Hello. I've made this background for my upcoming game, but it seems a little empty and a litthe flat, doen't it? Please, crititc.
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5721/menurj4.png)
(http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/5721/menurj4.png)
First off, let me say that the texture of this piece is really, really top-notch. Very impressive!
With all of the color variation, I don't feel that the piece is "empty" at all, and I think that the flatness is caused by the stark contrast between sea and sky. Maybe your water's color should fade toward the color of the background. That would give the sea some depth and make it look less like a set piece.
Yes, the textures are top notch! The piece may feel a bit empty is because there is nothing else there except the tree! Add a stone under it or something, add some bigger flowers to the right. Make a little path. It really is all about the composition, you need some size and colour variations. I also suggest adding some tips of rocks between the land and sea peeking up or something, just for transition.
And if to be picky and to give some hardcore critics, blur and smoothe up the clouds on the lower area because they rach further away and therefore not seen so clearly. Same with the sea, it fades away in the horizon and texture of water changes lighter when reaching further away.
Good tips. Here it is. I like it more now. It's more... epic.
(http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8465/menugo1.png)
(http://img366.imageshack.us/img366/8465/menugo1.png)
OMG :o
Sorry just had to say that it looks amazing, please make a game with those graphics ;D
Only crit I can give is that red patch on the grass, I guess its meant to be a field of poppies or something, I haven't seen really small red flowers before grown like that so that makes my eye think its further away from the 1st hill. If so then that makes your statue sort of thing be as tall as the Empire state building and I'm unsure if you want that.
Added the shield and some lighting re-touches in the statue, the tree and the rock. And yes, the statue it's supossed to be enormous, something like the Argonath.
(http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7253/mern0.png)
(http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/7253/mern0.png)
I think it's ready. Thanks all for your help. ;)
Well in that case its brilliant :D
Looks great; the clouds and sea are gorgeous! The red flowers are a nice touch, too.
You might want to blend in the tree just a little (unless it happens to be a sprite). And is the statue supposed to be far out in the distance? If so, you could try blurring it or giving it a blue tint. Right now, it kind of looks like it's close to the shore and as tall as the tree.
Again, great background. Can't wait for the game!
The statue is the entrance to the shore, near the docks, and it's pretty far from where the guy is sitting. I don't know what you mean about giving the statue a blue tint. Is it for the reflection of the water?
I know what you mean about the blur in the tree. I know it looks cutted, but I've tried to blur it and I can't get it right, so I'm going to leave the way it is now.
Quote from: Sadistyk on Tue 10/07/2007 00:37:02
The statue is the entrance to the shore, near the docks, and it's pretty far from where the guy is sitting. I don't know what you mean about giving the statue a blue tint. Is it for the reflection of the water?
He means because right now it looks like the statue is standing right over the guy's shoulder. Giving it a blue tint and paling it some will make it seem like it's farther away. You might do the same, as someone else suggested, with the water where it meets the horizon.
Otherwise it's a fantastic background! I can't wait to see a game full of these.
A blue tint would be from the atmosphere, because it's so far away (you know, like mountains look blue in the distance). Currently there's really no way to tell how far away it is. It could be miles away or just a few meters. It might help if you showed the cliffs coming out of the water, and maybe even some fog around them. Also, I think you should show some grass in front of the rock in the foreground, like you do at the edges of the hills, because currently it looks like it's floating off the grass.
Good background, with really effective use of simple techniques. Nice!
Here it is. Now the statue is in the water. I made some grass near the rock and added the reflections in the water.
(http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4084/menudg6.png)
(http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/4084/menudg6.png)
Nice, but lose the reflections. You only see such a clear reflection in completely still water, like a pond. On the choppy ocean you probably wouldn't see any reflection at all.
And I still think you should add a pale blue filter to the statue. It will make it look far more distant.
Quote from: Sadistyk on Tue 10/07/2007 02:18:41Now the statue is in the water
Since the statue is in the background, it should look like it's far away.
Most often, this is done by making it more "white". You must color it lighter. The more "white" it is, the more far it is.
Not white, but light-blue, colder colour as opposed to warm foreground. But the bottom of the skyline should be quite white, instead of blue. It should be brighter than the upper part.
Very impressive. I really like your style - very Sierra-like.
The only thing that is bugging me is the missing beach. I have never seen grass so close to an ocean (because of the salt water?)
Quote from: cobra79 on Tue 10/07/2007 09:21:33
Very impressive. I really like your style - very Sierra-like.
The only thing that is bugging me is the missing beach. I have never seen grass so close to an ocean (because of the salt water?)
I think it's supposed to be the edge of a cliff. The angle doesn't allow you to see how much higher up we are than the ocean.
EDIT: Could be a freshwater lake, anyway.
It's a very cool background! Great style and execution.
I focused on the statue:
(http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/9405/redrawsadrn1.png)
-rippled reflection
-added whites at feet to put it "into" the water
-put statue further back by lightening, toning and AA-ing it
Well it does not look like a cliff to me Hudders. I have the impression we are only slightly above sea level. Even if it is a cliff, then I would not expect this much grass and a single tree there (due to strong winds).
PS: Khris' version looks more like a cliff now, but I would say ditch some of the grass now.
The only thing that bothers me is the red on the side. It looks like pool of blood. :) for the rest it's really nice keep it up!
Quote from: cobra79 on Tue 10/07/2007 09:56:10
Well it does not look like a cliff to me Hudders. I have the impression we are only slightly above sea level.
I've just re-read all Sadistyk's posts, and nowhere is it referred to as a sea or ocean. Could very feasibly be a lake or even an incredibly wide river.
Quote from: Hudders on Tue 10/07/2007 09:35:00
I think it's supposed to be the edge of a cliff.
Seems quite obvious to me.. Damn, cobra79's comment makes me doubt.
It' a sea, and it's a cliff, so you cannot see the shore. I added a little blue tint to the statue, the fruits and the flowers, and I change a bit the color of the sea. Also, I added a little water to the feets of the statue.
(http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6374/menuck4.png)
(http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/6374/menuck4.png)
I don't think the fruit would hang from a tree like that. Looks a bit like bunting.