My approach is to create a silhouette with a border(red line) and draw any details or platforms in there. In that image here, 32x32 tiles are used. It should be even easier when using smaller tiles(like you do apparently :crazy:).Point taken. I'll give it a try and adjust my level editor accordingly if it turns out to bring better results.
Anything on the "vines" shading ?
I think you're looking at them too much as abstractions in space and shading them by learned manner and not observation. consider that in reality, most light on matte surfaces is not observed by direct reflection (where planes oriented towards the sun are bright, those away dark, and any curves a smooth direct transition between these), but rather shows the light that falls across the surface first. Think of the moon - it's not a gradient. There is a broad lighted area, a broad dark area, and then a transitional space which varies in size (due to irregular surfaces, dirtiness, reflected light).Point taken. I've collected a few reference material on flickr (http://www.flickr.com/photos/97497144@N00/favorites/), as well. I hope they'll help coming with something better. I have googled for the "magical bean" of "Zelda : Minish Cap", as well, but i couldn't find it, unfortunately.
Seems that you need more than 1 sprite for those floating bushes. They get rather repetitive.#true. That will be a real challenge for me to repeat this performance, but you're not taught unless you're challenged, ain't you ?
I used your thread as part of an inspiration piece in order to help me get better. This part of this particular thread shows eventually what I did with my trees./me feels honoured.
your trunk texture could be worked on a little bit. I don't know if you intend to continue that twisted trunk look all the way up the tree, but maybe you should. It'd look much better with that.Somehow it's not tiling the way i'd like it to. I need to ensure i can easier spot those texture inconsistences when editing a level.
Seems that you need more than 1 sprite for those floating bushes. They get rather repetitive.Is there a specific tree where you feel it's too repetitive (I guess that would be highest tree of the widest level), or do other trees also suffer from the problem ?
On the first image one of the trees has a big clump of platforms, Doesn't really look all that good IMO, having that many close together really makes it obvious that they're all the same tile.Seems that you need more than 1 sprite for those floating bushes. They get rather repetitive.Is there a specific tree where you feel it's too repetitive (I guess that would be highest tree of the widest level), or do other trees also suffer from the problem ?
The answer could help me figuring out whether a new platform-bush is needed or a specific wall-bush is required to avoid using tons of platforms to "render" a wall in the tree.
I don't have much to say about the rest, but I really like the detailing on your tree trunks and the statue boy you just posted. That swirly vine is great too, it's more visually interesting than the more "blobby" ones, if that makes sense.
The "statue Boy" is EyeCraft's avatar. It's just meant to point out the edit he provided.