320x200 Sierra-Like Background

[Blackthorne]

Hey folks.

Okay, so what I'm trying to create here is a background in lo-res, 320x200 - a desert scene, much in the vein of later Sierra backgrounds.

I made this test screen to guide me; I know it looks like shit.  I just want a few pointers in the right direction.

I want it to have a western US desert feel to it, like Arizona's deserts - ala the Catci.  These colors I know are way to warm... but I also want the cracked ground look.   If anyone has any suggestions and paintovers, I welcome them please.  I'd really like to try to lick this one.



So, have at it - please!

Bt

[DCillusion]

My only problem is the edges are too "burned".  Try anti-aliasing less, or design the picture larger & have a program shrink it for you.

[Blackthorne]

My only problem is the edges are too "burned".Ã,  Try anti-aliasing less, or design the picture larger & have a program shrink it for you.

Yeah, like I said - this pic is more like an "outline" for what I wish to accomplish in the end.  A quick "mock-up" if you will, to give me an idea of where to go.   

Maybe I should try designing the pic larger, though, and shrinking it.  That's a cool idea, thanks!

Bt

[big brother]

Maybe you could try making the color of the buttes in the background more saturated to enhance the illusion of distance from the midground.

EDIT: Crap, I meant less saturated. My bad.

[Fizzii]

Looks cool Bt! I really like the sky.

Well, it is very saturated - but you already pointed that out. The sand should get lighter and less saturated further away as well, instead of darker. It also needs light and shade - at the moment it's kind of flat. When colouring, try and do the 'shading' correctly instead of putting down flat colours - it makes life easier when you start texturing (after all, how we see texture depends on how light falls on it ).Ã, 

This is a paintover I did... I know that the left cactus isn't very good, but I tried to do something a bit different from what I usually do I also didn't make the shadows too long, though they would be longer in real life. Umm... the green used might not be the type of green in cactii either. Hope it helps anyway

[Abisso]

That's one of the best paintovers I've ever seen! Sorry if I've no suggestions, but I had to say that.

[Blackthorne]

Fizzi,

That's amazing!  The desert surface and the mountains were really what I was going for.  I'm going to use this paintover to help me create my own - wow.  Thank you!


Bt

[skw]

Heh, heh. You have a pretty good example here, BT. Good luck with your paintover! Hope I'll see it soon.