Colouring Image Portfolio

Bagpuss

Legend
Wondered what folks think of the colouring job I've done to the B&W line art available in the Superhero Image portfolio fromLPJ Design

brimstone.gif
 

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It's pretty cool. Perfectly servicable. However, there are a few things I might suggest that would make it more pleasing to my eye, at least. (Please don't be discouraged.)

- The black patches on her skin are dark areas by comparison to the flame. The brightest bits of flame should be furthest from these (the orange regions should be darkest nearer these 'shadows'). Otherwise, one could be forgiven for mistaking her skin for just plain orange skin with black scales on it instead of a fiery substance.

- Her clothing should have deeper shadows on it (and those shadows should be cast by her own fire, or at least recognise that the fire is a light source besides the sun). It looks a little flat to me, especially with all the strong shadows the original artist has laid down. Emphasise her contours a little more.

- I personally would have coloured the outlines of the flames a fiery colour (not her muscles, just the flames coming off them). It makes it look brighter and not as static. I like to think (and correct me if I'm wrong) that it makes the fire a little blurrier, thus giving the eye the impression of being dazzled, thus implying unconsciously that the fire is very bright.

I realise I'm essentially saying 'go back and do it all again'. Don't feel disheartened, though, it'll look cooler if you do as I suggest. Lighting is very important, and it'll benefit you in future.
 

Thanks for the advice, I've revisited it. Added a much brighter highlight (virtually white) to the flames, also applied this to the body and added a darker (redish) shade round the black spots on the skin. It now looks a lot more molten and less orange. The white high-light and shading of the flames has improve so the highlight is at the base of the flame (where its hottest) as well as near the top. Its looks more rounded with the additional tones.

The costume is indeed very flat, I think the lack of a highlight as well as the colour I used for the shadow being too light. It didn't help that when I saved it for web a lot of its tone seems to vanish. I'll work on the costume tomorrow if I get the chance and post the next result then.
 



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