A good, gradient background.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 04:08:43 PM

Here is my first attempt at an actually good gradient background, set in a grassy meadow.

I was hoping to maybe use this king gradient background in my ClockDay flash, but tell me, what are some ways to touch it up a bit.

Tips and Hints, please.

A Clock · July 24, 2009, 04:13:19 PM

Well it works as a basic background but it just seems incredibly bland. Maybe some scenery?

buttplug · July 24, 2009, 04:13:51 PM

Don't use gradients unless it is for something subtle.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 04:36:34 PM

Quote from: LarryDavidClock;1627527Don't use gradients unless it is for something subtle.

Subtle, you say?

How about that?

TabascoClock · July 24, 2009, 04:47:31 PM

Quote from: Firenova;1627538Subtle, you say?

How about that?

Not bad.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 06:07:40 PM

Quote from: A Clock;1627525Well it works as a basic background but it just seems incredibly bland. Maybe some scenery?

Scenery like this?

A Clock · July 24, 2009, 06:09:30 PM

Quote from: Firenova;1627580Scenery like this?

Needs less blur.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 06:21:18 PM

Quote from: A Clock;1627581Needs less blur.

Thunderbolt · July 24, 2009, 06:25:35 PM

draw your background, dont use gradients

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 06:36:25 PM

Quote from: 'Ghost[;1627589']draw your background, dont use gradients

Is it okay if I draw the background then use gradient colors to color it, or just no gradient colors at all for the background?

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 07:00:34 PM

Quote from: Firenova;1627594Is it okay if I draw the background then use gradient colors to color it

Like so

SockpuppetClock · July 24, 2009, 07:30:18 PM

These backgrounds are super-bland! Get something in there man!

p.s. in long long grass plains the grass doesn't get brighter the farther it is, it gets a bit bluer cause of fog.

AbsintheClock · July 24, 2009, 07:53:29 PM

Gradients CAN be used well it's just rare that people do. This is not one of those rare cases. Learn to draw before you learn to use gradients otherwise you're just making really bad shapes look even worse.

Thor · July 24, 2009, 07:53:50 PM

I stopped using backgrounds in my flash months ago

Anyway, a little tip on how to use gradients:
NEVER USE THEM UNLESS THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT SHOULD CHANGE OVER THE DISTANCE OF THE GRADIENT.

For example, your grass does not work because there is NO reason it would get darker as it got farther away. The sun is bright enough and big enough that the distance that you can see the surface of the earth it isn't going to be noticeably darker than where you're standing. As for the sword, it should have flat sides. You would only gradient the blade if it was curved along the sides, and a curved blade on a sword would be shit. Instead you should have just made the sword blade with two solid colors of different darkness.

The room with the lighting WAS a proper use of gradients because walls closer to the light source would be brighter with a weak light like that.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 08:21:37 PM

Quote from: Golden Clock;1627617why do you gotta flip us off so much

Better than having him sit there with a blank expression

GearBoxClock · July 24, 2009, 08:27:05 PM

Gradient? More like... GAY-dient!

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 08:34:16 PM

Quote from: Golden Clock;1627620I completely disagree

Fine then blank expressions from now on.

BambooClock · July 24, 2009, 08:37:08 PM

Quote from: Firenova;1627622Fine then blank expressions from now on.

Like so.

BlitzballClock · July 24, 2009, 08:43:07 PM

Just how much energy did you put into those bushes?

SockpuppetClock · July 24, 2009, 08:47:52 PM

Quote from: Firenova;1627624Like so.

come on! get some personality in there! endless plain with copied trees is boooring.

also you should adjust the smoothing on the brush tool, it helps.

p.s. a giant sword? lololol

News:

A good, gradient background.

AbsintheClock