Goblin - (Old Polycount thread)
polycounter lvl 4
Hi there people, Im new here 
My name is Alice, and on regular basis Im 2D artist in one of Poland social game studios.
I became very interested in hand painted textures, and low poly models.
Although, I suck at 3d.... xD' Im pretty good in painting, hats why i wanted to try painting textures.
I found couple weeks ago a old thread on polycount, thread from 2010 year, where someone gave model, and base mesh, so people can paint their own textures. I used it for my first ever texture. I get lots of help from my boyfriend who's 3d artist, in managing 3dmax, since I don't know what im doing when Im using it
Heres a link to the old Goblin topic http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69806&highlight=hand+painted
I'd love You guise to help me improve in textures and correct my mistakes.
Here's a goblin
I'd love to get some nice critique, There are some points i didn't touch yet, but I hope you might help me
My name is Alice, and on regular basis Im 2D artist in one of Poland social game studios.
I became very interested in hand painted textures, and low poly models.
Although, I suck at 3d.... xD' Im pretty good in painting, hats why i wanted to try painting textures.
I found couple weeks ago a old thread on polycount, thread from 2010 year, where someone gave model, and base mesh, so people can paint their own textures. I used it for my first ever texture. I get lots of help from my boyfriend who's 3d artist, in managing 3dmax, since I don't know what im doing when Im using it
Heres a link to the old Goblin topic http://www.polycount.com/forum/showthread.php?t=69806&highlight=hand+painted
I'd love You guise to help me improve in textures and correct my mistakes.
Here's a goblin
I'd love to get some nice critique, There are some points i didn't touch yet, but I hope you might help me
Replies
Since you are a 2d artist, the main thing you will have to get used to is lighting objects so they read well in 3d. In 2d its a lot easier imo because you have total control with how the character is viewed, but in 3d you have to consider the character from every angle.
When I was first learning to paint low poly models a few people here on polycount really stepped up and helped me a lot. One thing I was pointed to as reference was quake 3 models.
To give you specific advice on your model, I would say the head is lit far too much and the arms and body need a lot more lighting painted in. It would look better if the light appeared to be coming more above the character than you currently have it on the face. So strong shadows in the brow, under the nose, lips, and chin. I think you should add some small but strong specular highlights to the metal parts also. The shoulder pad material is very unclear currently, I suggest you spend some more time on that too.
But again, its a really good job, especially for your first character. Just keep working at it!
I think this is starting to look really good, actually. I think you have some interesting things happening in the face. The way you painted it makes him look almost slimy. I also think that the outfit is looking real good, as well as the leather strap going around his torso.
I feel like his blue shoulder pad isn't working. I can't tell what material it is supposed to be. It kind of looks like a blue crystal? I think that color blue fits the color palette you have created but it doesn't seem unified because it is dominating the shoulder pad and then it is not found anywhere else. Also, I would look up reference for wood on shields or wheels. The grain of wood is all going in the same direction on the rim of the shield as well as the base. This, for me, breaks the believably of how the shield was made. And maybe you could take a little of what's happening on his face and have it somewhere else on his skin, like his hands, because his head feels a little disconnected from his body.
Anyways, it looks like fun and the old thread was really fun to look through. Keep going
Thanks!
@BradMyers82. I actually love quake, so i'll check those models and textures
@KristaW Thanks for great critique! ^^ I will definitely change the shoulder pad color. I think You're right, it might fit the color palette, but which goblin ever would wear blue shoulder pad?!
To be honest this goblin mesh is really hard for me, his head for example, mesh is really small, I didn't know what I was doing when i started painting it, because everything looked different on model than it looked in photoshop
Thanks for your ideas! and really quick response! I appreciate it
One thing that might make the whole process feel much more natural is learning to paint in a 3d app. There are a few to choose from if you can get access to them. Mudbox, zbrush, bodypaint (maxon cinema 4d), and 3d coat to name a few. Personally, I like painting in mudbox, I don't do any handpainted character stuff without using mudbox actually. Very easy to use too if you are familiar with photoshop already. Might be well worth the effort of learning the app. Good luck!
Here is a little motivation to show the advantages of painting in 3d... I think you would actually feel a lot more comfortable with it, if you spent like a day or two learning the tools.
http://vimeo.com/5820395
http://vimeo.com/5821890
btw... I personally don't like painting in zbrush unless its a highpoly character.
Is it like ZappLink in zbrush?
p.s it's totally awesome ._.
I played a bit more with his face cause i found it a bit to "cute" and i wanted it to be really creepy and vicious