GR#220 - John Mueller's Oink - Sprite Process

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Hi guys. Recently I've read John Mueller's comic Oink(old version from '95) and I had to create some pixel tribute art.



I've used 11 colors for this (7 for character and 4 for background), and it was very interesting to work with low color count. I don't want to exactly replicate my reference that's why I've chose this palette.

Reference->Spoiler

It's still work in progress but I would like to hear some comments about the palette (cause this was the first time I've pay attention to this aspect, usually I just pick the colors that fit ), and what do you think about creating flag texture for background (wrinkles and stuff) and do you have any advice for that. Background colors are random shades of orange/red, I just didn't want plain red.

Thank you for reading, and every comment is appreciated.

[rikfuzz]

Looks great so far.  (Would personally make sure each segment of the background graphic is symmetrical.  I don't know why, but something as precise as pixels really highlights anything weird on geometric stuff.  I'm sure a normal human would not notice so feel free to ignore). 

As for the palette, the very saturated dark crimson shadow is quite a departure from the original and the whole piece is kind of a lot warmer and more vibrant.  Which is fine, nothing wrong with it, I generally use similar colours too.  You definitely lose the big hue contrast though in this piece though.  You're also adding competing shapes in the background by breaking the flag into 3 distinct clusters.  So in effect a red shape ontop of 3 red shapes, rather than a blue shape ontop of a red shape.  (Obviously a lot more subtle than I've described it, but something to consider!) 

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Thanks for the comment. I should be more precise at the beginning (my bad), background is still not decided this is just place holder.

Originally I planned to use dithering to blend this background colors, but then I thought maybe a flag would have more impact. The current background is nether of these two. I was asking what do you think about flag concept (which would involved changing the shape of the white sign to match the wrinkles) and do you have any advice on how to make it with this few colors. I was concerned that it would be too much. About the white symbol I agree that it's not clean, I just put two circles and three stripes in PS just to have something, I'll clean it.

You are right about hue contrast loss, maybe I should desaturate background and maybe change its color a bit to achieve it again (cause I like the current character colors). This way character would be more dominant.

Two versions:


EDIT: Maybe the second one is better after all.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Here is the update:


I experimented a bit, and I want to know what do you guys think, can I get away with this or it's not appropriate and too distracting:

[Tijjer]

Here is the update:


I experimented a bit, and I want to know what do you guys think, can I get away with this or it's not appropriate and too distracting:

I find it a little distracting, also I'm I reading it as a flag? 

[Mr. Fahrenheit]

It'd be cool if the shape of the symbol was distorted with the folds of the flag, but do whatever you want. It looks cool either way I'd say.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

@Tijjer Then it's good, it's suppose to be a flag.

@Mr. Fahrenheit If you look closer you will see that it's distorted a bit, but if you didn't saw that at first glance, that means that I need to distort it more.

[BrightBit]

It's really good looking and I wouldn't distort it more. Keep up the good work!

[HarveyDentMustDie]

@BrightBit Thanks.

Here is another update, I've clean the flag, distorted white sign a bit more (later maybe I'll add some AA and clean it), and worked on some other parts.

[cels]

Too bad you stopped at this stage, this looks ready to submit to the PJ gallery, if you were so inclined.

My opinion:

- I prefer the colours in your first post. Especially with the relatively busy background. It's a bit late to say now, but I also preferred the clean background without ripples, without having seen the reference. But if you're using the flag, I think this makes it even more important to make the character pop.
- Readability is particularly low around the face, I think. Maybe it's not a problem for people who are familiar with the character, but for me it took a while to appreciate just what I was looking at. This was also better in the original, maybe because the face had slightly less shadow and more constrast.
- I think the axe hand looks different from the rest. There's a dark outline around the axe hilt and the right hand.
- The chain links don't look connected, they just look like circles touching each other. I don't know if I can explain this properly without doing an edit, but each link hole shouldn't appear as a circle, because that hole is also partially filled by the two closest links.

Hope this helps. Finish this

[HarveyDentMustDie]

@cels I didn't stop, it's just on pause. It's not too late for changes cause I keep background elements on separate layers.

I've added the flag just to break a bit from the reference.

You are right about axe hand, that was mainly because I was trying to emulate shadow more than it's required.

 I know the form of chain, but if I add 2 more pixels for each ling there be no more gap inside of the ring. To achieve right chain visual effect I would have to increase it's size, which wouldn't be appropriate. If you know the solution be my guest.

Also I'm experimenting with ditering in the flag (maybe it will improve the piece, maybe it will just add more bad noise), currently I'm not satisfied, but if someone have useful ideas I would be appreciated.

Here is example based on cels critique:

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Do you guys think that I should continue ditering on the flag (mostly just lower left part is done) or it's to distracting and blurry?
And do you maybe have some advice how this could be done better? This is my first time, and it looked much easier than it is. 

[YellowLime]

Sorry, but I'm also going to complain about the flag background  :
I think it makes the piece lose the dynamism it had when the background was 'plain', since the flag (being some
flimsy piece of fabric, like them all ) is totally unaffected and detached from all the action going on at the foreground.

If you are going to keep the flag, the latest incarnation looks the best to me (I guess since it's more subtle)

I would ripple the flag to suggest it's being affected by the jump of the character in the foreground,
but I guess that it might be too hard to do now, to be worth it

[Daimoth]

I would have agreed with you until Harvey's most recent edit. Perfect.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Since this is nearly done, I'm not give up on it so easily. Here is small update. I'm loosing most of my time cleaning out details and I still didn't finished damn flag. Every comment is appreciated.



Also if someone is interested to see progress from first sketch up to now here:

[Daimoth]

The skin looked better desaturated, but it looks more porcine saturated. Hrm.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Thanks for the comment. Personally I think that saturated version makes it more distinct, and after all he is the main element here.

I'm looking for a subtle and clean way to dither the flag. I never use dithering before and somehow I was never big fan of it (except if it's done magnificently good), but I think that it fit this purpose, and it's a new experience.

I'll try some stylized dithering and see how it goes (honestly I'm not sure it will work).



Also I'm open for any suggestions.

Edit:

I think that stylized dithering doesn't help here cause resolution isn't very big. (Lower left part of image)
What do you guys think?

[Kosvid]

I think stylized dithering is excess here. It looks more like noise and attracts too much attention.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

Another try, it looks a bit cleaner but not very blended.

[Daimoth]

I liked the first dithering attempt. I think if you tweaked it a little bit it could parse as grimeyness, which would really mesh with a humanoid pig.

[tim]

Another try, it looks a bit cleaner but not very blended.

Wow the vertical dithering is really interesting, clever idea.

[9_6]

Another try, it looks a bit cleaner but not very blended.

You can use this method if you need to cover large areas with smooth dithering transitions.
It gets the legwork done for you so you can focus on the image.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

@ tim Thanks, I was desperately looking for way to finish this flag and to be personally satisfied with result.

@9_6 Thanks for a suggestion, I've read this article before (I have it in my bookmarks ). It's very useful technique but when you've suggested it I've already finish most of the background. So I'll maybe use it next time. Also thanks for edit, it's nice to see different options on one place.

Here is the current version. I'll clean some details on Oink and call this done. It lasted waaaay too long.

[Mathias]

What if you ditched the flag and did a slightly textured damaged plaster wall?

[HarveyDentMustDie]

@Mathias Considering how much time I've waste on this flag trying to figure out best solution, it would be hard defeat.  Maybe I was too ambitious at the beginning when I didn't want to settle with plain red background with cog sign, but now I just want to finish this.

[HarveyDentMustDie]

After long time, here's another update. I've decided to change his ears, thing that hanged of pistol handle and I tweaked colors and anatomy a bit (left shoulder is still a problem).
All comments are welcomed.



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The finished version of this artwork: