'' Stranger By Night '' style background

[Lunaprism]

Hello !! I have in mind making a horror style game and days ago I started to make my first background, this one :

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9872/background01ef6.jpg

Well, I would like do something like the  ''Stranger by night'' game, with blurry and dark backgrounds and these black outlines, something like this one :

http://img473.imageshack.us/my.php?image=strangerbynightexampleey2.jpg

Can you help me to do something like this with my background? I really appreciate your help, thanks !!!

pd: sorry for my poor english, I am from Spain .

[Theeph]

I like your background better. I wouldn't change it to be more like the other one.

The thick black outlines in the "soon" picture is from using the pen tool in photoshop with a brush of about 5px, I think. If you use Photoshop then you can just outline over the top of your image. If you use another program you might have to find a tutorial for the specific program.

Same with the blur. That's just a Gaussian blur applied to individual layers. (Filters>Blur>Gaussian)

Hope that helps

[jasonjkay]

Id say the style and blurring is pretty close to the example. I personnaly dont like this style but I think what you've done looks pretty good.

[Ashen]

IIRR, Stranger by Night used edited photos for the backgrounds - the blurring and big black lines were there to make it less obvious where bits had been added, and where sprites were being used.
Since you're drawing your from scratch, I don't think you'll be able to get it exactly the same - which isn't necessarily a bad thing, as your BG looks fine as is (better than the 'original', IMO). If you really want, you could do as Theeph suggested and add an 'outline' layer to make the details (tree, doorway, window/panels, etc) stand out more, currently it's a little inconsistant as to what gets outlines (wall, shrub) and what doesn't.

[Lunaprism]

Thanks for your advices , I suspected that the backgrounds of Stranger by Night were from photos.. well, I will try the outlining and i am going to add more detail to the picture... but... how should i do for creating a horror atmosphere? i refer to add the shadows and all... thanks !! soon I will post the edited background.

[deadsuperhero]

The best way to do horror is to totally redo the shadows so that they look weird, sort of edgy. I'll try and give an example soon.
Also, one of the biggest elements for horror in most horror games is music. Repetitive, suspenseful music is great.
There's an exception to this rule, however. Look at the Silent Hill II. Rather than use music when you're walking around, there's dead silence, which really captures the feeling of being alone.

[Lunaprism]

Here is the background with some detail more :

http://img427.imageshack.us/my.php?image=background01version2hn1.jpg

I've added more detail to the wall and some broken glass to the windows,as you can see the glass in the window is pixel drawn, because you will can interact with it.I've added a few outlines too.
Now I have a problem...the tree which is behind the wall doesn't like me much...how could I improve it?.I can't make a decent knob for the door ,any idea? and I would like put shadows to make the background scary...can you help me?

Thanks for your help !!

[Theeph]

Hey, looking good. I like your improvements.

Improving the tree and creating atmosphere... get rid of the pink sky.

Pink sky just isn't scary, IMHO.

Try maybe a dusky red/orange if you want to keep that time of day, and perhaps add some clouds.

To improve the tree, you could play with adding some overhanging branches into the yard, with a few leaves on. Just a thought.

Keep up the good work

EDIT: Here are some ideas for detail and shadows. Mostly just little details. Listen to other people about the shadows, because they know more than me (ie. they know something) but I was trying to set a mood. Here:



2x

[Lunaprism]

WOW !! Thanks for the improvements , I really like the plants on the wall and the added shadows, the door knob is excellent ! . I am to change the sky colour and add some plants more and to rework the shadows. Soon new version of the background hehe.

[Andail]

* The bg is quite blurry and smeared out right now.
* The outlining seems arbitrary; some stuff is outlined and other stuff is not, moreover the lines vary in width.
* The wall is just strange and serves no purpose. It just draws attention from the important part of the background.

[Lunaprism]

Thanks Andail for your criticism, I will improve these aspects hehe .