AuthorTopic: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture  (Read 6168 times)

Offline jok

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[WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

on: January 25, 2017, 11:02:21 pm
------ edit

ACTUAL VERSION


------

Hi
First post since... I don't know ... years for sure ;)

Its 320x256px 32 colors (actually less now) picture for Amiga computer.
So first you have to consider limitation of the platform. Resolution and max colors are like above. There is also little differences in pixel aspect ratio between pal and todays displays. And most important - 4096 colors palette - means only 16 steps for each RGB channel.
I work in grafx2 - no conversion, trace etc. – paint and fill



Idea was to paint portrait (not to portrait actual person - it could be done but its not my original intention) based on look of Princess Leia from Star Wars. I made reference photo for it - but it was really bad (mobile phone camera) so I have to change my gfx a lot. Mostly because of perspective deformation, but also light and colors.
Nevermind.

A this moment I have only head - no background, still working on proper face form. Next I want to set up expression and mood. This time color scheme will be quite simple - I have like 8 col. free for future needs (like background) But it could change too..

Next step will be background (usually I start with complete proj. covering all aspect of picture colors, light, mood, background etc. before pixeling in grafx2)
It could be for example interior of the space ship in close up. Something like navigation panels with view of the planet in window ;)
Or something totally different :)

When I set up all of this (full palette, shape, light, background - some story or just mood) then I will start with pixel work - so please don't look at details and technique to much now ;)

Why I'm posting this?
I don't know - to find inspiration, advices, ideas, feedback - anything may help me really :)
I have not enough motivation at this point to move forward. A bit stuck.

Any ideas? Opinions? Advices?

thanks!
:)
 
PS - colors my look a bit odd - I'm working on mac, I noticed that my pixels looks different on windows
and sorry for my weak english, hope it all make sense
« Last Edit: February 14, 2017, 04:49:10 pm by jok »

Offline Cyangmou

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #1 on: January 27, 2017, 01:15:31 am
I think this style hits the uncanny valley.
One major issue you have: the eyes, they are too big and too staring.
I think the anatomy around the mouth also doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Also the tip of the nose and the direction of the lips are slightly pointing in 2 different directions.
"Because the beauty of the human body is that it hasn't a single muscle which doesn't serve its purpose; that there's not a line wasted; that every detail of it fits one idea, the idea of a man and the life of a man."

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Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #2 on: January 27, 2017, 03:02:54 am
small update:



- extened shadow on right cheek shapes better now the form imo
- few small anatomy corrections
- a bit of cleaning random pixels (but also new "surgery" already destroyed this ;)
I found some references for background and testes some color schemes

not to much - still waiting for yours advices :)
- what I can improve? 
- any other shape issues ?
- any ideas for background?


(I know that this looks strange and scary now - but this is also a challenge :)

Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #3 on: January 27, 2017, 03:21:57 am
I think this style hits the uncanny valley.
One major issue you have: the eyes, they are too big and too staring.
I think the anatomy around the mouth also doesn't make a whole lot of sense.
Also the tip of the nose and the direction of the lips are slightly pointing in 2 different directions.

Thanks!!
I didn't noticed your answer while preparing update.

I hope that we can get out of the valley then ;)

eyes - hmm - I think size is ok, but there is too much contrast  (black sketch) I will correct this

mouth area - Yep - its because of ref. I changed gfx a lot but still there are inconsequences originated in photo (different perspective and face expression)
When I manage with general head shape I will take care of this

- nose, lips direction - it changed in update - but maybe not enough

also jaw and chin are still looking  too much like men build - I will correct it first

Thanks again :)
Anything else?

Next time background test, and maybe  I will find some refs of actress
and better photos of model too

Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #4 on: January 27, 2017, 01:46:47 pm
small update (few cofee breaks at work used ;) )



- working on shape
- slightly changed palette - optimized ramps
- small value changes
- some anatomy issues removed
- started working on expression

eyes in progress - I will try to set proper size off pupil and maybe move 1 pixel one or both eyes


still no big improvement, but I think I see path  ;)

Offline eishiya

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #5 on: January 27, 2017, 02:58:37 pm
I think the jaw shape was fine before, and now she looks too thin and straight-lined, especially compared with the huge eyes. I'd bring the previous jawline back, it looked more natural with its curves and size.
The red bits in her eyes look too dark, I'd use light pinks rather than reds, especially with the bright lighting you have.

I don't think changing the iris size is going to help with the large-eye problem. I think the entire eye should be made a bit smaller, while keeping the iris-eye proportions you had before. Not much smaller, mind - the eyes are just subtly too large, and it's likely that all you need to do is slight edits to let the skin/eyelashes take up a few of the sclera pixels.

I think mixing "pattern" dithering like on the upper cheek and forehead with regular dithering looks a bit weird. The patterns look nice, I think you should stick to those. The standard dither looks very artificial.

The iris isn't flat on the surface of the eye, it's more like a cone-shaped funnel that exists behind the lens, with the pupil being the narrow opening, so when viewed from the side, the pupil is offset relative to the center of the lens. You've drawn it well on the eye closer to the viewer (at least pre-edit), but the further eye seems to have the pupil too far forward.

Those things aside, I think you're heading in the right direction. The darker colours are helping a lot, and the reduced shine also looks good, she looks less oily. It looks like mostly pixelrefinement from here.

Offline dpixel

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #6 on: January 27, 2017, 07:22:59 pm
After reading the comments, I messed with the eye area a bit.  The more I look at it, she seems way to focused.  Made the eyes smaller, enlarged (her right) pupil and pulled the same eye outwards a bit.  Some slight reshaping, etc. 
Anyway, I admire the work you do like this.  I've seen the others on pj.  Great stuff.
Edit:

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #7 on: January 27, 2017, 11:35:44 pm
I think a quick fix to this might be to relax her expression more re: the eyes, she looks like she's bugging her eyes out which might be where the "too big" effect is coming from!
Add a bit of droop to the upper eyelid,  see if that helps!
PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
MAJOR BORK TALLY: |

Offline Bak

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #8 on: January 28, 2017, 10:12:38 am
I did a very quick edit adding the upper eyelid yesterday but forgot to post

Iris is never fully visible with normal face expression.
It still looks like creepy anne hathaway though

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #9 on: January 29, 2017, 01:06:26 am
Close! You seem to have tilted the lids a bit, I'll try my own edit once I get home
PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
MAJOR BORK TALLY: |

Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #10 on: January 29, 2017, 07:51:15 pm
Wow! - nice feedback !
really small update this time - I'm preparing bigger step but as I don't have much time lastly and I want to thank you all for you effort :) just showing what I have

I read carefully all your posts - and if not always I can use your advice - its always valuable for me to see other person point  - really
Especially thanks for edits - one fast edit worth of  ...let say 35 wise words ;)

Ok -  one of firsts backups - to show where I started ;)


And actual progress:
- small anatomy changes - overall shape refinement
- rendering tests started, just to try how it could look
- one eye a bit refined - second have to wait
- white clothes test

(It still below 32 colors limit)
And I made also projects for background and some research

- next time I will upload whole progress (maybe anim),
- answer to your posts more directly :)

thanks a lot for you feedback!
and to next post :)

Offline MysteryMeat

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #11 on: January 30, 2017, 09:46:28 am

Whoof, lotta math homework. This is what I meant by relaxing the eyelids a little though, pardon the lazy edit I'm not terribly good at this style of dithering/shading(?) and prioritized the edit over learning the concept!

(I am interested in learning it though, if you've got a guide! Never thought of using blues for skintone shading!)
PSA: use imgur
http://pixelation.org/index.php?topic=19838.0 also go suggest on my quest, cmon
MAJOR BORK TALLY: |

Offline Cyangmou

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #12 on: January 31, 2017, 02:00:52 am
Fixing stuff in order to get it out of the uncanny valley:

-removed "dead body" skincolor
-removed amphibic feeling slimey texture
-fixed the proportions of every feature of the face, all of them were too big
-fixed the positioning of the eyes
-exchanged the male eyebrows with female ones
-edited the right cheekline
-fixed the shape of the lips
-fixed overall values
-fixed the crown of the head / origin of the hair that it doesn't look bald up there
-fixed some things regarding lighting



uncanny valley problems:
all of your parts are too big and too round.
You emphasize texture over light, where no texture should be visible.
Your colors don't model a believable living human face, your colors remind me of the makeup of monsers or "dead skin" gradients, not helpful to portray a beautiful female.
You get bogged down in working on details, while your basics aren't strong enough fleshed out in the sketch to actually paint it in a realistic style.

Focus on proportions and structure, it is definitely missing in this basic sketch you posted. You  currentlycarry all those issues throughout the whole piece and even my edit is twisted in spots, just because i fixed thing by thing,instead of starting from scratch, whcih might have been the better idea.

Ok -  one of firsts backups - to show where I started ;)




« Last Edit: January 31, 2017, 02:17:18 am by Cyangmou »
"Because the beauty of the human body is that it hasn't a single muscle which doesn't serve its purpose; that there's not a line wasted; that every detail of it fits one idea, the idea of a man and the life of a man."

Dev-Art
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Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #13 on: January 31, 2017, 12:11:50 pm
Thanks for nice edit and your feedback - appreciated!
I will answer and update later (deadline in work) :)

You almost convinced me to follow your suggestion "instead of starting from scratch, whcih might have been the better idea"

Offline jok

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #14 on: February 14, 2017, 04:45:08 pm
No time for full description and changes
or to answer your feedback properly
just wanted to show update



maybe I will work on background or even repaint some parts - because it was all done in big hurry and I couldn't finish this as I wanted.

any opinion will be valuable for me
thx.

Offline rocifier

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #15 on: February 15, 2017, 07:50:29 am
I think as was pointed out, she is still in uncanny valley. It's a shame because you have put so much time and energy into rendering the face. But I do think the face form needs correcting. One tip which helped me a lot when I was learning traditional art was to think of the lips as just part of the face - mould and shape them as if they are clay with the cheeks - then finally just add a slight bit of colour

Offline Kairos

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Re: [WIP][C&C] Leia like portrait - Amiga 32 col. picture

Reply #16 on: February 15, 2017, 02:54:39 pm
Looks great so far but I feel that the perspective should bring her left eye closer to her nose and like rocifier said her lips don't really look like they are part of her face/they need to flow better with the musculature of the face.