Seeking Advice On This!

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:32 pm

I've been working on the outline from our dear Unyko. I've come up with the colors and such and it leaves, other than the actual shading of ALL of them, the 'gems' on the dragons to deal with. I'm wondering if some persons could give me some advice regarding them.

Currently I'm going a route similiar to the scales of the Esecentas for the gems, but I don't think it looks rather good. It's also tiring to use the style on all of the larger gems.

Oh... and I kinda be-headed the draggie to save room with the example of what it currently looks like... Don't hurt me.

If any one has ANY advice on how I could improve the appearance of the gems, PLEASE speak up. I can't get these things up in clutch form if I can't decide how to do it. And Unyko, your input is more than just welcomed, as they are after all your design...

And if anyone beats me for the color, I beat you with Hojo, because there is a reason these things are going to be darker.

Post by **Dray** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:24 am

For gems and shiny things, try putting the shade on the side that's /closer/ to the light source, and the light /away/ from it. Then, on a new layer, create a spot of white (or a thin line, whichever works better for the shape of the gem/horn!) just over the shade.

http://artdragon.mine.nu/~kat/avengaea/niteshan.gif

An example of how the dark-underneath-light-spot works with one of Kat's Niteshan dragons.

It's a little time consuming, but I think it works really well. :O I hope that helps!

Xenoqueen · Post by **Xenoqueen** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:01 am

Here's the tutorial I first learned to do jewels from. I have a slightly different method (using overlay rather than the color-picker), but it shows what Terry means by shading closest to the light source.

http://www.nethersphere.com/howto_jewels.html

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 9:26 am

Thanks. Off to attempt it now.

Edit: Attempted. Thanks for the advice. The smaller gems have come out very well. But the largers... Any ideas on what I can do to improve?

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/ ... age1-1.gif
^Working version^

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j263/ ... Image2.gif
^Size its going to be in the end^

Once more, all help is appreciated, and major help pretty much guarentees you are freebie in the long run once they are finished. a Freebie you don't even have to go into the clutches for!

Starburst · Post by **Starburst** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:48 am

I really like the gems, very realistic-looking.

About the large ones... hmm, I dunno. I rather like them, actually. (Watch my lame attempts to try and get a freebie.) The only advice I would have is to perhaps make the colour-transition a bit smoother, maybe airbrush it? (I don't know if that's just how it came out when you saved it as a GIF - they tend to get a bit colour-eaten - or if you just did it that way.)

Anyway, nice shading on that, and can't wait to see more of them!

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:00 am

I just use inner bevel. :/

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:02 am

Naw, they came out like that. A friend of mine suggested adding a few more colors to the larger to try and smooth the transition, as well as making the white a bit bigger.

And I don't have inner bevel. *cry* Even the tutorial from phoenix didn't work all that well because PSP7 doesn't have some of those tools. I had to mix and match it with Dray's method.

caesiusdraco · Post by **caesiusdraco** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 11:26 am

For the bigger ones, I would take away the white spot, and maybe do a white blur or smudged line to accent light direction. Also, I would use the smudge tool to blend those colors a little more. I like the change, but I don't like how you can tell where one color just stops.

Another thing that I noticed is that the light direct in the larger gems appears to be coming from a different direction, which signifies that you have two light angles. But, that makes it look wierd to have the gems only respond to one. So, I would suggest either killing the second light source, or referencing your white "light spots" to both sources.

That's my two cents.

It looks good so far, though.

Unyko · Post by **Unyko** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:03 pm

The little gems really do look awesome. <3 And for the larger ones (and here I'm assuming you mean the horns?), try making it look like the tail of Dray's example (with the white hilight following the blackline at the center of the horn, if that manes any sense). ^.^; Which is really just what everyone else is saying, but there it is a different way, just in case. ^.^; *slips back into the shadows*

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 12:15 pm

*laughs* Well... I'm trying all different methods. Everyone will know when I figure it out

Cy · Post by Cy » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:15 pm

PSP7 /does/ have bevel
=]

You have to select the color you want to bevel-ize, then go to Effects - 3D Effects - Inner Bevel [or Outer Bevel]

^_^

Shard · Post by **Shard** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:37 pm

Yup, what Cy said. It certainly does.

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:56 pm

well... bribery obviously works...

How does it look? Aside from the obvious problems with light source being inconsistant.

DNS · Post by **DNS** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:57 pm

I like it~ and argh i wish i'd done that on the tanjoubi babies. ._. i should've known there was some effect that could do the damn work for me~ <3

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 1:58 pm

I'll get back to the people who were the biggest help when I'm done with them all, and you of course Unyko, for you gifts. Then it will be planning and clutch.

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:01 pm

*pitches "Awaiting Clutch" tent*

caesiusdraco · Post by **caesiusdraco** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 2:03 pm

That's MUCH better. And, honestly, the inconsistency isn't so noticable now.

So, yeah, the horns/large jewels look really good.

The only other thing I can see is that you might want to try adding some highlight to the shoulder and thigh. You have these beautiful jewels and honrs that give a nice "pop", but just highlighting the outlines when you would have some nice, defined bones and muscle in those areas makes it look a little flat.

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 4:58 pm

Hmm... Interesting idea. I'll try it out. Until then everyone should enjoy the (tentatively) completed Kilamdiry Draggies... ((I love the colorize tool.))

If there is enough likeness for these I will take care of the gifts I owe for major help (I'll PM you peeps with it) and then come up with info so we can get ourselves a clutch going.

DNS · Post by **DNS** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:02 pm

ILOVETHEM. ;-; argh i wish i'd seen this in time to help, though honestly i wouldn't've known what to do.
<3 they're love, carodos. NESSIE WANTS. <3

Cacopheny · Post by **Cacopheny** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:16 pm

Those are lovely ^^

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:29 pm

*pitches a bigger tent* MUST...HAVE!!!! *waits for clutch and packs food for her and people who will wait for the clutch too*

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:34 pm

Just as a warning, these things will be bond only. No sponsoring...

DNS · Post by **DNS** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:40 pm

XP that's only mildly disconcerting. Do they take one bond only, or are they willing to share?

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:44 pm

Sorry. One or each other or other dragons. There are some cases of two bonding the same person... They are small and need the protection of groups. But they are less picky about gender. You'll understand later.

Kitsuneko · Post by **Kitsuneko** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:46 pm

*coos* Pretty! I want...

DNS · Post by **DNS** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 5:48 pm

-waves paw- dun worry, i like it. >.> I just like having a character on their own page sometimes, which is why, if i can, i submit 2 or more candidates to a certain clutch, one to sponsor and bond. >> but bond-only creatures make me happy.

and squee. I like minature pack type things, so if they'll share, that is good. being singular, however, is good too.

-wriggles cuz she can't wait for hte info-

PinkDragon · Post by **PinkDragon** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:30 pm

*Pitchs a tent next to shadow* So how long till the first clutch

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:31 pm

Well.... A month free time once I get the stuff ready, maybe more.

Post by **Dray** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:44 pm

;_; There are so many broken links from photobucket! I was hoping to see your progress, but it looks like you've taken them down already!

Carodos · Post by **Carodos** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 6:51 pm

sorry. *hugs* Really sorry Dray.