CBH: Render Thread

[mike b]

All Of You Are So Rocking The Renders. Hats Off To Everyone:)

[sockpuppet]

http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l98/da_kine_brah/MaleWithEnergyBall.jpghttp://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l98/da_kine_brah/MaleWithEnergyBall1.jpg

 

I am digging the gray background.

[jhd1]

While I can see how Crayon's (very good) backgrounds were designed I don't believe the logic behind them will work with many renders. I know Self and I both share the same lighting - a spotlight from the front. So the slanted lighting doesn't work as it is meant to. Likewise jtlant has light coming from all directions, so it doesn't work there either.

 

I should clarify (it's early!) - when I say 'doesn't work' I don't mean 'looks bad', I mean that when Crayon said that the lighting comes from one direction, matching the background, making it look like it is part of one picture isn't always the case.

 

I don't dislike it at all, but personally I think the attention needs to be drawn into the centre of the image which those grey backgrounds, and J Silver's attempt, don't do. Undertaker's and the blue and gold backgrounds Crayon used on Self's render, (EDIT: and IER's) however, will focus someone straight down the middle.

[jhd1]

Thought I might as well throw in an effort...

 

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/Hero.jpghttp://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/HeroBG.jpg

 

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/Villain.jpghttp://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/VillainBG.jpg

 

Tried to keep with Undertaker's original design (except a grid of dots is easier to do quickly). Colours can easily be changed.

[crayon]

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m88/nlw2006/CBH/TheBat4.png

 

Thanks for doing the re-render with more shadows. I like it, and I also think it's a perfect way to point out the importance of having a background that works well enough for all scenarios.

 

In this render, we're looking at a character that is very moody and supposed to conveying a very specific type feeling of uncertainty/dread/etc. The render by itself does that, but the gold background (which I've been a huge fan of in the past, keep in mind) simply undermines that feeling. Mostly that background has worked well, but not so here.

 

I took that render, with a little bit of post-work to emphasis the point (hope you don't mind IER!), and put it against a middle-tone background (has equal amounts of dark spots and bright spots) to show the difference.

 

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll327/crayotic/_thebat-grey.jpghttp://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll327/crayotic/_thebat-blue.jpg

 

In my opinion, The Bat character looks more in his element here. So while bright backgrounds can look great with highly-lit characters, they're more likely to fall down when used with darkly lit, atmospheric characters.

 

While I can see how Crayon's (very good) backgrounds were designed I don't believe the logic behind them will work with many renders. I know Self and I both share the same lighting - a spotlight from the front. So the slanted lighting doesn't work as it is meant to. Likewise jtlant has light coming from all directions, so it doesn't work there either.

 

I should clarify (it's early!) - when I say 'doesn't work' I don't mean 'looks bad', I mean that when Crayon said that the lighting comes from one direction, matching the background, making it look like it is part of one picture isn't always the case.

 

I don't dislike it at all, but personally I think the attention needs to be drawn into the centre of the image which those grey backgrounds, and J Silver's attempt, don't do. Undertaker's and the blue and gold backgrounds Crayon used on Self's render, (EDIT: and IER's) however, will focus someone straight down the middle.

 

No offense taken, I totally get where you're coming from, and yeah the light effect is never a sure-fire trick. I'm used to 3-point lighting where one is stronger on one side than the other, but even with those sometimes the light is coming from the top or the opposite side from what's needed (and sometimes the light isn't even the matching color!).

 

I think that's the big issue. Is that when trying to accommodate a range of different techniques it's better to find a middle ground where things look above average rather than something where things look perfect sometimes and not that great other times.

 

So in a way, I'm less fussed about where the light appears to be coming from (as long as there's some), and more concerned about the light to darkness ratio and colors chosen.

 

For instance, talking about darkness:light ratio, while the above background works for The Bat, a half dark-half light background also works for well lit renders. Examples:

 

http://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll327/crayotic/_Sunburst.jpghttp://i312.photobucket.com/albums/ll327/crayotic/_InvertFace.jpg

 

Sure, they may not be as perfect as an all bright background. But in terms of being "pretty good" for as many possibilities out there, that's probably a better trade off, in my personal opinion.

 

By the way, these renders just keep getting better and better guys!

[crayon]

http://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/HeroBG.jpghttp://i754.photobucket.com/albums/xx181/jhdTEW/Comic%20Book%20Hero/VillainBG.jpg

 

Just saw these before posting, which pretty much sums up what I was getting at anyway Both look really good. I'd like to see a variety of colorful characters on them to see if any clash, but if that works out I'd be all for this design.

 

The dots give me a futuristic club vibe

[Adam Ryland]

Sorry, I apparently wasn't clear enough - we are NOT looking for people to be posting their versions of backgrounds. This is not a "vote for your favourite" situation. If we decide to alter the background, Undertaker666 will post an update to be looked at, and feedback can be given on that.

[crayon]

Sorry, I apparently wasn't clear enough - we are NOT looking for people to be posting their versions of backgrounds. This is not a "vote for your favourite" situation. If we decide to alter the background, Undertaker666 will post an update to be looked at, and feedback can be given on that.

 

Ah, my apologies there, since I probably derailed the whole thing :/

 

----------------

 

Well, I think I've given all the feedback necessary in these last few pages, so here's the TL;DR version...

 

Executive (Undertaker666) summary: the yellow is simple and understated (yay) but I think it'll only work in a limited number of situations (boo) and is more welcoming towards brightly-lit heroic characters than it is towards shadowy villains, and could possibly create color clashes.

 

Look forward to seeing what we end up with regardless. It's almost like watching Big Brother.

[Pinke]

Pinke,

 

Please don't modify the renders I submit in this thread.

 

While I understand and encourage the modification of my work for private use, these are being submitted for possible inclusion into the upcoming game and, if any of my renders were to make it into Comic Book Hero, I would prefer it to be on their own merits rather than someone else's interpretation of my work.

 

Thank you for understanding.

 

Like I said in my first posting of tooning ... I knew this would come up sooner or later, and I know how protective people can get ...

 

Basically, I don't have time to wander around asking permission from each person to play around, and I suspect the next person who has a problem with my tooning will take more offense than the first and so on ... So I'm going back to my corner and no more tooning for me.

 

I'd suggest to artists though, if you don't want persons experimenting with your image it might be a good idea to put a disclaimer stating as such when you post. Normally it wouldn't be such an issue ... ie in TEW people weren't tooning as much, and you really should have asked anyway before doing something to someone else's work ... but here I imagine there might be a lot of experimental tooning going on.

 

Anyway, yes, I understand and already stated I would stop when someone told me.

 

Happy Easter and such.

[Clarity]

Attempting to get into the groove. With and without UT666's background

 

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/GDSRenders/Moody-1.pnghttp://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/GDSRenders/Moody.jpg

[mike b]

Attempting to get into the groove. With and without UT666's background

 

http://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/GDSRenders/Moody-1.pnghttp://i825.photobucket.com/albums/zz173/GDSRenders/Moody.jpg

 

I like that picture alot mate. Um is she by chance single;)

[mike b]

One question to all you doing renders. Why are all the female renders looking like they just stepped off models run way. Now don't get me wrong i like each and everyones work that i have seen here i just figured you might go with diff styles as in some slender some athletic so forth so on.

 

Any hows thats just my 2 cents not that it matters i just have alot of pennies.

 

Oh and by the way

if any of you make a render of Stone Cold in a tutu like i seen in the 0900 verse i promise i will email it to him with your name on it:p;)

That just gave me nightmares.

[Self]

Rendered several women thus far. I think I'm going more into the porn star route than models. Porn stars have bigger cans.

 

Now granted I don't really read comics, but... don't all super-heroines look like models in those? They're meant to be super hot. It's playing to the brief. Just like the lion's share of dudes being jacked to the gills.

 

Working on a girl now. Think I'll add some muscle to her.

[Clarity]

I like that picture alot mate. Um is she by chance single;)

She is but she has massive emotional baggage.. as you would expect by a superhero going out purposely with streaky mascara

[crayon]

Now granted I don't really read comics, but... don't all super-heroines look like models in those? They're meant to be super hot. It's playing to the brief. Just like the lion's share of dudes being jacked to the gills.

 

Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment for the most part. Although there is a good amount that have nicely toned muscles without getting into the realm of body builders like She-Hulk or Titania.

 

And then there's the non-sexy female villains who are purely meant to scare you.. and the less sexy but fun looking teen super heroes.

 

But yeah, super models with large cans is kinda accurate, shame to say

[djthefunkchris]

Hey Taker, I didn't really like that Yellow. Mostly because of reasons already said, but the color itself to me is a turn-off. I don't think it will go over well in the long hall either, but that's just my opinion.

 

I did like the style.

 

I'm not a fan of "Grey" either, but it did do what Crayon said. I could live with that, but I won't ever use the yellow if I can help it (although a grey version of that would probably do the same effect, because as I said, I DO like the style.. Alot).

 

You have anything else to throw out at us?

[jesterx7769]

Dissapointed after all the great renders so far the ugly pale yellow checkerboard is the one that will be default and with images being jpegs seems like we won't be able to change it.

[Adam Ryland]

Dissapointed after all the great renders so far the ugly pale yellow checkerboard is the one that will be default and with images being jpegs seems like we won't be able to change it.

 

We haven't decided what the default background will be yet, the yellow one has been posted for discussion - I'm not really sure how you could have missed that part, what did you think the last two pages of this thread have been about??

[Undertaker666]

Thoughts on this version?

 

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/TheUndertakersGraveyard/Comic%20Hero/back2.jpghttp://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g115/TheUndertakersGraveyard/Comic%20Hero/back-2.jpg

[i effin rule]

Definitely like it better than the yellow.

[Adam Ryland]

An alternative option is that we have a small number of versions of that same background (i.e. yellow, orange, blue, red, and grey) and the artist can choose the one that that best displays that particular character. The upside is that you can tailor it to the character, so you won't have a brooding character on a yellow background. The downside of course would be that if you're browsing through characters, the constantly changing background, albeit ones that have an identical design, could be distracting and inconsistent.

[jhd1]

An alternative option is that we have a small number of versions of that same background (i.e. yellow, orange, blue, red, and grey) and the artist can choose the one that that best displays that particular character. The upside is that you can tailor it to the character, so you won't have a brooding character on a yellow background. The downside of course would be that if you're browsing through characters, the constantly changing background, albeit ones that have an identical design, could be distracting and inconsistent.

 

I think this is a great idea, Adam. I wouldn't think it would be particularly distracting, especially if there are only a few colours to choose from. I would also say that keeping the design the same stops it from being too inconsistent. Plus, as we've seen over the last couple of pages, certain characters will sit better with different colours.

[SGRaaize]

I may be wrong here, but even though I voted "Consistent" in the poll, I wouldn't mind if the colors changed based on the characters. I voted Consistent because I was afraid of completely different backgrounds, like cities in some backgrounds, and sea as another background.

Having Red Background for someone like the Juggernaut, Blue for someone like Spider-Man and Grey for someone like Joker would be awesome.

 

Just my 2 cents.

[mirorFR]

Just my opinion , the yellow one is too flashy and not very beautiful ; I think blue is more "good" and red more "evil" in the comics code (look at rooster in tew dynasties , usually the face are blue and the heel are red)

[Scottie]

An alternative option is that we have a small number of versions of that same background (i.e. yellow, orange, blue, red, and grey) and the artist can choose the one that that best displays that particular character. The upside is that you can tailor it to the character, so you won't have a brooding character on a yellow background. The downside of course would be that if you're browsing through characters, the constantly changing background, albeit ones that have an identical design, could be distracting and inconsistent.

 

I think that's a great idea, but you are in the best position to judge whether or not it is too distracting by being in charge of the screens.

 

The other option, of course, is to have a number of different coloured backgrounds with the same design and have everyone submit their renders as GIFs. The downside is that we get the same problems as we have with WMMA where there is a slight reduction in render quality and it might look pretty rough on a non-black background.

 

The upside is that there could be the option in the editor to change which background is used for a particular character, or, in the equivalent of mod maker plus, have the option to set all backgrounds in game to a particular colour.

 

Just a thought, and one I'm not particularly sure of either way. Is there a possibility of having the stock file type as PNG in game, or does this slow the process down too much?