Author Topic: Mortal Kombat Dedicated Sideart - Progress (Read 60664 times)

gsoul · « **on:** July 01, 2008, 10:51:04 am »

Hey guys, some of you may have seen a post I made about this a year or so ago on BYOAC. The sideart on my Mortal Kombat machine is kind of tatty, and I nor anyone on BYOAC have been able to find reproduction MK Dedicated sideart anywhere. So I figured, stuff it, I'll create my own.

This artwork is cursed, seriouly. Over the last year I've recreated the vector 4 times and each time it was lost in some kind of unusual computer glitch or corrupted hard drive. (I've uploaded this copy to an FTP for safekeeping.)

So, let me know what you all think.

Here's the a photo of the artwork that a fan sent to me.

Here's the sideart as it is now (Note, I'm trying to source a high quality scan of the Johnny Cage character on the side. Anyone) Obviously the scales are missing, but I don't honestly know if I can make them look like the original in vector. I may take some create license, or I may turn this monster into a raster image and photoshop them in. The image is 150cm x 200cm with 300dpi for the raster effects aka the blurs. This thing will be SERIOUSLY sharp when printed.

Here's a closeup of the detail on the head

And just for the skeptical ones (Yes, there were some people who didn't believe me when I first posted version 1.0 a year or so ago)

My motivation for doing this is purely selfish.

All I want is a high quality set of prints of this for my machine, I've approached MameMarquees and some other places who do some quality side art. Once someone gives me a *free* set of sides, I'll release it to the community on LocalArcade.

Lets see if my evil plan works.

gsoul · « **Reply #1 on:** July 02, 2008, 06:11:07 pm »

Hey guys, I've been receiving a bit of pressure about this artwork due to Midway Trademark infringements through a concerned (midway associated) member of this and other forums. It seems this may never get released.

Discussion?

FrizzleFried · « **Reply #2 on:** July 02, 2008, 06:41:57 pm »

Quote from: gsoul on July 02, 2008, 06:11:07 pm

Hey guys, I've been receiving a bit of pressure about this artwork due to Midway Trademark infringements through a concerned (midway associated) member of this and other forums. It seems this may never get released.

Discussion?

Blah...you're doing it for your own personal use...right?

amiga500 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 02, 2008, 09:06:58 pm »

Great job man!
I had to made some vector art for my MK cabinet also but not the sideart, just Control panel and instructions.

If I get a good camera I could take a picture of johnny cage on the side and send it to you.

I think 300dpi is too much for a sideart print, I think 150dpi is enough for that graphic. You'll decrease the file size too if you plan to raster it.

Anyway, keep up the good work, if you don't make your own sideart where are you supose to find it

?

spacies · « **Reply #4 on:** July 03, 2008, 06:57:28 pm »

As was said on another forum.

Tell them to ---fudgesicle--- off. Both Midway and the 3rd party idiot.
Put it up on LocalArcade and upload as a torrent.!!!

Wade · « **Reply #5 on:** July 03, 2008, 09:39:57 pm »

Since this was digital artwork to begin with, it seems to me the best thing to do would just be to scan a very nice original cabinet and print it as a raster file.

Wade

zorg · « **Reply #6 on:** July 04, 2008, 02:37:39 am »

Quote from: Wade on July 03, 2008, 09:39:57 pm

Since this was digital artwork to begin with, it seems to me the best thing to do would just be to scan a very nice original cabinet and print it as a raster file.

I fully agree, this kind of art is worth spent the time to clean and restore a good set of scan.

but seems nowadays everyone want vector, vector vector vector of everything

maybee one day people will understand the pros and cons of both format and will adapt their mind.

disclaimer
this is not an attack directed to gsoul[/color] I must say that I'm quite admirative to him, he jumped in a hard boat. I just whish his time and effort will turn out nicely.

gsoul · « **Reply #7 on:** July 08, 2008, 09:11:27 pm »

Yes, i fully agree. But something in me saw the challeng and the advantages that could come from the vector.

Crisper, sharper and more able to be ported for other applications.

ToplessZ · « **Reply #8 on:** July 17, 2008, 06:18:23 pm »

I have an orignal MK1 machine that I can scan. Then you can get the images printed at mamemarquees. I already have done Killer Instinct and the KI2 CPO that are on his site..
You would basically need to make a deal with scott first though and then if he wants to make a deal with me on the images...

Or you can just keep up the good work on the vector job, its amazing how people are able to do that!!

ariay · « **Reply #9 on:** September 30, 2008, 08:16:40 pm »

I am very interested in having this for my MK machine. Any progress?

Gatsu · « **Reply #10 on:** October 04, 2008, 12:41:38 pm »

Does Midway still make MK1 cabinets? No.

Is there anywhere on this site that offers to sell this artwork for arcade cabinets? No.

So who cares.

If it were MK 47 artwork exclusive to the xbox or some crap....then there'd be a "real" issue.

I say continue on.

venkman · « **Reply #11 on:** October 04, 2008, 02:21:58 pm »

there is no copyright infringement in reproducing this as a personal exercise in artwork, or in uploading it as a tutorial type file that acts as an example for others. an as Gatsu says, no money is being made here, and midway do not produce the product any more either. If they did sideart, i'm sure people would buy it!

looks good gsoul

Gatsu · « **Reply #12 on:** October 06, 2008, 03:41:40 pm »

Im gonna be building a MK1 cabinet this winter and am in need of the artwork as well.

So if you need any help with it just let me know. I'll help any way I can.

adidas1984x · « **Reply #13 on:** October 07, 2008, 06:46:18 pm »

looks amazing so far i deff want it if its ever complete

MaximRecoil · « **Reply #14 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:30:31 am »

Quote from: gsoul on July 01, 2008, 10:51:04 am

And just for the skeptical ones (Yes, there were some people who didn't believe me when I first posted version 1.0 a year or so ago)

Anything can be done in vector, given the right amount of talent:

zorg · « **Reply #15 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:39:33 am »

Quote from: MaximRecoil on October 09, 2008, 08:30:31 am

Anything can be done in vector, given the right amount of talent:

talent and time

gsoul · « **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:47:07 am »

Lol, I think vector is more about patience than real talent

MaximRecoil · « **Reply #17 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:55:36 am »

Quote from: gsoul on October 09, 2008, 08:47:07 am

Lol, I think vector is more about patience than real talent

The most impressive examples require quite a bit of know-how and concentration. Plus I would say that the gradient mesh tool takes a good deal of talent to use effectively. You can't really "trace" with it; you need artistic ability; e.g., an understanding of light and shadows. Plus the tool itself is maddening; and requires a talent all of its own just to get it to do what you want it to do.

gsoul · « **Reply #18 on:** October 09, 2008, 09:17:06 am »

Hey I've been trying to upload this to LocalArcade with no success.

http://rapidshare.com/files/152352394/Mortal_Kombat_Vector.ai.html

Can someone please upload it for the rest of the community?

I don't have time to finish this project, so I'm hoping someone with 'talent' can finish it off!

Gatsu · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2008, 10:20:57 am »

I've downloaded it and will start working on it tonight. Once I'm done I'll upload the finished artwork to wherever you want it.

AwesomeAlbert · « **Reply #20 on:** October 10, 2008, 08:19:26 pm »

how come this hasnt been done before??? when i got a mk cab, it was painted black tried to save the art but failed. mame marquee has the side art for mk 2 and mk 3 but not mk 1??

why?

MaximRecoil · « **Reply #21 on:** October 11, 2008, 01:28:39 am »

Quote from: AwesomeAlbert on October 10, 2008, 08:19:26 pm

how come this hasnt been done before??? when i got a mk cab, it was painted black tried to save the art but failed. mame marquee has the side art for mk 2 and mk 3 but not mk 1??

why?

For artwork reproductions, Mame Marquees prints directly from cleaned up raster scans. So all that would need to be done for them to print MK1 sideart, is for someone to provide them with a usable scan of the original sideart.

AwesomeAlbert · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2008, 11:09:07 am »

Quote from: MaximRecoil on October 11, 2008, 01:28:39 am

Quote from: AwesomeAlbert on October 10, 2008, 08:19:26 pm
how come this hasnt been done before??? when i got a mk cab, it was painted black tried to save the art but failed. mame marquee has the side art for mk 2 and mk 3 but not mk 1??

why?
For artwork reproductions, Mame Marquees prints directly from cleaned up raster scans. So all that would need to be done for them to print MK1 sideart, is for someone to provide them with a usable scan of the original sideart.

How come no one has provided them with a usable scan?? No demand for mk1 but there is for mk2 and mk3?

Gatsu · « **Reply #23 on:** October 12, 2008, 11:44:35 am »

I kinda wonder that myself. I offer to clean up the scans if need be.

waveryder · « **Reply #24 on:** October 13, 2008, 04:53:16 am »

Gota a bit of free time today so I thought i'd stick my nose in. Cant this be reproduced from the image posted above? Rather than vector it up, (Seems wrong for this piece to me as it contains brush strokes) Wouldn't it make more sense to blow it up, path it and then repaint it? Did a quick repaint of a bit of the dragon and leg to show what I mean. My £0.02

Gatsu · « **Reply #25 on:** October 13, 2008, 10:13:45 am »

Quote from: waveryder on October 13, 2008, 04:53:16 am

Gota a bit of free time today so I thought i'd stick my nose in. Cant this be reproduced from the image posted above? Rather than vector it up, (Seems wrong for this piece to me as it contains brush strokes) Wouldn't it make more sense to blow it up, path it and then repaint it? Did a quick repaint of a bit of the dragon and leg to show what I mean. My £0.02

Well. You go right ahead and get on that!

We really only need Johnny Cage repainted though, since the dragon is pretty much done in that Illustrator file. Just convert it and drop it into photoshop with the Cage image.

waveryder · « **Reply #26 on:** October 13, 2008, 11:10:38 am »

Quote from: Gatsu on October 13, 2008, 10:13:45 am

Well. You go right ahead and get on that!

Lol wasn't an offer. Just offering a suggestion to enable someone with a little more freetime to get it done.

Gatsu · « **Reply #27 on:** October 13, 2008, 01:27:56 pm »

Quote from: waveryder on October 13, 2008, 11:10:38 am

Quote from: Gatsu on October 13, 2008, 10:13:45 am
Well. You go right ahead and get on that!

Lol wasn't an offer. Just offering a suggestion to enable someone with a little more freetime to get it done.

alright alright.....I guess I'll do it. Might as well since I'm building an MK cabinet.

Gives me an excuse to pull the old tablet out.

MaximRecoil · « **Reply #28 on:** October 13, 2008, 01:55:45 pm »

Quote from: waveryder on October 13, 2008, 04:53:16 am

Gota a bit of free time today so I thought i'd stick my nose in. Cant this be reproduced from the image posted above? Rather than vector it up, (Seems wrong for this piece to me as it contains brush strokes) Wouldn't it make more sense to blow it up, path it and then repaint it? Did a quick repaint of a bit of the dragon and leg to show what I mean. My £0.02

That's a 96 DPI photograph and a resolution of only 333 x 667. I wouldn't try to reproduce artwork with anything less than a 300 DPI scan (I prefer 600 DPI). The picture posted in this thread is missing way too much detail, plus being a photograph, it is not going to be perfectly "square" like a scan.

waveryder · « **Reply #29 on:** October 13, 2008, 02:48:35 pm »

I dont see the problem using the original posted example as a basis for a redraw. Anatomy is anatomy at any resolution, its clear enough to get musculature and shadow from.

Gatsu · « **Reply #30 on:** October 13, 2008, 02:57:54 pm »

very true. its probably just a lack of confidence on my part since I haven't painted anything like this.

I'll just look at it like I'm tracing with colors. lol.

MaximRecoil · « **Reply #31 on:** October 13, 2008, 11:49:41 pm »

Quote from: waveryder on October 13, 2008, 02:48:35 pm

I dont see the problem using the original posted example as a basis for a redraw. Anatomy is anatomy at any resolution, its clear enough to get musculature and shadow from.

You seem to be missing the point of a reproduction, which is, to reproduce the original artwork; not simply to make artwork that passes for Johnny Cage. The best you could do from that picture is a rough approximation.

Additionally there is a lot more detail to the musculature and shadows than what you can see in that tiny picture; not to mention the small details in the eyes, ears, nose, and face in general, that you pretty much can't see at all.

Of course, it is up to the people who will be using the artwork, whether they want "20/20" art on their machine or not.

This art is difficult to reproduce by its very nature. The original source was a photograph of the Johnny Cage actor (the same actor that was used to model/digitize the character in the game). This was composited with the non-photographic elements of the art, then everything was arranged and photographed together as a complete layout; then halftoned and screen or offset printed.

If someone could get a good scan (300 DPI at least) of the original art (this can be done in sections with an ordinary home scanner, and then stitched together), then that could be cleaned up and printed from directly by e.g., Mame Marquees. That would give the best results for the least amount of effort. Even better results could be had from someone recreating the art in a vector program (very difficult in this particular case), using the scan as a source, and then having it screen or offset printed.

Gatsu · « **Reply #32 on:** October 14, 2008, 09:22:22 am »

Maxim, thats exactly what I thought as well.

Re-painting it will look good (depending on the artist), but it wont be true to the original.

So....if any of you guys out there with MK cabinets could, please scan the sideart. I'll do all the clean up and stitching the pieces together if need be.

PM me and let me know if you'd like to help! I've already got a document with the cabinet dimensions setup and ready to go.

Wade · « **Reply #33 on:** October 14, 2008, 06:43:22 pm »

Quote from: waveryder on October 13, 2008, 02:48:35 pm

I dont see the problem using the original posted example as a basis for a redraw. Anatomy is anatomy at any resolution, its clear enough to get musculature and shadow from.

It's obvious from what has been posted above that the vector version is already skewed so that it doesn't fit correctly on the cabinet profile. Look at the placement of the Midway text.

Wade

Reptilz · « **Reply #34 on:** November 02, 2008, 11:07:59 am »

Im also needing the MK1 side artwork, but Im wanting it without Johnny Cage. Has the scaled Dragon been finished without Johnny Cage?

zorg · « **Reply #35 on:** November 06, 2008, 05:10:17 am »

great opportunity for MK sideart repro.

there's a NOS MK sideart on ebay, someone should buy it and scan it at a really high resolution. 600 oe even1200 dpi.

this is the way to repro this particular piece of art.

link to auction: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290273155367

HaRuMaN · « **Reply #36 on:** November 06, 2008, 08:53:48 am »

^^ not the same, lol.

zorg · « **Reply #37 on:** November 06, 2008, 11:52:36 am »

you're right, I did not pay much attention to the pics

my bad

Gatsu · « **Reply #38 on:** November 18, 2008, 04:36:05 pm »

you could still scan in the johnny cage part of the image and place that ontop of a redrawn dragon. Would just need some trimming and cleanup.

That would save alot of time.

Tarman · « **Reply #39 on:** November 19, 2008, 10:06:16 pm »

I'm keeping my eye on this thread! I know you guys can pull this off!!!


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