Cutscene animation - Yes indeed.

[Rincewind]

Well, I've been a bit on the lazy side when it comes to making graphics lately, but now I've pulled myself together and slapped this little baby up for Trailing Blood. It's supposed to be an short cutscene for the beginning of Day 2, alá GK1, (Like I needed to even mention that...) and I think it's pretty nice so far.
But I also think I've been staring myself blind at it, and therefore I thought I'd post it here to hear if anyone's got any suggestions, critics or similar?

- Also, the original version of the girl was made by me, but edited by Loominous, just so that you know. I hope you don't mind me using your edited version of it - If that were to be the case, just tell me, man!  

[DanClarke]

wow that's cool, really freaky stuff, the only thing i could say is that her hair could be detailled a little more. Good job  

[Rincewind]

Glad to hear that you like it.
Hm, yeah, I suppose I could work a bit more on the hair. Maybe make it a bit brighter?

[Ashen]

The only thing that stands out to me is her eyes. When they 'black out', the red seems TOO red, like the pupils are just floating. Hopefully this:

http://www.geocities.com/whoismonkey/trail.png

will explain better that I can.

[Ghormak]

That looks really sweet, but I wonder if the effect wouldn't be even creepier if you darkened the whole scene when her eyes turn red, ending with something like this:



Or maybe something blue-ish?



Maybe not at all what you had in mind, it's just a suggestion.

[LGM]

I'm with Ghorm on that one..

Also.. When the "DAY 2" writes itself, there should be a more fluid "stroke" of the letters.. Right now they just look like they're appearing out of thin air.

[smokealot]

quick question how do u put a cutscene like that in ags, do u import each frame seperatly as a sprite, or do u import the whole animation as 1  and what program did u use to make that?

[Peter Thomas]

Did I ever happen to mention that I hate you and your animation skills, Rincewind?

because I do!

*runs away in jealous turmoil*

[smokealot]

the right eye seems to move to the left further then the left one does, and when she first opens her eyes, the red pupils arnt in the same postion as the black ones were thats the only thing i can see wrong with it oh and when i say left and right i mean my left and right not hers....

[Rincewind]

Yay - Nice to see so many replies!

Ashen:
Yeah, you have a point there, but I want them to stand out a bit, so I made the red very bright on purpose...
But thanks anyway!

Ghormak:
I had thoughts about that idea for a while, but you just convinced me to do it! I'll try to do a "fade-to-black"-ending in the last frame...
The blue one is also really creepy, though!

LGM:
Aye, that's true - I had some troubles getting that to look good... I could try to do it more like strokes with a brush, if that's what you mean? Like someone's painting with blood.

Smokealot:
I was thinking of doing it as a sprite in the game - Importing frame by frame.
'bout the eye-movement: True - I'll see if I can fix that...


Peter Thomas:
No, I can't say you've done that before... But you sure have now...

 

[Rincewind]

Ok, here's the updated version:



Better/worse?

[veryweirdguy]

The darkening is good, but perhaps keep the eyes bright red as the rest of the scene fades away (like in Ghormak's example)?

[bspeers100]

I rarely give critical advice, because frankly, I'm unqualified, but I think the pupils move a little too far to the left (our left, not hers)--if they were just a little more to the right, they would really seem to be staring directly at us.  Especially the left pupil.  Pull it back just a bit.

Also, could you try Ghormak's idea, but instead of doing a fade at the end of the pic, fade her to a darker, more sinister shade while her eyes are closed, and then open them, red.  This would just be an experiment, of course, but it probably looks best if the eyes are visible last.  You could then do a fade or any other kind of cut to move to the next scene.

Finally, I think this new version lingers a bit overly long on the white eye by a frame or two before the eye closes, and a bit two long on the fade to black eyes after the eyes open, unless it's not a frame issue but a slowed down image, in which case, it just needs to run a little faster overall.  You might consider having the eyes open black, though it may not work.

Otherwise, this creates the exact desired effect.  It's well done!

[Ghormak]

Also, could you try Ghormak's idea, but instead of doing a fade at the end of the pic, fade her to a darker, more sinister shade while her eyes are closed, and then open them, red. This would just be an experiment, of course, but it probably looks best if the eyes are visible last. You could then do a fade or any other kind of cut to move to the next scene.

That was what I had in mind, actually. Maybe I should have been more clear.

The text looks great in the new version. Nice work.

[Haddas]

http://img29.photobucket.com/albums/v86/Haddas/Other/bloodanimation.gif

Quick edit of the end. moved eyes 2 pixels to the left.

[Rincewind]

Bspeers, I'm glad you chose to critisize, I think you did a good job of explaining some of the points...  And as I said, I'll try to use Ghormaks idea as he meant it in the first place... Hehe.

And Haddas, that's a great edit! I think I'll try to acheive something like that... I really, really like it.  
 

[Haddas]

* Feels proud of himself

[Rincewind]

Ok, I managed to pull another edit together... I still feel there's something that's not right, though... Maybe add another eye-wink in the end?

[Chicky]

Really like it rince, yeh a little wink at the end would be great, just before both eyes close have her wink. It would give it that "sexy gothic" feel, seductive but also sinister.

-OSC

[Rincewind]

Glad to hear it, OSC...
I don't think I'll have her wink with just one eye, though - It would probabaly wreck a bit of the athmosphere if she flirted with the gamer, even though I do like the "Sexy Gothic"-feel... Harhar.