Summoning the digital art experts for advice...

[SideGigCollector]

How do I improve the shading on this piece?

I know BL is a niche genre, but I need you guys to bear with the fact that there are literally two men trying to kiss each other on your screen because I need advice for my cover. I planned on creating shading based on the light coming from behind the characters, but it still seems weird to me. Maybe because of the anatomy, or maybe the artline, or maybe the background, I dunno, I'm quite stuck here, any advice?

Thx in advance

 

[Kalliel]

The anatomy works. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the background is red, but the rimlight is blue-ish/white.

 

[SideGigCollector]

The anatomy works. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that the background is red, but the rimlight is blue-ish/white.

I see, I think that could work, yeah. If I don't change the background color, should I change the rimlight to red/yellowish instead?

 

[LesserSarcasm]

Lighting is key simple lighting is white and blue, more complex is adding yellow green to the white and blue, change the back light to a directional light youll be able to add more shading / detail while still keeping what i assume is the bad guy in the shade

 

[Conqueror_Quack]

@tiaf one of your fujo people are in need of your wisdom.

 

[Vitriol]

Here's my take --

Tbh I think the shading in the orig is cool but it doesn't go that well with the red bg... so I just added blue (multiply layer on top) so it pairs with the red. Then with a soft light layer and an air brush I made the faces a bit lighter so it draws the eye in + softened some parts near the rim light. Since the rim light is quite hard, I just drew over with white on the hair and on the clothes + added more hair texture to the guy on the right bc it felt a bit wrong... also made the text pop more with the bright red bc it basically merged due to similar values before.

 

[SideGigCollector]

View attachment 46475
Here's my take --

Tbh I think the shading in the orig is cool but it doesn't go that well with the red bg... so I just added blue (multiply layer on top) so it pairs with the red. Then with a soft light layer and an air brush I made the faces a bit lighter so it draws the eye in + softened some parts near the rim light. Since the rim light is quite hard, I just drew over with white on the hair and on the clothes + added more hair texture to the guy on the right bc it felt a bit wrong... also made the text pop more with the bright red bc it basically merged due to similar values before.

noice, I like that alteration too, it looks more gritty now, thanks

 

[yakusu]

You use only white shading. You can explore shading with color, and you can use analogous colors. With this color, you can make the character more expressive and show the character. For example, if it's sunset, the light touch your skin will be a little bit orange, if the light bulb is blue, the light touch your skin will be blue. So what is the source of light?
This is my take, I just use my mouse, so the brush is a little bit over.

I tried to separate the character with just color, the left one. I see the character is so active, so I changed his outside is cool color, and the shading is a warm color, like a person who tries to hide his personality.
The other character is the opposite. I use warm color in the character, and cool color for the shading.

Secondly, your value is the same...
This is your original value.

Your shading does a lot of heavy lifting to separate the character from the background because your character has some hue or the same level. My advice is adjust the character's darkness. And your title isn't readable with that value.

That is my value.
So you can choose between the background and the character, and you can adjust the background to a darker shade or the character. Don't use shading as bariccade of value, because the shading will become the anchor point rather than the character.

Last advice, don't use one color background.
Design 101: Use a minimum of two colors for the background, because it will create a depth of perception and make Visual Dissonance.

 

[SideGigCollector]

You use only white shading. You can explore shading with color, and you can use analogous colors. With this color, you can make the character more expressive and show the character. For example, if it's sunset, the light touch your skin will be a little bit orange, if the light bulb is blue, the light touch your skin will be blue. So what is the source of light?
This is my take, I just use my mouse, so the brush is a little bit over.
View attachment 46486I tried to separate the character with just color, the left one. I see the character is so active, so I changed his outside is cool color, and the shading is a warm color, like a person who tries to hide his personality.
The other character is the opposite. I use warm color in the character, and cool color for the shading.

Secondly, your value is the same...
This is your original value.
View attachment 46487
Your shading does a lot of heavy lifting to separate the character from the background because your character has some hue or the same level. My advice is adjust the character's darkness. And your title isn't readable with that value.

View attachment 46492
That is my value.
So you can choose between the background and the character, and you can adjust the background to a darker shade or the character. Don't use shading as bariccade of value, because the shading will become the anchor point rather than the character.

Last advice, don't use one color background.
Design 101: Use a minimum of two colors for the background, because it will create a depth of perception and make Visual Dissonance.

I'll keep that in mind, thanks

 

[tiaf]

@tiaf one of your fujo people are in need of your wisdom.

I GOT SUMMONED FOR BL ART

I'm the right fish for it

just come to the BL Palace discord~

Give you draw over in a bit

- biggest issue is the arm length, you can try it out yourself, the upper arm was too short
- the hand and wrist are a little bit too big, if you compare wrist thickness with neck it looks a bit exaggerated, a hand with fingers is about face size, the palm was almost the size of blonde's face
- blackie's back of the head was flat, so I gave it more volume and removed the loose hair on top as it went against the direction of the other hair lines of combed hair to the back, I added the loose strand in the face though
- moved the eyes out a weeny bit, they were too close to the middle
- moved blackie's jaw to the left, moved his chin forward and his upper lip backward (personal preference)
- blackie's ear is smaller than blondie
- made blondie's teeth, especially canine teeth more visible (for the aggressive feel), make teeth uneven, looks w´better than uniform line, also no need for lineart on details this small, makes it harder to see

There are some points on folds and color/shading but I need sleep, better ping me in the server (There are other BL authors!!!! Come to us )

P.S. I'm a sucker for Blondies and the purple eye color is muah

 

[SideGigCollector]

I GOT SUMMONED FOR BL ART

I'm the right fish for it

just come to the BL Palace discord~

Give you draw over in a bit

- biggest issue is the arm length, you can try it out yourself, the upper arm was too short
- the hand and wrist are a little bit too big, if you compare wrist thickness with neck it looks a bit exaggerated, a hand with fingers is about face size, the palm was almost the size of blonde's face
- blackie's back of the head was flat, so I gave it more volume and removed the loose hair on top as it went against the direction of the other hair lines of combed hair to the back, I added the loose strand in the face though
- moved the eyes out a weeny bit, they were too close to the middle
- moved blackie's jaw to the left, moved his chin forward and his upper lip backward (personal preference)
- blackie's ear is smaller than blondie
- made blondie's teeth, especially canine teeth more visible (for the aggressive feel), make teeth uneven, looks w´better than uniform line, also no need for lineart on details this small, makes it harder to see

There are some points on folds and color/shading but I need sleep, better ping me in the server (There are other BL authors!!!! Come to us )

P.S. I'm a sucker for Blondies and the purple eye color is muah

lolol, love the excitement, thanks for the insight, I'll correct it based on these advices

 

[tiaf]

lolol, love the excitement, thanks for the insight, I'll correct it based on these advices

come to our discord, we have cookies

 

[SideGigCollector]

come to our discord, we have cookies

yessir, I'll join after I got off work and log in on my PC, be there soon