C and C: First attempt at 800x600 Bg

[Jared]

Hey. This is an image I knocked up over the last couple of days in MS Paint, as a sort of a break from 320x200 graphics which get a big tiresome - this is also the first time I've used shading extensively (but not THAT extensively as I'm sure you'll point out, mostly on the tent walls and the grass)



I'm quite happy with the results, but also keen to hear what I need to know before attempting a game in the resolution for real. (This isn't for a game - just my own tinkering)

It's also an attempt at mimicking the style of Monkey Island that I loved, with the incredibly crowded and detailed backdrops that scenes would always have. By far my biggest surprise was discovering how little paraphernalia is actually required to make a room look 'crowded'...

Oh, and I should add that it was done entirely in MS Paint. Be sure to tell me how foolish I am for using it.

[markbilly]

I assume we inside a tent in this scene? Because, if so it needs to be a lot darker, with some kind of distinctive light source... Like a hole in the tent ceiling, or a doorway. That slit to the right looks like a good starting point, though it may be too small...

Also, if the tent is a circular one, which it looks like it is, there are some perspective issues... It doesn't look very round, because of the way the walls are drawn and the objects are placed. Also the grass (floor generally) seems to be running towards the camera/viewpoint. I'm not an expert of perspective though, and I'm sure someone else here will be able to give you the full technical lecture...

Besides those things, you have an interesting and flourishing scene to work with, good luck!

[InCreator]

It isn't foolish to use MSPaint, but it is foolish to ignore LINE tool. You can still make cartoony look with using short, changing lines. But freehand everything? It looks like grandpa tried drawing with his shaky hand. I mean, it really tires my eyes.

Also, don't forget that you don't have to use default palette - you can make your own colors! Red, white and green? Well, that's one of a hell of contrast. I suggest more matching tones, less saturated ones.

Also, remember that pure white usually KILLS any background. Look at professional games: do they use pure white at all? It's reseved for very little spots, very special occasions. As little as possible, as carefully as possible. That's because white is most bright color of them all, if you paint walls white, you're pulling viewers attention to the wall. Away from other things you drew.
Now why would you want that? Are walls that important?

Aside from this, not bad at all. Keep on practicing!

[Jared]

I assume we inside a tent in this scene? Because, if so it needs to be a lot darker, with some kind of distinctive light source... Like a hole in the tent ceiling, or a doorway. That slit to the right looks like a good starting point, though it may be too small...

Wow. Thanks for the tip that's what I needed - light source is something that I have never, ever thought about. I guess that's what comes from being weened on the old Sierra titles when they only had sixteen colours...

Also, if the tent is a circular one, which it looks like it is, there are some perspective issues... It doesn't look very round, because of the way the walls are drawn and the objects are placed.

I was trying to give the roof a slightly saggy look, and to suggest that the whole thing hasn't been set-up quite as well as it should have been. As is, it isn't quite circular enough, I know. I was trying to use the clutter to distract from the fact that I'm not that good with perspective, but a keen eye will always see through that trick..

It isn't foolish to use MSPaint, but it is foolish to ignore LINE tool. You can still make cartoony look with using short, changing lines. But freehand everything? It looks like grandpa tried drawing with his shaky hand. I mean, it really tires my eyes.

Well, I hope you don't mind overmuch if I half-ignore this point. I don't like using lines at all, because the ones in MS Paint look far too unnatural. Using the curve line extensively is a possibility of course, but it's fiddly to use and generally doesn't get much more of a result than freehand in my experience.

I need to brush up on the detail and care of the freehand, I know, so I'll work on that, and try to limit the amount of double-pixels I use. Hopefully that will be a good enough compromise. That said, in hindsight using the curve line as the basis for the curve of the tent would probably be a good idea.

Sorry if I sound defensive, but this is just my own style and lines don't enter into the equation much as far as it's concerned.

Also, don't forget that you don't have to use default palette - you can make your own colors!

... okay, again not wanting to sound too defensive, but almost every single colour used in the picture is a custom colour and not from the default palette - the red and white being the obvious exceptions, of course, along with the blood and the green patch. I used four different shades of red in the playing cards hair alone.

That's because white is most bright color of them all, if you paint walls white, you're pulling viewers attention to the wall. Away from other things you drew.
Now why would you want that? Are walls that important?

I gather you're speaking metaphorically here, given that the actual walls are beige rather than white. It may be a mistake but I use the white and red because in this scene they are the colours of the knight who owns the tent and I figured that they should be clearly present as a thematic device in the scene, and that for his banner the strongest possible versions of those colours seemed logical. Besides, MS Paint doesn't seem to have a softer white to my eye - it goes from white straight to light grey. Maybe I'm insane but the very next notch on the spectrum just doesn't look white to me!

But... I see you have a point. Looking at it again, the flag in the middle of the room is a definite mistake - it pulls focus straight to itself, leaving everything else in the scene on the peripharary. I should have gone through with my original idea and had the desk directly in front of the flag so it would be in the centre of the room.

Thanks a lot for your help. Hopefully my second effort will be much strongly. And not quite as squiggly.

[cat]

Hi!

I like it, nice style. However, i'm not sure about the outlines, they look sloppy. Did you resize the picture? Because the pixel are not clearly visible. Could you post the picture in the original size (or only a detail if the full image is too large)? I would like to show you how you can improve your outlines.

[.M.M.]

                     

I know, so I'll work on that, and try to limit the amount of double-pixels I use.    

Yes, this can help a lot.                     

MS Paint doesn't seem to have a softer white to my eye - it goes from white straight to light grey.                  

Try to set brightness on 230, it is really, really light grey- I use this (or less white) on my pictures.