Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Terley on January 17, 2008, 05:24:44 am

Title: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: Terley on January 17, 2008, 05:24:44 am
Yes I know, very generic warrior and dragon scene here, doing a favour for someone at a runescape based forum (its where I first started pixeling and at times their gallery section is pretty good for critique communally). So im working to a description for a signature, he wants specific armour, weapon and general scene setting etc. Im finding it tough getting the time to concentrate too much on this but its most likely because im going solo, I need some outsider opinions on this.

(http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1859/12dw0.png)

Some parts are still very rough im still working this out bit by bit..

Any help would be greatly apprechiated.

Recent -
(http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5535/17dc3.png)
Title: Re: w.i.p need help with this scene
Post by: JonathanOfDrain on January 17, 2008, 06:42:22 am
I think what parts are close to done look really good. The sky looks really nice, would like to see the left side completed like the right. The "hero" looks like he only has one arm and is about to use an imaginary gun on the dragon. The pants seem to have lighting issues, left side probably shouldn't be oh so bright, also the cape's inside should probably be a bit darker.
The dragon's wing needs to be separated from the fire a bit and needs those scribbly black lines gone. So keep working at it and I'll heckle and criticism again later.
So far it's looking pretty good.
Title: Re: w.i.p need help with this scene
Post by: Terley on January 17, 2008, 04:38:50 pm
yea as I said theres parts that I haven't got round to doing yet, the dragon hasn't been touched apart to some quick placement.

His arm has been there once or twice, im just having some difficulty with a decent arm pose since he's supposed to be holding a pretty large and impractical sword.

---

bit more like this, ill keep working on this but i've not got that much time atm  :-[

(http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/1859/12dw0.png)
Title: Re: w.i.p need help with this scene
Post by: willfaulds on January 17, 2008, 05:13:39 pm
i would say looking at the arm you've got make sure it looks like its fufilling a purpose...

some times wizards hold em a certain way to cast a spell etc.

if he's preparing to fight the beast the arm needs to be facing the dragon. so he's put the sword between himself and his foe.

hope that helps.
Title: Re: w.i.p need help with this scene
Post by: Faktablad on January 17, 2008, 07:42:23 pm
I have to say you've done a nice job with the fire.  The smoke is really subtle, yet it's actually how smoke looks in real life.  Nice job going against any "smoke is GREY!" pre-conceptions.

It's a very small crit, but something about the volcano bothers me.  I think the lava erupting out of the top should either take a parabola shape, if you're going for a prolonged-exposure effect, or show individual lava pieces, as it is in real life (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiEw1p5BaSU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiEw1p5BaSU)).  But if you go for prolonged-exposure, you'll have to make the fire prolonged-exposure too.  ::)
Title: Re: w.i.p need help with this scene
Post by: Terley on January 22, 2008, 12:30:50 am
oh also I've updated my avatar in my spare minutes of boredom, influenced from my original fadatar.

(http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/5352/mouthwateringkm3ft7.gif) (http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/4006/fadrt7.png) (http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/4589/animated2ek4.gif)

Yes the past year of mouth watering has taken its toll on me..
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - plus updated avatar !
Post by: Malor on January 22, 2008, 12:42:01 am
hmm the odd purple mid-tones on your avatar seem a little out of place, and don't really flow with the rest of the piece. I look forward to seeing the rest of this WIP, though.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - plus updated avatar !
Post by: Terley on January 22, 2008, 02:06:20 am
Oh my reference btw was from a mirror btw which was basically walking back and forth a lot, recently took a picture to show what I see. :B but was mostly from mirror.

(http://img250.imageshack.us/img250/7707/meyw1.png)

I kinda like the purple I don't think its worsening it, its truer to how skin actual is imo. Maybe it's placement could be altered but it was mostly a guess to further define.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - plus updated avatar !
Post by: eck on January 22, 2008, 02:33:03 am
i think the purple would match a lot more if you changed the background colors.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - plus updated avatar !
Post by: Terley on March 23, 2008, 02:14:52 am
On easter break and since im off work tomorrow I've got some time spare, dust off this for a bit more progress finally.

A bit more progress, not had any time to do any pixelling recently from having more important work to do. May be a bit rusty but vital improvements in areas.

(http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/4957/16fb8.png)

Fire behind is too distracting, moved it closer so focus is more on foreground. A few people I asked mentioned their foucus went straight to the eruption, so I've just toned it down a tad since it was so contrasting..

Worked a bit on the dragon but tbh im piecing it bit by bit atm, his wings need a lot of work. I'll need to look up some more references for further help.#

Updated character a lot, trying to get the metal to look like metal, sticking to the request for this image. I know the sword is far fetched, it's what he wanted.

Just posting for further help if anyone has any suggestions.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: Dusty on March 23, 2008, 12:27:06 pm
I liked the first stance of the dragon before the edit, personally. I think it had a more stalking, closing-in sort of look that really portrayed the fear a dragon can give.
I also really love the sky/clouds. Ace stuff there.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: Terley on March 23, 2008, 11:46:14 pm
A bit more like this?

(http://img247.imageshack.us/img247/5535/17dc3.png)

Bit more done, tweaked the palette too and changed some places.
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: born2die on March 24, 2008, 10:24:33 am
brillant, love the sky and detailed background yu did so far, and the fire
 only thing i could think of so far is:
-that a part of the wing looks a bit to triangular in comperison with the rest of the wing,
-the neck of the dragon looked better befor your last edit in my opinion
now it doesn't seems as strong and seems to have a strange connection to the body, something seems a bit off , almost like the chest of the dragon ends in the middle of the neck.
- and the cloak of the character seems to be in a way that he couldn't see it almost looks like he's looking inside the hood, could be because he just strated to turn.

Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: Feron on March 24, 2008, 12:02:54 pm
The eye of the dragon looks cartoony, compared to quite a realistic scene. 

Also the pose of the warrior does not look like he's about to face a fiery dragon, perhaps try something away from the generic hero pose you have going on.

sky is beautiful, and that is perhaps the best pixel-fire i've ever seen.

The volcano should have smoke and flying debris too.

The sword, being metal, would probably be the color of the flames.

:D
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: webstar on March 25, 2008, 12:17:02 am
you could use a little less colors
check the shadows from the fire
maybe u could check some magical swords on google

anyways its a GREAT pixel art ;D
Title: Re: w.i.p dragon and warrior scene - Update 23rd march
Post by: Terley on March 25, 2008, 09:34:03 pm
Thanks for the comments guys really aprechiate your perspectives on this.

This is actually really playing with my head to be honest, Im going against what I would usually do. Mostly because its a request I don't have much room for change, I have to now make the dragon black. And the cape red with gold trimmings, which in my opinion will make the character a bit too samely considering he's going to be red, red and pink skin. It'll be a challenge in itself making the black of the dragon fade into the fire. Oh the stoney floor was supposed to be greyish.

I'll come back with a totally new palette, I may need help with this  :-[

(Prepares for a disaster  :blind:)