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the_ally_cat
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Topic: Commission piece - Looking for critique
    Posted: 02 July 2019 at 6:13pm
I have a lot to learn about pixelling and welcome any help/critique anyone can give

It's just a WIP at the moment but I've been commissioned for a visual novel.  They want a retro/aesthetic feel, modern office backdrop.  I'm not sure if I'm pulling this off.  I also welcome any critiques or suggestions about technique (that would suit this commission)

https://i.imgur.com/QmENWMH.png


The room itself is close to finished, the dark grey are the windows and I plan on having a cityscape outside of them.  I'll work on that once the room is done. 

Thank you for taking the time ♥

Edit: Sorry, I keep trying and trying to post a preview/image but it just keeps being broken no matter what I do.  I can't even seem to make the url clickable.... I hope a url is okay..
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Sarahboev
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Quote Sarahboev Replybullet Posted: 03 July 2019 at 6:22am
That's odd that it isn't linking? But eh don't worry about it.

So far it looks pretty sweet. The only thing that seems odd is that brown chair in the bottom right. I can understand wanting to have foreground elements but I think it takes away from the room, i'd crop it out and possible extend the mat underneath the desk forward a bit. (A)

Another possibility is moving the frame a bit to the right (ie. crop the left a bit and extend to the right) and move the plant over a bit too. Composition-wise it ties the current elements you have together. (B)

I did a rough paint-over to kinda explain what I mean-

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the_ally_cat
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Posted: 03 July 2019 at 4:06pm
As proud as I am of that armchair so far, it's on a different layer because I kind of suspected...

Something like this?


I appreciate your help a lot.  A lot a lot

The painting on the left isn't finished, but would you say the paintings match the scene/(style the client wants)? Do you feel the style of the picture is retro?
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Sarahboev
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Quote Sarahboev Replybullet Posted: 05 July 2019 at 8:57am
Yeah that works better. Its always tough to crop out cool elements like that but composition-wise it looks better. I'd just extend the mat out forward and move the plant a bit to the right so you don't have tangents going on.

I feel like its pretty retro looking, are you going for an 80's aesthetic? The only thing is that they might be a bit too vibrant compared to the rest of the scene. Maybe go for something a lil' less vibrant or more pastel-y to match the scene? You could search up some of the graphic design stuff going on in the 80's, I just searched up "80's Paintings" and got some cool results.

And its no prob at all! Sorry if my posts might seem wordy, i'm always just throwing thoughts out there lol.
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Chonky Ben
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Quote Chonky Ben Replybullet Posted: 05 July 2019 at 8:59am
It looks good. I'm wondering where the light is coming from though? The only shadow I can see on the floor is directly under the desk.
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Quote Greycloak Replybullet Posted: 06 July 2019 at 12:26pm
I think the bottom of the large picture on the right is misaligned with the perspective. It should be going straight across, or maybe even upwards (from left to right).

There also seems to be an issue with the dithering in the bottom center of the image, on the floor. There's a sudden change in dithering with no apparent cause.

Otherwise I think it looks good.
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the_ally_cat
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Posted: 06 July 2019 at 4:27pm
Originally posted by Greycloak

I think the bottom of the large picture on the right is misaligned with the perspective. It should be going straight across, or maybe even upwards (from left to right).

There also seems to be an issue with the dithering in the bottom center of the image, on the floor. There's a sudden change in dithering with no apparent cause.

Otherwise I think it looks good.


Totally lost about what you mean with the perspective?  I'm using a two point perspective, not sure if that matters to what you said.

Oh oops, yeah I hadn't finished the dithering there, thank you for pointing it out I'd forgotten ♥
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the_ally_cat
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Posted: 06 July 2019 at 4:31pm
Originally posted by MalevolentMask

Yeah that works better. Its always tough to crop out cool elements like that but composition-wise it looks better. I'd just extend the mat out forward and move the plant a bit to the right so you don't have tangents going on.

I feel like its pretty retro looking, are you going for an 80's aesthetic? The only thing is that they might be a bit too vibrant compared to the rest of the scene. Maybe go for something a lil' less vibrant or more pastel-y to match the scene? You could search up some of the graphic design stuff going on in the 80's, I just searched up "80's Paintings" and got some cool results.

And its no prob at all! Sorry if my posts might seem wordy, i'm always just throwing thoughts out there lol.


Not wordy at all and incredibly helpful, I'll take your advice :)
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the_ally_cat
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Posted: 06 July 2019 at 4:34pm
Originally posted by Chonky Ben

It looks good. I'm wondering where the light is coming from though? The only shadow I can see on the floor is directly under the desk.


Tricky one which I'm still perfecting.  There's ambient light from outside which sort of actually casts a shadow with the stuff closest to the outside like the skirting boards.  But there's obviously also a strong overhead light of the office.  So the bookcase is lit in a combination of the two and few things cast a heavy shadow except the desk which as you see I'm attempting to fade out as the part that isn't blocking the ambient light is lighter.  There's also that depth thing where stuff a bit further away is kind darker/morewashed out that I'm attempting to do
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MicmasH
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Quote MicmasH Replybullet Posted: 10 July 2019 at 6:44pm
Hey, this looks great! When I saw it it instantly reminded me about Noirlac. You'll have to put pixel somewhere in the description because Noirlac is actually a real place! But hey, your picture is really close to Noirlac's style.
And sorry MalevolentMask but I think that this whole thing could have more vibrant colors to it. Maybe up the colors and post a side by side?? You're doing great man keep it up!

Oh, and is that black area an open window, or is it going to be curtains? Either way I think it'll be great!
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Quote the_ally_cat Replybullet Posted: 14 July 2019 at 3:23am
Wow I'm wow, I didn't know who this was but I've looked them up and am hugely flattered.  Thank you♥

The black area is going to be a huge cityscape, sadly the client hasn't gotten back to me yet so it's sorta in limbo....
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MicmasH
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Quote MicmasH Replybullet Posted: 18 July 2019 at 5:17pm
Eyy, your welcome!
Ooh that's sad, I bet it would have been amazing (or will, you never know :)
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