Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 03:02:20 pm

Title: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 03:02:20 pm
Well i decided i would start working on some isometric stuff becuase i love isometric things!

First
(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07230/IsoHotelV1.2.gif)  :'(

I would like C&C on this/these please!
Also it would be really cool if there was a challenge topic on everyone making a/some buildings to make a huge city! Like the one Isometric tile one where people reserved and made tiles for the map and then posted it. like this : http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=1101.0 (http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=1101.0)

EDIT: Does my picture appear as a Xout box? it shows that way or me:/
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: ndchristie on June 09, 2007, 05:00:37 pm
imageshack has been plagued recently by overuse.  try xs.to

 as for your pyramid, i guess i just don't really understand what you went for.  it demonstrates but one thin - a real incomprehension of isometric projections.  nothing is algined quite, unless you were to have 'awkward shapes'.  as far as the pyramid; why bother?  it's not an interesting image.   pixel-wise, your textures don't read, and there's a jaggedness about the whole thing.

I would try out a few tutorials using more interesting forms and textures.  Frankly, from this and your other threads, I don't know if we can teach you anything yet that you are capable of using.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: philipptr on June 09, 2007, 05:33:52 pm
you've used the wrong url for the [ img ] tag.
(http://img458.imageshack.us/img458/7060/isopyramidtp5.gif)
works fine for me
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 05:42:48 pm
ya i used ourcall.org for some tutorials and i think it is a lot better but im still ot done  ;D

(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07236/IsoHotel.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 07:17:33 pm
updated

it looks so greate  :'( but im missing something in the front but i dont know what ???
(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07236/IsoHotelV.7.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 08:02:31 pm
well i think im done

(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07236/IsoHotelAnimated.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 08:51:56 pm
i decided unstead of that dreaded awful sign i have an aquariame with whats suppose to be 2 sharks :hehe:

(http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07236/IsoHotelV1.gif)

sorry for the quadriple post just posting updates
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: philipptr on June 09, 2007, 09:17:56 pm
1. Try to avoid only black outlines. They give the pic a very flat and boring look.
2. what is that grey thing in one of the windows?
3. the lowest window on the right would acutally lead to the aquarium.. which doesn't make much sense to me like the rest of the architecture.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 09, 2007, 09:19:18 pm
1. Thanks i will try to make those some other colors

2. Air conditioner or what ever those things are in apartment windows

3. Its a 2 windowed bedroom  ::) and it is very slim in that room. How doesnt it make sense to you?


Took 1 into account

(http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07236/IsoHotelV1.1.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: abzdragon on June 10, 2007, 05:08:41 am
I definitely think the contrast needs to be bumped up but what's really bothering me is the colors of the windows. Typically the illumination of the room would shine out, unless it was during the day of course. However, all your rooms have a very odd red and blue color scheme that doesn't seem to follow any pattern. I doubt anyone would actually paint a room those colors so I would suggest something more neutral, maybe add some details like plants, blinds, drapes to add interest. Would really like to see you actually take the suggestions given to you and finish something. :-\ Good luck.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 10:23:45 am
that red stuff in the window... thats drapes :lol:
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: philipptr on June 10, 2007, 10:38:34 am
3. Its a 2 windowed bedroom  ::) and it is very slim in that room. How doesnt it make sense to you?
(http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1668/untitled1jc5.gif)
Made a simple animation to show what I mean.

frame 1: the redline shows a line which gives the viewer information about the minimum depth this aquarium has.
frame 2: helpline to show where the floor is, when it is as tall as the aquarium.
frame 3: drawn the "cage" of the aquarium based on its minimum depth
frame 4: showing how small the room would actually be then.

...and how would a window on the floor make any sense?
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 10:43:51 am
well dont you think it would look kinda bad if there was just a blank spot there :ouch:
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: philipptr on June 10, 2007, 10:57:41 am
well dont you think it would look kinda bad if there was just a blank spot there :ouch:
I dont think that anything that would make sense in terms of architecture would create a blank spot. Also if you're still going for a hotel-look, this doesn't look at all like a hotel. Maybe try looking at some references?
Also why do you keep starting new things?
I don't think I've seen anything finished from you, and you don't seem to progress very well with this strategy :-\
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Snippa on June 10, 2007, 10:59:58 am
philippptr has made some very good points (good eye phil).

You could fix that piece by making the aquarium smalller (in width) and adjusting the position of the windows so that they wouldn't be on the same level as the floor.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 11:02:20 am
fine i guess i will take out the window.  ;) Looks like a fancy hotel to me since there are rooms on the... (cant think of the word  :blind:) above the entrance. and it must be a fancy one that it has 2 sharks in an aquariame  :ouch:

im close to finishing the blobs and this.

EDIT:i decided to keep the window just smallened the tank. and i made the sharks in the aquariame

(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07230/IsoHotelV1.2.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Kazuya Mochu on June 10, 2007, 12:38:46 pm
since you allready have diferent colors on eace face of the buildings, there really is no need for a black outline, or any sort of outline for that matter, as the diferent colors are enough for you to define diferente faces or areas or even objects.

my sugestion would be try to use what you have as an outline and transform that into an edge, that you can color acording to the direction of the light or too sugest a chafer.

maybe if you used a light color on the vertical outline you would see what I meen.

take care


Kaz
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Feron on June 10, 2007, 01:39:04 pm
My suggestion is to work on the basics of the building more before you start adding trees, furnishings, air condiotioning etc...
try to get away from the basic cube building, and add some dynamics to it. 
Also slightly hue shifting the palete works better, blue/greens for shadow, yellow/greens for highlights.

Here is an edit on the basic building.

(http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/729/ishoedit1eq5.png)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: ndchristie on June 10, 2007, 02:28:57 pm
1000 points to Kazuya Mochu for using the word "chamfer" in a conversation.

my bggest suggestion would be to go around and look at existing buildings, and see how you might create them.  perfectly square blocks really just aren't the norm in architecture, and where they are used, there isn't even the semblance of beauty.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 02:44:12 pm
ya ok i get it my next building wont be square
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: cilveeks on June 10, 2007, 03:27:39 pm
chigsam, look at the outlines of Feron given picture they aren't just black(or in any other color), colors are different...  :) hope you understand...  ???
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Feron on June 10, 2007, 05:11:45 pm
Yeah you have a good start, hell you can even use the base if you want, but you will learn a lot more if you continue to work on it with all the information from this thread.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 07:00:57 pm
well i started on a lighthouse, since people are giving me NextTime C&C

(http://xs116.xs.to/xs116/07230/IsoLightHouse.gif)

hows it coming along?
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: philipptr on June 10, 2007, 07:58:49 pm
I might be wrong but I've never seen a lighthose that looks like this. Whats that block its standing on? and why is the round part so short? Also the top part looks pretty strange to me. A google image search for lighthouse gives you tons of typical lighthouses.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 10, 2007, 07:59:58 pm
ya i know the block isnt suppose to be there but i wanted it to be different then other lighthouses
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Feron on June 10, 2007, 08:28:21 pm
again your building looks very boring.  Its like your using building blocks to make them.  How about some more artistical/stylistic bits, Makes things more angular and modern.

Add more contrast and hue shift to get rid of the straight boring pallettes.


EDIT:
heres a 5 min idea for something more interesting in shape.
(http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/997/lighthosueqt2.png)

one thing to note is not to use black outlines. 
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: ndchristie on June 10, 2007, 09:59:51 pm
you can set yourself up very attractive buildings very quickly by sketching it out freehand first.

here is an example - drawn, scanned, imported to pixel software, traced, reduced to template.  Elapsed time : 6 minutes, and i have a much more interesting base for my forms than anything in this thread, and it obeys all the rules of isometrics.

(http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07241/Top.png)(http://xs216.xs.to/xs216/07230/Lighthouse.gif)

why limit yourself to a box, when something more fun takes just as short a time?
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 11, 2007, 08:23:36 pm
how did you clean up the pencil so fast?! ya i was going to redo it right after i posted it :crazy:
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: xenogears on June 12, 2007, 03:41:46 pm
A will give you a nice tips for creating isometrics, you will need for this:
1 paper page with isometric grid
2 white papers for drawings
1 pencil
1 felt pen (black is better)
A light table
A scanner
And photoshop

Steps.
-Create a isometric grid in paper, use it over a light table (Easy to make) and stick it, use a white page for draw your asset over it, and draw it using a pencil over the grid reference page, next, use another white page over the new pencil one and follow your lines whit a felt marker, remenber black is better,this is a cleanup of your previous sketch, now you have a clean copy of your pencil concept, right? -Well now scan your draw with your scanner of course.
-Import the file in Photoshop.
-Duplicate the layer
-Set the blending mode for the upper layer in Multiply
-In the lower layer colorize you drawing (the upper layer will respect your trace)
-After finish the color, save in your preference format.

Hope this help to someone.
Bye
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: robalan on June 15, 2007, 01:34:07 pm
smiker: Please don't hijack other people's threads.  Create your own if you have art to show and get critiqued.

chigsam:  Remember that isometric art doesn't have to be all boring straight lines, flat surfaces, and regular geometry.  This collaboration (http://www.wayofthepixel.net/pixelation/index.php?topic=1101.0) is an excellent example of lots of interesting detail in isometric art.  You are showing improvement, so keep at it!
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 17, 2007, 02:42:40 pm
Hey i know you guys said to go for different shapes but i really wanted to do something like this before i started on something complex. I think its coming along well! :) i have to finish the texture on the top of the tunnel and then i need some help with the desert sand.  :-X

(http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/1102/tunnelig7.gif)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Obsidian on June 17, 2007, 04:01:53 pm
The shading on top of the tunnel doesn't make any sense, nor does the way the road just fades out like that. I really think you should go back and finish the other pieces you started before working on all these new ones.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: poingo on June 17, 2007, 05:04:41 pm
I really think you should go back and finish the other pieces you started before working on all these new ones.

I agree with Obsidian.  I know how it can be disheartening to have your pieces critiqued alot, with people telling you to do the whole thing over, etc. But they are just trying to help you improve your skill, which I'm sure you want, right?  Whenever people give you critiques, don't just start a new piece, which you claim will be better, and have better technique to it.  Just keep working on the original piece, applying the things people have told you.  Trust me, if you just keep working at one piece, finish it, and then move on to another, you will gain much more skill.  This doesn't just apply for pixel-art either, it works for sports, musicianship, inventing, etc.  So you can follow this philosophy:  If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  Just try again on the same piece.  ;)
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: chigsam on June 17, 2007, 11:55:49 pm
I really think you should go back and finish the other pieces you started before working on all these new ones.

I agree with Obsidian.  I know how it can be disheartening to have your pieces critiqued alot, with people telling you to do the whole thing over, etc. But they are just trying to help you improve your skill, which I'm sure you want, right?  Whenever people give you critiques, don't just start a new piece, which you claim will be better, and have better technique to it.  Just keep working on the original piece, applying the things people have told you.  Trust me, if you just keep working at one piece, finish it, and then move on to another, you will gain much more skill.  This doesn't just apply for pixel-art either, it works for sports, musicianship, inventing, etc.  So you can follow this philosophy:  If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.  Just try again on the same piece.  ;)

i dont even get what you wanted me to do. no body said much after my last piece  :-\
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: poingo on June 18, 2007, 04:00:01 am

i dont even get what you wanted me to do. no body said much after my last piece  :-\

What I, and a lot of other people want you to do, is to stick with one piece of pixel art, fix it and make it better, until you, and other's think it's ready to be labled finished.  I know it sucks when something you put hard work into gets critiqued somewhat harshly (in your eyes), but in the author's eyes, their advice is probably trying to be nice and help you out.  Just take a look at my isometric room thread.  I thought it was great after I colored it, but apparantly I have a LOT of work to do on it.  You just have to trust other people to make yourself better.  Sometimes you might have to start all over again, but the important thing is to not lose faith in yourself and others, and just keep trying.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: Faceless on June 18, 2007, 04:19:36 am
As with drawing, in Pixel Art you improve by pixelling many and varied things.
If he feels a piece is finished, then he should move on.

There's no point sticking to the same thing if you aren't motivated to do so.
Title: Re: [WIP]Isometrics
Post by: poingo on June 18, 2007, 05:31:03 am
If he feels a piece is finished, then he should move on.

There's no point sticking to the same thing if you aren't motivated to do so.

You have a point there, but if chigsam keeps starting up pieces, only to stop them right after someone points out something wrong with it, he/she may never learn.  I realize people learn differently, but it may be easier for chigsam to learn if he/she tries to polish a single piece as good as possible, instead of starting new projects all the time.  I'm by no means making him/her stay on a piece, I'm just giving my opinion, and trying to help him/her.