Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: imnumberfour on July 29, 2012, 05:54:54 pm

Title: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on July 29, 2012, 05:54:54 pm

What started out as my first tree, which then evolved into a few bits and bobs which became my avatar on some sites has now turned into a small scene.

(http://i.imgur.com/jpNDp.png)

Pallet (11 colours):

(http://i.imgur.com/7c1Lv.png)

 I wanted it to look like soemthing that came out of a quaint RPG, but I didnt want to make tiles because I am going to try and texture the ground as a whole, not repeat tiles.

Things I think are bad:

The duck *cringe*. Could not get it into the perspective or look good.
Perspective: Is everything alright?
Composition: Trying to steer it clear from a lot of random elements thrown into a scene.

It is obviously highly WIP, and I want C&C as well as what to add to it. :)
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: Âme on July 29, 2012, 07:23:10 pm
I like these... there very cute. :) What you said about tiling though... well tiles can do wonders. If you make 3 or 4 seperate grass tiles NO ONE will be able to see "the grid" especially at this size. Plus, if you ever want to expand this little scene anymore you can do it easy as pie. Tiles are a wonderful thing. >:(

the duck is actually pretty good, though I think if you shorten her leg it might make her look less like a chicken. Ducks have shorter, flatter fatter feet then chickens

One thing I noticed that seems off with the whole piece is the shadows. Your lighting appears to be coming from the upper righthand corner on most of your objects, but the shadows fall direcly below, like the light is overhead. They should be going to the lower left.

A few other minor citiques I have are
-the tree could be a little pointier, but that might just be a style thing and reads fine the way it is
-I like the pallete you have though it could use a little more contrast exspecialy with the greens and browns (don't worry, I have MAJOR problems with contrast too.) and the water could use another color
-The shadows under the butterflies seem off more than the other shadows. Maybe there to far away from the butterflies?

Anyway, good luck! It would be really cute to see this animated. love the little lost duckling! :lol:

P.S. I almost forgot! For help with the 3/4 rpg perspective the tutorial by Cyangmou on this page http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=14148.0  might help
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on July 29, 2012, 07:56:48 pm
I like these... there very cute. :) What you said about tiling though... well tiles can do wonders. If you make 3 or 4 seperate grass tiles NO ONE will be able to see "the grid" especially at this size. Plus, if you ever want to expand this little scene anymore you can do it easy as pie. Tiles are a wonderful thing. >:(

the duck is actually pretty good, though I think if you shorten her leg it might make her look less like a chicken. Ducks have shorter, flatter fatter feet then chickens

One thing I noticed that seems off with the whole piece is the shadows. Your lighting appears to be coming from the upper righthand corner on most of your objects, but the shadows fall direcly below, like the light is overhead. They should be going to the lower left.

A few other minor citiques I have are
-the tree could be a little pointier, but that might just be a style thing and reads fine the way it is
-I like the pallete you have though it could use a little more contrast exspecialy with the greens and browns (don't worry, I have MAJOR problems with contrast too.) and the water could use another color
-The shadows under the butterflies seem off more than the other shadows. Maybe there to far away from the butterflies?

Anyway, good luck! It would be really cute to see this animated. love the little lost duckling! :lol:

P.S. I almost forgot! For help with the 3/4 rpg perspective the tutorial by Cyangmou on this page http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=14148.0  might help

Thanks for all that!

Fixed! :D
Letting you in on a secret here, the whole thing WAS supposed to be a tileset, but I didnt understand how big each thing had to be (and I couldnt divide 100 by 16, and it was 100 because it was going to be used as an avatar) which is why the shadows are the way they are. I also think it helps lend to the look of this coming out of a game. who knows, I might make the grass tile after-all. ;)
-Tree: Stylistic choice. :)
-Any better?
-Slight edit.

Update!

I'm going to have it 2x because thats how It is intended to be seen. :)

(http://i.imgur.com/8Hz1e.png)
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on July 30, 2012, 12:36:26 pm
In the process of turning this into a tileset! Yes, I gave up! ;)

(http://i.imgur.com/F9Hv6.png)
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: Grimsane on August 01, 2012, 05:01:09 pm
I think it's quite effective, a few tweaks and testing out my new palette again (hope you don't mind :lol:)

(http://i.imgur.com/eXy1b.png)

and gif to make the changes more obvious

(http://i.imgur.com/SvAsU.gif)

I think the foliage on your tree needs a bit of work, but overall I think the scene is quite quint and rather effective, the white pixel on the rock looks a bit off, and the shadow tone being grey isn't the most effectient, unless you are having actual game graphics with the ducks walking over multiple terrain types grey shadows aren't needed either, and the grass tufts aren't the most readable as is, simpley making them the brighter tone makes them pop much more, also if you are going to have cast shadows from butterflies make sure they are consistent to a lightsource ie every shadow is cast at the same radial angle from it's source

I insist you continue I rather like the simple yet pleasant style you've got going, and I'm sure I'm not the only one who'd love to see it get explored further :)
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on August 01, 2012, 06:58:34 pm
Thanks for all the advice! exspecially like some of those colour changes. ;)

I did intend it at first to become a game, hence the shadow colour, but I might scrap that idea and just make a scene.

On the note of game mockups, I made one to again test how well I could do a simple style;

(http://i.imgur.com/DnJsc.png)

15 colours and meant to be viewed at 2x, which is why it is uploaded at 2x. :)

[EDIT] Made some edits:

(http://i.imgur.com/TW1jh.png)

[/EDIT]
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: Lachie Dazdarian on August 01, 2012, 10:14:36 pm
A guy in a bunny suit. Awesome! Why can't I think of such cool designs?
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on August 01, 2012, 11:15:24 pm
Haha thanks, I actually suck and making non-tile things, and that character took me hours just to get an idea. ouo
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: Grimsane on August 02, 2012, 05:15:29 am
Nice job with the mini mockups 128x96 is quite a low resolution to work with, looks cute and compelling for what it is. not entirely sure about that strange level/context morphic hud though obscures alot of your screen, and what exactly is that peanut shaped rock thingy? o-O a stone cloud? It might work on higher resolutions but at that size it takes up far too much screen realestate in my opinion, nice character design too, and the palette choice and tone works quite well in the context
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on August 02, 2012, 08:36:53 am
Haha, the GUI was intended to jsut be the cloud, but it looked weird in the cave area, so I quickly doodled a "rock". I know what you mean bout the GUI placement, I should probably raise the height a bit...
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: Grimsane on August 02, 2012, 03:29:05 pm
(http://i.imgur.com/2l6Ct.png)

something like that, the size was mostly my criticism.
Title: Re: Cute scene. :3
Post by: imnumberfour on August 02, 2012, 04:12:56 pm
Oooh, very nice!

Also, news about that, someones making it into a prototype game!