Just a little question

I've looked around at this forum and as far as I understand there are some very good artist's here who posts very good feedback. I've never shown my pictures to anyone but my friends before but now I want to become better, like you guys :smile:

So here's my question: How do you load up an image? :biggrin:

Go to www.imageshack.us. It's fairly obvious what you have to do, but just shout if you get into difficulty.

Ok, thx man...

Shall I save all the links?

http://img90.exs.cx/img90/8470/44WolfRider.jpg

Don't know what I'm doing but I hope this works.

Some images in this post have been automatically down-sized, click on them to view the full sized versions:

That works fine, but the file size is a little large. xat.com has a good image compressor.



Use the [img*] and [/img*] tags without the stars to display an image on the forums.

Sorry for my noobishness, but wtf do you mean? :biggrin:

But wont that make the picture "uglier"? :sad:

Sorry for my spelling by the way :smile:

Your spelling is fine, especially considering you're from Sweeden. You
can compress an image a certain amount before you notice any difference
in quality. It's up to you to find a balance.

To display your image like I did, as opposed to linking to it, just
type the address like this:
[img*]http://img108.exs.cx/img108/8522/8e44WolfRider.jpg[/img*] . Leave
out the stars though, I just put them there to stop the image
displaying.

He means head over to xat.com and download their image compressor - it
reduces the file size of the image so people can view it quicker
(especially people on low speed net connections). It may make the image
a bit uglier, but its fairly efficient and doesn't lower quality too
much. You have control over how much compression to do, so you can
balance quality and file size yourself.

As for the latter part, he was saying how to display the image directly
on the page rather than just put up a link. So for that image you would
put [img*]http://img108.exs.cx/img108/8522/8e44WolfRider.jpg[/img*]
into your post, minus the *'s.

Nice picture by the way, all I can think to comment on is the poses of
the orc thing on the right looks a bit unnatural to me, he is hunching
his arms a bit much or something.

Ok, thx for the help guys.

follow this link to XAT's newest version.

it is phenomenal in its efficiency and quality. as 2knifes said, you can chose the limits of compression.. most retain perfect quality at 70% (the default setting)

So you only have to lower it to 70%, then it's ok?

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Kanniball</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>So you only have to lower it to 70%, then it's ok?

</DIV></DIV>

what you need to decide is, how much abuse you can handle.

we like images at less than 100k and 800x600.. we prefer them at less than 75k, we will sing songs of praise to your progeny if you keep them at less than 50k.
you decide whats best for you.

Shall I start a new post to get feedback or just try to get feedback here?

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Kanniball</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Shall I start a new post to get feedback or just try to get feedback here? </DIV></DIV>

if its a new topic, try new, if its the same topic, use this one.

Nice picture. Guessing you colored it in PSP.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting ReNo</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>He means head over to xat.com and download their image compressor - it reduces the file size of the image so people can view it quicker (especially people on low speed net connections). It may make the image a bit uglier, but its fairly efficient and doesn't lower quality too much. You have control over how much compression to do, so you can balance quality and file size yourself.

As for the latter part, he was saying how to display the image directly on the page rather than just put up a link. So for that image you would put [img*]http://img108.exs.cx/img108/8522/8e44WolfRider.jpg[/img*] into your post, minus the *'s.

Nice picture by the way, all I can think to comment on is the poses of the orc thing on the right looks a bit unnatural to me, he is hunching his arms a bit much or something.
</DIV></DIV>
Ok, thx. Anything else exept for the "hunching" orc? :smile:

My friend didn't like the cheekbone on the closets orc (left)...
And by the way, he thought that the same orc should have a sort of helmet. What do you guys think?

Now you mention it, that cheekbone could use improvement. It looks too
sharp at the moment, jumping from highlight straight to shadow and
suggesting it is a 90 degree edge or something. Put a more intermediate
tone between the two perhaps, might make it look more natural.

Whether or not the orc has a helmet is more of a character design issue

• if you feel you want that character to have a helment then add it,

otherwise don't. I think it looks fine without to be honest, but if
done well a helmet could work too :smile:

Ok, thx.

I think the picture would be nicer if there was a background. It's just that, the orcs "are on" the white background so it would be very hard not to f**k things up :razz:

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Is this any better? Or don't you see the differense?

Dear god... what's going on between that orc and the wolf?

Nice pics... keep it up!

Nice thoughts, pervert! :razz:

I'll try to make the leggs a little better so you dont f**k it up with your feedback!

Also I'm making a shoulderpad to the orc to the left... My friend thought he looked a little naked :rolleyes:

Anything else??

Oh and thx by the way :razz:

Oh and I've looked around at your website Finger... Man you are talented!

Some images in this post have been automatically down-sized, click on them to view the full sized versions:



Did a little change on wolfrider, changed the face of the closest orc and added armor on his shoulder.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Kanniball</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>Oh and I've looked around at your website Finger... Man you are talented!

</DIV></DIV>

yeah, i was giggling when i read your "pervert" comment.. /me was thinking, "damn, this guy doesn't seem to know master fingers very good at this picture stuff"
anywho's.. nice updates.

Thx Orpheus.

Shall I keep sending updates? Or is it just boring? :razz:

I just want some feedback that colud improve my "skill"... if I have any that is :rolleyes:

You definately have skill :smile: I think the problem with not getting much
feedback stems from the fact the updates are quite small, and we aren't
a community for art (or not traditional art at least). Sure there are
some artists who come here, but they do so for mapping rather than for
art. I think new pictures will recieve comments, with a few updates
perhaps, but if the updates are small (like this in case), people
aren't going to bother to notice the little changes and remark on them.

BTW, though the changes are subtle, they are nice :smile:

Ok

Do you know any "real" art-forum?

Obviously I'll be here at snarkpit too, (since mapping is quite fun and snarkpit.com rules :razz: ), but maybe I would get more feedback on my pictures at an art-forum.

Oh and thx by the way :biggrin:

Ok

Do you know any "real" art-forum?

Obviously I'll be here at snarkpit too, (since mapping is quite fun and snarkpit.com rules :razz: ), but maybe I would get more feedback on my pictures at an art-forum.

Oh and thx by the way :biggrin:

Do you want "feed back" or
constructive criticism?

Both! And be as hard as you like... Tell me all the flaws.. well not all.. that would be spamming :biggrin: , but the "worst", if you know what I mean.

I'm gonna have to get used to calling you TwoKnives, A_S.

Ok, I'll give you some feedback on these paintings, since it's sunday and I don't plan on moving from this chair for the whole afternoon, and I'm bored :biggrin:

First of all, I think you have a very good beginners grasp of shading and defining 3d shapes with values. I don't know how long you have been doing this, but regardless..I see tons of potential in these drawings. So, that said, here are the general 'flaws' or whatever, that pop out at me right away.

The major 4 are:

1. Basic anatomy of your characters is off in some places. Spend some time with anatomy books, before you draw. Try to understand what muscles you are drawing, and what they connect to. If you have a firm grasp of the foundations of how muscles work, you can see what feels right in different situations (should the muscle be tensed when he stands like this, should it bulge..etc).

2. Not looking the big picture, when defining your major shapes. In other words, paying attention to defining the details, without working out the big shapes first.

3. Too much black and white, to define your shapes. This is the first big hurdle when learning to use color... Basically, you only want to use black and white for the MOST extreme highlights, and shadows, and that is very rarely.. maybe only a couple of tiny spots in an image, to anchor it, or a highlight that really makes it pop. Other than that, try to vary the value of the color, without adding white or black. This way, you can keep the vibrance of your colors, and not kill them or flatten them with white/black. It's a big step to get over, but once you do, your paintings will be remarkably better.

3. Presentation. Just having these characters on the right background would make them look better. There is a stark contrast with the white background, which makes them seem cut-out, and flat.

Ok, since I have opened this can of worms and you may now have more questions than you did before, trying to understand what I'm babbling on about. I will see if I can do the famous 'paintover' and illustrate what I'm going on about.

Holy crap, I actually did something productive?

Ok... Here's a quick paintover of the big orc. I went in and used a more vibrant green color, with 4 or so values; all staying roughly within the same hue. I just kinda pick and plop, until they feel right, then grab colors from the ones I have layed down, but a more organized way is to lay out your pallette in blobs, somewhere on the canvas, and use them for a cosistent reference.

I am assuming you are using photoshop, or something similar?

The important shapes, here; the ones that will make the overall shape of his head feel right, are dome, cheeks, jaw, front-face. If you have all these elements connected right, with a consistent light-source defining these shapes... you've got the big picture. Then you can move into the details.

Also, In photoshop, I always have an adjustment layer on the top, which I use to flip back and forth between greyscale, and color; just to check that my values are correct. Colors can be decieving; sometimes being much lighter or darker than you percieve. Working in a greyscale state will help you tie together the over-all value scheme of your drawing, and help you create a realistic value shift between dark and light areas. These shifts, and this structure is what defines your shapes and makes them feel 3D. think of the color as an overlay of this structure.

Ok, I could go on forever... so I'll bow out now, and leave you this stuff to chew on.

last minute comment:

the orc on the right, he looks to stiff armed, as if the axe is way to heavy.. move his elbows away from his sides a bit.. he looks like he is struggling with the effort.

/ 2 cents.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Orpheus</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>last minute comment:

the orc on the right, he looks to stiff armed, as if the axe is way to heavy.. move his elbows away from his sides a bit.. he looks like he is struggling with the effort.

/ 2 cents.

</DIV></DIV>
Sweet I just found two cents that someone dropped here.

<DIV class=quote>
<DIV class=quotetitle>? quoting Spartan 34</DIV>
<DIV class=quotetext>
Sweet I just found two cents that someone dropped here.

</DIV></DIV>
you know, someday i am going to like you a lot.

Some images in this post have been automatically down-sized, click on them to view the full sized versions:

A "little" update.

I just tested a few things, like removing the blacks, and Iv'e changed their faces a little.

Simple question: Does it look any better? (I saved the old one just in case)

Oh and I've not started doing a background yet because I dont really know where I want them to be, and it's so damn hard...

Hehehehehe an Orc that looks like the bar guy from "Cheers" hehe

Hey your year of creation is wrong now :razz:

Oops :biggrin:

I'll change it right away!

So... Is the picture better or not? :razz: