You're preferred way of drawing backgrounds and characters?

[Stee]

Just curious as to people's styles etc and how people  do things. What I'd like to know:

Do you digitally draw in an art package like photoshop etc and if so are you hardcore and use the mouse, or a perfectionist and use a graphics tablet?

OR

Do you hand draw your stuff and then scan them in using the trusty flatbed?

What graphics software(s) do you use?

AND Finally, that good old favourite:

How long does it take you to finish a character/background?


I'm just curious. The only game I ever made was a small demo (not even sure if I released it on here), At the time I had no Graphics Tablet and no Scanner, so everything had to be done the hard way. From what I remember some of the backgrounds used dodgy photoshop filters/textures to save time, and the one character I did was a rip off paintover of a RON character out of the insta-kit.
Suffice to say it was shite.

Now however, even though I still have no artistic ability, I have a super duper all in one printer which has a scanner, so I can do things the old fashioned way. Also you seem to be able to get (albeit small) graphics tablets fairly cheap.

Just wondering since in a couple of months I'll have a bit more time on my hands, and if things don't go to plan (ie no job) a LOT of time on my hands so I may start AGS-ing again.


So Spill......

[DoorKnobHandle]

I'm hardcore, I use Photoshop/ProMotion/Paint and I really can't give an answer to the "how-long-does-it-take" question as that not only depends on the individual piece but it's also really hard to tell when exactly I start and end working with my workflow.

[GarageGothic]

For my current game I pencil backgrounds by hand, then scan the artwork and color it in Photoshop. There's a tutorial detailing my art style here. Once I have the composition worked out (which could take days) it takes about 5-8 hours to finish a background.

The characters are customized Poser models which are then rendered with flat shaders. I'm not proud of using Poser art, but I think I've achieved a style which doesn't trigger knee-jerk reactions from the anti-Poser crowd. For my next game, I'm going to use digitized actors. I dumpster dived a fully functioning treadmill, so now I just need to paint it chroma-key green and get a green backdrop and I'll be all set to go.

[Moresco]

Do you digitally draw in an art package like photoshop etc and if so are you hardcore and use the mouse, or a perfectionist and use a graphics tablet?

Yes.  Haha.  I use both actually, mouse and graphics tablet.  But I am leaning towards more graphics tablet, I just got one of my own after years of using the mouse.

Do you hand draw your stuff and then scan them in using the trusty flatbed?

What graphics software(s) do you use?

How long does it take you to finish a character/background?

And yes.  Well...I use wide copic markers on vellum or denril, usually warm grays with some pens to lay in line work.  I'll scan those in and then go digital from there.

I use Photoshop CS3, but I'm hardcore interested in getting CS4 just for the ability to spin the canvas.  I tried it out a bit, it works so flawlessly and with the rocker buttons on the pen it just makes it almost too convenient.  It's even easier than spinning REAL paper. =D  I've tried Painter and as much fun as the realistic brushes can be, it just doesn't compare in quality or ease of use.

As for how long - it can be anywhere from an hour, to a day, to a month or two.  Sometimes concept pieces or matte paintings can take as long as three or four months to complete just based on how much work goes into it.  And how often you need to start over.... =/

[Hudders]

I use Paint Shop Pro 9 and draw stuff one pixel at a time.

Takes as long as it takes.

[Ghost]

PS and/or Graphics Gale. Pixels all the way, though I often draw a concept sketch to try out background composition.

[Ponch]

I draw everything on big yellow legal pads. Then scan the pencils on a flatbed scanner and use Photoshop to turn it into a finished background.

If I'm doing a background that requires a lot of technical detail or a complicated character animation, then I draw them on plain white copy paper using my old drafting tools on my trusty drafting table.

For a really complicated cutscene (like the one at the end of The Forever Friday part 2), then I'll use a light box.

As for the time involved, on average, the pencils don't take long at all. Most of the Barn Runner backgrounds are drawn at work on my lunch break. The more complicated stuff takes as long as it takes.

- Ponch

[Snake]

I sketch the BGs out on plain white paper then scan them in.

After they are scanned I open up my trusty paint program that never lets me down (MSPaint) and change it to a monochrome BMP (gets rid of the fuzzies). I convert back to 24-bit BMP and change the pencil/pen lines to GREY.

From there I finalize the BG playing "connect the dots/lines", and continue with coloring.

All which is completed in MSPaint.

I do not use any other paint program unless I think the scene can benefit from it (ie; PSP7).

NOTE: The same is done for characters.

[Layabout]

I simply draw far quicker and better using a trusty pencil. I tend to use a .3mm technical pencil for the roughs and use a 1mm for the big details. Sometimes I use regular pencils, but I like the cleaner look you get from a technical pencil. I will then scan the lineart into PS CS4 and if i'm pixelling the BG I will use a mouse, and if I'm painting I will use a tablet.

That said, I still like to experiment. I sometimes attempt to do a background in corel painter, although I've not perfected this technique. One thing I'd also like to try out is using Adobe Illustrator for tracing the lineart, then colour in photoshop. Hasn't happened yet, I just haven't had the time.

As for technique, if I'm being a good practicing artist, I will do a bunch of thumbnail sketches, use loads of reference and generally follow good practise. If I'm being lazy, I'll just see what the pencil creates. That said, I always have a solid idea of what I want and need from the background.

When it comes to characters, I will usually sprite the 4 views first. Then I will sketch the frames of the walkcycle (tablet) directly into layers, using a light blue 50% opacity (with variable opacity on the pen pressure)

As for timeframe, who knows. A sketch can take an hour or two, the colouring can take another 2 hours (pixel or wacom) It all depends on the details you put into the artwork.

So it really depends. I think the way that is most comfortable for most people to develop backgrounds is to pencil then scan then colour. Most people who learned to draw with a pencil and not a tablet that is.

The only advice I'd give to you is practice the fundamentals. Get a book called 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'. GO through all the exercises. Check out some books and tutorials on drawing perspective. Photograph the hell out of the place you live, look particuarly for obscure details you can work into your drawings somehow. Its amazing what you can do with a lamp-post turned horizontally. It could be a detail for a building or a futuristic compound. Draw from life as much as possible.

Plan Plan Plan. Make sure you have a decent description of your sets. Make a list of things you need to include in a set and what you would like to include.

[Stee]

Thanks, I will definitely check that book out. I bought a book called "game drawing for beginners" or something and it was awful so I gave it to a mate of mine (he's one of those ex art college people). Essentially I'm just pondering whether to get a graphics tablet, but I suppose I should see how serious I get into drawing first.

Its an interesting divide we have (scanners/tablets/digital) Anyone else want to share?

[Trent R]

Get a book called 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'.

I'm the black-sheep of drawing in my family, but I have heard nothing but good things about this book and how much it helps if you can't draw.


~Trent
PS-Also, when it comes to digital equipment, some people don't have the cash to get all the high-end stuff, and so just make do with free programs and such (which aren't necessarily worse).

[Moresco]

Get a book called 'Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain'.

I'm the black-sheep of drawing in my family, but I have heard nothing but good things about this book and how much it helps if you can't draw.

I have this book...or well, I have the "New" version, and I really didn't like it much.  Lots of weird science/psychological ideas and not enough about drawing.  There were a couple chapters where you'd focus on drawing what you actually see, rather than just drawing what you think you're supposed to draw - like iconic versus reality.  But if you want a book that explains that well, grab Understanding Comics by Scott McCloud from a library. 

What I really can't live without, are the Gnomon videos.  There's nothing quite like just watching someone else draw, it really flips on the light switch in a fast and lasting way.  At least for me....to each his own.  They're hella expensive though, but some libraries have them (if your library is awesome).

[arrr]

I do bacgrounds on paper, just the main lines, scan them, use mspaint to trace it, load the images into gimp, get rid of the garbage in a few clicks, and then I have a nice looking background to work with. =D

[twentyfour]

I sketch everything out in a cheapo sketchbook. I'm more confident with my character work so I solidify details on paper and scan in and clean up in Flash. Backgrounds I thumbnail then scan in and tinker away in Flash.

Characters are fast if I don't second guess a lot. maybe 1.5 hours from concept to finished cleanup(single pose). Backgrounds take me a workdays worth of hours if not more since I never really know what I'm gonna do until it's finished.

I use flash because I know it's in and outs better than any other program... and I kinda like the nice clean look I can get with it.

[Matti]

I'm drawing everything in vectors using Illustrator. Sometimes I make a sketch on paper and scan it, sometimes I use google images as references and sometimes I'm drawing out of my head without anything to look at / paint over.

I am going to learn to use photoshop some time though.

[Snake]

I forgot to mention that I always use a pencil to sketch. Dixon Ticonderoga are my prefered type - overall, not just for sketching - but doesn't matter really.

I then always finalize the sketches with my Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine Rolling Ball pens (black) before scanning. Love those damn things. I also use them for writing down brainstorms. For some reason I can't think of anything if I use a pencil.

[Trent R]

My bro has been to Japan a couple times over the last few years, and he's bought some pens that are specifically designed for writing kanji (the Japanese characters that are randomly printed on American t-shirts). My other bro, the artist prodigy, loved using them for inking.

You might want to check your local Asian market/supply store for something like that (though most merchandise at those stores are food and untensils)


~Trent

[ginanubismon]

Speaking of Japan, I use millennium ink pens which is made in, ta da, Japan by Kuretake Co. for any kind of final works. Sketching I use Rose art mechanical pencils, and some times color pencils. When done I take it, scan it then bring it into gimp for touch up.

That alone is for my artwork, games is basically traced and retraced then taken into the gimp then pixelized.

Speaking of books and other art related learning I have a large stack of "how to..." manga series, one even about animation which is extemely helpful if one wants to learn about animation, and Draw Mag which is the biggest influence.

[Dualnames]

MSPaint for everything. I prefer BGs for a strange reason..

[Vince Twelve]

Here's how I did the art for Linus Bruckman: http://xiigames.com/2006/12/21/wlbswheac-post-mortem-part-two-art-production/