Snazzy little RPG pixel dude

[Enichan]

First, THE PICTURE.



Second. HELLO PIXELATION!

I am back, again, and hopefully for more than *checks* two posts this time. I'm sure nobody remembers me, but that's okay.

Anyhow, plx C&C. I may add AAing at a later date. Actual AA (but still hand placed) depending on wether the project this is for can actually do such alphablending, and wether I think it's too much of a chore or not!

Though I must warn in advance, crits about the solid color outline and/or lack of selout won't be met with a lot of enthusiasm. This is the first of a series of stuff I'm going to be making for an actual game and I'd like to shave off the extra hours per frame. Plus I think this toonish style is kinda spiffy in it's own way. Will not be changing these, I am stubborn. Yes.

I'm still undecided wether to keep his suit the color it is, or wether his hair. I think the colors are a bit too samey as it stands. Maybe I'll make him a fiesty redhead.

Took about an hour and 15 minutes.

MO: Sketched up the basic outline in photoshop on tablet (about 5 minutes), traced over with dark clean lines (about 5-10 minutes), imported into Paint Shop Pro (5, ancient, but it gets the job done), resized using bilinear filtering. Traced outline with black (also 5 minute-ish), then filling in color from the head downwards. (bulk of the time spent was on the damn collar)


Current:

[Gil]

I'd give the skin tones some more saturation, but then again, I'm a saturation lover.

I'm sure nobody remembers me, but that's okay.

We do remember you and it's an honor to have you back! Welcome!

[Ryuria]

The shading on the hair is kind of wierd. You can probably make it smoother. Other than that. I love it.

[Enichan]

Yay! I'm remembered. I have to admit I took a long hiatus from pixel art there for a while, trying to improve my general art (which I kinda sorta did up to a point, I think this piece shows a firmer understanding than my older ones) and even dabbling in the blasphemy that is 3d work. Though modelling didn't really do it for me, and animating was hell. I think I'll stick to art, pixel art, and texturing.

And I'm glad to be back. Pixelation somehow always feels like home to me.

Also on the saturation, wouldn't more of it on the skin tones make him look kind of jaundiced and unhealthy?

EDIT: On the hair, good point. I'll see about cleaning that up a little if I find the time.

[Godslayer]

His right leg is at an unnatural (though technically not impossible) angle for such a relaxed, hands in pockets tone the piece has.

[Pawige]

I think Gil's right. More saturation in the skin would be good. I'd say he looks a bit unhealthy and pale at the moment. I'd try cranking the sat almost all the way up and make the lightest skin tone a bit redder.

[Andy Tran]

 That's a cool sprite you made there. The shading overall is good for an anime style character. He reminds of me Dai-chan aka DA or Daisuke Asakura.

[Enichan]

Well I cleaned up the hair, reflected in original post (also below). I looked at the leg and posed around myself for a bit, and as near as I can tell that's the typical "look how badassed I am in my spiffy suit" pose guys like to do.

I also tried to up the saturation on the skin, but I'm not very partial to it. Then again I like lower saturation as a rule. To me even with the relatively slight change he looks jaundiced.

Cleaned up version left, cleaned up with higher saturation right.

[Gil]

Actually no, that's a lot better. If it were me, I'd add even more, but it's pretty good already. Desaturated he just looks like he's going to take a chunk out of your brain...

[Enichan]

I suppose I'll go with that then, though I'm still not seeing it. @_@ of course, that's not too odd considering the desaturated version has already gotten too "familiar" to my eye. Updated original post to reflect changes.

[Pawige]

This is what I would suggest. Redder and full sat on the lightest.

[Enichan]

Pawige, that's definately too much for my delicate sensibilities. The saturation, it hurts and stings! But I'll keep it where it was.

However, after seeing this image:


I felt the urgent need to BREAK OUT. Break out of the outline, that is. I've always admired that whole semi-outlineless style, and I just can't bloody figure it out. That 1 pixel can do so much for a piece, too. Well, here's the rather sloppy edit I made of the original that has this outlineless style. I don't think it quite works, but  then I don't think I quite know what I'm doing, so that fits.

Old - New

[Andy Tran]

 That's really good Pawige. Red skintone hehe.

[Froli]

Hi enichan! This is a very nice piece you made, but I noticed some "small" perspective issues, so i made some fast fixes. I hope you don't mind, at least it will give you some idea for adjustments



I hope this helps

[Elk]

using no outlines has a good reason :O
it takes too long

i like that sprite you made ^^
the head somehow looks like inuyasha xD

[Enichan]

Hi enichan! This is a very nice piece you made, but I noticed some "small" perspective issues, so i made some fast fixes. I hope you don't mind, at least it will give you some idea for adjustments



I hope this helps

I like what you did with the collar on the right side, actually. Trying to get that to look right has been a pain.

[VictorR]

I like it, outfit looks like a schoool uniform..the skins a little pale but no biggy..love the hair

[Werewolf]

It's good, but since I'm not a great pixel artist I can't really say anything, but as a regular person/gamer the face doesn't match the body. Regardless of the style, put some distance between the eyes and the mouth.