Pre-Rendered graphics?

[MikePjr]

Let me start off by saying, i hope this is the right section.. if it's not, please move it to the correct one?

I just need to know how to go about making graphics sort of like the ones used in the high fantasy packs..

Sort of, because i want to make some in a more anime style, i'm also wanting to make maybe some animated battlers and more.

Drawing takes WAY too long and makes me spaz out.

So what i need basically, is to know how i go about it?

What do i need to make graphics like those?

If you ever played any RPGs on the Sega Saturn, like Shining the Holy Ark, or Blazing Heros, you know what i wish to accomplish.

I've looked online, found some software here and there, but it all seems to cost a LOT of money.

I was waiting around to see if some one or some group would make such graphics, but i know what it is i want exactly, so i gotta figure out how to do it.

Here is a short list of the things i plan to create or try to anyhow.

1. Monsters, and not just stills, but animated monsters, for both side view and front view battle systems.

2. Players, as well as player battlers that animate, both side view and over the shoulder (IE Phantasy Star 4, or possibly 7th Saga)

3. Possibly objects like trees and so forth.

I'm not a very patient person, so rather not wait for someone else to make such things because i may be waiting forever for something that will never happen.

 

[Shaz]

Moving to Art, Literature and Music, as you are not asking for resources to be made

 

[MikePjr]

No, but i was asking for pointers so i could make resources.

Either way.. thanks... but i always have hell finding threads once they're moved.

 

[Jesse - PVGames]

Honestly - you have to have patience, dedication, and discipline. There is no easy way to make any kind of graphics - it is a very time-intensive endeavor, one which you must sink countless hours into. Even software that costs a lot of money will not be a substitute for experience, and any software you get will undoubtedly take a long time to fully learn the ins and outs of. If you are not passionate about creating art and graphics, and if you don't have the patience and discipline to power through, then art is really not for you and not something you should endeavor in. But if you are passionate about making your own graphics, start with the basics. There are countless tutorials on the web these days that will guide you and help you learn to draw, teach you about colors, teach you about various techniques and more technical stuff. No getting around it though, it will take time. A lot of time. But the more you do it, the better you will get over time. 

 

[Shaz]

Go to your profile, and click the Find Content button in the top right. That will give you all the threads you've created, or posts you've made.

 

[Sharm]

3D isn't necessarily any faster, it's just a different set of problems to overcome.  It may be a set of problems more suited to your way of working, but it most certainly isn't a shortcut.

Blender is probably your best bet if you want to get into 3D but not spend a ton of money.  Be warned though, it's a pretty steep learning curve.

 

[MikePjr]

Go to your profile, and click the Find Content button in the top right. That will give you all the threads you've created, or posts you've made.

Ah d**mit!

I keep forgetting about that.

I guess i keep expecting like a thing to pop up like when you have messages >_<

And... i wanna respond to the 2 of you... but.. what i wanna be honest and open and say might upset.

I'm well aware, i just really would like something anime yet pre rendered.

I'm no stranger to the "dedication" and so forth... been doing art a long time..

Plus ... i don't have the tools to draw things and upload them.... i'm so frustrated with making graphics, as i am used to the pencil and paper way of drawing.

I have a tablet, but it SUUUUUUUUuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucks.. like.. big time.

I wish i had the tons of money required to get one of those tablets where it's also a monitor so you can see as you draw things.

The tablet i have is like.. one of the d**n cheap bamboo tablets, with no buttons or any d**n thing on it.

But i am just so frustrated, i don't know what to do.. i have this vision in my head i just can not get out.....i can get it out on paper.. but don't have a scanner and.. don't have much else...

I just know i'm not happy with what is available...

And i know what i want to make.. ugh..

I have Daz studio and that could help but.. then you gotta buy stuff to use it..

I feel so stuck.. it's driving me up the wall...

 

[felsenstern]

I wouldn't start with Daz Studio, their models, textures and animation patterns are so high end, that you will hardly find a connect from your current level of skill. Using RPG-Maker is a very nice start for you, because of the low resolution and all the easy to use mechanics.

Honestly buy a couple of pens in different strenghts and a couple of good rubbers, a professional sketchbook if available (because the sheets are thicker then normal paper) and if you get an idea just draw what you have in mind. It is pretty easy. My very first sketches when I start a new picture is usually a very simple line model, that just gives an idea of pose and expression.

My only advice is, start a sketch and finish it in a picture no matter how bad it looks and keep doing it. Repetition is the secret. And soon you will recognize patterns of what is drawn how. When I draw a human face most of the strokes I use to create eyes, nose and so on are the same strokes I use when I draw vegetables and fruits. It really gets easy you will see and you will be very happy about... and you know what...

When you get good in 2D you will learn how to create your own 3D in Blender or Max... because then it gets really easy and also animations will get easy when you can do your own strokes...

 

[Sharm]

I'm not sure what point you were trying to make with your reply, makes it a little hard to respond well and give you the type of advice that would help.

A bamboo tablet should work just fine for getting things into the computer.  Right now I'm using a graphire, I'm pretty sure even the cheapest bamboo has better specs.  It does take some getting used to, drawing on a different place than where your hand is moving is confusing, but with practice it does get better.  My sketches are still better on paper, so something that helps me is to sketch on paper, get it into the computer somehow (scanning it or taking a picture of it) then doing the inking with the help of the tablet.  Maybe it would help you?  There's a distinct possibility that getting a Cintique wouldn't actually help your problem, there's still a learning curve and it's still not going to be the same as drawing on paper.

There are some other things I've found out that have made a huge difference in how well the tablet works for me.  First, adjusting the pressure sensitivity both with the tablet and in whatever art program I'm using.  Second, not using photoshop for lines.  For some reason, Photoshop is actually pretty bad at the whole "tablet support" thing compared to other art programs.

I'm really quite bad at 3D so I can't help much there.  I usually just build buildings and other geometrically shaped objects in 3D for use as line art when I make backgrounds.

Having a vision in your head that doesn't match what you output is the lament of all artists.  It's the unfortunate reality of how art works.  Try not to let it get you down too much, just use it to motivate you to get better.  Just don't try too hard for perfection, it gets in the way of getting things done and recognizing when things are good enough and actually working for the purpose you're trying for.

EDIT:  My brother just told me that the cheapest bamboo is just a glorified touch pad with no pressure sensitivity.  That could be frustrating, but it's still workable.  I know lots of artists who just use a mouse to make stuff.  You just need to get used to using the pen tool.

 

[felsenstern]

Sorry, I didn't see your answer and that you are good in drawing on paper already. Well, a scanner is an alternative to the graphic tablet. Get a cheap scanner and an old version of corel draw on ebay. Either you scan your sketches and fine draw them in Corel (just with the mouse and berzier curves) or fine draw draw them on paper and do the colors in Corel. If you get no cheap copy of Corel, then try Inkscape, its free. You have to get used to vector graphics though, but if you want go 3d you need that anyway.

Not so sure about the bamboo's. I am using an Intuos Pro L and it is almost too small especially when doing fast straight lines, but I am also saving for one of those monitors that have a graphic tablet included ...

 

[MikePjr]

I found something on steam that's working out pretty well, it was only about 25 dollars.

It's not too difficult to use, and i'm getting some stuff done.

For those interested, it's on sale for the next 18 hours.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/253670/

Aartform Curvy 3D 3.0

So far i got some nice little Final Fantasy 6 looking deformed 3D models. Woot!

 

[kerbonklin]

Ahh, the old times of pre-rendered backgrounds. They were super glorious back in their days on sega/playstation games, especially Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy 7~9. But man, making those were a TON of work, especially when it's used as the same playing space as the player character and/or enemies, doing all the collisions - path finding and such. But it made for some really cool effects and environments.

 

[MikePjr]

Ahh, the old times of pre-rendered backgrounds. They were super glorious back in their days on sega/playstation games, especially Parasite Eve and Final Fantasy 7~9. But man, making those were a TON of work, especially when it's used as the same playing space as the player character and/or enemies, doing all the collisions - path finding and such. But it made for some really cool effects and environments.

Very true, all you said.

But i'm not going for something THAT major.

I mean.. think more along the lines of Donkey Kong Country on the SNES.

And like i said before, think charecter graphics like in Shining the Holy Ark and Blazing Heros.

I'm just finding creating things in 3D to be FAR easier on me than drawing 2D sprites.

I can't explain why it's easier, it just is.. it's less stressful to.

Drawing is a pain in the butt... is for me anyhow.

And now i'm vexed... and perplexed...

You can make 3D with this software i got, but not much else.

I'm not sure yet, but i think i need something like DAZ Studio in order to add and bend joints.. i'm not sure.

 

[MikePjr]

This is gonna be a tough thing to converse about...

Now that i have some software to use to create pre-renderd 3D graphics, i would like to show what i have managed to do with the tools at my disposal.

My worry is, i read the rules and it said don't pose anything copywrite, but what if it's just for an example?

I am remaking some stuff in 3D that was original a 2D sprite in an old 16 bit game.

Is it okay to post something like that?

Or are there no exceptions to the rules?

 

[Sharm]

Just link to it then.

 

[MikePjr]

Yeah but, you're still posting something that way.

I just basically have been making my own takes of some old graphics from some old games, and i wanna use comparison shots.

But if that can't even be done, i guess all i can do is show what i made and then type out explaining what it is and where it's from.

 

[Clockwarkgate]

Animated Side or Front view in battle is possible with the "ATB animated aide view battle sprites". You just have to adjust the party's initial point.

 

[Sharm]

Project CROSS, please refrain from necro-posting in a thread. Necro-posting is posting in a thread that has not had posting activity in over 30 days. You can review our forum rules here. Thank you.