Evil boss portrait c+c - need advice on beard shading

[fred]

Here's an evil boss portrait for the game I'm working on.



x2

I'm wondering how to make the beard stand out  more - is there any general technique for shading hair and beards at this resolution? I think it's quite difficult without some method to rely on.

Also, don't hold back on general critique - palette, lighting etc.

[PixelPerfect]

Granted that I'm just getting into this whole pixeling thing, but I think it looks very good the way it is.

I tried just for practice do a shading on the beard and here's the result if you'll find it useful:

 

I used 2 extra colors for the shading.

[ThreeOhFour]

I tried an edit to make the beard hair look thicker.



I basically replaced the purple with the darkest blue and then replaced the black with the purple. I didn't get it looking actually shaded, like PixelPerfect, but I didn't add any colours. It could probably be done reasonably effectively without adding colours, but the 2 colours he added suit fine, so you might consider using them.

Ps - there's a few brown pixels on the right side of the nose - didn't think you wanted them in there, so I got rid of them for mine.

By the way, before I forget, this looks fantastic.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

The main problem is that you've shaded the beard like a relief or like bark on a tree, with protruding veins and such.  I've made an edit to address this and a few other things.

1.  Removed two colors from the image: black and the off-blue color.  I didn't think they fit well with the rest of the colors.

2.  Shaded his beard to give it a fluffier and less uniform look.

3.  Arched his nose down slightly as I thought it made him look more menacing.

4.  Reduced size of eyes and added highlights around the sockets to emphasize they were glowing.

5.  Made the ears a bit more pronounced.

6.  Removed the gaps in the teeth and made his expression a bit more angry.



Hopefully this will give you a few ideas.  I really like the design!

[fred]

Thanks for the paintovers
I spent some time experimenting with the three methods, and here's my best shot so far. In a way it's a combination of features from the edits.



x2

* Shaded the entire shape of the beard, left to right like in PixelPerfect's edit.
* Used fewer colors/less contrast in the beard, like Ben304's edit.
* Fluffier shapes like ProgZmax's edit.
* Changed the middle blue on the palette into a dark cyan, and used dark purple instead of black.
* Coloured the outline slightly in places.

Other than that it's mostly subtle changes due to the modified palette.

[2ma2]

The first version reminds me of Medusa, but with a beard of serpents instead of hair. If you would do animated, wriggling serpents as an idle animation, I would have your child 

[Ryan Timothy B]

I'm really not liking the gaps between the teeth.  Progz, teeth looked much angrier and less goofy (the initial glance almost reminds me of Herman Toothrot on Monkey Island).  Progz, jaw was also clenching to show anger. 
But I don't know what kind of character your looking for.  A goofy Evil Boss, or an angry serious Evil Boss.

[None]

Yeah I decided to redraw a bit, (sorry if you didn't want that) and made it a bit wilder... More intimidating this way...

[fred]

Cool edit, ShonenAiGuy! and I agree with 2ma2, it would be great to see an animation of those, I just don't have the time (or the skill to do it in time).
But if someone has, please do it 

Ryan Timothy, I looked for a long time, and now think I can see what you mean about the teeth giving him a goofy look, although I'd like more opinions on this, as I'm not sure. Maybe we just read faces differently. I made this edit, trying to make the teeth more like ProgZmax''s, but I think they're now in danger of being read like lips instead of teeth. Also, the expression now looks less distorted and enraged, more like a kind of calm, justified anger that can ultimately be reasoned with, thus less frightening imo.

Well, opinions are still appreciated

[PixelPerfect]

Yeah I agree with you fred. I think ProgZmax's edit is very good, but I see the teeth as lips for some reason and thus less furious than those few angry teeth in the original. I'd go with the originals in this case.

[Ryan Timothy B]

Now that you are saying it looks like lips instead of teeth, I can see it too.
I was trying to remake the teeth but nothing I am doing right now looks alright.
My main concern was to fix his centered tooth so two teeth are in the middle of his nose.  But I just can't get the whole thing to look right at the moment.

EDIT: Added photo



x2

Okay I spent a few minutes working on this, I tried to define his eyebrows with a little more anger.  Raised his cheeks.  I decided to give his teeth a little less width.


Side by side: (new / old)
x2 VS x2

I can see a little more anger in this, but I know I can do better.  But now that I look at the new vs old, I can see confusion in the old rather then anger.  And now I keep staring at the dark dot on his nose, didn't notice that until now.

[fred]

I think it's very good - and yes, the center tooth was problematic. I also like the changes you made on the outline, and reshading the brow and the cheeks. He does look angrier now.

With just minor changes, this version is my new favorite.



I think it's a bit easier to see the teeth now. Then again, it also depends on monitor resolution.  On my own monitor the single pixel teeth are just barely visible.

[Ryan Timothy B]

Good good..
Your game is 300x200 right? Then shouldn't matter what resolution you are currently looking at it with right now, but anyway looks good.    Can't wait to see the game.