Discussion of UI Design and Implemented Art

[StrawberrySmiles]

Hai!

I wanted to start this thread so I could get opinions on certain things, but I also believe others can obtain advice and such as well. I think I'll start by asking a question using a picture from my own game.

Recently, I created a new dialogue window for my game. We have been using pixel-like portraits for the character art, and I wonder if the two clash too much.

We use pixel-like portraits because they're easier for us to change for different emotions.

Phoenix Wright, shown below, utilized full pixel portraits, and everything else seemed to match well:

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance appears to have pixel-like text and non-pixel portrait. Though it does not seem to clash in my eyes.

In short, in your opinions, is it alright to mix two different "styles" like this as long as it works? Would it be better if my portrait was more smoothed out, or is it actually fine? What UI designs and character art have you seen gone together well or terribly?

Let's talk!

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

IMHO, it looks fine

 

[??????]

I think it looks slightly out of place. If it wa smoother, even only at the edges, it would look better imo

 

[Archeia]

It looks out of place because it lacks antialiasing and doesn't fit with XP's palette.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Isn't that fine? since the dialogue is it's own dimension right? making it "out of place" puts emphasis on it... I'm not really a man of art, so please enlighten me.

 

[??????]

Alternatively, a shading around the character would help it stand out while not making it seem to different in comparison to the tiles behind it.

 

[Archeia]

Isn't that fine? since the dialogue is it's own dimension right? making it "out of place" puts emphasis on it... I'm not really a man of art, so please enlighten me.

That's not how it works.


'Stand out' means the image flows nicely to the visuals of the game but pops out. For example, There's a Background and a Foreground. Foregrounds pop out and attracts your attention because it uses the dark colors of the game's palette. While background tend to use lighter colors. That's Standing out. It still fits with the rest of the game.


'Out of place' means an eyesore. Or that uncanny valley. Or something that is tacked on that doesn't fit the rest of the game's mood and feel.

 

[Sharm]

I agree with Archeia, a little anti-aliasing would go a long way here. You wouldn't have to stop using pixel art, just touch it up a bit. If you take a close look at the portraits from Phoenix Wright you'll see that they use quite a bit of hand done anti-aliasing. I think you can get away with the text not being pixel art (Ace makes adding a pixel font ridiculously hard anyway) but I do think the window would look better with harder edges. I think the portraits should match the windows in their medium, but that it's not a big deal if they don't match the font or tiles.

 

[arekpowalan]

Yes, it looks great. In fact, your Narie is pretty cute.

Though, yes. there's a huge difference between the detailed background and the not-so-detailed pixel art, which make the screenshot rather awkward. Would this style work better in VX/Ace or 2000/2003? Without anti-aliasing, I mean.