Background Tests

Blender Grease Pencil > Clip Studio Paint

I run into this really big hang up with doing things 'properly' that I need to sit down and draw proper perspective grids, use proper shape language, make proper line weights. Evening talking about it makes me feel like a dirty cheater for not having to reinvent the wheel every time I get in a car. But this is me testing a pipeline to make backgrounds.

Blender has a Modifier to turns Geometry into Grease Pencil strokes based on the view of the Camera. So after building a scene (Kitbashing), I'll move the camera and adjust to a fairly wide-angle lens, create the GP and export it out as an SVG. Trying to keep in mind that I'll need space for character sprites and the general UI elements.

Clip Studio Paint lets you Import it as a Vector. Setting it as the 'Reference' layer gives you a wide variety of tools to Fill/Stroke/Play With.. heh.. Having it in this format just lets me make a lot of changes on the fly. I've only really just did some quick gradients and overlays to see how long it takes me to make one.

Ultimately, I ascribe to the idea from ST:TNG in which their production bible says that the background elements shouldn't take away from drama that takes place between the characters. These backgrounds should be more about establishing mood and evoking a sense of place rather than devotion to recreating verisimilitudes. I really don't have CD Projekt money for that sort of fidelity.

I'm getting back on the horse to trying to build this again. It's a solo project and it's just too easy to fall off.
Thank you for your continued interest.

~mykanthrope