I made this a while back, before I started posting WIPs here:


And here's after, using what I've learned:


Used a much more interesting, contrasty palette, cleaned up some of the glaring anatomy and perspective issues, got rid of my pointless dither, etc.

So I'm posting this to not only get help improving this piece further, but to say thanks to everyone who has helped me improve as much I have already, after only 2 pieces.

So... Thanks!

And... Help!

Edited by Hatch - 27 June 2007 at 9:26pm

Thanks
You've been a great help.


I plan to do the part of the robot that you can sort of see here--the neck, the top of the chest, some arms poking into the frame--I probably won't do the whole thing. But who knows? If I have a lot of fun with it I may get ambitious.

neon green is good too ;)

Yeah, sort of. Usually it's not the same shade as the image. Look at this for example. The light is purple, not grey.

I definitely think that it's an improvement from the original and it's probably backlighting. What I'm referring to is more ambient than backlighting. So no worries. :D

Decided to do a quick sketch of the whole body. I like the tin can torso, not so sure about the limbs, especially the legs.

That's the plan. I'm just not sure about the pose. I'm really miserable at anatomy.

I actually really like the pose right now.

Started shading. Got rid of black, added orange.

He kind of looks like he could be a mascot for a muffler shop

Going to bed.

Thanks Rodder

I'm not sure how to shade the underside of his jaw. I know it should be partially lit by the backlight, but everything I've tried so far looks... Odd. But of course, just having the flat color is dreadfully boring.

I'll give it another go and post my attempts when I get home, but in the meantime, any pointers?

Well due to it's front-facing (downward) angle, it really would be lit by bouncing light off the floor & his body. Unless either one of those were colored, in which the color would bleed, i'd leave it as one of the metal colors you have now. Maybe just a simple gradient ramp? or you could highlight the edge depending on how reflective you want it to be. I'd just be careful not to make it contrast too much so it doesn't distract from the rest of him.

Here's one of the best references around. Maybe it might be of some help:

http://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/light.htm

wow that looks awesome, nice job  

I'd say it is.

I like it!

I think the hand you've already done looks great. But in case you were planning on keeping the other hand dark purple, it still looks very WIP-ish.

I think the shadow on the ground would also work better if it was a simple ellipse :)

This character/pixel is awesome! why had I never seen it :/
...and made on a mac too... I shall go and punish myself now.

I can see your IP and system (mod).
btw, safari is not as good as firefox for PJ/pixel viewing ;)

Firefox keeps crashing on my Mac at work I would go back to Safari, but the smilies here don't work in that for some reason... you can see the bind I'm in

Anyhoo, I really like this, great job!
I think the left shine on his jaw could be a little less aligned with the shine on the top portion of his face, to show the jutting of his jaw more.  (Maybe.  I'm really bad at metallic highlights...)
Me being super-nitpicky: perhaps lighten the darkest pixels on the bottom left edge of his body can (where his butt would be )
Looking forward to the finished piece!

The far hand is giving me fits. It's too small for me to be able to put any detail into without it looking like a messy smear of pixels. Help!

I have to agree

...in the meantime I finally remembered what this reminds me off in 'look and feel' THIS

Anyhow, you don't think it would be a cop out to just go with the silhouette? Would it still be gallery-worthy?

(Sorry for the double post)

EDIT: Typo.

Edited by Hatch - 04 July 2007 at 7:41pm

No the sil is great it adds depth.

You could sell that guy as a logo for any metal-ish or auto company I bet for a ton of money. Definitely awesome.