Character sprites - shading - Updated with side view...

ThreeOhFour · Sat 05/05/2007 07:18:03

Medical Waste - Good point - I think I screwed up when shading his left side, and it makes his head look offcentre. It is on the "to fix" list. Cheers man.

Cobra - Thanks, man. I am really enjoying doing this - it has been very educational, and I think that this is the best I've ever gotten sprites to look. Quite excited about it, really.

Progz - Again, thankyou for your advice. I shall go back and try and adjust my outlines to reflect your example. I must admit that the example pic you drew has been an enormous help and the hands - I think my hands finally look like hands!!! The thing that amazes me the most, however, is your boots. They rock in ways that mine do not. I am very interested in the way that you use the shades of colour to emphasise the shape of things, and hope to improve on this on my sprites.

For now, here is the first draft of all the sprites done in this new style. I personally love the shape they're taking, and am pretty pleased with the progress. The only things bugging me at the moment is green dudes stomach, the top of big wingy dude's head and the shirt of mr lizard man.

And I added in little shadows for fun. The pallettes I've left up - I did them up because I took all the shading and outlining away completely before reshading, and didn't want to lose my colours.

Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens · Sat 05/05/2007 11:55:21

Each edit you do shows marked improvement! The only thing I would suggest is for your humanoid characters to look at some photos of human anatomy and musculature for a reference. Particularly helpful is the 6.5-7.5 heads rule. Also, pay attention to the contours of the body and where it sticks out or dips in. Once you get a good feel for those you'll have no problems!

ThreeOhFour · Sat 05/05/2007 12:24:25

Hmmm - I shall have to investigate this 6.5-7.5 heads rule. I'm glad you think they're getting better - its a bit of a relief.

I know it is a little bit offtopic, but I was wondering if I could get any feedback on these two - I've been trying to put that shading idea to use in other situations:

These two took me a fair while, but it was interesting to play around with the stuff I've learned.

I shall go and look up this 6.5-7.5 heads rule and get back to my sprites!

Thanks guys!!!

cobra79 · Sat 05/05/2007 18:10:55

A Ferengi glider:D
I think we should be able to see the underside of the left wing and maybe even a bit of the left jet engine.
The schooner itself would look good if you lowered the 1st and 3rd mast, or maybe only 2 masts and the 3rd sail going from the bow to a mast, because ships with 3 masts are normally greater and have much more sails.
The structures you added look ridiculous. Sorry. Since its probably a spaceship, you could make the ship and the sails metallic. If you turn them into solar sails though, you would also need to alter the lightsource to make sense.
The shading itself looks great.

ThreeOhFour · Sat 05/05/2007 20:27:06

Cobra - Glad you like the shading. I'll have a shot at reworking the first one. I don't intend to use the 2nd one - I just wanted to have a shot at shading something a little more adventurous to improve my understanding of the shading. Glad you find it ridiculous

.

Now, I've had a shot at redoing the muscles on the orange man. I've put him right next to the old version for comparison. I am worried that I have gone back to this pillow shading by making this edit, but I guess I've gotta start somewhere. I've altered the gloves, legs, arms and torso. Boots, head and belt remain unchanged for now.

I've Googled this 6.5-7.5 heads rule but cannot find it yet. Perhaps I shall try and find a good proportions tutorial that might have it hidden in there somewhere.

And you had me worried that I'd nicked someone's spaceship unconsiously, Cobra! I googled this Ferengi glider - am I right in thinking that's the one with the big U shape, and that mine is different because the cockpit comes forward? I don't want to nick things of people!

cobra79 · Sat 05/05/2007 20:52:10

He looks very muscular now, almost a bit to muscular for being rather thin. Concerning the shading, maybe some highlights on his shoulders (like you did on his breast) and maybe delete the highlight on his belly. Does not look pillow-shaded at all. No worries about the Ferengi thing. I guess you can't do a spaceship which does not resemble one already seen. Not even cubes (Star Trek) or Pyramids (Stargate).
This head rule means that a persons complete hight (head included) should be between 6.5 heads (females) and 7.5-8 heads (males). You can align important features with it. The breast for example should end with the second head. I will post a link when I find one.

http://drawsketch.about.com/cs/figuredrawing/a/fig_proportion.htm

Edit:link added

ThreeOhFour · Sun 06/05/2007 02:25:36

Hey Cobra,

Thanks for the tutorial man. I shall go through and check all my proportions.

Until then, I've tried reshading to make him look a bit less muscular, because I want him thin. I'm not too keen on the stomach still. Also did the shoulder highlight as you suggedsted.

zabnat · Sun 06/05/2007 11:07:29

Somehow the palette you're using makes most of the characters seem a bit shiny. Could be just my eyes.
Also note that those proportions are for real humans, cartoon style characters like your sprites are usually under 7 heads (5-7 even). This makes it a bit harder to interpret rules in the link.

ThreeOhFour · Sun 06/05/2007 17:02:35

Zabnat - The pallette I've been using is really high contrast AND really high saturation. I think that's what give's them the shiny look. But I likies!

Now, I KNOW I was supposed to be looking at proportions and stuff... but I thought I might have a little bit of fun with this guy. Yes. I referred to animation as fun. Perhaps I have lost my mind - who knows? The basic animation I had done earlier - I adapted it with shading and improved it and stuff.

You know what? I'm proud of it. Damn proud. Hell yes, it needs some more work. And hell yes it is animated too fast (will be slowed down in AGS). But for what its worth, I am proud of this little animation right here. It took me a fair while. I've stared at it for so long now that I've done the last frame that the little stomach line's movement reminds me of a metronome.

Please tell me your thoughts. Please limit the mocking - I may weep openly

.

Buckethead · Sun 06/05/2007 18:00:42

The thing that bothers me is that he seems to be looking from left to right and back. Now when I walk I always keep my head steady. For the rest I think it looks awsome!

ThreeOhFour · Mon 07/05/2007 06:22:10

Quick edit I did in my lunch break (who needs to eat???)

-Head adjusted
-Little shading thing in torso that was annoying me fixed
-Hands fixed - when slower they looked wobbly. Turned out I'd done two frames in the wrong order!!!

Is good?

zabnat · Mon 07/05/2007 07:10:35

Well... hard to say, it looks like a hyperactive amfetaminejunkie on fast forward...

ThreeOhFour · Mon 07/05/2007 10:17:57

Ok, less hyperactive??

Saberteeth · Mon 07/05/2007 10:31:02

What bothers me the most is the handsThe triceps is moving a lot while the biceps aren't moving that much. Maybe lighten them and move them a bit up when the hand is moving towards the viewer? Try to look at yourself in the mirror and replicate the movement in your sprite.

Hope this helps.

ThreeOhFour · Mon 07/05/2007 11:16:53

You mean like this?:

JD · Mon 07/05/2007 11:28:45

First of all, I must say it looks really good! You've really mastered the shading imo

The only thing bugging me in the animation is his groin; I don't know why or what, but it looks odd! But perhaps that's just me...

gASK · Mon 07/05/2007 11:43:47

def is right, you are shading the legs too high - I mean you are shading tham to the belt. Try making the shading start lower and be more "realistic". Eg. knees move furthest to the back, while under the pelvis the legs dont move almost at all (just light shading).

Plus try doing something with shoulders. They remain unchanged through most of the animation, then they suddenly "flash" into dark.

Otherwise you made a great progress. The sprites are geting better each day.

ThreeOhFour · Tue 08/05/2007 09:38:34

Hopefully the looking better each day thingie is gonna be a trend I continue today

.

I've done some reworking of the groin and shoulders.

And I've been so impressed with GraphicsGale that I took the plunge and purchased the full version. $20AU (not much really) and I think I shall make a pact to never ever ever ever ever ever touch MSPaint again.

Except for the MSPaint game. During which I shall be completely frustrated by it. What was I thinking, using it for all those years???

gASK · Tue 08/05/2007 10:32:17

See? Now it's way better.

I don't see nothing wrong with it now (others still may). But if you want to be perfect, you could make his pectorals move as well - stand in front of mirror in same outfit as the character is wearing and swing your arms. You will notice them moving.

Akatosh · Tue 08/05/2007 15:40:52

Quote from: gASK on Tue 08/05/2007 10:32:17
in same outfit as the character is wearing

Ahem... yeah...

Anyway, your sprites have gotten really, really great... although doing the left/right walkcycle is probably going to be a real pain for you.