There's no way I'm giving this challenge amiss.

PROFESSOR CLAW...

It took me ages to think of a combination but i finally chose orange claw... villain.

The Professor Claw.Villain.

I started my work and I was wondering if you could make that face?
http://hpics.li/fa1fdc5

there is mine Orange Calamity, i'm calling it done.

Edited by capfal - 15 August 2011 at 5:23pm

I think I'm going to make it avatar sized. So far it's not looking the way I had originally planned, so I might change the angle of the face before moving forward...

Do you think I should animate this? Would take 3-4 more frames I guess.

Cels: do this in my opinion: A) Just work on the picture and try to refine it.

and what good do you think my cool.

Cels: do this in my opinion: A) Just work on the picture and try to refine it.

and what good do you think my cool.

Argh! I am conflicted! But thanks for the advice.


I thought the exact same thing when I saw it. When you zoom in, you can see he has a bionic eye, which is the professor-aspect of it. Like Dr X in the Action Man universe. But I would suggest A) create more contrast between the skin and the bionic eye, so you don't have to zoom in to see it. And possibly B) give him white hair, so he looks a bit like an evil Doc from Back to the Future.

Also, I think his abs look a bit unnatural.


I can see why he would tell you to change the cape, but one thing I liked about your previous version was the comedic value.
No cape = less funny.
Cape hanging down = pretty normal
Unrealistic cape = kinda funny
Epic cape: kinda funny

EDIT: Actually, the sad, boring cape, hanging down like a wet towel is also pretty funny.


Edited by CELS - 16 August 2011 at 8:49am

It's fine by me, but I'm not sure how that works with the competition. Anyway, I think you could probably do it better than my version. It doesn't look realistic, I just wanted to show a different direction


Well, I like the head and the fists, but what is the orange? Is like a flame? I mean, it's supposed to be a superhero, so I guess this is a superhero smiley? :)


Edited by CELS - 16 August 2011 at 10:23am

The criticism I was asking for was about the pixels, not the hero features. Most Marvel characters such as Hulk, are scientists and a "super hero" with a hunch back and glasses is not really my thing. I could've named it masked claw as well if that works better for you (note the visor on one eye).

It's like a sort of... aura? Like if you've seen the haunter sprite in pokemon? 

That's not the point. The point is that as long as he's 'professor claw' and he's not really a professor at all but mostly just a guy with a claw, it doesn't really abide by this challenge's rules does it? Not to mention that it's hardly creative. These kinds of contests aren't only about pixel technique. People also vote for original ideas, especially in a contest like this where creativity is key.

Also, you post in this forum because you want critique. And when you ask for critique you can expect it on everything, including the hero's look. Especially if it has to do with the challenge's rules. Would be a bummer if you couldn't enter something you worked hard on now wouldn't it?

Fair enough.

And I do.

It's got a few anatomy flaws. The whole torso area and especially the abs need a lot of work. Furthermore, his closest leg looks like it's broken from the ankle down. I also find the colours somewhat bland. Sure, they work, but they're nothing exciting either. I think this could also be done with a lot less colours. You're using 25 right now. I'd say 16 could just as easily do the job.

His closest leg looks a bit pilowshaded and the darkest colour is too dark, or the next to darkest not dark enough. The dark shade on the closest leg looks like smudge rather than an actual shadow. I'd say change one of those colours to make them blend a bit better, and take a look at some pictures of baggy pants to get a better idea of how to draw them. The top of the closest leg looks shiny and bland, next to the very busy lower part. That should also have some more folds if the pants are as baggy as they seem. And as last I also thought he was wearing shoes, until I noticed they were skin colours. They look to blocky and thick for feet, and his heels look like shoe heels. His eye visor also looks like a low eye rather than a visor. Maybe a dark outline or so to really separate it from the skin tones?

Besides all this I do kinda like it though. I like his stance especially.

I'll say....

Can you imagine how wide-set that guy's eyes must be under that mask?

I can see why he'd wear one!

As for the construction of the mask, what do you think is wrong with it? I don't really see anything...

@Geciman,  I like the character.  I find the face a little hard to read tho.
quick edit: 

Made him about 2 pixels taller too.

Here's my wip of orange mantis

All critics welcome!

@AirStyle

...He's a mantis... With a mustache...

Atomic Mantis WIP. Those abs are giving me hell.

So now you're ignoring my technical advise which you asked for completely as well, and just submit it without even replying? I took the time to analyse your work and give you some feedback, but obviously I'm wasting my time here.

Thankyou for that advice. It seems to have helped quite a bit.

Still a couple of changes to make, and have some palate changes in mind, but I thought it best to upload it and see what you guys think.


Edited by Frogger5 - 18 August 2011 at 12:04am

So ok now that we have a friendlier environment, first of all thanks for your time. The guy is supposed to have shoes and I think it's readable that way in the second picture I've posted. Why it's the same colors with the skin is just to reduce the color count.

The torso is much dirtier like this, don't know if it's intentional. With all the AA removed from the skin it doesn't look as smooth as it should. Rather it looks like covered in mud. The darkness under the human arm is probably the only thing I can consider a correction here.

The mechanical arm looks rusty now but it sure is a nice touch. It looks cooler like this yet it wasn't my intention to make a rusty arm. Yet again why not? Also the small part that connects it to the body made it more convincing. Good job on that.

The face looks deformed and it doesn't belong to the "clean past, insane present" muscular guy. The touch on the visor is cool, love it.

About the shading of the trousers, you've called my version smudgy yet you've managed to make it even smudgier. The calfs of muscular or fat people are usually so thick that they don't allow wrinkles or folds on the trousers. Apart from that the gravity should have sticked the cloth to the skin. Your version looks he spilled some oil on himself, rather than a pair of wrinkled or folded trousers.

In total you've got some points but we don't agree on everything, not to mention your earlier post had much harsher criticism like pillow shading and dull coloring etc, which I find disheartening at best. Ok so, thanks for taking your time. I don't know if it would be realistic if I said I'll go back to fix the piece. I hope we've resolved the hostile atmosphere.