Need some feedback/critque

Posted: Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:07 am Post subject: Need some feedback/critque

Ok I need some feedback on how to improve my flag shading. This was a general lee look-alike that the customer wanted an american flag instead. So I decided to try a waiving flag for the first time, what did I do wrong and/or do different next time to improve this flag.

Joined: Sep 17, 2006 Posts: 953 Status: **Offline**

The biggest issue I see is the shadows are way to dark.
Try using fastint or a overly reduce black, say 40/60 or maybe even 30/70 that is paint to thinner ration.

Another thing you can do is make your shadows wider. I will try my best to explain this process.

The center of your line is either going to be the darkest part of the shadow or it is going to be the lightest part of the shadow.
If you want the area of the shadow to be a highlight or high point of the flag your edges with be darkest and fade to almost no shading at the center of the highlight.
If you want the area of the shadow to be a low point in the flag your shading will start very light at the edges and become darker as it gets to the center of the line.

Hopefully Pat, Charlie or someone else that is a little better versed in how to explain this will be along shortly to give you a better explination of what I am trying to describe above.

Joined: Jun 26, 2006 Posts: 156 Status: **Offline**

Although mine is painted with a brush. The main factor in painting shadows on a flag are the rolling of the flag must match the shadows. using a tint as opposed to black is a big tip. This will make it look much more realistic. Spraying red behind a tint will turn it to maroon! Where ever you have a shadow, the opposite side should be bright white or red etc.I actually don't use tint for the shadows, i actually mix a maroon or i use a light dull blue for shading the white. the blue picks up the blue around the stars and ties it together. I recommend you start by putting just a few larger rolling shadows until you get a feel for it. You can back the stripes with either white or black in the appropriate areas also, to enhance the shadow areas.
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Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:18 am Post subject: Re: Need some feedback/critque

Ok thanks guys, I'll try those suggestions next time around.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject: Re: Need some feedback/critque

painting a waving flag is kinda like painting true fire, both are relatively simple to execute but very difficult to wrap ones head around as
there are a lot of subtle nuances about them.

one way is to really look at what a waving flag looks like not just look though but to actually study it and see how a flat image on a screen can have depth.

For fire i use too much fluid when bbqing and study the flames, for flags and stuff google is my friend for good images to study, like this one.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: Need some feedback/critque

good tips from all. shadow line width and darkness from neo. way the shadows go with the rolls. and what looper said about looking at a flag.
with most things, a refference pic is vital untill youve done something so many times that it becomes ingrained and is second nature to you.

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2010 8:04 pm Post subject: Re: Need some feedback/critque

btw, id say youve done a good job on yer first one