My First Icon

[speedolphins]

  I have always wanted to learn how to make my own character sprites. However, when I tried spriting characters, I totally sucked. So then I tried making my own icons. That's what I did here. Please critisize (Sorry, can't spell it)my first icon.

Spoiler: It's a knife.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife.jpg[/img]

Spoiler: Close-Up.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/KnifeClose-up.jpg[/img]

Again, please critisize, tell how to fix, make better, etc.  :thumb:




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Update:

  Wow, quick replies! Thanks!  :thumb: Okay. I switched around the shading and rounded the handle. Still need to know what gradients are.
P.S - Yeah, I'm using Microsoft Paint.

Spoiler: Knife-Updated.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update.jpg[/img]

Spoiler: Knife-Updated Close-Up.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-UpdateClose-up.jpg[/img]

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Update:

  Alrighty. I removed the black line and stopped using black.

Spoiler: Knife-Updated.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update2.jpg[/img]

Spoiler: Knife-Updated Close-Up.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update2Close-up.jpg[/img]

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Update:

  Okay. I know what gradients are now. I am using a limited six(3 for blade, 3 for handle) for my knife.

Spoiler: Less Colors...

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update3.png[/img]

I have included my palette...please tell me if it's good or bad.

Spoiler: Less Colors...Close-up.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/KnifeUpdate3Close-up.png[/img]

I used less colors, but it looks gradienty still. Is that still bad?  :neutral:



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Update:

Okay, gratheo, I lowered the brightness.

Spoiler: Darker.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update4.png[/img]

Spoiler: Darker Close-Up.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/KnifeUpdate4Close-up.png[/img]

Thanks to everyone for all the constructive critisizm. It was really helpful and I think I'm learning something.   :smile: :thumb: :smile:



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Update:

Here's a brown handle on the knife.  :smile:

Spoiler: Brown Handle.

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update5.png[/img]

Spoiler: Brown Handle Close-Up

http://i229.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/speedolphins/RMXP%20Related/Knife-Update5Close-up.png[/img]

 

[dark-archangel]

It's nice but in general a knife have the blade littler and maybe you can add some dark brown on that handle :smile:

 

[|3_32]

Don't use gradients, its too smooth.  And make the sharpe part the lighter piece, not darker.

 

[Ninjitsu]

Round the corners on the handle, and it might look better.
Good shading, imo.

 

[Grathea]

In my opinion, the gradient shading is messing it up a little. Also, like |3_32 said, the cutting edge should be shaded lighter. Take a look at Vember's icon tutorial here. It's a lot more eloquent and better at saying stuff than I am.

 

[speedolphins]

It's nice but in general a knife have the blade littler and maybe you can add some dark brown on that handle :smile:

Well, this is one of those big, meat-cutting knives those butchers use. And the handle I wanted to be orange. Is brown better?

Don't use gradients, its too smooth.  And make the sharpe part the lighter piece, not darker.

I'm very sorry, but I just started spriting icons, and I don't know what gradients are. Please do explain. Speedolphins = N00b.

Round the corners on the handle, and it might look better.
Good shading, imo.

Hmm, rounding the corners...I'll try that!  :thumb:

In my opinion, the gradient shading is messing it up a little. Also, like |3_32 said, the cutting edge should be shaded lighter. Take a look at Vember's icon tutorial here. It's a lot more eloquent and better at saying stuff than I am.

Yes, I saw Vember's tutorial. It was rather nice. But still, I don't know what gradients are. How can I fix gradients?

Thanks for the fast replies. If anyone needs to know, I'm using Microsoft Paint. Is that bad? :sad:

 

[boon]

I didn't know MS paint did gradients.

It's okay, but what is with the black line?

 

[speedolphins]

I didn't know MS paint did gradients.

It's okay, but what is with the black line?

I don't know what gradients are... :sad:
The black line is just some line...I usually imagine a line there when I imagine a butcher knife. I can remove it if people think it's annoying.

Edit: Updated first post.

 

[Grathea]

Well, a gradient is when the coloring goes from one color to another very smoothly. Here's a slightly complicated explanation, courtesy of the wikipedia. Link. As for the central black line, I'd try instead using a dark grey.
And again, I'd have to warn you against using pure black in any spriting. Instead, use darker versions of the colors you're using.

 

[Mascarpone]

Less Gradients, More Highlights, and maybe a little texture but not a bad first. But definatly less gradients.

 

[Ninjitsu]

He's using paint.
He also probably doesnt know all those terms.

 

[speedolphins]

Well, a gradient is when the coloring goes from one color to another very smoothly. Here's a slightly complicated explanation, courtesy of the wikipedia. Link. As for the central black line, I'd try instead using a dark grey.
And again, I'd have to warn you against using pure black in any spriting. Instead, use darker versions of the colors you're using.

Ohhh...Thanks for the explaination.  :grin: But still, I ask, how do you fix that? What do I do to not gradient?
And okay, I'll not use pure black.

Less Gradients, More Highlights, and maybe a little texture but not a bad first. But definatly less gradients.

Thanks for the advice. What's a highlight, though?

Alright. Working on my icon.

Edit: Updated first post.

 

[Mascarpone]

He's using paint.

not an excuse u can still get a highlight with paint.

He also probably doesnt know all those terms.

Granted.

Highlight: the area of most intense light on a represented form, as in a painting or photograph. (shiney white spots like on sunglasses or an apple)

Gradation / Gradiant: the passing of one tint or shade of color to another, or one surface to another, by very small degrees, as in painting or sculpture. The blending of the two colors smoothly

Texture: uhmn i think its self explanitory

 

[Venetia]

Well I think the most updated version is MUCH MUCH better!! You're coming along :lol:

Check the color number, though. It's a JPG so I can't get the right count, but as it is now, I'm counting over 200 colors there. You should:

a.) Always save as a PNG--JPGs are terrible and lossy.

b.) Use a few less colors. Develop a palette that you stick to. Here's a site with lots of great palettes:
http://www.sparklingice.net/dolls/tutor ... ettes.html
Just choose like 3-5 shades of the colors you want.

c.) Simplify the shading there. Not a huge amount; just blend those midtones into the midtones of your palette.

Spoiler: Check this out

http://pixeljoint.com/files/icons/full/weaponicons.gif[/img]
This is by Larwick.
See how he uses only a few set colors for everything?

You've come a long way in a little time, though! Nice work and good job improving! :grin:

 

[speedolphins]

Well I think the most updated version is MUCH MUCH better!! You're coming along :lol:

Check the color number, though. It's a JPG so I can't get the right count, but as it is now, I'm counting over 200 colors there. You should:

a.) Always save as a PNG--JPGs are terrible and lossy.

b.) Use a few less colors. Develop a palette that you stick to. Here's a site with lots of great palettes:
http://www.sparklingice.net/dolls/tutor ... ettes.html
Just choose like 3-5 shades of the colors you want.

c.) Simplify the shading there. Not a huge amount; just blend those midtones into the midtones of your palette.

Spoiler: Check this out

http://pixeljoint.com/files/icons/full/weaponicons.gif[/img]
This is by Larwick.
See how he uses only a few set colors for everything?

You've come a long way in a little time, though! Nice work and good job improving! :grin:

Thanks for a descriptive reply, Venetia. I reduced the colors I used by about a million and am using 3 colors for the blade and 3 colors for the handle.

Updated first post.

 

[Grathea]

It's better, but reduce the saturation.

(Saturation is how bright colors are).

 

[speedolphins]

Alrighty.  :lol:
I'm working on it now.

Edit:
Updated first post.
Wow, a lot of critisizm...Thanks everyone!  :grin:

 

[Venetia]

I think he also meant to turn the handle back to brown instead of bright orange :3

After that though, I think you're good. This seems to have been a good lesson! :D

 

[speedolphins]

Okay. I'll be turning the orange to brown then.

Edit:
Updated first post.