Colour, contrast and brightness are always an issue. Even if you calibrated your monitor so that it was perfect, you can't know how other people have theirs set up. And Windows and Macs have different 'ideal' settings. All you can do is make sure your machine is consistent across your various programs. PSP has a rudimentary gamma tool. Have a play with that (write down your existing settings first, though!).

Anyway. Picture. Much better, imho. I really like the painty look. The texture on the poncho looks very realistic, which contrasts well with the rest of the picture. Although I guess some might say that it is now the focal point of the piece (though my eyes always go to the gun hand first .. it's posed perfectly .. lazily threatening).

For the crit' part .. there should be some shadow on her left thigh, where the front part of the poncho ends. The eyes still aren't quite right .. they are kinda staring vacantly over the top of my head, now (I shouldn't slouch so much). The sun is coming from her right side, square on .. her right eye should be squinting slightly. Just lowering the right eyebrow and eyelid a couple of pixels should do it. It'll also help to animate the face more. Finally, a more general point .. the lighting is consistent in the picture, but it implies the sun is only just over the horizon (the shadow on her leg caused by the gun is the biggest visual clue). But the 'quality' of the light isn't right. It's too blue (I think). You were closer in the previous picture, on that score.

But that's all nit-picking (as requested). You're doing good work, pilgrim .. btw .. are you laughing at my mule?

Message edited on: 10/21/2004 19:37