Sijun Forums :: View topic

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 5:02 am

This is a first draft of a comic cover for a friend - John Aggs of DaedalusBlue.com.

I have since got feedback on it from him, and will start a revised one as soon as I can. Will make it more dramatic and eye-catching plus a few other smaller revisions.

And besides the concept, you can probably see I had difficulty deciding on the value of the sky with relation to the buildings. given that it's sundown, warm orangey light and long shadows etc. confused me.

Criticism very welcome.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2005 3:22 pm

more cover concepts to crit

IDrawGirls · Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 2:43 am

Very strong images.

I think in the image in the first post the ground very close to the viewer should be a lot darker.
The legs as well. The sky would stand out a lot more then.
And the strong difference between the legs and upper body looks too extreme right now IMO.
That might be solved then as well. Not sure if that is among your planned revisions though.

There is something I don't like about the palettes in the concept in the middle and the concept on the right of the other image.
Guess the blacks and browns don't go too well with the other strong and saturated colors!?
Guess in the image on the right it is mostly the green in the background that bothers me.

Reakshun · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 5:54 pm

I like what you got going on here, Fred. Good approach too...doing color keys and all.

crit:
I like the top one. Values are fine. Now just adjust your color temperatures.
You could warm up the sky in the BG just a "lil" bit.
Then, warm up the light source hitting the figure in the front.
Then, of course, like you said...throw some eye catching shit around the fig.
I like the red stripes...maybe throw some "power-up" type stuff 'round 'im. Who knows?
I know you left it kinda blank in the tunnel area for the TEXT, but,
maybe put some hanging conduit or some minor design elements to bring us to figure a bit more.

little comps:
I like the first one in terms of design (the x composition).
The second is cool becuz the lighting shows the figure more. But, would a sniper (I'm assuming) really be on a little building amongst sky scrapers to peel somebody's cap?
The third is always safe because it's focused on the figure. I know your not done, but the BG could tell a little bit more about the world, the theme, etc to support the figure. Maybe consider lowering the horizon.

That's about it. Update soon! I wanna see which one you're gonna go with.
Happy conceptaulizing!!

Capt. Fred · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 3:29 am

thanks for the comments :)
good comments.

At the moment, I'm sort of waiting before I continue, for a (boring) reason, but he's really happy with the left of the 3 little thumbnail things, and when it gets moving again, that's where I'll pick up from. In a way, i think that one will be hardest to make work. most of the image is in shadow, and is pretty colourless (concrete). I think it's gonna need some pretty sweet design on the character and gun�

Matthew · Posted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:11 pm

I like that one too the first to the left of those thumbnails, btw if you use that one make it a bouncing light from the ground and u can add some nice effects on his face and the weapon, just a thought.

keep up

see · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 7:05 am

i like your style. Very simple looking, but nice. simple doesnt mean its easy Exclamation

I dont like the Question

bridge

that much.

Ian Jones · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:15 pm

The leftmost one looks interesting because the buildings strengthen the pose and attitude of the hero character. The angle is overall the most dynamic. The middle concept has potential, but the buildings and shapes in the background just don't work. You could try some new shapes there.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:08 am

new. old one was getting bland and dull, not to mention difficult.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:31 am

all input welcome.
Having diffucluty figureing how i can keep his arm/chest area under the gun anything other than black given the lighting and the fact that his top is pretty dark.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 10:33 am

no idea of the correct perspective on that roof. apart that from what i currently have is wrong. I'll try to figure that out. deadline is approaching.

Affected · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:07 pm

About the black issue... how about a very dark shade of red or something? Several dark colours might work too.

Affected · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 4:09 pm

About the perspective... sorry to say but it seems the entire background is in a different perspective than the character. He's viewed almost head-on and the background is a fairly extreme view-from-below.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:12 pm

oh you're definitely right about the head-on charachter vs the from-below background. I personally have no problem with that though. I have to say, I like that! Seems to blur a boundry between 'an accuracte scene with a character at the foreground' and movie-poster style collage.

I'll do some more, figure out the angle of that roof, and see if the mismatch becomes less objectionable.

Chruser · Posted: Wed Feb 23, 2005 5:40 pm

Hmm, try increasing the canvas size (so you get a lot of extra workspace) to establish 3p perspective guidelines by using the head of the character, and align the buildings from there?

I think one of his fingers seems kind of awkwardly placed, like it's not attached to the hand.

Looking great though! Keep up the good work. Smile

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Capt. Fred · Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2005 10:15 am

i've decided to bodge the perspective. I've seen so many 'polished' imaages with bad perspective that it makes it seem more acceptable. As unpleasant as it makes me fell.

the corner hand still needs a lot of work to get it working.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 2:25 pm

I think my treatment of the way different colours are reacting to the cyanish light is off. I will work on that some more.

working on the face.

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 9:12 am

the perspective in the background is a shambles. really uncomfortable with that but deadline is soon.

apart from the buildings to the right of his face everything will stay pretty much exactly the same, just more polishing.

crit the corner hand, pleez!

Capt. Fred · Posted: Wed Mar 02, 2005 3:45 pm

this is basically done.
That hand is killing me it's so crap the value range is wrong or something.
I think I need to lighten the darks in the light part of it, and darken the lights in the dark part. I'm not sure but time for bed.

and the hair is a bit suspect.
Ideas on both these bits (or others) are welcome.

seth1 · member Member # Joined: 06 Jun 2004 Posts: 534

Capt. Fred looking wicked man. I would like to see some more variations of color in the over all image and maybe some ornage hues in the guys hair...
The triger finger looks a bit long to... Over all looks wicked cant wait to see the finished version..

notic · Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2005 2:32 am

Cool looking piece Capt fred!

people already mentioned the perspective issue..

I think it's kinda weird that there is no light(not even reflected) at all in the eye sockets/eyes, even though the atomospheric is so strong and all. perhaps you're trying to avoid it (I sure would)

The hands look very dead, isn't it so that cold light produces warm shadows? Maybe that'll help with the hand issue..

Hope you'll make the deadline.

/Tommy