Yakoob on 14/8/2016 at 18:17
Hey guys, so I'm working on a simple side-scrolling city scene and struggling with the art. I've done an art test using Kenny's free tiles and going after a Blade Runner esque feel but not quite nailing it.
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http://i.imgur.com/YxMU1mN.jpg)
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/YxMU1mN.jpg(Click for Bigger)
I know I lack all the Asian stuff but I don't want that. I also don't have the glowy banners (yet), but even with how its looking, I'm not sure that would solve it. I focused on lots of different colors and bloom in a night scene but it doesn't feel right. What am I missing?
Renzatic on 14/8/2016 at 18:40
Your color scheme is the first thing I noticed. It's too pastel. I'd tend it more towards primary colors. Make the overall lighting more brownish red instead of blue, and allow your artificial lights to give it color.
Starker on 14/8/2016 at 18:53
I'd say it looks a bit too clean. You need more "stuff" to clutter up the image. There's not enough dirt or steam or garbage on the streets and buildings and nothing really screams out at you. There are no garish neon signs to grab your attention and there's not enough contrast to evoke film noir aesthetics. The differently coloured windows (with the exception of the big green display window) just look weird, because they seem like regular windows and not anything that's meant to grab your attention.
Yakoob on 14/8/2016 at 20:39
Quote Posted by Starker
I'd say it looks a bit too clean. You need more "stuff" to clutter up the image. There's not enough dirt or steam or garbage on the streets and buildings and nothing really screams out at you. There are no garish neon signs to grab your attention and there's not enough contrast to evoke film noir aesthetics. The differently coloured windows (with the exception of the big green display window) just look weird, because they seem like regular windows and not anything that's
meant to grab your attention.
Yea I know I need more clutter, but since it wasnt shaping up the way I wanted I stopped before sinking more time. Think clutter + neon signs is all it's really missing to set the mood?
That was my original inspiration actually :) but couldn't find free iso tilesets to match the style and side scrolly is easier to do as well
Renzatic on 14/8/2016 at 20:56
Why not try to make them yourself? Pixel art is pretty easy to get into. It doesn't take an extensive backing in art to come to terms with. All you're doing is laying down giant pixels, where a little can go a surprisingly long way. You could take the base tileset you have now, compare it to some grungier tilesets that catch your eye, and try to ape their style a bit without doing a 1:1 copy. All you're doing is laying down pixels.
Like take this picture...
Inline Image:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3018396/PixelArt1.pngThat's pretty simple stuff. You could fire up MS Paint, and copy that in half an hour without even really knowing how to draw. Once you're done with that, you can try your own thing based off the techniques you've just copied, and bam...you're on your way to being a pixel artist.
For a more complicated picture...
Inline Image:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3018396/PixelArt2.pngLook at those walls. They look like detailed crumbling plaster, but they're all just 2-3 colors. With enough variety, you can make a complex scene out of very simple stuff.
Starker on 14/8/2016 at 22:06
Quote Posted by Yakoob
Yea I know I need more clutter, but since it wasnt shaping up the way I wanted I stopped before sinking more time. Think clutter + neon signs is all it's really missing to set the mood?
I'd say it's largely a matter of not enough interesting things going on in the picture. For example, the city in the background feels dark and lifeless. I mean, it's not like there should be gas flares going off a la Blade Runner, but at least some lights should be on. And dirty streets and neon signs would help reinforce the cyberpunk idea of "high tech and low life" and make the buildings feel less generic.
Oh, and if you're looking for something like Blade Runner for inspiration, Omikron: The Nomad Soul might be worth a look. I think it captured the aesthetics quite nicely, complete with gas flares and other industrial stuff.
Yakoob on 15/8/2016 at 01:08
Quote Posted by Renzatic
Why not try to make them yourself?
I considered, but it takes too much time. I'm in rapid prototyping mode now so I want to get stuff done as fast as possible, not spend 2 weeks making all the art for an experimental game that could suck. I already sank way too much into Gather or Karaski.
henke on 19/8/2016 at 17:48
Oh man. Looks so good.
IF YOU BAKE HIM, I WILL DEV
Yakoob on 19/8/2016 at 18:53
One day I will be as good as Renz... in the meantime:
Inline Image:
http://i.imgur.com/B5FqgTG.jpgOffice scene coming together :)
