I have these bg's of a store front, one in the day time, and one at night:
http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Store_Front.png
http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/Store_Frontnight.png
I just wanted to get some observations on them. I'm happy with the day one, but it's the night one I'm not sure of. Especially the glow in the windows. Is it realistic, or is there a better way of doing that? Any comments on either of these would be welcome.
(http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/8523/storefront1ur.png)
-added some flowers
-recolored forest
-un-gradiented windows(I don't like gradients)
-made street asphalt
I think the night one is alright. The only thing that was a bit off was the lighting. It looks like the moon is just off to the top right, but all your shading is still the same relative angle as the day when light should be coming from an almost opposite direction.
Personally I like the day version more, and I don't mind the gradient windows in it.
However for the night version I'll recommend removing the gradients and make the windows flat yellow colour, since it looks as if it's on fire inside. :P
1. A few objects have no depth.
-the stair railing.
-both the green and red awnings.
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2. Nothing is following the same vanishing point as the store.
The closest pole holding the green awning needs to be lowered.
I'm not too sure what shape you are going for with the sidewalk and path. They should follow the vanishing point if you want them straight.
The building in the background needs proper angles on the right side. (frame, door, windows, roof)
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3. the vanishing point ALWAYS goes to the horizon unless there is something above the horizon such as a hill or mountains.
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4. What is the green awning doing?
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The clouds don't blend with the rest of the scene. They should be more cartoony to fit in.
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Compostion-wise i think you should move the background building a bit (Edit) CLOSER and perhaps add a few details here and there such as a light post, a bench, or a trash can.
There's also nothing showing that this is a store. No signs, no merchandise in the window.
If the building in the background is of any importants it too should also have something hinting as to what the building is there for.
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/drawken/slop_background_crit.png)
This red roof-thingy in the left of the screen would be better without the double-pixels on its outlines.