Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Cluey on Sun 20/01/2008 20:18:37

Title: Murder on a ship
Post by: Cluey on Sun 20/01/2008 20:18:37
So this is my latest background.

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/Cluey3/boatlit.png)
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/Cluey3/boatlit.png)

The slight reflections were a pain in the arse to do.

For some strange reason it reminds me of Trilby's Notes, the resemblance is unintentional. (Yahtzee has power now he's doing those video reviews, thus I fear him)
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Galen on Sun 20/01/2008 20:37:36
Yeah, I thought Trilby Notes aswell, perhaps it's the similar blood and background colors.
Critique:
The pipes and windows seem to contrast too much to the solid colors on the wall highlights etc.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Azaron on Mon 21/01/2008 01:12:21
I think it looks pretty good. But there's something strange about the way the blood comes up onto the wall. The line from the pool on the floor to the high spot on the wall seems a little too straight, I think. Or maybe it's the line from the pool to the base of the wall. It still looks alright, It just looks a little off.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: auriond on Mon 21/01/2008 06:21:04
I think the blood needs a slight bit of darker shading where it comes down to where the wall meets the floor. Perhaps a slightly darker shade to make the corner stand out more; otherwise it looks like the blood is shooting up off the floor (which I thought was what was happening at first glance) :)

Otherwise, this looks like a good ominous background! That shade of pink is what makes it Trilby's Notes-ish, I guess.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Mon 21/01/2008 17:37:47
I was working on a paint-over when Photoshop decided it wanted to blow up my computer.  So this was as far as I got:

(http://www.twin-design.com/ags/help/cluey_help01.png)
- changed the pipe (didn't finish it along that wall top on the right)
- added hi-lights to the pipe and billboard things (Those lights are very bright and would affect these objects)
- changed the color of the blood on the wall
- altered the light effects on the main wall area

What I planned:
- lightening the shadows of the back hallway (it's VERY dark)
- continueing the pipe along the ceiling line down the wall on the right
- continueing the lighting effects on the left wall and floor (like I did on the main wall)

I know you love your ultra-high contrast shadows so I understand if you don't like the lighting effect I used on the front wall :)
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: markbilly on Mon 21/01/2008 18:48:09
The shape of the spot lights and the pool of blood on the floor are skewing our view of the blood on the wall making it look like it is continuous.

This diagram may help, the ellipse is the lower pool of blood, and the rectangle represents the blood on the wall. The left is how it is now, the right I think is what would look better.

(http://www.freewebs.com/markbilly/ship.png)
(this may be a little exaggerated...)

The problem is this alteration may require a general change in perspective over the whole room.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Moresco on Mon 21/01/2008 18:58:58
I do like this background - things I also noted in the blood:

Brighten the blood up in the spotlights, and add some value to the blood on the wall and door to give it dimension of spatter/smearing.

I like the pipes how you have them.  The portholes seem a bit high.

Cool background ^^

* Oh, and I really like what Darth did to the lighting =] you should consider using that, it's smexy.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Galen on Mon 21/01/2008 19:01:41
The blood should be darker on the dark wall, not the other way around.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: on Mon 21/01/2008 21:18:48
It is a very nice background but I'm a bit puzzled about the light "circles". Shouldn't be some "continuity" in light irradiation between the various surfaces (as we commonly see for, e.g., shadows)?

I've done a fast 'n' crappy paintover of a small detail of the BG to illustrate what I mean (the left wall, even though it is too sharp now)

(http://img180.imageshack.us/img180/7521/crappaintoverah5.png)

I ask because I saw quite a few replies without anyone addressign this point (did I get the picture wrong?)

Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Khris on Tue 22/01/2008 00:14:47
In short: no.

(The lighted area isn't a flat circle pasted on the wall, it's the parts of the wall inside a sphere whose center is at the light source.)
Edit: I've noticed that your edit is indeed correct. The original picture is already flawed in this respect since the lights seem to shine in all directions. Therefore the lighted areas ought to be further up.

But there actually is something is another thing wrong with the picture: the parts of the back corridor in shadow wouldn't generate a reflection.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Dualnames on Tue 22/01/2008 11:03:06
If you wanted to make Trilby's notes backgrounds, YahTzee would hire you. But the style is good and still has it's own unique style. And YahTzee can be a man and post here if he thinks you steal his style. Or PM you.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Galen on Tue 22/01/2008 16:48:50
YahTzee never posts here.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Dualnames on Tue 22/01/2008 20:15:34
I know...
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Stupot on Tue 22/01/2008 23:34:14
Hmmm... I suspect he at least lurks.  Most likely he is one of us, in disguise.  For all you know I could be Yah... nah you're right I'm not
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Dualnames on Wed 23/01/2008 00:13:00
He's in disguise... that pisses me off. He says I'll never login in the forums again but he still logs in. What a man!!! 8)
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 23/01/2008 00:14:35
remember this?

(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/Cluey3/boatlit.png)
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: auriond on Wed 23/01/2008 02:33:17
I like Darth's edit of the blood colours, but I'm not sure I'd go with lighting effects on the front wall. I prefer the current high-contrast - lends an air of bleakness to the whole thing. :)
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: OneDollar on Wed 23/01/2008 11:26:24
Agreed, alter the blood colours but keep your lighting as it is. Its an interesting style and, I think, one you've already used in all your other backgrounds
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Cluey on Wed 23/01/2008 23:24:09
Ok thanks for all the feedback. I'll go with the obvious problems like the blood and the reflections, shadows etc.

One of the things about my lighting is it's meant to be sort of stage lighting, i.e not 100% realistic. I was running with the theme of life just being a stage and in some parts of the game the character would leave that stage (like, die).

I'll get to work on it sharpish.

@Darth, your last post confuses me somewhat :P. Is it an attempt to get me to work on it?
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Wed 23/01/2008 23:47:05
It was just an attempt to get the posting back on topic!
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Cluey on Thu 24/01/2008 14:09:10
Quote from: Darth Mandarb on Wed 23/01/2008 23:47:05
It was just an attempt to get the posting back on topic!

Ah yes, it seems some people took my silly quip about Ben Croshaw seriously.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: jetxl on Thu 24/01/2008 17:57:05
Yes, because going off topic on the forums is a sin. You don't want to know what Kevin Spacey will do to you.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Galen on Thu 24/01/2008 18:01:01
But rest assured it involves an anal probe, a tube of sexual lubricant, and a Teletubbies episode.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens on Thu 24/01/2008 19:03:45
Okay, enough of this gay banter!  Get back on topic or I'll start pruning your silly comments.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Cluey on Sat 26/01/2008 23:06:35
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i211/Cluey3/boatlit2.png)

I think it's getting there...

Hard to see there, but the blood does have a slightly different tint on the walls now, it shows up in fullscreen.
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: Darth Mandarb on Sun 27/01/2008 00:03:59
I like this much better!!

The "layered" lighting looks much better and still has that stage lighting look you wanted.  The lighter back hall looks nicer too!

I would suggest:
- making the piping a grey/silverish color (in blends too much into the ceiling) or change the ceiling's color
- make the blood on the floor (unless it's supposed to be dried blood) a more reflective reddish color
- maybe add some kind of texture to the floor.  It ... I don't know ... it just seems off somehow.  Maybe too smooth.

Good improvements!  Keep 'em coming!
Title: Re: Murder on a ship
Post by: on Sun 27/01/2008 18:26:27
Great background, the reflection looks really odd though - more like you're in some kind of inter-dimensional space-ship, rather than a sail boat ship. The reflection itself is good, it's just that darker part that stretches down from the hallway...looks very odd, and gives the image a strange feel. I'm pretty sure that dark patch/shadow reflection part would be more diagonal, rather than just a straight down kind of rectangle.