Pixel Joint Forum: A Noob's Samurai

Message

   Hello everyone.  I'm very new to pixel art, and this is like my 3rd piece.  It doesn't really have any particular purpose, other than to help me learn by doing. 

Anyway, in that spirit, I chose to use 32 x 32 pixels since it would seem like a restrictive size builds discipline.  But looking at it, I'm not sure what could be done next to improve it.  I feel like I've hit an evolutionary dead end, and it's not terribly good yet.  So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Author	Message
BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Topic: A Noob's Samurai Posted: 21 March 2007 at 5:07pm
	Hello everyone. I'm very new to pixel art, and this is like my 3rd piece. It doesn't really have any particular purpose, other than to help me learn by doing. Anyway, in that spirit, I chose to use 32 x 32 pixels since it would seem like a restrictive size builds discipline. But looking at it, I'm not sure what could be done next to improve it. I feel like I've hit an evolutionary dead end, and it's not terribly good yet. So any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
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Omegavolt Commander Joined: 03 March 2005 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 227	Posted: 21 March 2007 at 6:33pm
	You've got some anatomy issues to work out. His right arm looks like it bend in 2 places, and the arms are a bit too short, they should at mid-thigh. His left leg has an odd bend in it, if thats supposed to be the knee, its way too low. His bent right leg looks awkward, since you tried to fit his entire leg in a small space. It should stick out to our right more, or if you don't want it to stick out to the right more, you need to give the entire leg more foreshortening.
	OnGameDev
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 21 March 2007 at 6:55pm
	Yeah, I think you're definitely right about that. I think I'll go back to the lineart and start tweaking, and maybe increase the height dimension to make room for longer legs. Thanks.
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 21 March 2007 at 8:25pm
	Okay, I've gone back over it, and reworked several things. I think the new proportions are pretty accurate. Anyway, any further suggestions would be great.
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AwesomePossum Commander Joined: 04 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 125	Posted: 21 March 2007 at 8:51pm
	Well I found some problems with the colours. First of all the hairs out linme is so close to black you might as well use black. Also, since you have your own background you should AA with some of your greys. Edited by AwesomePossum - 21 March 2007 at 8:51pm
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Akira Commander Joined: 03 March 2005 Location: New Zealand Online Status: Offline Posts: 220	Posted: 21 March 2007 at 11:40pm
	don't AA with a black outline like that. ever. it isn't making it smoother.
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Monkey 'o Doom Commander Joined: 24 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2994	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 7:15am
	Jpeg is a poor choice of filetype as well, while you're at it. I think it would be agood choice to ditch the outlines. At such a small size, outlines just take up valuable space that you need to shade and show form. Right now, you're using 210 by my count of the 1536 pixels on your canvas as outlines, or about 14%. That's a lot of waste. You should choose a lightsource and shade your samurai according to that. I suggest something towards one side and up. The sides that get the most exposure to the lightsource should be lighter, and those that are not being hit by any light will be shadowed. If you get stuck with shading something, think of it as a simple shape and shade accordingly: cone, sphere, cylinder, rectangular prism, etc. EDIT: Comma. Edited by Monkey 'o Doom - 22 March 2007 at 7:15am
	RPG is numberwang.
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 12:07pm
	Okay, I think I'll try working out the black outlines next. Should I perhaps try to replace them with dark colors, so there's still contrast with the background? And then I'll move on to shading.
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 5:16pm
	Okay, here's my latest version: I really like the way it's come along with these latest revisions. So, does anybody have any suggestions on how I could improve it further?
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Serendor Midshipman Joined: 27 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 79	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 6:14pm
	I think the way the sword looks are quite strange... it seems he going to fight with a metal club or something... maybe try to make the sword more ( don't find the right word) more cathing the viewers eye.... I suggest maybe have a more light blue colour on the sword or changing the left hands position? made a quick edit on the sword... also noticed that you using JPEG... haven't read the whole post... maybe you have any limitations... anyway hope you see my point... * EDIT * changed the arm aswell since I really don't like the position of that arm... doesn't it look more like he holding a sword? the past verison looks more lika a bat, shotgun or something... or maybe I'm just tierd.... anyway I like it alot Edited by Serendor - 22 March 2007 at 6:19pm
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 7:48pm
	Thanks. Yeah, the style of the sword needs some work, like what you've done. I'm not exactly sure where the idea I'm using jpegs comes from. I've been using gifs, which should be lossless. Anyway thanks.
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AwesomePossum Commander Joined: 04 November 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 125	Posted: 22 March 2007 at 8:23pm
	Well, Beagle, I thought the metal (grey) sword was much nicer and realistic rather than the blue (why would you use blue serender?) sword serender made. Edited by AwesomePossum - 22 March 2007 at 8:23pm
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Serendor Midshipman Joined: 27 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 79	Posted: 23 March 2007 at 12:17am
	well... I think a little tuch of blue on the sword is nice... I admit it look a bit strange : / About the Jpeg thing, you using GIF yes^^, but you can't have as much colours as an ordinary bmp... in my case I had to use the blue hair colour your character had... but thats easily changed... Edited by Serendor - 23 March 2007 at 12:37am
	www.sunbladez.com
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 23 March 2007 at 7:46am
	I've thought about it more, and I think I'll save the colored sword for another picture. This samurai has really come out like a common thug or bandit, and it doesn't seem quite right for them to have a magical or precious weapon. I might move the arm though.
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Serendor Midshipman Joined: 27 February 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 79	Posted: 23 March 2007 at 11:32am
	yes good idea^^ and yes, Samurai isn't the right word for that guy... looks more like a theif, ronin or something not as noble as a Samurai very good of you
	www.sunbladez.com
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 24 March 2007 at 5:52pm
	Well, I took your advice about moving the arm, Serendor. But then I decided to shove a bag of loot in it. So, any other thoughts on this image, or maybe I should submit it and move on?
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Metaru Commander Joined: 28 December 2025 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3305	Posted: 24 March 2007 at 8:10pm
	well, here's my advice: you ve wasted lot's of colors here, so you lost the chance to make a more detailed work. feel free to pu pixels everywhere, it's pixe art, not vector art... remove those solid areas and fill them with messed Pixels. here are my edtions to your Noobmurai.
	I ate leel's babies
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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 24 March 2007 at 8:44pm
	Interesting. I definitely like what you did with the hair. And yes, doing away with some of the solid areas is a good idea. I'll work on that.
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Metaru Commander Joined: 28 December 2025 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3305	Posted: 24 March 2007 at 11:05pm
	also, i encourage you to make more dinamic characters, not just Lego mens. use references if needed
	I ate leel's babies
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Skull Commander PJ Pioneer Joined: 03 August 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1521	Posted: 25 March 2007 at 2:09am
	I have yet to see the Samuri element. So far it comes across as a guy in a waistcoat.

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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 25 March 2007 at 3:49pm
	Well, here's the final version: I've learned a lot in making it, thanks to everyone who critiqued. I think now I'm going to try doing a real samurai (which is what I was originally aiming for). Thanks everyone.
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Metaru Commander Joined: 28 December 2025 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3305	Posted: 26 March 2007 at 8:34pm
	no problems. come back anytime.
	I ate leel's babies
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Pixel_Outlaw Commander Joined: 01 September 2005 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3829	Posted: 26 March 2007 at 8:52pm
	Try this site for some Samurai Shodown sprites and images. It has some great characters that reflect the idea you are going for.... http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Dojo/3705/

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BigBeagle Seaman Joined: 21 March 2007 Online Status: Offline Posts: 15	Posted: 27 March 2007 at 6:35am
	Thanks, that site looks cool. I'm also thinking of looking at a few martial arts books for some poses.
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Metaru Commander Joined: 28 December 2025 Online Status: Offline Posts: 3305	Posted: 27 March 2007 at 8:57am
	haha... samurai showdom... that's where i get the haircut... don't get over anime-ished for your samurai...
	I ate leel's babies
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