Pixel Joint Forum: Help my WIP tank be all it can be

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Topic: Help my WIP tank be all it can be
Posted: 09 November 2009 at 11:30am

This is a T-72M1 tank I begin working on earlier today.

Unfortunately it was traced. Anyway I'm somewhat a greenhorn in the realms of pixel so if you have any comments, tips, guides, anything to help me I would be appreciative.

Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 11:31am

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Hatch
Admiral
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Joined: 05 August 2015
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Posted: 09 November 2009 at 3:21pm

Please post your reference/what you traced.

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 09 November 2009 at 8:18pm

Sorry for the delay. Here ya go.
http://filesmelt.com/downloader/b_5125_1.jpg

Also, progress.

Gotta fix the barrel perspective.

Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 8:22pm

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jalonso
Admiral
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Joined: 29 November 2022
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Posted: 09 November 2009 at 8:23pm

Tracing is fine especially while you are learning to pixel. Just make sure you mention this when it happens, so we don't all get scared of your prowess

So, everything you need is in the ref, just follow it paying attention to lighting. Of course it would be more creative if you used lighting not in the ref so that you have some challenge going on.

PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:40pm

The challenge comes when I have to conserve colors and when I add a BG.

Progress.

So far I'm at about 25 colors.

Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 10:40pm

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Pragz
Commander

Joined: 09 August 2009
Location: Ireland
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Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:45pm

It's lookin' pretty awesome right now! :D

Hello - I'm new here. :)

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:47pm

Thanks.

I guess I'm just about finished with the tank.

Beginning to render the BG, I need help with the trees.

Edited by Xamllew - 10 November 2009 at 1:56pm

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 5:27pm

Alright, I'm done with this. I don't like the background outcome though.

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Pragz
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Joined: 09 August 2009
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 5:53pm

Did you do the BG all your own?! :O

Hello - I'm new here. :)

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Pumpkinbot
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Joined: 05 May 2009
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Posts: 202

Posted: 11 November 2009 at 6:38pm

Originally posted by Xamllew

Alright, I'm done with this. I don't like the background outcome though.

DAYUMN! :U

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 6:59pm

Thanks guys.

Yes, the background was of my doing.

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Pragz
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Joined: 09 August 2009
Location: Ireland
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 7:33pm

Well I think it's pretty awesome. I looove the grass. My only dislike about it are the clouds, but they're still pretty neat as is. Just a lil' too much dithering.

Hello - I'm new here. :)

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 11 November 2009 at 7:41pm

Only after finishing the scene and checking the color count did I realize I could have added many more colors. I have 48 colors through out, I was estimating around 70 when finished so I might go back and make it look a tad nicer by smoothing out the clouds and giving the trees more variation.

Edited by Xamllew - 11 November 2009 at 7:46pm

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jeremy
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Joined: 25 November 2024
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 8:59pm

That's really fantastic. adding some of the more khaki colours into the shadowed grass would be nice, the shadow's looking a bit unnatural at the moment.

The tree leaves really remind me of lower-quality 3D stuff because of the scribbly, "I can't wait to get this finished" way you've done them :P

Also, that link to the ref isn't working for me, is the background from there too?

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 11 November 2009 at 9:35pm

I'll try that grass color tip and maybe fix up the shadow, thanks.

Haha, yeah the trees were a challenge for me because I couldn't find any good examples of coniferous trees in pixel form so I sorta went crazy.

Here's the reference, the background is from my head. c:
http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6683/b51251.jpg

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jeremy
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Posted: 11 November 2009 at 9:54pm

Ah, thanks. Just asked because the ground looks really good. ;D

After a quick search of my own, I found a couple of pine examples;
here and here
as you can see there's only a couple of extremes there; needleless and snow covered :p , but you seem to be rather good at copying from photos anyway ;)

The tank tread impressions would probably be deeper in real life, maybe add some mud?

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Xamllew
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Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 12 November 2009 at 4:58pm

Thanks for the examples, Jeremy.

I have done a bit of studying pine trees today (AKA looking at them for long periods of timw while at school) and I have made three examples of ideas for improving the trees.

All three examples are only using three colors.
The first being randomly scttered colors except with keeping the darks close to the middle and lights close to the outside.
The second I think represents a real needle-baring tree the most, the packs of needles go from dark green in the center and as the pack spreads it gets lighter.
The third is pretty much a random scattering.

Opinions...Ideas...pretty much any input appreciated.

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jeremy
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Joined: 25 November 2024
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Posted: 12 November 2009 at 5:41pm

How about focusing on the shape, rather than shading, of the canopy.

Like this :)

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Xamllew
Midshipman

Joined: 22 August 2009
Location: United States
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Posts: 51

Posted: 12 November 2009 at 5:56pm

Waaghhh...

^That was me thanking you for the very helpful little tip. :)

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

Author	Message
Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Topic: Help my WIP tank be all it can be Posted: 09 November 2009 at 11:30am
	This is a T-72M1 tank I begin working on earlier today. Unfortunately it was traced. Anyway I'm somewhat a greenhorn in the realms of pixel so if you have any comments, tips, guides, anything to help me I would be appreciative. Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 11:31am
	IP Logged

Hatch Admiral Joined: 05 August 2015 Online Status: Offline Posts: 1387	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 3:21pm
	Please post your reference/what you traced.
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 8:18pm
	Sorry for the delay. Here ya go. http://filesmelt.com/downloader/b_5125_1.jpg Also, progress. Gotta fix the barrel perspective. Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 8:22pm
	IP Logged

jalonso Admiral Joined: 29 November 2022 Online Status: Offline Posts: 13537	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 8:23pm
	Tracing is fine especially while you are learning to pixel. Just make sure you mention this when it happens, so we don't all get scared of your prowess So, everything you need is in the ref, just follow it paying attention to lighting. Of course it would be more creative if you used lighting not in the ref so that you have some challenge going on.
	PJs FAQ <•> Sticky Reads
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:40pm
	The challenge comes when I have to conserve colors and when I add a BG. Progress. So far I'm at about 25 colors. Edited by Xamllew - 09 November 2009 at 10:40pm
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Pragz Commander Joined: 09 August 2009 Location: Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 136	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:45pm
	It's lookin' pretty awesome right now! :D
	Hello - I'm new here. :)
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 09 November 2009 at 10:47pm
	Thanks. I guess I'm just about finished with the tank. Beginning to render the BG, I need help with the trees. Edited by Xamllew - 10 November 2009 at 1:56pm
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Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 5:27pm
	Alright, I'm done with this. I don't like the background outcome though.
	IP Logged

Pragz Commander Joined: 09 August 2009 Location: Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 136	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 5:53pm
	Did you do the BG all your own?! :O
	Hello - I'm new here. :)
	IP Logged

Pumpkinbot Commander Joined: 05 May 2009 Online Status: Offline Posts: 202	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 6:38pm
	*Originally posted by Xamllew* Alright, I'm done with this. I don't like the background outcome though. DAYUMN! :U
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Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 6:59pm
	Thanks guys. Yes, the background was of my doing.
	IP Logged

Pragz Commander Joined: 09 August 2009 Location: Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 136	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 7:33pm
	Well I think it's pretty awesome. I looove the grass. My only dislike about it are the clouds, but they're still pretty neat as is. Just a lil' too much dithering.
	Hello - I'm new here. :)
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 7:41pm
	Only after finishing the scene and checking the color count did I realize I could have added many more colors. I have 48 colors through out, I was estimating around 70 when finished so I might go back and make it look a tad nicer by smoothing out the clouds and giving the trees more variation. Edited by Xamllew - 11 November 2009 at 7:46pm
	IP Logged

jeremy Rear Admiral Joined: 25 November 2024 Location: New Zealand Online Status: Offline Posts: 1704	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 8:59pm
	That's really fantastic. adding some of the more khaki colours into the shadowed grass would be nice, the shadow's looking a bit unnatural at the moment. The tree leaves really remind me of lower-quality 3D stuff because of the scribbly, "I can't wait to get this finished" way you've done them :P Also, that link to the ref isn't working for me, is the background from there too?
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 9:35pm
	I'll try that grass color tip and maybe fix up the shadow, thanks. Haha, yeah the trees were a challenge for me because I couldn't find any good examples of coniferous trees in pixel form so I sorta went crazy. Here's the reference, the background is from my head. c: http://img30.imageshack.us/img30/6683/b51251.jpg
	IP Logged

jeremy Rear Admiral Joined: 25 November 2024 Location: New Zealand Online Status: Offline Posts: 1704	Posted: 11 November 2009 at 9:54pm
	Ah, thanks. Just asked because the ground looks really good. ;D After a quick search of my own, I found a couple of pine examples; here and here as you can see there's only a couple of extremes there; needleless and snow covered :p , but you seem to be rather good at copying from photos anyway ;) The tank tread impressions would probably be deeper in real life, maybe add some mud?
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 12 November 2009 at 4:58pm
	Thanks for the examples, Jeremy. I have done a bit of studying pine trees today (AKA looking at them for long periods of timw while at school) and I have made three examples of ideas for improving the trees. All three examples are only using three colors. The first being randomly scttered colors except with keeping the darks close to the middle and lights close to the outside. The second I think represents a real needle-baring tree the most, the packs of needles go from dark green in the center and as the pack spreads it gets lighter. The third is pretty much a random scattering. Opinions...Ideas...pretty much any input appreciated.
	IP Logged

jeremy Rear Admiral Joined: 25 November 2024 Location: New Zealand Online Status: Offline Posts: 1704	Posted: 12 November 2009 at 5:41pm
	How about focusing on the shape, rather than shading, of the canopy. Like this :)
	IP Logged

Xamllew Midshipman Joined: 22 August 2009 Location: United States Online Status: Offline Posts: 51	Posted: 12 November 2009 at 5:56pm
	Waaghhh... ^That was me thanking you for the very helpful little tip. :)
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