Adventure Game Studio

Creative Production => Critics' Lounge => Topic started by: Indie Boy on Wed 30/05/2007 16:10:40

Title: Robot shading help
Post by: Indie Boy on Wed 30/05/2007 16:10:40
Hey not posted something on here to be crit in a long time (I think its been about a year :o) Ive just been recently trying to improve myself and Iv always had the same problem with my sprites that they don't have enough contrast or the right shading. So Iv been working on different little things and this is the first one I'm pretty happy about.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/RobotblshadFrame1.png)
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/RobotblshadFrame1.png)

Just want some feed back on the shading/colouring really but if you have anything to say about shape or whatever it is welcome. I'm actually thinking of using this guy for a possible game in the future.
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Hudders on Wed 30/05/2007 16:14:36
His legs are bent slightly in the front view, but straight in the side view.

He also looks a bit thin and ill-defined in the side view.

Front view is great IMO, posture isn't a problem since it's a robot.
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: radiowaves on Wed 30/05/2007 18:42:08
If it is made of metal, then it needs some shines, add some contrast highlights (only small ones, like 1 pixel lines)!
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Khris on Wed 30/05/2007 18:45:22
The shading is WAY too subtle. Smooth materials, especially metal, change not only their hue but particularly their brightness level where the light hits them.

Check this recent thread:
http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=31334.0
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Thu 31/05/2007 10:44:10
Thought It'd be a fun sprite to try editing.

(http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/1268/21jv1.png)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Andail on Thu 31/05/2007 10:54:16
Ben, too much pillow-shading. Your shading suggest that every little part of the robot has its own little lighting, and that the source of this lighting is somewhere between the viewer and the sprite (except for possibly the shoulders, which seem to be lit top-down).
You did give the sprite much more substance and depth, but it's too pillowy.
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: ThreeOhFour on Thu 31/05/2007 12:05:49
You're right.

Hopefully I've fixed it a little bit:

(http://img357.imageshack.us/img357/6716/22pd9.png)

Is it just me or do the legs look funny?
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: cobra79 on Thu 31/05/2007 12:57:53
Nice shading gask. I used your version and tried to increase the contrast a bit.

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/robot_cob.png)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Hudders on Thu 31/05/2007 13:01:48
It strikes me that the gimbal that makes up the lower half of his torso would naturally be quite small and so would be completely covered by the shadow of the upper half.
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: cobra79 on Thu 31/05/2007 13:11:42
You mean something like this?

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/robot_cobv2.png)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Hudders on Thu 31/05/2007 13:22:15
Yeah. It wont mirror very well like that though, as the light is coming from the left.

Actually, looking at where you've put the shadow, the whole front of the robot should be in shadow. You should probably move the shadow to behind the robot and adjust the shading slightly so that the light is coming from the front and top.
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Indie Boy on Thu 31/05/2007 14:55:56
Ok thanks for your posts and paint-overs it has gave me some ideas how to tackle the shading. Heres a quick update. I tried to use more contrast and shading just I like your edits, but actually white highlights on a sprite puts me off :-\ I would like help with the impression of metal. Most of my stuff looks like it was made of plastic.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Robotblshad2Frame1.png)
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Robotblshad2Frame1.png)

hopefully will get him animated soon ;D
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Khris on Thu 31/05/2007 17:16:40
Had a go, too:

(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/_redraw_rix.gif)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Andail on Thu 31/05/2007 17:34:01
Khrismuc hit the spot. Beautiful robot, mate :)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: Khris on Fri 01/06/2007 07:48:25
Thanks!

Altered some pixels and fixed transperency:

(http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/69/redrawrixpf2.gif)
Title: Re: Robot shading help
Post by: EagerMind on Sat 02/06/2007 23:43:20
Quote from: Rix on Thu 31/05/2007 14:55:56I tried to use more contrast and shading just I like your edits, but actually white highlights on a sprite puts me off :-\ I would like help with the impression of metal. Most of my stuff looks like it was made of plastic.

Rix, I think the reason your robot looks like plastic is exactly because it doesn't have those high-contrast white highlights which you dislike. KhrisMUC's sprite is a good reference to work off of. I also found some good pictures of metal that might help:

#1 (http://www.classiccarpartsgiant.com/includes/images/Classic_Car_Parts/classic-car.jpg) #2 (http://z.about.com/d/hotels/1/0/G/G/mickey_car.jpg) #3 (http://www.britishcarlinks.com/Mystery%20car%202.jpg)