Arts and CraftsThe place to talk about stick figure avatars, graphic design, fan art, or any application of the visual arts and creative writing--or just to show off your latest masterwork!
I hope I haven't scared you or anyone else away from colored lines completely. Just remember to use everything in moderation is all I'm saying.
Edit- Something of my own. This is the first Oots style image I've made using what I've learned from Ooze. So this is pretty much all brush and no line tools. Although 1 or 2 bits or recycled from elsewhere.
Also, I hate how I spent like an hour carefully shading everything and you can only see like 15% of it at most.
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Last edited by Tiffanie Lirle : 10-16-2012 at 11:31 AM.
Ccheeeeeeennnn!
As promised, an MSPaintatar resized in Irfanview.
After years of sticking to what I knew, I have begun experimenting with paint.NET, adding effects to my last piece: The Phantom Ensemble, Prismriver Sisters. I think the glow effect adds a bit of an ethereal touch. It is worth noting that 95% of the linework was still done in MSPaint.
They're not complete, however--the eyes are not how I want them to be; I'm still debating whether to make them solid black, or apply a shimmering/glowing effect. I wonder if Kid Kris, the other person I know who uses paint.NET, would know how to add the glow effect? Lastly, maybe they'd look more ghostly if I adjust the colours to something more bluish.
I'm still very new to this program, I need to wrap my head around layers...
Spoiler
In other words, I noticed the discussion about coloured vs. black lines. As you can see, I follow to the coloured line method, mainly because it helps distinguish between the outlines of different parts of the image.
Finally, considering the ten multiquote limit, I want to compliment everybody on their admirable work.
@V: Who? What? Yeah, I think Miss Lirle's last image is pretty sweet, too. Her use of the rain effect and extreme foreground added a three-dimensional touch. And Derjuin's faerie dragon? How did she get the excellent irregular gradient effect? ... ... Unless you were talking about me... in which case
The rock band d2b you posted a while ago has a boatload more class than these simple poltergeist players.
They're not complete, however--the eyes are not how I want them to be; I'm still debating whether to make them solid black, or apply a shimmering/glowing effect. I wonder if Kid Kris, the other person I know who uses paint.NET, would know how to add the glow effect? Lastly, maybe they'd look more ghostly if I adjust the colours to something more bluish.
I'm still very new to this program, I need to wrap my head around layers...
Glow effect in Paint.net? Well um, When Not working in Inkscape, I use paint.net, so I might as well tell you what I do for glow effects. it's simple. I do the exact same shape (or whatever the heck you may be trying to make glow. It works for most things) usually with a copy-paste into new layer,then brighten the colors a bit, and apply a blur. I typically use a Gaussian blur. I hope that helps.
I love what you've done with her* hair. It has a lot of detail, and the shape is very cool looking. The colors of the first avatar also seem very fitting, and mesh well. In the time that you have been posting, your avatars have gotten a lot better! Keep up the good work!
*Saying "her" because I am not sure if they are different people or just the same person in vampire/not vampire mode
Also, I have a new creating I would like to show you all! Spoilered, of course.
Spoiler
I'm the dude on the far left.
__________________
Telle Abscondus Avatar by me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoleMage
Wow. I started on 3.5 edition so the flumph is something I learned of later, but this is genius.
Spoiler
Thri-Kreen w/ greatsword by flumphy Insane Binder Avatar by Babale
I can has 1 cookie jar
I love what you've done with her* hair. It has a lot of detail, and the shape is very cool looking. The colors of the first avatar also seem very fitting, and mesh well. In the time that you have been posting, your avatars have gotten a lot better! Keep up the good work!
*Saying "her" because I am not sure if they are different people or just the same person in vampire/not vampire mode
*snip*
It's the same girl. She'll be in my fan comic. (Image link in my signature if you're blind) This one was actually kinda hard. Messing up a curl is harder than you think it would be. But the end result was worth it if I do say so myself. Is it weird that the purple in her hair and shoe are based on a completely different character and I just picked colors that looked good with it? ...
How long has it been since my first post here?... Hmm... Well Thank you.
I'm not a particular fan of the hair to be honest, it is too clunky and before you said they were curls I didn't see what it was that you wanted to achieve.
Mind you, I agree that curls are hard. ^^
Attempt by me at curls below:
Spoiler
One thing that might make it easier to see that the curls are curling is to add a slightly different shade to the "outside" and "inside" of the curl. Nothing extreme mind you, just a hint which you don't really notice before you're looking for it.
After years of sticking to what I knew, I have begun experimenting with paint.NET, adding effects to my last piece: The Phantom Ensemble, Prismriver Sisters. I think the glow effect adds a bit of an ethereal touch. It is worth noting that 95% of the linework was still done in MSPaint.
They're not complete, however--the eyes are not how I want them to be; I'm still debating whether to make them solid black, or apply a shimmering/glowing effect. I wonder if Kid Kris, the other person I know who uses paint.NET, would know how to add the glow effect? Lastly, maybe they'd look more ghostly if I adjust the colours to something more bluish.
I'm still very new to this program, I need to wrap my head around layers...
Spoiler
Depends on the type of glow you want, really. I would suggest experimenting until you find stuff that works. For a 'radiant' glow, like say, a lightsaber, I suggest making a white shape on a separate layer, blurring it, and on a layer above that, add an overlay of the color you want. The intensity of the blur adjusts the intensity of the glow. You probably want to do this all in a separate image, flatten it, and then copy-paste it into your avatar, so you don't tint everything the color. I can't seem to get this to work anymore.
For a more shimmering effect, I use exactly what you've done there, which is colored clouds. For flavor I might add some transparencies and dents.
See also:
Spoiler
If you troll around the forums, you can find quite a few neat effects to add to avatars (hidden amongst all the crap, of course) or just plain useful techniques and leaps in intuition/thinking that will help you in general.
On the subject of plug-ins, I would definitely recommend Align Objects as being insanely useful, as well as Outline from BoltBait's pack. The rest of BoltBait's is pretty good in terms of miscellaneous effects as well as pyrochild's.
Good luck!
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by IronStylus (on boobplates)
I still consider myself a feminist despite having a biological attraction to certain parts of female anatomy and the desire to now and again see plate metal curvaceously wrapping around their sensual forms in a cradle of cold, sumptuous, steel.
Last edited by Kris on a Stick : 10-30-2012 at 10:07 AM.
Glow effect in Paint.net? Well um, When Not working in Inkscape, I use paint.net, so I might as well tell you what I do for glow effects. it's simple. I do the exact same shape (or whatever the heck you may be trying to make glow. It works for most things) usually with a copy-paste into new layer,then brighten the colors a bit, and apply a blur. I typically use a Gaussian blur. I hope that helps.
Thanks, duly noted. Also, I like the character; the curls and hair colour made me think it was Rarity for a second. Do her living and vampire forms differ in alignment?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kymme
Also, I have a new creating I would like to show you all! Spoilered, of course.
Spoiler
*snip*
I'm the dude on the far left.
Your developing style reminds me of Terry576; tall and thin. I like your characters's emblem best, but the middle character has the coolest weapon.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Alexander leah
need some feedback, i'm trying to draw a noble coat, this is my first attempt
Spoiler
It's not bad of an attempt. It seems the legs need to be longer to have proper proportion with the torso. The shoulders, where the arm attaches to the torso, could be lower/closer together. Also, rounded ends on the lines is generally considered better than square ends. I can't tell you how to do change that though, because I don't use Inkscape.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kid Kris
Depends on the type of glow you want, really. I would suggest experimenting until you find stuff that works. For a 'radiant' glow, like say, a lightsaber, I suggest making a white shape on a separate layer, blurring it, and on a layer above that, add an overlay of the color you want. The intensity of the blur adjusts the intensity of the glow. You probably want to do this all in a separate image, flatten it, and then copy-paste it into your avatar, so you don't tint everything the color. I can't seem to get this to work anymore.
For a more shimmering effect, I use exactly what you've done there, which is colored clouds. For flavor I might add some transparencies and dents.
See also:
Spoiler
*snippity snip*
If you troll around the forums, you can find quite a few neat effects to add to avatars (hidden amongst all the crap, of course) or just plain useful techniques and leaps in intuition/thinking that will help you in general.
On the subject of plug-ins, I would definitely recommend Align Objects as being insanely useful, as well as Outline from BoltBait's pack. The rest of BoltBait's is pretty good in terms of miscellaneous effects as well as pyrochild's.
Good luck!
Thanks Kid Kris, I had taken a look at the PDN forums before I read your suggestion, but knowing that you got something out of them, I'll continue looking. I've bookmarked the links, and will definitely look at the plugins.
Also, I'm still unsure how you get the antialiased effect for your avatars without the antialias effect leaving noticeable white lines after the bucket tool. So far I've stuck to non-antialiased lines.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdflove
Finally made a god (Er- Goddess) for Nomka, but What should she be god of????
*snip*
She's either TN or LN
Oh and there's this-
Spoiler
*snip*
Put in Spoiler just in case anyone who reads my fan comic is here. It has some spoilers for later stuff in it.
My first thought was the goddess of the feeling of deja vu. I don't know why that's the first thing that came to mind . Maybe the goddess of berry harvest? Goddess of hope?
And finally, I have a new creation, made pretty much completely in PDN.
Marisa Likes Her Mushrooms.
Spoiler
I'm still very new to PDN, but I've gained a bit of experience doing this piece. It took forever to do and I still consider it a crude attempt at art, however. Being still new to layers, I may have gone overboard with them. There's more than 20.
See if you can identify the part where I thought "Screw it, I don't know how to make this look right."
Edit @vv: Yup, I'll want to redo the skirt later.
__________________
If Charisma is a measure of social skills, force of personality and confidence, I definitely have a penalty.
Being still new to layers, I may have gone overboard with them. There's more than 20.
Nah, don't worry.
10-15 layers is about the average amount I use for a standard, boring, non-shiny avy. The image at the very top of this page has around 45 layers in all. *shrugs*
Spoiler
New request I just made. For references sake, it has 17 visible layers, and 7 sub layers inside of movie clips for the boots, wings and eyes. For a total of 24 layers.
So 20 is pretty reasonable.
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Last edited by Tiffanie Lirle : 11-03-2012 at 05:23 PM.
Thanks, duly noted. Also, I like the character; the curls and hair colour made me think it was Rarity for a second. Do her living and vampire forms differ in alignment?
*Snip*
I hope I helped. Rarity? Lol. I have done her humanized in OotS style. (Though I don't remember if I posted it here...) Yeah, She went from TN to NE.
EDIT:
Well I did post her here after all.
Quote:
Originally Posted by asdflove
And more art-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kurien
*Snip* My first thought was the goddess of the feeling of deja vu. I don't know why that's the first thing that came to mind . Maybe the goddess of berry harvest? Goddess of hope?
*Snip*
Goddess of Deja Vu? That is a strange idea. Hope... I like that.
Goddess of hope it is.
Kurien: I typically flatten the lineart to one layer, make a duplicate layer of it, then use the paint bucket on the bottom layer with the tolerance set to 70% (as opposed to the default 50%).
If the lineart is really complicated or you have glow effects and you don't feel like flattening it, just make a new layer underneath everything and use the paintbrush. This is what I used to do most of the time before I learned the upper, more convenient method from Qwernt.
Or you could do the thing I do now where you duplicate every individual layer of line art and then merge *those* so you have one layer of complete line art but retain your individual layers of line art in progress.
__________________
Quote:
Originally Posted by IronStylus (on boobplates)
I still consider myself a feminist despite having a biological attraction to certain parts of female anatomy and the desire to now and again see plate metal curvaceously wrapping around their sensual forms in a cradle of cold, sumptuous, steel.
Last edited by Kris on a Stick : 11-05-2012 at 08:49 AM.
I've been experimenting with shading recently. Feedback?
__________________ Please PM me if you have a request for an avatar. I need inspiration.
Avatar by Dirtytabs!
Come join the Lord of the Rings Heal/Hurt! Banner Coming Soon!
Thing I did last night, while trying to think of a character concept for a D&D game:
*snip*
It's a dragonkin cleric, focused on smashing faces.
That looks really cool, Derjuin. I really like the design of the armor and weapon, but I have one problem with it. The boots seem a bit wonky, like they are missing some lines somewhere. But other than that, I like it!
Also, I have a new avatar that I'd like to show everyone!
He is a Legend character of mine, a quick warrior who can wield a huge weapon with ease.
__________________
Telle Abscondus Avatar by me.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MoleMage
Wow. I started on 3.5 edition so the flumph is something I learned of later, but this is genius.
Spoiler
Thri-Kreen w/ greatsword by flumphy Insane Binder Avatar by Babale
I can has 1 cookie jar
That looks really cool, Derjuin. I really like the design of the armor and weapon, but I have one problem with it. The boots seem a bit wonky, like they are missing some lines somewhere. But other than that, I like it!
Also, I have a new avatar that I'd like to show everyone!
He is a Legend character of mine, a quick warrior who can wield a huge weapon with ease.
Thanks!
The way the weapon breaks out of the panel is nicely done - gives the impression that it is unusually huge
10-15 layers is about the average amount I use for a standard, boring, non-shiny avy. The image at the very top of this page has around 45 layers in all. *shrugs*
Then I haven't delved the depths of insanity yet...
Quote:
New request I just made. For references sake, it has 17 visible layers, and 7 sub layers inside of movie clips for the boots, wings and eyes. For a total of 24 layers.
*snip*
So 20 is pretty reasonable.
I like it. How long did it take you to complete it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Elder Tsofu
I agree with that. Although it depend on what you call a layer, Inkscape as an example has layers within layers.
Was it the skirt/apron? Still pretty.
Thanks!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kid Kris
Kurien: I typically flatten the lineart to one layer, make a duplicate layer of it, then use the paint bucket on the bottom layer with the tolerance set to 70% (as opposed to the default 50%).
If the lineart is really complicated or you have glow effects and you don't feel like flattening it, just make a new layer underneath everything and use the paintbrush. This is what I used to do most of the time before I learned the upper, more convenient method from Qwernt.
Or you could do the thing I do now where you duplicate every individual layer of line art and then merge *those* so you have one layer of complete line art but retain your individual layers of line art in progress.
Thanks, that's helpful to consider! I now follow your last tip, duplicating each layer before merging them so that I have a backup in case I need to change something later. My latest work has something like 35 layers doing that.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cuthalion
I've been experimenting with shading recently. Feedback?
*snip*
I thought the spiked chain could have larger links, and the spikes restricted to the last four or five. An art style which follows by the Giant's example is maybe not the most suitable for employing shading techniques.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derjuin
Thing I did last night, while trying to think of a character concept for a D&D game:
*snip*
It's a dragonkin cleric, focused on smashing faces.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Derjuin
Aaaaaaaand another:
*snip*
On the first one, are the dragon heads with orange horns part of his helmet, or his pauldrons? Right now they look too high up, as though they would be on the side of the neck on a non-OotS person.
What species is the second character?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kymme
Also, I have a new avatar that I'd like to show everyone!
He is a Legend character of mine, a quick warrior who can wield a huge weapon with ease.
*snip*
Coincidentally, my latest pic has a similar pose to this.
I like the interesting effects you can make in PDN. As a break from Touhou characters, I drew something entirely different (well almost, he is still a character from a game produced in Japan )
Spoiler
I hope Domochevsky doesn't mind it's influenced by his style...
__________________
If Charisma is a measure of social skills, force of personality and confidence, I definitely have a penalty.
Just stop being awesome with special effects already!
Nicely done, although I feel that it might be slightly too much 3D effect on the giant arms to fit in with the still quite 2D figure. But it does put emphasis on the arms as something above the ordinary and out of this world which I think fits the spirit of the drawing. I'm a bit divided on the matter.
I also sat down and actually drew something, I thought I'd test out my new stationary computer instead of the netbook and perhaps be able to use a bit more special effects than usual. I did and was able to (my netbook would have melted from the strain) but I ended up scrapping them all after realizing why I stopped using special effects in the first place.
And whew, I'm totally out of shape... I must workout and regain some artistic muscles. ^^
Edit: Realized it might be a slight spoiler since it is based on a scene in episode 8 of the sound-novel Umineko no Naku Koro ni. You have been warned.
Spoiler
I also recorded the session but I'm unsure if I'm going to do anything with it since it is a bit anticlimactic to reach the end and just scrap what you worked with during 2/3'ds of the video.
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Last edited by Elder Tsofu : 11-10-2012 at 04:01 PM.
Still don't know how you people can do such fancy art in OotS style. Fancy poses and layering work and other stuff I can't do.
All I have to show for recent stuff is my comic's new title art; for those of you that haven't already seen it, I blacked out certain characters because they haven't been introduced yet, and since my comic is still a work in progress.
Also happy with my new title logo for "Tales of Revelia". For those of you that saw the old one, this one is so much better.
(Well that would fit the "JRPG" theme of his comic. I mean you've ever seen JRPG protagonist that look older than 20 ? It's like they all die or retire at 25)
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I'm sig'ing in the rain, just sig'ing in the rain....