rpg type sprites - match style

[sharprm]

The first two images are not mine. It relates to a RPG project in PAID section. Even though I'm too late for the job, I wanted to do some sprites as practice. I also wanted to try to match someone else's style, since that is what is necessary if you work on a big project. I didn't match in the end that well, I want to do it my way too much i think. But crit away please tell me how to improve them. I wanted to break away from using black outlines everywhere, do u think the current outline system works?

They are Mono-Cyclops, Hooker and Pirat.

[ndchristie]

do u think the current outline system works?

Nope!

In fact, it's the only real issue with your sprites, which are otherwise quite nice.

it's ok to break single-colored single-pixelled outlines as long as you continue to have contours.  Because your black is SO MUCH DARKER and your next darkest so much a midtone it's completely negligible, all you get is strange little spots of blacks and then blurry rest of things.

EDIT: why does the same palette work for them? it's local contrast.  they only use that midtone as a line color when it is butted up against by a color which is significantly brighter, so that the darkness of the midtone is still activated and it appears darker by comparison.

[Mirre]

OMG! Those are my sprites *rofl*

[sharprm]

Thanks for the crit Adarias - I changed the outlines to be a bit darker.

Mirre - would you still use those white squares if you had to do the sprites again?

[Jad]

Needs more space between eyes to match cuteness style.

You can't have a cute-eyes-style old man matched up with a close-eyes-westernish girl. It doesn't make sense in CUTE ANIME GRAPHICS WORLD !!

[ndchristie]

Mirre - would you still use those white squares if you had to do the sprites again?

considering how much better her sprites read than yours, largely because of the use of smart contrast and forms, id be surprised and annoyed if she didn't.

You and I have the same trouble sharp, trying to make good art (in the traditional sense, with anatomy, complex light, fine detail...) in pixel restrictions.  it doesn't work unless one is MUCH better than myself or you (and there are always compromises).  you have to make good pixel art in addition to good art-art and thats where it's falling short for these pieces.

[sharprm]

Adarias - Yeah, I do think her sprites look good even if she rofl looking at them.  But having squares in pixel art seems like a bad idea to me. Its like drawing attention to the fact they are pixelled. Cyclops on bottom is a little more simplified, seems nicer to look at to me, so yeah, maybe should make
the small sprites more cartoony. Save the muscles for a big boss enemy.

Jad - the hooker on bottom row has eyes that match better i think - thanks for suggestion.

The new guy is flamethrower. think i need some more work and colors on the fire, that was a bit rushed. And he needs four fingers on his glove 

Dont know how the white square got screwed, I'm running deluxe paint animation in dosbox and then converting later. Its the converting program
doing it when i paste from new image.

[Jad]

Haha, the fireethrower at the bottom is totally my sprite with arms. Big lols :]

Bottom cyclops with some eyeball whiteness would be nice O: I don't think it'd be too cute, I think it'd be creepy = good.

Eyes are lots better with more spacing. It's not the SAME style as the dwarf (but that'd almost require you to use the dwarf's head as template.)

Anyways, looking better and better :] keep it up, bro!

[sharprm]

Jad - thanks for compliments. I know I said matching style - but I'd just feel dirty if I copied Mirre's way of drawing exactly becuase I like my own way too much.

I don't know, has anyone ever had to take over a project someone else started working on. Is making graphics to look like they were done by the same
person a good goal to have in that situation?

New guys- Santa Claws and Indianappleis.

[eck]

i personally think that being able to streach out of your comfort zone is an important skill to have, irrelivent of the 'style'. 

as for critique, i must admit you havent really followed mirre's style at all.  some things to note are

1: the facial features (no white in eyes, noses are visible, ears are large, etc).  take note of which features are included and exagerated.  the dued with the hammer has large ears, nose, and 2-pixel eyes.  your girl has larger eyes, a fatter face, almost invisible ears, no nose, etc...

2: the shading.  mirre uses very few colors to shade. it seems to me as she generally uses a close-to-black tone + pure black to ouline, and only 1-2 shades to actually detail.  your santa has at least 6 colors on his stomach alone. 

3: the outline.  mirre uses sel-out, but at a lot lower of a degree then you are.  one thing that really doesnt appeal to me about your sprites is the contrasty inconsistancy of the outline because the selout forces it into forms, and then the forms loose shape when the outline gets to light (if im making any sence at all...)

there are other things too, im sure you can pinpoint them yourself. 
if i get bored enough, ill try an edit on your girl (she really sticks out [in a  bad way] to me)

hope i was some help.