bg: Taxi with evening sky

[gameboy]

I have a serious problem.
I've just made another background for my next game. It's supposed to be evening time (when the sun is about to set), and the picture contains a taxi and a cafe. I think the taxi and the houses are fine, but the problem is with the sky. What should the sky be like? I tried to make it look more orange with some orange clouds and made thi sky darker from the upper side. But it still seems like... er... not like real sky. And the clouds are actually ugly ( ), but it's the best I can.

So the main problem is the sky. But if you find something other, that should be different, then all the help is welcome. And don't be afraid of making any paintovers.

The picture itself is here:


Thanks.

[esper]

The problem that I see is that it DOES look like real sky... If you don't think so, you've apparently never been to Arizona. However, it doesn't match the pixel graphics of the rest of the scene. I'm not too good at pixel graphics, so I won't attempt a paintover, but I think if you had different levels of orange going toward a pale blue at the top of the screen, maybe with some auburn/sienna clouds, you'd be golden.

[ScottDoom]

I'm working on a paint-over right now but in general I'd like to say that the sky should match the style of the rest of the background (which is a nice style, by the way). As for the colors, I'm actually experimenting with it myself to see how it should be, but I would also like to say that the general scene should have a warm glow, with possible orange-ish highlights on certain objects, especially the vehicle and other reflective surfaces.

Here it is: I ignored my own advice of doing highlights because I was a bit lazy, but I adjusted the natural colors of the entire scene (through a Color Balance tool in PSP, not manually, and also made a pixel gradient for the sky that you can improve upon if you wish). I also adjusted the color of the shop windows because at that time of day (and the way they're facing) they won't be recieving much light.

I'm not artist but that's my take on it.

Edit: I just realized when I converted to 256-color it didn't work out so well, so I uploaded with a full-color PNG.

[Darth Mandarb]

I thought I'd give it a quick paint-over:


- altered the sky
- added more shading
- added siding to the house
- added some bricks to the store

I made it dithered ... but it doesn't have to be.  I just think the dithered effect works better with the non-antilaliased foreground elements.  Just my taste though.

Hope it helps.

[ScottDoom]

Combining my paint-over and Darth Mandarb's paint-over:

[InCreator]

Gotta contribute too...


Main problem is that everything is way too flat and 2D.
The shading you use makes it look so.

* Added taxi a bit of shading - the one which gives a bit of shape
* Made new windshield/windows to car, the ones that are actually allowed by traffic laws
* Made lamp post rounder
* Removed ugly green plant(?) thingies
* Played around with lights of the cab

Btw, using a logo of real cab company isn't very good idea. Unless they pay for it

[gameboy]

Good paintovers!
But, yes, although the plant-thingies were ugly, the garden seems kinda empty without them, I think. But I just love this white house wall! And the sky is much better too! And so is taxi!
But I'm still not sure, should I add some white lines on the road?
Anyway, "Tulika takso" doesn't pay to me (but they should ), it's just because I wanted to create an athmosphere of Tallinn.

[InCreator]

Anyway, "Tulika takso" doesn't pay to me (but they should Cheesy), it's just because I wanted to create an atmosphere of Tallinn.

Drawing some nice contours/skyline of our beautiful Old Town will give much better atmosphere than using logos of insanely overpriced cab companies meant only for too rich and dumb tourists.

Also, they can SUE you for this.

I suggest redrawing the light-ray on window and give glass panels on door some shine too.

Also, where's the electrical lines? Antennas? Satellite dish maybe? There's quite a big list of all you could add to give this room some more details. Just google for photos of city scenes and pick some things you could add.

Or just click here.

[gameboy]

Ok, I'll change that logo. I don't want to be sued!

So, I'll do some more changes. Actually I already tried to draw the satellite dish, but it didn't look too good. But I will try to add the antennas, electric-lines, and stuff like this. Maybe more church towers too.
But -another problem- Tallinn has much trees and nature, but this background looks like some industrial city where trees are rarities. Could anyone help me with trees and bushes? I can't draw nature very well.
And how should the light-ray be?


eDiT: I made some changes.


So what did I do?
-changed that taxi logo to just some typical black squares
-added the electric lines (but I think either it's fine or I completely ruined it)
-added some little details including TV antennas, and made the city skyline look more like the Old Town.
-also added some plants.

I hope you guys don't mind that I used your paintover.