[WIP] Full body Leather Armor

[chigsam]

Ok lets see:

AdamAtomic: No dithering for right now, maybe never on this piece; different background color; good shape of the guy?

Faceless: different texture

LotekK: change th shape of the head

is that all? i think i got everything, one question! is hard leather different from leather clothing?

Ok i got all of it done but the leather texture. i cant figure out how to make it look like it 

[Zero]

Still looks flat, plus it's too skinny now. You should redo the facial features as well, something more like what LoTekK suggested, or the masks in Faceless's ref pics, depending on which direction you want this to go in.

By the way, that background is still too light.

[Faceless]

I wasn't only talking about texture.
I was talking about design and form too.
That's why I was telling you to look at the shapes.

[LoTekK]

I can't really tell how much you actually read, based on your last post.

You've changed the overall shape of the thing, yes. You've also gotten rid of the dithering. However, you've kept exactly the same lighting as in your initial attempt. This means the forms are still flat, shapeless, there's no volume. Go back to basics. Forget the texture. Excise completely the idea of attempting a texture, until you've gotten at least a basic understanding of lighting and how form affects it.



edit: Yet again, my slow posting betrays me. >_<
Yes, the background is too bright. It's still at 100% brightness. Use a background of about 50ish percent brightness. And please, read and absorb the advice and suggestions on offer here.

[chigsam]

i didnt redo the lighting i know. i was planning on it after i got the had shape done so i wouldnt have to redo both. any examples on a good looking head? LotekK i saw yours but its still pretty round 

[LoTekK]

any examples on a good looking head?

This may be crazy-talk, but try a mirror. Or Google. Primarily, use some initiative. Don't expect to be handed everything on a silver platter. Do some research, find out what you can, experiment with the pieces.

LotekK i saw yours but its still pretty round

See my comment above about not expecting everything to be handed to you on a silver platter.

[bengo]

Here's that edit I promised:

I made two different ones, I was just trying to show how a bit of a color difference can change the feel of it completely. There are two light sources, one is coming from the top left, the other is bottom right(It would probably a light or candle of some sort thats making the light source), I mainly did this to make it a bit more interesting, so it doesn't look so bland. Now notice, they look gray but they aren't a true gray, in fact, the top one is full of blue and bottom is full of purple, once again, this makes it more interesting. Also notice how the lines get brighter as it gets closer to the light source aka the whole object gets brighter, this is to help the lines not be so harsh and of course, to make it look more interesting. Also added more contrast, didn't clean up the lines though I'd recommend you do, oh right, almost forgot, I also added straps so people will know that it's a mask(unless it's like, one of those masks that you know... don't use straps, you just put it right over your entire head).

[ndchristie]

just as a comment on ben's edit, i think it falls into one of the traps that many things do of having two ill-concieved lightsources rather than a single light source well realized.  It also adds a lot of noise which will only muck up the piece.  what this piece needs is not additional mess, but a complete reevaluation of the light and forms, with particular notice taken of volumes and the percieved shapes created by individual colors and values.

As far as the mask itself, i am concerned about where the person would see and draw breath from, assuming that most people need to do these things.  In addition, many masks seek to add character rather than remove it entirely. here are some ideas for masks that might suit a warrior better:

http://www.providenceacademy.org/images/art/Romanmask.gif
http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/10600/10697/mask_10697_lg.gif
http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/401778/2/istockphoto_401778_hindu_mask_isolated.jpg
http://www.japanese-helmets.com/dscn3526.jpg
http://www.japanese-armor.com/images/products/2088-gt.jpg
http://www.hamillgallery.com/GUERE/Guere13.JPG
http://www.carolinaarts.com/702ncma7.jpeg

When designing anytihng, it is a good thing to remember that people who fight for themselves (professional soldiers do not count, as they wear what they are given), live and die by the armor they wear, and that from the poorest tartanclad and painted peasant to the wealthiest gilded nobility, great pains are taken to ensure that character is always a part of their ensemble.

[chigsam]

ya i see where your going with this adarias but if i did something like those links then i would have to change the topic name and then FLying plate would start all over again 

[LoTekK]

ya i see where your going with this helm but if i did something like those links then i would have to change the topic name and then FLying plate would start all over again 

You really aren't getting the point. He's suggesting you get ideas and inspiration from those references.

Besides which, changing directions is perfectly acceptable. What was unpalatable about your previous thread was your unwilligness/inability to accept critique.