Pixel Joint Forum: Cowboy (WIP)

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Pieface
Commander

Joined: 09 February 2006
Location: England
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Posts: 146

Topic: Cowboy (WIP)
Posted: 19 March 2006 at 12:06pm

I started a cowboy but im just terrible at colouring

here it is atm

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Dra_chan
Commander

Joined: 20 February 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 628

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:23pm

The pants need an outline, otherwise look like a paint doodle. You need to work in the curves of the outline too, the face looks like an inverted triangle and the shoulders look strange. Also some shading. But I'm terrible at explaining things, so my advice is to go to the tutorials topic in the Resources board, there are lots of links with awesome basic and advanced tuts that will be a great help besides the comments you receive here.

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Pieface
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Joined: 09 February 2006
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 146

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:36pm

Ok i added an outline to the pants and changed the shoulders but i am terrible at shading and colouring

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Dra_chan
Commander

Joined: 20 February 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 628

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:48pm

Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center, or where the light is coming from.
TIP: watch pictures and photos to study the shadow/light effect on things, once you get the hang of it the rest comes easily, you just apply the colors.

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Blick
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Joined: 21 June 2014
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Posts: 389

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 3:48pm

Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center

You just perfectly described the horror that is pillow shading.

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Dra_chan
Commander

Joined: 20 February 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 628

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 5:41pm

Originally posted by Blick

Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center

You just perfectly described the horror that is pillow shading.

But it's a way to start, unless he knows that he won't be able to, let's say, dither

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Blick
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Joined: 21 June 2014
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Posts: 389

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 6:59pm

Pillow shading isn't a start, it's a setback. It's a bad habit that should be avoided.

Pieface: A few things before I go into shading. The colors. They're highly saturated (looks like default hues) and could use toning down. There is also a lot of them. With a piece this small, most of the colors are rarely used and unnoticable. Contrast is king in small pieces. (Note: Look here for more about choosing colors.) The head is really wide, and the hat is really thin, so either widen the hat, thin the head or do both. Then the guns. They're barely noticable lines hovering outside of his hands. Breaking them into the outline will make it look like he's actually holding them.

As for shading, choose your lightsource and run with it. Actually think of where light would hit according to your lightsource. If it's above the character, shoulders will make for a strong light spot and the head will cast a shadow. It may be a 2D picture, but try to think of it as if it were 3D is the only way I can really summarize what I'm saying.

Here's an edit illustrating some of my points.

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jalonso
Admiral
Admiral

Joined: 12 January 2022
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13537

Posted: 19 March 2006 at 10:25pm

To ALL and a little off-topic

Originally posted by Blick

...Look here for more about choosing colors...

I've followed this post since it started, one of the best posts eva, on any forum anywhere! We should have a permanent link to it here a PJ.

PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads

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Pieface
Commander

Joined: 09 February 2006
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 146

Posted: 22 March 2006 at 2:55pm

Ive tried shading a bit

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Aleiav
Commander

Joined: 08 April 2016
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2380

Posted: 22 March 2006 at 4:49pm

You still need to desaturate your colors.

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Dra_chan
Commander

Joined: 20 February 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 628

Posted: 22 March 2006 at 8:22pm

His face is still a triangle >_<

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WIP (Work In Progress)
Pixel Joint Forum : Pixel Art : WIP (Work In Progress)

Author	Message
Pieface Commander Joined: 09 February 2006 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 146	Topic: Cowboy (WIP) Posted: 19 March 2006 at 12:06pm
	I started a cowboy but im just terrible at colouring here it is atm
	IP Logged

Dra_chan Commander Joined: 20 February 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 628	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:23pm
	The pants need an outline, otherwise look like a paint doodle. You need to work in the curves of the outline too, the face looks like an inverted triangle and the shoulders look strange. Also some shading. But I'm terrible at explaining things, so my advice is to go to the tutorials topic in the Resources board, there are lots of links with awesome basic and advanced tuts that will be a great help besides the comments you receive here.
	IP Logged

Pieface Commander Joined: 09 February 2006 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 146	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:36pm
	Ok i added an outline to the pants and changed the shoulders but i am terrible at shading and colouring
	IP Logged

Dra_chan Commander Joined: 20 February 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 628	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 2:48pm
	Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center, or where the light is coming from. TIP: watch pictures and photos to study the shadow/light effect on things, once you get the hang of it the rest comes easily, you just apply the colors.
	IP Logged

Blick Commander Joined: 21 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 389	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 3:48pm
	Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center You just perfectly described the horror that is pillow shading.

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Dra_chan Commander Joined: 20 February 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 628	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 5:41pm
	*Originally posted by Blick* Use a dark tone in the areas besides the outlines, and add a lighter tone in the center You just perfectly described the horror that is pillow shading. But it's a way to start, unless he knows that he won't be able to, let's say, dither
	IP Logged

Blick Commander Joined: 21 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 389	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 6:59pm
	Pillow shading isn't a start, it's a setback. It's a bad habit that should be avoided. Pieface: A few things before I go into shading. The colors. They're highly saturated (looks like default hues) and could use toning down. There is also a lot of them. With a piece this small, most of the colors are rarely used and unnoticable. Contrast is king in small pieces. (Note: Look here for more about choosing colors.) The head is really wide, and the hat is really thin, so either widen the hat, thin the head or do both. Then the guns. They're barely noticable lines hovering outside of his hands. Breaking them into the outline will make it look like he's actually holding them. As for shading, choose your lightsource and run with it. Actually think of where light would hit according to your lightsource. If it's above the character, shoulders will make for a strong light spot and the head will cast a shadow. It may be a 2D picture, but try to think of it as if it were 3D is the only way I can really summarize what I'm saying. Here's an edit illustrating some of my points.

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jalonso Admiral Joined: 12 January 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 19 March 2006 at 10:25pm
	To ALL and a little off-topic *Originally posted by Blick* ...Look here for more about choosing colors... I've followed this post since it started, one of the best posts eva, on any forum anywhere! We should have a permanent link to it here a PJ.
	PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads
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Pieface Commander Joined: 09 February 2006 Location: England Online Status: Offline Posts: 146	Posted: 22 March 2006 at 2:55pm
	Ive tried shading a bit
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Aleiav Commander Joined: 08 April 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2380	Posted: 22 March 2006 at 4:49pm
	You still need to desaturate your colors.
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Dra_chan Commander Joined: 20 February 2006 Online Status: Offline Posts: 628	Posted: 22 March 2006 at 8:22pm
	His face is still a triangle >_<
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