56 Chevy Bel Air

[Roboduck]

Tried redoing the front bumper to look a bit more like chrome, rather than faded skittles... and put a little wheelwell shadow on the front tire..

Fire when ready, Gridley...CC's Robo

Since I'm snowed in up here (Reno area), been working a bit on trying to get better gradient colors and blends. Still working on chrome... maybe I'll just do a "chrome bumper." Sure is easier with colored pencils, than with all Illy. CC's always welcome... could use help on getting chrome better... and for some of you... I even did interior this time.. Robo

[stuffbyalex]

Nice work! Maybe add a horizon reflection on the side, and something on the hood. Looks a bit like a matte finish right now... unless that's what you were going for. The chrome is getting better, but just sharpen up the tonal transitions to make it shinier, if that made any sense.

Alex

[Roboduck]

Alex.. I think so. The reflections should be a bit sharper... however, when imake them sharper, they look ... wierd. I am goin to do a chrome bumper or something that I can work of all the shiney and reflective aspects of chrome... thanks for the comments. Robo

[lemorris]

Nice work Robo.

In one of my responses I mentioned using masks. It will give you much greater contol than gradients do.

My friend Chadwick just finished this Porsche. It's all vector. He uses lots of blends then masks the shapes.



I'll look for a masking tutorial.

Oh wait in the Illustrator Magic 8 book there was great tutes on vehicles.

I'll look for more though.

-Lemorris

p.s. Chadwick is ahigh end pro in Canada. His picture is just here for your reference not comparison. In my opinion his work is very very clean, but I like character so keep goin where you're goin.

[lemorris]

oh..

here's some chrome from another friend



and here's what top pro Bruce K says:

Note: this is part of his critique of the Porshe...lolol...he critiques the Porshe...that's how good he is! lolol

Here you go...I hope it helps:

Don't be afraid of contrast! Go over the top and then back it down a little if you need to. Most people tend to be conservative on their value contrast.
This is a metallic service, it's just shy of being a mirror. Here is a great tip that took me years to figure out. Look at your piece as if you could only render it in black and white. (no hatching or patterns or dots either)
Just solid b/ w shapes. This is how many fine artists break down a composition while doing their prelim sketches. It really cuts through all the detail and gets you working ten times faster. After you get your shapes worked like you want them just add some mid and shadow tone to your white shapes and add some mid and highlight tones to your black shapes and yer done!
This definately helps keep the overworking down to a bearable amount.
OK, there is my lesson for the day. Actually I should say, here is some help I wish I would have had about 20 years ago.

-Lemorris

[Roboduck]

lemorris... thanks. That really will help me... I think I'll work on this only for a couple of days until I get a "feeling" for it. As always, your help is always welcome. Robo

[castback]

that looks clean. nice work. i agree with alex on the reflections in the paint. you need some "harder" lines to show reflections. this will give it a glossy look. ive only painted crome a couple of times but what helps me is to remember this... crome isn't a color. it just reflects what is around it. what i do is but a light brown on the bottom and then a little black/darkbrown in the middle then blue on the top. this will give the appearence of it being outside and reflectings the ground/horizon/sky. my $.2

(why is everyone doing stuff in illustrator now? is someone handing out free copies of it or something?)

[Roboduck]

Castback... thanks for the ideas. I wish someone were handing out Illy for free.... I'd certainly stand in line... Robo

[Jeep_Rubicon]

Looks awesome, good to see interior in it.