Want to learn graphics...

[Yuri Patrick]

Well, I've always had trouble with computer graphics from scratch. I've got all kinds of questions, like whether a mouse is any good for drawing with or a tablet, 30 years ago my brother drew all kinds of cool castle pictures on our Apple II+, but now, how is it normally done?

Also, when you are working in a high color environment, how do you get the colors right? Again, Apple II+ EGA palette made things a ton easier.

I can also make 1-D stick figures on paper, any suggestions on where to start learning to draw on the computer?

Basically, I have this awesome idea for a game, but all I can do right now is the programming. And little stick figures running around the 16-color environment just looks wrong with today's technology.

I have more questions, but they are not coming to mind, so I'll close here for now and see if anyone has suggestions.

Thanks

[EchosofNezhyt]

Practice and you can use a mouse for pixel art but get a tablet, I have a 9x11 kanvus tablet it works great. Wacom is way better but its cost 2 to 3 times as much.

[Yuri Patrick]

Thanks, Frito Master. Maybe ebay has something super cheap, cheaper than dirt.

Tablets, does it matter what kind of stylus you use? I'm seeing a lot of tablets on ebay without styluses.

[EchosofNezhyt]

Craigslist, I'd go for a used wacom.

As for the pen the big deals are pressure levels 512 works good, Also some let you flip it and erase but thats not a big deal since its not for professional stuff.

[DoorKnobHandle]

A tablet is only going to benefit you when you already know how to draw traditionally on paper. In your case, I would highly suggest not falling into the trap of believing that a tablet magically makes you a great artist and, instead, going with a simple, more mechanical low-res pixel art approach. Here's a tutorial I wrote six years ago on how to achieve this without actually being much of an artist: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=25490.msg321078#msg321078

Hope this helps!

[EchosofNezhyt]

A tablet is only going to benefit you when you already know how to draw traditionally on paper. In your case, I would highly suggest not falling into the trap of believing that a tablet magically makes you a great artist and, instead, going with a simple, more mechanical low-res pixel art approach. Here's a tutorial I wrote six years ago on how to achieve this without actually being much of an artist: http://www.adventuregamestudio.co.uk/yabb/index.php?topic=25490.msg321078#msg321078

Hope this helps!

Yeah, Good tutorial and you can draw with a mouse to do that. (I have a tablet and still use a mouse for pixel stuff.)
I perfer drawing with a tablet over paper but I can do both. So to save money you can draw on paper till you get a bit better.

[Yuri Patrick]

dkh, what program do you use for your backgrounds? And sprites?

[DoorKnobHandle]

It's not about the tool, more about the method, but I used MS Paint for the tutorial (I also mention it in there somewhere)...

[EchosofNezhyt]

I personally use photoshop cs4 but I heard there was some better programs for pixel art. ( I mainly stick with it because I've been using it since I was like 14.)

[Yuri Patrick]

Is there an easy way to dither, for the lower ega palettes, or is that manually accomplished?

[EchosofNezhyt]

I prefer manual method but there is a few programs that have that automatically I think. (Photoshop is not one I don't think.)

[Yuri Patrick]

Now I want a bigger monitor.

Just tried doing a zoomed 320x200 background and at 4x it just goes way off my little ol' screen.

Wasn't expecting that.

[EchosofNezhyt]

Haha. You always want a bigger one though it seems big until you have it for awhile then it just seems normal.

I find 21/23 are the perfect screensize.

[Yuri Patrick]

My head is starting to hurt. I think I must have read like 25 tutorials on drawing backgrounds and am no closer to comprehending than I was when I started.

I can't even hand draw. My rendition of King Graham from KQ 1 still looks like a stick figure with a crown.

[EchosofNezhyt]

Drawing takes quite awhile to learn, Though I've seen a guy go from almost stick figures to a bit better/even with my skill level. In a year, He drew like crazy to increase his skills.

[Yuri Patrick]

Does this count?



I figured I would start out as simple as my over-complicated mind can grasp and started mimicking. It's out of KQ 1 EGA.

[Yuri Patrick]

Got another one out:

[EchosofNezhyt]

The dagger looks nice.

The landscape one, You want to use texture. You kinda got the idea with the bush and the highlights.

The way I work is to lay down the basic black outline.
   

Then color. Then texture.


Then I add shadows highlights and detail.

So for your's you got the color down you need texture, You can prolly get away with maybe using a noise filter for grass and adding a few longer pieces/colored details.

Actually checkout this it shows water land and rocks.
(It has pixel nudity btw.)

Spoiler

http://i.imgur.com/uCTLo.png

[close]

[Yuri Patrick]

Hrm. This is still easier said than done.

I just tried mimicking the goat out of KQI and didn't get very far yet. Proportions were all wrong and doing those "goaty" legs is not that easy for me yet. I'd be better off mimicking Graham. LOL

But thanks for the suggestions about the lake.

BTW, what game is that last image from with the funky guy in the moon and the naked purple chick?

PS: Still having trouble working with 320x200. These last few were 160x100 and I know they will look really bad when I try to blow them up to 320x200.

[EchosofNezhyt]

Funky moon and naked chick is Mythaumatology

Just start simple and work it into something cool but start with a good foundation and practice.

Also I'd just draw in 320x 200 then scaling it up.