My head is in the clouds

[nitrobutler]

This is a WIP and I'm stuck with the clouds
My initial attempt seems to be to cartoonish, and all the tutes I find on the net are cartoonish as well.
Does anyone know of a techinque to make it more realistic or a website to help me along.
Thanks in advance :P

[nitrobutler]

I just viewed this entry and to me the lines (decals,cockpit) seems jaggered, I thought vector images keeps there crispness?

[ronmatt]

what are you attempting to make 'more realistic'? The clouds. the plane or what. \:/ As for the jagged lines, remember that .jpg will rasterize the image so even if the original is vector, it will be rasterized
ergo, jagged. Everything you're doing here lends itself to looking 'cartoonie', the solid colors in the sky and ground, the lack of perspective ( the far wing is larger than the forward wing ) the lack of gradation on the plane itself. However, if it's any encouragement, vector illustration is not the easiest thing to do. I've spent most of my life being an illustrator, I still have a difficult time in the vector format. but there are tricks.

[Doodad]

Nitro - the jaggedness that you seem to refer to is just because of the forum's display that shrinks the image after you've uploaded it. As for realism, from what I've seen the amount of skill needed to pull that off with a vector/illustration program is insane.

Mere mortals (which we usually have to admit that we are), are better served using some kind of poser model, or creating something in a 3D modelling app, and then integrating that into a design done in Photoshop. In terms of the amount of time spent and also flexibility, you'll be better served.

If it's about developing your skill, you will need (as ronmatt said) stay away from uniform colour blocks - use sectioned gradients. Another approach is to actually trace a photo, create your basic shapes, and then try to match the colours from the underlying image. Here you use the mesh gradient tool - an excellent tutorial can be found here:
http://www.lifeinvector.com/index2.html
Go to "Downloads" and then at the bottom of the page you will see
Gradient Mesh Red Bell Pepper Tutorial

[nitrobutler]

Ronmatt: Yep the right wing does seem larger (good catch!). As far as the background goes it's still a WIP, I'm not sure I'll have any land mass in the final image and as far as the sky goes I think a gradiient may be better?
Doodad: Great web site!
I'll use the tute to give the plane more body if you know what I mean.
Thanks for the help guys, if you can think of anything else give me a shout

[Tron]

Nitro I would do the clouds/sky in Terreagen and then import it into your image if I was you. [shhh]

[nitrobutler]

Hey Rick, Long time no see.
That's a great idea! As of now I've found some clouds I'm happy with (maybe not the color so much), but as for the foreground seascape, it would save lots of time.
Here's what I have so far, this weekend I'll deal with the planes body details.