Hmm, I think I have an idea of how to do the gradient fills, expand the live paint area and then fill each space with a gradient, but I'm not sure about the layer mask stuff. Care to go into detail about that?
Hmm, I think it all looks a bit flat with the way the shadows are. Kind of like cardboard cutouts layered on top of each other. It's more apparent in the smoothed (infinite shades) version. Personally I think something inbetween the two would be better. The smoothed one looks a little *too* clean and simple to me. The shadows between the layers could be blurred out a bit, and a little more contrast given to the light running down the middle by bringing in the darker shades from the sides further. I think the problem perhaps with the smooth version is that it loses the contrast of the darker shades on the sides. I'm not sure if I'm making sense... and I'm not sure if that would work. Just a suggestion . The longer I look at it the better it looks actually! But I still think the shadows could do with some work, and the shading/lighting should maybe follow the shapes of the branches more. It needs a more 3D look so that each layer looks like a cone placed over top of the one below as in the original. That's kind of what I mean about the shadow part... but I'm not really sure about it...
It's cool ME, as it indeed looks pretty accurate to the original, yet it's very problem lies on this resemblance! The original frame looks quite bad with those marked colour steps and heavy 3D-like shading, so yeah, it's time for that 25% Uber-ness reimagination! ^^ *While keeping the same surreal shape, try adding some more volume on each leaf, and add it some new details to it.
<!--quoteo(post=300257:date=Apr 13 2009, 11:46 AM:name=MaximusDM)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MaximusDM @ Apr 13 2009, 11:46 AM) I thought it was supposed to look 3D. Sonic 2 has a mixture of 2d and 3d art.[/quote] The angles and lighting on that are so off it's not even funny.
Hmm, I think ME's looks good, but lacks volume. It indeed looks a bit like being made out of paper cutouts, for some reason. Another issue I see with it, is that most of the original's shapes don't seem to be so curved, but more based on straight lines, which is something that MaximusDM seems to have emphasized (even though some shapes don't look quite right).
<!--quoteo(post=300337:date=Apr 13 2009, 05:48 PM:name=RedStripedShoes)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (RedStripedShoes @ Apr 13 2009, 05:48 PM) I thought it was supposed to look 3D. Sonic 2 has a mixture of 2d and 3d art.[/quote] The angles and lighting on that are so off it's not even funny. [/quote] Relax mang, I just wanted to show something sort of 3D and cartoony because I think the ME's design is looking flat and Sonic has a mix of both 2D and 3D.
This is my attempt at meeting both MaximusDM's and ME's styles; Just a mock of how I would do it. It probably would look better if the lines I added followed the curves of the tree
<!--quoteo(post=300520:date=Apr 14 2009, 09:53 AM:name=Exodus)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Exodus @ Apr 14 2009, 09:53 AM) </a> Just a mock of how I would do it. It probably would look better if the lines I added followed the cures of the tree[/quote] Don't add those lines. It makes the tree look flatter and uglier than the original. Yeah, I hate that tree even in the original. It looks more like a steel sculpture of a tree; completely devoid of any organic feeling, especially compared to other instances of flora in the game. EDIT: Sorry, I think Chimpo's mannerisms are beginning to rub off on me.
Layering makes it look flat And if it's truely supposed to be a "3D tree" well... yeah. about the trunk though - I had an idea just because it's dithered doesn't mean it has to be a gradient - I thought why not put in a subtle Sonic-like texture instead?
Why are these newest trees have a shadow ON TO the blue background like it really is a cardboard cut-out stuck on some blue paper? It would make a nice Christmas card, mind you - with a little snow on it ;p
Meh, I don't like that tree that much, not even in the original art...I mean...what they where thinking?... It doesnt fit on anything... But, however to be remastered in hd, I think we should keep that low shading, that's the "base" of the art after all. By the way, sorry guys I was on a little "vacation" here in Uruguay, 7 days doing anything xD...nah, not really, Im trying to learn 3D modeling xP
That's the thing though -- most of the contributors of Sonic 2 HD think thats the objective -- "remaster" -- however Vincent, I believe, said in another post that this is not the master objective, but to create sonic 2 in HD, if it was simply "remastering" they'd have used another name. I was trying to find the direct quote but it's dodging me and I don't feel it is worth taking more than 15 minutes to find it. Anyway, If the art really doesn't work for what we're doing, we have to more than just remaster it, but more or less create one that: A) Works with the levels art style and B) People like. Sometimes graphics just don't convert to HD well. I suggest looking at the rest of the levels graphics design and sketch out a tree that could work for this.
Eh, I thought having a darker copy of the tree behind it made it look a little better, but I can see why you guys don't want that. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Also, is it possible to get a mock up for the Hilltop Zone? I think his trees might look fine if they're put into context.
This is from a while ago: <!--quoteo(post=183879:date=Mar 13 2008, 08:53 AM:name=Vangar)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vangar @ Mar 13 2008, 08:53 AM) [/quote] That tree is something different...