GR#223 - Improving my Spooky Ghost - Scenery Process & Animation

[Lakelezz]

It's a totally valid idea. So was the other one. It's a judgment call, man.

Yes, you are right of course. I am just a little undecided and confused.

While not bad, I don't think it brings anything to the piece.
A patch of pavement poorly lit by an antique lamp post, lost in spooky darkness is all you need to fire anyone's imagination

Maybe that is why I always felt weird about background stuff used here.
I will probably do it like that.
Do you or somebody have any idea for the fog animation? I tried it multiple times now but it never feels like fog.
One of my last ideas is something similar like Mathias did but just lowering the movement and removing some stuff here and there.
I have done quite some researches on the internet about animated fog and mist but sadly could not find neither appealing pixel art nor usable fog-movement-patterns.

To prevent you from clicking back to page 2, take this shortcut to Mathias' edit:

[Mathias]

K, here we go.
Some fog. First try. Using same Photoshop tricks.   PIXELART.HACK=YES
Would be better if I'd used two different fog textures moving in opposite directions, but used only one in this version:



1x

Ghosty peeps are transparent. Less solid. More ethereal.
Movement everywhere brings the scene to life better.
Fog doesn't read as fog very well. More like random vapors.


With spooky light flicker:
Spoiler

1x

#DATFESSLER

[Fizzick]

Mathias, I'd really like to know how you're pulling these tricks off. I've got to do a lot of environment art for a project and a few fancy tricks would go a long way! 

[Mathias]

Absolutely.
Hopefully, you're already proficient with Photoshop. It's 100% Photoshop techniques.

Have you seen Dan's HD Index Painting in Photoshop thread yet? All credit to him, for this stuff. It'll explain how I'm doing it.
Head on over there and see if you can't figure it out. Post in that thread if you have any trouble. I'll try and help if need be.


*EDIT  (trying not to hijack thread)

I figure you were using index painting. I was more interested in the way you did the fog, and especially that slidey water in the background.

As for the water animation effect, I tried to explain it here (hit spoiler tag at bottom of post).
Start a new thread in Animation if you want to discuss it further. Better than PM, since others can get benefit from it as well.

[Fizzick]

I figure you were using index painting. I was more interested in the way you did the fog, and especially that slidey water in the background.

[Lakelezz]

Hmmm, I really think that the fog is too fast but that is rather something to test than the main problem.
However the fog almost disappears on the pavement - creating just some random noises, in my opinion.
Though this could be probably fixed by using different colours for the fog and lowering the level of the layer of the pavement highlights.

Is there specific internet source where you can find different moving patterns?
Also what do you mean by "ghosty peeps"?

Sadly I cannot use the HD Index Painting by Dan.

As a result I think I have to go without fog animation. Additionally I could not even find another pixel piece using animated fog to get a proper reference 

[Manupix]

Pixelling fog is fogging difficult, as evidenced by this challenge. Animating fog must be hellish.
Also you don't see fog move a lot at small scales IRL; don't be fooled by movies (they use dry ice).

For what it's worth, my fave fog pixel; Skeddles' fave fog pixel 

[Lakelezz]

You are right, Manupix. I just thought that moving fog is scarier than static one 
Specially because most people imagine fog like moving due the movie dry ice influence.

Thanks for your help. It made a lot clearer for me in terms of animation to keep on working.
I might just add some small movement around the fog, like some "glowing".

[Lakelezz]

Ok, I tried to animate it:



My feelings are twisted.
First of all, yes the girl mouth is supposed to freak out like that.
However I think that they should rather not have an animated jaw. Rather just still standing.

I tried something with the flies at the lantern. I guess their movement is too fast? Should I remove them?

Edit: Made the animation of the girl's mouth smoother.
By the way, I am afraid that the flickering is no good idea. It might be frightening but it can be quite annoying for the viewer.

[Lakelezz]

This is my current version:



It is not done, yet. For example the shadow of the girl is actually twitching around, which is meant to be fixed of course.
Somehow I still like the idea of making the shadows a little bit more dynamic, due the light source wont be constant on it's light level for sure.