[===[TASK]=== Mac Installation Background]

49 minutes ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

You have deviant art page?

Nope, I use ArtStation
https://www.artstation.com/victorrossi

[===[TASK]=== Mac Installation Background]

4 hours ago, stanislas69 said:

Next version Alpha 24 so at least 4 months, more like 6.

At 0:55 

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That's a fairly good deadline 
I won't be able to take this task until next month though.

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

Here's the finished file 

Amanirenas portrait.rar

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[===[TASK]=== Mac Installation Background]

This sounds pretty cool, it even reminded me of the AoE II campaign background. 
I'll try to take the day tomorrow to finish and send the Amanirenas portrait, then I might be able to see what I can do. Is there a deadline for this? 
And just another question, is there a video or some sort of reference showing this installation menu?
I mean,  it's a little out of context for someone who never owned a mac. It would help me to understand how it works and how it fits into the installer  

Also, I've made these 2 unrelated illustrations a while ago and if you guys have any use to them in the game, feel free to use it. The second one might need some adjustments because it was a speedpainting, but I can do that in a day or two  

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[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback  
I tried to change the background a bit to separate it from the character.

@Sundiata
I've detailed the earring using the reference you posted, but I kept the purple gem for composition and color reasons.
This necklace was the second attempt (I gave up on the first one, that's why I didn't show it), but I think it looks ok now

 

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

Here's a preview of the portrait
There's a lot of little adjustments to be made.
The rim light on the right side is just a test, so that's why those lines are all sketchy.
What do you guys think? Any suggestions?

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

18 minutes ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

Which helmet is she using?

don't forgot use desert kind background.

This kind of golden helmet / crown with double snakes on the forehead. The helmet is still incomplete in the sketch I posted.
I'll use a desert like palette, but I'm not sure how much information I can put in the background without overloading the image with details. I'm aiming more for the mood than acually painting pyramids or dunes.

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

47 minutes ago, Sundiata said:

Wow, fantastic! Because the Kushite Queens of this era are always depicted as "big" women, I personally prefer the one on the left... Success!

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.
I remember you said about making her a little chubby, and it actually gives a feeling of power to her, instead of just another pretty face. I did the second one just in case

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

@Sundiata
@Lion.Kanzen

I've done 2 quick thumbnail sketches to figure out the basic proportions and facial features.
Which one do you prefer?

[Illustrator]

@Sundiata
Awesome! I'm incorporating those into my references. 
As soon as I start sketching I'll be posting it on the portrait thread to make things more organized.

 

[Illustrator]

4 minutes ago, Sundiata said:

@Victor Rossi, if you do Amanirenas, don't be scared to make her a little chubby  

Strabo also says she was blinded in one eye, which is often interpreted/represented as a badass battle scar across that eye. He also says that she was "manly", although that may refer to her taking charge in the war, rather than a literal physical description.

I wonder if she can be made a little chubby in-game (especially around the hips).

Since all the heroes were sitting monarchs, you should try to use either a single or a double uraeus (rearing cobra crown), in combination with or without a golden skullcap. 

refs:

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Lordgood's masterpiece:

 

Others artist interpretations of Amanirenas:

 

Aminitore, from Civ VI

 

 

Queen Amanitore and Queen Amanishakheto (Amanirenas' successors)

 

 

Nastasen and Arakamani:

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Nastasen:

 

Arakamani:

 

Other Meroitic Kings for inspiration:

Tarekeniwal

 

left to right: Apedemak, Natakamani, Amanitore, a prince

 

 

Amanakareqerem

 

Arnekhamani

 

Meroitic god or king:

 

25th Dynasty (Napatan):

 

Taharqa:

 

 

Wow, that's some really valuable information that will contribute to making a more authentic character instead of a generic face.
Thank you

[Illustrator]

1 hour ago, stanislas69 said:

For Amanirenas Id suggest you take LordGood's drawings as references

Thanks, I'll take a look at his work.

 

 

1 hour ago, Genava55 said:

Daaamn. He's got talent.

Small advice, don't forget to look to others queens like Amanishakheto and Amanitore for historical materials on the dress.

Nice, I'll look into it

Just one last thing. I'm pretty ignorant on the differences in sub-saharan ethnicities, so I'm doing some research on it.
I know it is pretty hard to reconstruct such thing as the average Kushite, but it would be useful to know what to avoid in terms of skin tone and facial features. 
What I've found so far is that the Nuba people closely resemble the ancient Kushites.
And here are the references I've gathered for the face:

[Illustrator]

@Lion.Kanzen Which Kushite hero should I take first?
From what I understand, the three heroes are:
Nastasen
Amanirenas
Arakamani

If there's no priority, I'd like to start with Amanirenas
Are the ingame models accurate to use as reference? I'm going to do some research anyway, but it's useful to know if I should be basing the portrait on the model.

[Illustrator]

13 hours ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

You can take Kushites? they are  some  difficult.

Sure, but I'm still busy with work. When I manage to get some spare time I'll start working on it.

[Illustrator]

On 9/29/2018 at 12:19 PM, (-_-) said:

Isn’t @Victor Rossi working on Boudica?

You also need to sign the following waiver else none of your work can be used.

 

I didn't start the sketching stage. All I have is a folder with references I gathered for the face, clothing, equipment, etc.

@dMAthena I'm not sure if this has any use to you now (16 days later), but I uploaded my references to a drive folder:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1adnPsz_q9tOD8c9z-rqUmr-aBBjiT67X

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

Just to let you guys know that I'll have to slow down on this project due to other freelance and classes I've been taking.
Last time I did that I felt bad for not saying anything in advance. I'll be working whenever I can, it's just that my schedule is a little messy right now. 
 

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

37 minutes ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

@Victor Rossi

Check the topic, we discuss about Tartan here.

 

Thanks, I'll take a look at that.

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

11 hours ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

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Be careful with Celtic patterns.

 

What exactly do you mean with Celtic pattern? The cloak pattern, warpaint pattern or the Celtic motif?

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

3 minutes ago, Lion.Kanzen said:

The Romans are kind placeholder specially the helmet. Boudica is mostly represent equal. a Celtic girl with an armor. in composition I prefer Bust shot.

Diadochi mostly have Alexander placeholder helmets.

I'm looking everywhere but I can't find solid breastplates being used by Iceni or any other Celtic tribe from Britain in that time.  Perhaps a mail would be more appropriate.

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

43 minutes ago, wowgetoffyourcellphone said:

 

I think you could use Osprey/other historical references blended with the game model. I think it should look at least passingly like the game model.

That wouldn't be a problem. Is that the final model though? Because @Lion.Kanzen told me some of the roman heroes were just placeholders.
Also, that breastplate looks a little out of place (if my references are correct), but I could make the cloak cover all of the armor if necessary.

Game Model:

References:

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

1 minute ago, stanislas69 said:

As you wish. You could also go for Bouddicca, or any missing hero portrait

Boudicca sounds fun. I usually look for references in osprey's books, but if you already have some gathered let me know (or if you want me to follow the 3d asset from the game).

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

51 minutes ago, stanislas69 said:

Sure. In the meantime if you want to do more portraits, please go ahead.

Should I proceed to another roman portrait then?

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

1 minute ago, stanislas69 said:

PNG is fine. That's what we use for the game

There you go
Feel free to contact me if you think it needs some adjustments on the color. I've tested with my monitor and it seems to fit well the game interface, but that's just me.

roman_portrait.rar

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

3 hours ago, stanislas69 said:

Hey @Victor Rossi

Nice to see you back, and also nice work ! If you have it we will need the source file from the software, so either an xcf or a psd or something else if you're not using either photoshop or gimp, to have the highest quality version in case we need it, then the portrait has to be power of two. (eg 256 x 512px) Have a look at the other portraits and see what resolution they use

NOTE TO SELF: Write the those icons resolution values somewhere.

I'll send the psd then. For the image files (256, 512, etc) what format do you prefer? I usually save them in png since its compression is lossless.

[===[TASK]=== Improve hero portraits]

 

Hey guys, here's the final version. Please let me know if you like it or have any feedback on how to improve
Also, how should I send the file? I mean, which format and size? Please let me know so I can send it correctly, instead of downloading it from this post.
I also lowered the saturation a bit in the interface preview.
 

Ingame preview

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Full portrait

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