Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 05:38:10 am

Title: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 05:38:10 am
Hi! Something went wrong with this piece, but I'm not really sure what. Could I have some help?

(http://i.imgur.com/qyXmNiE.png)
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: eishiya on April 29, 2016, 02:08:02 pm
There is no sense of form, so I can't tell what I am looking at. Every little piece is given the shadow-midtones-highlight range of values, so there's no sense of what's further away from the light or from the viewer and what is closer, or what is in shadows cast from other parts. Light and shadow are your main tools for showing the 3D forms of objects in 2D, and you're not using them for that here.
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 04:54:20 pm
There is no sense of form, so I can't tell what I am looking at. Every little piece is given the shadow-midtones-highlight range of values, so there's no sense of what's further away from the light or from the viewer and what is closer, or what is in shadows cast from other parts. Light and shadow are your main tools for showing the 3D forms of objects in 2D, and you're not using them for that here.

I think I know what you're talking about. Is this better?

(http://i.imgur.com/tTKnD7N.png)
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: eishiya on April 29, 2016, 05:16:36 pm
It's better, and I can now tell what's in front and what's in back, but there's still not a lot of sense of form. Where is your light source, and how does it interact with the forms?
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 06:00:40 pm
It's better, and I can now tell what's in front and what's in back, but there's still not a lot of sense of form. Where is your light source, and how does it interact with the forms?

The light source is supposed to be coming from above, and it's supposed to be reflecting off the top of the armor. Is that what you mean by 'interacting with the forms'? I'm a lil' confused.
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: eishiya on April 29, 2016, 07:45:09 pm
Yes, that's what I meant! Sorry for not making it clearer.

You have shaded each segment in a way that shows its shape, but I am not sure that it's conveying the creature's forms overall. If the light is above, should the back calf not have more light on it? Shouldn't the textured area in the middle have more light? Since this isn't a real creature I don't know what it's meant to be like, so I'm just guessing at what might help make it look more 3D.
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 08:42:40 pm
Yes, that's what I meant! Sorry for not making it clearer.

You have shaded each segment in a way that shows its shape, but I am not sure that it's conveying the creature's forms overall. If the light is above, should the back calf not have more light on it? Shouldn't the textured area in the middle have more light? Since this isn't a real creature I don't know what it's meant to be like, so I'm just guessing at what might help make it look more 3D.

If it helps, there's some footage of Vordt here (Dark Souls 3 spoilers ahead): https://youtu.be/xZOQkhnLgFc?t=36s
I tried to find some good images of this guy, but I couldn't any good ones that showed his full body. Watching a few seconds of the video should give a good picture of what he looks like.

I did try and remove some of the light on the back, if that helps.

(http://i.imgur.com/g7Tm0vR.png)

Thank you for the help!
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Seiseki on April 29, 2016, 09:06:43 pm
You should try making the canvas bigger, it's really cramped.

I think when eishiya talks about form he means the bigger, overall picture, how things are connected to create a recognizable shape.

Don't be afraid to darken large areas, it can help bring out the form better than if everything is evenly shaded.
Especially with some selective highlights to bring out the most important shapes.

Here is a tiny reference, if you google Vordt you can find more.
(http://psnprofiles.com/lib/img/games/76e9e6/trophies/29Lf4ad40.png)

Look at how dark it is around his head, it really brings it out. Although it's not the best example of clear form.
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 29, 2016, 10:24:34 pm
You should try making the canvas bigger, it's really cramped.

I think when eishiya talks about form he means the bigger, overall picture, how things are connected to create a recognizable shape.

Don't be afraid to darken large areas, it can help bring out the form better than if everything is evenly shaded.
Especially with some selective highlights to bring out the most important shapes.

Here is a tiny reference, if you google Vordt you can find more.
(http://psnprofiles.com/lib/img/games/76e9e6/trophies/29Lf4ad40.png)

Look at how dark it is around his head, it really brings it out. Although it's not the best example of clear form.

I made the canvas a bit larger, and made some portions darker, especially around the head. How does this look?
(http://i.imgur.com/AHjAYG0.png)
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Mnots on April 30, 2016, 01:51:13 pm
The pallet could probably use some adjustment. More contrast in the colors on the armor would make the ridges stand out better, and it definitely needs some blue, since he's a frost giant. :P
Title: Re: [C+C] Vordt Of The Boreal Valley
Post by: Shnurbs on April 30, 2016, 05:34:02 pm
The pallet could probably use some adjustment. More contrast in the colors on the armor would make the ridges stand out better, and it definitely needs some blue, since he's a frost giant. :P

I increased some contrast, upped the blue, and changed the background. How does this look?

(http://i.imgur.com/xq2LVYL.png)