Down Sprites

[Blizzard]

I think that Sydon's shading is pretty good. It just looks weird when your chars have awesome shading, but the environment doesn't. I know that I use simple shading, but that is with reason. I'm not try to create sprites like the Donkey Kong Country games had. #_#

[legacyblade]

lol, making donkey kong sprites is beyond my abilities. But I know what you mean. I just find Sydon's shading to be a bit...messy. Its hard to make out all the details on the sprite, and it's hard for me to grasp that method of shading (you've seen my smooth sleek kind). and yeah, best to keep all your shading consistent, even if its simplistic.

[Blizzard]

Phasedscar actually posted a tutorial about the way he sprites.

[Phasedscar]

Yeah, would have to say my method isn't simplistic at all..

I shade so that other details stand out more, and I try to get a more.. lifelike appearence as far as shading goes, it's just the way I learned how to do it.  I can understand why you thought it was messy...  for that sprite it was pretty messy.  Lots of details in a very confined space, but I did what I could to make it look as close to the battler as possible.  Overall though, from the point of view you'd normally be looking at it, it looks good, at least I think so.

BTW, the one posted here was Blizzards slight alteration of the original.  He did some editing in photoshop (I believe).

original: ShowHide

Might look a little cleaner pixel by pixel.

His alternate fits his needs though, so either way I'm happy.  And good job on the down sprite, looks good.  Also, the face down part of the sprite was originally Calintz's version, I altered it slightly to fit the color scheme better, but that's probably why the shading sooms a little... odd, especially around the shoulders.

[Blizzard]

Yeah, the shading really is odd around the shoulders. #_#

IDK if LB shades using Photoshop or manually.

[legacyblade]

I shade manually. I don't use PS's bevel tool, XD

[Phasedscar]

Depends on what I'm doing, for sprites I manually shade everything because of the greater degree of control.  I use photoshop for my tilesets however, but that's because I'm going for a more painted look.

Last screenshots in alpha state: ShowHide

for some examples of what I mean.

BTW, I almost have that sprite set done for you Blizzard, should be in the thread tomorrow night.

[Blizzard]

Sounds great! Can't wait to see it!

[legacyblade]

O_O this has gotten very off topic