Hitman's Skin Bin - 10/9/08 - Watch This Space!

The Hitman · February 20, 2007, 05:52:08 AM

Well, I reckon I should start my thread back up, seeing that the old one was deleted. I've been pretty preoccupied lately, between school, work, a MMORPG that's consuming my life, and so on. But, last night I finally decided to get cracking again, and 3 hours later, I came up with this guy:

Jim Rook- The Nightmaster (Leader of Shadowpact, Obscure DC character)

Not sure who did the mesh, but it works pretty well. I actually did the chainmail myself!

As always, any feedback is always welcome. If you have a gripe, let me know, if you please!

Xenolith · February 20, 2007, 07:32:17 PM

I like it. Nice, strong, vibrant colors.

Captain Pluto · February 20, 2007, 08:45:04 PM

what mmorpg are u playin?

Carravaggio · February 22, 2007, 07:32:44 PM

nice work on the chainmail, hitman.
gripes? i'd like to see a unique face on the skin, rather than a generic one (which it appears to be currently), also lets see some highlights on the boots, cos they look flat, and maybe stronger highlights overall on the blue areas.
I'm not trying to tear your work apart, its good, i'm just offereing my 2 cents...
anyway, i hope to see an update!

The Hitman · February 24, 2007, 12:45:39 PM

Thanks, guys. Yeah, the boots need some highlights. And a little on the belt, now that I'm actually looking at it. The face is actually C6's Male_Grim face, so it's not completely generic. If I had the time to sit down and work on it a lot, I'd like to do a custom face. Oh, there'll definitely be an update, along with some stuff I'm finishing up now...

Oh, and Pluto- the MMO I'm playing is called Dofus. It's freeware, and kinda French, but it's pretty good for the price.

The Hitman · March 06, 2007, 12:11:33 PM

I really don't like dial- up. It's taken me all day to try to upload this pic. Oh, well. Fresh outta Green Lantern #17, the newest inducett into the Sinestro Corps-

Amon Sur- Son of Abin Sur (former Green Lantern of Earth Sector)

He's still very much a WIP. I still have to add a refl ang glow (maybe?) layer, and I think I'm going to change the mesh from male_basic to Ren's John Stewert, which I think is a little bit of a bigger build.

Feedback is definitely welcome for this one, so don't be shy!

Carravaggio · March 06, 2007, 02:35:11 PM

it looks good, im not famiiar with the character, but i think the change to a GL specific mesh has got to be a bonus.
Critiques: the black lines seperating the blue and the black are too heavy (presuming they are lines of seperation and not a graphic element in itself)
definitely need some highlights, esp. on the blue to give it more depth.
And on a personal taste note, i still have trouble looking at a C6 base recolour. try using different bases for different characters and areas of material. HouseQuake set up a base skins yahoo group that has a dozen other bases. evryone overused C6, so maybe try a different one or a combination of a few bases?
(there is a Sinestro Corps ?!)

The Hitman · March 06, 2007, 02:51:07 PM

Yeah, Sinestro's setting up his own "Evil Corps." One "Sinestro" for each sector. They even have a Kilowog- like drill sergent character! Batman was actually approached for the job before this guy, because it's based on how much fear the person has inflicted.
(EDIT: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinestro#Sinestro_Corps )

The thick black line is a part of the design. I knew I forgot to do something... (add highlights).

With the C6 base thing- I know it's overused. Again, when I get an ample amount of time, I'm going to start on my own base skin/faces. The thing is, I'm not doing this to be one of the best. You, C6, Rev, AA, TUE, Unko and the rest have that pretty much wrapped up. I'm just making skins of characters that aren't usually done, so they're at least available. A lot of it is for my own use. Besides, this face is a lot how he's drawn in the book.

Thanks for the feedback!

UnkoMan · March 06, 2007, 08:00:11 PM

Ha ha, you included me.
I use C6 bases all the time, really... And Paradox a lot. I just muck around and play with them, is all. You could do that a little. Just use the smudge tool, mostly.

As for highlights, I agree a bit more would make this look immediately better. His skin definately needs some more. I can see it a little bit, but it's not enough to be noticeable. The blue could also use it. The black looks pretty good though. Maybe even make it a bit darker, down on the feet. There's also little bits of blue on the lower legs/feet. They look accidental. If they aren't, display them more. If they are... lose them, of course. Add seems to everything. Before I knew about seems, my skins looked really flat. I didn't really understand why. Then I learned, and bam... instant depth. It really does wonders. The logo is also looking very flat. Try some change of colour tone. It might feel weird to do it at first, but when you're finished (and with a refl layer) it ends up being totally sweet. And if not, you can always get rid of it. That's the beauty.

Anyhow, this and the last one are good. They could lead to something great though. Even if you don't want to be the best you'll really start to amaze and impress yourself. Of course, you'll always be upset that other people keep getting better, but that is how it goes.

The Hitman · March 06, 2007, 09:54:29 PM

Quote from: UnkoMan on March 06, 2007, 08:00:11 PM
Ha ha, you included me.

Hey, man, don't sell yourself short. You do some pretty darn good- looking skins!

Alright, so I've messed around a little more with this guy. Firstly, he's now on Ren's GL_John_Stewert_Modern_plain mesh:

It's a little "beefier", and I really like the animations.

Next, I've tweaked the contrast, darkened the suit, added a _refl and _glow layer, messed with the color a little:

There's really no place I can think of to put seams. However, Nightmaster is definitely getting some. The blue on the feet/legs are the way his "boots" go. Not much I can do there.

Again, critiques are of course welcome!

Carravaggio · March 07, 2007, 12:14:11 AM

he really looks more menacing and powerful on that mesh. i lik ethe darkened body suit, make sit look like space leather...stuff...y'know the shiny stuff superheroes use that can't possibly be spandex.
and as for what you said about making the skins mostly for your own use, thats fines. after all thats how I, and a lot of other people here, started out...

Blkcasanova247 · March 07, 2007, 04:59:59 AM

Hey Hitman...very nice work. Just one thing though.....shouldn't the blue parts of the costume be more of a pale purple?

Lord Elcorion · March 08, 2007, 05:50:33 PM

Quote from: Blkcasanova247 on March 07, 2007, 04:59:59 AM
Hey Hitman...very nice work. Just one thing though.....shouldn't the blue parts of the costume be more of a pale purple?

that could be deceiving do to the huge amount of yellow refection from the flare of energy surrounding him..

The Hitman · March 08, 2007, 07:30:38 PM

That's what I thought as well, but I am making the refl layer a little more "purple- ish," just to see what it'll look like.

UnkoMan · March 09, 2007, 06:33:12 AM

I've got to say... oh no. Don't play with the contrast like that. It just washes out detail. I've got to say I like the first one more than the second. For highlights, it's best to just draw them yourself on a new layer. Just select the lightest blue colour, and go a bit lighter. Draw in some areas you think need lightening. Blur and smudge them to your liking. The same thing for shadows, only go darker instead. That gives it a much deeper effect, adding more detail instead of losing any.

As for seams... any part where the colour changes should be a seam, basically. Certain areas, like his arm bands or where the costume meets the neck, would have a (sometimes thicker) seam on one side and a shadow on the other, to show the overlapping piece. His armbands also have those lines around them, which can be represented by seams, if you want, as well as those... blue pieces on his ankle.

So yeah, I liked the first better. On the other hand, I do like how the facial shadows bring out his features more, and make him look extra crazy and scary.

The Hitman · March 09, 2007, 07:27:32 AM

Hmmm... I like the contrasted face, I think it makes him more menacing, and I like the darkened suit, but just the black parts. I agree, contrasting just washed out detail. Y'know, the more I looked at it, the more I didn't like the detailing on the blue. I'm going to play around with it a bit.

The Hitman · March 10, 2007, 10:59:06 AM

Another WIP, please let me know what you think:

Awesome Andy- Former mindless robot for The Mad Thinker/ Current law clerk for She- Hulk

The sneakers aren't done, and I don't know what to do about the shorts. I actually enjoyed skinning the shirt a lot!

BentonGrey · March 10, 2007, 12:00:07 PM

Hmm, he looks good, especially the shirt, but I think that the head is a bit too large. Maybe...half that size.

:EDIT: Nevermind, I just read that he can change the shape of his head, so forget what I said. Great work!

UnkoMan · March 10, 2007, 02:51:02 PM

I'd say he looks... awesome.

AfghanAnt · March 12, 2007, 03:04:55 AM

lol i love that you skinned this character.

The Hitman · March 13, 2007, 08:42:10 PM

Well, I finally finished up one of my WIPs!

Is it an improvement? Please let me know.

The Hitman · April 12, 2007, 08:14:34 PM

(A month and a day later...)

Ok, so I have an original for youalls tonight, please let me know what you think:

Bacchus- Roman God of Wine and Fertility, Head Mascot of Mardi Gras

My thinking was that he's a Thor- Hercules ripoff.

"Bacchus has become bored with the party scene in Hyperborea, and asked Jupiter for temporary leave to hang out on Earth. Jupiter agreed, on the stipulation that he must bind himself to a mortal, and in order to return to Hyperborea, he has to accomplish 10 completely unselfish acts. So, under the guise of Barry Ackerman, Ohio University college student (who are notably for being crazy partiers, I might add), The Mardi Gras Marauder uses his influence over grapevines, pheremones, and the debilitating effects of drunkenness, as well as his God- like stature, to help those in need. Or at least party like it's 999 B.C."

BatWing · April 12, 2007, 08:17:51 PM

shiny :cool:

Lunarman · April 12, 2007, 10:54:11 PM

Hmm. I'd say it's a nice idea but you've gone a bit overboard on the reflect. Becuase of that you've lost the detail of the muscles which is a shame. Nice beard though

Carravaggio · April 13, 2007, 06:54:29 AM

yeah i agree with Lunarman on the reflect layer use, but an alternative to simply reducing it, have a look at using a different lightmap pattern, cos the one supplied by Irrational meshes is pretty horrid. look at those used by other skinners and see what different effects you can get. the shininess looks out of place cos of the lightmap's pattern more than the amount of reflect you have chosen to use.
other than that i really like it. what beard did you use for that, it is a skope, right?

The Hitman · April 13, 2007, 08:28:02 AM

Heh heh... lightmaps. I usually use the one with the two ovals. The "crumpled tinfoil" is only for armored characters, right? The thing is, since it's 'Skoped, I did something to the mesh that will only make it read that lightmap. I just have to go in and fix it. I might also tone down the reflect on the costume, now that I'm looking at it, it is a little excessive.

This thing is pratically a Grenadier mesh. I used Male_Heavy_Axe as the base, skoped out the body. Inserted the Male_Heavy_Beard_Hair body and hair. Attached the "cape top" node from Male_Heavy_Cape, along withthe belt, bootcuffs, armbands, and cape. The shield came from Captain America. I resized it to be alittle bigger, and positioned it in the right place. Finally, I found the belt buckle from a Male_Heavy_Helmet_Hair mesh that I had tested earlier to be the body. Almost all of these meshes are Gren's.

murs47 · April 17, 2007, 08:06:30 AM

Quote from: The Hitman on March 06, 2007, 09:54:29 PM
Quote from: UnkoMan on March 06, 2007, 08:00:11 PM
Ha ha, you included me.

Hey, man, don't sell yourself short. You do some pretty darn good- looking skins!

Alright, so I've messed around a little more with this guy. Firstly, he's now on Ren's GL_John_Stewert_Modern_plain mesh:

It's a little "beefier", and I really like the animations.

Next, I've tweaked the contrast, darkened the suit, added a _refl and _glow layer, messed with the color a little:

There's really no place I can think of to put seams. However, Nightmaster is definitely getting some. The blue on the feet/legs are the way his "boots" go. Not much I can do there.

Again, critiques are of course welcome!

This is a great start, I also like the first version more then the second. Great choice of mesh also.
Though the comic version is flat, you may want to give Sur's uni some depth by giving the blue parts of his suit some cast shadows and highlights along the edges, or maybe something with the thick black stripe.
Also the blue seems really saturated. I like the facial expression, the pink tone for his skin, and black suit tone, all great choices and well done.

I really can't wait to see your final version.

murs47 · April 18, 2007, 12:22:46 PM

I really wanted to do an Amon Sur as well, but you beat me to it. I was wondering if we could do a collaboration on him. And, when DC starts revealing more of the Sinestro Corps maybe you and I could a do a full set or something. Let me know if you're interested.

The Hitman · April 30, 2007, 09:12:18 AM

Well, I guess I didn't catch you message early enough, Murs, but that's cool. Your Sinestro Corps skins are really top notch!!

Anyways, here's my next little project, ready to be critiqued. What is it, you ask? Here's two hints:

1. He's Our Hero.
2. Gonna Take Pollution Down To Zero.

Captain Planet- Earth's Mightest Protector... World's Mightest Mullet

Let me know what youalls think!

UnkoMan · April 30, 2007, 10:34:11 AM

You'll pay for this Captain Pla... err... Hitman!

I couldn't believe it when I saw this in the requests, and I can't believe it now that it's staring me in the face. Captain Planet. But there he is. You've done it, and it looks quite nice. The hair is great (I saw the back, too).

Two critiques. I'd say he could use some more shadow on his skin under all the red areas. Also, I'm not sure I'm feeling whatever lightmap you're using here. It looks pretty odd on this skin, paticularly the legs and face. I'd say try a few others out before you release it.