CGTalk - Spectacular 2D Entry: Carlos Ranna

DoInferno

09-29-2005, 05:15 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128010529_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128010529_large.jpg)

This time i´ll be a part of the chalenge! Oh yeah!

Hope to learn and have a lot of fun with all of you guys!

The title says everything, i guess. This is the Line art. As i did not took a photo of the concept sketch, i´ll post it here later.

Ilikesoup

09-29-2005, 07:11 PM

Hey, Carlos! Good luck in the Challenge.

DoInferno

09-30-2005, 02:39 PM

Hey Ilikesoup! Thanks a lot man! Hope you come back often!

DoInferno

10-01-2005, 01:47 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128127639_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128127639_large.jpg)

Those are the first concept sketch, that originated the Line Art.

Tomorrow i´ll post first coloring!

cheney

10-01-2005, 05:33 AM

Nice idea, but a bit simple. This will be all about how you develope the idea in my opinion. This really makes me think of Ozzy's War Pigs.

Korline

10-01-2005, 07:16 AM

nice sketches, but I think their need more depth, but that's to early to really comment on this, :thumbsup:
good luck :D

valenedian

10-01-2005, 10:57 AM

hi, personally I prefer the first concept. But I think that the point of view should be lower to give a crushing impression. And you can play with the scythe's shadow as if it cut the head of the soldiers

DoInferno

10-01-2005, 12:18 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128165483_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128165483_large.jpg)

This is the first coloring for the image. I think it´s very importante to go to this point , so that we have a image that can really be avaliated...

DoInferno

10-01-2005, 12:30 PM

valenedian - Wel man, i ended up developing an image that uses elements of both sketches... I believe that at this point of view, death is going to be the "main actor" of the image, i intend to use a color at the soldiers that bring´em some atention too. I liked the shadow idea, let´s see what will happen

Korline - What you think about the depth now it has some colors? Is it better or still sucks?

cheney - Wel... I think i´ll develop it non-cg till i reach a certain level, and them i´ll go to a cg-image to really work on it. Hope i get something interesting blending those diferente medias together!

Thanks yall for the comments. Hope you guys come back!

elmasfeo

10-01-2005, 01:46 PM

I like the concept, it will be interesting to see how you blend cg with non-cg, good luck with it! :)

and to crit something... death's color may be too saturated and it contrasts a lot with the mountains... I think it should be more like "hidden" in the background... (and I don't know if I would take anything as a serious threat if its dressed in bright purple :D)

MVDB

10-01-2005, 04:48 PM

Cool concept indeed!
Who's gonna die? Left or right guy, maybe you should place a landmine in front of the left guy, or is this to obvious? Keep it up, I was just thinking out loud!
Good luck on this challenge! :)

DoInferno

10-02-2005, 01:40 AM

MichaelMotion - I think both of them will die...

Elmasfeo - I´ll have to think about this color issue you have putten... I´m just afraid that all the mood is desaturated, and maybe Death shouldn´t be like that, or else the image could be lifeless... Really importante issue here... What everybody thinks of it?

elmasfeo

10-02-2005, 10:57 AM

well, maybe it's not about saturation or not, it's just that IMO it contrasts a lot with the mountains, and it looks like it would be closer to the viewer than the mounts :surprised...
Maybe you could make all the background darker... or maybe if you just faded the bottom part of death... but that's not easy in non-cg, is it? I know nothing about traditional painting, sorry.... and not much more about non-traditional :D
anyway, I wish you best luck with it doInferno, :thumbsup: keep it up!

DoInferno

10-02-2005, 01:04 PM

Yeah... I know what you mean... Very important question.

Anyway, i think i shouldn´t do those things untill i put some colors on the soldiers, and make a litle change on the foreground... I expect to work on these today or tomorrow, and them i´ll post the updated image. Your opinion will be very apreciated.

Thanks man!

DoInferno

10-02-2005, 07:57 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128279446_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128279446_large.jpg)

More coloring. Need opinions, thanks everybody!

DoInferno

10-03-2005, 12:05 PM

Tough question... Wich colors to use in the soldiers?

DoInferno

10-04-2005, 01:48 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128430133_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128430133_large.jpg)

Working on digital medium for a great amount of time. Changed the mood of the image, and improved a lot the details,like the soldiers, the death´s face, clouds and a lot of things.

Anyway... I NEED opinions, crits and comments please!

elmasfeo

10-04-2005, 11:08 PM

I don't have anything intelligent to say... just that it looks very good! :thumbsup:

have you thought about adding some fog or mist? and some trees or something to go with those empty mounts? ...mmm... or maybe the mounts can look good empty, that could increase the feeling of loneliness, I don't know...

DoInferno

10-05-2005, 12:09 PM

I think i´ll give a try to the fog... I´m just afraid to use it, but i´ll try. It doesn´t hurt.

Does anyone think there´s something strange to the overall color? Is it to saturated, bright, dark, feels wrong or something?

Atris

10-06-2005, 07:19 AM

Hi! Your idea is very unusual! I think maybe you should try to arrange one of the sodiers nearer to viewers and to do the exceprt with solieders more bright, as if light are directed to they? Excuse me for my English! Good luck! :)

DoInferno

10-06-2005, 09:25 PM

Sorry Atris, but what you mean by "to do the exceprt with solieders"?

Hi! Your idea is very unusual! I think maybe you should try to arrange one of the sodiers nearer to viewers and to do the exceprt with solieders more bright, as if light are directed to they? Excuse me for my English! Good luck! :)

Atris

10-07-2005, 07:16 AM

Sorry Atris, but what you mean by "to do the exceprt with solieders"?

Hello! Please accept my apologies. I have made a mistake, it was a slip of the pen. I mean the part of your image where soldiers are depicted.

DoInferno

10-11-2005, 01:26 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128990384_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1128990384_large.jpg)

More coloring.

Some crits would help me a lot. Tell me if i should keep going on this image, or should i change while i have the time to do so?

Is it good? Bad? Does it smell? And please, i´m not asking for kind words, i need to hear sincere opinions from you guys!

DSG people, where are you?

Thanks everybody!

DoInferno

10-18-2005, 03:44 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1129603452_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1129603452_large.jpg)

Working...
And expecting critics too...
Really need them...
The pic has changed a lot.
My fear of making only a few changes after going to CG is gone. I feel it has improved.

Thanks for those that comented, and keep posting! I need opinions.

Well, enough talking... See ya.

elmasfeo

10-18-2005, 10:52 PM

:wavey:

I think it looks good, I'll give you all of my thoughts about it....
maybe you exagerated too much the fog in the last one, I mean, maybe you should blur all those clouds a little? maybe not, they look good, dreamy and misterious....
I think the contrast looks good in the ground/soldiers part, but it's a bit too much in the sky/death half...
and in the image before this one there was some kind of shadow behind the death, like 'she' (he? it?) was leaning against a wall...it's more or less corrected now but there's still some areas (right part of the head) where it continues....
oh, and I think the moon is too saturated... or is it the sun??

I hpe some of this may help.... keep it up, and don't worry about the lack of comments...this things happen and it doesn't mean the picture is bad...

DoInferno

10-19-2005, 03:58 PM

Thanks a lot Elmasfeo!! I reaaaaly needed to hear some outside input! Those comments will hep me a lot! I loved the help.

Now, it´s time to take a long look at the picture and think about what´s next... Those directions will give me a lot to think about. Think and act.

Updates soon, thanks again to all who are taking a part on the procces.

DoInferno

11-10-2005, 03:14 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1131592449_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1131592449_large.jpg)

Getting much better!

Won´t talk to much, my dog died two hours ago. I´m very sad.

DoInferno

11-15-2005, 12:23 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132057412_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132057412_large.jpg)

I´m working on details for the soldiers, background mountains and clouds.

I´ll post the whole image later.

DoInferno

11-16-2005, 11:47 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132184826_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132184826_large.jpg)

Gotta hurry. The deadline is arriving!

authentic

11-17-2005, 08:45 AM

I like your compoisition. Now it's time for details to have a less blurry picture.

DoInferno

11-18-2005, 01:45 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132321545_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132321545_large.jpg)

Working around to get the details where i wan´t them.

This is "Final coloring 01". Hehe...

The pic will change. Be sure.

Thanks yall for the comments and tips!

DoInferno

11-18-2005, 02:52 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132325569_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132325569_large.jpg)

Crazy stuff... to see the fliped image...

DoInferno

11-18-2005, 04:50 PM

Hey authentic! It´s been hard to understand how to make details on a foggy night... But i´m trying here, hehe...

Lots of questions on my mind now...

DoInferno

11-18-2005, 07:45 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132343157_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132343157_large.jpg)

Adding more detail. This is the hard part. But i can see it´s essential...

Will i have the time?

DoInferno

11-21-2005, 10:12 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132611156_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132611156_large.jpg)

Working some details on the foreground. This is supposed to change the impression that the foreground is a big mountain. It´s more like a piece of a rock that is in front of the soldiers.

Let´s see what happens...

DoInferno

11-23-2005, 08:47 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132778851_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132778851_large.jpg)

Detail of the pic.

Any opinions?

DoInferno

11-23-2005, 09:34 PM

Would it be ok to leave soldiers like this, or is it extremelly needing changes?

DoInferno

11-24-2005, 12:32 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132792356_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1132792356_large.jpg)

I really am not sure if i´m close to the end or not. The image changed so much from the begining...

I would love to hear anything. Feel free!

DoInferno

11-24-2005, 10:31 PM

For those who like details, here it is! Hope i´m getting the pictorial look i intended at the begining.

http://www.carlosranna.com.br/cgtalk/spectacular__when_death_arrives_carlosranna_big13.jpg

elmasfeo

11-25-2005, 12:08 AM

I don't know why am I almost the only one that posts here...
is that your final-final image?
I think that the "blade" looks a bit strange, it looks like it had volume, with the whiter borders and the darker center, and maybe it should be more flat... or just whiter in the bottom, in the cutting part...
good luck mate, you're doing a good job...:thumbsup:

DoInferno

11-25-2005, 08:55 PM

Me neither Fernando, but i´m glad that you´re comunicating with me. Sometimes it seens i´m talking to myself here, hehe...

No it´s not my Final image. I have to change a few things in the sky, the blade and maybe the piece of wood that holds it... But those are going to be minor changes. I think i´m close to the end and i´ll be able to finish it in time.

Monday i´ll print the picture so i can take a better look at it. I´m tired of looking at the screen all the time....

Thanks for the tip on the blade mate, i´ll think a lot about it!

DoInferno

11-29-2005, 06:49 PM

I made the print and... voilá! Realized it´s too green.

Now i have a techinichal doubt... I want it more blue, but i want to make this color correction on the image as a whole, without flaterning it. Is it possible to make that on all layers at the same time?

Thanks!

robinayles

11-29-2005, 07:52 PM

Not sure about your techie question...but I like this a lot, really nice job.

My one and only crit would be to remove a little of the middle ground between death and the soldiers so that you could move the soldiers a little closer, like in your detail sample of them - I think the closer they are to the viewer (i.e. larger in size) the more impactful it is to have death hanging over them like that.

DoInferno

11-30-2005, 12:25 AM

Hey Robin, thanks for the help on the views issue and on the composition idea!

I´ve been asking for tips like these for a long time, now that the chalenge is almost over and i´m full of university jobs to deliver, i don´t know if i would be able to make such a big change... That is something that maybe should have been implemented at the begining or midle of the proces...

On the other hand, i believe that now, Death seens like a huge monstruous thing, and if i did that cut i would have to change the proportions and it would have to be smaller... I don´t know... But since the image is not finished i´ll think about it.

Thanks a lot!

DoInferno

11-30-2005, 12:30 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133310634_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133310634_large.jpg)

Hummm... Finishing is harder than starting...

DoInferno

11-30-2005, 08:01 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133380863_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133380863_large.jpg)

Tought you guys might like to see some more details. So... Here it is... Meanwile i´ll go working on the last details. Five days is gona be easy for me, i guess...

DoInferno

11-30-2005, 09:12 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133385136_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133385136_large.jpg)

So wich should i use? I think i prefer number 3, but i´m in doubt...

elmasfeo

11-30-2005, 10:53 PM

1 is probably too plain... 3 looks more menacing, ...I think 3 looks good, but the right pupil looks different size than the left one, or maybe the eye is brighter...

by the way, I don't know how to make it globally more blue without flattening it, I'm not an expert... but I guess you just could leave that until the end, when it's finished and you no longer need the layers...

DoInferno

12-01-2005, 03:48 AM

You may be asking yourself now: Gee, this guy has no certains, just questions! That´s true, i´m a question man. And i´m enjoying feedback more than most people out there usualy do.

So, after having a long doubt about eye number 2 or 3, decided for number 3. Had to listen my girlfriend, sister, Elmasfeo, my father and decline my mom sugestion for number 1. Also corrected the issues Elmasfeo brought to my atention and desaturetd the eye a bit.

Well, i also made some minor changes to the sky, mountains and Death clothes. You problaby won´t notice, but it´s much better now.

So... Where is my new question? Ah-ha! Here it is: What should i do to the overall color and mood of the image? I´m definitely not happy with it. So i started some experiments, and i´m going to bed now. Tomorrow i´ll experiment a litle more. Enjoy:

http://www.carlosranna.com.br/cgtalk/spectacular__when_death_arrives_carlosranna_final_color_questions02.jpg

http://www.carlosranna.com.br/cgtalk/spectacular__when_death_arrives_carlosranna_final_color_questions01.jpg

...

oldasold

12-01-2005, 06:02 AM

At first i was going to tell you my thoughts on the lighting...but instead it was easier to show you my take. Hope thats ok with you.

Some of your values need to be pushed a liitle more, like the shadows in and around death. I used the burn tool, but i'd suggest using black and going in manually with a brush, otherwise it'll create changes in the colors (like the halo i created). I liked how you choose to dodge some elements, such as the moon, but i'd try to keep it to a minimal...perhaps only to the moon and clouds nearby(i also dodged the eyes).

The only other thing i did was try to create a line of focus, or more direction with the composition. I first copied the entire piece, motion blurred it vertically, then erased a path from the moon to death, hills, soldiers, and finally to the flowers, exposing the sharper image below.

Well, there's my take....and don't take it too seriously.....cause I'm wrong alot. Good luck, and keep up the good work.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/kittnlitter/1.jpg

DoInferno

12-01-2005, 11:33 PM

Hi KITTNLITTER. Those are interesting tips you gave me. I guess i can see what you mean.

I´ll have to think about that now, there a re some few days left to the chalenge ends, and i´m in the fase of finishing my image, so what you said can be very helpfull at this point.

I also have to write a history... The idea is pretty clear, but writing it in a good way is not that easy.

Have to go now. Tomorrow i´ll work more on the image.

Thanks and see ya later.

DoInferno

12-05-2005, 05:05 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133759090_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/10/9151/9151_1133759090_large.jpg)

A moment that comes to us all. The only certain thing in life. And yet... Something so feared and spectacular that will never be an easy subject. How will death arrives for ourself? Will it appear for us in a stupid fall inside the bathroom? A lost bullet from a gun coming in our direction? A crazy car with a drunk driver coming toward us?

For those soldiers it will come in a most painfull and terrible way. Walking alone in the enemy fields, they just don´t know what was the faith of the rest of their company. With their heart full of fear and ansiety, they walk carefully strugling to survive, looking at every shadows that moves, paying atention to all the sounds they hear.

Nothing in the training camp could prepare them for what is about to happen. The enemy is all around them. They can´t see all those soldiers looking at them, just wainting till they give that last step, entering the perfect area for the ambush. The enemy´s seargent is about to give the order to kill, when the presence of the great entity is felt, but not yet recognized by those that are present.

In the midle of the foggy night, Death appears to collect more souls, and continue her eternal task. With her eyes fixed at those who would die, and a cold and light wind that gives a chill on every warrior´s belly, her unknow presence is just what´s necessary for the atack to begin. The soldiers give their last step, and sudenly everything becomes clear! But it´s too late...

DoInferno

12-05-2005, 06:13 AM

Yes! My final image! I made some last changes i tought i needed to do, and used some of Kittnliter tips too. Thanks man.

Thanks to everyone who participated in this thread. Good luck to all the chalengers! I´ve seen a lot of great works in here, and i wish i could believe i had a chance, but...

Well, i definetely learned a lot from this job. I took the image to a point i didn´t think i could take it. I can´t wait to give so much atention to another ilustration. I´m sure it´ll be a better image!

I started non-digital, but most of the work was made in a digital enviromment. A important thing for me, was the fact that i´ve been able to maintain the pictorial look of it.

Special thanks to Elmasfeo that really helped me! Not only with his good crits, but being here in a time i was feeling alone in the chalenge and was not very happy with the work. I even thought of stop doing it. So... Thanks man!

Once again, i loved everyone participation, so thanks you all!

Carlos Ranna