Sonata's Workshop

[Sonata]

I figured it was about time I opened up a workshop of my own. I'm posting my material here in order to recieve critique on how to make my graphics better. 

Nearly all my work has been making tilesets, and that's all I will post for now. 


*New Stuff*

I'd really like some critique on these cliffs I just finished.

Spoiler: Cliffs

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p117/chucker007/CliffsSet.png[/imgzoom]

Please post your thoughts about how I can improve. Thanks.

 

[srowland98]

It seems like your Island in the Sky tileset is looking a lot like the Inquisitors Stuff, as for the house, looks pretty good to me.

 

[Sonata]

Yep, the large cave entrance and the alternate cliff tiling are ideas taken from the Inquisitor's set. Thanks for the comment though.

 

[Sonata]

First post updated. Check it out!

 

[Toams]

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/116/sonataws2.png[/img]

=3

 

[Venetia]

At a glance, I couunnntttt ... 6 shades in your palette.

With terrains, don't be afraid to bump that baby up to about 10 shades. Makes things smoother.

Otherwise, this looks like a cobbled outline with gradients. A little like a hill made of cobblestone-style rubber bricks. Natural stones, ones shaped like that, would have ridges, plateaus, facets, shines--they wouldn't be flat and smooth.

The very topmost stones--those look decent. I'd go more for that look, all over the place.

You have the right foundations, but I'd recommend starting over from the outline stage, add more detail, then work inward.

Don't forget to selout, and generally work your colors into your outline. Otherwise it just looks like flat puzzle pieces.

 

[Sonata]

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/116/sonataws2.png[/img]

=3

<3 

That... that looks terrible.

At a glance, I couunnntttt ... 6 shades in your palette.

With terrains, don't be afraid to bump that baby up to about 10 shades. Makes things smoother.

You were close, there's seven. I guess when I do them over(sigh) I'll add a few more shades. 

Natural stones, ones shaped like that, would have ridges, plateaus, facets, shines--they wouldn't be flat and smooth.

I don't really understand how I'd pixel this. I'd really appreciate it if you could show me an example. :3 

Don't forget to selout

I never really understood selout. Where would I make use of it?

 

[DeathLock]

Great work, hopefully you'll create a full tileset someday. ^_^

As of all, Venetia said everything that needs to be said. The pointy rock, it just looks strange. The way it curves, its just doesn't look right. Maybe, putting a few bumps or something.

 

[Venetia]

Natural stones, ones shaped like that, would have ridges, plateaus, facets, shines--they wouldn't be flat and smooth.

I don't really understand how I'd pixel this. I'd really appreciate it if you could show me an example. :3 

Okay, here's some cliffs Mack did:
http://pixelcocktail.com/hosted_items/s ... cliffs.png[/imgzoom]

Which doesn't look identical to what you're going for (I don't think you're trying to do loose stones), but the principal is the same. Stones are imperfect and they should look imperfect.

Don't forget to selout

I never really understood selout. Where would I make use of it?

I very much recommend you take a look at the selout studies on this site:
http://www.zoggles.co.uk/asp/tutorials.asp?tut=8

Also:

http://pixelcocktail.com/hosted_items/s ... liffs2.png[/imgzoom]

See how Mack blended his outlines, how they're not all one solid color? Well he could have done it even more, but the varied outlines make for a much more interesting piece to look at.

 

[Sonata]

Thanks Venetia, that's a big help!

Also, holy crap Mack's cliffs look like ccoa's.

 

[Ellie]

Sure they aren't? Ccoa seemed to have a habit of reposting Mack's stuff

 

[Venetia]

Yeah these are directly off Mack's site. they're so nice though they've popped up everywhere. even i use them sometimes.