Zorg's Office C&C

[Crook836]

This is my first background for my upcoming game (not first ever).  I'm pretty unsure about the shadow behind the filing cabinet, and I hate the ceiling color, but I can't seem to find anything I like.  Anywho, tell me your opinion, it will be much appreciated.

[Jon]

I think that there can be some improvements made, as the shadows are completly different to what they should be. Also the machine on the left needs some improvement to make it look more realistic, as the part of the machine underneath the window seems completly 2D. Hope this helps

[InCreator]

* red floor is bad.
* too much ceiling visible! As far as art viewing psychology goes, large areas of nothing in it will decrease amount of details felt by viewer. In other words - if you have lots of empty area in your bg, people think that it lacks detail, because it decreases "detailed" feel from other areas. Even if you have loads of stuff in the room.
* Gray is most boring color ever so don't use it so much. Add a tone of blue or green or both to the file cabinet and console thingy.
* Window could be larger. It also covers those plain, empty walls.
* Why is file cabinet placed so strangely? Anyone who plans an office, tries to spare room. So, file cabinet should be against rightmost wall.
* Perspective seems to be slightly off, even if it isn't. This feeling comes from console. I don't have time to draw these fancy lines and check, but remember that it isn't simply geometry - sometimes you have sacrifice mathematical accuracy to a good look!

Otherwise, quite nice bg. I'd certainly use some antialiasing and soft brushes for (neon) lights and glass, despite your clean mspaintery style... and It'll be a gem!

EDIT: Then again, one picture is worth thousand words. This is direction I'd go. Mainly lighting.
Without black outlines though, and not so hastily (this is probably my worst editâ,,¢ of 2007)

[Crook836]

Thanks for the input.  Some questions

1:  How would I go about making the front of the console to look 3D.  I imagine it'll be with shading, but how exactly?

2:  How do I make that circle on the left wall look like a light.  Even though the shadows on everything else are in the right direction, when you look at the light, it just looks like a circle

Lastly, on that comment about my MSpaint style, it's cause I'm using MSPaint.  Maybe I should ust Paintshop, but it just seems so complicated.  Anywho, thanks again.

[Jon]

1:Ã,  How would I go about making the front of the console to look 3D.Ã,  I imagine it'll be with shading, but how exactly?

Make parts of the console 'Buldge' out. This would be my opinion.

2:Ã,  How do I make that circle on the left wall look like a light.Ã,  Even though the shadows on everything else are in the right direction, when you look at the light, it just looks like a circle

Make it look like light is coming out by adding parts of light in places.

[Khris]

Some perspective pointers:

[InCreator]

...and some more light/shading/perspective pointers... not 100% your version, but weird enough, both you and KhrisMUC feel about shadows and perspective same way 3ds Max does.



EDIT: But since you're restricted to MSPaint... that just gave me an idea!



Posterized version shows exactly how to achieve this light/shading with little of colors.
I doubt you're using any of this, but I like the idea. Might aswell use it myself...

[Crook836]

As a matter of fact, the only thing restricting me to MSPaint was my own unwillingness to learn a new program 

But that aside, I have now dove head first into the world of Paintshop Pro, and starting with a pencil sketch in both instances, have redone my original main character sprite (in another thread) and this room.  It's not perfect, but it's much closer to the feel of the game. 

PS:  This is not ignoring all your edits and comments, but I just think my imagination was greater than the limitations of MSPaint allow for.

[cat]

Hey, that looks nice now! The ceiling is much better and so is the floor with the tiles. However I would still use one console that goes around the corner like the one in your first picture. Just imagine the poor person that would have to clean the corner behind the consoles

[InCreator]

I'm sorry to say this but I totally hate the new one.

Why? The file cabinet. And a bit of console. The corner style!!

By my art viewing psychology, while cartoony style tends to be happy, round and easy, BUT! the way you excecute it, it feels sharp and stressing. More towars horror than cartoon! Like it's ready to jump at you and stick its sharp corners into your eyes!

Look at your corners! Look at my example? How does each file cabinet make you feel?



Aside from this, the new floor looks excellent, I also like console and window. Window needs a bit of work yet, though. The things behind window doesn't look to be far away, but more like painted onto a window. Decrease contrast on them and make them lighter!