AuthorTopic: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!  (Read 9346 times)

Offline `Rob

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Hi i've posted a few times around here and especailly noted the valuable advice and edits you have to offer :)

Here's a forum signature in the making, containing two characters, one being a ranger disposing of an enemy located to our right.

However the pose of the victim is causing me somewhat endless frustration, as this signature is for real currency i have to try and keep to the disires of the buyer, who was understandably unhappy with my first attempt at the second character. :yell:
The pose of this guy needs to be as if he's just been hit by an arrow, obviously, but it's annoying as how such a straight foreward pose is causing me such hastle. :-[

Here is the image;




No background is required, only a plain black one, also the buyer requested a more dynamic pose, taking the full force of the arrow and knocking the victim backwards, off of his feet.

Any help is greatly appreciated, in the form of either edits or advice.

   Many thanks, Rob.  ;D

PS. the victim's robes are supposed to be transparent, another feature causing me greif  :crazy:

Offline Kcilc

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #1 on: March 31, 2008, 08:14:05 pm
What's wrong with the guy to the right, is that he has absolutely no motion. The arrow dug into him, but it looks like he blocked all of the force; something that shouldn't happen when the arrow instantly kills. After pretending I was being shot with an arrow and falling back on my bed, I came up with this:

It's very sloppy, but I think it illustrates my point. Note: the hands were placed where they were because I started with my hands in front of my face.

Hope this helps some.

Offline Dusty

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #2 on: March 31, 2008, 08:19:41 pm
Technically he wouldn't be pushed back by any force, as any force distributed to him would also be distributed to the person firing the crossbow. He could fall back, which is what your edit is showing... which is fine and more dramatic, but it wouldn't be because of force... just depends which way he feels like falling when he dies.

Offline Kcilc

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #3 on: March 31, 2008, 08:54:50 pm
Technically he wouldn't be pushed back by any force, as any force distributed to him would also be distributed to the person firing the crossbow.
Commonly known as recoil? there has to be some force, even for the bolt to be able fire.

He could fall back, which is what your edit is showing... which is fine and more dramatic, but it wouldn't be because of force... just depends which way he feels like falling when he dies.
So, you're saying that when we die, we get to think, "hmm I think I want to fall backwards"? I don't get it.

And to stay on topic, I think it's kind of odd to have a bolt in the crossbow, seeing that he had just fired it.

Offline Terley

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #4 on: March 31, 2008, 09:17:33 pm
A bit offtopic but is this a runescape signature?

As far as I know selling signatures through rs was banned like 2 years ago, I should know. I made quite a lot of cash in game, it's actually how I came to start pixelling. Decided to take it a bit more seriously when that ban was put into place.

Not like im concerned for you or anything, I just plain thought everyone just stopped selling signatures. But you're describing sigs as currency, bit surprising is all. Lol.. It's one of the reasons I quit.

Do you have the request, maybe I could be of some help.
« Last Edit: March 31, 2008, 09:22:21 pm by Terley »
I've not got anything interesting to type here..

Offline Dusty

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #5 on: March 31, 2008, 09:41:19 pm
Technically he wouldn't be pushed back by any force, as any force distributed to him would also be distributed to the person firing the crossbow.
Commonly known as recoil? there has to be some force, even for the bolt to be able fire.
Recoil yes, but how much recoil do you get from a crossbow or even a handgun? Not much, at least, not enough to push your body back.

He could fall back, which is what your edit is showing... which is fine and more dramatic, but it wouldn't be because of force... just depends which way he feels like falling when he dies.
So, you're saying that when we die, we get to think, "hmm I think I want to fall backwards"? I don't get it.
You took my words way too literal. I simply meant from a death from a bow, we don't actually fall where we want to, but whichever way physics leads us to fall.

Offline ceddo

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #6 on: March 31, 2008, 09:44:47 pm
A bit offtopic but is this a runescape signature?

As far as I know selling signatures through rs was banned like 2 years ago, I should know. I made quite a lot of cash in game, it's actually how I came to start pixelling. Decided to take it a bit more seriously when that ban was put into place.

Not like im concerned for you or anything, I just plain thought everyone just stopped selling signatures. But you're describing sigs as currency, bit surprising is all. Lol.. It's one of the reasons I quit.

Do you have the request, maybe I could be of some help.

Actually, people still do sell signatures, but not for Runescape money anymore. Now, the currency is USD.

Offline `Rob

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #7 on: March 31, 2008, 10:08:51 pm
Thanks for your advice and especially your edit Kcilc  :), also thanks for your wise words Dusty :p

@Terley, thanks for expressing your implied concern haha, but ye it's for £ not runescape money and that is how to i got into pixel art.

I'll try and get an update ASAP  :y:

Offline tehwexxl0rz

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #8 on: April 01, 2008, 02:52:11 am
Technically he wouldn't be pushed back by any force, as any force distributed to him would also be distributed to the person firing the crossbow. He could fall back, which is what your edit is showing... which is fine and more dramatic, but it wouldn't be because of force... just depends which way he feels like falling when he dies.

This is just wrong. "It wouldn't be because of force?" ALL motion is because of force.  :-\

The kinetic energy of the arrow is transfered to the guy's head on impact. Unless the arrow has already decelerated to a velocity of zero or the guy's head has infinite mass, it accelerates in the direction of the arrow's motion.

Kcilc's edit is very nice. ;D But I think his arms should be drawn further back since he's only fallen a few inches.

Offline Dusty

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #9 on: April 01, 2008, 03:00:08 am
You really are picking apart what I said :P
I meant force of the arrow... and of course the arrow has force and of course the force would be transfered... but it isn't enough to send the guy flying back. It would most likely just knock his head back an inch or so(the same amount of distance of the hand firing the crossbow would recoil) and then he'd fall whichever way fits the scenario. I wasn't trying to get into some huge debate about this as I'm no physics major, just explaining that while the pose is better, it's just like Hollywood... over dramatized for viewing pleasure.

Offline tehwexxl0rz

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #10 on: April 01, 2008, 03:41:56 am
You really are picking apart what I said :P
I meant force of the arrow... and of course the arrow has force and of course the force would be transfered... but it isn't enough to send the guy flying back. It would most likely just knock his head back an inch or so(the same amount of distance of the hand firing the crossbow would recoil) and then he'd fall whichever way fits the scenario. I wasn't trying to get into some huge debate about this as I'm no physics major, just explaining that while the pose is better, it's just like Hollywood... over dramatized for viewing pleasure.

Ah-HAH, well that's very different! :P

Yes, he'd be knocked back with basically the same force as the recoil (a liiittle less because of air drag).

Although the distance would most likely be greater, dependent on the acceleration, because the mass absorbing the force—the guy's head—is presumably less than the mass opposing the force on the other end (ie: the mass of the crossbow, arm, and the shoulder.) It's the same principle as saaaay... a man getting shot with a cannonball. The cannon and the man absorb the same force (ignoring air drag), but the guy probably travels a lot farther. :blind:

Sorry! I don't mean to be obnoxious, I'm just really into physics, haha. Anyway, conceptually you got it, Dusty. Thanks for clarifying. :y:

Offline ndchristie

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #11 on: April 01, 2008, 11:47:47 am
You really are picking apart what I said :P
I meant force of the arrow... and of course the arrow has force and of course the force would be transfered... but it isn't enough to send the guy flying back. It would most likely just knock his head back an inch or so(the same amount of distance of the hand firing the crossbow would recoil) and then he'd fall whichever way fits the scenario. I wasn't trying to get into some huge debate about this as I'm no physics major, just explaining that while the pose is better, it's just like Hollywood... over dramatized for viewing pleasure.


Ah-HAH, well that's very different! :P

Yes, he'd be knocked back with basically the same force as the recoil (a liiittle less because of air drag).

Although the distance would most likely be greater, dependent on the acceleration, because the mass absorbing the force—the guy's head—is presumably less than the mass opposing the force on the other end (ie: the mass of the crossbow, arm, and the shoulder.) It's the same principle as saaaay... a man getting shot with a cannonball. The cannon and the man absorb the same force (ignoring air drag), but the guy probably travels a lot farther. :blind:

Sorry! I don't mean to be obnoxious, I'm just really into physics, haha. Anyway, conceptually you got it, Dusty. Thanks for clarifying. :y:


you can't compare the recoil on a crossbow to the impact, they are completely different forces acting on completely different objects.  the bow action is created by release of tension to start, which is a totally new ball of wax, as the parts which brace the machine are already by default holding in place the maximum amount of force that can be generated - it's all downhill from the draw weight.  Because of this bracing, most bow weapons move forwards when fired, not back, and only with a fraction of the force as most of the actions within the mechanism balance each other out.  It's not unrelated to the force of the arrow in flight, but it's different.

there's no way to know the draw weight or bolt weight on this nonsensical machine he's firing, so there's no way to tell the force of the bolt.  However, we can assume that the bolt has enough force behind it to penetrate the skull, which is enough to knock anybody's head back.
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Offline tehwexxl0rz

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #12 on: April 01, 2008, 07:01:04 pm
you can't compare the recoil on a crossbow to the impact, they are completely different forces acting on completely different objects.  the bow action is created by release of tension to start, which is a totally new ball of wax, as the parts which brace the machine are already by default holding in place the maximum amount of force that can be generated - it's all downhill from the draw weight.  Because of this bracing, most bow weapons move forwards when fired, not back, and only with a fraction of the force as most of the actions within the mechanism balance each other out.  It's not unrelated to the force of the arrow in flight, but it's different.

there's no way to know the draw weight or bolt weight on this nonsensical machine he's firing, so there's no way to tell the force of the bolt.  However, we can assume that the bolt has enough force behind it to penetrate the skull, which is enough to knock anybody's head back.

"you can't compare the recoil on a crossbow to the impact, they are completely different forces acting on completely different objects.
.....
It's not unrelated to the force of the arrow in flight, but it's different"


Contradictory much? Those mechanisms you listed that mostly nullify the recoil account for the mass I mentioned exerting the oppositional force. The thrust of the bolt that they are opposing is the SAME force—ignoring air drag—that the target's head is absorbing. That is how they are related.
Also, we do NOT assume that the force of the bolt's impact is enough to penetrate that skull; we know that as a given of the situation. The assumption is the knockback, which we base on our approximation of the head's mass, it's fixation to it's initial position, and the bolt's velocity.
Also, let it be known that when the bolt is airborne, the only forces acting upon it are downward (gravity) and backward (air drag). The idea that something needs a lingering force to continue carrying it along in a certain direction is archaic and defunct.

Also, let's get back on topic shall we? ;) Sorry, `Rob.

In addition to the target's arms being drawn further back, I agree with Kcilc that there should be no bolt IN the crossbow. Also the lighting seems inconsistent to me on the target.... his face is lit from the front, but his cape is lit from the back.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2008, 07:04:14 pm by tehwexxl0rz »

Offline Dusty

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #13 on: April 01, 2008, 07:13:31 pm
Well I wouldn't say this is really off-topic... no more than discussing anatomy and posture and center of balance. We're merely discussing the best way to determine a pose for the given situation. I will admit though that it may have become a bit too detailed and less helpful.

I don't think the dithering here is working. It just stands out and makes it look really, really rough. The values between the shades is so drastic that the dithering causes them to clash instead of blend. Also, it seems you have no concept of folds and how to construct them and I would practice on that. Particularly on the right guy's sleeve.
« Last Edit: April 01, 2008, 07:16:36 pm by Dusty »

Offline tehwexxl0rz

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #14 on: April 01, 2008, 07:48:38 pm
The less-helpful part was really to what I was referring. :P

I agree that the dithering gives everything a really rough texture, but maybe that's what you're going for? Some dithering is fine, but I think it would look nicer if you toned it down a bit. And yeah, the target's sleeve is a mess. I assumed it was very, very WIP.

Offline sharprm

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #15 on: April 01, 2008, 11:41:15 pm
Don't assume the assasin and wizard have the same pose. Stand with one foot well behind the other. Slap yourself hard on the head. Head goes back abit but you don't fall. Now stand with your feet together. Slap yourself hard on the head. Did you feel like you were going to fall back?

Adarias - your crossbow going forward is surprising, are you sure? I'd say that because the mass of limbs move forward on release, then the entire system needs to move back, so COM is conserved, even without a bolt being fired.
 
'Rob- I would suggest drawing line art only until you are satisfied with the poses. I think you should definiately work on the helmet, it looks
mishapen. The wizard's hat seems too small. I'd remove blood from mouth - would there be enough time between him being in this semi-falling over position and blood to gush out his mouth? Also, was that helmet optional? Something seems weird to me about a guy with a helmet using a crossbow, wouldn't it be hard to see? Kclic's edit is pretty good, I'd suggest studying that. Why is the necklace going up, is there wind or something?
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Offline ndchristie

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #16 on: April 02, 2008, 01:32:43 am
Adarias - your crossbow going forward is surprising, are you sure? I'd say that because the mass of limbs move forward on release, then the entire system needs to move back, so COM is conserved, even without a bolt being fired.

yup, because you don't stop pushing against the strain for a moment after the strain is gone.  try it yourself with a long thin dowel and some string.
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Offline sharprm

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #17 on: April 02, 2008, 03:08:29 am
Adarias - your crossbow going forward is surprising, are you sure? I'd say that because the mass of limbs move forward on release, then the entire system needs to move back, so COM is conserved, even without a bolt being fired.

yup, because you don't stop pushing against the strain for a moment after the strain is gone.  try it yourself with a long thin dowel and some string.

Double sure? What you are describing is valid point for a bow and definately one I'll remember if a draw a bow animation. However, we are discussing a crossbow. As you know, this is a mechanical device where the string is held in its pulled back position by some sort of a locking mechanism. There isn't the same external force acting on the bow as when a human fires a bow. So I still dont believe it'll go forward. The only way to test this is putting a crossbow on a cart and seeing if it rolls back or forward after firing. Alternatively, a bow set up like this would represent what goes on in a crossbow.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/sharprm/crossbow.jpg

I couldn't be stuffed setting up such an experiment, doubt any else would bother, so we'll never know. Looking at crossbow videos on youtube, it looks like there isn't much recoil (forward or back) so its not that important to the picture.

Modern artists are told that they must create something totally original-or risk being called "derivative".They've been indoctrinated with the concept that bad=good.The effect is always the same: Meaningless primitivism
http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/Philosophy/phi

Offline ndchristie

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #18 on: April 02, 2008, 03:18:19 am
Adarias - your crossbow going forward is surprising, are you sure? I'd say that because the mass of limbs move forward on release, then the entire system needs to move back, so COM is conserved, even without a bolt being fired.

yup, because you don't stop pushing against the strain for a moment after the strain is gone.  try it yourself with a long thin dowel and some string.

Double sure? What you are describing is valid point for a bow and definately one I'll remember if a draw a bow animation. However, we are discussing a crossbow. As you know, this is a mechanical device where the string is held in its pulled back position by some sort of a locking mechanism. There isn't the same external force acting on the bow as when a human fires a bow. So I still dont believe it'll go forward. The only way to test this is putting a crossbow on a cart and seeing if it rolls back or forward after firing. Alternatively, a bow set up like this would represent what goes on in a crossbow.

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e199/sharprm/crossbow.jpg

I couldn't be stuffed setting up such an experiment, doubt any else would bother, so we'll never know. Looking at crossbow videos on youtube, it looks like there isn't much recoil (forward or back) so its not that important to the picture.



Ah, i somehow forgot that the crossbow is not drawn by hand (and therefor not pushed against by the arm) - silly me - so yes, because the force is applied to the arm only during the shot, you would feel it push backwards as it fired and - if you were not well braced - experience recoil.  my apologies.
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Offline sharprm

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Re: [WIP] Pixel signature - Help constructing pose needed!

Reply #19 on: April 02, 2008, 03:44:36 am
Adarias - no probs, it was fun thinking about it.

Rob - maybe you might want to draw a rough face for the assassin, then draw a helmet over it. I think there should be just as much head above the eyeline as below, so right now the 'visor' part is too high or the top of helmet is too low.
Modern artists are told that they must create something totally original-or risk being called "derivative".They've been indoctrinated with the concept that bad=good.The effect is always the same: Meaningless primitivism
http://www.artrenewal.org/articles/Philosophy/phi