I think it's mainly because he's too squashed down. If you separate his head from his body more - like in the one I did, then I think you'll find it's a lot easier to define the cheeks . It's quite a major change to the proportions, but I think it's necessary.
Don't add the cheeks. Just don't. Or make them just a slight gradient or something. Don't make him fat.
They still don't look like cheeks, and I doubt they ever will Sonuw. Just cut em out and see what it looks like...
Edit: accidental cross post from the General Project Thread's announcement placeholders. On topic: I can't say I'm a huge fan of the chicken's cheeks either. Makes the head look bigger than it needs to be.
I'm not really sure what you did to separate it. Maybe I should try to explain visually. To me, this is his shape right now: Sort of one big blob. And this is the sort of change I meant. Needs to be extended vertically or else there is really no way to make the distinction between head and body, and it is the only way you can define his cheeks without making him look pudgy. Sorry for the terrible images. They aren't accurate... But I think they should explain what I mean be "separating".
And that's why the cheeks don't work. And as an added bonus, this proposal falls right in line with the fact that the art style for these characters has been moved to be more like the concept art than the original sprites. Sonuw, please give this a try.
You know, the one on the right is almost perfect... Perhaps somebody could try tracing it in vectors?
Why in Vectors? Im using Photoshop "vectors" (something like Masked layers) and it will be used as a raster png after all. I think minor ajustments to that one, and its ready. If it has transparencty in the non-art part, its perfect to me.
To keep up with the quality of the current art, vector shapes are choosen over raster art. Raster art is a great way to create concepts, like this chicken. Working with vector art is just so much more professional in the end. At some point, someone has to make a vector of the chicken, and then I am sure zemulii's version will be used as a base, and he will get credited for it, as well as the rest of the people who modified the concept.
Ugh... While I like the new art direction to focus on the official art rather than the sprite itself, I don't wanna have to re-draw Cucky a FOURTH time. I'm really needing a break from this damn chicken. If someone wants to work on it, then it's fine by me. I'm going to draw something else in the meantime. I apologize, I really do. This whole thing is just annoying me now. If no one picks up where I had left off, then I'll get back to work when I feel less frustrated with the drawing.
Chicken with transparency (still just raster concept though ). Man... I'm never starting with a tiny flat image ever again. That took forever to clean up. I think I'll have to change the feet. They're slightly uneven (back one seems too large - or front too small!). And sorry I haven't tried changing the shading thing on the cheek yet! I had to darken it a lot or else it looked really washed out when stuck in the mock up.
Very great concept Zemulii! I'd tone down the black patch on his cheek, but it's very accurate and nice looking. Good job!
So, if I understood correctly, once this is considered "approved" it will have to be redone in Illustrator by whoever can trace it accurately. Is that correct?
Eh, it's really more a process of cleaning it up if needed. Vector files can be easier to edit so if there needs to be some large-ish changes made to it there might be a need to vector the thing.
