Having already remade a few of my first portraits, I was looking at those I made for Dark Side of the Sword Coast and was completely unsatisfied. Next project decided...
I'll probably be working on these for a while if the first one is any indication. Bardo's base image lacked contrast (which was why he's so pasty in the first version), and I had to start over four times before I got it right. The final result blends in well with the default BG portraits, and I think it's a vast improvement over the first one I had made. Here are the old and new versions side-by-side:
I was asked if I have "a female drow kensai type portrait" on my HDD. I didn,t but since it's weekend, I picked one of dozens of reference photos I have, and I made one. There are two versions: a drow, and a human/halfling/elf. Enjoy.
Having already remade a few of my first portraits, I was looking at those I made for Dark Side of the Sword Coast and was completely unsatisfied. Next project decided...
I'll probably be working on these for a while if the first one is any indication. Bardo's base image lacked contrast (which was why he's so pasty in the first version), and I had to start over four times before I got it right. The final result blends in well with the default BG portraits, and I think it's a vast improvement over the first one I had made. Here are the old and new versions side-by-side:
MAN do I love this. Need to use it for a halfling. I really, REALLY wish their was a Mazzy romance mod.
Now, there's this stunning Pisha portrait drawn by Sunradio over at deviantart. I'm quite fond of this piece of fine art, if only it's a tad to bright for my taste. So I did some colour arrangements just for the heck of it and liked the end results. While I do think meeting an Mulan/Chultan vamp is rather unlikely, these portraits might still be of some use to some.
@duroth Is this any good? I by no means have the skill of some of the people around here.
Sure it's good. It doesn't quite match the BG artwork, which personally I'm a crazy stickler for. But that's quite an engaging Elven maiden you've whipped up there.
Thanks for the comments, everyone. I've been working at improving the method I use to "Baldurize" images, and I think I'm getting closer to a consistent result.
@Syntia13: Rather than try to paint over the first version I had made, I used the base image again. As I had mentioned, the natural contrast was low and too dark on one side when editing, so it took a few tries before I was happy with the way it looked:
@duroth Is this any good? I by no means have the skill of some of the people around here.
Sure it's good. It doesn't quite match the BG artwork, which personally I'm a crazy stickler for. But that's quite an engaging Elven maiden you've whipped up there.
While I ever apceciate the compliment, I did not draw this myself. I had merely changed the eye color for@duroth. I have had some other posts around here that I'm not do proud of. I think I'm getting a little better now. (Better than I was now than when I was worse than I am now:)
Revision #2: Bub. I had actually liked the rugged look that came out in my first version, but it again was a bit washed out and didn't fully mesh with the original portraits. I still like it, but I again think the new style just looks better. The model for this image was Guilherme Fiuza (http://www.brasil247.com/images/8/d4/8d4cdc1a194bfb4108d592d977ff78ece9809c79.jpg).
Revision #3: Conchobhair. Although Conch had been the first of the DSotSC NPCs I made, he actually turned out better than some of the others due to the natural contrast in the base photo (of model David Gandy). The small shield in the pommel of sword is the symbol of Waterdeep, representing where his family is from.
@Isandir ...please excuse me while I drool all over that armor. How did you get this amount of detail?
To borrow a phrase from a meme: I don't always take Dynaheir with me, but when I do, her portrait bugs the hell out of me. The bugging is twosome: The pose, which I guess is her in the middle of casting, makes me feel like she's looking down her nose at me, which, by the way, is not helped but her arrogant voice. And when she's hurt, the darkened bottom of the portrait gives me the impression that she's drowning and desperately trying to keep her face above the water surface. Weird reasoning, I know, but that's how it is for me. So, I made new Dynaheir.
On the other hand, I absolutely adore both versions of Minsc. The only thing that bothers me is that in BG1 Boo looked like a rat, rather than a miniature giant space hamster. So here's a portrait when Boo looks more like his BG2 self. (And there's some small airbrushing to get rid of excess detail and purple shadows).
Okay, I have another request for you portrait wizards, (absolutely amazing work in this thread!), if anyone has the time. There's a potato chip that could be something else, and the background would have to be different. Obviously the shirt and the tie have to be changed to something else; robes, armor, etc. I know it's a lot of work, but if anybody would like to take a crack at it, you'd have my thanks.
@Isandir ...please excuse me while I drool all over that armor. How did you get this amount of detail?
I tend to use real armor for most of the images I make. The hard part is actually getting rid of details while still making it appear to fit with the rest of the image.
You had mentioned the hair in one of the other portraits. As to how I learned to do it that way...well...I was trying to copy one of your pictures!
Maybe it's just me (it often is, LOL), but I think this picture (especially the "updated" version) would be ideal for Khalid. I've always felt Khalid's current portrait looks way to "fierce" for a guy who gets morale failure from a mosquito bite. Your picture very conveniently has elfish ears and the same reddish-brown hair as Khalid.
Here's my attempt, though she doesn't look terribly evil in my version. Of course, the light background doesn't help either. (EDIT: I put a better version in my folder on the Dropbox account TiaxRulesAll made. It doesn't have the glow effect on the bottom edges.)
@Isandir For some reason, I can't find the edited version of this pic in the Dropbox account - is it still there? Would you be able to upload the updated version into this thread?
Hey guys, me again. About the requests, direct and indirect:
@deathvvv and @DarkDogg - I noticed that I messed up the hair/armor border on the Blond Hero portrait. I corrected that, look below to the enclosed files for the modified versions.
@SharGuidesMyHand About the portrait of the lady with a wand/knife - sure, I have versions with a free hand. Look below to the enclosed files for them. About the pic you posted - I realize you didn't actually ask for anything regarding this one, but it looked so flat I couldn't help myself, I had to add some shadows to it. About the archer, here she is - both plain and in Kivan tattoo.
Generic Man mixed with Keldorn to produce an 'older' generic man.
I always use that "Generic Man" for my warriors... but this pic is EXCELLENT since when I played The Black Pits in BG1ee I made an inquisitor Keldorn with this picture and pretended it was one of the adventures from his youth. He had slightly higher dex and slightly lower wisdom. Also made a younger Gorion and Hrothgar from Icewind Dale (Forgotten Realms timeline be damned)
Comments
I'll probably be working on these for a while if the first one is any indication. Bardo's base image lacked contrast (which was why he's so pasty in the first version), and I had to start over four times before I got it right. The final result blends in well with the default BG portraits, and I think it's a vast improvement over the first one I had made. Here are the old and new versions side-by-side:
Looks perfect! Can't wait to try in game. Many thanks!!
Is this any good?
I by no means have the skill of some of the people around here.
@Syntia13: Rather than try to paint over the first version I had made, I used the base image again. As I had mentioned, the natural contrast was low and too dark on one side when editing, so it took a few tries before I was happy with the way it looked:
To borrow a phrase from a meme: I don't always take Dynaheir with me, but when I do, her portrait bugs the hell out of me. The bugging is twosome: The pose, which I guess is her in the middle of casting, makes me feel like she's looking down her nose at me, which, by the way, is not helped but her arrogant voice. And when she's hurt, the darkened bottom of the portrait gives me the impression that she's drowning and desperately trying to keep her face above the water surface. Weird reasoning, I know, but that's how it is for me. So, I made new Dynaheir.
On the other hand, I absolutely adore both versions of Minsc. The only thing that bothers me is that in BG1 Boo looked like a rat, rather than a miniature giant space hamster. So here's a portrait when Boo looks more like his BG2 self. (And there's some small airbrushing to get rid of excess detail and purple shadows).
Omg ur work is absolutely amazing!
You had mentioned the hair in one of the other portraits. As to how I learned to do it that way...well...I was trying to copy one of your pictures!
Also made a younger Gorion and Hrothgar from Icewind Dale (Forgotten Realms timeline be damned)