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chatback · 07-19-2005, 10:51 PM

Comments for UIR: Nightwing by easilydissolvedinwater

B · 07-19-2005, 11:02 PM

I've seen worse debuts, honestly. Main problem is that the costume is very flat and needs more shading, and then there's the way it's cut out from the background... outlines bad.

You should go and check out the tutorials in the Art School, those'll give you way more advice than I could. Also, what application are you using? It looks like you may be on Paint, in which case -- upgrade! There's way better software out there. There's even some really good free apps like GIMP. If you're serious about digital art, Paint is not the way to go.

easy D · 07-19-2005, 11:14 PM

That's cool, man.

Well, I used Paint for the background, but I used PhotoImpression for Nightwing's costume. And, honestly, I'm never really good at shading, so it's a little difficult for me to try it on a character all in black( I think my other pic, Something Wicked This Way Comes, is probably the best I've ever done with shading). But, I'm still learning. Thanks for the pointers, B.

B · 07-20-2005, 12:27 AM

I'm not really familiar with PhotoImpression, but I do know that adding shading a flat colour to create depth (which is what I get the impression you're doing?) is not the best way to manip (IMO). It's better to do a colour change to get the basic shape of the costume, then smudge, burn and dodge to fix it up and get it to look like a costume rather than just painted skin. I strongly suggest you check out the Art School tutorials, like I mentioned, for some idea of what I'm talking about. Particularly, look at Marcelo Gomes' and StrangeFish's tutorials, those are the best here for general costuming. I dunno if you software allows you to do the kinds of things described in those tutorials, but you should be able to adapt them.

easy D · 07-20-2005, 02:08 AM

Well, I tried shading (well, more like reverse-shading if you catch my drift) by adding dark blue to the costume in order to define the dude's muscle form.
Also, PhotoImpression I'm guessing isn't as good as Photoshop when it comes to this kinda stuff. I can smudge, just can't burn or dodge. So, I guess I'm kinda screwed when it comes to photomanips, hunh?

B · 07-21-2005, 05:56 PM

No dodge and burn is bad, yeah. You can manip without it, but it's difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of very good and very free photo editing applications you can use instead of Photoshop. The one I usually suggest is GIMP... I haven't used it myself, but a quick look at the documentation indicates it can do just about everything PS can do. Check out http://www.gimp.org/.

Shaylinn · 07-25-2005, 05:53 PM

If you can't or don't want to get GIMP and want to try and use PhotoImpression I'd suggest maybe trying to use a series of slightly lighter shades of grey (or what ever color you are using) to create the depth you need since you don't have the Dodge and Burn options.

But overall for a program that is almost as limited as Paint this is pretty decent.

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07-19-2005, 10:51 PM	#1
chatback Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 6,551	Comments for UIR: Nightwing by easilydissolvedinwater

07-19-2005, 11:02 PM	#2
B Have a sip of my "special" cocktail. Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,995	I've seen worse debuts, honestly. Main problem is that the costume is very flat and needs more shading, and then there's the way it's cut out from the background... outlines bad. You should go and check out the tutorials in the Art School, those'll give you way more advice than I could. Also, what application are you using? It looks like you may be on Paint, in which case -- upgrade! There's way better software out there. There's even some really good free apps like GIMP. If you're serious about digital art, Paint is not the way to go.

07-19-2005, 11:14 PM	#3
easy D Aspiring to appear on "When Animals attack!" Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 768	That's cool, man. Well, I used Paint for the background, but I used PhotoImpression for Nightwing's costume. And, honestly, I'm never really good at shading, so it's a little difficult for me to try it on a character all in black( I think my other pic, Something Wicked This Way Comes, is probably the best I've ever done with shading). But, I'm still learning. Thanks for the pointers, B.

07-20-2005, 12:27 AM	#4
B Have a sip of my "special" cocktail. Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,995	I'm not really familiar with PhotoImpression, but I do know that adding shading a flat colour to create depth (which is what I get the impression you're doing?) is not the best way to manip (IMO). It's better to do a colour change to get the basic shape of the costume, then smudge, burn and dodge to fix it up and get it to look like a costume rather than just painted skin. I strongly suggest you check out the Art School tutorials, like I mentioned, for some idea of what I'm talking about. Particularly, look at Marcelo Gomes' and StrangeFish's tutorials, those are the best here for general costuming. I dunno if you software allows you to do the kinds of things described in those tutorials, but you should be able to adapt them.

07-20-2005, 02:08 AM	#5
easy D Aspiring to appear on "When Animals attack!" Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 768	Well, I tried shading (well, more like reverse-shading if you catch my drift) by adding dark blue to the costume in order to define the dude's muscle form. Also, PhotoImpression I'm guessing isn't as good as Photoshop when it comes to this kinda stuff. I can smudge, just can't burn or dodge. So, I guess I'm kinda screwed when it comes to photomanips, hunh?

07-21-2005, 05:56 PM	#6
B Have a sip of my "special" cocktail. Join Date: Jun 2003 Posts: 1,995	No dodge and burn is bad, yeah. You can manip without it, but it's difficult. Fortunately, there are a number of very good and very free photo editing applications you can use instead of Photoshop. The one I usually suggest is GIMP... I haven't used it myself, but a quick look at the documentation indicates it can do just about everything PS can do. Check out http://www.gimp.org/.

07-25-2005, 05:53 PM	#7
Shaylinn Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 488	If you can't or don't want to get GIMP and want to try and use PhotoImpression I'd suggest maybe trying to use a series of slightly lighter shades of grey (or what ever color you are using) to create the depth you need since you don't have the Dodge and Burn options. But overall for a program that is almost as limited as Paint this is pretty decent.