Question about Character Portraits

[liliputian7 4]

There are several different answers to these questions from several different sources.

 

As one or two of you may know, I'm focusing on art right now before I begin to actually work with the game software itself, since that requires me to essentially learn an entirely new field, but I have experience in art and storytelling. So, I'll have specific questions over the next month or so concerning pixel art (since the general questions have mostly been answered).

 

1. What is the difference between a "character portrait" and an "emotion sheet"? Is the latter the technical term for it? I'm aware that the latter is generally 384x192, consisting of eight portraits, but I've so far been unable to differentiate between these two terms. For example, this is an early version of my male character's "emotion sheet" (or whatever it may be called):

 

 

 

 

And here's an example custom (I think) "emotion sheet" I've found online:

 

 

 

 

These are so different that I'm not sure whether I'm doing something incorrectly. Would it be wiser to create a fuller portrait first, and then crop and edit the face region? Or does my version look stylized enough that a normal player would find it permissible (and hopefully not amateur)?

 

2. I've found "emotion sheets" that are different dimensions. Would this cause a technical problem in the game, and is it wise to continue using the dimensions I'm using?

 

3. Is there any critique you could give me about my attempt at an "emotion sheet?" It seems to be profoundly more pixellated than the other example image, and although that's passable, since the style of the game is rather pixelly, but I'd prefer some kind of smoothness to the image as well, and I've tried several types of color variation and shading, but this is the best result I've gotten so far. I don't have professional instruments.

 

Thank you for reading my post.

[Rinoazelda 287]

 

A character portrait, to me, is a bust. Like this one:

 

 

 

 

Bust are not facesets. The only way they can be in the game is with scripts or events. Some people like to use them, some don't, some don't even know what a bust is, some just don't care, etc.

 

An emotion sheet, or emoset, as it's commonly know, is like a normal faceset, but it shows the emotions of a certain character(s). Like the one you're making and the other one you found online. Princess Princess is a game that uses eventing to add busts to the dialogs, but now there's a script that makes the message work like in Princess Princess. It only requires a script call. I hope I answered your question.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Kirimash

[liliputian7 4]

Ah, that clears a lot up. Thank you!

 

So, it wouldn't be amateurish to leave as much space around my "emoset" as I have? If I'm going to be a part of a larger community, I feel as though I should know its unspoken rules.

[Rikifive 3,411]

 I have moved this thread to VXAce Editor Support and Discussion, because it's not a resource request and the question kinda refers to the software and graphics used by it. (=

  @Kirimash  You don't have to quote the whole OP when you're replying to thread. Don't spam with quotes please. Thank you! =3

[Rinoazelda 287]

Ah, that clears a lot up. Thank you!

 

So, it wouldn't be amateurish to leave as much space around my "emoset" as I have? If I'm going to be a part of a larger community, I feel as though I should know its unspoken rules.

 

Well, it's your decision. Since it's your emoset and it's for you... But, in my opinion, emoset should only show the face, and, if possible, a bit of the neck and clothes. Also, that neck is too big for the average person IMO.

 

EDIT: Sorry, Riki.

Edited July 8, 2016 by Kirimash

[liliputian7 4]

I'm glad you noticed the neck - it's part of the character design, actually. Part of the lore, even, although it's only inferred. Perhaps I'll change the overall design to better fit the emoset, though. Thanks!