Pixel Art Pond (Hi-Res). Advice Needed (New pic with background complete)

[poc301]

I am working on one of the backgrounds for Murran 3 and ran into a bit of a snag...

I realized after I began that I have absolutely no experience (and idea) how to do a large-ish body of water (I use paint.net).


**EDIT**

After the comments below I went back and filled in the background with the items needed for perspective.  This is my initial draft, and lots of finishing will go in, but you can see the shapes, shading and grass layout along with the shore of the pond.

I tried the idea of a water texture with the gradient blue over it, but it didn't look right.  I dislike the solid blue, but don't really know what to do..  Maybe a blue gradient with it faded out and the "bottom" of the pond beneath it?

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.




Thanks in advance,

Bill

[abstauber]

How about filling it with a water texture first and apply the gradient on top of that.

It's quite hard to judge, since the background is still unfinished.
After you've finished your background, you can add a reflection of the tree and the surrounding to your pond.

Last but not least, you could try Steve's awsome lake module

[Andail]

Ouch...you've really started in the wrong end here.

Start with sketches to get the basic proportions and perspective right. Build up your image layer after layer, with the background first.

Right now it seems like you've tossed in some objects into an abstract space.

[poc301]

I will work on the rest of the image, and then re-post for help

Art isn't my strongest point, sorry for the confusion lol

-Bill

[abstauber]

I've been following this tutorial to edit your background:

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/26/displacement-water.html

And this came out:


I don't know what paint .net is capable of - so you might consider switching to a more sophisticated program. At least for creating your pond

[poc301]

Oh my...   :o

That is an amazing water effect.

I will see if paint.net is capable of doing something like that.  I found one tutorial which basically made the water look like strange swirls..  Not water, but better than nothing.

I will see if I can replicate this in paint.net

Thanks!

-Bill

[Matti]

Very nice edit, abstauber!

[abstauber]

Thanks!

[Khris]

About the reflections:



Bad reflections can completely screw up even the most professionally painted picture.
Perspective is very important; we're looking down on the reflective surface here, so first of all, the reflections of the trees won't look like a mirrored version.
The reflections should show the trees as seen from below the water's surface, as in, less of the trunk is obscured by foliage. (Imagine looking down at a chair that sits on a mirror.)

Apart from that, the position of the reflection is very important.
As you can see in the crude image above, I've cut apart the tree layer and mirrored the trees separately. I guesstimated their positions; look at the foliage's reflection to see how their y position jumps between trees.
The key is to imagine the reflective surface continuing below the tree, then to check how far above it's lowest point is, then to put the highest point of the reflection twice that distance below that.

The two trees to the left touched the surface so I put their reflections directly below them. The other trees however are farther away and/or higher, so I had to move their reflections up (farther away)/down (higher) accordingly.

[Danman]

I made this reflection with 3ds max 2010 I don't know if it will help you. 
I just felt like playing with my 3d programs 

(I had to use a plane so it removed half of the land) 
one thing though it is accurate also it would be hell to animate

[Kweepa]

Last but not least, you could try Steve's awsome lake module

Like this:


Get the lake module from here:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=27356.0

Example game here:
http://www.kweepa.com/step/ags/tech/LakeTest_poc301.zip

Code: ags

// room script file
// this is for a 320x240 room
// enforce object based scripting = false in general settings
// I added an object to the room which is the background with the lake cut out transparent

Lake waterSurface;
DynamicSprite *blue;

function room_Load()
{
  waterSurface.DefaultConstruct();
  waterSurface.y = 120;
  waterSurface.h = 120;
  blue = DynamicSprite.CreateFromBackground(0, 0, 238, 160, 2);
}

function room_RepExec()
{
  waterSurface.Update();
  // draw a transparent blue gradient on top
  int y = 239;
  while (y >= 120)
  {
    int t = (y-120)/2;
    RawDrawImageTransparent(0, y, blue.Graphic, t);
    RawDrawImageTransparent(160, y, blue.Graphic, t);
    y--;
  }
}

Thanks for the kind words, abstauber!

Steve

[poc301]

Very cool, Steve!

PM incoming, I tried it but 1/2 the screen is taken up by the effect, even the dry land.

Thanks!

-Bill

[StarLite]

Hi Bill, nice work on the pond. I'm wondering if this program might be of use to you. It's simple to use and the results are excellent. Good luck with your project

http://www.xiberpix.net/SqirlzReflect.html

[Darius Poyer]

Hi Bill, nice work on the pond. I'm wondering if this program might be of use to you. It's simple to use and the results are excellent. Good luck with your project

http://www.xiberpix.net/SqirlzReflect.html

this is the second time i've seen you suggest an obscure piece of software...

there is a very simple principle that would apply to this whole thread really, its that just because you can do something, that does not mean you should. for instance, just because you have the technology to do all of these fancy water effects does not mean that they are a good idea. a game's graphical appeal would always get richer by sticking to one single process without using allot of added software. if you where to simply hand-draw everything, and animate water yourself, not only would you realize that the entire endeavor is fairly fruitless, but perhaps also that because it all had your personal style to it, it would all fit together in a more compelling fashion.