Wanna help choose a costume?

[Acroyear]

The following are costume designs for a character I'm working up named Ion. He's a radiation blaster type fellow.

The designs in the image are just computer doodles using a Bruce Timm style outline... they are not completed images, just bare bones doodles. And, yes, I'm on a blue kick.

Please feel free to add other comments (such as "I like suit 4 but the mask thing from suit 2") or whatnot.

EDIT: Killing images except final to help conserve server space

[Trebuchet]

Costume #4 with the mask from #3 would be cool.

Nice pictures. Damn, I wish I could draw... :(

[Hermit]

I like #2, with the glowing parts from Costume #4 added on.

Not enough good guys wear white. I mean, if you glow anyways... :)

[Lord Liaden]

Very nice set of designs! The glowing inserts is something I haven't seen before, and you use them well. Overall, I think I favor #4. It has a good balance of dark and light elements, and having the chest symbol glowing is both appropriate and cool.

Okay, now for the inevitable niggling suggestions. ;) I would favor extending the headpiece across the forehead as you do in #s 2 and 3. I really like the band of lighter blue across the shoulders of #4, it breaks up the monotony of dark blue everywhere else; I think you could place bands like it elsewhere on the costume. My suggestions would be around the waste like a belt as with #3, so that the glowing patch at his midriff looks like a buckle; and the same shape of stripe as on the calves of #2, bracketting the glow inserts.

But that's just me. :)

[winterhawk]

Originally posted by Hermit
I like #2, with the glowing parts from Costume #4 added on.


Damn, beat me to it...

Acroyear, I know what Starman's costume looks like from a previous post, so 2 might be a little to close to that, but I still like it the best.

And let me just say that your 'doodles' are better than my regular artwork. I do all my character sketches Animated style after you posted the link to the website with the templates.

[Agent Escafarc]

Originally posted by Hermit
I like #2, with the glowing parts from Costume #4 added on.

Not enough good guys wear white. I mean, if you glow anyways... :)
Add my vote to this option

[Mayday]

#2, but I love the glowy bits from #4.

Im wondering, more white? Use the dark blue as a medium thick border around the glowy bits?

[Mutant for Hire]

Like many others, #2 headpiece with #4 costume. One effect I'd like to see experimented with is those glowing forarm patches also on the legs as well. Not sure I'd go for it, though. I'd just like to see it as an experiment.

[Acroyear]

Thanks so far, folks :) Please feel free to keep it coming...

I initially did one with three glowy blocks down the shin (like the forearms on some of them) but switched for some reason.

I agree, #2 is kind of a reverse Starman suit. Kind of recycling the theme since Starman is "little used" imo (of course, I consider less than 6 months a disaster...)

It's not hard doing these things if you have a graphics program. It's all the line tool and paint fill, really (with a glow filter, obviously). The hair is done with the pencil tool (just a squiggly line).

The rest of it is just the design part, really. Often, I get really "stripe-y" and don't experiment enough with designs that aren't symmetrical. I do like hinting at typical design elements (belts, gloves and boots) without actually having them.

Note on these designs: I'm trying to keep the glow parts away from the light colors (as you can see) so that the glow and lioght color doesn't blend together much. I was also trying to stay away from the red & yellow colors as they are used most for this conept, it seems (Solar, Firestorm, the Ray, etc)

I'll toy with some of the suggestions here, too, since I have a decent flick on Sci-Fi (Indy...yay. Beats crocodile movie du jour).

[Acroyear]

Here's some revisions based on feedback...

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Acroyear
Here's some revisions based on feedback...

<img src="http://herogame.dans.cust.servlets.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=22969">
I definately like the white and blue there , thanks to the way you've got it drawn, the white and 'light' don't overlap much at all. Nice work

You annoyingly artistic person.
Sorry, that was my Envy destroying my inner monoluge. :)

[Lord Liaden]

Of this new batch, I have to admit that #3 is a more interesting design, with all those angles and the contrast between the blue and the white; but those glowing patches look much more striking against the dark blue of #1, and they really are the most distinctive element of his visuals.

I think I lean toward #1, but it's real close.

[Doug McCrae]

Those are really good! What software do you use to make em?

[Acroyear]

I took the templates from:
http://www.wuji-web.com/multiverse_index.html

After that, I was using photoshop - as stated above, I just use the line tool and paint fills for the most part (since I'm lazy and watching TV) which most graphics programs should have. The glow effect is one of the various filters available for it. Might be alien skin or eyecandy... don't recall at the moment. I'm a filter monkey, though...

Lord Liaden - what if it was a darker blue with the white in #2 & 3 in the revisions? :)

[zornwil]

I voted for 4 but also very much like 2. However, in both cases I would prefer it without the suit-attached headband, would prefer the head was like #1.

[mangahunterd]

I think #3 of the new batch looks really good. The white stands out more even with the patches because the only place you have white and glow is on the legs. It is kind of like the best of both worlds.

[Mutant for Hire]

I like number three now, actually. You might experiment with blue boots to see if you can make a contrast for the glowing bits down there

Addition to this post:

One might go with an abstract white and blue pattern ending in blue boots. Right now the lower half of the body is looking a little bland..

[winterhawk]

I like #3 of the new batch.

How do you run the glow filter on just certain sections of the figure? I'm a photoshop hack (the bad connotation, not the computer wiz), and I just figured out the pen tool tonight.

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by Acroyear
Lord Liaden - what if it was a darker blue with the white in #2 & 3 in the revisions? :)

Yeah, the increased contrast with darker blue should work well. I also liked Mutant for Hire's suggestion of experimenting with blue boots, especially with #3 - that has the most white. (I like symmetry, too.) ;)

[Acroyear]

Thanks, guys.

I thought this might be a fun idea and it has turned out to be just that :)

I'll tack some blue boots on #3 in the revision... give me just a minute here :)


Originally posted by winterhawk
How do you run the glow filter on just certain sections of the figure? I'm a photoshop hack (the bad connotation, not the computer wiz), and I just figured out the pen tool tonight.

Use the select tool. In my case, I colored those spots a weird color, like pink... I used the wand to select one patch then under the select menu I clicked "select similar" which then selected all the pink patches. Run the filter and I have have glowing pink patches. With the area still selected, I just hit delete (with white as the background color... then they all turn white - if I had another background color there, they'd turn that color... but white is the bright light area, so to speak, so I used that color).

[Acroyear]

Here's a quick something with boots. I darkened the blue up some, too.

[Blue]

I think you've got it. The Blue shoes help balance out the colors.

[Acroyear]

Oooh, suit #4 is picking up in the poll. :)

[Enforcer84]

Originally posted by Acroyear
Here's a quick something with boots. I darkened the blue up some, too.

<img src="http://herogame.dans.cust.servlets.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=23115">

THAT is what I like!

[Rage]

Originally posted by Acroyear
Here's a quick something with boots. I darkened the blue up some, too.

<img src="http://herogame.dans.cust.servlets.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=23115">

how about if you make the boots a little longer and/or put perhaps a blue stripe connecting the boots to the blue strips on the belt. or perhaps just finishing a little before the blue stripe.

Still cool pics. You've inspired me to do somthing similar next time.

[Trebuchet]

I like the new design, but I'd like the white areas better if they were a medium blue. I think the glowing parts lose a lot of their impact when placed on or against a white area. I also think you're in danger of overdoing it with the glow. In some cases, less is more.

You also need to evaluate the wisdom of having a (glowing) target on your character's chest. But it's worked for Superman for 60 years. ;)

[Mutant for Hire]

Originally posted by Trebuchet
You also need to evaluate the wisdom of having a (glowing) target on your character's chest. But it's worked for Superman for 60 years. ;)

Look, we can really question the bright blue spandex or the ability of the mask to really conceal his identity. If you're going to be realistic here and all that. :)

I definitely like the blue boots. I'm glad my suggestion worked out. The new version is looking good. The one last suggestion I might make is to have blue parts to the outer sides of his legs going up and ending short of the blue segments on the belt area. He's got white segments on the sides of his chest and I'd like to see that sort of contrast on his legs as a sort of experiment.

[Lord Liaden]

This version is looking very nice! I really think you have the right balance of elements now. I differ with Rage and M. for H. in that I wouldn't add any more blue designs at this point - might be too "busy". I think the solid white lower body with blue boots balances the ornate arm designs right next to it. But it might be worth experimenting with.

In that spirit, I'm intrigued by Trebuchet's suggestion; I wouldn't mind seeing the white areas in that light blue you used in an earlier pic, just to see if it works better with the glowing panels.

My only other suggestion would be to try putting the glowing panels on the calves a little higher, inside where the indentations in the boots are rather than just below them, which would match the "belt buckle" and add a little more blue. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing. :cool:

[Acroyear]

Here's some revisions based on feedback here (this isn't to say I won't backpedal to an early design. The first boots version is included so you can see it side by side.

<img src="http://herogame.dans.cust.servlets.net/forums/attachment.php?s=&postid=23283">

[winterhawk]

#3 of the newest batch, by far.

And thanks for the tip!

[Acroyear]

I'm liking #3 a bit, too. I already admitted my stripe-y leanings, though.

Here's a version of that worked up a little more clean (still using the templates).

I'ma make ya click it, though, so as not to over-bias with the other samples.

[Lord Liaden]

Okay, I freely admit you can color me wrong. The blue panels on the legs of #3 look fabulous, especially how you have their lower edge following the line of the top of the boot without touching it. And the contrast with the brightly-glowing gloves beside his legs is just right. I think you nailed it with this one.

Interestingly, the color scheme of #4 also works, but with a much grimmer feel than the white ones, which are more four-color "hero-ish". I don't suppose Ion has an evil twin, does he? ;)

BTW, regarding the download version... Yeah, baby! I can just see him on Superman's animated series, kicking Big Red's "S". :D

[Hermit]

Originally posted by Acroyear

I'ma make ya click it, though, so as not to over-bias with the other samples.
Wow. I think you have the winner.

[Mutant for Hire]

#3 of the newest batch is exactly what I was thinking and I really really like it. It has my vote for final costume. #1 takes second place.

[Acroyear]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
I don't suppose Ion has an evil twin, does he? ;)

I dunno. This has just kinda been one of the fun-sies characters I've been building while trying to come up with new character idea.

I was going to try to try him in to a classic villain of ours, Fallout, who is in need of a new look after, like, 20 years.
As Kawanga Kid and Captain Terror here know, I hate Fallout... he's such a punk villain and manages to blammo me every time with such lame powers. lol

Maybe when Ion charges up his big attack (he has extra time on some stuff) the blue will turn black and the white will turn blue...Why? No reason, at all.

I'm still going to fiddle with some of the other comments and such and see what I like. This one is the current lead, though, it seems.

[Hermit]

Evil Twin huh? You could always invert the blue and white to Orange and Black, a bit halloweeny, but not bad for a Bad guy :)

[Acroyear]

I redid the Fallout design I was working on earlier. Doesn't look bad next to the Ion design.

[urbwar]

Originally posted by Acroyear
I redid the Fallout design I was working on earlier. Doesn't look bad next to the Ion design.

I really like the contrast between the two costumes. The hero's costume is darker, while the villain has a bit brighter color in his outfit. They look like good enemies for each other

[Mutant for Hire]

You know I switched from the Day Jobs thread to this one and just had an idea for a new Secret ID job: superhero/supervillain fashion consultant.

[Karma]

2 with the glow of 4. I like 4 but the forhead showing helmet makes him look perpetually surprised. And I would liuke to add to the chorus of "I wish I could draw"

[Lord Liaden]

Originally posted by urbwar
I really like the contrast between the two costumes. The hero's costume is darker, while the villain has a bit brighter color in his outfit. They look like good enemies for each other

I concur. The full-coverage faceplate on Fallout is a classic ominous element in costumes. And the nuclear mushroom chest symbol is muy fresco.

One thing, though: it kind of looks like Fallout has some sort of eyepiece or visor in his mask, but if so it's so dark that it's hard to make out. Might I suggest a brighter color for that piece, maybe red?

And when can we get to work on the back? ;)

[Acroyear]

Originally posted by Lord Liaden
I conquer.

Better watch out for rivals, like Dr. Destoryer ;)


One thing, though: it kind of looks like Fallout has some sort of eyepiece or visor in his mask, but if so it's so dark that it's hard to make out.

That was my lame attempt to add a little reflective value to the dark tinted "glass"


And when can we get to work on the back? ;)

lol - I imagine it looks like the front, less the logo from the chest, the buckle, and the glowy spots on the shins. Maybe the white from the shoulders connecting in the middle.

[KawangaKid]

I rather like this design and review sequence.

Now that Ion is armed with flashy fashion duds, Fallout is doomed!

[Lord Liaden]

Acroyear, thanks for letting us participate in this creative process. I found it to be a fun exercise. I hope you "ahem" conquer. :o

Would you mind if I used some of your earlier designs for characters in my games?

[Acroyear]

Sure, feel free to use the stuff I share. :)

I enjoy using the forums for this kind of thing. Maybe I'll do another something similar in the near future... maybe even hit someone else up for a concept/description and go at it

[Osprey]

Great stuff!!

Suit 2 from the neck up, Suit 4 from the shoulders down!

[MarkusDark]

If you take #3 from the second batch, but add a little blue down around the calf/feet area, I think it will help balance out the color of the character. Also, are you set on having his hair exposed? I wonder how it would look with a white 'skull cap' with a blue triangular "dart" streak. - Sort of like what you have on the shoulders.