Road Block

[PencilPunx]

I'm doing this for a friend for a pen and paper RPG. He needed it fairly small and in black and white so this is what I have. I'd really appreciate some advice, because even though this is not a paying job I'd still like to give him the best work I can. I'm pretty sure the perspective is whacked, and I'm not sure about the anatomy. I colored this thing and converted it to grayscale, but I'm worried it may be too dark. I'm really at a loss for how I can fix this up. Any suggestions? Thanks!
http://mason.gmu.edu/~tdiamond/trollbridgesmall.jpg

Oh, and in case it's so awful you can't even tell what it is, it's supposed to be a troll guarding a rope bridge. He also asked me to include a stake planted in the ground with a knotted rope descending into the gorge.

[Jane Radstrom]

I think the base is cool but it needs CONTRAST! More darks and lights shading each form. :)

[DavidCousens]

Fading the background will help to add a sense of perspective and will also draw the viewers attention to the troll.

Velo was right as well, a bit more contrast would do wonders. (Not that it's not a good image already though! :) ) I love the troll's smile!

Hope that helps


Dave

[PencilPunx]

Thanks guys! I'm not a colorist at all so I had no idea how to tackle this when I was told it had to be in grayscale. I just colored it the way I would usually and converted it to grayscale in photoshop. It came out looking really dark and, like you both mentioned, lacking in contrast. Does anyone have any tips for handling images you know will have to be grayscale? Is it best to do what I did, and do it in full color first or is it better to just color the image using grays? I'm worried if I did the later it wouldn't look natural. Then again, this isn't much better, so I'm stuck! Thanks again for your input Velo and DaveTheOriginal.

[DavidCousens]

If you're making an image that's going to be presented in greyscale, that's how you should take it. If it helps, think of shading in greys in much the same manner as you would using a pencil drawing.

I was watching the making of 'Pleasantville' the other day (the film where Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon get sucked into an old 50's TV programme and become black and white) and the costume director said he found it a challenge because you couldn't just put somebody in pale blue as you may normally because they would disappear into pale walls, for example.

So definitely start in greyscale.

I'd recommend that when you've scanned in the image, the first thing you should do is create a new layer BEHIND your lines layer and make a gradient fill that is transparent at the top of the image and a medium to dark gray at the bottom. It will give you a visual guide to work against when you start 'colouring' the troll and foreground.


Keep us posted, and good luck! :)

Dave(The Original)

[Pencil Soldier]

Its a little confusing having the bridge directly behind him. It looks like its above him with the current shading...definetly fade the bg a bit.