Whew, that's a lot of stuff...

Personally, I don't think it's a big deal if you use photoshop for a few short cuts. Though, this IS a sprite forum, pixel forum really, so I'm sure there's going to be some people who will. Oh, also, I think it'd help if you divide up your tiles so we can see them better.

I do like the hand drawn style that the tree gives off though. (As well as some of the other stuff that gives off that feel).

Ah, but if you still want to go with that door, I suggest you make the door knob... not flat while it turns.

Really, I'd recomend just getting a Wacom pad, and drawing all the stuff that way. It's really not a pixel game right now anyhow, might as well just go with a literal hand drawn look.

But I guess that guy should probably be a sprite... could be one anyhow. What kind of style are you going for? It feels like this stuff is kinda like what a story book would be like. (Yoshi's Island for example). It's hard to say how to change Tom, because I don't know what style you're going for... I'd say it wouldn't hurt to add some folds in his clothes though, or at least use some basic pixel techniques. Such as, AA and Sel-out. (Dithering could work for this, but could make animating a little harder).

In any case, it seems important to point out that his upper body is facing use head on, while his legs are at about a 3/4 view. Personally, I like the 3/4 view, so I think you should turn his upper body. And usually, HIS right foot is pointed at the screen more.

Clearly you're going for a cartoony look. I think this tutorial might give you some better ideas:

http://www.karmatoons.com/drawing/drawing.htm

This is a cool tut I found one day. I think it's a better approach to cartoons than what you've got right now.


(And as I was about to post, pkmays posts an awesome critique).

baccman: Thanks for understanding where I'm coming from.

Helm: Whoo! FTW! Nice idea! Thanks for taking the time to draw that! As soon as I saw it I started to modify my sprite... Then Mirre posted right when I was about to post.

Mirre: Whoo! Also FTW! I also noticed the crossed-eyed nipples that Adarias pointed out, but I think I've seen paintings and things where they look like that... Like you said in your next post, it's pretty subjective.

I also agree with what baccman said in his last post. (Congrats on the baby BTW. ) I see Helm's as something closer to something I'd see in a comic book, while Mirre's seems more womanly.

Either way, since I did both, I'll post both:



The top is my take on Helm's fixes, and the bottom is my take on Mirre's. I like Mirre's a bit better because she still looks thin, but doesn't look TOO thin. (Though, on either of them, I'd wager I have to tweak the nipples a bit. Actually, I'm sure of it, so I'll go tweak them after I finish posting this...) I also adjusted her hair to be about neck length; I really only did that because I don't want a dark hair-colored spot near her arm pit. I also turned her head and gave her a toothy smile. (It's pretty exaggerated though). I'm sure I'll tweak the head more too.

C+C?


EDIT: Tweaked the nipples, hair, and an eyelash:

Helm: I'm not trying to fight critique, I think I'm just not getting how gravity should effect the boobs.

Thanks for all the crit though! I tried to address it all. Though, I don't really understand why working on a while background is bad. I suppose it could skew how some of your colors look, but other than that I don't see the harm, so why is it bad?

Anyhow, since you mentioned it, I put it on a dark blue this time.


And I was about to post what I had, then baccaman posted.

baccaman: I suppose you could scribble... like some thing very rough. The thing that I don't want to happen is that someone edits it, and makes it pixel perfect. Then when I change it to match, it's pretty much like I didn't do that part, and someone else did.

I thought 8 was a lot, so I moved it Seven pixels over instead. But in doing so, I definitely got more of a feeling that she's got a body, so thanks!



The top one is what I did fallowing what Helm said, but looking more at Adam's link.

The middle one is what I did fallowing what Helm said, while trying to keep Naas's link in mind.

The bottom is what I did fallowing what Helm and Baccaman said, using Adam's link. (As I'm thinking that's what you guys might mean).

I left the hand off the bottom one because I was in a bit of a rush to post it before someone else had something to say. (That way you could crit the new sprite, and not the old one). I'm still gonna add it though.

C+C?

Ah! Thanks for that great article, JJ Naas!




I moved the nipples, and flattened the stomach. I also moved the left breast to quest seeker's suggestion. I think it flows with gravity a little better now.

C+C?

EDIT: Fixed a dent in a boobie.

EDIT 2: Someone suggested I have them hang lower:



Is it better if they hang lower?

EDIT 3: Shaded the right side of her chest more:



Am I going in the right direction yet?

I'm not really sure what, "Hips down" means... but it sounds like you're saying the hips are too big, or that the upper body is too small. So, I made the hips smaller:



I also tried to tweak the boobs, but how exactly should they change? What shape should I aim to? (Please don't say boob-shaped. ) I also moved the arm in, since I think that'll give it more weight... how can I give it more weight?