Under Attack [Something's missing.]

[Syndrome]

Something I made recently, trying to create lightning bolts and stuff. This is what I created by accident

I think I got lighting down now... Maybe. Omni's and Directional Light I can sort of manipulate, but my ideas still need tweaking.

Something's definitely wrong with this picture. Or missing. Or both.
Someone help me identify it -_-.

EDIT: And I mean seriously take this apart. I want to learn
Things I noticed when I'm not looking at this from photoshop: The focal is all messed up, the lighting actually throws loads off... any more?

 

[Whitesock]

The lighting to the left of the face is much stronger than near the face. Try changing it to be the other way around.

Also, I think I know what the main problem is here. It's the fact that all the lines in this piece lead away from your focal, not towards it. For example...

The lines are showing the direction of movement. Want a quick fix? Move you person to the left side of the sig (so top left corner, but make sure it's not directly on the corner). Or, you could just flip the backround horizontally, though you may need to do some lighting adjustment.

Another thing. Your choice of color is good, but you only have one color. If you want this piece to pop, change that gray farther out backround to a greenish blue color. This will contrast that red and make it pop out even more, making it appeal to the eye better. If you want to make a color pop out just use the complimentary color or something very close to it (like greenish-blue, where red's complimentary color is actually green).

About the placement of the render. I feel the face is too high. Now I also like how you have that hand fully in the sig, but I feel the face needs to be moved down anyways. I would suggest increasing the sig's height by like 20-50 pixels and moving the render further down, our rotating the render counter clockwise a bit. This will give your focal some space to breathe and it would follow our favorite rule of thirds much better.

Now on to the lighting. I know that you are using lighting to emphasize the focal, which is great, but keep in mind that when solid chunky hair (like what this drawing has) casts a shadow. I don't see shadows where there needs to be shadows. Make sure you keep things realistic. Also, with shadows don't just use black. Unless it's a shadow on a pure white color, use a dark complimentary color of the color that the shadow is being cast upon. For example, on a skin tone, use a dark blue color. Also, keep in mind that shadows are not very saturated at all, so no vivid colors. Keep your choices closer to the low saturation side of the color picker.

That's all I got for now. I'm sure I could find some more things, but get started on those first . If you need me to demonstrate any of the color theory and such just tell me and I'll make some samples.

 

[Syndrome]

The lighting to the left of the face is much stronger than near the face. Try changing it to be the other way around.

Also, I think I know what the main problem is here. It's the fact that all the lines in this piece lead away from your focal, not towards it. For example...

The lines are showing the direction of movement. Want a quick fix? Move you person to the left side of the sig (so top left corner, but make sure it's not directly on the corner). Or, you could just flip the backround horizontally, though you may need to do some lighting adjustment.

Another thing. Your choice of color is good, but you only have one color. If you want this piece to pop, change that gray farther out backround to a greenish blue color. This will contrast that red and make it pop out even more, making it appeal to the eye better. If you want to make a color pop out just use the complimentary color or something very close to it (like greenish-blue, where red's complimentary color is actually green).

About the placement of the render. I feel the face is too high. Now I also like how you have that hand fully in the sig, but I feel the face needs to be moved down anyways. I would suggest increasing the sig's height by like 20-50 pixels and moving the render further down, our rotating the render counter clockwise a bit. This will give your focal some space to breathe and it would follow our favorite rule of thirds much better.

Now on to the lighting. I know that you are using lighting to emphasize the focal, which is great, but keep in mind that when solid chunky hair (like what this drawing has) casts a shadow. I don't see shadows where there needs to be shadows. Make sure you keep things realistic. Also, with shadows don't just use black. Unless it's a shadow on a pure white color, use a dark complimentary color of the color that the shadow is being cast upon. For example, on a skin tone, use a dark blue color. Also, keep in mind that shadows are not very saturated at all, so no vivid colors. Keep your choices closer to the low saturation side of the color picker.

That's all I got for now. I'm sure I could find some more things, but get started on those first . If you need me to demonstrate any of the color theory and such just tell me and I'll make some samples.

Woah, thanks a lot! Must've taken you long to write that out [+Rep]
I'll get started on corrections when I get home from school, but I need to travel this weekend so I might not get it done.

I agree with you especially with the flow, thanks for clearing that up for me . the arrows really helped lol xD

Thanks again! I'll work on it very soon :3
EDIT: 'You must spread some Rep around before giving to Whitesock again.' -_-.

 

[thewrongvine]

Spread some here.
Well I can't really say anything that Whitesock hasn't said, lol.
So this post is a goodjobluckpost.

~Hai-Bye-Vine~

 

[Sooda]

I starred that signature picture and mainly I did not understand what is happening on the picture, who attacks from where?
It is cool when many things are in focus which deserve attention. Flares are well done, sparks are good, girl itself is well done.
It is easier to critique than do, if you try to achieve realism (or similar) with focus and shading does flares (background) can be in focus exactly like face (middle)? Hand (front) is out of focus) which gives starting point. Now one of face (middle) or flares (background) should again get out of focus.

The neckles gets way too much attention (focus and light). I don't know does that neckles have super-powers and that is why it is important.

Sparks and that light rift gives you opportunity to play with light.

Picture which supposedly makes it more clear (yeah right XD sry for opportunity -> oppurtunity):
original:

suggestions:

I don't know how to create light and shades in graphics program, but I know how they should look.
This is not ONLY right way, there are many, it should be one of many approaches and don't others hesitate to suggest their way.

 

[Syndrome]

I starred that signature picture and mainly I did not understand what is happening on the picture, who attacks from where?
It is cool when many things are in focus which deserve attention. Flares are well done, sparks are good, girl itself is well done.
It is easier to critique than do, if you try to achieve realism (or similar) with focus and shading does flares (background) can be in focus exactly like face (middle)? Hand (front) is out of focus) which gives starting point. Now one of face (middle) or flares (background) should again get out of focus.

The neckles gets way too much attention (focus and light). I don't know does that neckles have super-powers and that is why it is important.

Sparks and that light rift gives you opportunity to play with light.

Picture which supposedly makes it more clear (yeah right XD sry for opportunity -> oppurtunity):
original:

suggestions:

I don't know how to create light and shades in graphics program, but I know how they should look.
This is not ONLY right way, there are many, it should be one of many approaches and don't others hesitate to suggest their way.

Lol Sooda, thanks a lot The lighting feedback really helped a lot
I would rep you, but I already did -_-... I'll rep you later xD
EDIT: Best Editted Picture goes to Sooda. It looks like a Gundam went through my signature xD

 

[13lade619]

woot at the awesome commentaries + illustration.

yes, definitely you should focus more effects on bringing out the render, not the other way around.