How do you draw OOTS style

[dresdor]

I'm getting frustrated in making my main characters in the OOTS style. So instead of ripping apart another set of sketches. I can't quite make them right, so does anyone have any advice for this style? I'm particularly unhappy with hair. Anyone want toshare their stories, styles, advice, tips, etc? I'm wanting to be diverted right now, but could also use something useful.

If that's confusing, that's cause I'm rambling.

-Dres.

p.s. I'm on twitter.

[BRC]

I'm getting frustrated in making my main characters in the OOTS style. So instead of ripping apart another set of sketches. I can't quite make them right, so does anyone have any advice for this style? I'm particularly unhappy with hair. Anyone want toshare their stories, styles, advice, tips, etc? I'm wanting to be diverted right now, but could also use something useful.

If that's confusing, that's cause I'm rambling.

-Dres.

p.s. I'm on twitter.
What art program are you using?

[dresdor]

I'm bouncing between adobe illustrater, fireworks, and, at times, by hand being scanned and colored in one of those programs

[BRC]

I'm bouncing between adobe illustrater, fireworks, and, at times, by hand being scanned and colored in one of those programs
I know theres an adobe illustrator guide floating a round somewhere, and if you want advice on usinge Fireworks, look up a guy named Nameless, who loves that program more than is healthy.

[dresdor]

I can get ahold of any program pretty easily if you have one to recommend

[BRC]

I can get ahold of any program pretty easily if you have one to recommend
I, and alot of others, use Inkscape, but that's mainly because it's free. If you have Adobe Illustrator, that's probably a better program.

[dresdor]

I'll download and see if inkscape is better suited to my needs, but I think illustrator will work better.

[MethosH]

Ok, let me share my history with you...

At first I tried to create OotS characters using Photoshop and it was a complete frustration and failure! All my characters just end up wrong.
But I had lots of support from the artists in the playground, so I went looking for tutorials.
I've ended up with InkScape, but I think any program that allows you to draw with vectors should do the trick just fine... The thing is, I followed a very good InkScape tutorial about making OotS characters and that was the beginning of a love history.
Tips? Well, keep reading OotS-art related threads and always waste some time looking at other people templates when they post it. Don't be afraid to ask for templates if you are in trouble trying to draw something.
Experiment a lot and come here ask for opinion on your art, even if it sucks. We are always glad to help :)
Make avatars. The best way to improve your skills and/or find your own unique style inside the OotS-style (that is possible) is practicing, and you can do that a lot on the avatar request thread... There are lots of challenges there and you will always be motivated from people telling "Awesome! Thanks dude! I love you so freaking much!"

[dresdor]

My problem is I'm working up a main character for a fan comic and I want it to be good enough that I don't have to change it drastically in the first bit of the comic.

[Wreckingrocc]

Well, personally, I'd recommend Inkscape for characters and Photoshop for backgrounds... If you have a tablet. Inkscape should be used with a mouse, and photoshop with a tablet. Here is a character with each. They took about the same time - 15 minutes - Give or take.

Photoshop
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq84/TiredNDrowzy/KnightII.png

Inkscape
http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq84/TiredNDrowzy/Knight.png

Notice photoshop is generally less clean when it comes to the line consistency and shape, but it's definitely got much more shading potential and such. Also do note, however, that I rushed with this, and my lines were way too thick... I probably should have scaled it down.

Photoshop is definitely better if you're going for an artsier feel. Here's something I did for Iron Avatar; it took about an hour and a half.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq84/TiredNDrowzy/IA-TheFeralVorpalTribble.png

Inkscape can also be pretty good for basic characters who still have that clean cut look. I use it a lot for my DnD characters in Play-by-post.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq84/TiredNDrowzy/Neugrenn.png

(I know his hand is backwards. I'm just too lazy to fix it).

For backgrounds, the inkscape backgrounds tend to be much simpler, unless you put in a great deal of effort. Photoshop has much more potential in this category, as the tools are much better suited for the task. Here's a comparison of an inkscape background and a photoshop background.

The key to learning inkscape, I believe, is tracing. Observe what other artists do and learn tips and tricks. The vector system also works great for tracing complex pictures and images, though this can be quite tedious. It's really all about patience and perfectionism.

Photoshop is much better if you want excellent quality comics and have time, a tablet, and decent art skills. It's more similar to freehand drawing than vector programs.

Inkscape is better for simple, clean-cut art that can be easily reused and modified. You don't really need art skills to pick it up and churn out some good-quality work, though it's good to be pretty familiar with it before attempting the harder stuff.

Illustrator, being a vector program as well, is almost identical to inkscape, though they may vary in some ways.

All in all, I'm very new to photoshop, and I've only known its power for four or five days. Inkscape I've been familiar with for about a year, but I've never really attempted shading or anything too complex (save for the stuff I just traced... I really needed to learn to draw =P).

To be honest, I'm really regretting not getting photoshop sooner. The price is steep, but it's worth it. I'm shocked at some of the stuff I can do; shading is a piece of cake. I used to fret over how to do it, but recently I've started to feel like my drawings aren't even mine, despite the fact that I didn't even refer to anything when I drew them. The power is shocking. For a 'good quality OOTS style comic', what you're looking for may vary. You could really go with anything.

[Fostire]

Here's (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8742) a guide for using illustrator, and here's (http://trazoi.net/tutorials/inkscape/oots/) a guide for using inkscape (which is a useful read, even if you use illustrator)

Hope they help :smallsmile:

[Dogmantra]

It's perfectly viable to use MSPaint for OotS style, the only catch being that you have to make the things about 4 times the size then shrink them down.

There's a link to That Lanky Bugger's tutorial in my sig.

I realise this is not the most helpful thing, considering you said that you're using Illustrator, fireworks or inkscape, but the proportions section is program-generic.

[AmberVael]

I heartily recommend Inkscape for the beginner. It takes a little bit to adapt, but it is far more suited to OotS style than many of the other art programs out there, and it is much simpler to use and create with.

Also, definitely check out the tutorial for it that Fostire linked. Trazoi gave a very nice walkthrough.

Also, I contest Drowzy's comment that Photoshop is better for an artsier feel. Inkscape may be simpler in some ways, but its style can make very artistic stuff, and you can do a lot with it that looks prettier than stuff churned out of photoshop.

You can do All (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/AesaChange.png) kinds (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/DrawnbyBlood.png) of (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/MaskPic.png) nifty (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/Death-1.png) stuff (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/Anya.png) with (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/InkworkLamatShabeth.png) inkscape. (http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h107/sjunderw/Other/Asuya.png)

And that was just stuff that I did. You want to see really awesome stuff? Go to DeviantArt and search for the latest vector art. (This link should take you there too, I think. (http://browse.deviantart.com/digitalart/vector/))

Vector art is amazing.

[dresdor]

This helps me immensely, thank you. Inkscape is infinitely easier to use than anything else, and that tutorial makes OOTS drawing a piece of cake.

[Nameless]

This thread is way to bias towords Inkscape. :smalltongue:
I think Illustrator is the best program for Oots actually.
But you should totely use Fireworks.

[The Extinguisher]

Considering that's what the Giant uses, I'd say yeah.

Inkscape works, but Illustrator is better. That's why it costs money.

[MethosH]

This thread is way to bias towords Inkscape. :smalltongue:
I think Illustrator is the best program for Oots actually.
But you should totely use Fireworks.

Ok, now you are just trying to mess with his head :smalltongue:

[dresdor]

I guess what I'm saying is that Inkscape is better for a complete nubby like myself. Illustrator frustrates me sometimes because I've not used it a lot. Maybe I'll graduate to it eventually :-p

[Nameless]

Ok, now you are just trying to mess with his head :smalltongue:

It's up to the person. Using Illustrator would make sense because that's what Rich uses.
Personally, I'm happy with me results on Fireworks.
But Inkscape is just evil. :smalltongue:

[Serpentine]

With Illustrator, I keep having this conversation with it/myself:

"Dammit Illustrator, why won't you do this thing I want you to?!"
>fiddle around, experiment, explore the menues, check the Help, etc.<
"Oooooh... So that's how you do it."

Yeah... I'm constantly finding new things Illustrator can do.
That said: I recommend checking the tutorials, whatever program you're using.

[Holammer]

I use Inkscape. It is good enough for me and it is free as in free beer.
This is a good opportunity to go with Open Source software instead. By supporting and using Inkscape we might actually encourage Inkscape developers to improve it further.

Plus you don't need to pirate a 599$ software.

[dresdor]

I use Inkscape. It is good enough for me and it is free as in free beer.
This is a good opportunity to go with Open Source software instead. By supporting and using Inkscape we might actually encourage Inkscape developers to improve it further.

Plus you don't need to pirate a 599$ software.

Or write of $599 as a business expense and install one of the lisences to your home computer....

[Nameless]

PS: I'm on Twitter too. :smallsmile:

[dresdor]

Okay, my first attempst at anything in inkscape. I present, Uncle Banjo.

http://www.geocities.com/mtdungeonmaster/patriotbanjo.jpg


Couple of questions: first, how do I control the size of the image when exporting it out of inkscape, this is supposed to be avatar sized, but it ended up huge. Secondly, how do I make a transparent background?

Comments? Advice? I know it doesn't have hair or stick arms/legs, but doing the hat allowed me ample opportunity to get used to some of the tools in inkscape. If you're wondering here's the image I based the clothes off of:

http://www.tcc.edu/faculty/webpages/PShaw/UncleSam_2.gif

[Mauve Shirt]

I'm absolutely addicted to inkscape, though I'm not exceptionally good at it yet.

[Holammer]

For transparency. Saving it as a PNG file should do the trick.
When you export it, fiddle with the bitmap size numbers in the export bitmap dialogue. Just type in the desired height or width.

[dresdor]

Thoughts, comments on my first OOTS style avatar? (done for celtic)

http://www.geocities.com/mtdungeonmaster/celtic.png

[Wreckingrocc]

God... These forums, capped with firefox going crazy, are really testing my patience... I've lost this post twice now.

The sword, hawk, boots, and cloak look good. The head has good looking proportions with respect to the body, and it looks relatively clean.

However, the hair seems a little off, and the hawk's talons are sort of an eyesore.

I'd also try to keep the stroke more consistent, and possibly move the legs farther apart.

I'd keep up the practice! It's not looking bad so far.

[dresdor]

The hair was....difficult. I was trying to do a faux hawk, but ended up just trying to do a decent do. The talons are a bit harsh, I was thinking a darker yellow would help (or maybe if they weren't on a white background).

[Wreckingrocc]

I'd actually make them black... I have no idea where the stereotype of yellow talons came from. but most birds actually have black talons...

Hair's not too hard, you just have to sort of learn how to do it. I prefer to make short cuts in the front, with single handing streaks if I want more in the front... I'd use the pencil tool for the hair, and use a lot of spikes.

[MethosH]

Thoughts, comments on my first OOTS style avatar? (done for celtic)

http://www.geocities.com/mtdungeonmaster/celtic.png

That's a nice first try.
Try change the cape a little bit, it looks confusing... Try make the brighter part a little different in format from the darker part.