Comic Genesis Forums

I'm a Guru in PhotoShop, but I've never colored a background. I used to hate drawing them, but recently I'm discovering how interesting they can be. This marks my very FIRST colored background (other than simple gradients and objects). I'm posting it here because I think it's still a little bland. It could probably use a few more interesting little details.

This is going to be the first frame in a comic I'm posting on Monday, so I have some time to make changes based on critique, as long as they don't take another 4 hours to make. And if you have any suggestions after Monday, I'll take them into account next time ^_^



Here's the lineart if you wana try something different:



(In case you're wondering, I couldn't decide on how to finish off the ceiling and top right so I figured I'd use it as space for text or dialogue or maybe another frame.... something!)

Hale wrote:I'm a Guru in PhotoShop

I had no idea.

OUCH! Where's the emoticon for being stabbed through the heart?

I meant that I know my way around. Shortcuts, tricks, etc.

That looks awesome! Especially for your first background that you've ever colored. Really, it has great detail and use of color schemes. Don't change your technique. It works.

I really don't think you need anything, especially with those reflections. For me, those really make it interesting, much more so than adding things. It's simple enough not to be confusing, but definitely detailed enough to make me pause and study it.

warofwinds wrote:I really don't think you need anything, especially with those reflections. For me, those really make it interesting, much more so than adding things. It's simple enough not to be confusing, but definitely detailed enough to make me pause and study it.

Thanks, the reflections took a LONG time to align them as well as they are now, although they're far from perfect. The light's also a little off, but what the hell.

I have a tendency to sometimes overcomplicate my drawings, so I'm hesitant to add some glowing lights or a few sparks flying from the machinery on the top left. Alternatively, that may pull the viewer's eyes even FARTHER away from that little character (Steve) walking along the glossy floor.

Do you guys think I should try that? I'm really digging the spark idea now that I mention it...

Rather than sparks, I think perhaps a little more value/shading would work. The first "panel" looks flat compared to the one with the thing jutting out of it, but my thought would be that it can't be good if the thing is sparking o.o Not very safe. Not at all. I would be getting false foreshadowing of explodies in the future. Or maybe not false. Dunno. But the contrast would definitely draw my eyes from Steve.

that picture wtf pwns