Very Early WIP - Z2 Android 17

[Vermilingus]

As this is my first ever spriting thing (it is sort of a running tutorial level for me) I thought I would post updates on my Android 17 in different stages so people could give running feedback and advice. Please be as harsh as you want, but make your comments constructive, I don't want my time wasted.

Here's is the very early stages of a standing sprite. It isn't too small, is it?

[Iced]

extract sprites from a z2 char and check them side by side.

[Vermilingus]

Looks ok, I guess I was just kinda thrown off because Android 17 is a lot skinnier than other DBZ characters.


UPDATE
Just... wow. I know it's only a first try but my GOD that's hideous!

[Ryūku Tsukuyomi]

You should try something a lot easier, trying something that hard when you are just beginning seems like a bad idea to me.

[Balthazar]

Why did all of your outlines become so light ?
I think I agree with Ryuku, if this is your first try, you should probably start with an easier design, c17 has quite a few small details like the skaft and the pouch and the belt.

[Vermilingus]

Guess I am pitching for something a little ambitious. To be honest when i chose 17 I just thought to go with my favourite. Probably not my greatest of ideas.

Videl has a simpler design, I guess she might be a bit nicer to do.

[Hephaistos31]

ah ah!
Good luck anyway, dude!

[Daeron]

Z2 proportions are usually wider, and the lines have more contrast compared to other tones.
Did you sprited over a screenshot or a base? if thats so i would recomend to resize them a bit first.

Before compromising yourself with a whole char, it would be nice to practice the z2 style with some simple sprites, like trying to sprite a single sprite of X char.
Thats what i did before fully collaborating with the team and it really helps to grasp the idea of the shading and proportions.

aniway its a nice sprite for your first time! it doesnt mean its bad, It just that it doenst match with the z2 style yet Imo.
Good luck!

[Vermilingus]

I think I will need to spend more time learning hands and faces.
I think it's slowly improving though.

[Balthazar]

Yeah hands can be a real pain, certainly takes a lot of learning and messing around before you can get it right.
Here's a few things I picked up on your Videl sprite (I'll try to work from top to down):

-Chin is too wide/boxy, not very femine-looking.
-The outlines of the top of her purple sleeves are the darkest shade, this should be the second-lightest shade with a hint of one shade darker then that.
-The viewer's-right side of her gown strap doesn't reach to the top of her shoulder!
-Breasts seem waaay too 'tall', Videl has a rather humble breast size.
-As her gown/dress gets wider as it goes lower, more sunlight falls on it, so there is no need for those dark shades at the bottom, unless they were folds (which they aren't).
-Legs seem kind of pillow-shaded, but I can forgive that if it's supposed to be drop-shadow coming from her gown/dress-thing. (I mean the upper dark shading on her legs, below the black pants).
-There is hardly any contrast on the yellows of her boots.

I hope you take this feedback and perhaps edit or retry the same Videl sprite and improve that way ! Good luck, man!

[Vermilingus]

I edited based on ^ and came up with a second edit. I also noticed that the tips of her boots were the wrong shade. Still feels like something is off though...

[Daeron]

Hope this helps, i used your sprite as a base, this is the process i usually follow when making z2 sprites.
First line, then color each line and fill with the shadow color, then put the light color and transition it with the medium tone.
Finally add details and face, his sport pants are an exception and dont use a line, they shadowed just like karin´s pants.

(dont mind the boots on my sprite, i just gave up on those XD) also included a previous sprite of mine wich used Karin as a base

Always have another char near, for size comparation

[Cazaki]

It seems to be that the most common mistake for people who try to emulate this style is that they start off with a Budokai 3 stance and try to run with it instead of analyzing the actual style and gaining a general understanding of how it works. Seems to happen every time.

[Neocide]

This is offtopic but that videl stance is wonderful Daeron, but she's extremely tall.


Also on that 17 sprite, whatever frame you grabbed, that angle is wrong, it's pointing more inward than anything, it's not going to look right in 2D.

[Vermilingus]

It seems to be that the most common mistake for people who try to emulate this style is that they start off with a Budokai 3 stance and try to run with it instead of analyzing the actual style and gaining a general understanding of how it works. Seems to happen every time.

Well, that is the sort of thing I am attempting now. Attempting being the operative word.

Hope this helps, i used your sprite as a base, this is the process i usually follow when making z2 sprites.
First line, then color each line and fill with the shadow color, then put the light color and transition it with the medium tone.
Finally add details and face, his sport pants are an exception and dont use a line, they shadowed just like karin´s pants.

(dont mind the boots on my sprite, i just gave up on those XD) also included a previous sprite of mine wich used Karin as a base

Always have another char near, for size comparation

Thanks! Just seeing another person's spin on it and what sort of techniques are used in the context of what I am trying to do currently helps a whole bunch. I'll give the Videl another shot tomorrow, too late to start from scratch now.

[Vermilingus]

Sorry for double post but update.
This is more of asking for advice than feedback at the moment, but I am having trouble selecting suitable skin colours.
Again I think I see improvement, but am having major issues with the face.
Actually, come to think of it, I seem to be having issues with colour in general. I just can't seem to get them looking right.

[AlexSin]

Too many colours!
256 colours for the entire sprite (+ the transparent background).
Reduce them to four (or five) for every part: skin, eye colour (this needs only two or three shades), grey dress, purple t-shirt and socks, boots, hair, gloves and shorts.

The sprite is improved, I can see that, but she has a "manly" face (because of the eye sockets and the mouth).
And where is the lightsource? In front of her? On top of her? (Daeron's edit is wrong in this case, because he kept the same lightsource you did for the old sprite.)

If you're going for Z2 style the light comes from above.

This is not exactly Z2 style, but it can help you:

First I decide a palette; then I trace the outlines and in-lines; after that I shade it and fix something that was wrong (keeping in mind a lightsource). My finished sprite might have some light problems. But I didn't want to explain primarily that; I wanted to tell you about the process.

[Ryūku Tsukuyomi]

Too many colours!
256 colours for the entire sprite (+ the transparent background).
Reduce them to four (or five) for every part: skin, eye colour (this needs only two or three shades), grey dress, purple t-shirt and socks, boots, hair, gloves and shorts.

The sprite is improved, I can see that, but she has a "manly" face (because of the eye sockets and the mouth).
And where is the lightsource? In front of her? On top of her? (Daeron's edit is wrong in this case, because he kept the same lightsource you did for the old sprite.)

If you're going for Z2 style the light comes from above.

This is not exactly Z2 style, but it can help you:

First I decide a palette; then I trace the outlines and in-lines; after that I shade it and fix something that was wrong (keeping in mind a lightsource). My finished sprite might have some light problems. But I didn't want to explain primarily that; I wanted to tell you about the process.

Nice job man.

[Euan.C]

are going to make android 17? or is it going to be just videl

[Vermilingus]

are going to make android 17? or is it going to be just videl

As 17 is my favourite character, he will be the ultimate aim of my learning here. Videl is more of a practice thing right now, but it could happen depending on my success in getting a solid grasp of the style. Not going to be working on this for a few weeks though, will be on holiday in Corfu.