Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 03:29:32

Title: Helicopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 03:29:32
Hi all,

I need some help with this helecopter...
I would like some help with the shading so if you could give me tips that would be great. Paint overs welcome (light source coming from top left corner)
Also if I could improve things then that would be great.
Cheers

(http://img54.exs.cx/img54/2140/Helecopter.png)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Moox on Mon 27/09/2004 03:33:49
It looks like a red x ;)

The pic isnt working
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 06:02:50
I have been trying hard to get it to work but it doesn't want to. I am using ArtGem and when I save the file as a png file it doesn't come up.
This shouldn't be in the critics lounge, oops.
Do you know how I could fix it?

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 07:43:15
(http://img15.exs.cx/img15/9028/Helicopter.jpg)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Angelos on Mon 27/09/2004 08:04:31
Well done perspective-wise. Yet you have been lazy concerning detail.
What bothers me most is the mount of the main rotor. It is not realistic at all.

Reference :  http://www.copters.com/mech/mr_semi.html

Also.
Your copter looks like a military one. Which means I would expect all sort of
machine-guns, rocket lanchers, antimatter beams and neutron-warp-field-accelerators
attached to it. Yet, I see nothing. Before shading you have to work on the detail a bit more.

Here you can find some pics of Apaches. Hope they help you.
http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/ah-64.htm

Angeos.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 12:31:32
Thanks for the links.
This is what I came up with, still not what I want but I still need tips on the shading.

(http://img61.exs.cx/img61/2766/Helecopter.jpg)

- Raider

EDIT* Argh its not working... I will try to get it going
EDIT*2 Got it
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Andail on Mon 27/09/2004 12:40:13
In your last link, you spelt helicopter "helecopter". It doesn't work to just change it though, but you might want to be aware of it for future trouble-shooting.

A good thing is to use the preview function before posting.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 12:49:29
Okay thanks,
I figured out what I was doing wrong (hosting the pic)
I noticed the mis spell right after I posted, can I change it?

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: InCreator on Mon 27/09/2004 16:37:58
There's a "modify" button on the top-left part on every your post, try this.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Neutron on Mon 27/09/2004 17:54:28
hi, i made this model loosely based on your drawing.Ã,  i hope it helps. also i think some details might look nice on the dark side in the form of lighter colored lines representing edges, like of the doors and windows, or whatever.Ã,  gas cap maybe.
<edit> image replaced, see next page <edit>
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Pft! on Mon 27/09/2004 18:17:07
Gradients work for me!
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Albert Cuandero on Mon 27/09/2004 18:19:11
It seems you are trying to draw an AH64-A/D. The old version from the 80's (no Lonbow radar system) - I LOVE THIS MACHINE! (har-har-har)

Notes:

It has a crew of two, one (pilot) sitting down right in the nose, the other one (weapons & tactic eng.) having his knees roughly above the other guys shoulders.
It has 4 rotor wings (@ Neutron)
The firmpoint wings look very different.
It does not have that many corners in the back (only reason for those is to eliminate any "shot traps" - known from tank design)

I built five models of this engine so far, so I know it's looks quite well (never attempted to draw it though)

more details (and many pics) here:

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/apache/  (http://www.army-technology.com/projects/apache/)
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Mon 27/09/2004 19:22:21
I didn't have a lot of time, but I wanted to help if I could ...

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/raider_help02.gif)

Basically I just started throwing random details (panels and rivets) and added some shading to make the side a little darker (following your light source).  I didn't have time to follow perspective (or even do the whole thing) I just wanted to give you the idea of what I mean!

What others have said about detailing is important.Ã,  The rotor assembly for example.Ã,  Also there are several parts where depth is missing.Ã,  The rotor blades for example.Ã,  Some have depth, some don't.Ã,  I added depth to the cockpit windows on the side as well as straightening some of the connecting lines.

Sorry it was rushed, I hope it helps.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: loominous on Mon 27/09/2004 20:38:18
Some sloppy modifications:

Requires flash 7 player (about 30kb) (http://marcus.krupa.se/AGS/_Modification_helo.htm)

Basically, what you need to do is imagine the helicopter as seen from the lightsource. The best way is to actually draw the object in the angle from which it is seen from the lightsource n then note all the areas that are _not_ seen.

These areas, which are in shadow, should be given a darker tone (how dark depends on the other lightsources; if there s a lot of ambient light for instance, the shadow tone should be pretty light; if there s no additional lightsources, it should be pretty much pure black (light bounces off object though, so if an shadow area is close to a lit up area, the light will bounce, if the angle is right, onto the shadow area, illuminating it).

Edit: When choosing tones, make sure you re not afraid of using contrasting tones. Something seen in pretty much all novices drawings/paintings is a lack of contrast which makes the image look flat n uninteresting.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Pft! on Mon 27/09/2004 20:53:27
Add some shadows & detail. Thats it!!!  8)
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Cluey on Mon 27/09/2004 21:54:44
Loominus' rocks.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Mon 27/09/2004 22:52:11
Thanks for the ideas
- Darth:
I did do rivits earlier but I over did it and it looked stupid, so I discarded that idea. I seemed to have learned a lesson not to ditch things that don't look right straight away.

- Albert:
Yes I will redraw the cockpit or maybe just add a secondary one on top soon.

I am having trouble with attatching the rotors to the blade holders on top of the helicopter they should be large but then they 'thin' down to almost nothing making it look like it will snap off any second. Help with that would be great.
Thanks again,.

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Tue 28/09/2004 00:03:34
Here is the version with the panels on it.
(http://img36.exs.cx/img36/2766/Helecopter.jpg)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Albert Cuandero on Tue 28/09/2004 04:00:26
Being in a hurry, just some colorful details (badly and randomly applied) to get the idea over how to make the picture more interesting...

Also: not only the glass would break in a crash, some of the panels would hang loosely scratches and burns etc...

(http://de.geocities.com/albert_cuandero/Helecopter.gif)
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Tue 28/09/2004 08:44:22
Thats good but a bit over done. I like the 07 and the crown but the rest doesn't fit into my game. I will take the idea though and put colour into the chopper. Also I don't know what to put on the wings. Guns and rockets arn't my strong points. Any help with those would be very good.

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: BlackMan890 on Tue 28/09/2004 09:06:18
How in the world can the captain get out or get in, it's LOCKED
also
the back part of the helicopter is too big, i think, is it for the engine? if so the please see that the engines take not so much space:
(http://www.flug-revue.rotor.com/FRTypen/Fotos/eurocopt/AS350B31.jpg)
(http://www.nlr.nl/public/facilities/f192-01/helicopter.gif)
(http://www.planetbattlefield.com/bf1942/strategy/chopper/spawndemon_ah64.jpg)
the one above, the military one, you should see that it looks just like you exept it's 2 seated, isn't it?
your's is one seated ans a BIG engine also see below so you can see what your copter could look like:
(http://weather.cod.edu/chasing/images/1992/helicopter.92.jpg)
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Neutron on Tue 28/09/2004 09:36:31
I found this model at the 3D cafe.  It appears to be roughly the same make.
(http://home.att.net/~yorik/helicopter2.jpg)
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Sun 03/10/2004 06:04:30
This is my new update, I am having trouble with drawing a missile like the one in the pic above. If someone could help me then that would be good.
Ignore the white box under the wing.

(http://img16.exs.cx/img16/6278/Helicopter4.jpg)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Albert Cuandero on Sun 03/10/2004 10:00:38
Hey, Raider, you made it look muuuuchh better!

Here is a brief idea for the formpoints/missiles - again, it is not accurate done, but you should be able to work from there on.

If you don't like then - just ignore...

(http://de.geocities.com/albert_cuandero/Helicopter4ac.jpg)

(oops - I first uploaded your original image - how smart I am today !Ã,  :=)

EDIT:

here is a good link if you are looking for data (it's german thogugh...) http://members.aol.com/kastnerk/technik.html
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Thu 07/10/2004 06:03:46
I have just gave the missiles a go...

(http://img15.exs.cx/img15/5791/Helicopter5.jpg)

Albert: That is really different to my style and looks odd sorry. Thanks anyway.

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Cluey on Thu 07/10/2004 18:32:22
Your 'siles are pretty good Raider, I'd stick with em.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: BlackMan890 on Thu 07/10/2004 19:33:21
that round thing on the boxes going out is a little small...
but thats a really good missiles if only i could do one like that
but overall a good job, can't wait too see some more
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Thu 07/10/2004 19:45:27
Thanks guys.
I would really like to get on with shading now because that is what I am really bad at.... If someone could give me some tips (InCreator could you give me some tips I have PM you). Like I said in the first post the light is coming from the top left corner and I don't know how to shade to make it look like shiny metal. If I could get help in that area then that would be cool.
Thanks again (I will change that round thing blackman cheers)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: sergiocornaga on Fri 08/10/2004 04:22:57
The small amount of shading looks pretty good already. Awesome copter.
Title: Re: Helecopter shading
Post by: Raider on Sat 09/10/2004 21:58:29
One question: Should I Edit my last post every time I want to put an update on or just post a new reply with the new picture on it?

Anyway here is my attempt of shading. Is there somthing that I am not doing or am I missing anything out?

(http://img16.exs.cx/img16/6861/Helicopter6.jpg)

- Raider
Title: Re: Helicopter shading
Post by: c.leksutin on Sun 10/10/2004 21:29:17
If the rotor isn't moving then it should be casting shadows across the fuselage.


C.

Title: Re: Helicopter shading
Post by: InCreator on Mon 11/10/2004 00:02:43
you might try this:

(http://www.terran-x.com/increator/1.PNG)
old

(http://www.terran-x.com/increator/2.PNG)
new


Or you could also try to remove black outlines and trace the borders where different parts meet, with about 2-3 pixel wide antialiased line tool brush using brighten/darken processor.

This is much bigger work, outcome should look like that or something similar:
(http://www.terran-x.com/increator/3.PNG)

I started to fill an area and noticed that shittery JPG compression has divided your simple filled color to multiple colors. This was good idea and I clicked everywhere to make this metal surface grainy, so it looks like rusted or dusty. I think you can do this also by hand.

Also, notice the simple brightening-darkening trick I used on side window.

And more about the window:

Solid, thick glass (that seems to be logically the one they use for army helicopter windows) very rarely breaks the way like you drew, I mean like this:
(http://www.terran-x.com/increator/4.PNG)
curved lines? It seems wrong.

I think that more believeable and natural would be using straight lines and many pieces, like this:
(http://www.terran-x.com/increator/5.PNG)