all right, here it is!

[Claude C Kenny]

So, I took my first shot at actually making a portrait, and I have to say, I did better than I thought.

a few issues I have with this, however:

1. the hair. especially in the mini-portrait. he looks like a matador. I dont like it.

2. the color of the overcoat. I had better looking colors, but was forced to change them. funny thing is, the tutorial I was reading said you can have up to 6 colors for the body if you dont use white, but if you look carefully, I believe there's 7.

3. the size. I mean, its supposed to be me, and im not a very big guy, but it seems to compact.

I would still prefer if someone with more experience than me would work on some for me, since this only took me about 2-3 hours, not as long as I thought.

have at it!

[CT075]

...

where to start...

Firstly, the entire thing is lacking shading.

Secondly, those frames suck. Seriously.

Thirdly, the shoulders don't make a lot of sense.

Fourthly, your proportions are shot to hell.

Finally, that looks a lot like a mostly custom work. When we say splice, we mean take the WHOLE THING from other mugs.

[Nanami Touko]

Sixthly, this is the rom hacking section. Sprites are supposed to be posted in the sprites part of the creative section.

I second everything Cam just said, except for the frames.

It's also a jpeg. Use imageshack, that will avoid jpeg problems.

[Claude C Kenny]

well, it is custom, and I gave it my best shot. so you'll just have to deal with it. at least I tried, so no one can say I haven't at least tried on my own. it should also be considered a beta. im not done with this particular one yet, I was hoping for some opinions (other than quit/give up).

and don't say I didn't warn you. I told you I have no talent for this.

Edited February 1, 2011 by Claude_C_Kenny

[Nanami Touko]

We told you our opinions.

Starting out doing customs is a ridiculous thing to do, without knowledge of human proportions, which you obviously don't have.

You should try splicing before you even attempt to do something custom.

and don't say I didn't warn you. I told you I have no talent for this.

You warned us you couldn't sprite.

We told you to try splicing.

You didn't listen, and went on to try one of the hardest parts of spriting right out of the get-go.

Edited February 1, 2011 by seph1212

[eCut]

If he wants to custom then let him, freaking out won't help anything. We should all be calm. :)

Now, to the critic:

1. I do agree that you should try splicing but that is purely your choice.

2. Never save as .jpeg(it kills quality... Bad quality = :( ).

3. Reference some tutorials, other people's sprites, the official sprites, or what ever else to see how to shade. At the moment the shading is very pillowed and lacks detail.

5. He is also very boxy. Look at yourself in the mirror or a picture of someone or anything and notice the curves of the shoulders.

6. Light source. You always need a light source.

7. I know this isn't very detailed but there isn't much to really say seeing as it is completely out-of-style. Just keep trying and practice with smaller things first nd work your way up. You're bound to get better. :)

Edit:

I make so many spelling errors when typing...

Edited February 2, 2011 by Ecut

[Claude C Kenny]

wow. way to kick someone when they're down. I honsetly thought I did better than what you're saying, for a first-timer, at least. you mean there's absolutely nothing about this that is even remotely good or salvageable in it?

if I can't do this, then I probably can't do splicing either, since there's probably still some degree of shading and getting colors right, which apparently I fail at too.

so basically, im damned if I do, damned if I don't. no one will help me unless I post something to prove the hack is worth it, but when I do post something, its worthless. but then again, my topics are usually dominated by you two.

I thought id at least get credit for trying, but I guess not. I mean, this is the one thing I suck at, as I keep repeating. I seem to just always get hit by the worst feedback everytime.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Claude_C_Kenny

[deleted35362]

WHAT did I say about customing, Seph? You don't need to start out splicing.

I didn't.

Now Claude...ONE gallery, por favor.

[Parrhesia]

if I can't do this, then I probably can't do splicing either, since there's probably still some degree of shading and getting colors right, which apparently I fail at too.

so basically, im damned if I do, damned if I don't. no one will help me unless I post something to prove the hack is worth it, but when I do post something, its worthless. but then again, my topics are usually dominated by you two. I thought id at least get credit for trying, but I guess not. I mean, this is the one thing I suck at, as I keep repeating. I seem to just always get hit by the worst feedback everytime.

Which it GIVES YOU. That's the thing with splicing, you get provided with shading and colours. Most people can get splices to be clean and competent, if not especially impressive, by the third or fourth try, often less. Plus, they're quicker.

Gods, stop whining about constructive criticism. You've been given good, sound advice. ACT UPON IT.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Furetchen

[Nanami Touko]

You're right. I apologize for what I said, and I should be more like Ecut with this stuff.

Splicing requires a lot less attention to shading and colors, since the shading is already done on the parts being spliced.

As for colors, you should use colors on pre-existing FE mugs, since they're mostly well made colors, and they're mostly well put together for shading.

When we asked you to post things about your hack, we meant maps, storyline, etc. You said you couldn't do mugs, so, we were hoping for the other parts.

Do what Ecut said. Practice. If you want to keep trying this, keep practicing.

@Boney, yes, you did, but most every other spriter finds it easier to start with splicing. If he wants to do customing over things instead, he can, but, I think it would be easier for him to splice. Yay, personal opinion~

EDIT: One thing I forgot to mention, is that you should always use the FE colors until you have a grasp of how colors work. It looks like you've used the default blue and black from Microsoft Paint, which is something that should be avoided in FE spriting.

Edited February 2, 2011 by seph1212

[Tangerine]

Kamui Gakupo (and all, for that matter),

Critiques can be made without being so offensive. Consider this a verbal, next time I'll warn.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Tangerine

[CT075]

wow. way to kick someone when they're down. I honsetly thought I did better than what you're saying, for a first-timer, at least. you mean they'res absolutely nothing about this that is even remotely good or salvageable in it?

if I can't do this, then I probably can't do splicing either, since there's probably still some degree of shading and getting colors right, which apparently I fail at too.

so basically, im damned if I do, damned if I don't. no one will help me unless I post something to prove the hack is worth it, but when I do post something, its worthless. but then again, my topics are usually dominated by you two.

Okay. Firstly, stop being butthurt and QQing. It makes us even less likely to help you. It also means that you'll never get anywhere in spriting/

Secondly, I meant that the colors aren't gonna work in an FE hack, the RGB values aren't all divisible by eight.

Thirdly.

EDIT: And don't you DARE tell me "but I'm not good enough to do that". I'm pretty terrible as well. Yet I can make a relatively decent product out of a splice.

Yes, you need to get the hang of shading, but that's something that I can't do either. Like, seriously.

Take a look at this:

This is the difference in three months of splicing. The one on the right is the newer one. Now tell me, does my first one really look that much better than yours?

So don't just QQ and go "I'm too awful I can't do it" whenever someone does a critique. It gets to be irritating after a while. I got as far as I am now (not particularly far) by taking a leap of faith with spriting. This isn't unsalvagable, but I'd appreciate it if, from now on, you listened to us when we tell you to try splicing, not customing.

@Tang: You're right, I kinda lost it.

[Claude C Kenny]

Kamui, you're the one who needs to stop being butthurt just because I didn't try splicing first like everyone else said. you think I didn't take my own leap of faith by trying a custom portrait, and then posting it here? my problem is that when I did post it, all I got was some stupid comments about everything that was wrong with it, rather than some actual feedback. I don't mind that people say it sucks, but if you're going to criticize it, give some actual suggestions.

as far as the portrait you posted, I would say it looks pretty cool, but what I consider cool and what everyone else considers cool is probably too far of a gap to even be talking about.

like I said, I gave it my best shot. you don't like it, oh well, deal with it. as my hack comes along more, you'll probably be seeing more of my horrid sprites.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Claude_C_Kenny

[Ansem]

Okay. Firstly, stop being butthurt and QQing. It makes us even less likely to help you. It also means that you'll never get anywhere in spriting/

There was too much flame in your "criticism" for it to matter. This kid seems to be new to spriting, he tried to do he best and make a sprite but his best wasnt good enough. I mean seriously, what criticism?

...

where to start...

Firstly, the entire thing is lacking shading.

Secondly, those frames suck. Seriously.

Thirdly, the shoulders don't make a lot of sense.

Fourthly, your proportions are shot to hell.

Finally, that looks a lot like a mostly custom work. When we say splice, we mean take the WHOLE THING from other mugs.

:/

Take a look at this:

This is the difference in three months of splicing. The one on the right is the newer one. Now tell me, does my first one really look that much better than yours?

So don't just QQ and go "I'm too awful I can't do it" whenever someone does a critique. It gets to be irritating after a while. I got as far as I am now (not particularly far) by taking a leap of faith with spriting. This isn't unsalvagable, but I'd appreciate it if, from now on, you listened to us when we tell you to try splicing, not customing.

Yes it does, its better.

Cam, its something you have to liv- no, not even, you dont have enough authorirty in spriting to go around trolling other peoples work. I just see a bunch of ass kissing in that post :/ . Like I said before, you didnt give any advice other then the fact that it wont into an FE rom. Next time you're gonna post "criticism", sit back and stare at it for a good while. After you conclude that it is really criticism, post it. More fun for me

I thought id at least get credit for trying, but I guess not. I mean, this is the one thing I suck at, as I keep repeating. I seem to just always get hit by the worst feedback everytime.

Just like you have to learn how to take criticism, you have to learn how to distinguish between good crit. and bad crit.

If he wants to custom then let him, freaking out won't help anything. We should all be calm. :)

Now, to the critic:

1. I do agree that you should try splicing but that is purely your choice.

2. Never save as .jpeg(it kills quality... Bad quality = :( ).

3. Reference some tutorials, other people's sprites, the official sprites, or what ever else to see how to shade. At the moment the shading is very pillowed and lacks detail.

5. He is also very boxy. Look at yourself in the mirror or a picture of someone or anything and notice the curves of the shoulders.

6. Light source. You always need a light source.

7. I know this isn't very detailed but there isn't much to really say seeing as it is completely out-of-style. Just keep trying and practice with smaller things first nd work your way up. You're bound to get better. :)

Edit:

I make so many spelling errors when typing...

Which it GIVES YOU. That's the thing with splicing, you get provided with shading and colours. Most people can get splices to be clean and competent, if not especially impressive, by the third or fourth try, often less. Plus, they're quicker.

Gods, stop whining about constructive criticism. You've been given good, sound advice. ACT UPON IT.

Tell me, which one would you rather listen to?

If you still have what it takes to go on, listen to what Ecut said and improve your mug. If you need help, dont be afraid to ask for help. While there are people like Cam that go around trolling other peoples work for shits and giggles, there are people like Ecut and Cymbeline who actually give crit, you just need to pick who to listen to :)

Edit: Ecut, you're not the only one.

Edited February 2, 2011 by Train

[CT075]

...Fine.

Okay, I give up. If you're not going to listen to anything I have to say, I'm not going to bother.

[Parrhesia]

Tell me, which one would you rather listen to?

Um, I wasn't giving criticism at all. I was telling him to listen to other people.

And yes, that is 'criticism' with two Cs. If you're going to use one word so often, spell it correctly.

[Tangerine]

Thread closed. I expect you guys to be a little more mature next time.