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Hi Skitzo, first of all I really like the stools, they look like something from Lucky Luke,
Pay atention to the size of the bar, it should be much higher!
other than that, very good :)
It's not bad. I try to avoid smudging completely, but since you say you are only using Paint and Gimp (I have no idea what Gimp is capable of), I can't really offer any suggestions.
The foot pole on the bottom of the bar isn't straight between the two stools.
Is that supposed to be stuffing hanging out of the stool?
I really have no idea what those black oval things on the corner of the bar are, unless you're not finished yet.
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Does Gimp have layers? If so, learn how to use them! Trust me on how much this will improve drawing time. Use a layer for the bar stools. Use a layer for a couch. Use a layer for a table sitting in a room, or a painting on the wall.
I imagine you made the bar first, slapped the bar stools in the photo, then decided 'hey, a nice pole at the bottom for their feet would be great' and that is why it's drawn from corner to stool, stool to stool, and stool to edge. (with three separate lines rather then one straight line) If you had layers for the stools, you could have just drawn a straight line on the bar (or background) layer without drawing over the stools.
Start playing around with them, they'll be like second nature. I hated them at first, and was always bitter with Photoshop always making new layers, now I use them more than I use the toilet (a nice corner works too). haha
You drew this in Paint? That's amazing!
I must say I'm not a big fan of smudging, it doesn't remind me of a cartoony style.
For a good example of a cartoony style, have download this game: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=33353.0
The perspective of the stool with the stuffing hanging out of it seems a little wrong. The seat should be more tilted, you should see more of it.
Quote from: Ryan Timothy on Mon 31/03/2008 00:37:47Does Gimp have layers? If so, learn how to use them! Trust me on how much this will improve drawing time.
I can only second this. With layers it's so easy to move things around.
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Hey skitzo, http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Straight_Line/ (http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Straight_Line/) Shows how to do straight lines. www.gimp.org (http://www.gimp.org) has some other tutorials, and check out gimpology.com (http://gimpology.com), which has a load more.
Also, the bottom part of the seat of the stool looks to flat to me, should be rounded more.
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QuoteWell I'll be... Shocked Thanks DanielH. Good [Bye] MSPaint!
Good! You look like you have talent at drawing, just Paint was holding you back. (I have no idea how some people draw amazing backgrounds with Paint, they have my respect)
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QuoteIt would all be a lot easier and faster for me if I could just take pen-to-paper instead of using a mouse.
*COUGH* Wacom pen tablet (http://www.wacom.com) *COUGH*
Skitzo, with regards to your blinking animation....
Blink. Right now. That's it, blink.
How slowly did you see your eyelids close? ;)
Blinking is a fast action, done in milliseconds. You could do your blink animation with just one in between frame from fully open to fully closed - it saves you drawing and importing time and looks more realistic.
Other than that, nice work, and keep it up :).
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Now it is too fast, and looks like the lids just appear.
You need one frame in the middle, or, if you have that add another one...
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;D Good luck with the Wacom Tablet! I have one, and still found it like fingerpainting... Too inprecise... But I've heard ppl can do WONDERS with them! And I think if you keep going, you may become a MASTER at spriting the blinking animation! J/K everyone's given ya good advice on that one... As for your artwork, I'd grade them but WHOOO, which ONE?
SKATER: 4/10 [****'''''']
Clint Eastwood 6/10 [******'''']
STORM 7/10 [*******''']
BARSTOOLS 5/10 [*****''''']
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Quote from: markbilly on Tue 01/04/2008 09:08:25
Now it is too fast, and looks like the lids just appear.
You need one frame in the middle, or, if you have that add another one...
Umm, no.
You obviously speeded the mouth movement too which was not needed unless he's speaking a lot faster. Now you realise that the blinking view has only the upper eyelid moving, which anatomically would require him to look down at least. One frame is perfectly ok, the best way if I may, but you might consider making the eyes closed frame with the lower lid a bit up and the lashline visible somewhere between. Mostly blinking eyes is barely visible. You'll realise from a slowed down video of a talking man, the eyes blink almost constantly, but you won't notice, most often the speaker won't notice either. You'll only see it when the lids don't do the movement, and it'll look weird, unhuman as to speak, but most can't put their finger one it.
The blinking is a bit too frequent though, which makes it seem a bit fast, I suggest you place the 2nd blink a lot further from the first one. Especially when the eyes are so huge, it really stands out.
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Huh, I use ImageReady and it does nothing like that. Which program are you using again?
Quote from: skitzo on Wed 16/04/2008 18:48:43
How do I make it so that each frame shows without the rest showing in the background?
I think you right click on the frames in Imageready and then click once. Though that's just a guess.
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Afaik it's the background colour that AGS takes as background and then won't show it. Just set the colour of your will as the background colour and import. I used to use the one that was easiest to work with when colouring my sprites. But then, last time i imported a sprite was with some older version.
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The sky just doesn't work. (I apologise now if you intend to change this anyway)
However, if you leave it there for now, create a layer over it and try and replicate the cloud formations in the same style as the rest of the background it will look good - because its just the fact it is a photo that doesn't look right.
The dark henge silhouettes are good though...
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That's better. It is now more consistent. The foreground however (pavement/sidewalk and the bin) are different in style to the car and the sky and silhouettes.
It's getting there but the perspective needs work. Especially the letterbox, cones and dead end sign. The scale of the cones and sign are way off too.
Quote from: skitzo on Wed 16/04/2008 20:40:14
Whats AFAIK stand for?
As Far As I Know
Your latest pic looks good but it could use some major perspective tweaking. Also there are quite insane differences in the sizes of the objects - compare the height of the kerb to the car for example.
I agree with the others.
The cones are really big compaired to the other objects, and the mailbox is a different style from the car..
If you spent money on a Wacom, I suggest you try and paint with it, not cut and paste a number of images and clipart to create a mish-mash like this. It might be the harder route, but it will look so much better - if nothing else it will have personality. Even if you don't trust your painting skills, I hope you'll try to work on them.
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Skitzo, I feel you've taken this advice the wrong way.
The critic's lounge is here so that people can give you advice. Some of the advice you may not be ready/willing to hear, but it is advice nevertheless. You shouldn't feel obliged to follow any of the advice given here, but a lot of it is good advice.
I am sure that you can create better images than this, without needing to use photographs. The Wacom may take you a while to get used to - start small, perhaps. I don't feel that the pasting images route helps you improve as an artist, and that is why most people post in the critic's lounge - to improve as an artist.
Good luck to you with your graphics, and I hope you change your mind about the critic's lounge.
And with that attitude your amatuer art will stay that way..
Critique and advice is what makes one grow in whatever they are doing.
Don't be melodramatic, Skitzo. The first step in improving your skills is to learn how to accept c&c and don't take it personally.
If you want to use a photograph, at least don't paint over it with a new layer; open the picture and paint beside it, on an empty canvas.
I think you're doing nicely, but try to be patient. You can't master a brand new technique just like that.
I'll go ahead and lock this until/unless skitzo asks me to unlock it.