Forest and house background

fovmester · Mon 04/04/2005 11:53:13

What can I do to improve this background?

I thought about adding more light-reflections on things, like the purple color I've drawn on the two closest trees. But I'm not sure what extacltly I should add!

Babar · Mon 04/04/2005 12:04:18

I'd say do away with the purple. It makes it look like some alien ship is about to beam up the tree, giving it a purple plasma wrap. The dark purple shades look better when a lot more of the background is in shadow (i.e. a lot more close together trees), giving it a "dark, mysterious" look.
Also, it may have something to do with my screen, but why does everything have a subdued "foggy" look to it? As if there is a light mist going on.

Andail · Mon 04/04/2005 13:52:30

*The center and the foreground need more contrast. If the colours turn out too strong, you can always lower the saturation afterwards. As Babar said; now it's too misty.
*the grass lawn is a bit too green; grass seldom glow like that.
*Trees have roots which spread out from the bottom of the trunk; they're not stuck into the ground like telephone poles
* Fir trees don't like that. You have painted them far too dense and thick, and also a bit too regular.

If you find it hard to apply these points, I might return and attempt a paint-over to better illustrate what I mean

En garde! · Mon 04/04/2005 15:06:27

Something most people don't notice is that the trunks of trees are actually grey, not brown. (No, it's true. Google for pics of trees and be astonished)

On the other hand, some signs of life would be good. It is a little bit too ordered and clean. How about a bird on a branch, smoke on the chimney, a tree slump with an axe stuck on it (you know, that wood doesn't cut itself), a clothesline... details like that.

fovmester · Mon 04/04/2005 16:52:52

Andail:

Quotethe grass lawn is a bit too green; grass seldom glow like that.

I actually wanted the grass to be too green, giving it a more magic feeling. It's supposed to be a magical place.

QuoteFir trees don't like that. You have painted them far too dense and thick, and also a bit too regular.

I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that? Is it the texture of the trees?

En garde!:

QuoteSomething most people don't notice is that the trunks of trees are actually grey, not brown. (No, it's true. Google for pics of trees and be astonished)

I actually noticed that myself when I went out to look at some trees today. I wonder why I never saw it before.

Quote
On the other hand, some signs of life would be good. It is a little bit too ordered and clean. How about a bird on a branch, smoke on the chimney, a tree slump with an axe stuck on it (you know, that wood doesn't cut itself), a clothesline... details like that.

Since it's a background I'll put animated stuff like birds and smoke on top of it later on. But that axe was a good idea!

fovmester · Tue 05/04/2005 08:56:57

Updated version:

Changes:

*changed grass color
* more contrast on bushes in foreground
* added axe in stump and clotheline (actually it's the skin of some animal hanging on the line)
* added a door and some reflection on the left window
*removed the pink light

Reptile · Tue 05/04/2005 10:46:18

This reminds me of the Five magical amulets game. Nice style. Be sure to keep the game at a hi-res otherwise it would look bad if its 320x240 for example.

nihilyst · Tue 05/04/2005 20:49:24

I'm astonished. Your picture looks really good. Only the door looks a bit too simple according to the rest.

Wow. Wish I could draw like that.

wooden cheers
nihilyst

RyRayer · Tue 05/04/2005 20:53:26

I've always liked your backgrounds and "Frank the Farmhand" both parts, and this background is awesome. You or somebody could draw some flowers or berries too.

stuh505 · Wed 06/04/2005 00:01:26

It's a nice background, but it's so washed out...you might try increasing the contrast like this:

fovmester · Wed 06/04/2005 06:35:02

Quote from: RyRayer on Tue 05/04/2005 20:53:26
I've always liked your backgrounds and "Frank the Farmhand" both parts, and this background is awesome. You or somebody could draw some flowers or berries too.

Thanks! Flowers and berries are a great idea!

fovmester · Wed 06/04/2005 13:23:18

Here's my last try. I added flowers and leaves, and upped the contrast.

I'm quite satisfied now!

Phemar · Wed 06/04/2005 16:39:35

The colors on Stuh's are perfect!!!

Reptile · Wed 06/04/2005 19:56:35

More Flowers and some berries would be nice, try to use different coloured flowers.

RyRayer · Wed 06/04/2005 20:01:17

What program are you using fovmester?

Neutron · Thu 07/04/2005 02:19:52

how about some dead twigs poking through the bushes in the foreground? and maybe some mushrooms and toadstools would add some more interest on the ground.

En garde! · Thu 07/04/2005 02:34:24

But as a gamer I don't want my screens too overloaded. My first instinct if I played this would be to go pixel hunting. The flower's colors, as instance, stand out too much: they look like they are supposed to be highlighted because they are part of a puzzle. To avoid confucion I would color them in darker shades.

Apart from that it looks right to me.

fovmester · Thu 07/04/2005 07:49:17

Quote from: RyRayer on Wed 06/04/2005 20:01:17
What program are you using fovmester?

I'm using photoshop.

Dead twigs and mushrooms? Maybe. It may become as En Garde! says; too overloaded. But I'll try it out.

Andail · Thu 07/04/2005 22:46:29

Original:

sketchy edit:
(there are some areas which were affected strangely by my rought paint-over, such as the fine leaves on the foremost tree...this edit is mostly to show another colour/light scale)

fovmester · Sat 09/04/2005 09:21:23

I really like those colors, Andail! Especially since it's more clear that there's sun and shadow.

I'll try to get that into the background.