[pixualize]

Hey all! I'm starting work on my demo reel and need some advice. This is my first attempt at producing a matte painting and have several others planned.

I'm looking for any comments or critiques on this image and maybe some suggestions for what to include in the others. The original image above is actually "taller" with more sky included and the trees are on a separate layer so I can do a camera move in my animation software.

For my reel, should I also try to create some shots with composited live action? Are there any specific subjects I should include? Set extentions, etc? I'm planning on it running between 2-5 minutes, is it also a good idea to show progressive stages and elements like a "behind-the-scenes" section?

Any useful tips from those-in-the-know would be of great help!

[pixualize]

Oh - come on now! I'm looking for comments from everybody!

[pixualize]

Oh - come on now! I'm looking for comments from everybody!

[Per Bj�rsmo]

GREAT skies, really amazing!!!

Mountain could be better.
Trees could be better.
Don't ask me how, i'm a newbie!

[CyberLink]

Seems to be 3Deesh...

[Dawi]

Like Per said, the sky is great!

The problem with the mountains and trees are that they look too blured and undefined. Sharpen them up a bit and ad some deeper shadows and I'll be happy.

[Basse_Ex]

Amazing skies...

...really...


The only things I see, are that the distance fogging effect is a bit too grey(Things tend to "blue-out" in the distance), and that the mountain in the front(With the castle) seems to be connected with the mountain in the background due to an unfortunate greyish line that seems to go directly from one mountain to the other.
These two things make the picture look a bit flatter than it should, which is bad, since otherwise it has a real nice 3-dimensional look to it.

Other than that I suggest you make some of the dark lines\spaces a bit darker(Black?) just to give some more contrast.

Excellent picture.... wish I could do skies like that...

[BlackPool]

Your sky is VERY well done. My only crit here is that your oranges near the mountain tops should be a little lighter in value then your blues. I could very well be wrong though.

The other thing is that you have too much SMALL detail in the cliffes and trees. The detail is too much of the same size though out. Natural detail is varied in size and is paternous, rather then splattery if you can call those words, I don't know

Also when matte painting you are trying to match what the camera would see rather then what your eyes would see. So those mountains on the horizon eclipsing the sun like that would probably be very dark-apearing black, with the glow breaking over them.

Well that's my opinion anyway.

[pixualize]

All very useful suggestions!!!

I will rework it and post another version shortly as soon as I can sit down with it again. It always helps to have extra sets of eyes look it over.

Thanks and keep ' em coming!

[skankerzero]

that looks great.
the only thing that strikes me right off the bat is the 'blurriness' of the trees.


hey, you're from mckinney! and the other guy is from dallas!

[ April 05, 2002: Message edited by: skankerzero ]

[Jucas]

Looks like bryce to me. Sorry.

[Digital Jackass]

the clouds look as if they are a photograph you just pasted in the bg, main;y becuz the rest of the painting isnt as sharp and clear as the sky. Which strikes me as being really odd, but i do really like the painting itself, and it also has great atmosphere.

[-DsD-GiNo-]

The light on left in the sky is to much..
but the rest of the sky looks good

[pixualize]

Hey I noticed a lot of Texas folks here too!

I had chatted a bit with Jezebel a while back, who is from Mesquite. And Pat Duke, a super cool guy to talk art and animation with, is from San Antonio.

Speaking of San Antonio - anybody got plans to do SIGGRAPH there this year.?That's what I'm trying to get my demo reel ready for.