Drawing scenery in flash

[purpleorange]

It's not the easiest thing in the world.. I'm actually having a really hard time getting reflections to look right, I can't blame working with a mouse though, since I doubt a tablet would help in this particular field.
Does anyone have any tips on drawing scenery in the flash stage?

[kernalphage]

For beginner or quick scenes, i would suggest working modularly.
Make a couple of different trees, rocks, and clumps of grass. The easier you can tell them apart, the better. Save each as a Graphics symbol. (Or make each a new frame, if that makes sense)
Place them in various positions around your scene. Change the scale and rotation. Don't put two of the same right next to each other.

This way, you can focus on making each item look good, and your effort is multiplied.

Don't worry about reflections. Only shiny things have them, and unless you're trying to add a lake, you're fine. The trees need shadows... Think of them as 'fuzzy' spheres.

If you're really serious about getting it to look good, read up on composition.

[MeMB]

You could start by not giving your trees all the colours of the rainbow.

[majkas]

first of you should get the feeling how certain matelials feel like(rocks trees ect.)get a rock with a crack touch it watch as the different sources of lighting affects the rock's shading ect'(same with trees)
next you should draw them separatly to realy get the hang of them.
then think of a scene ( this is the hardest part actualy)and start working.on the lighting and shadowing. in my opinion ethery single person draws it diffrently it just comes naturaly, some people like soft shadows other sharp, but the more you use your style of lightning the more you get the hang of it.

[purpleorange]

At 8/29/09 09:26 AM, MeMB wrote: You could start by not giving your trees all the colours of the rainbow.

There's actually a reason the tree's are colored that way. It was a commissioned drawing.
I have like another 4 of them to go, all scenery of different things, which is why I'm asking for advice.

[tomocles]

that person better just get someone else, because you are nowhere near good enough to be doing commissions. Get practice, before you try getting money or respect, if the commission is free.

[M-Vero]

At 8/29/09 05:54 PM, purpleorange wrote: There's actually a reason the tree's are colored that way. It was a commissioned drawing.
I have like another 4 of them to go, all scenery of different things, which is why I'm asking for advice.

No, no no no, this is not commission quality work here, whether or not he is giving you a lot of money for these drawings is not the point.

for drawing scenery, look at nature, draw what you see, get a picture and copy it(not trace there's a difference) come back to it a couple of days later and recreate it from memory.
Seeing as you are going with rainbow trees, I see no reason other than by request of who ever is asking you to do this, go with a more story book style.

How would a tablet not help in this situation?
I don't know what you mean by that, it wouldn't help with flash? it wouldn't affect the outcome, explain?

[purpleorange]

One, it's not so much a commission as it is a favor to a friend. There for his guild, it's custom art that was done specifically for his guild so it adds "some" prestige. As for the tablet not being helpful, it's simply that when I use a tablet it's more of a quick process to me, long broad lines. This was drawn ultra small all zoomed in so, the mouse was actually more convenient for me.

As for it not being "Commission quality" certainly it's not professional, ya that's obvious. But you're all being just a little harsh, don't you think?

[willobeen]

just because he wants several colors doesn't mean that they all have to clash.

another idea, is to stick to a basic color palette, and then make little changes to add more realsim/interest

[purpleorange]

It wasn't "Several colors" They were very specific colors, I really didn't have many artist liberties.

[LegolaSS]

what i do for my flash background is either use a flat static background which is rather large so you can move it around and it still has some quality to it... or make symbols like some others users sugested... for example *see picture below*... this was done with 2 symbols and a gradient background... the first symbol is a rough outline of a clump of trees... then the 2nd one is a single tree... i then put these onto layers and change the tint to suit how far into the background it is... using this.. you can place people between the trees or even move them to make realistic movement where the trees nearest move fastest and the ones further away move slower... this is just a simple example of what is possible in flash...