Pixel Joint Forum: WIP

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Topic: WIP - RPG TREE
Posted: 25 December 2013 at 2:40pm

Hello , I'm new around here and I'm working on a tree for a rpg project im working on.I cant figure out what it is but im a little bit concerned about the trunk texture.I can't quite tell what is , so if you guys can help me out here i'd appreciate :P

Thanks!

edit: wrong link

Edited by majorgoldfish - 25 December 2013 at 2:41pm

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Shadow64
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Joined: 30 March 2014
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Posts: 63

Posted: 25 December 2013 at 2:49pm

It's not bad, but remember that color choices are generally about three things: texture, light, and the actual line of the piece.

What you have here is some nice texturing. You're breaking up the darker brown with some lighter shades, but it makes it seem like the tree is brighter in certain places or more like a spotted tree.

Bark is also usually like crooked vertical lines on many trees. You have that but only a couple of times, so the tree bark looks very sectioned.

I see what you're saying, it feels a lot more like rocks than it does tree bark. I think the reasons I've stated might be why.

You've got the texture, just add some more line and shadow to the piece and it should start to balance out. Let me know if that makes no sense.

Edited by Shadow64 - 25 December 2013 at 2:49pm

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Posted: 25 December 2013 at 3:06pm

So I should try to make more of those dark vertical lines on the tree?I dont really get it , I'm confused :D
Thanks for the reply tho

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
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Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Posted: 25 December 2013 at 3:25pm

Ok I changed the colors a little bit and removed the lighter color cause it felt weird , but I still dont get what should i do with the lines :(

Edited by majorgoldfish - 25 December 2013 at 3:31pm

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Shadow64
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Joined: 30 March 2014
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Posts: 63

Posted: 26 December 2013 at 1:27am

Here are a couple of trees that have a bit more texture, shadow, and line to them.

FFV Advance:

Secret of Mana:

I'm also going to try to do an edit of your tree so that you can see what I mean - though, I'm by no means the best at this or even close!

As you can see, some of this has to do with the lines you were wondering about, and some of it has to do with picking a consistent light source. Before you were lighting kind of from the front. I come from theater where you're taught that you pretty much never want to use front light on scenery because it flattens out whatever it's directed at:

Great for portrait photography, bad for fake scenery (your audience will know in a second that they're looking at a painted stage piece). Since we're trying to create realistic images in a 2D space we need shadows (realistic shading) to help us imply depth. When you use front light, you're removing shadows and you get that flat, almost slide look.

For my version I chose sort of a high side light. I did this pretty quickly, so I apologize for the quality, but hopefully it gets the point across.

Again, let me know if this makes sense or if I'm helping or just babbling. I apologize if it's the latter. :\

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Posted: 26 December 2013 at 5:45am

I think i know what you mean now.Thanks alot for the advice I appreciate it.I haven't addressed the problem yet cause I just woke up and saw your post.This is what I've done so far:

I'll try to address the shadows and line problem as soon as I can.

Thanks for the advice!

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Shadow64
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Joined: 30 March 2014
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Posts: 63

Posted: 26 December 2013 at 12:44pm

No problem, man. I'm glad you found it helpful. Look forward to seeing how it's coming along. :)

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Posted: 29 December 2013 at 7:22pm

Okay , I'm reworking the leaves but I still haven't addressed the trunk problems.I'll get on that as soon as im done with the top part of the tree
Heres how its looking :

Edited by majorgoldfish - 29 December 2013 at 8:24pm

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majorgoldfish
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 25 December 2013
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Posts: 18

Posted: 08 January 2014 at 9:33am

Heres how it's looking :

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H|F
Commander

Joined: 14 March 2020
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Posts: 363

Posted: 08 January 2014 at 12:07pm

I have no idea what type of tree it is but I feel like yours doesn't look very organic which may be what you are wanting otherwise,

Look at this,
http://hollywoodpark-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/loan-oak-tree.jpg

And this,
http://hollywoodpark-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/loan-oak-tree.jpg

And notice how you can see some of the branches through the leaf's if you wanted yo add some character to the tree.

Also I feel like it's better to focus on general unshaded shapes then worry about details just like a painting otherwise you find yourself working around the details you have made rather then working on perfecting the shapes which are so important.

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Shadow64
Midshipman

Joined: 30 March 2014
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 63

Posted: 17 January 2014 at 8:09pm

Wow. Awesome update, major goldfish! Love how far along the bark has come. I think it's really getting there.

Right now the leaves are starting so high up on the tree that you're running into a different issue: To branch or not to branch?

You're showing SOME branching but not enough if you want to go that route. If you were to move the leaves down and have it go straight from trunk to leaves, I think it might look stronger. I did a VERY quick and dirty edit to show you what I mean:

Obviously I expanded the leaves on the top and the trunk in this situation would also look better if it was a little wider. Remember: the base has to support the rest of the tree.

In any case, I hope this helps!

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

Author	Message
majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Topic: WIP - RPG TREE Posted: 25 December 2013 at 2:40pm
	Hello , I'm new around here and I'm working on a tree for a rpg project im working on.I cant figure out what it is but im a little bit concerned about the trunk texture.I can't quite tell what is , so if you guys can help me out here i'd appreciate :P Thanks! edit: wrong link Edited by majorgoldfish - 25 December 2013 at 2:41pm
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Shadow64 Midshipman Joined: 30 March 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 25 December 2013 at 2:49pm
	It's not bad, but remember that color choices are generally about three things: texture, light, and the actual line of the piece. What you have here is some nice texturing. You're breaking up the darker brown with some lighter shades, but it makes it seem like the tree is brighter in certain places or more like a spotted tree. Bark is also usually like crooked vertical lines on many trees. You have that but only a couple of times, so the tree bark looks very sectioned. I see what you're saying, it feels a lot more like rocks than it does tree bark. I think the reasons I've stated might be why. You've got the texture, just add some more line and shadow to the piece and it should start to balance out. Let me know if that makes no sense. Edited by Shadow64 - 25 December 2013 at 2:49pm
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majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 25 December 2013 at 3:06pm
	So I should try to make more of those dark vertical lines on the tree?I dont really get it , I'm confused :D Thanks for the reply tho
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majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 25 December 2013 at 3:25pm
	Ok I changed the colors a little bit and removed the lighter color cause it felt weird , but I still dont get what should i do with the lines :( Edited by majorgoldfish - 25 December 2013 at 3:31pm
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Shadow64 Midshipman Joined: 30 March 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 26 December 2013 at 1:27am
	Here are a couple of trees that have a bit more texture, shadow, and line to them. FFV Advance: Secret of Mana: I'm also going to try to do an edit of your tree so that you can see what I mean - though, I'm by no means the best at this or even close! As you can see, some of this has to do with the lines you were wondering about, and some of it has to do with picking a consistent light source. Before you were lighting kind of from the front. I come from theater where you're taught that you pretty much never want to use front light on scenery because it flattens out whatever it's directed at: Great for portrait photography, bad for fake scenery (your audience will know in a second that they're looking at a painted stage piece). Since we're trying to create realistic images in a 2D space we need shadows (realistic shading) to help us imply depth. When you use front light, you're removing shadows and you get that flat, almost slide look. For my version I chose sort of a high side light. I did this pretty quickly, so I apologize for the quality, but hopefully it gets the point across. Again, let me know if this makes sense or if I'm helping or just babbling. I apologize if it's the latter. :\
	IP Logged

majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 26 December 2013 at 5:45am
	I think i know what you mean now.Thanks alot for the advice I appreciate it.I haven't addressed the problem yet cause I just woke up and saw your post.This is what I've done so far: I'll try to address the shadows and line problem as soon as I can. Thanks for the advice!
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Shadow64 Midshipman Joined: 30 March 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 26 December 2013 at 12:44pm
	No problem, man. I'm glad you found it helpful. Look forward to seeing how it's coming along. :)
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majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 29 December 2013 at 7:22pm
	Okay , I'm reworking the leaves but I still haven't addressed the trunk problems.I'll get on that as soon as im done with the top part of the tree Heres how its looking : Edited by majorgoldfish - 29 December 2013 at 8:24pm
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majorgoldfish Seaman Joined: 25 December 2013 Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Posted: 08 January 2014 at 9:33am
	Heres how it's looking :
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H\|F Commander Joined: 14 March 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 363	Posted: 08 January 2014 at 12:07pm
	I have no idea what type of tree it is but I feel like yours doesn't look very organic which may be what you are wanting otherwise, Look at this, http://hollywoodpark-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/loan-oak-tree.jpg And this, http://hollywoodpark-tx.gov/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/loan-oak-tree.jpg And notice how you can see some of the branches through the leaf's if you wanted yo add some character to the tree. Also I feel like it's better to focus on general unshaded shapes then worry about details just like a painting otherwise you find yourself working around the details you have made rather then working on perfecting the shapes which are so important.
	IP Logged

Shadow64 Midshipman Joined: 30 March 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 63	Posted: 17 January 2014 at 8:09pm
	Wow. Awesome update, major goldfish! Love how far along the bark has come. I think it's really getting there. Right now the leaves are starting so high up on the tree that you're running into a different issue: To branch or not to branch? You're showing SOME branching but not enough if you want to go that route. If you were to move the leaves down and have it go straight from trunk to leaves, I think it might look stronger. I did a VERY quick and dirty edit to show you what I mean: Obviously I expanded the leaves on the top and the trunk in this situation would also look better if it was a little wider. Remember: the base has to support the rest of the tree. In any case, I hope this helps!
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Topic: WIP - RPG TREE