Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Kable on October 14, 2007, 04:39:13 am

Title: Templar Guardian
Post by: Kable on October 14, 2007, 04:39:13 am
From hellgate London. The concept is not original but the pose and composition are mine...

I wanted to capture the essence of a weary warrior, but one that doesn't know the meaning of the word quit.

(http://www.raincitygames.com/images/templar4.png)
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Jad on October 14, 2007, 07:05:58 pm
Don't kill me now but I see it as that he's in the middle of

"What, there's something stuck on my boot?" *Stomps it off*

:D;;;
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: ndchristie on October 14, 2007, 10:16:20 pm
Don't kill me now but I see it as that he's in the middle of

"What, there's something stuck on my boot?" *Stomps it off*

:D;;;

you've just defined contraposto, woot.

as much as i like this, there's not much pixel to it.  a nice drawing.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Rydin on October 14, 2007, 10:29:14 pm
You could probably push some more detail into this if you used some more pixel-techniques...like dithering and aa and stuff, you know?  Because at the moment...it's pretty 'bleh'.
The right leg blends in with the left leg that's being lifted...also the back and the shield sort of melt together, too--which is a result of your slight highlighting, which I actually kind of like.  Looks like you forgot to light the sword though.
Oh, and there's a stray grey pixel under the sword.

But yeah, I think the main issues are detail and readability.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: JonathanOfDrain on October 14, 2007, 10:32:03 pm
Was playing with it a bit, tried to smooth things out so I darkened the colors a bit and added another color. Feel free to play with it, I think the colors probably aren't what you want but I didn't really like the greys.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v189/SariK/knight.gif)
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Jad on October 14, 2007, 11:18:01 pm
Don't kill me now but I see it as that he's in the middle of

"What, there's something stuck on my boot?" *Stomps it off*

:D;;;

you've just defined contraposto, woot.

as much as i like this, there's not much pixel to it.  a nice drawing.

EDIT: What, I posted this? An empty quote? Anyways, what I wanted to say was:

Yay, contraposto!

It's just that the 'one foot on toe' doesn't really convey 'tired' and 'worn out', I mean, when you're tired and want to go on, you place both feet firmly on the ground. I feel. Just that.

Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Kable on October 15, 2007, 03:40:23 am
The low color is basically a style choice, I did a Bezerk inspired one a few years ago that I used for an avatar on chat clients and stuff. I wanted to try to do a Templar in a simmilar style.

(http://www.raincitygames.com/images/guts.gif)

I do use color from time to time, but I definitely like low color / high contrast

(http://www.raincitygames.com/images/samuraiSyndPixel8.gif)
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Helm on October 15, 2007, 04:09:34 am
Hello Kable. Long time no see.

The last piece suffers from banding, pillow-shading, very vague shading. You need to do more traditional studies with simple geometric shapes under single lightsources and move onwards. Your ghrasp of light needs a lot of work. I like the low contrast pieces, but they hide a very real artistic limitation. Furthermore the last image suffers from bad posture, and arm movements that don't signify anything/are uncomfortable. Think more about why a character would stand as we does, and always try the stances yourself against a mirror and see if they look natural.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Andy Tran on October 15, 2007, 04:38:57 am
This last piece looks good. Nothing bad appears from it. The gradient effect you did was good for this piece. I would leave it there, but you can add anything you like.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Opacus on October 15, 2007, 07:19:23 am
This last piece looks good. Nothing bad appears from it. The gradient effect you did was good for this piece. I would leave it there, but you can add anything you like.
I don't think gradient has ever looked good. Let alone on pixel art. Helm explained perfectly what is wrong with this piece.
And pillowy gradient shades are just simply a nono on pixel art, you know that don't you?
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Sohashu on October 15, 2007, 07:38:29 am
I think he [andy tran] is being sarcastic Opacus.  The first piece looks good, but i wish you could translate it into colour. 
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: sharprm on October 15, 2007, 10:57:18 am
The ninja piece needs a new left arm, maybe holding a heavy sword to justify the lean. I would lose the bright patch on his breast plate and just have it all black. The three fingers on his right hand seem too short. The head might need some more highlights on its right side, to make it easier to distinguish between a head and neck armour versus a 'shredder' (from ninja turtles) helmet. Cool concept though with very interesting legs.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: madafacka on October 15, 2007, 02:06:48 pm
Hey kable! Its been a long time :)

-ndeal
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Helm on October 15, 2007, 02:15:08 pm
Hello ndeal. Please send pms if you want to give a shout to old friends. Critique on the critique board please.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: madafacka on October 15, 2007, 02:45:14 pm
Sure thing helm. Wont happen again.
Title: Re: Templar Guardian
Post by: Kable on October 17, 2007, 11:20:20 am
Hello Kable. Long time no see.

The last piece suffers from banding, pillow-shading, very vague shading. You need to do more traditional studies with simple geometric shapes under single lightsources and move onwards. Your ghrasp of light needs a lot of work. I like the low contrast pieces, but they hide a very real artistic limitation. Furthermore the last image suffers from bad posture, and arm movements that don't signify anything/are uncomfortable. Think more about why a character would stand as we does, and always try the stances yourself against a mirror and see if they look natural.

Yeah, I did the cyber samurai piece some time ago, and looking back on it now I agree completely about the posture. I still like the character design and proportions, the pillow shading was actually an attempt to get smooth metal look to it, but obviously I didn't quite pull it off. Color and shading have never been strong points for me.

@ndeal: hey man :)