Little Girl Protagonist Sprite - Critique?

EnoRed · Thu 15/04/2010 18:14:20

Hi, new member here... Although I've lurked here in the past. Got back into AGS somewhat (well, I got into it in general and didn't give up immediately when I couldn't get instant results like I did before) and I've been also trying to get back into the swing of spriting. I used to do it a lot more a while back, but I'm a bit out of practice so I might need a few pointers on what I might be doing wrong.

This is a sprite of a possible protagonist for a future game I might want to make, after I do a whole lot of practicing and taking it slow. It's kind of obvious I'm going for a pretty exaggerated look, although even if you're exaggerating something you've got to abide by certain rules. Please let me know if there's anything you think would improve it, or general advice on how to improve from what you can glean from this.

S · Thu 15/04/2010 22:59:21

She looks great!
I'd make the outline of her chin ligther, or the outline of her hair more pronounced (i.e. darker), because the contrast makes her look a bit like a reclining "C" (if you see what I mean); she's like a pot without a lid, an incomplete circle, etc.

Apart from that I'd change nothing else. Love the facial expression!

Captain Ricco · Thu 15/04/2010 23:05:07

Looks great, though, I think the ligh in her her should be coming from above no?

EnoRed · Thu 15/04/2010 23:26:11

Quote from: S on Thu 15/04/2010 22:59:21
She looks great!
I'd make the outline of her chin ligther, or the outline of her hair more pronounced (i.e. darker), because the contrast makes her look a bit like a reclining "C" (if you see what I mean); she's like a pot without a lid, an incomplete circle, etc.

Apart from that I'd change nothing else. Love the facial expression!

It was hard finding the right colour with the pallette I was using. I'll give it another try...

Quote from: Captain Ricco on Thu 15/04/2010 23:05:07
Looks great, though, I think the ligh in her her should be coming from above no?

Most people say the light should come from above, but I guess I've gotten into a habit of just making one side darker than the other, usually the left.

Here's a slightly updated version. I've altered the hair outline to be darker and I've tried to make the shading look a bit more like it's coming from the top right. Maybe could do with some more tweaking in that regard... Thanks for your input so far.

Questionable · Fri 16/04/2010 05:12:52

Is she a cross-eyed character?

EnoRed · Fri 16/04/2010 15:21:11

I didn't really notice it, but now that you mention it she does look a little odd. Here's one with her eyes changed a bit... And I do mean just a bit.

Xellie · Fri 16/04/2010 16:55:30

I really like it, well done! Your limited palette will also make animation easier. I have no real suggestions, just felt like doing a paintover. I made very minor adjustments, tried to make it a bit less cartoony with a bit more depth. Really like your style, I couldn't do it!

Anian · Fri 16/04/2010 17:22:59

Just 3 minor things taht are more suggestions to try and see how it looks than actual problems:
- maybe her head&hair could go like 1-3 pixels to the right (our right)? kinda seems off-center and pulled back a bit like this
- her left cheek looks like she has a jawbreaker in it, I know it gives the silhouette a good look, but move it maybe a bit to the left, so it doesn't look that much portruded
- and this really minor and not really a problem, on the right there's a small lock of her hair (next to the before mentioned cheek), that lock seems curled, so you might wanna curl the far left end of her hair as well. I am not sure if I'm right about this, cause technically it doesn't have to be, but you might wann try it

Yeah, I like her more not crosseyed and with stronger/darker lines for hair, that's a nice improvement, although it also depends on the in-game backrounds, so Xellie might have got it better by going with tones between those two extremes.

Maybe without the lipstick, Xellie?

I think it's suppose to be a little girl (maybe I'm wrong and it's just the style).

EnoRed · Fri 16/04/2010 18:14:48

Quote from: Xellie on Fri 16/04/2010 16:55:30
I really like it, well done! Your limited palette will also make animation easier. I have no real suggestions, just felt like doing a paintover. I made very minor adjustments, tried to make it a bit less cartoony with a bit more depth. Really like your style, I couldn't do it!

Thanks a lot, the added details are very good, especially the shoes... Who would've thought you could make them that much more detailed looking by just adding a few pixels? I think I'll stick with my more limited colour palette though, for ease of animation as you said. I'll need to work on some walk cycles soon enough... Man, I hate walk cycles. They're rather boring to make, they're difficult to get to look right most of the time and yet they're also the most important sprites to make, heh.

Here's a few more, as well as the original with some changes. I redid the shading on the hair because I wasn't happy with it (it looks a bit more uniform now, but maybe a bit too smooth. Your thoughts?) and I tried flattening the cheek out a bit as anian suggested. Think it looks any better?

I also made front, side (I'll probably make the walkcycle starting from there, since it'll probably be a bit easier and look the best and back views for her. You can maybe tell I got a bit lazy in many places, like essentially completely reusing the arm from the original sprite for the side view and simply copying the front sprite and redrawing it to make the back sprite, but I hope they serve their purpose and don't look too jarring. Let me know what you think.

Captain Ricco · Fri 16/04/2010 23:39:11

they look nice

I dont think you should depict her nose in the sideview though, you didnt in the others, and not for lack of space... Or maybe just make it rounder? It kinda looks like a pig nose

Also, her ears are too high, one pixel down would make it ok in the sideview

Xellie · Sat 17/04/2010 02:15:50

Quote from: EnoRed on Fri 16/04/2010 18:14:48
Thanks a lot, the added details are very good, especially the shoes... Who would've thought you could make them that much more detailed looking by just adding a few pixels? I think I'll stick with my more limited colour palette though, for ease of animation as you said. I'll need to work on some walk cycles soon enough... Man, I hate walk cycles. They're rather boring to make, they're difficult to get to look right most of the time and yet they're also the most important sprites to make, heh.

I redid the shading on the hair because I wasn't happy with it (it looks a bit more uniform now, but maybe a bit too smooth. Your thoughts?) and I tried flattening the cheek out a bit as anian suggested. Think it looks any better?

Enored, I agree regarding walkcycles, if you're only doing a static, and then start to have to animate, colors and shading bites you in the buttocks if it's too intense. Glad you liked a bit of what was added. I think the hair is better that new way, you get small people with hair like that! Regarding the back view, as far as I know most often that's the way it's done, having the back view's outline mirror the front, and then changing it from there.

Couldn't resist doing a paintover again; I only did these for fun, I think your originals are super! I have your original at the top and my paintovers below that. This time I stuck to your palette, too!

Side view:
I did a "proper" side view (note inverted commas) I don't really know what a "proper" side view would be! I made less of little Loveable Lucy (had to give her a name of some sort, while she was visiting with me) visible as she is viewed completely from the side, and also made her a bit thinner from that angle. Shortened the feet to reflect that from the side less of the feet should be visible. I also made the arms bend, to make at apper less that Lucy is standing to attention. Major change, I moved her ears way down there. If you look at most people, their ears fit between the space of their mouths and noses. If you're going for a elvish look no problemo, just tried that out. Changed her hair a bit from the side, to get away from the 'helmet hair' thing she had going.

Also, couldn't resist making her eyes blue again, and giving her a little smile (she looked SO serious and angry!) She's your creation, you'll know what she feels like today...

Front view:
A made her a bit thinner, I don't know if Lucy has a weight problem yet (assuming she's young and all!). Made the feet thinner from the front as well and once again tried to avoid the ATTENTION, SOLDIER! look. Maybe it's just me. You'll see that her legs are not identical exactly, tried to suggest that one leg is slightly forward of the other, just to add a small bit of 'stance'. Oh yes, and I gave her a throat, and lowered her shoulders, she nearly looked a bit hunch-becky (Get it? Oh boy what a bad pun). Lastly, she smiled again... maybe at me doing a paintover!

Maybe something I did helps, don't know if it's any good, but at least I had fun with it! I'd LOVE to see any friends she has in the same style, it's awesome what you've got going here.

Captain Ricco · Sat 17/04/2010 02:26:23

I kinda liked her "grimm mandy" look, but yeah, maybe it was too much mandy...

In Xellies edit she looks like kinda devilish/plotting

Xellie · Sat 17/04/2010 10:38:51

EnoRed, I couldn't sleep, that's the reason! $:-\$ Seriously, wanted to see how your style would translate to a boy figure. Maybe it gives you some ideas, was good practise for me.

EnoRed · Sat 17/04/2010 19:29:29

Thanks for all the support, everyone. I will admit, both in her intended personality and look, the character is a little too similar to Mandy from "Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy", so I might alter her design in future, even if it's just to change her hair colour.

Nice stuff Xellie, although I'd say the front view maybe need his hair to be a bit thicker. As it is it looks a bit like his hair only covers the top of his head like an odd wig.

I think for now I'm going to leave this sprite aside as, while I like this style, I'm not so good at trying to create backgrounds in a similar style. I might try a much simpler style of sprite so that I can get away with having more simplistic backgrounds, to avoid the visuals in an actual game clashing too much.