CPO critique

[Disgrntld]

So, I think I'm about ready to print my CPO, but I was hoping to get y'alls opinion first. The one thing I don't really like is the outlines. Any ideas?



Have at me..

[ivwshane]

hmm... Something about it doesn't sit well. The characters don't seem to compliment each other well.

[Disgrntld]

Well I was kinda going for a Capcom vs SNK thing, and I paid to have Blanka and Mai vectorized, so.. I don't really want to change the chars. Maybe a drop-shadow or something on both chars to unify them?

[ivwshane]

Maybe or just a different background.
Blanka just looks too overwhelming.

[Disgrntld]

Ok, how about this?

[Timstuff]

I call dibs on player 2.

[Disgrntld]

Well she was the best "equipped" character in the Fatal Fury series, I mean in fighting skill, of course.

What does everyone think about this one?



I changed the goldish outline and lightened the background.

[ivwshane]

The second one is better than the last. What about a more plain background and a more pronounced map of africa with a more green look to it?

Can you change the color of the girls outfit?

[waveryder]

Gott agree with iwshanes original comment. Those characters do not fit well together. Considering they have been vectored they seem very flat and arent even looking towards each other. If Blanka and Mia are your thing you could have gone with something with a little more "drama" than the character select images. My £0.02

[Disgrntld]

My roommate said the same thing about the second one, so noted. I'm going to work on a new background..

I can make the map more colored, but you've confirmed my fear. See, the map was originally supposed to be of the whole world with Blanka originating from Brazil and Mai from Japan, but Africa is too prolific in the middle..

Anyway, I'm going to have to finish this tomorrow as I'm quickly passing my optimal, 4-beer range for arcade building.

[Blanka]

I do not see problems with the flatness, but the saturation of Blanka and Mia is too different. Maybe it helps if Mia gets some more tan, or Blanka's green is a little more watered down. You can also shove Blanka a bit to the left (off limits) so he's not that dominant over Mia.

[Disgrntld]

Ok, I desaturated Blanka 20%, made joystick directional graphics, and removed the drop shadow.

[ivwshane]

I liked the drop shadow as it did help to unify the two characters (although what waveryder is correct).

[Disgrntld]

Gotcha, I'll have to stick the drop shadows back in at the very end, I have to rasterize the vectors to do that at which point my computer has a fit.

I was trying to think of some kind of divider to place between them (lightning bolt, diagonal slash, etc) to make it look more like a match-up screen. Any ideas?

[Blanka]

I like it very much now. There is much more balance. I don't know if I would do the dropshadow again, as drop-shadow is very pixelish for vector-art. If you wan't to make it look a VS match, maybe it's better to give Mia a grin than to add other stuff. Now she looks so timid. But that may be a more difficult design trick.

[Disgrntld]

Hmm, good point.. I don't want it dithered, do you think drop shadows would make noticeable banding?

A grin you say?? Hmm, I might be able to pull that off, let me see if I can find a more confident mouth to snag from AAL..

[Disgrntld]

With lips shamelessly stolen from http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/details.php?image_id=1217



What do you think? Did I even position them correctly?

[Blanka]

It's subtle, but it can work. The mouth still needs a black line at some point. And you might try to lift the outer parts of each eyebrow, so that the knick gets less and the outer points are little more up.

[ivwshane]

I like it very much now. There is much more balance. I don't know if I would do the dropshadow again, as drop-shadow is very pixelish for vector-art. If you wan't to make it look a VS match, maybe it's better to give Mia a grin than to add other stuff. Now she looks so timid. But that may be a more difficult design trick.

I think that might be the ticket! Since you are stuck with the pics, a divider of some sort might make a little more sense.


Are you able to change the color of mia's outfit? Making her outfit a deeper red and changing the skin tone would help as well.

[Blanka]

A little more like she's equal. I borrowed the mouth of blue mary ;-). I did something with the brows too. Now she's more 'above' blanka instead of his next lunch. I added a bit of red to the dress too.

[Disgrntld]

Those changes look good Blanka! I'll incorporate the dress colors and eyebrows this next revision..

Which mouth should I pick?



I actually kind of like the second ones from Timezone Girl (http://www.localarcade.com/arcade_art/details.php?image_id=275).