How to improve this character

[Big Nerd]

This is my first character.

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Vice_Cop.bmp

It is suposed to be a 80's "Vice Cop". I'm looking for someone to help me improve this.

[Uku]

ok, sorry its brobably just me, but it says:"this image is currently unavalable. ;-\" so "no can do, sir!"

[Big Nerd]

I managed to fix that problem.

[Sean]

Hey,

I think it's damn good for you first character, you can immediately tell it's an 80's vice cop! Which is always a good sign. I'd say the shape of the shoulders is a bit square, and the stance is a bit rigid but it's looking really good. The shading also needs a bit more work, I'm not sure how to help you though. I can't pixel!

I'm eager to see how this develops, keep up the good work. If you worked from a reference, could you post it?

[Steel Drummer]

Wow! Lookin' good. Very 1984! Here is a paintover (sorry for posting in jpeg, this was just to show you how to improve):



- I changed the feet from those pointy, elf-ish looking slippers to regular shoes that match the cartoony style.
- I made the outline of the skin darker. There wasn't enough contrast, especially with the skin colour. Maybe make the outline
of the jacket darker too. 

By the way, the style is looking really good and is actually very close to the style I use. You don't necessarily need shading because this style doesn't really use that. If you use a side view or 3/4 view, shade it a bit.

[Big Nerd]

Thank's for the help. By the way, what paint program do you use? I used MS PAINT to do the cop and it isn't very handy to use it.

[Big Nerd]

I worked on the shoulders and here is the result.


http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Vice_Cop.jpg

[Steel Drummer]

I use MSPaint too. I think it's very easy for this style of pixelling. Could you post the latest edit as a bitmap? The quality of the image wasn't as good.

[Big Nerd]

Can you tell me how you posted paintover in your first reply to this topic? It's better then putting a link.

[Khris]

Use GraphicsGale, it's free and superb for pixeling. The only downside of the free version: it can't open or save gifs. But it supports PNGs, the only format one should use, especially for posting images.

And (I love to post this )

[Big Nerd]

Here is a new editing of the "Vice cop"

Ã,  Ã,  Ã,  Ã, 

He doesn't have square shoulders anymore!!!

[Sean]

Great stuff, good improvement! 

[Big Nerd]

What size do you think the game resoulution should be so the character doesn't look too big?

[Steel Drummer]

320 by 200.