Robot shading help

Indie Boy · 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.

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.

Hudders · 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.

radiowaves · 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)!

Khris · 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

ThreeOhFour · Thu 31/05/2007 10:44:10

Thought It'd be a fun sprite to try editing.

Andail · 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.

ThreeOhFour · Thu 31/05/2007 12:05:49

You're right.

Hopefully I've fixed it a little bit:

Is it just me or do the legs look funny?

cobra79 · Thu 31/05/2007 12:57:53

Nice shading gask. I used your version and tried to increase the contrast a bit.

Hudders · 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.

cobra79 · Thu 31/05/2007 13:11:42

You mean something like this?

Hudders · 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.

Indie Boy · 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.

hopefully will get him animated soon

Khris · Thu 31/05/2007 17:16:40

Had a go, too:

Andail · Thu 31/05/2007 17:34:01

Khrismuc hit the spot. Beautiful robot, mate

Khris · Fri 01/06/2007 07:48:25

Thanks!

Altered some pixels and fixed transperency:

EagerMind · 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 #2 #3