what could be improved.
<edit> i just realized i left out the text about the dodge and burn stage.Ã,  i'll correct that in the actual tut.
<edit again> ok, here's the updated tut. feel free to kick the tires. >>Ã,  http://home.att.net/~zolgnar/grassyplane2.htm

[nihilyst]

Well done! I'm waiting for the next part. I guess, that will be an astonishing background.

[stuh505]

Looks pretty good until you get into the ground, which is really unpresentable.  I think you should come up with a completely different method of doing the ground, that works (no offense).

[Neutron]

well, it may not be the best way to make grass, but it's not too bad, and more importantly, it's easy, and doesn't require an art background to pull off.   besides, i think you will like it better once the scene is filled out with some bushes and dirt and stuff.  maybe a tree.

[InCreator]

It's good. As tutorials usually are, showing different techniques and enriching knowledge.

What I would complain about - are colors - they're a bit unharmonic and too strong, IMO, and if it's a background for adventure game, it looks very much like zoomed out (landscape observed from far away) so there's very little use to it.

But make it further and we'll see. Great start, anyway.

[Neutron]

I finished it up, and I have to agree, it's not terribly practical.  I'm going to redo it with a different approach.

[Neutron]

This is what I came up with today.  It's only slightly harder to make than the first one.  any thoughts?

[stuh505]

That's much nicer, it looks like a real scene now.

The grass clumps could have some overlap in their strands, so that they don't look like image planes.  They are also a bit overlay green/healthy for this environment, no?

However, the biggest issue I see with this tutorial is simply the fact that one need not actually look at any of the intermediate steps, because the steps and layering are all quite evident from the final image!

[Moresco]

The only thing that bugs me is the actual tutorial itself, the way it's presented.  I actually prefer all the images on one page with text beneath or besides it, I don't like clicking - wheel mouse is my friend.

I must say though, quite an improvement over your first background in the tutorial, I suggest updating it right away cuz that's so much better!

I agree with stuh,  that's pretty bright green, add a duller color maybe or a faded yellow or something else - who does your gardening? martha stewart?

[Neutron]

Ok, I have updated the link on the first post.  Let me know what you think.  Sorry about the pages instead of one big page, but it's easier on dial-ups.  Or just click here.>>   http://home.att.net/~zolgnar/grassyplane2.htm
If it's deemed worthy I'll put it up in the tutorials section.

[Moresco]

You know what? I have to say that image pipe thing is very cool, and I'm much happier with your tutorial now! But my favorite thing is your ground, definetly.  Nicely done.  What have you got against puffy cotton ball clouds? Haha, I like those personally. Or when the puffy cloud looks like your poodle?