New Adventure about a house

[Jaime37]

Hello! I´m just trying to do my own adventure for a projetc at my university. So I have started to draw some backgrounds, but it´s really difficult.
My first backgorund is here (http://rapidshare.com/files/149345473/Sal_n6.png.html), I did it with a versión of MS paint...I want to know your impressions about it...I want to improve it, but I don´t konw how...I want something more colourfull and with better draws, could someone help me please??

Thanks !

[TerranRich]

Eh, Rapidshare? You can't use ImageShack or PhotoBucket to host images?

[IndieBoy]

Even better here.

[Jaime37]

Sorry!

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Sal%C3%B3n6.png

[markbilly]

Have you thought about trying a lower resolution, as this is easier, generally quicker in terms of production. Also, there is all that blank space, so you clearly don't need this high a resolution...



Tried to sort perspective issues out too. Not sure how I did with it...

I don't like putting ceilings in fairly large rooms like this, but I left it in for you.

[Jaime37]

Tried to sort perspective issues out too.
What do you mean? I don´t understand this...
About the resolution, I want to put more things in the room, more details, so I think 800x600 is good,,but I´ll try 640x480 like you suggest...

Thank you!

Any more ideas?

[Akatosh]

Tried to sort perspective issues out too.
What do you mean? I don´t understand this...

I believe he's talking about vanishing points. Theoretically, all lines in your image should cross in a single point, when lengthened(sp), as shown here, for example (google image search = your friend). And now look at this:



As you can see, it's a total mess - and I didn't even bother with checking all the lines. They basically don't cross at all, making the room look pretty weird and decidedly unnatural. And not a cartoon-style weird and unnatural either. Especially the desk seems to be quite out of the bounds of space and time.

[abstauber]

Irony: /me talking about perspective

Anyway, your're drawing in 1 point perspective and all your diagonal lines should cross a vanishing points. I've added those extended lines to your images to show what I mean.




This tutorial shows a room in 1pt. perspective (though the website looks pretty outdated)

http://www.olejarz.com/arted/perspective/

Something similar as flash video.
http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/140001


@Akatosh: lol, what a double post

[Jaime37]

All right...So the best thing I can do is start a new room and discard this one. But there is something I dont understand...someone upside tell me about this "And not a cartoon-style weird and unnatural either", so I question how can I get a cartton style, and don´t worry about this fucking vanishing points?, is it possible??

Thanks again!

[Akatosh]

With the right style, you can indeed take a lot of liberties with vanishing points and stuff. Take a look at Alien Hominid, for example:



The artist obviously didn't give two shits about realism, and yet, it works pretty well. But I'd advise you to try drawing "proper" backgrounds first - drawing with vanishing points in mind doesn't hurt (that much), it's good practice, and if you keep a simplistic style otherwise, it won't even hurt your speed too much. I'm talking from experience here. 

[Jaime37]

Wow!!
This is just what i have in mind...The last background of the alien is fantastic...How can I make something in this style?? with program should I use? Do you think I´m able to do something like this??
I really like it, and it´s the type of backgrounds wich I like a lot, similar to Sam & Max, o DOTT, ....!!

Thanks!!

[abstauber]

Most cartoonists like vector programs like inkscape (free) or Adobe illustrator or even Flash. In Illustrator you can also import scanned sketches and convert them to vector.

But as I've started to post without the Alien Hominid screen... here's an example of a very geometric object with straight lines and bended lines. (which looks far from good).
So yes - you can bend lines to get a cartoony look, play with proportions and use bright colors.

[Jaime37]

Ok, Thank you!!! I´m downloading inkscape...When I have a new background, I will post it and ask about your opinions!!

Thanks!!

[Jaime37]

Hello!
I´ve been working with different backgrounds, and now I have a doubt, because I have two posibilities: one is make my backgrounds from 0 with inkscape like abstauber  said. And other is like somenone tell about some program of vector, so I test one of this, with a photo made by me and I get a great result..But with this option I question if at the moment of include a character it looks bad because the bakground looks very real...I don´t know if I have explained well...

Some ideas??

Here is the image of the country I get with VectorMagic:
http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Campo2.png

Thanks !!

[Snarky]

No.

Don't use a photo. Draw the backgrounds yourself. You can use the photo as reference if you like.

[Jaime37]

Why ?   
Only in my dreams I could make a background like this one... :'(
My idea is to modify this one based on a photograph, is this right?

Thanks !!

[Matti]

Why ?   

Answer:

... with this option I question if at the moment of include a character it looks bad because the bakground looks very real...

----

My idea is to modify this one based on a photograph, is this right?

I won't modify it. I would either overdraw it or just use it as a reference like snarky said.

[Snarky]

Also, photographs are very limiting. Any time you want a background, you'll need to find a photo that fits. This is especially problematic for transitions between screens, since it's going to be hard to find photos that look like they were taken in the same area (unless you take them yourself, I suppose, but that limits you to settings you can find in your vicinity).

In addition, photos generally don't have the qualities that make for a good background, such as an appropriate perspective, well-defined exits, a reasonable walkable area, and so on. This is especially true indoors, where it's almost impossible to get the angle you would want, and there's usually far too much furniture to move around easily in a game. Supposedly live backgrounds that use photos generally have a "frozen" look, and you might have to retouch away moving objects (such as people). Walkbehinds are going to be very difficult to define. Inventory objects and anything that needs to animate are going to stick out like sore thumbs.

Finally, no one is going to be impressed by how nice the background looks, because it's going to be obvious that it's a photo. And it'll just make the other elements stand out even more. In terms of aesthetic appeal, you're really no worse off with even a primitive drawing like the one posted here.

[Jaime37]

All right... I discard the idea of take photos for the backgrounds and started to do my own backgrounds...With a lot of help of Fawfulhasfury (Thanks a lot!) and a lot of hours also, I have made a background I really like. ..I put it here to know your opinions and things that can be improved on this background:

http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Country.bmp




Thanks !

[abstauber]

Hey, you've improved a lot! This background would totally work for me.

If you need to improve it, consider the following things.

More details on the mountains:
Make them 3 dimensional or put them more into the background
Also the outline looks wrong to me.


Color as a perspective:
Things in the background are less bright than those in the foreground. You could try layers here.
More advanced would be warm colors in the front, cold colors in the back and so on.

Black outlines:
Always use a darker shade of the area you want to outline. e.g. try a dark red outline for the roofs.

I also wouldn't smudge the trees as you didn't smudge the other grass in that distance either.