My first ever sprite.

[Macro]

Hello everybody!

I'm new to these forums but I have been using RMXP for some time now.

I always wanted to make graphics for Rpg Maker so I came here and found this cool template called Half Kaizer.

Anyways this is the first sprite I've ever done and I hope you guys like it.

Spoiler: Versions 1-3

#1:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/firsttry.png[/img]

#2:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/secondtry.png[/img]

#3:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/thirdtry.png[/img]

Spoiler: Versions 4-6

#4:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/fourthtry.png[/img]

#5:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/fifthtry.png[/img]

#6:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/sixthtry.png[/img]

Spoiler: Version 7-9

#7:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/seventhtry.png[/img]

#8:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/eighttry.png[/img]

#9:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/ninthtry.png[/img]

Spoiler: Version 10-12

#10:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/tenthtry.png[/img]

#11:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/eleventhtry.png[/img]

#12:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/twelvetry.png[/img]

Spoiler: Version 13-14

#13:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/thirteenthtry.png[/img]

#14:http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm180/MacroMan_album/sixteenthtry.png[/img]

What do you think? I'm sure it's nothing spectacular but Hell it's my first try.

 

[Macro]

I've been working with robot in the chat room and he helped me with the hair as seen above.

 

[Macro]

Two more updates. I think he's getting there.

I'd still love it if people would post critique on him I need whatever help possible.

 

[joakkar]

Fix the sleeves. They look too big for his arms. They're not supposed to be shoulder pads. Also, use a darker pallette for the clothes. (and more shading btw, I'm guessing those are not enough colors)

 

[Macro]

6th update is up and I put them in spoilers thanks to arbiter.

6th update fixes a bit of the hair and the shirt.

 

[Macro]

Alright I'll see what kind of palettes I can find for the clothes.

 

[Despain]

There's improvement each time, so it's interesting.

I have a suggestion for your approach. Instead of starting with the outline first and then filling it in, try working from the shapes first and then building off of them. I don't know if that makes much sense, but it's clear in this video (by FrankieSmileShow, an amazing spriter).

The absolute biggest problem you have is your colors. The best way you can improve on these is to study colors used by other people. Showkaizer's colors are consistently brilliant, for example. I'll include my own color palette in my example so you can take a look at those (my colors really aren't flawless, but they're a decent enough example I think to show you what I mean). Additionally, try searching for some spriting tutorials.

It seems like first you're trying to focus on the hair, even though the other parts need serious reworking as well. For that reason I'll just show you how I'd improve on the hair and leave the rest for later.

http://bb.xieke.com/files/bluehair.PNG[/img]

My hair isn't really anything like yours at all, because I found that I had a VERY HARD time trying to emulate the hairstyle your sprite has. And frankly I think it's because your sprite really doesn't have a hair style at all. Looking back at your progress sprites confirms this.

I think that a very important piece of advice for you to follow, with hairstyles at least, is to have one in mind before beginning to create it. I'd especially suggest looking up some references.

Good luck.

 

[Macro]

Thanks a bunch missingno. I will definately try harder. I'm working on my seventh edit right now so I'll go ahead and fix up his hair. I'll definately find some reference pictures this time too.

EDIT: Okay I really tried hard this time on the hair and I hope it's up to your standards missingno.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... nthtry.png[/img]

Next time, just use the http://www.rmxp.org/forums/Themes/dotne ... modify.gif[/img] button. ~Gratheo

 

[Macro]

Version Eight is up.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... ghttry.png[/img]
Fixed up the clothing big time and I think he looks better.

 

[Macro]

Alright my shading was horrible so I found a cool tutorial and now I present Version 9!

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... nthtry.png[/img]

 

[razendnomar]

you dubble posed four times, as gratheo said, just use the modify button.

Let's talk about your sprite:
The shape of your hair looks way better now, don't forget to shade below the hair. also the hair is porely shaded, maybe you should look at this. It's a really great tutorial on shading hair.
Further on, it looks like your clothes have a gradient on them. is your light source comming from upper right? also the pants shading isn't good, just below the t-shirt it needs to be darker, look at yourself in a mirror, and look how the shading of your clothes is.

hope this helped


greez nomar

 

[Macro]

Okay I'll make sure to use that modify function from now on.

Anyways I've been following some more tutorials and have been looking at reference objects and I have to admit my character does look quite better now.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... nthtry.png[/img]

 

[Showkaizer]

Well MissingNo Has said some very true things about color so I won't be touching that. I will say that at your level of skill you may want to work with a more basic or simpler sprite template suited to your skill level, like the Breeze template.

However, I digress .Apparently you are adamant about spriting on this size so I will give you some tips that may help you.

1) You have to keep the shape of the sprite in mind. It's not a gingerbread man or a paper doll. Visualize the sprite as a three dimensional object and dress it accordingly. Imagine drawing clothes on to a ball. If you look at the clothes you've drawn on it, will there be sraitlines on its curved surface? On your sprite there should be folds where joints meet and the body curves. Also the ends of the sleeves, the collar, and the bottom of the shirt should be slightly curved due to the shape of the sprite's body

EDIT: Never mind that, its been fixed. But I'll keep it up here for other people to learn from.

One thing you are doing right though is drawing the clothes beyond the outline of the sprite. Most novice HK'ers tend to just color in the skin on the template and not actually draw the shirt on the figure.

2) Shade according to the shape of the clothes. Your shading does nothing to accentuate the three dimensionality of the sprite. In fact , because it is just a simple gradient it makes the sprite appear flat. On a smaller template this may be acceptable. But the HK is an unforgiving template and doesn't take well to such a novice mistake. Look out your window and see how light hits people. Do they appear as one smooth gradient?

EDIT: the gradient's been fixed. Now try to work on less dithering and using one or two more colors. A good rule of thumb is using at least 5 colors for each element. You may also want to take into consideration your directional lighting.

3) You may want to do something to make the sprite less dull. Your first sprite is wearing a plain orange shirt, green pants, and brown boots. Your second sprite is wearing a plain red shirt, green pants and brown boots... see what I'm saying? I'm not saying you have to dress them in armor or extravagant robes. But maybe add a different color trim, or some buttons. ANYTHING to break up the monotony. Actual cloth folds would probably go a long way.

4) The hair on both sprites are off proportionally, with the first sprite's hair being too large, and the second too close to the template's scalp. As a general rule of thumb, the  width of a hairstyle is 1 to 3 pixels width off the side of the head (not exceeding three pixels usually) And 1 to two pixels off the top of the head.(With the top and side of the head referring to the last pixel on the top or side)


Here's a quick edit of your first sprite to show you what I mean:
http://img380.imageshack.us/img380/8837/revnh9.png[/img]

Hope that helps.

 

[Macro]

Thanks showkaizer.

This is actually just 1 sprite and I have been considering giving him a tunic to wear.

I'm going to definately try to fix my problems with him and hopefully make you proud that I'm spriting on your template. :D

Edit:

Okay I'm getting down to just having to do the back frames. Any feedback?
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... nthtry.png[/img]

 

[bedi nik bzez emak]

;D

 

[Macro]

Thanks arbiter I'm going to finish up these back frames and then go over it and touch up where I can. And thanks for the nice compliments I really want to get into spriting and many people have helped me so I am grateful for that.

Edit :

I am so close to being finished.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm18 ... nthtry.png[/img]

I would really appreciate Comments and Criticism.

 

[xinrua]

EDIT: Ok when I zoomed into the hair I noticed the strands and ect, but its not see able maybe if you chose some othe darker color for the strands/surrounding. Same for the hair. adn six the high lights they move to much.

:thumb:


Just incase you still want this:

Spoiler: Hk beard

You just can't go simple in the hk sprites.

That quote is brought to you by it's-getting-better.com!
lol.
jk.

anyway, your doing a fantastic job so far. As Showkaizer said, "The hair on both sprites are off proportionally. Needs some folds, and Shade according to the shape of the clothes."

Here are some things I have noticed, on the last thing you posted, the beard. It should not be like that at all. it needs shadings and also try to strand it down like look at your hair and see if it is just something with mixed colors and is just perfectly straight, if it is then you have to go see the docter.
anyway, now you notice how your hair is in different strands and each strand get bigger and then short again. Well on a beard in spriting it will be the exact thing. Make sure you have each strand shaded. Then after your done shading it add in some upper high lights near the chin.  Now take a second shade color but make sure it's a bit lighter then the other shade color you have used. Now place it some what around the strands of hair.

now zoom out and see your progress. Looking good?
if not then redo some of the mis leading things.
Ok, So Now you have all that you need.
Except this. Take the darkest shade color you can ind, but not to dark, or else it will become black, or at least look like it.  Take that last shade color and use for the surrounding, Which I think you allready know what to do on that.

If this is ether to confusing or to long or, w.e the case might be then ignore this information.

~Thank You!~
=)

 

[Macro]

I can't look at my hair I'm bald.

But in all seriousness I shall see what I can do on the beard and hair when  I'm doing my touch ups, thanks for the criticism.

 

[xinrua]

Sorry, I edited my post.

Spoiler: This is nothing about this topic.

Your bald?
Cool...
You should get a tatoo of hair!
:crazy:
That way from far away people will be like it's JIMMY!
IDK...anyway, sorry for that.

Your welcome for the crit.
:blush:

oh and try to have the arms/hands some what apart from the chest stomach, or it will seem like the it is walking like he can't move his arms, or he is fat.