GB: The same technique from brilliance can't be used in say Deluxe Paint 2?
SKY: Well, for example you have a combined command of smooth, smear and shade called "avg-smear" (average-smear) with brilliance - with that it is just extremely easy to do cool backgrounds within - let's say 5 minutes. Dpaint2 lacks several features of Brilliance.
GB: So are you one of we poor PC DP2 addicts? Or have you tried other programs like Grfx2, Vgapaint, even Photostop or Fractal Design Painter?
SKY: I'm one of those DP2 addicts - yeah - i've tried the first beta of grfx2, but it had too many bugs, and so I continued to work with dpaint ... I never tried using truecolor based drawing tools like Photoshop or FDP - it seems to be too easy to achieve good results without having the knowledge of real drawing. it seems as if even dull ppl (sorry ;) can get a killer result within minutes without really knowing, what they're actually doing, and that kinda sucks - also filesize blew up like..
GB: Yeah, all these truecolour uncompressed TGA files
SKY: Yep they suck... though I prefer them to reduced jpg's with messy compression (that destroys the pics structure). I generally don't like truecolor... it's no real challenge for an artist. I consider a cool 16color piccy as the biggest challenge that exists for an artist. if you can't draw cool stuff with small palettes - like 16-64 colors, you shouldn't even think about truecolor (i think) And, generally, truecolor keeps people from learning the real "oldschool" techniques like the checkerboard-shading, etc...
GB: Ok back to technique, any more tips for drawing outlines? I find that for a "proper" picture, they are often quite hard to draw.
SKY: Well try this: draw a pic on paper (just in b/w) until you think the proportions, etc are correct. Then take that paper-pic, and draw some gridlines above it - then you draw the same amount of gridlines onto your screen and everytime one of the lines on your paper-pic touch the grid, you can translate it onto the screen - hm a bit difficult to explain...
GB: Yeah, and then you just draw each box at a time, right? and its easier, because you only work with small bits, and its easier to preserve proportions, etc?
SKY: well yes.. that's about it <g>
GB: Hmm, do you want to say anything about anti-aliasing technique?
SKY: Antialias... well - i'm no master at this part of the job, but I think the best way to train your antialias-technique is, to start drawing with very few colors - best is 16c modes, because you don't have to many colors to use for it - hehe. That's why i picked up drawing in 16c-modes a while ago.
GB: you know how many times you've recommended starting drawing in 16c modes?
SKY: well no? couple of million times i guess <g> - well but it really is the best thing - it's brute force - for sure, but this way you can train yourself best. Just think of it this way: most of todays artists (on PC) started drawing when there was a full 256c-palette available and even hires, and think of what they are doing with their possibilities!? - then take a look at those amiga-artists - like made, peachy, ra, etc.. that started drawing when they only had 32c at max! there you had to decide, which color to use...
GB: That's why we don't use checkerboarding... there's usually enough colours to not have to worry <g>
SKY: Yep - and then take a look at those 256c-pc-pics - most of them look as if someone has taken a huge brush and smoothed them... and checkerboarding rules (got an addiction of mine <g;>) - even improved it (as i've seen someone else use it) with some 4pixel blocks (2x2)
GB: Oh, the 2x2 thing, like in your eye pic? (picture not included, as it was unfinished at the time of this interview, the 2x2 technique he used here is a similar to the technique I used in the Xtatic logo).
SKY: yep! I started it (eye) with normal checkerboarding but with those few colors, it sucked - especially on areas with big spaces between 2 colors, so i tried for the 2x2 and well - it looked better (way better).
GB: Is it only 16cols?
SKY: Hmm no i think it uses 20 colors or so ... or 24 <g>
GB: Then you could have gone the hole hog and used 256 <g> hehe
SKY: Well .. that's where i try to improve my technique - it's not about style (i think), but just about the technical part... if I - someday - am able to draw almost perfect (yeah wish) stuff in 16c or 32c, then i'll get back to full 256c because i then may be able to use it in full effect. Everybody does that (or after all should do it <g>).
GB: I think should is the right word, I doubt most people do
SKY: yep... should - definately should!
GB: Ok, to change topic again - you learnt some pixelling stuff from peachy?
SKY: Yes - as he lives approx. 10 miles away from me, I visited him several times during the past few years ... and we even started a coop pic (for Wired'95) which we didn't finish because we ran out of time ... that's because both of us have this strange habit - we don't start drawing for a compo until we about 5 days at max until the pic has to be finished - somehow we both seem to need this type of pressure to work efficiently <g>. You could say we're the typical "3dayscompo" guys. Anyway, the coop was cancelled (and will never be finished) and we both started working on pics of our own, the day before we drove to belgium. We ended up placing 1st (him) and 2nd (me) <g>.
GB: Finally, "any other tips for budding graphicians/pixellers?" :)
SKY: yeah! (most important one) join big groups and ask smaller artists to join.. :)
GB: sorry, what do you mean? :)
SKY: hm one of those jokes ;) ... join a famous team, rise with them, and then get many smaller artists (here: less famous) and make them draw - and after all get the fame yourself <huge grin here>
GB: heahe, well thanks a lot for the interview, best wishes with your art...
Keep up the good work.
check out Sky gallery with lots of his pics!
