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Description
I finished the tonal rendering of the characters, turned the paper texture on, and have started dropping in (and creating new) gradient maps. This part is generally pretty fast once all the gradient maps are already created. It’s just a matter of selecting an area, based on the flats (“skin”, for example), creating a new gradient map layer and selecting the correct map (if I’ve already made one previously). I can keep all relevant maps saved to a specific color palette set, too. I will still need to go in and add some additional color variation (like on human skin, there are areas that are redder than others based on blood flow), but it’s pretty quick. I’ll also go in and adjust some of the rendering if certain areas have too much-or not enough-contrast, which is sometimes easier to spot when there’s color involved. I still need to put some more work into the background (at least some of those windows on the buildings will be throwing light), figure out the Dream Wave, and do a pass over everything with some more directional lighting and shading. Because my work flow is still evolving during this piece, it’s taking way longer than I want it to, and I’m constantly second guessing myself and wondering if things are “right” (one of the many things I love and hate about art: unlike, say, math where 2+2=4, art is pretty subjective. But, there’s still elements that aren’t, like the way light interacts with different materials. Mess that up, and things won’t look right). I’m enjoying working on this image, but I do want to get it done and move on to other projects, including further concept art and rendering practice/experiments like this.

Description
I finished the tonal rendering of the characters, turned the paper texture on, and have started dropping in (and creating new) gradient maps. This part is generally pretty fast once all the gradient maps are already created. It’s just a matter of selecting an area, based on the flats (“skin”, for example), creating a new gradient map layer and selecting the correct map (if I’ve already made one previously). I can keep all relevant maps saved to a specific color palette set, too. I will still need to go in and add some additional color variation (like on human skin, there are areas that are redder than others based on blood flow), but it’s pretty quick. I’ll also go in and adjust some of the rendering if certain areas have too much-or not enough-contrast, which is sometimes easier to spot when there’s color involved. I still need to put some more work into the background (at least some of those windows on the buildings will be throwing light), figure out the Dream Wave, and do a pass over everything with some more directional lighting and shading. Because my work flow is still evolving during this piece, it’s taking way longer than I want it to, and I’m constantly second guessing myself and wondering if things are “right” (one of the many things I love and hate about art: unlike, say, math where 2+2=4, art is pretty subjective. But, there’s still elements that aren’t, like the way light interacts with different materials. Mess that up, and things won’t look right). I’m enjoying working on this image, but I do want to get it done and move on to other projects, including further concept art and rendering practice/experiments like this.