Charlotte's Works

"I'm not going to go crazy"
"I'm not going to go crazy"
"I'm not going to go crazy"
"I'm not going to go crazy"
"I'm not going to go crazy"

*is trying to add a textured background in ArtRage by trial and error and every trial takes about 5 minutes of dawdling on ArtRage's account...*

Well currently (and for an awfully long time now, it feels like) I am trying to use only artRage in order to actually learn to use it. I do have an old old old version of Photoshop in a drawer somewhere as well, but if I reinstall that I'll just go back to using that alone and since it's so old that's no fun either. I'm not totally averse to trying to learn another program though, at least not eventually... But I have tried Gimp and I couldn't even figure out how to get marks down on the canvas...

You mean another try
But I meant what I said - I couldn't understand how to even make the pen tool make a line on the canvas. I got nothing. So not very tempted to try that one again. Really.

I can't remember what tools I tried, though I'm pretty sure I tried several. I really only remember making sure I hadn't selected the eraser or white colour (that's regarding Gimp for anyone who didn't read all the preceding posts)

It's about time I posted some more wips. And then it's really time I eat something. I just realised I've had brunch and half an apple today and it's half past eleven... Hmm...

Anyway, first wip is comparing the greyscale version to my so far coloured version. I wasn't sure the colours were working out at all - first tried to get closer to Giger's colouring but apart from cool background and warm foreground I found it too difficult and decided to just have fun instead - but comparing the two I think the colours are actually quite alright. Though I'm posting here partailly so I can see it all with new eyes, maybe tomorrow after food and sleep!

Also posting a test where the background colour was cut out from behind the foreground characters. I think it makes their colour too bright and strong though. Not sure. (Btw the central character isn't coloured yet - still struggling with separating her from the background... I think she's OK for the most part except her arms and I've tried rim lights and a few other things but not liked it so far... Thinking maybe colour might turn out to be enough. Again will have to sleep on it!)





I should mention that I've tried to listen to earlier feedback, as you can see the background is darker and I've added a gradient. I wasn't sure what you meant, Smolin, about vignettes (a border?) and radial gradients - nor am I sure I can do radial gradients in ArtRage... But anyhow I think it's better for the changes and I hope you all agree
(Now I should just remember to attach images before clicking submit...)

Funny how looking at an image posted in a public forum makes you see it differently than when you stare at it in the painting program... (Kind of like how you see all the dusty places once you have friends over I guess...)

Anyhow I'm leaning towards a mix of the last two (having the cool background colour behind the characters but at a lower and probably varying opacity compared to the rest of the image...). Thoughts?