Hello everybody!
I was getting sick of pushing pixels and animating flying shoes, so I took a break by starting to work on something without real practical use for my game. a promotional poster (for this game: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=47100.msg632973#msg632973)!
I do however need some help!
I'm going for a comic combined with 70's poster style (eventhough the 70's part isn't really showing yet) but I have some decisions to make, and I'd really like your help making them!
First of all, should I go for a more subtle lighting like this:
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/ppbQvPL.png?1[/imgzoom]
Or a more dramatical one like this (not so well done, but whatever):
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/11VC334.png?1[/imgzoom]
These are both sketches. I've yet to work on any detail like the briefs, the hair, the beard etc. The man has no nipples for god sake!
I'd also like some tips and tricks for working with light and shading in practice. I know the theory (choosing a light source and direction, putting shades and highlights accordingly), but if theres any neat tricks for how to implement this better then I'm doing at the moment, I'd be thankfull!
Keep in mind though, that in this image, I'm trying to keep down the number of colours, to maintain a comic book feeling.
Also, I could use some help with the anatomy. Specially the arms and hands look a bit... off, i think, and I could really use some pointers on how to make them look better. And if those pointers would help me the next time I wanted to draw hands- even better!
So anyways, all opinions and criticism and pointers are most welcome, but keep it constructive please! And remember that it's work in progress. Thanks!
About the shadows, instead of making shadows darker, just made them bigger in surface if you want to add drama.
About anatomy, my quick redraw suggestion - shorter torso, both hands are moved around a bit, hair around the eye, shoulder, placement of nipple and pectoral muscle is moved:
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/ZBDAICN.png[/imgzoom]
Hope that helps.
Thanks Anian!
You done some great improvement on it. Especially the definement och the muscles look much better, and I like what you did to the face. The hands to! However, i think I'll have to make them a tad bigger. Both of them. and I think I'm going to shorten the neck. Looks a bit strange.
Thanks again for your input, I'll post again when I've done som improvements!
He looks like a young Nigel Thornberry! I like it, the shadows are too dark in the dramatic one, causing the contrast to go a bit off. Anian makes some good suggestions.
Thanks Chicky! and yeah, that's definitly Nigels nose!
Allright, could really use some more input if anyone's up for it!
(http://i.imgur.com/Xkeln93.png?1)
Still a wip, and haven't done any work on the beard, the pipe in his hand etc. etc.
But how's the shoe? looks strange? Is it stupid to have it in front of the title? How's the font? Frame round the title or not? The "clouds" behind the guy. Strange or really, really cool? Anything else?
And oh, excuse the four letter word. was supposed to scratch out the u and the c, but slipped my mind!
edit: and i just noticed he's belly button looks really weird. Please ignore.
sex sells, don't 'censor' his package ;)
Quote from: selmiak on Tue 28/05/2013 20:51:37
sex sells, don't 'censor' his package ;)
Excellent point!
you could also give him an anime face and make the private region unbelievable bigger ;)
Quote from: selmiak on Tue 28/05/2013 22:30:10
you could also give him an anime face and make the private region unbelievable bigger ;)
This here. And chest hair.
It looks great, but I'd suggest moving that "Happened" title further down.
On the one hand his blue & yellow underpants looks too stylish 70s as not to be seen, but primarly to only have the shoe dangling
in front of the title and not his hand/arm.
The way it's now, it changes the depth perception of the character in some unfavourable way.
I'd also loose those clouds, as they don't quite seem to match the quality of the rest and add a few more colours to the title, like in this wall paper for example:
Spoiler
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ux-452scvb4/TTuZSN4bVwI/AAAAAAAAE44/O5Zb2LpLiQs/s1600/apollo-70s-retro-living-room.jpg)
Putting a frame into that poster with round corners in the colour of that wall paper might work as well (somewhat 'indented', leaving a gap
towards the actual borders of your poster?)
Thanks Tramponline for your good advice!
I'll definitly lower the title, your right about the depth perception!
I'll also probably loose the clouds... Reluctantly, cause in a way I like em. But I think I'm going to try to add something under them, and we'll see what that does to the composition. If it the sucks, it's all gone.
Thats some nice wall paper! I'll definitly try out some more colours and the frame, but I'm also reluctant to make it too 70's. so we'll see how it fits. Thanks a bunch again!
Quote from: Lasca on Wed 29/05/2013 12:04:39
I'll also probably loose the clouds... Reluctantly, cause in a way I like em. But I think I'm going to try to add something under them, and we'll see what that does to the composition. If it the sucks, it's all gone.
Sorry about that. That's due to my 'lazy ass' writing style - I think the clouds could look nice in there, I think it's rather an issue of very, very low opacity in this case. It just doesn't harmonise that well with your bold comic style (which is great!) of the other elements. Personally, I'd stick with it and use no transparency at all. I should've been more specific really...
Quote from: Tramponline on Wed 29/05/2013 13:43:17
Sorry about that. That's due to my 'lazy ass' writing style - I think the clouds could look nice in there, I think it's rather an issue of very, very low opacity in this case. It just doesn't harmonise that well with your bold comic style (which is great!) of the other elements. Personally, I'd stick with it and use no transparency at all. I should've been more specific really...
Great idea! Didn't even think of that. I'll just have to touch them up quite a bit. We'll see how it works.
And thanks for the compliment!
So, after a long summer vacation i resumed work on this and completed two versions. Would much appreciate any input. Particulary regarding the fonts and colours. But really on anything. Whats good and whats not. and which do you prefer of the two. Etc. Thanks in advance for your help!
So this one:
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/rWLN1BB.jpg?1[/imgzoom]
or this one:
[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/GqM48n2.png?1[/imgzoom]
Or something completly different?
Edit:
Just realised some of the shade dissepeared on the second version. Just imagine the shoe from the first in the second one. You know.
Cheers!
Looks great!
I think I prefer the bottom version, the frame adds more readability (for me).
One critic I have to offer, is his facial expression.
For a cartoony game called "wtf happened", I'd expect a more confused/enraged look.
For example:
(http://static4.fjcdn.com/comments/3819019+_d3798ceceadbb4f882f15cca5456019b.jpg)
My only complaint is the shoe blocking the text. I'm guessing it says Pebbles?
It works better with the black frame. His legs are fading out in the first one, which looks strange, so I'd prefer the second poster.
The poster looks great overall, and it really captures the feeling of the game. I have to disagree with tzachs here - I love his determined expression. I think that's a wonderful contrast that even emphasizes the weirdness of this scene.
Thanks everyone for your kind words!
I think I'm leaning towards the black boarder one. I agree with dactylopus regarding the shoe, it's a bit annoying that you can't read it, but in another way I kind of like it. So I'm not really sure if I'll keep it or not.
Regarding the look I'm with Problem. I tried doing the confused look, but it's just not right. Thanks again everyone! Now i can finally resume work on the game itself ;)
Yea I can second Problem's point of view on the face, I think it looks quite British where as tzachs' example is very American, and I find the British style of sarcastic humour funnier.
However, please (please, please, please), don't hide the text with the shoe. It is SO annoying! :) I'm happy with it over the 'Happened' text but just simply move the 'story' line down to the very bottom of the poster. It can be the same distance away from the bottom as the 'wtf' line is at the top so it should work fine.
On a side note I quite like the fullness of the first idea but agree with the fading issue. I did a rough paint over to show an idea:
(I realised half way through I used the wrong font for it to be on a solid dark colour but you get the idea)
(http://bwdhosting.com/ags/wtf.jpg)
I see your point. I think it messes up the composition a bit, but it gave me an idea.
I shall return!!
Edit:
Allright, so I came with a new version:
(http://i.imgur.com/mcg14JG.jpg?1)
I'm having trouble deciding on the colours though, so maybe this instead:
(http://i.imgur.com/rpwZ9mh.jpg?1)
Choices, choices...
what about some flipping?
(http://selmiak.bplaced.net/stuff/wtfhappened.jpg)
Quote from: selmiak on Tue 20/08/2013 18:56:14
what about some flipping?
Intresting... But why? Because of the shoe?
Personally, I think flipping it to try to make the shoe become the 'P' just brings back the annoyingness of when 'pebbles' was obscured.
The more I look at the second version with the browns the more I like it, but for me, both are a nice improvement.