For the most part, I like portraits that stay true to the style of the original pics (as I happen to like the original art style very much), but make some slight improvements to them. For example, I like this portrait of Kagain, which removes the glow effects from around him so that you can clearly see his helmet and axe (which look quite nice).
I use this portrait for Kivan, which adds a vengeance-driven look to his eyes.
I sometimes use this portrait for Khalid, which removes the glow effects so that you can clearly see his red hair and elven ears.
I prefer Dorn with a purple glow around him, which highlights his features much better IMO.
In some cases, although the original portrait may look very nice, it just doesn't suit the character's background or persona. In those cases, I use portraits that make much more extreme changes.
For example, I use this portrait for Imoen, which makes her look much younger and slimmer while still retaining her distinctive high cheekbones and full lips.
I use this portrait for Coran, which makes him look much more like the debonair elven playboy that he's portrayed as in the game.
Branwen is described (or at least, strongly implied) as being a beautiful warrior maiden, but her original portrait just doesn't conjure that image IMO. I use this one instead.
I absolutely love this portrait for Viconia, which actually looks like a drow (and the retouched chainmail looks very nice).
There are only a few, rare instances in which I will replace an NPC's original portrait with something entirely different. For example, I recently used this pic for Neera, as I felt that it suited her spunky, fiery personality much better.
I use this one for Faldorn, which better suits her subdued, somewhat mysterious personality IMO.
I sometimes swap out Khalid's portrait with this one that's normally used for Deder, as I feel that Khalid's original portrait just looks too "fierce" to suit his persona.
And I use this one for Osprey, as it actually looks like a half-elf.
Comments
I use this portrait for Kivan, which adds a vengeance-driven look to his eyes.
I sometimes use this portrait for Khalid, which removes the glow effects so that you can clearly see his red hair and elven ears.
I prefer Dorn with a purple glow around him, which highlights his features much better IMO.
In some cases, although the original portrait may look very nice, it just doesn't suit the character's background or persona. In those cases, I use portraits that make much more extreme changes.
For example, I use this portrait for Imoen, which makes her look much younger and slimmer while still retaining her distinctive high cheekbones and full lips.
I use this portrait for Coran, which makes him look much more like the debonair elven playboy that he's portrayed as in the game.
Branwen is described (or at least, strongly implied) as being a beautiful warrior maiden, but her original portrait just doesn't conjure that image IMO. I use this one instead.
I absolutely love this portrait for Viconia, which actually looks like a drow (and the retouched chainmail looks very nice).
There are only a few, rare instances in which I will replace an NPC's original portrait with something entirely different. For example, I recently used this pic for Neera, as I felt that it suited her spunky, fiery personality much better.
I use this one for Faldorn, which better suits her subdued, somewhat mysterious personality IMO.
I sometimes swap out Khalid's portrait with this one that's normally used for Deder, as I feel that Khalid's original portrait just looks too "fierce" to suit his persona.
And I use this one for Osprey, as it actually looks like a half-elf.