HK-Final Fantasy 9

[EmuMaster2002]

Well, despite my recent tragedy (the probable loss of all my current game's data), I've decided to expand my horizons. I figured I'd try spriting Half-Kaisers, since I've done a little RTP and got okay at it.

I've decided that with a few different types of HK templates, I'm going to try to create the cast of Final Fantasy 9, starting with everybody's favorite Genome thief, Zidane.

Comments, complaints, advice, and death threats are all welcome.

Updated again. Added the tail, worked on the hair more. May redo front view hair as per Zeeph's suggestion.

Stop bothering me about the color.

 

[lostingeneral]

The shading could use a bit of work but otherwise it's nice.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Any part in particular (besides the hair), or the thing as a whole?

 

[Karnage]

SHADING the whole thing

 

[Calibre]

To me it doesn't look like Zidane really at all I'm afraid. The colouring is the main problem. Zidane's clothing was far more cyan/turquoise nature, not deep blue. The head (although you stated it yourself) looks nothing like him whatsoever. he also needs like a belt/backpack on his upper torso, over his shoulders, the bow on his neck needs to be more defined too. The cloth part round his wrists need to pertrude more, and he needs a holster on his left hip. Finally, although you are using HK, I would suggest making his head a little taller, like the sprite style of FF9, though that bit isn't necessary.

I won't bother with the death threats though! :P

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Well, I tried with the belt things, but one pixel doesn't show up (look at it up close) and two looks like too much. I'm not worried about the pouffy thing around his neck, myself. I just really don't want to sprite it, and I always thought it looked a little dorky. Just artistic flavor, I guess. I figure the holster won't be too missed, since weapons almost never show up on characters in games. All the pictures of him that I have show him with blue pants (a different blue that I can't seem to find, but a blue nonetheless) and I've been working on the shading of the hair. It's my first attempt ever of shading hair, so I'm sure it isn't pretty.

 

[Calibre]

Compare the blue of this to the blue in the palette you use:

http://potterm.msn.ee/pildid/Final Fantasy IX - Zidane Tribal.jpg

It is half way between blue and green and I think thats the most accurate picture you'll find of Zidane.

The blue you use seems to be creeping into a purple hue, it should be creeping into a green hue instead.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

That picture looks tinted...

http://www.square-enix-usa.com/games/FFIX-gamesite/

look at the Zidane there. He's more blue-ish.

 

[Calibre]

That site was worth going to just to hear that music... memories.

He still looks in the blue/green end of the spectrum to me...

Your blue is basically purple... on my monitor at least. We could keep going back and forth but in my opinion the palette is the biggest downfall. I also remember in the game him having a green tint in the blue too. Up to you what you do but I think that and the head really stop it from l9ooking anything like him. One more tip, give the pants and gloves a heavy shine, they seem to be made from a leather/latex material that lets off a vibrant shine.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Yeah, I've been working on pants highlights, but they're not going very well. Should I add highlights under the knee as well as above?

And, well, it's either your monitor or mine, because I see a very deep blue with little red in it at all. In fact, I added a bit of green to the latest update.

Do you have any tips for the head? I just can't seem to get it right. The hair is bugging me, though, and I hate that I can't fix it. Been trying, though, and I guess that counts.

 

[Calibre]

Well I'm no spriter but I can see on the hair it gives no impression that it rises before it falls... It just looks like long hair on a women. The strands of hair are too thin and too even, Zidanes hair is very choppy. i wouls suggest amking the shading on the knees almost fade to white, as that shows it is reflecting light. Not white but pale blue. Would you consider changing the eyes too? Zidanes eyes are wider than they are tall. Keep trying

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Well, is that better? I put shadow under the hair for starters, and I tried making the eyes a bit smaller--doesn't look great on this template--and I'm working on the pants' contrast right now.

 

[Calibre]

I think to get the result you want you'd need to start the hair from scratch. It's just not the right shape.

Needs to vary in length
Have the hair rise up from the scalp and then fall again.
Varying thickness of choppy hair
Have some fringe over his face [will help to get the effect of the rise and fall]
Be made a little darker and less in your face blonde.
Emphasise the central parting.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Something more like this?:
Oops, deleted the image. See below.

 

[Calibre]

I think that is definately more along the right lines...

Maybe try giving the front two strands more of a pointy edge and a direct route down over his face, at the moment it looks too much of a flat fringe. The second strand back, try making it rise up from the head and then bend back down towards his shoulders. Then try adding maybe a couple of thin strands of hair coming out a little deeper than the other larger strands.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

What I have so far. What do you mean about thin strands coming out deeper?

 

[Calibre]

Basically thr hair you've done [which is far better now btw] is too tidy. Zidanes hair is pretty much a mess. All your strands have the same length, size and trajectories. Mix these up a bit and I think you'll find you get the result you need. Also make a gap between the first and second strands back, like on your sig. That will create more of an identifable fringe strand.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

Look, he combed it, get off my back! :D

 

[Calibre]

Yeah compare that to what you had when I first started commenting and it has come on alot... Still you haven't made the first set of strands more triangularly pointed tips and seperating from his other strands. I'll try to explain. Highlight the first two strands and roate them both inwards towards his face. Leave a gap of the hair in between. So where those two strands used to be, leave it with no hair there. The front strands should come down at less of an angle compared to the other strands, more directly... no?

EDIT

http://www.nwe.ufl.edu/~ltaylor/tem...lFantasyImages/FInalFantasyIX/FFIX_Zidane.jpg

This picture demonstrates both what I mean by choppiness, and the strands over his face.

 

[EmuMaster2002]

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d130/ ... nehair.jpg[/IMG]
Eh... It's hard to make that look good with a small resolution...
How's that though?