There's not going to be a Big Question today because I can't think of a topic that I really want to talk about. So instead I'll let you guys use this thread as an Open Critique Day thread. If anyone has any ideas for subjects to cover in the Big Question please tell me, because I don't want to have to drop it.
Anyway, lets see what you guys have got and we'll see if we can help you improve it.
http://i421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/leemccree/cardinalvsXI.png
So what do you folks think of Cardinal XI
Seems the “big question” today is: “Where is everybody?” 😉
Hmmm… Big Question ideas…
1. Kaiju!
2. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: What went wrong?
3. Should we be concerned about House Nobunga’s recent bid to expand Demerov Mining & Manufacturing’s operations into the asteroid belt of the neutral Regen system?
4. Does anybody here remember Vera Lynn?
5. Don’t panic… but has anyone seen my rancor?
Overall it looks good, but there are a few things that could be done. The pants on the right hand should be turned slightly to match with the left (which look like they’re angled better to begin with). Also the wings don’t match up right, the right is higher and closer in to the body than the left, so maybe move one of them so they match up. But apart from that, good costume design, like the use of items, yeah, not much else to improve.
I like the banded shoulders and gloves. Maybe work that look into his boots. Shrink the chest insignia or adopt a different one. It’s kind of repetitive with his belt buckle.
Alternately, lose the chest logo and add the metallic banding to the red on his chest (masking). That should add pop in place of a flat unshiny insignia.
an old-age version of one of my Villains: Wolfhound
http://fav.me/d6my9cj
This is one of my “art” pieces. (if I got the right one) Its like variations on a theme starting with the normal one.
(If I did post the wrong one, you won’t what I’m talking about)
http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/keric/2013/08/dir-dress.PNG
My very first attempt of a 3/4 pose, so I’m sure there are tons of things I got wrong 😀 I know I had trouble with the limb proportions, but can’t see how to do things better.
Likewise with the little shadding I did, I have trouble knowing how to do what without screwing everything.
http://uprapide.com/images/invite/hm3—bleys-20.png
@Guy Diga- Can’t see much wrong there, maybe rotate the leg wear item you’ve used on the right arm so the outer line of the item lines up with the outer line of the arm. Also you might want to re-layer the hands, move the right one above the glove and the left one below.
@Keric- there’s definitely variations on a theme there. Really all I can advise you look at is the spacing between the squares, which seem to be really close then a huge gap for no apparent reason, and the top outline of the largest square is ten times bigger than any of the other outlines, so that might need to be looked at.
@Arioch- Ok, not a bad first attempt at doing a 3/4 pose. I’d have a look at the top first, see if you can’t make it fit better by using a different masking technique like the one shown here- http://www.heromachine.com/wp-content/legacy/forum-image-uploads/ams/2012/04/example-for-Suleman.png
The left hand should be layered above the left arm and I’d suggest masking the hair to a box so that the hair on the right side of his head stays as it is, but the bit covering his face is a few layers down behind his head so as it doesn’t cover his face. Finally, the shading, not bad, the sword glow is good as is the highlighting on the left thigh and boot, however for the highlighting on the shirt, make the circle smaller and use extra circles in different places so you have the same sort of shading effect but without covering the lines, because that makes it look messy. I’d also advise moving the highlighting on the right leg up a bit and doing the same sort of thing as I said to do with the shirt on the right boot. Also then try adding some shadow. Try pulling the same pose in front of a mirror and seeing where the shadow falls on your body, then carry that over onto the character (or find a reference picture of a character in a similar pose and study that).
Well, it doesn’t show, but I used exactly that method for the top 😀
It shows in the shoulders (they aren’t the same size), and I see now there’s a connecting error at the waist where you see it too.
So if I understand, you say I should… incline it, that’s it? I shall try.
Thank you very much for the long reply, anyway, it is much appreciated. I shall try to do all this 🙂
@Arioch: I would also size the limbs with more contrast to make his pose more obvious. Not much.
@Keric: I like your artistic shape-scatter. Without knowing a goal, all else I can say is that I love the blue-skinned one best?
@Guy: Should he be unarmed? If so, I would encourage you to show wear and tear on his spikes.
@Vengeance: I would suggest masking a similar stripe pattern from your custom gloves to several places on the costume. Maybe with a deliberate but slight tilt?
@AP: #4: no? who’s Vera?
@ev1:
WHO’D LIKE TO SEE PROGRAMMERS TAKE A REST FROM MESSING WITH FLASH, JAVA, IPHONE APPS, OPERATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL, AND, IN KEEPING WITH STAYING POSITIVE, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THEM DOING INSTEAD?!
Vera Lynn is a singer and actress most popular during World War II. Also, a song on Pink Floyd’s “The Wall.”
Remember, if it weren’t for a certain Flash / Java developer, there would be no HeroMachine!
I mean messing with what works. Google Chrome’s disruption of Flash messing with HM, for example. Java updates have actually made it impossible for me to play most of my favorite video games. IPhone updates were rough this morning.
Writing Flash programs is ALWAYS great, even when it doesn’t result in something as versatile as HM. I just don’t want what’s in place messed up. A distinction between improving and disrupting can be made by most users of software.
Herr ~ the multicolor on the left was a TOTAL fluke, I lost the gold one mid way through, but I wanted to keep it
What I was going for was a “Warhol~esk” color flip flop type thing.
And I think I agree I like the blue-skinned on best!
Well, you succeeded in a Warhol-esque photo wall. The scatter made it less ‘mechanized’ looking, which I like. Ironic, since it WAS mechanized by HM. This is sort of like the Spectrum Sisters Family Portrait Wall. Found in the Fairy Glen’s Pothole of Gold?
I’m a big fan of characters who toss away or magic away their civilian clothes, a gag used by a lot of anime and fighting game characters, so I did this image of Faith Heller awhile back: http://i1331.photobucket.com/albums/w597/SeanWilkinson84/My%20Comic%20Book/Faith_zps8e07a3ce.png
apologies for double: I think TMNT would make a good Big Q topic. I could write a full-fledged article on the ups and downs of TMNT comics, classic tv, movies, games, and 2k3 series, although I have not seen any of the Nickelodeon show yet. Looks too juvenile after the way 2k3 started.
Not bad, the only thing I can find that you should address is that you’ve done the skin in a backlit fashion but the clothes in a front lit fashion colour wise, you might want to change one. Apart from that, all I can advise you do is mess around with effects to make the magic look more interesting.
Anyway, meant to close this OCD two days ago, got sidetracked. So, yeah, now this weeks OCD is done.