See last post.
No glaring mistakes for me... It is teh cool!
Personally, I think it's a bit flat because of the lack of shading and also a tad too detailed for cartoon look. Talking about criticism! :-[
I've learned to put great emphasis on defining the shape with values. As you said, there's no shading so it's just hard for me to make out the shape instantly. The details do shape the object but only after a bit of inspection. Anyway, don't take my word for it. I'm not good at pixel work nor am I that educated anyway. Just my opinion.
Techically, it looks fantastic - very accurate work. I especially like the black outline as it really ties the thing together. It's perfect as it is - just not my style!
I appreciate the criticisms. My original paper sketches had a lot more shading to them and I wasn't sure how other people would perceive the end result.
I will do an edit that has the original shaded regions included. It'l be a quick one, but it will give us something else to look at.
Thanks!
Here we are:
(http://www.penguinx.org/Robot3.gif) or (http://www.penguinx.org/Robot2.gif) ?
left :D I love this art, great picture
I think I'm liking theone on the left now, too. However, there is something wrong about the head's shading that I can't put my finger on. Also, I just noticed that in my haste to get something up, there is asymetrical shading on the chest area. This is mostly due to the call sign I4 confusing the issue.
I think maybe if you add some shading around the green area (I'm guessing the 'eyes')
I like the left one better, too.
But why don't you try a more subtle shadow color. At least on my setup it looks a bit dark.
In regards to the green eye area, that is not shaded because it is supposed to be a glass dome that has lights underneath it's glass. Think of the clear tail-lights on many of the newer Lexus and Nissan SUVs. This will be more clear in the large portrait shot I am going to use next to the spoken dialogue of this character.
About the shading; It is really high contrast, isn't it? I just threw 50% black on top of all those areas. Maybe I should subtle it up a bit.
Well, I did this just as you were posting I guess!
Oh well ... I'll post it anyway.
(http://www.twin-design.com/random/penguinx01.gif)
I did some depth to the eyes. Tried to make it look like you could see the 'ledges' at the bottom of the sockets. Didn't come off too well, but do you see what I mean?
By the way ... Awesome work ;)
])]V[
Darth, as usual, that's great. Aside from the geen/glass/socket things which you didn't know about anyway, that is right on. I'm going to be doing a redraw of this sometime soon and I'll post it up.
Thanks everybody! (This board is ironically the best source for pixel art criticism I can find as pixelation just doesn't seem to have the traffic to make it worthy to trudge through their 15 required posts to start a new topic).
Here's an update with a south animation:
(http://www.penguinx.org/RobotWalkCycle.gif)
(http://www.penguinx.org/RobotWalkCycle2.gif)
I'm still not sure how to properly bob the head on this one. Everything I try looks too 'jerky.'
It's a robot, it probably doesn't need a jerky head. Though it might be nice for it to turn very slightly left and right as it walks.
Oh, and one more thing: Niiiiiice!!!!!
This rocks man!
I agree with James Kay! It doesn't, to me, look like it needs head movement (up and down).
What about if his head more 'turns' from left to right. Just a pixel or two. Make it rotate.
This could be hard to do 'cause it's not real 3D, but would look awesome!
Maybe something like this:
(http://www.twin-design.com/random/penguinx02.gif)
This was done very quickly. More just to illustrate what I meant!
Keep up the great work!
])]V[
Darth did a good job with the head movements. Your art looks a lot like Gunstar Red's stuff. Keep it up.
Thanks for the comments; the head bob I was drawing was not the right direction to take this character. Darth, that looks great. I am going to rotate the head and try to make the shape of the head change a bit as it rotates. The character's head is a bit oddly shaped from a side-view perspective, and showing the change as it rotates should really make it convincing.
I'll post an update later today (or Monday as I am going on vacation for a few days this weekend).
The posts made in response to my stuff are all really appreciated. Thanks a bunch for the help!
Here she is:
(http://www.penguinx.org/Robotagain.gif)
I ditched changing the shape of the head slightly as it just confused things.
This is ... excellent!
The way the light reflections don't move when the body does totally sells the image!
Keep up the great work!!
I've posted to a few different forums, and the general consensus is that the character needed a hop in his step. I added the hop, corrected some shading issues with the face, and added a little bit of perspective to his hips.
(http://www.penguinx.org/Inventory4.gif)
Whattya think?
I think it does help it (the hop).
It's 'stiff' ... which a robot would/should be!
The turning of the head is great!
I don't know ...
nothing but praise!
Can't wait to see the game this'll be used in!
Quote from: Penguinx on Thu 22/01/2004 23:59:19
I'm still not sure how to properly bob the head on this one. Everything I try looks too 'jerky.'
I think robots are supposed to have a jerky way of moving themself...
A few people over at Pixelation seem to think I should be making the hips dip down during the walk cycle as well. What do you guys think? I'd like to move on at some point, heh.
Well, the hip seems a bit static if you look for it. But I bet nobody will notice once the char is moving.
It's absolutely awesome as it is, don't worry about it.
I kind of like that his hips are stationary. It gives him a 'non-human' feel ... which is rather appropriate for a robot ;)
The important thing to remember is that this isn't going to be sitting still (walking in place) in-game right? So that little extra bit of detail probably wouldn't even be noticable.
I say, if you like it as is, keep it as is.
That's pretty much what my take was on it at this point. I may make another version just to see if it changes the feel of the character in such a significant way that it should be used as the in-game sprite.
One of the things I actually like about this character is the way his steps kind of slide around. Usually, I'd try to avoid that, but it fits him for some reason.
I've yet to make the left/right/up animations, and I think I've got a good enough base to do those now. The setting for the game is a 1940's-esque farm community of the future. Say that three times fast. There are about 10 more characters not including a few monsters yet to be designed/animated.
I'm most definitely going to need some help with the female characters as this is probably the third walking animation I've ever done and a female would be my first attempt at the fairer sex.
(http://www.penguinx.org/redraw.png)
Apparently, there is no end to my revisions of this character. Having never used anti-alaising much, it was about time I tried to learn how. Before I get half-way through this game and realize that my style has completely changed, I thought it better to give the ole girl a new jolt.
I am about halfway through the redesign and I'd like to hear some opinions...
As always, you guys are great.
Very shiny and bootiful.
But I have to say I prefer the more 'cartoonish' flat-shaded look.
Looks great. Only if you´re going to add a bob, it should be reflected not only in robot´s torso but in waist area too since it´s legs to cause the bob if you know what I mean.
I know exactly what you mean. That particular change is in the works as soon as I pin down the overall style.
The new style looks awesome! If you're going to go with this style I would suggest getting rid of the black outline.
But I have to go with Eggie on this one.
I liked the way it looked before. I thought it was perfect that way!
But I prefer simple shading over complex shading ... always have, it's just my opinion.
In the end I say go with what you want, and make us conform. It is your baby after all :)
~ d
Making a simple decision like this usually doesn't have me in so much of a tissy.
The direction that this character is going is completely lost on me. I may scrap the thing entirely, as I just haven't gotten a feel for this robot.
Normally, I'd make something and not even ask for too much input other than, "Do you like this?"
Here's a work in progress of the replacement lead character:
(http://www.penguinx.org/Farmer.gif)
I've changed the storyline a bit and I'd rather do something other than the previously posted robot.
Well, dont get rid of the robot, that was great. This new guy needs shading now.
I'm going to be shading this guy today, hopefully. Going back to flat shading seems to be what the doctor ordered. Shading is definitely my weakest area, though.
Now if only the free-time fairy would stop on by...
That's a nice robot.
It need's guns, though. And see if you can put a shield around it.
Quote from: Penguinx on Wed 04/02/2004 22:08:42
Here's a work in progress of the replacement lead character:
(http://www.penguinx.org/Farmer.gif)
Well he's legs are way too small.
Thanks for the comments; the robot doesn't have guns or a shield because, well, he's a farmer. He does, however, have a vacuum pump in the palm of his hands for picking up crops. Not nearly as exciting, but it'll have to do.
The legs on these characters were intentionally done that small. I want the emphasis to be on upper body with really large-emotive/expressive heads. I'm going for a unique style there. It's a gamble, but I'd rather try and innovate than make something that fits the status quo.