Oh, excellent!
Interestingly (or sickeningly, maybe), the version I posted underwent a contrast adjustment because it was even more washed out originally! I never even noticed until a friend of mine suggested it. It really is a problem with my work. Check it out:
http://i.imagehost.org/0750/bleachedenukie.gif
The adjustments you made more or less blew my mind. I can hardly wrap my brain around those colors and how effective they are compared to what I had.
Could you give me a quick definition of "ramps"? This question should allow you to gauge just how new I am at this stuff, haha. You'll have to forgive me.
In any case, thanks for all the help and encouragement so far! This seems like a wonderful community. I will definitely be posting more.
I agree with Manupix about the contrast so I did a quick palette edit:
I tried to address hue range--most of your ramps just shifted brightness. Try shifting the hue around as well. Stuff usually goes towards cool colors in shadow and warm colors in light (just a very rough guideline that I didn't entirely follow in my edit). Also increased contrast overall, and tried to mix some of your ramps a bit because they were all very separated and distinct. Mixing ramps and keeping a low color count usually results in a more cohesive looking image, in addition to being easier to manage. Your original uses 27 colors, my edit uses 17.
I really love your stuff btw, hope to see more from you.
I see what you mean. It starts getting really illegible right around the white fluff on the coat, especially.
Thank you!
Highly original creature, very well done!
Agree with Hatch about the ear.
I think it could use more contrast too.
Looking forward for more! ;)
Great design. Only thing I don't like is his long ear hanging down; it kinda gets mixed up as his arm (to me anyway).
Wow, nice palette, great shading... But I think buttons on the left should be more tight.
Welcome to Pixel Joint!
Could you give me a quick definition of "ramps"?
Sure! When we talk of "ramps" we basically just mean a group of colors organized by lightness. Here are the ramps used in your original:
And here are the ramps in my edit:
If you compare the two and analyze my edited image you'll probably begin to see what I mean about "ramp mixing". I used the button colors and some skin colors for the fur trim, and used the coat colors for the undershirt(?), eliminating that ramp entirely. I didn't go real far with it; it was a pretty quick edit.
Anyhoo, color choice is a complex topic that I don't pretend to have a real firm grasp of. I'll leave you with this fascinating image made by ptoing (I think) that coversmaking lots of different ramps from a fixed 16-color palette, the C64 palette: