C and C for new user

[Brian O.]

just started here and on adventure games in general (played them forever of course) and looking for some comments and criticism regarding some backgrounds.  800 x 600, planning to use large characters.





both are done in painter X.

[Alarconte]

WOW, they seems to good, But Without the character type you would use, I don't know how ther're are going to fit. And a character how fits in first image difficult fit in the second withouth a change of ilumination...

And how work the doors is my doubt. The doors are totally painted? they're gonna have a door? The characters dissapear in the ligth, o teleport in front of theyr?

Continue working ^^

[Brian O.]

I'm struggling with that a bit myself.  I've started on a character, which I'll upload after I get it walking.  I've never done much animation before, but I wanted to pound out a few test backgrounds before I worry about it.  How do you handle doors?

[InCreator]

Welcome to the forums!

I'd say that first image is quite good.
Not so sure about second one: The colors really attack the viewer. Maybe less saturation?

It would really help to decide better if you could show a character in one of those rooms...

Other tips:

* Don't mix tiny detail with your sloppy style: The bookshelf(?) on second image really makes dizzy, having so much tiny things in otherwise laid-back room. I mean, it's painful to look at. In contrast, I find bookshelf on first image perfectly okay.

* Define corners! You can use those artsy lazy brush strokes, but keep object corners together and well defined. This applies especially on upper image: Bookshelf and picture frame look like they're about to fall apart!

* Lazy strokes DO look interesting but maybe you overdid it a bit. I'd put few extra hours into these pictures and make everything more "correct".

What about the doors? Paint them in color and make a handle. Light doors thing is actually quite neat idea too... I'd make AGS slowly light character into black when near door, making a shadow effect...

[Brian O.]

thanks for the notes.  I agree about the sloppiness, and I'll certainly take it into account when I decide what kind of games my background will need (these are just style tests).  as for the doors, I need to animate them. Any idea how to marry that to this more painterly style without major issues?