The NEW Build Your Own Arcade Controls

Main => Artwork => Topic started by: Pixelhugger on November 29, 2004, 03:46:37 pm

Title: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Pixelhugger on November 29, 2004, 03:46:37 pm
Pulling out all the stops before dedicating my time to my own cab here are the beginnings of my biggest custom art project so far.

The cab's name is Proving Grounds and will have a fighter theme. Accordingly I am in the process of vectorizing some very detailed artwork from one of the Street Fighter comics.

Here is the first character vectorized. He will be held in mid-air by his face by the yet to be vectorized Bison. This image will be the focus of the side art.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Pixelhugger on November 29, 2004, 07:53:10 pm
The marquee is still in the design stage. Yes it will be blue and involve chrome ;) however the background seen in the examples below is generic and bears no resemblance to the actual marquee.  :P There will be lots of metal and lots of neon. The marquee itself will be designed around whichever the builder decides on.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Witchboard on November 29, 2004, 09:09:21 pm
Poor Charlie.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Callahan on November 29, 2004, 10:59:34 pm
Thats some nice stuff. I might have to use it for my cab. If you'll let me that is.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Felsir on November 30, 2004, 02:25:06 am
Now THAT is a great name for a fighter themed cab!

My vote goes to marquee G.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: SNAAKE on November 30, 2004, 04:28:48 am
(http://www.shoryuken.com/forums/images/smilies/pray.gif) SkillZ
Excellent work on the sideart so far ! 8)

My vote goes for marquee E.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: zorg on November 30, 2004, 05:14:20 am
marquee C

and I'm impatient to see the full characters art when it will finished. so far it looks tremendous
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: megashock5 on November 30, 2004, 03:29:23 pm
I vote for C as well.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Pilot143 on November 30, 2004, 10:32:18 pm
I'm torn between A... and G... A is too tall/thin?  but G kinda looks funny?  I dunno... I'm more into the shading of A + G... the light tops and dark bottoms don't do anything for me.

I think its the shadding of A or G... with the font of C maybe?  the font would more depend on background I would think?
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: TalkingOctopus on November 30, 2004, 11:25:01 pm
C! - oh and as always your work looks great!
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Generic Eric on December 01, 2004, 02:15:59 pm
I like C the best.

They don't say fighter to me though.

Although when I try to draw anymore, it looks like crayon on a damp paper towel.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Bomber on December 01, 2004, 06:03:10 pm
Damn Pixelhugger - awesome work again! C & G are my faves, probably leaning towards C if I had to pick one.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Pixelhugger on December 01, 2004, 08:41:22 pm
These are the two that Nate (the builder) has narrowed it down to, after some revisions.

Pilot - your observations on "A" were exactly like the feedback I got a while ago from Nate. So you'll notice  A REV 1 adjusts the vertical dimension and the shading to be a bit more readable. Like minds.

Eric - Well, the fighter elements should be clearer once the side art is finished and the CP (featuring Akuma's back) is done.  Nate wants a clean and modern design to go with other aspects of the cab/game room so accordingly I've avoided the distressed/broken type that would normally be associated with a fighter (like the Mamestrosity art).

Bomber, Octopus, Snaake, & Callahan...  :)

Felsir - That's great to hear. Nate thought a lot about it for a long time. Runner up was "The Dojo"

Zorg - Not as impatient as I am!! Man the detail in this stuff takes forever to vectorize! The final illustration will probably take a total of 12 - 18 hours to finish. Could be done much faster, I'm sure, but at the size it'll be on the side the details really need to be faithful to the original or it'll look traced.

Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Bomber on December 01, 2004, 09:07:51 pm
IMHO the caps look better than lower case. Especially with that 'v' looking very much like a 'u'....
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: Goz on December 02, 2004, 10:29:16 am
 A REV 1 looks good. The lower case chars in B don't look as right.

-Goz

Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: nostrebor on December 03, 2004, 10:34:53 pm
A REV 1.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization stage
Post by: missioncontrol on December 04, 2004, 07:16:06 pm
A REV 1 looks good.........
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 11, 2005, 09:28:10 pm
Well.... how's this for quick turnaround - ::) All I can say is that the builder has an otherworldly level of patience.

Vectorization is done... after a long period of fits and starts.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: SNAAKE on March 11, 2005, 10:37:48 pm
HOLY $HIT looks amezantastic !! :D :D
Can I use it after you are done with ?? I am working on another panel..of course you get full credit for the vector work :)
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 12, 2005, 01:40:12 am
Thanks  ;D

As far as sharing goes, whenever I make custom stuff for people I consider the artwork theirs. So it's not up to me. I would guess the guy I'm making it for is going to want to keep it unique to his cabinet, especially since he's paying for the work.  :)
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: melidian on March 12, 2005, 10:06:12 pm
a rev1 wins...do it
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: Daniel270 on March 14, 2005, 03:49:11 am
Just curious...

What's the going rate for this artwork?  REALLY looks awesome!

Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - character vectorization COMPLETE
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 16, 2005, 10:08:31 pm
Here is the first stab at the marquee.

These files are actually much larger than the site previews here... download to your hard drive and open them locally to view them at full size.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 16, 2005, 10:12:52 pm
This is a close-up to show the neon and metal detail.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 16, 2005, 10:14:36 pm
And this shows about how things will look at printed size. This should display at about 5 1/8" high when viewed outside the browser. Mileage may vary depending on your monitor.  :P
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Witchboard on March 16, 2005, 11:04:15 pm
Looks good.  After seeing a lot of your artwork I can now identify your "style".  One out of ten marquees and I could probably pick yours out every time.  ;)
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: darktemp on March 17, 2005, 01:18:15 am
Looks good.  After seeing a lot of your artwork I can now identify your "style".  One out of ten marquees and I could probably pick yours out every time.  ;)

I could pick his out too, there the good ones.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Taborious on March 17, 2005, 10:09:32 am
I saw an earlier post on this thread but no answer. What do you charge for artwork?
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: GGKoul on March 17, 2005, 11:06:42 am
I don't think Pixel charges for artwork... but you get added to the queue of work he has complete.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: JoeB on March 17, 2005, 11:20:41 am
I don't think Pixel charges for artwork... but you get added to the queue of work he has complete.

Actually, look up:

Quote
I would guess the guy I'm making it for is going to want to keep it unique to his cabinet, especially since he's paying for the work.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 17, 2005, 02:52:15 pm
Well, I have done (simpler) artwork in the past that I haven't charged for. Unfortunately the demands on my time have become such that I can no longer justify it, especially after the birth of my son. So I've taken on selected projects here and there for compensation though they still really amount to a huge amount of donated time. I guess the compensation just makes it easier to justify the hours to my wife...
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: BobbyG66 on March 17, 2005, 04:12:43 pm
In support of Pixel, those rates are VERY fair for what your getting.

If you tried to get artwork done elsewhere you could easily be paying $300 - 400. I am in this field and even when I send out my own finished artwork to a vendor, there is still artwork charges in the $150 - 200 range, for items much simpler like a warning decal.

There are a few people who don't want to spend more than $10.00 on ANYTHING, but when you figure the cost of software, and then the years of experience to produce something decent, it's well worth it. Plus he understands the arcade community and knows what looks good.

Just my thoughts...

BobbyG66
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 17, 2005, 05:12:37 pm
In support of Pixel, those rates are VERY fair for what your getting.

Thanks Bobby.

Just to clarify, those would be marquee prices. A project like Proving Grounds, which involves a CP and sideart as well...particularly with all the raster artwork and dozen or so hours of character vectorization is considerably more ;)
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Felsir on March 18, 2005, 01:58:44 am
There are a few people who don't want to spend more than $10.00 on ANYTHING, but when you figure the cost of software, and then the years of experience to produce something decent, it's well worth it. Plus he understands the arcade community and knows what looks good.

I have had my share of PMs and emails from people requesting me to do artwork. My experience is also that most people want their artwork cheap AND within one week after the request. It takes lots of time to create a decent piece of artwork with characters/vehicles/flames/etc. It seems that a lot of people forget that most of us have a day-job and family. Some of the requests got cancelled when I mention "expect it to take one month of time [marquee+cp]" and that is before the $$$ is discussed.

Pixel, do you discuss a timeframe with your 'customers'?
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on March 18, 2005, 01:23:14 pm
Quote
Pixel, do you discuss a timeframe with your 'customers'?

Absolutely. The only projects I can take on are for people who are willing and able to wait... generally for a long time. That's another reason I've been thinking of doing the quick turnaround vector only no character marquees. I can knock those out in a weekend.

I've gotta say again that the builder, Nathan (not sure what his BYOAC handle is) has been unbelievably patient in this case. This project hit smack dab in the middle of the most hectic time in my life so it has been unusually delayed and Nathan has been absolutely cool and understanding. Otherwise this could never have been done.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Marquee art
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 01, 2005, 12:44:17 pm
Here's the side art. It's a UAII style panel.

EDIT:  Ooops. Forgot the cape. I'll update this later  :-[
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Dire Radiant on May 01, 2005, 07:24:07 pm
Shouldn't that edge detail go behind Bison's foot too? *ducks*
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: SNAAKE on May 01, 2005, 08:21:20 pm
Bison's legs are too fat..need little work on that ! :)
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 01, 2005, 11:38:09 pm
Shouldn't that edge detail go behind Bison's foot too? *ducks*

Hrmmm... no duck necessary... you're absolutely right. With his hat over the edge of the trim both his feet should be too.  ;)

I treated the trim as a plane (like a doorway) that he's standing at the edge of... reaching through. But his hat places him in front of it. So.... next revision I'll move him to clear his hat, that way he'll be standing with his toes to the edge reaching out.

Quote
Bison's legs are too fat .


Thanks for the heads up. But that's how the comic is drawn ;) So either Joe Madureira needs an anatomy lesson or Bison is retaining water. ::)

I think what you're seeing the foreshortening due to the extreme perspective.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: greven grevs on May 02, 2005, 12:44:38 am
Bison's legs are too fat..need little work on that ! :)

if i recall correctly bison is 'drawn' the same in the the alpha/zero series. short stocky with thick legs. especially in sf alpha 3
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Felsir on May 02, 2005, 02:42:24 am

Teriffic work PH! I love the cabinet theme, the visual impact is perfect for a fighter-cab!
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: SNAAKE on May 02, 2005, 09:21:21 am
Oh yeah I was wrong..alpha version of bison has fatter legs lol.I didnt realize the comic was based on alpha(since charlie is there).Anyhey things look as good as it gets ! Good job.
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Dire Radiant on May 02, 2005, 01:14:46 pm
Is there going to be a front end skin to match?
Title: Re: Proving Grounds - custom artwork - Side art
Post by: Pixelhugger on May 03, 2005, 12:03:10 am
Is there going to be a front end skin to match?

Yeah. He's running Mamewah so providing a skin is a must. :) Should keep everything themed nicely.