Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Elliott Hird on Mon 10/10/2005 13:03:52

Title: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Mon 10/10/2005 13:03:52
View Background (http://www.pixel-services.com/PICT1.PCX)
I'm not very good at dpaint, but i came up with this pretty quick. What do you think? C&C welcome.
EDIT: Fixed link.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: jetxl on Mon 10/10/2005 16:04:11
I'm thinking about lassi quest for some reason.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Andail on Mon 10/10/2005 16:08:46
Hehe, indeed.
Elliott, start by saving your Visyesque background in a format supported by common webbrowsers.

Then we can commence our usual avoid-the-filters drill.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Mon 10/10/2005 18:48:19
Alas, I only have dpaint, and the most widely supported format that it can do is pcx, I'm afraid. I'll change it sometime.

No filters used. gradients != filters.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Krysis on Mon 10/10/2005 19:16:03
(http://img437.imageshack.us/img437/817/ohgosh7gt.png)

I bottered to help. This is in PNG.:)

It aint bad but it looks empty to me.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Mon 10/10/2005 19:38:38
It IS bare, I'll add objects and stuff later if i actually use it.

edit: thanks btw
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Tue 11/10/2005 01:14:00
The gradients seem to be rather haphazardly used.  There seems to be no specific light source (look at the base boards in particular, one has light coming from top left, one from the left, and one from the bottom left).  For gradients to be used properly you need to set a light source and reference them from it.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: visy (the guy who made Lassi Quest) on Tue 11/10/2005 09:18:43
Now that certainly takes me back... DPaint rocks the big one! Box rooms galore!

..Nice to see that somebody still knows who makes the toughest DPaint art around here ;)

PCX for the greatest pleasure.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Tue 11/10/2005 10:21:24
Quote from: Visa-Valtteri "visy" Pimiä on Tue 11/10/2005 09:18:43
Now that certainly takes me back... DPaint rocks the big one! Box rooms galore!

..Nice to see that somebody still knows who makes the toughest DPaint art around here ;)

PCX for the greatest pleasure.
Uh, that's nice? Hey, I told you I suck.
QuoteThe gradients seem to be rather haphazardly used.  There seems to be no specific light source (look at the base boards in particular, one has light coming from top left, one from the left, and one from the bottom left).  For gradients to be used properly you need to set a light source and reference them from it.
The light source is probably coming from the invisible viewport wall, it seems like that to me at least...

Thanks for all the C&C.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: visy (the guy who made Lassi Quest) on Tue 11/10/2005 11:13:08
Actually Elliot, I meant that it reminded me of my own "artwork" of years back. :)
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Tue 11/10/2005 11:51:44
Quote from: Visa-Valtteri "visy" Pimiä on Tue 11/10/2005 11:13:08
Actually Elliot, I meant that it reminded me of my own "artwork" of years back. :)
I realised that after I'd posted :D. (and it's Elliott. You have no idea how many hairs i've lost over those mizpellungz)
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Janik on Wed 12/10/2005 01:18:12
Comments/questions:

- What is the green rectangle? A window? A painting?
- The floor, ceiling, AND walls are orange. Might I suggest hiring a new interior decorator  ;D
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 10:29:40
Quote from: Janik on Wed 12/10/2005 01:18:12
Comments/questions:

- What is the green rectangle? A window? A painting?
- The floor, ceiling, AND walls are orange. Might I suggest hiring a new interior decoratorÃ,  ;D

The green rectangle? Why, can't you see? It's obvious! It's... a green rectangle!
Yeah, I've shot him. He was just an, ahem, test case.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Andail on Wed 12/10/2005 12:01:33
Are you trying to make it psychadelic? No offense, it could work as a part of a psychadelic game, or a Lassi quest clone or something.

But if you want to make a more mundane game, just take a brief look at an ordinary room. Your own, for instance. You will see how all the gradients, the colour-scheme and the general composition is quite absurd.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 15:06:16
Quote from: Andail on Wed 12/10/2005 12:01:33
Are you trying to make it psychadelic? No offense, it could work as a part of a psychadelic game, or a Lassi quest clone or something.

But if you want to make a more mundane game, just take a brief look at an ordinary room. Your own, for instance. You will see how all the gradients, the colour-scheme and the general composition is quite absurd.
How do you know my room isn't like that :P? j/k

Problem is, it's just hard to get the right colour.
What's so bad about orange anyway :P?
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 12/10/2005 17:51:20
I don't think the orange is the "psychadelic" part Andail was referring to.

More the way the room doesn't seem "normal".  The gradients (as was already mentioned) go every which way.

Here's a quick paint-over to show you how to (I think) effectively use gradients:

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/elliott_help01.gif)

Hope you find it helpful!
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 18:26:27
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Wed 12/10/2005 17:51:20
I don't think the orange is the "psychadelic" part Andail was referring to.

More the way the room doesn't seem "normal".Ã,  The gradients (as was already mentioned) go every which way.

Here's a quick paint-over to show you how to (I think) effectively use gradients:

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/elliott_help01.gif)

Hope you find it helpful!
When I clicked on this thread just now, and saw your name in the last post column, I thought "i bet there's gonna be a paintover here." And what happened? I'm psycic.

That's a really good paintover btw, my only problem is dpaint can't do vertical gradients... :(

How the heck did lucasarts manage without a vertical gradient tool?
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Krysis on Wed 12/10/2005 18:35:44
LOL. Try rotating. :)
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Nikolas on Wed 12/10/2005 18:41:08
Try a new painting program ???
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Helm on Wed 12/10/2005 18:46:40
naw, stick with Dpaint.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 18:49:28
Quote from: Helm on Wed 12/10/2005 18:46:40
naw, stick with Dpaint.
\o/ yesyesyesyesyes

Photoshop and all that just make me draw crap, really...
And paint just doesn't cut it with backgrounds that look like... anything, really. Microsoft would do good making a cross between dpaint/photoshop/gimp/paint in some future version. Now THAT would rock.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Squinky on Wed 12/10/2005 22:06:08
Is there any way to emulate this style of dithered gradients in photoshop? I've tried a bit, and the closest I could get was setting the gradient to dissolve and posturizing, but it still looks different....
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 22:07:45
Quote from: Squinky on Wed 12/10/2005 22:06:08
Is there any way to emulate this style of dithered gradients in photoshop? I've tried a bit, and the closest I could get was setting the gradient to dissolve and posturizing, but it still looks different....
Well, DPaint works in 256 colours. and btw, I used different levels of "gradient splatter" which looks a bit like dithering.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: MrColossal on Wed 12/10/2005 22:55:00
Squinky:

http://kafkaskoffee.com/tutorials/gradients.shtml
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 12/10/2005 22:58:10
Quote from: Squinky on Wed 12/10/2005 22:06:08Is there any way to emulate this style of dithered gradients in photoshop? I've tried a bit, and the closest I could get was setting the gradient to dissolve and posturizing, but it still looks different....

I made that paint-over in Photoshop :)

Eric's link is exactly how I do it.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Squinky on Wed 12/10/2005 23:31:19
I figured you did, but wasn't sure. But now I'll be rocking it thanks to that tutorial so good times... Thanks again guys.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Gilbert on Thu 13/10/2005 02:17:44
Quote from: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 18:26:27

That's a really good paintover btw, my only problem is dpaint can't do vertical gradients... :(

How the heck did lucasarts manage without a vertical gradient tool?
DP can't do vertical gradient? I didn't know that until now.

try right-clicking on tool icons for more options...
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Thu 13/10/2005 10:07:52
Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Thu 13/10/2005 02:17:44
Quote from: Elliott Hird on Wed 12/10/2005 18:26:27

That's a really good paintover btw, my only problem is dpaint can't do vertical gradients... :(

How the heck did lucasarts manage without a vertical gradient tool?
DP can't do vertical gradient? I didn't know that until now.

try right-clicking on tool icons for more options...
How could I forget that right-click-for-more-tools global in alot of old dos programmes? Darn. lemme try.

Edit: Nope. just brings up the "new gradient" menu.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Gilbert on Thu 13/10/2005 12:31:12
Actually I don't understand what did you mean by "vertical gradient", DP gradient function is very good and very powerful.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Thu 13/10/2005 17:39:22
Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Thu 13/10/2005 12:31:12
Actually I don't understand what did you mean by "vertical gradient", DP gradient function is very good and very powerful.
gradient going from top to bottom, vise-versa. it can only do horizontal.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Gilbert on Fri 14/10/2005 01:41:24
It can do nearly all form of gradients, even diagonal, just choose straight gradient and drag the line...
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Fri 14/10/2005 11:19:03
Quote from: Gilbot V7000a on Fri 14/10/2005 01:41:24
It can do nearly all form of gradients, even diagonal, just choose straight gradient and drag the line...
Not on DPaint Enhanced II you can't.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Gilbert on Fri 14/10/2005 12:21:36
You can, had you tried that yet?

I use DP2e also.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Andail on Fri 14/10/2005 14:40:02
If it takes this much time and debating to work out one simple function with DPaint, I must recommend using something else.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Helm on Fri 14/10/2005 18:27:49
no, andail. Because at his level, going from a semi-functional understanding of dpaint to a severily underequipped usage of photoshop solves nothing. You need to learn your first program inside out. And it just so happens that dpaint is perfect for the resolutions he's working on. If he had started with photoshop, he'd be getting help on how to use the gradient tool in that program.
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Fri 14/10/2005 18:43:32
Quote from: Helm on Fri 14/10/2005 18:27:49
no, andail. Because at his level, going from a semi-functional understanding of dpaint to a severily underequipped usage of photoshop solves nothing. You need to learn your first program inside out. And it just so happens that dpaint is perfect for the resolutions he's working on. If he had started with photoshop, he'd be getting help on how to use the gradient tool in that program.
Thanks. I'm just not good at drawing, digital or otherwise, tho I have these awesome ideas and images that I can see in my head... but meh.

Edit: someone rename this to dpaint discussion :D
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Snarky on Sat 15/10/2005 01:47:56
After playing around with Dpaint 2 Enhanced for a while, I figured out how to set the direction of the gradients.  It's not exactly obvious. By default it just goes left-right, and you can flip it from the gradient menu, but not change it in any other way.

Right-click on the shape you want to fill with a gradient, and set the gradient type to "linear". After to draw a shape now, you'll get a line from the center of the shape, and you can orient this line in the direction you want the gradient to go. Voila! Experiment with other types of gradients for cool effects.

Really happy I finally managed to track down this cool tool. I've looked for it several times in the past, but only now was I successful. I almost feel like I have to make some LucasArtsy backgrounds now.  ;D
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Sat 15/10/2005 02:41:04
If you really are serious about using DPaint I'd recommend getting winUAE (an amiga emulator) and DPaint IV.  It had so many improvements over 2 I couldn't possibly list them all.  If you are really strapped to locate it I could make a zip of the hd install version I've got and throw it in your direction. 

As for the actual use of gradients on a background, I'm not a big fan of the effect myself- I find that hand pixelled shading looks nicer since you have far more control.  Obviously it's not very practical for large backgrounds, but it's very reasonable to pixel your own wall texture in 320x200. 
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Snarky on Sat 15/10/2005 16:02:56
Setting up a functioning Amiga environment has got to be the most painful process I've ever attempted on my computer. Lots of different packages that have to be set up together (and of course they don't list their dependencies. That would be too easy). Several required files that are still under copyright and therefore not distributed with the main packages. "Workbench" distributions that don't make it clear whether they're different operating systems, different versions of the same OS, or just handy packages of settings and applications.  >:(

Besides, I absolutely could not find DPaint IV or V except as part of the ClassicWB distribution, which seems less ideal than AIAB. Currently looking on eMule, which to me is a last resort; the absolute lowest and most degrading way to get hold of anything on the Internets.  :-[
Title: Re: DPaint Room Background
Post by: Elliott Hird on Sat 15/10/2005 19:37:14
Quote from: Snarky on Sat 15/10/2005 01:47:56
After playing around with Dpaint 2 Enhanced for a while, I figured out how to set the direction of the gradients.Ã,  It's not exactly obvious. By default it just goes left-right, and you can flip it from the gradient menu, but not change it in any other way.

Right-click on the shape you want to fill with a gradient, and set the gradient type to "linear". After to draw a shape now, you'll get a line from the center of the shape, and you can orient this line in the direction you want the gradient to go. Voila! Experiment with other types of gradients for cool effects.

Really happy I finally managed to track down this cool tool. I've looked for it several times in the past, but only now was I successful. I almost feel like I have to make some LucasArtsy backgrounds now.Ã,  ;D
DPaint is too holy for me to use it's superior features. *bows*