Any ideas how to sprite flat metal?

[Sephirot88]

Hey guys,
I'm working on a train station tileset and the steamtrain is nearly finished.
I wanted to shade the coal wagon but I got absolutely no idea woh to shade a flat metal plate.
Maybe you could give me some advices on this one.
I've attached the image to this post.

PS: Please do not use thie graphic in your project. I will upload it into the download center once the demo is finished, so please be patient.

 

[saikyo765]

First of all, that's a great sprite you have there.

but why now just shade the coal wagon like you did the rest of the train?

 

[Halestorm5]

but why now just shade the coal wagon like you did the rest of the train?

I think its because, the coal wagon is flat and the rest of it is curved metal.8-)

 

[Blitzlance]

looks great but im have no idea

 

[Esper]

Try to cut the plate into single parts. For Example: 3 plates that are building the side of the coal wagon. Than add these screws. Now, to fill it more, add a Text Like "HAMILTON TRAINS" ( just an Example ) over the complete Wagons side.

 

[BlueScope]

Great sprite indeed... the frontmost part looks out of perspective, though, and the outlines should be darker... also, I'd shade the coal wagon just like the train, since the curved metal is nothing else than flat metal, put in shape :P

PS: Yay for the German gathering XD

 

[Tana]

Break it up into Panels.
http://www.readingrailroad.org/multimedia/images/rcths_boxcar.jpg
http://www.trainweb.org/screamingeagle/gallery/cbq/cbq160814.jpg
New Shiny Coalcar:
http://www.trainnet.org/Libraries/Lib005/BATHTUB.JPG

 

[Sephirot88]

Thank you for all your advices.
I decided to break it up into several parts like SLB said...some kind of plates like the ones in the first picture which tana posted.
I'll work with textures and not with the simple dark/light shading...could take some time because I've done this only a few times before, but I think it's possible for me. If not, then I'll bug you again :D

 

[Miroko001]

really, i dont think its a matter of spriting, more of an issue of event lighting

 

[Sephirot88]

An issue of event lighting?
Do you mean cosmetic maps?
If yes then I don't think so.
A sprite doesn't look much better with overlayed effects and I won't use them.
It's pure spriting without any photoshop/gimp effects.
Spriting is about having control over any pixel and not about making somethin look better due to effects.

 

[Samboy]

I think you should add some rusting/fading of metal to one of the carriages to give it a manner of perspective. But that's just my opinion. It looks just great.

 

[CERU]

Wow that looks amazing, I wish I had use for it in my game.

 

[Miroko001]

An issue of event lighting?
Do you mean cosmetic maps?
If yes then I don't think so.
A sprite doesn't look much better with overlayed effects and I won't use them.
It's pure spriting without any photoshop/gimp effects.
Spriting is about having control over any pixel and not about making somethin look better due to effects.

...sry if i sounded pushy i didnt mean to, it was just a sugestion. um, you could try giving it an even spray of grayish blue colors, kinda like you did the rest of the train only no shine.... umm i dont know how type it straight forward...... or maybe a vertical shine or diagonal shine... kinda like in mario games how the blocks have a somewhat diagonal shine of some sort.

 

[Sephirot88]

@Miroko:
Well, a 'shine' would look out of place for a steamtrain.
I travel very often and also travelled with those old trains just for fun and they're always built of some beamless/dull and rough metal, which does not reflect much light.

@samboy:
I've already added the effect of fading/used metal to the main cart of the train and I'll add this effect to the coal cart too. And I'll also add rust to the coal cart since it's the most dirtiest/used part of a train.