Criticism on Shading (added side and back views)

[Ringlord]

Hi everyone.

I've recently begun serious work on my upcoming game, however, I have hit on one minor snag. The problem involves first-time shading blues. While the character framework seems workable, I've made several experimentations, and well, see for yourself.

1x 2x

Any suggestions or criticisms would be most helpful. Thanks guys.

[OneDollar]

I'm still learning, but I'd suggest picking a strong light direction then working out which bits would be lit and which wouldn't. For example you could light him from above, which means putting light on his shoulders and lower down on the outside and fronts of his trousers, and some highlights on the tips of his shoes.

[Khris]

Just a minor technical note: You don't need to upload an upscaled version, just multiply the original width by 2 or 3, then put it as width param in the img tag.

Code: ags

[img width=x]...[/img]

[Galen]

Don't forget the height parameter aswell.

[Ringlord]

Just a minor technical note: You don't need to upload an upscaled version, just multiply the original width by 2 or 3, then put it as width param in the img tag.

Code: ags

[img width=x]...[/img]

Duly noted. 

[OneDollar]

Don't forget the height parameter aswell.

You only need one unless you're changing the ratio. Anyway. Shading advice. Yes.

[Galen]

Really? Cool.

[Ringlord]

So, any more shading advice?

[Ubel]

Personally I don't see much wrong with the shading, especially for such a small sprite. However, the colors were really light and there was nearly no contrast at all between them. So I made a little color edit.



I also altered the position of eyes/nose/hair and removed the mouth completely. Before it looked like he was looking at the sky, or rather trying to kiss it.

I thought it might also look good if the legs were closer to each other and if the hands were a little smaller, too. So I made an example of that too. But it's your call.

[ThreeOhFour]

I did a hopefully less pillowy version with Pablo's pallette.



The sprite is pretty small - it's probably easier learning to shade on a larger sprite.

[Ringlord]

Sorry for the hiatus, but I've been extremely busy myself. Anyway, Thanks for those awesome edits, and just a few minutes ago, attempting to follow some of the pointers you've used, I've tried to whip something up. Please let me know if there's something still missing in the shading of it. Thanks.

1x 2x

An additional note, I've tried to retain some of the colors I used before, as I'm trying to use a fairly saturated palette for the game.

[Ringlord]

Bump with another edit, tried to do it by eye (still keeping some of your pointers in mind), and I think I made the shading of the pants a little bit similar do Ben's edit, but here it is anyway.

[SinSin]

Just a comment maybe its just my laptop but the two darker shades of the jacket seem to be very similar I'd lighten the middle colour a lil bit. Also his face seems like he is almost dead, take another look at ben304's sprite you'll catch my drift otherwise nice sprite kinda like a mix between trilby and indiana jones.

[Ringlord]

Alright, sorry to bump this again, but I've added two more perspectives, one of which really bothers me for some reason, as if it's missing something.



The perspective in question is the side one. I'm not sure exactly, but it seems the problem might have something to do with the legs, as well as the shading, but have a look for yourself. I appreciate your help. 

EDIT: Also added a quickly edited version(s) with some pixels removed from the leg for comparison purposes.



@Sinsin Thanks for the heads-up

[Ringlord]

So, any C&C? Anybody?

[Ghost]

It's a well-done sprite, and the new shading is easy on the eyes. There is very little detail, but that is because the sprite itself is rather small, so I think you're aware of that. And it does look good- generic, but I like characters that allow me to interpret something into their shape.

Since you can actually count the pixels of one sprite, two tiny details: The shoes in the side view are very small, you could easily add one or two pixels, width-wise. I do not see any other flaws in the side view.
In the back view, the two black pixels left and right of the neck seem a bit out of place; usually a collar doesn't "sink" but rise, so you may want to add an additional "line" there.

It's looking good- if few people complain about the static pose, I'd have a go at a walkcycle and put it up!

[Oliwerko]

Go ahead, make him walk, there is nothing more I can see that can be done to him, except maybe in the forward/backward view, his arms are too straight...