First attempt at graphics...

Axlrose · Post by **Axlrose** » 21 Jan 2005 18:40

I decided to let my imagination run a bit and thought a small apartment complex with a nearby small tree and tire from a rope would be worthy to draw. Please offer some advice and criticism so I can potentially improve.

Thanks in advance,
>>>>>Axlrose - ...<<<<<

Purno · Post by **Purno** » 21 Jan 2005 18:41

Shading and shape are very good IMO, but it definately could use some texture. But it looks very promising!

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 21 Jan 2005 21:41

You know, it looks somewhat Oriental. If you like maybe it would find a place in the Japan set.

I think overall the building is too bright in color. I mean, it needs to be a bit darker all round.

BobDendry · Post by **BobDendry** » 21 Jan 2005 23:44

woot! I like that A LOT! Maybe this could become a "newbies post your graphics here" thread?

Sanchimaru · Post by **Sanchimaru** » 22 Jan 2005 00:25

Quite nice, indeed, Axl!!
Allow me to give you some guidance: As Purno and krtaylor said, the shape overall is great; also, you seem to have understood well the way shading works. You have quite a talent!
The only problem it has is that looks too plain: uses a short variety of colors. Using more tones of the same color for adding textures will make them look great. Just grab any original ttd building graphic, and watch how it merges varoius tones of colors; and sometimes even adds spots of different colors.

I recommend you to use Jasc Paint Shop Pro, you can downoad it here, above in the Graphics section thread. It has a tool that allows you to paint only over one desired color, or only over one desired zone, and automatically replace all pixels of one given color with other color you want... however there are a lot of programs, try them

I'd be glad to have you with us in the Japan set, there is a lot to be done in buildings yet...

I send you one developement file: You might not get to see step by step how it was created, because it's not ordered; but you might get some ideas from there. I used an original ttd building as reference (the theater) and created a pachinko parlor. It's a place with lots of slot machines of many kinds, they're very popular in Japan. The final file is not here, I think, but most of the work can be seen. Feel free to post/PM me any questions you might have about it

Born Acorn · Post by **Born Acorn** » 22 Jan 2005 12:54

krtaylor wrote:You know, it looks somewhat Oriental. If you like maybe it would find a place in the Japan set.

I think overall the building is too bright in color. I mean, it needs to be a bit darker all round.

I thought the opposite, like on of those houses on the steep roads in San Fransisco.

Ladis · Post by **Ladis** » 22 Jan 2005 13:58

There are a lot of people working on new buildings´ graphics, you can join them. Or you can draw new trees!! Original trees in ttd look stupid (too thick trunk and unrealistic regular shape of crown).. Trees are one of the most important features in the game, they form a great part of the game´s look! It´s just up to you...

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 22 Jan 2005 15:44

Yes, the Japan set will have (mostly) new trees, but we have I think not quite enough. The tree in the building's yard looks very Japanese for some reason.

Axlrose · Post by **Axlrose** » 22 Jan 2005 16:30

Thank you all for the kind words.

My first intention was to see if I could create _anything_. I studied the very basic foundations from Zimmlock's town set and compared to what I read on Purno's web site about dimensions. I created a very basic square pattern before I thought about placing the building on the one corner. At first, I was going to make a small store - thus why the larger window. Then I remember seeing old pictures where people lived above a store, so the second story became a part of the picture. I figure one more story would work and added a little trim across the roof line and sides of the store front. A bit of shading around the windows since I remember numerous times how it has been stressed that light comes from above and to the right. Instead of your typical roof, I figured an old tar roof with a small retaining wall would work before I remember adding a chimney.

I thought that if the second and third story were apartments, then there should be some windows. Since this building was not modern, I attempted to add those rusty metal fire escapes on the side with a ladder leading down. Because this apartment was not in a rough part of town, I made the sideway a bit cleaner while attempting to add a curb. Then I looked at the rest of the picture and thought of what I should add. Another building came into mind, but then I would probably loose most, if not all, of the fire escape. So I created a dead tree. Yet a modest apartment and a dead tree would not work well so I added a few leaves. If there were children in the apartment, then the old tire hanging from the tree would be nice. Shade some of the grass while making dirt patches where the children worn the grass out, made the roots of the tree break the sidewalk a bit, and even threw a bit of wear and tear going around the building (how many kids use the sidewalk during play?). Add the blue box around the whole picture and decided to show off my work before realizing 2.5 hours had passed.

I do have the Paint Shop Pro program, but I took advice and tried the Sprite program too. I like that option of having the grid lines. Since I am only an amateur, if people want me to attempt something, then ask and I can see what I can create. If there is a certain building in a picture, then a visual would help I would think. Of course, I do not know if I am suppose to overwrite an existing picture or create a new picture to be coded into the game to make it live.

I'm still in the baby steps.
>>>>>Axlrose - ...<<<<<

Zimmlock · Post by **Zimmlock** » 22 Jan 2005 17:03

I guess all grafhics work starts to inspire

Axlrose your on the right way, its just a matter of imagination, in your mind you have to be able to walk arround the building you create. Your first attempt looks verry promising, 1 small remark the tire hangs to high, only reachable for giant childeren

You wrote that you had to add the back ground color, this is taking to much time, use a standard like i have posted below, if you need more squares just select free hand the existing square and copy and past it in the start image so you can easy make 2 and 4 square start images. Try to save the start image ( if your program can) in with the correct palet and you can start off verry quickly a new building.

Axlrose · Post by **Axlrose** » 25 Jan 2005 17:05

I am still practicing the art of pixel graphics so here is my attempt at two ghetto buildings in a rougher part of town. If something of this caliber was to be entered into the game, then overall it would be more a blight. That is, goods = 0, mail = 0, passengers = 4 while destroying the buildings should cost plenty. The reason being that while poor people do not have much money, they do have numbers.

Louie Armstrong · Post by **Louie Armstrong** » 25 Jan 2005 17:10

Very nice building Axlrose

Purno · Post by **Purno** » 25 Jan 2005 17:14

That last buildings looks abolutely great

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 26 Jan 2005 00:16

It looks great. It doesn't look that ghetto though. Maybe the scale is too small for them to look sufficiently beat-up. As they are, they just look like normal buildings.

Sanchimaru · Post by **Sanchimaru** » 26 Jan 2005 01:16

They sure look great. You will become a great artist with practice, axlrose!
If you want to add them that ghetto feel you are looking for, go research more about shading and texturing: Make the buildings look more old, dirty, used. It's not that they look like covered with garbage, but add some "personality" to them and they will be great!

I like a lot your skills!

Raichase · Post by **Raichase** » 26 Jan 2005 09:19

Axlrose wrote:I am still practicing the art of pixel graphics[...]

Great looking buildings! Are you sure you are a newbie at graphics

. Very, very nice work!

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 26 Jan 2005 16:10

As it is, the buildings could fit into either the Japan set or the TTRS set. If you ghetto-ize them, they would need to go into the US set.

Axlrose · Post by **Axlrose** » 26 Jan 2005 17:20

*thinks* How could I make them more ghetto-like? I was attempting something like the Projects where people still live inside (thus the various colors of shades in the windows), yet still had the first floor boarded up due to a past fire (the black blotches). For those old enough to remember, the television show "Good Times" had a run down building, but people still lived there too. I do not want to make a condemned building (yet). So any ideas to make them more ghetto I'll gladly listen (obviously not from the ghetto or I would have made the building perfect) *smirk*.

On a different note, would there be a need for a lower class to ghetto neighborhood set to go along with other sets? I am still practicing before attempting something like the pachinko parlor mentioned above this post. So any thoughts of my next little building or two to create, I'd like some direction.

Thanks in advance,
>>>>>Axlrose - ...<<<<<

krtaylor · Post by **krtaylor** » 26 Jan 2005 17:27

Did anybody ever play the original Railroad Tycoon? I remember they had the normal "City" square, then there was the black and grey "Slum" square whihc was very expensive to build through (armed escort required?) but produced almost nothing.

Korenn · Post by **Korenn** » 26 Jan 2005 17:31

Idea for a building?

how about a mall?
the ttd one sucks

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First attempt at graphics...

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