Shading fur

[Mikko]

Not another furries thread.

Here is a sprite I have been working for my MAGS game. Any advice is welcome, but mostly I would be glad to hear some tips and tricks about shading fur, since the charcter (if not obvious) is a chipmunk-or-similar (a bit cartoony).



I started with basic shading, but it turned out to be more like plastic. Now I ended up with this, but for me it now looks basically what it is, bunch of almost random dots. So before I start to shade rest of it, lets hear your opinions.

As you can see it's unfinished, so focus is now in the head. Thanks in advance.

[jasonjkay]

I think the shading looks really cool. The only thing I can think of to do would be to add lines 2 or 3 pixals long to look like fur but id say stick with what your doing.

[TheYak]

If you just had lines a few pixels long to suggest shape rather than using the dot scheme and had a furry outline, I think it would sell it. 

Here's a poor example since I can't draw animals, but the top of the tail almost manages to look furry without being realistic:
Crappy squirrel drawing

[Mikko]

Thank you for both. Here is the sprite I came up.
300%

I drew a bit furry outline on the cheeks, but not the whole body since at this resolution I think that would be too detailed.

Further advice is of course appreciated, but as I'm getting bit in a hurry to make the rest of the game, I'll probably settle with this.

[Babar]

I don't think the "line" pixels work. The vertical lines are too prominent. I'd suggest makeing them like the face. Little "dots" instead of lines.

[Nacho]

I don't want to be an arse, but I see 90% of possibilities that after making the 4th frame of this sprite you'll say: "F*cking squirrel!!1111!!" and abandon the way you are focusing it. Looks like you'd have to work for hours to make all the pixels flow smoothly, and not just a "dancing pixel orgy", (dunno if this last part makes sense) I would use a simple, big-blobed, colouring style, as seen in Yogui bear and Booboo, for example. Keep it simple...

[Akumayo]

If you just had lines a few pixels long to suggest shape rather than using the dot scheme and had a furry outline, I think it would sell it.Ã, 

Here's a poor example since I can't draw animals, but the top of the tail almost manages to look furry without being realistic:
Crappy squirrel drawing

My God, that's scary.

For crits though:
I'd stick with a non-shaded version.  It looks easier to animate, as Farlander said.