AuthorTopic: GR#075 - Warrior - Anatomy  (Read 11562 times)

Offline Stickgag

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GR#075 - Warrior - Anatomy

on: October 28, 2011, 07:49:59 pm
Hey!

So I'm interning at a games company at the moment, and the art is pixel art.

So for a few weeks I've been practising, reading up on tutorials and all that jazz, and so I decided to try and put my skills so far to use.

http://stickgag.deviantart.com/ Is my deviant art site. One of the pieces I put up there is "Nameless... for now." Mostly because I never named it. Reason I gave ya my link isn't for advertising. it's because I did a pixel version of nameless.



If you can't see it, it's also on the site there. Just right click the pic to view ti by itself.

I think it's 200x200. I edited some things from the hand drawn version as you may see or read on the site.

I need critique as it will helpe me improve at my job!

Thanks for the consideration

Offline mondomaniatrics

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #1 on: October 28, 2011, 09:21:51 pm
Your composition needs work. The character looks like he's/she's tipping backward. The shading on the legs looks too cylindrical. If the wind it blowing the cape, why is the hair stiff and why is the ribbon on the spear motionless? The color is desaturated and needs more contrast.

Offline pistachio

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #2 on: October 28, 2011, 11:02:14 pm
What's the style you're going for? Realistic? While faded colors do contribute to a more realistic look, that isn't all there is to it.

Looking at the original, non-pixelled version, the stronger values are of much better choice.

Underneath all those garments, the piece does not seem to have much foundation. This leads to the look of a paper-cut out in which the limbs are flat and cylindrical, and the pose is stiff. More knowledge of basic construction may be needed.

When making a serious character design, using reference is generally advised. Not necessarily strictly from reality, however. For example, a viking's costume or knight's armor from a video game might be more exaggerated and suited to your needs, or a well-designed creature that doesn't exist in reality would be a good point of reference for the same reason. Still, it's not to say I don't recommend using real things for reference, of course.

If it helps I could make an edit.
« Last Edit: October 29, 2011, 09:53:27 pm by pistachio »

Offline Stickgag

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #3 on: October 31, 2011, 03:30:03 pm
Alright then!

I'm glad you guys replied and took this very seriously!

I gotta admit I was pretty shocked by this critique, never had this much thrown at me all at once. But I did ask for all of this. When I come back to work on Tuesday, I'll definitely make some changes.

I do have to agree the shading looks too cylindrical. The fact the hair and the ribbon doesn't blow with the cape doesn't make sense now that I think about it, and I'm starting to see how 'fake' the character seems so to speak.

Not sure how I can make it look less 'paper' like. I am a newbie at this sort of thing, so my shading rather poor. If you take a closer look, I tried to use some dithering on the chest plate, but then I gave up with dithering and just did boring old shading on everything else.

There isn't a particular style I have. Seeing as the resolution on this pic was 72, and the size is 200x200, I can hardly imagine a drawing like this being 'realistic'. This is a fantasy sorta themed drawing. Also to make this more fun, you guys can make some edits if you like, I'll even allow you guys to name this character :)

Thanks for the advice, I'll do some work on it as soon as I can!

Offline coffee

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #4 on: November 01, 2011, 08:18:05 am
I wouldnt recommend using dithering on a surface that
You want to look metallic. What i would recommend you to Do , is
To have a peek at some materials irl and go from there.

Offline Elk

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #5 on: November 01, 2011, 02:40:39 pm
There isn't a particular style I have. Seeing as the resolution on this pic was 72, and the size is 200x200, I can hardly imagine a drawing like this being 'realistic'. This is a fantasy sorta themed drawing. Also to make this more fun, you guys can make some edits if you like, I'll even allow you guys to name this character :)

Thanks for the advice, I'll do some work on it as soon as I can!

Alright, usually, when pixeling, I don't draw out the references because I already have a picture in my mind... so what I did here, was just drawing a concept of a contrastful and proportional Knight/Hunter to show the fundamentals, also with a skeleton on the original sprite to showcase some minor errors...

Point 1. shows that the overall sprite is leaning a little back, that doesn't quite ensure the idle state he's supposed to be in so I rotated the overall statue accordingly so it has a stable stance! As you can see, the legs were a little too long (can tell by looking at the original sprite aswell), otherwise, the fundamental skeleton you have, is quite nice! Just little changes here and there like misplacement of thorso and so on.

At 2., I placed the original sprite, to show the differences between all the changes!

And yeah, there isn't much more to it... what I did at 3a, is overpaint on the skeleton modeling the final character with the specific colors it should have, starting with a base color and later on defining the shadows...that's what we do, we work with light and darkness to define shape! That is why your sprite looked so paper-like, as you said it.
Also did I change the scarf, the wind compared to the spears little clothing, was contradicting, so I chose the non-windy version, because it would just enhance the idle stance itself.

So far for the conceptual things. The actual pixeling that should occur right at the beginning, with the concept already in mind to save time, starts now. Since we have the concept, we can set up the palette, and draw what we see henceforth! The result should be somewhat resemble the concept that is in mind... applied with the specific techniques (As for myself, I refrain to use dithering techniques, except I have no other choice, instead, I apply alot of AA with accordance so it is sharp but still smooth.)

Last but not least, what I used to create this, was simply my Tablet and Photoshop... the latter is not really required to create an output better than the actual shrinked concept.

I hope this helped somewhat... If you have any more questions, just shoot


Last advice I give, have the guts for brutal change, try abstract colorcombinations and create depth!
« Last Edit: November 01, 2011, 02:44:11 pm by Elk »
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Offline Stickgag

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #6 on: November 01, 2011, 03:15:53 pm
I just want to say thank you to all of your advice!

You have a very good point Elk, and your right. I usually don't start with a reference as I allow my imagination to provide. I tend to draw legs a bit too long, proportion has never really been my cup of tea. From what I've been reading, I should definitely be studying some irl stuff for reference if I'm to really get into pixel art.

My shading definitely needs work as well. I've learned in pixel art that highlighting can be just as important as shadowing, so I'll immediately start working on that.

You guys were right about the scarf... not sure why I made it blow in the wind whilst everythign else is still. Guess it's a habit of mine when I do cloak/cape/scarf stuff like this.

Just letting you guys know I am using Photoshop and a tablet.

Lastly I'd just liek to ask if theres any tutorials or tips you guys can provide. I have been reading on a fairly large list of different tutorials for isometrics, shading, dithering, just pixel art in general, but if you guys know of any sites/tutorials that helped you start or just generally really good for beginners like myself, that'd be awesome!

btw great concept art, has way more character than mine. I'm not going to limit my stuff too much just because I'm going to pixel art it.

But everyone else thank you for the tips! I'll definitley put these into use, and if I have any future pixel art work, I'll definitely post it here for advice :)
« Last Edit: November 01, 2011, 03:27:43 pm by Stickgag »

Offline Stickgag

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #7 on: November 02, 2011, 07:06:01 pm
I roughly redid it trying to follow everyone's advice. Because it's 'roughly' done, it isn't TRUE pixel art, now is it? I will actually put effort into it when I know I'm on the right track.

Heres the original for comparison.

I changed the cape. Removed the dithering. Tried to make the values stronger, but adding more highlights and shading. Changed the length of the leg. That is unfortunately all I was able to do, and I still feel something is off there. I just wish I wasn't so blind to these kind of things.

Just let me know if I've either fixed my mistakes, or produced more. Thanks in advance!

PS The highlight on the chestplate is too big. I know. But anything else?

Offline Elk

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #8 on: November 02, 2011, 07:20:47 pm
It will always be pixelart, right from the start, as long as you use no brushes and filters and whatever effects there might be... if you do it with the pencil dool with whatever size it might be and a solid color, it is pixelart :)!
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Offline Stickgag

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Re: Nameless Pixel Art

Reply #9 on: November 02, 2011, 07:25:29 pm
Haha Elk I showed everyone at the office what you posted and everyone was in awe XD

When I looked at that post, at first i figured... screw it he pretty much made it 200% better. But then all that work would have been for nothing, espiecially your work.

Plus I always wanted to be a game designer, and at some point be able to draw out my ideas, and have someone twice as better as I am draw it out conceptually and make it look way nicer. It was a good boost of motivation!

I'm in this office for 3 months. By the time I'm done, I hope I'll be an experienced pixel artist at the very least XD