A Pic I did up...

Squinky · Thu 12/02/2004 06:06:04

I screwed around a bit with some tutorials and came up with this quick goblinhead thing...This is my first picture in this style, and any crits would be welcome...

Thanks...

taryuu · Thu 12/02/2004 07:00:38

holy anti-aliasing batman.

i think he has quite a bit of character in his face and many human qualities hard to illustrate with non-human characters.

the anti-aliasing and jaggies around the outline detract from how good it is. if you wanted his skin to look more "real" you should add minute blemishes and wrinkles to lessen the painted effect.

i love it. kudos.

Darth Mandarb · Thu 12/02/2004 07:44:26

That's really good for a first time attempt at a new style.

It still has the 'Pirate Fry/Squinky' style we all love so much, but with a new level of detail.

Only 2 critiques ...

The neck stands out a little to me. Not that it should look human of course, but the black line starting from his ear and moving down to the front of his throat jumped out! Maybe just make that the darker shade of green?

And maybe make the forehead wrinkles extend around his forehead. They look like they stop in the middle?

Aside from that it rocks!

Did you do this pixel by pixel or did you use filters?

Color me impressed either way

~ d

Squinky · Thu 12/02/2004 21:32:47

Thanks guys. The edges I left a jarbled up cause this was just a practice and I didn't feel up to it...heh

Darth

I started with a sketchy outline and then made a new layer and traced it with a definitive line . I then colored with the paint bucket and then flattened all my layers and used the Dodge/Burn tool in photoshop to give him depth. Then I used teh blur tool to blend in the black outlines...

Seems to work okay...I think I'll keep messing with this style..

Okay, did this up real quick, I'm liking it (although I realize I put much less detail into this one) but I need to figure up a way to get rid of the blurred edges...any tips?

Penguinx · Thu 12/02/2004 23:15:13

Really the only way I know to clean up the edges would be to manually draw whatever color you are using as your transparency over the anti-alaised edges. Or to use the background eraser tool (also pixel by pixel).

I did a quick edit to show you what I meant:

Darth Mandarb · Thu 12/02/2004 23:41:55

If I'm working with edges that will be blurry after I'm done, but I don't want that effect, I draw the shape of the character first (before doing all the blending/blurring) and save that shape as a non-anti-aliased path.

Then, after all detailing is added, I load the channel (inverse it if I need to) and clear.

This will put a hard line around the edges but keep the blends on the inside of the edges.

Does that make sense? The inner parts are still smooth, but the edges aren't anti-aliased to the background. Then I would usually (just 'cause I like the look) add a solid colored outline.

Squinky - your latest attempt reminds me of the Daredevil you did in that sprite jam all those many months ago!

Squinky · Fri 13/02/2004 01:33:15

Cool, I'll definately have to try those ideas out. Here I tried to draw a thick line around the edges...something still is not to my liking though...

Darth
Heh, now that you mention it, he does have nearly the same pose...Good memory man...

Darth Mandarb · Fri 13/02/2004 02:57:46

This style would be great for cut-scenes in your games!

Although, I must admit, that I like less colors more. I like the cartoony-look to my graphics.

But this would rock none-the-less as cut-scene graphics.

I don't think this style would be practical for characters in game because animating these would be darn near impossible!!

Keep posting more ...

~ d

Squinky · Fri 13/02/2004 03:58:21

Yeah, I'm probably gonna stick to my normal fashion for my games, but I like to experiment you know...

This one is my favorite so far. I realized that using the pencil tool would give me a clearer line than the paintbrush tool for the sketchy line I blend in. I think it helps with definition....I'm still having the probs with the edges, but I think that may be because I blur into the white...which is stupid, but hey, I'm learning...

Das Plans · Fri 13/02/2004 09:20:07

WOW...

In fact, this is all I can add. I wonÂ´t give you any tips on how to improve your style, because it would just mess things up. IÂ´m just here to express my mere adoration. Oh, and by the way: IÂ´m playing Pirate Fry 3 right now. This one, too, gets a WOW.

loominous · Fri 13/02/2004 14:27:40

The thing holding these back the most in my opinion, is that the highlight/midtone/darktone values are the same throughout the objects. This creates an illusion of depth but more in a bumpmap sort of way (if you re familiar with 3d) making the objects flat though "bumpy".

To remedy this try focusing on the main shapes instead of beginning by shading every wrinkle. Start out with the basic shapes (the skull is spheric etc) and define the it with darktones and highlights (preferably in that order). After this is taken care of you can proceed with taking care of smaller details.

Thing is that highlights on the darker side of an object is darker than the ones on the bright side. Once you ve defined the basic shape with some simple values you simply increase the existing values to create highlights and vice versa with darktones.

Original:

x2

Here are some steps:

80 kb

Some tips (these are just from my experience, don t rely on them):

Avoid the smudge tool and smudgy looks.

Keep distinct darktones and highlights; don t smudge them out. The transition (between the darktone and midtone and midtone n highlight) depends on the material; in the case of skin (and other light/porous/uneven materials where the light scatters beneath the surface) there should be a some transition (the more porous/uneven the material, the more transition) and in the case of solid/smooth materials like metal the transitions should be pretty nonexistant.

Avoid flat surfaces. Even though I recommend keeping welldefined highlights/darktones they should never be in a single value. Subtle gradients (done by hand) in these helps avoiding it.

Stick to few lightsources. Having light coming from many directions will give the image a flat/uninteresting look.

Edit: Fixed a link

JimmyShelter · Fri 13/02/2004 15:06:28

Nice style, but all the heads have the same position.

Maybe you could try some mroe variation with that.

Squinky · Fri 13/02/2004 16:39:52

Herr Stein

Wow, thanks man, I appreciate your comments and hope you enjoy fry 3

Loominus

Hell yeah, I'll have to try out your method when I get home, it takes the picture to the level that I wanted of it. I've seen your example and I will probably be posting more questions of you after I get home and get to fooling with it. Thanks again

Jimmy

Yeah, weirdly enough, that pose is my comfort-zone pose. I just seem to always sketch in that pose first. I actually have a harder time if the head is turned the other way....heh...
I will do what I can to post a picture in a different pose soon...heh

Squinky · Sat 14/02/2004 01:23:01

Heres another one I did up. I started to try and do it the way Loominus showed, but I just can't figure how to do it without blurring the darker lines...

I just don't even know how to go about what Loominus showed me, I know it shoes step by step, but I need to know which tools and how...

please?

Domino · Sat 14/02/2004 01:35:09

All i can say is Damn!! Squinky you are Good!!

I'm still trying to come up with backgrounds, and my art will never be this good.

Good Job, man.

Shawn

Darth Mandarb · Sat 14/02/2004 01:37:02

The nose looks a little funny ...

Seriously though, Loominous' edit is amazing and looks totally bitchin, but it's not your style!

I say stick with your style.

I would know these images were something you'd done just because of the way they look!

And that means something

I've said it before, it's "Squinky-Style" and it's unique. And it rocks!

Of course, there's something to be said about expanding your horizons ...

~ d

edit - by the way, I can tell you're refining your technique the more you do! They're getting better and better!

Squinky · Sat 14/02/2004 03:45:22

My first full screen one...

I feel like I', getting better, but I also feel as if I'm getting into some bad habits...I would still love to have Loominus break it down for me....

Buffalgamer
Thanks man, to encourage you, you should go play pirate fry 1. see how my graphics were about 2 years or so ago...

Darth
Yeah, I still would like to learn Loominus's way, I think I could still make it my style. But I appreciate the crits and compliments...The nose was intended to be that way, but I guess it turned out weird...heh

Squinky · Sun 15/02/2004 06:17:10

A quick portrait of Pirate Fry....

Pet Terry · Sun 15/02/2004 11:28:26

Man Squinky, that style looks sooooooooooooooo :o It would look excellent in cutscenes in your game.

And loominous edit is awesome as usual ( by the way loominous, how's the picture I sent you some time ago?

)