Pixelation
Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Vell123 on August 11, 2012, 01:34:29 am
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:'(
Im supposed to be the pixel artist for a game but i cant seem to get my characters right and i'm really annoyed. So can someone please give me pointers or something. My highlights are off and everything UGH!!!!!!! >:(
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:'(
Im supposed to be the pixel artist for a game but i cant seem to get my characters right and i'm really annoyed. So can someone please give me pointers or something. My highlights are off and everything UGH!!!!!!! >:(
... Perhaps start by posting what you've got so far so we have something to work from?
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(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/character.png)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/problem.png)
edited
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I hope jpg isn't the only version of the file you have....
the top one looks the most promising, upload some png version/s of your art, and regardless of how you work, always try to tighten up your presentation when posting online, ie only enough canvas space to fit your elements (sprites, tiles etc), with reasonable gaps of course (not so close they are touching, but not inches apart)
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Okay Thanks for the head up. I was wondering why I've been getting cursed out about the file format and what not. But anyway, I need some kind of since of direction.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/character.png)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/problem.png)
so besides the post before this one I want to make a game with an avatar pic the size of the cloud strife avatar and i want to make a character the size of this girl running. all of my attempts and art is at the very top of the paper but still i feel like im missing something like an edge to my art. It doesnt pop the way alot of great pixel artist does. It not like I dont know how to draw or anything like that but my pixeling as a whole needs alot of work i feel. So can i get some critics...suggestions...remakes...something with feedback please! I'm dieing here.
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well jpeg files are compressed and have artifacts all over, you lose the pixel values, anyone who's seen more than a few can instantly recognise an image as a jpg because it blurs and even at high quality loses it's colour clarity and has blocks.
(http://i.imgur.com/UsfSf.png)
some suggestions, also I might as well say that hair is quite ridiculous if you intend to have it as an in-game character. it's volume is almost equal to a character.
the angle of the face on the large haired one is skewed for that facing angle, whatever you are referencing for the hoody jacket guy and chibi chick, keep using and try to stay consistent with, because the attempts on the left no offence intended are very weak colour and proportion wise, and that cyan guy has really strange legs and head, I did a quick attempt at depicting more viable proportions, the colour choice is decent on the girl
also your tiles don't tile too well. if you are using a program that has image manipulation tools you should try offsetting the tiles 50% you'll easily identify what's tiling well and what's not, alternatively and additionally you can tile a 3x3 grid with your tile to identify issues even more so, try editing the central tile, and if you edit one corner and it overlaps onto another you can copy the adjacent corner to the relevant corner on the central tile. I'd illustrate but I don't have the time.
(http://i.imgur.com/4Q28Y.gif)
what was your source/reference for those tiles if i may ask? the clustering on grass in particular is quite good and it tiles perfectly unlike the other two.
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well jpeg files are compressed and have artifacts all over, you lose the pixel values, anyone who's seen more than a few can instantly recognise an image as a jpg because it blurs and even at high quality loses it's colour clarity and has blocks.
(http://i.imgur.com/UsfSf.png)
some suggestions, also I might as well say that hair is quite ridiculous if you intend to have it as an in-game character. it's volume is almost equal to a character.
the angle of the face on the large haired one is skewed for that facing angle, whatever you are referencing for the hoody jacket guy and chibi chick, keep using and try to stay consistent with, because the attempts on the left no offence intended are very weak colour and proportion wise, and that cyan guy has really strange legs and head, I did a quick attempt at depicting more viable proportions, the colour choice is decent on the girl
also your tiles don't tile too well. if you are using a program that has image manipulation tools you should try offsetting the tiles 50% you'll easily identify what's tiling well and what's not, alternatively and additionally you can tile a 3x3 grid with your tile to identify issues even more so, try editing the central tile, and if you edit one corner and it overlaps onto another you can copy the adjacent corner to the relevant corner on the central tile. I'd illustrate but I don't have the time.
(http://i.imgur.com/4Q28Y.gif)
what was your source/reference for those tiles if i may ask? the clustering on grass in particular is quite good and it tiles perfectly unlike the other two.
my source was a tile tutorial on devianart
http://browse.deviantart.com/?qh=§ion=&global=1&q=pixel+art+tutorial#/d3d4ufx
and so what do you have to say about the highlights and what not? I made the character with the hoodie so you think I should stay with him instead of the others?
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/character-1.png)
new verison.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/q1.png)
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the higher contrast hair tones definitely work better.
you should refrain from multi-posting so much :blind: usually it's only justifiable if you need to bump your thread, it'd need to be on the bottom of the first page or moved onto the 2nd page for that to be the case.
And yes the hooded one has the strongest style, but the one you are working on now has a decent style, but is it isometric or top down? because it looks like it'd need a bit of work to be either, if it was a menu graphic then yeah the angle is fine, but try testing it in relation to an environment from your game, throw down a quick level using your tiles or pushing yourself to try making some more, how big and varied is this game meant to be? it's quite an undertaking creating all the graphics on your own, so at your beginner skill level I'd choose a game or two that have similar graphical styles and try creating tiles based on what you see, if you want interior tiles, look at a games interior scene and make your own versions of the standard objects and tiles therein, The Spriters Resource (http://spriters-resource.com/) is a good place to look, or you could just go with some RPG maker chipsets as a base/inspiration. or just boot up a SNES game via the console or emulator and study the tiles used in them, don't copy them verbatim or so much that it's obvious try your best to make your own versions of, utilizing some of the principles you see
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you should refrain from multi-posting so much :blind:
Indeed, don't do that. I've merged your double posts. Please use the modify button in the future.
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Ok I'll stray from the double posting. :-[
@ Grimsane. I've actually modifidy my character more. I want to make a side scroll and now that I think of it I was starting to stray because I was looking at some awesome work on pixeljoint. Anyway here is a great example of what I'm aiming to create with that and more I dont want to just make a "beat em up" or "hack and slash" my game is going to have a story so that's what I how to keep it at with these same principles...http://news.mmosite.com/content/2009-07-15/20090715015434425,1.shtml
I'm currently working on my character and I hope to get some feed back so I'll modify this and post him later
New and improved character below. Please critic, suggest, etc. Thank you
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/new-1.png)
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In general the last version of your charakter is ok (at least the stand frame). Although there are some big and lots of little things you can concentrate on, for this I also made you an edit to illustrate the points.
-color design: your charakter is pretty grey. It's at the moment no problem but if you are laying it in the background, it could be that your char gets lost. I usually prefer strong colors for my charakters to make them stand out. For example a electric blue hair will lead the players attention to the charakter.
-lighting: drawing (and spriting) is all about controlling forms. Once you are able to shade different objects in the right way you are also able to shade more complex forms like humans, hair and stuff. At the moment your shading is off at some places, especially at the arms and the hair.
-cleanness: especially if you are working at low resolutions with pixels it's very important to work very clean. Each pixel displays a roughly estimated 5x5cm piece of your charakter. THat's a pretty big areal. If there is one pixel off it can maybe cause problems. Also keep in mind that less is more. Make sure that your pixel clusters (pixel areas with the same color) have beautiful shapes and clean appeareances.
-dynamics: the general action line of your character is already pretty dynamic, but iit's important to show this also with the arms, the legs and the head. It could be tweaked a little
-shadow:a shadow sometimes helps to improve the spatial feeling of your drawings. If you can combine a shadow with your environments, do it. It helps tthe viewer to see how high a char is jumping or is he is running very fast and lots of other things.
(http://www.abload.de/img/vell_char_1wopmy.png)
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holy jesus :o,that amazing edit Cyangmou!!! :lol: , i will be accompanying this topic! :-[
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holy jesus :o,that amazing edit Cyangmou!!! :lol: , i will be accompanying this topic! :-[
:-\ That is a nice edit Cyangmou. Cyangmou I never had the guidance on how to proper create characters, backgrounds objects or just making in sprites in general. If anyone knows a guide from the beginning to end on how to start and that goes into more depth I would greatly appreciate it. Another thing. Cyangmou, Thank you for the help for being more particular on my weak points and how to improve them. As well as everyone else, and with all of this being said I'll give my character another shot until I feel he is an acceptable sprites based on all sprite standards that I've been taught.
:)
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Pixel art skills and general art skills are really strong connected. This means if you are getting better with drawing/painting, your pixel skills will also benefit from it a lot. You can never know enough about perspective, rendition and anatomy.
There is no complete guide for everything, because every artist has his own way to achieve his results and it's the same about the use of techniques. But if you are doing game graphics you have in general to think about all you would think of if you create a painting + you also have to think about animation and readability. Especially if it comes to readability - readability is maybe on e of the most important points of pixel art.
If you are interestend in art you'll get better with it. If you think you art skills are in general poor a book could maybe help. Some people recently talked here about the book "the new drawing on the right side of the brain", I don't read it so far, but from the things I heard, it seems to be a very practical book.
If you always do the best you can do with everything you create, you will also get better simple with learning by doing.
Other ways are life studies, sketches, analysis of other art, simple looking at other art, simple looking around and try to draw things also might help. If it wasn't clear maybe some books also help.
In art there is a lot to explore. If you have proper questions a thread in this forums or just asking other people helps - usually your eyes are blind to the mistakes in your work.
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(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/newian.png)
so the first and last two images are basically remakes of Cyangmou's remake of my first charcter. What do you guys think
edited...
I noticed something a few seconds ago. But I want to make sure...instead of using black for clothing shadows, does a very low value of blue with mid range saturation make shadows work
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(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/help1.png)
OK I personally like my character without the hoodie. That's the old one and I must admit the bright colors does make him more readable. Still I'm in need of guidance.
my questions:
1. How would i know how whats the right colors for him? Or any charcters
2. How can i do a trial and error to find the perfect fit of colors?
3. how can i make the character more readable to players?
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(http://puu.sh/WEr3)
idk im not really feeling your palette
also as an answer to your questions
1. trial and error
2. literally just come up with different colors for your character, you wont know what works unless you try. also, learn yourself some color theory
3. combination of using better colors and having a less clustered sprite/simple design
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I must admit your edits look pretty cool. Still do you know anywhere where I can get a broad understanding on pixel art and how to draw for beginners
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please C+C
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/untitled1c.png)
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Hi so here is a character I was thinking about for a possible game or animation. (http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/untitled1c.png)
I want to know if you think he readable, if the colors are off or anything basically [C+C] and I could use some inspiration and pointers. Much appreciated thank you.
Running update/creation
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/Image9.png)
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Hi, I've been working hard on this character for quite some time now. He has definitely transformed a lot. I would like to know if anyone see any problems with this picture or have any suggestions as to how i can improve this character if any. Thank you
The first image is where I started
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/newian.png)
The second from the left is the first character I made. Then i ended up with the one furthest to the right.
Next is what I've narrowed it down to as far as how I would like for him to look inside games and what not.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/untitled1c.png)
and the final revision is the following image. This is the one I want the most critic on however feel free to suggest anything toward the others as well. Thanks
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/newwork.png)
p.s. please dont steal
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Here is what I see:
Eye line is horizontal.
Shoulders are horizontal.
Waist and hands are horizontal.
Feet are .... ?
The lighting on the arms and hands does not match the light direction.
The general thrust of the the belly/hips doesn't quite match the line of buttons on the shirt. Something needs to change here. I recommend going with a wider shoulders and ribcage, and a narrower belly, or else an exaggerated round belly, whichever fits the character design more.
The middle blue color on the shirt is invisible.
Going from darker legs to lighter upper body to high contrast (blue/orange) on the head is a good design. Good choice on that.
Tourist
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I've merged all your different threads on this character into your first one. Please stick to one thread for one piece.
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Most recent update.
@ Crow, wont do it again.
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/wip3-1.png)
edited
updated 9/6/12
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y107/Vell123/character1.png)