As you can propably see the background is still under construction but it's already obvious that it's too plain and a bit too happy/colourful for my intentions. I'm not looking for a filmnoir type of dark atmosphere but a little more realistic aproach than the current candyland scheme. But as I'm kinda new to these things I'd like to hear your advice how to accomplish my goals.
(http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/eed2adbca2.png) (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?eed2adbca2.png)
Well, maybe you could add a parked car on the street? a flower pot in one of the windows and curtains, one of the garages open with stuff inside, a garbage can on the street. Just a few ideas. Good luck :)
If you darken the brightness/colors of the background a little bit and add a streetlamp for some lighting affects that would spice it up quite a bit.
Great start though! You're definitely on the right track and perspective looks pretty good. I always find its easiest to get the basics all drawn in then add the clutter last anyways, great job!
Quote from: Ookki on Sun 31/01/2010 19:34:08
As you can propably see the background is still under construction but it's already obvious that it's too plain and a bit too happy/colourful for my intentions. I'm not looking for a filmnoir type of dark atmosphere but a little more realistic aproach than the current candyland scheme. But as I'm kinda new to these things I'd like to hear your advice how to accomplish my goals.
(http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/eed2adbca2.png) (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?eed2adbca2.png)
I'm by no means an expert. But if it's an outdoor scene, and it's set at midday, then you can use hard shadows and vivid colours.
You might also want to try using a radial lighting scheme like this. Photos taken on real cameras have a sort of additional brightness in the center of focus, and less exposure toward the edges.
(http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/5742/lightingt.png)
Thank you for your replies, here's a edit of the orginal image:
(http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/e379c84cc2.png) (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)
Now it's already a little more content. I must check that radial lighting thing. The thing you did there isn't quite what I'm looking for but maybe if it's used with an extremely soft touch...
Quote from: Ookki on Mon 01/02/2010 09:30:00
Now it's already a little more content. I must check that radial lighting thing. The thing you did there isn't quite what I'm looking for but maybe if it's used with an extremely soft touch...
(http://img402.imageshack.us/img402/9271/97383199.png)
Yeah, I'm not sure.
You might want to just add shadows and highlights manually.
Incidentally, to add shading like this, get a layered paint program, create a blank layer on top of the image.
Put a greyscale gradient on the blank layer, and set the layer to 50% transparency.
Bind the two layers together, then adjust the contrast to bring back the colours in the image.
I downloaded GIMP and tried to add RGB noise on the big surfaces to tear the plainess away abit (I saw someone do it on his background and it looked nice). Here's what I got:
(http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/3796/kotikatu2v.png) (http://img713.imageshack.us/i/kotikatu2v.png/)
What do you think? Is it a good idea?
It looks good! But the trash can is out of perspective, i think the top should be higher.
No, it looks tilted towards us a bit already.
The bus sign is pretty short, and the sidewalk is wider than the lane next to it.
The wall needs more structure; right now, it still looks like plastic. The glares on the windows look like white smudges.
Apart from those minor issues, the house looks weird. Three garages like this, making up the whole front?
Regarding lighting: please loose the radial lighting thing. You didn't incorporate this in your latest edit, but I still wanted to point out that I've never, ever seen radial lighting anywhere outside, especially not on a sunny day.
If you want to make it look less sunny and happy then change the colors. The bright orange background evokes a certain feeling, so go with something muddy brown or gray and add a lot of filth to the wall, grafitti, garbage piles laying around, busted streetlights, broken pavement with spray-painted warnings, potholes in the road, and so forth. Make the place look run down enough with the right colors and you'll achieve the Noir seedy-underbelly look you're after.
Quote from: Khris on Mon 01/02/2010 17:10:06
No, it looks tilted towards us a bit already.
Yeah, that was what i said.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/trash_can.PNG)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_RBOi54X1Egs/S2jqISqs7YI/AAAAAAAAAWY/zJVRDVEm-MU/s400/streetify.png)
Add the other stuff as details using objects.
I sure like what you did with the alley on the left, goldfish. I'm quite sure that I'll add it in my scene. I'll try to update as soon as possible, which can be after a while; being a conscript in the army doesn't exactly give you enourmous time to spend in the civil world. :-\