Inspired by Sparrow_Hawk: Kro's Toons!
By
Bradders,
Posted on: 2006-12-30 04:40 in Multi-Media Fan Creations
While I know that my opinions aren't popular around here sometimes, I feel it has to be said.
There's way too much black in your outfits. While black is a nice shade to make your outfits with and it goes with pretty much everything, people abuse it way too much. This has nothing to do with being "heroic" or "villainous," it has nothing to do with wanting people to be brightly colored rainbows. This is from a serious artistic perspective.
The black is ruining any detail that you might be putting into your outfits. When it's all such a dark shade, everything in your outfits runs together. You can't tell where anything starts or stops in the outfits. There's many ways to get around this problem without having to sacrifice your character's look. If you simply pick a dark shade of gray, you'll still be "black" but not so much that everything becomes washed out. There will be room for shade variants and thusly room for detail again. You can also pick the darkest shade of a color, and not just black itself. This gives you a black look, with a slight hint of chroma. It sometimes appears even deeper than a straight black, while allowing for some flavor.
Because most of the details of the our outfits and costume pieces are done as a texture mapping that must work with every color, the details are drawn with the darkest black. When you make your outfits this same pitch black, you lose every texture in a messy blotch of shade. If you take a look at every "black" thing in the game, it's actually a dark shade of gray. So when light sources hit them, they actually appear to be real items with volume and substance.
Even swapping to the 2nd or 3rd darkest gray in the color pallet will do wonders for bringing back the volume and detail in your outfits. For now, they're just silhouettes in super powered shapes.
http://www.virtueverse.net/wiki/Massacre_Melanie -the original Fire/Dark Corruptor -
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=115217
The Guide to BURN
Heh...While I do greatly appreciate your opinion, Suichiro (I love your art.), I'm gonna have to disagree. Atleast in the case of my few toons that you see in my original post.
The gray right below black, isn't black. It's dark gray. If you go in that character creator and try to remake Kro with that 2nd from the left gray (2nd Darkest black) you'll find that he doesn't look like himself...he looks absolutely ridiculous.
Same goes for most of my characters. That dark gray just doesn't cut it.
I love Summer Thunder, that is a cool looking outfit!
I gotta agree with the overuse of Black. Although the costumes aren't bad I think you have a terrible obession with the darkest colors possible. It's even more odd as these are all heroes and I am a strong believer in the Bright Colored Underwear On The Outside look. Now i'm not saying that would make them great but you could stand to lay back on the insanely dark colors.
@Jeffery Duke
Meanwhile...On The Internet...
*scratches noggin*
Ya'll really think they're that dark? 
I dunno. Let's see...
Of those, the only ones that have "a lot" of black are Kro and Kamera.
Kro's not changing, lol...that's what he's looked like for 50 levels and I get so many compliments on him and love the way he looks so much that that won't be changing.
Kam's a bit different...He's stealthy, in theory, anyway. That's a "combat suit" and he's wearing something I call "C.H.A.O.S. gear". It's tech that creates all of his nasty noises and scary illusions. 
Dunno...kinda disappointed that ya'll don't like these guys.
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*scratches noggin*
Ya'll really think they're that dark?
I dunno. Let's see...
Of those, the only ones that have "a lot" of black are Kro and Kamera.
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...and Xander and Thunder.
I like the way Kro looks, I like small bulky characters.
I like thunder too.
Well, I do enjoy black...lol.
Heh...I guess it's fiction imitating life or whatever...
I tend to wear a lot of dark colors, especially black, too.
Actually, I think I'm a creature of habit...look at a few of those and you'll start to notice that I use a lot of the same parts for certain costumes...
Summer, Kro and Kamera all have the same "Gloves" and "Belts", for example.
I use a lot of black, too. I think I only have two characters out of a dozen+ that don't have black as a primary color component in their look. I usually counteract it by putting really bright shades on the trim...like a bright yellow belt or goggle lenses.
I like Summer's look, and Kamera could be really cool with some color variety on the trim. King Wiki's pretty neat too, but I look at him and see BBQ-Chicken (of Spectacular Sparky infamy).
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I use a lot of black, too. I think I only have two characters out of a dozen+ that don't have black as a primary color component in their look. I usually counteract it by putting really bright shades on the trim...like a bright yellow belt or goggle lenses.
I like Summer's look, and Kamera could be really cool with some color variety on the trim. King Wiki's pretty neat too, but I look at him and see BBQ-Chicken (of Spectacular Sparky infamy).
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There's a reason for that! BBQ Chicken's "Villain disguise" was my inspiration for King Wiki's costume. 
I really just borrowed the mask and the "mesh shirt", but yeah...
Black or no, I really like a few of these designs - Kamera and Thunder in particular. On Thunder, it's the contrast between the black and yellow that really sells it - it looks very sharp. Kamera, on the other hand, just looks neat.
Some characters look really really good in a "living silhouette" style. 
Summer Thunder is my favorite of the set. The gauntlets and the details go well with the powers -- and it's a cool pose to boot.
I really like the shapes and details of most of your costumes, but yeah, I'd have to say they get lost in the black pallette. Lighten up. The world's a happy place! 
SparrowhawkHummingbirdDungeon MasterCapricornHour WomanQueen NefariaJunkyard GirlDoll FaceStitchbladeRed MinstrelMimic
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Summer Thunder is my favorite of the set. The gauntlets and the details go well with the powers -- and it's a cool pose to boot.
I really like the shapes and details of most of your costumes, but yeah, I'd have to say they get lost in the black pallette. Lighten up. The world's a happy place!
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Oh no it isn't.
Heh...Those costumes aren't based on my mood. Not much else would fit conceptually with most of those characters.
In fact, the only toon I have that doesn't have black as his/her primary color is Isabel McQueen, my Claws/Super Reflexes Scrapper. Her costume was pretty much just thrown together so that I could get her started...that's actually pretty common with me these days...
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Dunno...kinda disappointed that ya'll don't like these guys.
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I like em. For characters with mostly black costumes they are all pretty cool with different personal character touches. I like Kro the best he looks similar to my Blaster, Dark Agent.
Ive got to say, Ive always been a fan of Kro's costume. And now, after seeing Xander and Kamera (I like his best costume ) I know who to ask for costume consultation
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Ive got to say, Ive always been a fan of Kro's costume. And now, after seeing Xander and Kamera (I like his best costume ) I know who to ask for costume consultation
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Considering Enforcer Gnome is one of the most creative uses of the "costume creator" I've ever seen, I take that as a great compliment, Gnome! Be more than happy too...
Hope you like black.
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Summer Thunder is my favorite of the set. The gauntlets and the details go well with the powers -- and it's a cool pose to boot.
I really like the shapes and details of most of your costumes, but yeah, I'd have to say they get lost in the black pallette. Lighten up. The world's a happy place!
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Total agreement.
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Dunno...kinda disappointed that ya'll don't like these guys.
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I like em. For characters with mostly black costumes they are all pretty cool with different personal character touches. I like Kro the best he looks similar to my Blaster, Dark Agent.
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Thanks Magistar!
The whole "lotsa black" would best be described as just a personal preference of mine...
Conceptually, characters, like Kamera and Kro, can't really look any different. Kamera's job, before he was tasked with helping the heroes of Paragon City, was to go around and fix and tend to the cameras that are strewn about Paragon City. He was never supposed to be seen and his costume is all black to give a "stealthy", almost Spec. Op. feel to him.
Kro would just look silly in blue jeans, IMO...
Again, Thanks for the kind words and gentle, constructive criticism, guys!
Ever since I first saw camera, I really liked his look. Very original.
Black is a color I like to use as well. It can add alot to a costume if used correctly, and Doc, you've done just that. Your costumes look quite awesome.
I kinda' like the black.. I mean, taking it with drawings in mind, look at all the great drawings Cell Flux has gotten with an all-black costume. It leaves a lot of interpretation by the artist on how they want to bring out the details... And variety is the spice of life! (I think that is how it goes )
Scarf_Girl�s Official Kid Brother!
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Ive got to say, Ive always been a fan of Kro's costume. And now, after seeing Xander and Kamera (I like his best costume ) I know who to ask for costume consultation
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Considering Enforcer Gnome is one of the most creative uses of the "costume creator" I've ever seen, I take that as a great compliment, Gnome! Be more than happy too...
Hope you like black.
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Wow, thanks for the compliment! I honestly just looked at a garden gnome (which now sits next to my 'puter >.> and matched it as best as I could.
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Heh...Those costumes aren't based on my mood. Not much else would fit conceptually with most of those characters.
In fact, the only toon I have that doesn't have black as his/her primary color is Isabel McQueen, my Claws/Super Reflexes Scrapper. Her costume was pretty much just thrown together so that I could get her started...that's actually pretty common with me these days...
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<.<
Call me crazy, but I like that one best of all.
You're crazy!
I like her, too...not best of all, but I really like her.
!! Kamera is using that visor option I thought I would never see, and it even works! (Though King Wiki clearly rules. )
I really liked Sparrow_Hawk's costume thread and I look forward to seeing more from her. Her thread got me inspired to...well...for lack of a better term, "show-off" my costume designs, too.
Summer Thunder - Electrical Blast/Electricity Manipulation Blaster.
I think very highly of the opinions of the "Screenshots and Fan Art" community and I've really enjoyed my time spent here.
I'm not that great with the "poses" or anything, and they aren't the best screenies ever taken, but yeah...
Anyway, without further ado...
Many of ya'll have seen my buddy, Kro, but I figured I'd toss him in the ring first.
Kro - Force Field/Radiation Blast Defender.
Xander Frost - Ice Control/Storm Summoning Controller.
Resident Metalhead, King Wiki - Broadsword/Invulnerability Scrapper.
Wanna make some sparks?
Don't Worry, Hero! I'm Watching Your Back!
Kamera (Pronounced like "Camera"). - Illusion Control/Sonic Resonance Controller.
I've got a few more, but these seemed like the best of my "designs" and I just wanted to share them with ya'll and see what ya thought.
Criticism, Compliments and Suggestions are more than welcome!
Thanks for taking a look, guys!