Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=583273&Start=1&Artist=tbarnet&ByArtist=Yes

Hi folks. I just wanted to ask for a bit of help if I may. I am in the process of creating an image as a present. Its pretty far along but lacking. What? I don't know! If you could take a look and offer any suggestions, it would be VERY appreciated. Thanks.

Tim B

Maybe some liquid in the mug, and maybe even some foam or drips on the outside of the mug (or spilled on the floor?)

Deepen the shadows (Dodge n burn in postwork) add grunge and dirt?

Great ideas. Will try to incorporate them. I was also thinking of volumetric lighting on the lantern light with a patchy light mist or smoke over the entire scene. Do ya think that might be too much considering the dark light level of the image already? Thanks for the replies.

My problem with it has more to do with lighting/composition: the human eye goes first to the area with greatest contrast, and then travels around. This contrast can be of color or of value... the eye goes for the edge: we see silhouettes first when identifying anything. (Frazetta recognized and mastered this concept.) My eye goes straight to the lantern, then the gun, then the mug... out the side of the picture, down from the top with the mast... and after a while might get around to the face. I would presume that you want the viewer's eye to go towards the face a bit sooner than that, and then travel around to all the pirate props! In order to give more prominence to the face you can do several things (your choice): whiten the stripes in his shirt and darken the mug so that the eye goes up from the lantern, add a white cockade plume to the hat (PhilC has a free cavalier hat with the right sort of plume), add a shiny medallion at his throat or on his hat, give him a pirate smile with a shiny gold tooth, or, most important: put a highlight in his eye... so that it sparkles with mischief or intrigue. Anything to add some brightness/contrast to the facial area! You can also try to get the contrast using color such as a scarlet or purple hat, but I think brightness would be a more satisfactory method. I'd also add more texture: a damp spot on the floor where the mug gets set down, some grit and saltwater stains down there, some lines so that it looks like planking instead of vinyl shelfpaper, drips/foam off the mug (and possibly in his beard), that sort of thing. However, a sparkle in his eye and a way to get the viewer's eye to the face are of first importance. It is pretty neat right now (good arrangement and good selection of props and clothes), but it does need a bit of oomph to make it more exciting. HTH, Carolly

I would definately fill that mug up with beer, add sone froth and spillage onto the floor. I might also make the lamp light yellow and add more dirt/shadow to the floor. Great image looking really good. -Regards, Anton

Excellent ideas. I will do my best to use them all. They would definately make it more interesting. Carolly: Hopefully I can "try" to do some of the postwork ideas that you have suggested. Being color blind, that could be rough, yet I will try. I agree that the lighting needs that extra something. Thanks for the ideas. Tim

Hey Anton. Ya snuck in there on me. I'm a hunt and peck typist so pretty slow on the remarks. Yeah that mug does need some ale it doesn't it. Thanks and will oblige.

It's looking pretty good so far and the suggestion above will turn it from good to great :) My two penn'orth: the floor looks dry. A darker colour and some grunge would help there. Looking forward to seeing the finished version!

Thats looking very nice

I am going to echo carolly - as she hit it on the nail there. I would get folks to look at that face first, and make that area one your eye gets drawn to as your looking around at all the great items. I love the sparkle in the eye concept, Carolly you're good :)

The foreground and background is just right in my opinion, its just the middle area to the left of the pirate that seems to be a little too squared off. The area to the right of the pirate is excellent, you have lots of rigging and things jutting off in different directions, and even the perspective on the railing gives it a little bowing outward. The visual lines on the left though, due to the perspective, seem all up down & across, from the pole in the background to the bottom of the barrel..... so heres an idea :) maybe a coil of rope thats resting on top of the barrel but has a loop or 2 hanging down the front a bit? Something else circular would tie in the Captains Wheel back there a bit more, and a drooping coil might help visually break up the barrels bands and planks and make them background more or less.

Lastly, I would lighten the top of the small barrel holding the lamp more

I really love your eye and talent - and that velvety outfit is excellent! Hehe I dont think I have ever fallen in love with a shirt cuff before - but the little inlays of metal in that velvet are really classy. Who made that outfit?

Attached Link: http://secure.daz3d.com/shop.php?op=itemdetails&item=1600

Thanks guys. karen1573: I agree. The floor was one of the things that I was really unhappy with, but just didn't know what to do. I'll work on it. Suede: Good points. I'll try and work them in. As far as the pirate outfit goes, I can take NO credit for that. It is part of an excellent texture set by MOYRA available at DAZ. I've provided a link.

My first thought was: Try a spotlight pointing from the lamp to the face (not too bright) ...?

Thanks everybody. I'm trying to work all the suggestions in now. When finished, I will upload a new image.

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/viewed.ez?galleryid=585327&Start=1&Artist=tbarnet&ByArtist=Yes

Thanks again for all of the help folks. I've uploaded a revised image for your perusal.