[Xeo]

Hey everyone, This is my first time trying to create realistic looking piece in photoshop. I'm doing it for a class assignment and I am seriously stuck. First of all, could I please have some suggestions on the gargoil, something doesn't look right..and I can't tell what it is, maybe the hands.. And also I was thinking about making him a color, instead of black, maybe blue. I think its only about 1/8th done, the blank areas on his body are going to be a shiny metal armor of some sort. and I'm not even started on the wings or background really... I want some suggestions on how I could make it look more realistic..and less "cartoonish". I think I'm have a little trouble with the lighting also..AHHHHHHH I'm so frusturated. The gargoil is also really "pixelated" on the edge, can someone give me tips on methods of coloring grapics so that this doesn't happen? AhhhHH! I have so many questions, I think I could right a book of q's here... I just hope I can get about a million responses to this post so I can get this image done and have it look good THANKS!


[ October 01, 2001: Message edited by: Xeo ]

[Petra Pan]

The head seems shortened in height.
Thumbs are a bit long.
the lower end arms need some work, they look rather thin to me.
Scratches on surface from claws : try to have fewer of them with som additional dark shading to make them sink into the stone.

Wingspan looks promising.
Why dont you try to make the image a little moore "rough".

Good luck - PP

[Xeo]

thanks for the tips , but what do you mean "more rough"?

[Petra Pan]

Well take som chances with the lines.
Maybe you should go in a direction not so shining in the materials - then again it might be right.
I just say - If your stuck - try to imagine a different result than initially anticipated.
Then you might get new ideas and make progress with it.

PP

[Xeo]

what about lighting?...what can do to make it look more realistic in terms of lighting and texture?

[Pat]

I second that lighting suggestion. Your current set-up is far to straight on and uniform. Spice up the image with a little drama. Underlighting might help some --it's a time-honored method to make something sinister. Oh screw it. Here's an quick airbrush overpaint --far from realized but you get the drift.




Something to consider.

-Pat

[Xeo]

wow thats amazing. did you create one new layer andjust do the lighting with white? how did ya do it ?

[Pat]

You're supposed to be looking at the lighting, not the technique.

FYI, I just used the airbrush and the lasso tool. The lasso was feathered at 1 pixel. I used "screen" and "multiply" a lot, so as to change your values without destroying all the detail. Works kind of like a low-powered dodge/burn tool.

-Pat

[n8]

ooh..wow..nice lighting pat..
umm.Xeo, you might consider a different pose, like have him on one knee? because (imho) he looks too symetrical, dont get me wrong, symetrical looks good on some things. Yeah, umm...you prob dont want to redo the whole image (i know i wouldnt) soo...if its a gargoyle and gargoyles are supposed to be biig n beefy...you could make his shoulders bigger which would make him look stronger, beefier..umm...his elbows are rather thin..fatten those up..his abs..try make the lines bend upwards instead of downwards (you prob dont know what im goin on about here)...you see the bottom 2 abs..instead of having them like..hmm??.. n shape..make them more V shape??..now im just fulla shit yeah??..anywho..ill continue..his knees are rather skimpy... =)...chunkafy those..anywho..ill shutup now before i say sumthin stupid...too late..hehe

[edit] a diff perspective persay

just a quikkie to give you an idea

[ October 03, 2001: Message edited by: n8 ]

[Bishop_Six]

The first thing that stuck out for me is how unnatural the pose looks. His legs(below the knee) are just straight up and down. I just crouched like that and looked at myself and my knees stuck out to the sides more and my feet angled outward a bit more than what you have there. His hands also don't look real. As far as making hands look realistic, the only way(that I know of) to get better is just through practice.

Just some things to think about.

-bish

[Xeo]

LOL you guys make me laugh because you can throw out these graphics of your versions of the gargoil so quickly. I will finish this picture, then do another one with a non symetrical pose. I wanted it to be symetrical so it would be easier since this is my first time :-)