Improve picture from BG blitz

[cat]

Hi!

For the most recent background blitz I made this picture. I tried a completely new style and would like to get some C&C on how to improve it.



I know the composition is boring but I was making this BG with playability in mind. I really wanted to have a scrolling room for this. That's also why the perspective is off on several places.

Cheers, cat

[Gilbert]

I think the differentiation between the room (the interior) and the exterior scene outside the windows is not apparent enough. The windows somewhat look like pictures painted on the wall.
Just some random thoughts that may improve it (not necessary to do all of these at the same time):
1. Add parallax scrolling when the game is in action so the exterior scene scrolls at a slower speed than the room interior, but this involves some scripting;
2. Add some shading or darken the edges of the windows so that they stand out more from the exterior scene.
3. Increase the contrast between the exterior scene and the room interior: either darken the exterior a bit (so that the room is sort of lighten up by lamps and the glasses in the windows look slightly coloured), or darken the room interior a bit (so light comes from outside the windows).

Otherwise I quite like this background, especially the snowman.

[Babar]

Hey Cat!

Even though, since it is scrolling, the perspective would be off horizontally, it should still line up vertically (i.e. if you dragged perspective lines vertically upwards, they should all meet up at the horizon, even if not on the same vanishing point). Your horizon, however, is much lower than where the perspective lines would meet up, making it look like the train is maybe tilting a bit upwards, or it is along the edge of a cliff (which considering the forest on the right, I don't think is the case).

Other than that, it looks pretty good! Perhaps you can add some more details..lines indicating where passengers/food-trolleys can walk, luggage racks above the seats, etc. and maybe make the shading under the chairs a little more prominent?

[cat]

Thanks for your comments!

@Iceboty V7000a: I thought the window content could be exchanged to make a 3-frame background. But parallax scrolling is an even better idea.
I'll try to increase the contrast.

@Babar: Do you mean that I should move the window content upwards so the horizon seems to be higher? I'll try to make more details.

[Lasca]

Hello!
I agree with Iceboty about the windows. Perhaps you could as some reflection on them, from the light inside the train. And maybe some more work on the different textures of the background? And some more details inside the train. Bagagerack (if thats the word) above the windows, an emergencybrake, trashcans, non-smoking sign. Stuff like that.
Otherwise I really like the bg to. I like your palette and overall the use of colours.
More bgs with snow I say!

[cat]

Ok, I added stuff outside to move the horizon.

And I added an adjustment layer for brightness/contrast and did work on the left most part with it. Is this an improvement or not? I'm not sure if this is the way to go...

[Ghost]

I think it looks better- the deeper colours and shhading of the interior makes the outside easier to recognise and adds some contrast. That was my main concern with Version 1, that background and foreground were extremely light.
I think the book to the left is really off perspective-wise; it should look flatter. It's a gut feeling, I didn't trace perspective lines, so I may be wrong

[Andail]

A train car from the side like this is hard to make interesting, composition-wise.
I don't really know why you need to ditch a uniform perspective just because it's scrolling, but as someone else said; at least make sure there is a horizon that all perspective lines converge at.
You need some sort of contrast between outside and inside, or it will all just blend together.

A (quick and ugly) sketch:


Lower view-point; less floor (floor isn't pretty), two sets of lighting, to distinguish the interior from the exterior, also drew the seats in perspective (it's sloppy but it's there). Don't know if it's any help, just some thoughts!

[cat]

I should really do another take on that book...

@Andail it is very helpful indeed. I'm not sure if I'm going to redo the whole image because it was just for practising, but I got some good ideas for future paintings from your sketch.