need help improving graphic(enhance/shading help)

OuchMyTentacle79 · Tue 03/10/2006 21:59:23

I know,I know,I'm lacking major drawing/graphic art skills.I need help with adding shading and other details(ideas?) Yes,I'm a noob*ducks from tomatoes being throw at me* :oI feel I could learn alot from some of you(I was very impressed by some of the other posts I browsed when pertaining to this matter) as you can see,the character I drew is pretty darn plain $:-\$ ,I'd like to show more detail in his clothes and do something to enhance the hair.I'll probably try to change the eyes(Big cartoony looking eyes)I'm wondering what other opinions you all might have and how I could improve.

Nikolas · Tue 03/10/2006 22:06:34

Actually I like your character very much. I like that clean pic you got there. (btw put [ img] tags to show the pic here, wihout the spaces)

Of course you could add shadows and definately one will come to point you i nthe right direction, but that sprite simply rocks for me, even as it is, and I won't throw tomatoes at you. You don't deserve tomatoes.

OuchMyTentacle79 · Tue 03/10/2006 22:29:35

Thanks Nik

MashPotato · Tue 03/10/2006 22:57:26

No newbies deserve tomatoes! ^_^

I like how your character is shaping up. If you would like some advice as to how to make it more detailed, it would help to show us one of your efforts, so we have an idea of what style you're going for.

One popular suggestion is often to use darker shades of the inside colours rather than black lines, so it's something you might try experimenting with, especially if you want more complicated shading.

OuchMyTentacle79 · Tue 03/10/2006 23:32:26

did some modifying
whatch think?

Darth Mandarb · Wed 04/10/2006 00:13:36

It's a step in the right direction ... however, doing shading like that creates a problem when/if using this character in-game because you have to design all backgrounds with that particular light source. I try to make character sprites with a 'neutral' light source.

Here's a quick paintover:

It's a little sloppy, but you get the point.

I would suggest doing away with the black outline, but this is just my personal preference. Black outlines aren't necessarily bad!

Hope this helped!

OuchMyTentacle79 · Wed 04/10/2006 00:45:01

Excellent darth,thanks
I tried yet another version using your advice

I took out those hands,hahah,they kinda looked like small squids,i'm working on em now..

Ubel · Wed 04/10/2006 13:56:59

I must say I really like the first version of the sprite. It has a lot of personality.

I did some modifications on the latest version:

-Changed a lot of colors to give it a smoother look.
-Made the outlines darker so that they would stand out better.
-Redid the shading.
-Fixed some double pixelling here and there.

I hope it helps. It's an excellent sprite. Good job!

OuchMyTentacle79 · Wed 04/10/2006 20:15:47

Amazing job Pablo WOWÃ,Â :o muchas gracias
The colors and shading are perfect,I really appreciate your work and time,thanks sooo much.this helps alot!

now,I attempting a side view but I dunno if it's matching up to the front view.
whatcha think?

oh,decided to just leave his hands inside his pockets and I think the face needs some adjusting.

Mouth for war · Thu 05/10/2006 19:50:07

I like the character it looks great

monkey0506 · Fri 06/10/2006 05:41:57

I like the way this is progressing!

However, I must say I'm not quite as satisfied with the side view. The first thing I noticed was that his body seems very broad. Being short as he is, it makes the character look very stocky (which wasn't the impression I got from the front view). I also noticed that his head seems somewhat misshapen. I think perhaps (I'm no expert, but I am trying to learn myself) his head should be overall narrower, and also it shouldn't curve in so much under his nose. His facial features also don't match up (his eyes shouldn't move up as he turns to the side). Presumably this is a first attempt at the side view, so there will still be more work done on the shading and things as well...

My criticisms aside, this is coming along nicely, and I'm sure that with more time this will turn into a wonderful sprite. I hope I haven't been too harsh or give you any incorrect or misleading information, I was just trying to help you improve. I'm awaiting the final product with some level of interest!

OuchMyTentacle79 · Fri 06/10/2006 06:34:53

oh no offense taken monkey.I appreciate the constructive criticism :)sometimes it helps to learn from another person's impression/point of view.I have to agree with ya 100%,I'm very dissatisfied with the shape and overall side view also.I did a little more today kinda shaped things a little different.

still work in progress.

monkey0506 · Fri 06/10/2006 07:01:36

I'll try not to be so long-winded this time around, but here goes:

It's definitely an improvemen, though I think his lower jaw should really come out more. The way it is now it really just seems as though he has no chin. Again, the facial features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) don't line up properly across the views. I think his back should be straighter, and his chest perhaps not so puffed up. And I still think the head is just a bit too broad still (though in the far-right edit it's much better). And one final thing (so much for not being long-winded, eh? lol)...the coloring scheme doesn't match. Presumably this is just because you're working on getting the physical features right first, but you appear to be using completely different colors from those displayed int he first sprite...

Once again, it's coming along nicely.

OuchMyTentacle79 · Fri 06/10/2006 07:53:54

my fav version thus far

i k a r i · Fri 06/10/2006 09:08:37

I like his sideview a lot =P
This is how Garfield would like if he was human... O_o
He looks like the extremely sarcastic type.

Kweepa · Fri 06/10/2006 15:48:09

The side view doesn't match the front view in a number of aspects:
* size of forehead
* gap between nose and mouth
* slouched pose

So I did a rough sketch of what I thought the side view should look like:

Looking at it now I'd probably move his feet back slightly to balance him better. Oh well.

(Also, note that you can use image tags to enlarge your work for posting here. Press "reply with quote" or check the "How do I post images, smileys and formatting?" link to see how.)

OuchMyTentacle79 · Tue 10/10/2006 03:22:00

steve-nice!!! (very cool outlook/perspective)

Ikari-yes my friend,you hit the nail on the head perfectly.that's kinda the style I wanna go for Garfield/simpsons(well,sorta heh).

Imma name this little guy "Nick"(named after the first poster..haha) I have 6 other characters in the game in the same "comic style".Maybe another named Steve

(haha I'm naming them after you guys.)

so anyways...
what would you guys suggest as far as shading in darker or dim lit situations? shading or no shading?
Here's the deal,most of the game is in the moonlight,and I've grown to really like this one...

I don't know,I just like it most for some reason.I was thinking in different lighting scenes(more lit),I'll change the shading up by creating different sprite views(with a neutral light source).
I understand alot of people commented about the chin,facial features not matching up.I did alot of thinking,experimenting,and a few modifications on my previous efforts on this guy. I tried to take a little of each and everyone's ideas/suggestions and somehow mold it with mineÃ,Â Ã,Â What's important to me is it looks "relative" to the front view and still gives you the same feel/impression of the character.what ya think?

eddie hitler · Sun 15/10/2006 16:46:21

improving steadily tentacle, keep up good work