Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: JackAnimated on Mon 16/04/2007 20:14:15

Title: Knight
Post by: JackAnimated on Mon 16/04/2007 20:14:15
Any help with this knight.

He seems to be leaning back a bit, and he looks a bit like a ninja. I wanted more like a knight of old and to look bigger, less skinny. I'm not that great with little touches like that.

Thank you

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/JackMartinEF/knight.png)
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Andail on Mon 16/04/2007 20:28:11
Yeah I know what you mean. He's a tad small.
Maybe this might be more in your taste?
(http://www.andail.com/gfx/wowwarrior.jpg)

This gentleman's armor is complete with four additional horns, an extra pair of eye-holes, one entire furnace on each shoulder and enough spikes to make a stegosaurus blush.
I dunno, just brainstorming.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Nikolas on Mon 16/04/2007 20:34:25
Ill or something Andail? ;D Maybe a tad on the pressure?  := haha

Oh well

leaning back a bit: Move one pixel to the right
Other than that I actually like it quite a lot tbh. don't know exactly what you're after but maybe what andail suggested could be incorporated in your sprite.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: MashPotato on Mon 16/04/2007 20:47:26
I think it's a nice, simple sprite ^_^.  Moving his body and thighs a pixel to the right as Nikolas suggested would definitely help with the balance issues.  If you're aiming for a more muscular, realistic look, this page from Loomis' book (Figure Drawing for all its Worth) might help a bit with proportions and such: http://fineart.sk/show.php?w=896 (nudity)
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Eigen on Mon 16/04/2007 20:51:21
Nice paintover, Andail.

Fix the leaning back too much and also add a joint to the arms, otherwise you can't really move it.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Moresco on Mon 16/04/2007 23:13:43
I know you say you're not good at the little things like that - neither am I.  But I find once I start experimenting and just jumping into it that things eventually work out and I learn what works and what doesn't. 

Your knight looks great, but he's plain and skinny.  Shade some muscle form into the armor and bulk up a bit by pushing your lineart out a bit in different areas.  Lol, maybe you'll end up with a banged up looking Knight, but then you'd know how to draw that.  Just experiment.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Tuomas on Mon 16/04/2007 23:17:54
You know, Andail pointed it out already, it usually helps giving the guy inside the armour something to carry. I mean really, put cast iron on his shoulders. Exaggerate on the size of his pads and mails, put huge metallurgists nightmares on his shoulders etc... it'll make him look strong. See the knight below. It's got a huge armour with lots of unnecessary things on, but it looks really strong and fatal. Though it could be that there's just another guybrush hiding inside the armour.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Tue 17/04/2007 02:30:27
I made an edit that tries to keep to your style while adding more depth and detail to the character.

1.  Added a bit of depth to him by turning him more toward the screen and adding a leg that's slightly higher.

2.  Shaded using existing colors.

3.  Added details to make him look more like a knight.

4.  Added a sword because swords are fun.

(http://members.cox.net/progzmax/knight.png)

Hopefully this helps and never draw on a really bright or really dark background.  They make your eyes think colors need to be darker or lighter than they should be, so go with a soft neutral color.  I typically use light gray with a bit of blue in it.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: JackAnimated on Tue 17/04/2007 15:46:16
Thank you all very much. Lots of great points, and thanks for the paint-over and the Anatomy pictures - invaluable.

I will post a revised Knight soon.

Jack
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: JackAnimated on Tue 17/04/2007 21:28:28
...and here it is;

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/JackMartinEF/knight2.png)

x2

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/JackMartinEF/knight2.png)

I think it is greatly improved thanks to your suggestions.
Anything else I could do to it?

Thanks,

Jack
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Sparky on Tue 17/04/2007 21:52:14
That second version looks heaps better than the first. He has some character to him, and the nice simple style is very consistent.

I find his posture a little too stiff. I'd bend his knees slightly and add some curvature to his back. There's an illustration and some text about curvature here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebral_column). I hope it's useful.

Other than the pose, I don't have any complaints at all. I really like the shape of the shield, by the way.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Tuomas on Tue 17/04/2007 22:03:31
Looks great. A couple fo geeky notes though... with a full plate mail like his, he's unlikely to be standing or walking. Did you know, they would screw the plates on and then lift the knight on a horse with pulleys and ropes? Then once he'd fell off the horse, he couldn't get up again. THat would mean certain death unless your people happens to win. Lying on the ground, not being able to move would just force you to wait and wait until someone notices you're alive, and thrust a sword through the eyeholes of your helmet. Anyhow, heavy armour wasn't used on foot soldiers because it was too heavy to bear on shoulders.

That and the blade is too long to be wielded in one hand unless it's aluminium, they're bloody heavy too, I had one once :) And the shield is way too big. Not only would it  make moving, walking around difficult, it would be too hard to move or raise to block your opponents strikes. Such kite shields were used when fighting in line, and they still were smaller, and the handle was higher.

Ok, but still, the knight looks good, you shadowed it well. A bit nitpicking, that's all, it looks great ;)
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Da_Elf on Tue 17/04/2007 22:11:28
i looooove tsr artwork (im oldschool and hate calling them wizards of the coast now heheeh)
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/boed_gallery/75063.jpg
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/wl_gallery/90308.jpg
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: buloght on Tue 17/04/2007 22:36:46
Here is a knight made by infamous and amazing Fool (http://www.pixeljoint.com/p/6741.htm) from pixeljoint/pixelation (http://pixel-arts.org/pixelation/index.php?topic=3545.0), maybe it could help shading wise.

take note of contrast in colours and white highlights to make it shiny armour like.

x2 (http://i153.photobucket.com/albums/s229/buloght/foolknight.gif)
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: JackAnimated on Wed 18/04/2007 01:02:10
Ok, added highlights and curved the back in. And Tuomas, my Character is fantastical not historical, but thanks for the story, really interesting.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/JackMartinEF/knightdone.png)

x2

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v377/JackMartinEF/knightdone.png)

Thanks alot everyone.

Jack
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Da_Elf on Wed 18/04/2007 13:17:49
D&D type knights would be perfect for you if your knights are fantastical.
buloght your knight looks reeeeaally cool
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: buloght on Wed 18/04/2007 22:00:59
Quote from: Da_Elf on Wed 18/04/2007 13:17:49
buloght your knight looks reeeeaally cool

It's not my knight, it belongs to Fool.
Title: Re: Knight
Post by: Da_Elf on Wed 18/04/2007 23:30:21
DOH! sorry, nice knight fool ( sounds weird saying that hehe)