My first attempt using The GIMP

[entry_level_model]

As i said before, this is my first attempt using The GIMP.....and i'm in love! I'm after some C+C, any tips or ideas.....ways you think it could look better etc. I like the pastelly/dreamy colour effect. If anyone's wondering i just used the paintbrush in different sizes and the blur tool. Sorry for making you click the link. Also, i'm not sure when my internet runs out (150 hours a monthÃ,  :'( ), so if i don't reply quickly i appreciate your comments and please don't hate me.



Thanks.

[Raider]

Its very blurry.
I am not sure about the lighting, there is a window but it doesnt look like any light is coming from it, I suggest using less of the smudge tool.

- Raider

[entry_level_model]

What would you suggest I try to do then?

To make it seem as though the light's coming from the window I mean.

[entry_level_model]

Here's an altered version, less smudging. I still smudged a bit and I don't think it looks quite so drastic. What do you think?

I'll have another crack at the shading/light source tomorrow I think, I don't think it looks too good....



Made the floor a better colour as well. I'm using a laptop so depending on what angle i look at the screen the picture changes.......damned touch-pad as well (someone who I won't mention left me without my optical mouse  :'( )

Cheers.

[Albert Cuandero]

great improvement, entry_level_model!

Here are my suggestions for the next version:

* fix the window perspective, at least on a glance it looks a bit funny
* the shadow is too hard and too intensive, if it's supposed to be daylight coming in, the right wallwould be only slightly darker and cast a rather diffuse shadow
* the corners on the left look much more blurry than on the right, it is very annoying to the eye.

otherwise good!

[Phemar]

I think the lighting is a bit wrong and the prspective on the window is a bit off.
I'd change the floor color to a blue or something.

But otherwise nice first attempt.

[entry_level_model]

Here we go againÃ, 



I've changed the perspective on the window (the size changed in the process, which I guess makes the lighting worse than ever....still), changed the colour of the floor to a purplish colour (tried a few blues but this colour worked better I thought) and tried to match the shading detail on both sides of the room..

I think I'll have to do some serious tutorial reading/sketching/figuring out/grasping the concept of light sources and where shade is likely to go.

I've got a bad feeling this picture isn't as good as the second oneÃ,  .

Thanks again.

[Neutron]

hi, if you could draw me a little diagram of where all your light sources are coming from, I would be happy to do an indoor lighting simulation on the computer, but right away I can suggest, that indoor lighting tends to be diffuse, and bounces around alot within a room, so most of the shadows happen in the edges and corners of the room, and also, the the sun coming through a window leaves a very distinct shadow (?).  Anyway, draw a diagram, and I'll simulate it using a sun lamp and radiosity in my 3D prgram.  I could also render in a volumetric halo, if you'd like, which would be the effect you'd get if the air had dust particles in it, and a shaft of light was coming through the window.  If there are lightbulbs in the room, indicate where they are, and at what direction the sunlight is coming from.

[BlackMan890]

small paintover to show you what the perspective on the window should be
i took the first one

[entry_level_model]

Hi, Neutron.

I'm not entirely sure if this is what you mean but here you go... I imagine the room to be on the 2nd floor as you see in the bottom right diagram. Late afternoon/early evening as the sun is still bright but not far above the horizon. There could be a lightbulb on the ceiling but I'm not very concerned.. If there is one it will probably be off/broken. Well here's the pic and a key:



The yellow+red dot is the sun.

The bluey dot is where the picture's taken from/view is from.

The whitey colour is the window.

Thanks blackman...I see it now  .

Thanks for your help guys, hopefully be back on within a few hours but for now I have to go.

[Neutron]

here's what i came up with for the shading.  are you sure you wouldn't prefer it with an interior light source?

[loominous]

The problem with the current shadows is that they assume that the that sun/lightsource is just outside the window.

If you stand right outside a window, you ll be able to see quite much of the room inside, while if you watch it from a distance you won t.

A mistake easily made though. The fact that you re considering the lightsource and try to be accurate will boost your images considerably in the future though, so I hope you keep it up.

[Sam.]

just a quick question..
what the hell kind of sun is in your world? it seems to rotate around the first floor. that to me is just crazy.

make sure that all of the lines a hardened a bit more, make sure the all finish, especially the window frame
if you're going to get smudge happy with anything, make it the light.

[Albert Cuandero]

Sorry, but though you changed the window perspective/side it is still quite wrong.

Look:



all these red lines should meet in one point, then it is correct.

To make sure you should determine this "Point of Flight" (is that the englisch word for "Fluchtpunkt"?) on the horizon (ie. eye level of beholder) and draw everything from it...

You are making great progress!

[entry_level_model]

Very nice Neutron, what 3D program do you use out of interest? If you have the time and don't mind, a shot with the lightbulb would be nice. Thanks for your help.

I need to read some literature/tutorials on this subject if i'm going to get better, shouldn't be wasting your time guys.

Simple but, it makes sense.....Thanks for reminding me of a basic Loominous Ã, 

Well Zootyfruit... I don't know, the sun before it sets? Usually sits just above the horizon doesn't it? Ã,  Ã,  How do you mean make sure they all finish?

I'll give it a shot Albert.....I think it could be vanishing point?.....although your translation seems to fit the word better.

I'll also try to address the lighting.


Thanks everyone Ã, 

[Sam.]

i meant this:


you see where the line doesn't quite finish, it shouldnt happen

[Neutron]

here's a radio render.  i use a program called blender for 3D stuff.  it is also a free program.

[Andail]

You could vary the contrast on the walls, to create more of a depth.
Usually a light-source will lit up the entire wall somewhat, and not just a focused spot  (if it's not a laser-beam).

I would have made the window-wall a bit darker, and the facing wall much brighter.

In the last picture, the projected light spot is much too sharp, especially as you can see that it's not that terribly bright outside.