Flash Artwork...

[The-One-Banana]

So, I've got the basics of programming. That won't get me anywhere, however, because I am absolutely terrible at drawing. I've abused the filters more times then I can count, and things like hair never come out right.

For instance, here's a sample sidewalk, and part of a road on a dark/rainy day: http://spamtheweb.com/ul/upload/3308/732 21_Art_practice.php

I try to add texture to it, but I immediately deleted it. It just never comes out right. It just looks weird.

Can someone help me improve my drawing skills in flash?

[Fleshlight]

select something you want

[The-One-Banana]

At 10/23/08 09:30 PM, Fleshlight wrote: select something you want

Well, generally, I want to improve my ability to create texture and shading without just filling objects with a big blob of one fill color.

[Fleshlight]

At 10/23/08 09:30 PM, Fleshlight wrote: select something you want

goddammit they need to move the post it button further from the browse button.

like i was saying, select something you want to smoothe out, and use one of these options. one straightens one smooths.

[The-One-Banana]

At 10/23/08 09:33 PM, Fleshlight wrote:

At 10/23/08 09:30 PM, Fleshlight wrote: select something you want

goddammit they need to move the post it button further from the browse button.

like i was saying, select something you want to smoothe out, and use one of these options. one straightens one smooths.

Wait, hold up, I already know about those, but they do nothing about shading or texture, other than simply smoothing the paint lines.

I want to be able to draw so that the sidewalk actually looks like a sidewalk, to be able to draw the rough surface of it. Not to mention accurate shading.

[Fleshlight]

don't make it too complicating. here's a quick example i did which looks like a sidewalk. top one is just line work and a few solid colors. then i added squiggly lines in random places and straightened them a couple of times. then i selecting the solid colors, went to my brush tool and hit the option to color in selected areas only. added some colors that are slightly lighter than the solids and painted mostly on the center.

[korded]

I take it you want to use the brush more than the pencil tool?

In general, it helps if you have a good sense of scale and perspective. Visualize in 3 dimensions as you draw, and keep things proportionate.

When doing outlines, experiment with color. Don't always use black. Try darker shades of the fill color, or lighter shades if the fill color is really dark itself.

In my opinion, get smart as to how light plays off objects. Consider both shadows and highlights. Lighting is probably the most important thing to consider here.

For shading, I like to start with a solid fill color usually, then go afterwards with the pencil tool and draw out wherever I want shadows (or highlights in some cases). Then take the fill color, darken it a shade in the color palette and fill in your shadows. Then just erase all your pencil lines. Also consider light sources when shading objects for realism. Shading is one of the most important things when it comes to making your artwork look less flat and fake.

If you're having trouble getting the look of something right, just Google images for reference.

Speaking of that, here's a good tip that's helped me - often it will be tough getting coloring right in your artwork; what comes to mind when choosing color for things like, say, hair, clothing, etc. isn't always how it is in reality. Try finding an actual picture of what you want to draw. Import it into Flash, onto your stage, and with it selected go to Modify > Bitmap > Trace Bitmap (depends on your version of Flash). This will break it down into vectors, and you can select colors. Helps with shading too, and texturing.

Try to avoid large open areas filled with 1 color. Add shading (see above), texture (try random spatter or strokes with the brush tool - don't contrive it though or it won't see authentic), or when you can, throw in the occasional detail - a couple bricks in a wall, an oil stain or manhole cover in a street, etc.

Lastly, watch movies that others have made here. Pause them on good scenes for ideas.

[The-One-Banana]

Thanks for the advice guys.

Yeah, I've tried bitmap tracing, and it's worked for me, but it almost feels like cheating.

I'm going to go work a bit on my drawing skills.

Thanks again.

[korded]

At 10/23/08 09:56 PM, The-One-Banana wrote: Yeah, I've tried bitmap tracing, and it's worked for me, but it almost feels like cheating.

It pretty much is cheating.. and looks cheap.

I was saying to do so only to sample colors, just so we're straight.

[shazwoogle]

The only way to get better at drawing is practice. Simple. Try tracing find/take a photo of what you want to draw then put that in flash then over the top of that image draw. After a while of doing that you will get much better, to the pint where you no longer need to trace.

[The-One-Banana]

Hey, thanks for all the advice guys, I'm gonna use your advice and stuff to enhance my drawing.