Background critics: Ship deck and sailor.

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 01/02/2011 09:20:18

Let me know what you think.

Comments
- It's not very detailed because it appears only briefly in the introduction sequence, not in-game. I didn't want to spend too much time on it.
- The sea is not very realitic, because in the game it's animated (going up and down) so the eye doesn't really stay on it.
- I think it lacks contrast overall, but at the same time I want it to be slightly misty, so I don't really know what to do.

Babar · Tue 01/02/2011 09:51:11

What is up with the mast and rope? Those black anti-aliasing lines suggest that it was cut and paste from some other source, or you didn't properly separate the outlines? You should remove those.

Monsieur OUXX · Tue 01/02/2011 09:53:10

Quote from: Babar on Tue 01/02/2011 09:51:11
What is up with the mast and rope? Those black anti-aliasing lines suggest that it was cut and paste from some other source, or you didn't properly separate the outlines? You should remove those.

That's because I'm having trouble separating the foreground from the background and making sure no "transparent pink" blends into it and creates a mess.
I'll look into it.

cianty · Tue 01/02/2011 17:16:58

Quote from: Babar on Tue 01/02/2011 09:51:11
What is up with the mast and rope? Those black anti-aliasing lines suggest that it was cut and paste from some other source, or you didn't properly separate the outlines? You should remove those.

That is the very same thing I immediately thought when I saw the picture.

Igor Hardy · Tue 01/02/2011 17:44:01

I really like the look of the guy on deck and the colors. The rest of the location seems a bit to bare and clean to me.

Darth Mandarb · Tue 01/02/2011 18:20:00

I find the over-all palette a little boring (just a bit) but I don't know the context of the scene so it might be the "mood" you are going for. I get a feeling of bleakness. Or maybe that something 'bad' is about to happen. Might be what you're going for?

My major issue is the lighting. Judging by the shadow the character is casting the light is coming over/across the starboard bow. Yet the inside of the wall on the bow itself appears to be illuminated. I'm assuming there's a lantern on the front side of the mast that is just invisible in the scene!

Also, this may be just a wild coincidence (and I'm not accusing/suggesting any foul-play) but check out this image on Pixel Joint:

When I saw your pic here I was instantly reminded of that piece from the joint!

Did you see this pic and take inspiration (or vice versa).

If not; what a totally awesome coincidence!

cianty · Tue 01/02/2011 19:51:56

I may be blind but I fail to see the totally awesome similarity...

Tabata · Tue 01/02/2011 21:01:59

It's a nice bg, but something seems a bit wrong to me.

Well, I'm no specialist for those ships, but if you unwrap the sail at this pole, most of it would lie on the deck.

Also this nice little sailor is only half the wide of the mast and it can't be a dwarf because of the size of the railing. The way I remeber it from films, the mast has never been that huge?

I may be wrong, but these are my thoughts, when looking at it.

Darth Mandarb · Tue 01/02/2011 22:39:24

Quote from: cianty on Tue 01/02/2011 19:51:56I may be blind but I fail to see the totally awesome similarity...

> Pirate/Sailor
> near bow of ship
> red/white striped shirts
> large mast on left side
> rigging/ropes
> color palette

That's about it I guess.

theo · Tue 01/02/2011 22:59:49

If you're going for a misty look I recommend adding some fog to the horizon. The ocean line is sharp as a razor now. This would NEVER happen in even the faintest mist. Also, a foggy scene implies no direct sunlight which means your shadows should at most be blurry and vague. (and have no real direction besides the ambient occlusion.)

For more depth I recommend adding a simple foreground to layer it all up a bit. This would also help frame the composition.

Monsieur OUXX · Wed 02/02/2011 08:38:55

Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Tue 01/02/2011 18:20:00
the inside of the wall on the bow itself appears to be illuminated. I'm assuming there's a lantern on the front side of the mast

I need the scene's lighting to match that kind of lighting you have in UK/Ireland/Brittony, that is quite luminous and quite gloom at the same time. The halo you mistook for a lantern is supposed to be some kind of mist :-/ (or at least it's meant to add some depth to the scene)

About the Pixel Joint Pic : It's a "totally awesome coincidence"