• Fur Affinity Forums are governed by Fur Affinity's Rules and Policies. Links and additional information can be accessed in the Site Information Forum.

Need advice: How do you guys handle backgrounds?

mistressuwu

mistressuwu

Member
Settings are one thing, but I often find myself at a loss for simple backgrounds/portrait backgrounds. How do you guys tend to handle these? I'm curious to hear methods, ideas, ect. :3

Essentially, I have trouble making simple backgrounds that actually match the artwork, unless the background is a full setting--but obviously full settings like that can be very time consuming and not all commissioners want full backgrounds anyhow.

So--what advice do you all have for simple backgrounds? Portrait backgrounds? Much appreciated in advance. <3
 
MissNook

MissNook

Well-Known Member
For simple backgrounds, I have two ways of going.

Full abstract: Adding colors, some patterns with the idea to compliment the character. More specifically, I would use complementary colors, lighter or darker background than the character to have a difference of values, patterns from brushes or done by hand (I really like doing them by hand, cause you can really make something that have a meaning, even if it's just scratches pattern).

Figurative: For these, I would try to have something harmonized with the character. The main idea is that the character seems to be part of the background. So if I choose a yellow light with purple shadows for the character, then the background will use those too.
I often use a layer for atmosphere that I put either in front of everything or bellow the character, depending on the difference of plans (if the character is standing in the middle of the trees that are the background, that layer will be in front of everything, if the trees are behind the character, I would put it between them). I like to add a gradient and not a simple color to this layer to have something more organic and interesting in term of render (for outside background with sun light, I would have a light yellow to light blue layer from top to bottom).
If the character is really realistic, I would use one tip which is a linear blur. You can create the closest part of the background with some details, and then go more and more simple towards the back and then apply a blur that would be far stronger the further you are from the character. It can add a nice depth without putting too much work on the background. That is a nice tip to gain time in my opinion.
Shapes and lights/shadows are for me the most important things for a simplify background. You can easily make believe that there is something in the background just by playing with those and without going detailed. For example, for grass, doing a green spot with different green then adding some clumps of grass catching the light or the shadows and you don't need much (example in that tutorial: https://www.deviantart.com/lambity/art/Simple-Grassland-Tutorial-brush-settings-617068112 )

I know it's pretty general advices, but I hope they can help ^^
 
mistressuwu

mistressuwu

Member
MissNook said:
For simple backgrounds, I have two ways of going.

Full abstract: Adding colors, some patterns with the idea to compliment the character. More specifically, I would use complementary colors, lighter or darker background than the character to have a difference of values, patterns from brushes or done by hand (I really like doing them by hand, cause you can really make something that have a meaning, even if it's just scratches pattern).

Figurative: For these, I would try to have something harmonized with the character. The main idea is that the character seems to be part of the background. So if I choose a yellow light with purple shadows for the character, then the background will use those too.
I often use a layer for atmosphere that I put either in front of everything or bellow the character, depending on the difference of plans (if the character is standing in the middle of the trees that are the background, that layer will be in front of everything, if the trees are behind the character, I would put it between them). I like to add a gradient and not a simple color to this layer to have something more organic and interesting in term of render (for outside background with sun light, I would have a light yellow to light blue layer from top to bottom).
If the character is really realistic, I would use one tip which is a linear blur. You can create the closest part of the background with some details, and then go more and more simple towards the back and then apply a blur that would be far stronger the further you are from the character. It can add a nice depth without putting too much work on the background. That is a nice tip to gain time in my opinion.
Shapes and lights/shadows are for me the most important things for a simplify background. You can easily make believe that there is something in the background just by playing with those and without going detailed. For example, for grass, doing a green spot with different green then adding some clumps of grass catching the light or the shadows and you don't need much (example in that tutorial: https://www.deviantart.com/lambity/art/Simple-Grassland-Tutorial-brush-settings-617068112 )

I know it's pretty general advices, but I hope they can help ^^
Click to expand...
This is extremely helpful and informative, thank you so much!!
 
Ziggy Schlacht

Ziggy Schlacht

Hasn't figured out this "straight" business
SinglePringle said:
I've recently started photoshopping realistic settings into the backgrounds of my pictures (only one so far but still). I don't think it looks too bad given my amateur art skills https://www.furaffinity.net/view/39457920/
Click to expand...

Can throw some filters on it to make it less obvious.

In my case, if it's not an actually setting, I typically choose colors that complement the character and paint a loose gradient that implies some degree of 3D.

A good example is here
[NSFW] https://www.furaffinity.net/view/39489469/

It really doesn't need to be much, and flat colors, or soft gradients work. The trick, really, is implying that 3D with light/dark or color. You can even use a matte background and a shadow on the "ground" to get there.

[NSFW] https://www.furaffinity.net/view/39439158/

(I apologize for these examples all being NSFW, turns out all my SFW has legit backgrounds).
 
TR273

TR273

Pirate Fox Mom
Depends.
If it's just a portrait shot, or the character just sitting there. I tend to go for some type of none intrusive colour then lighten and darken vertical strips so it looks like a curtain.
If it is themed I usually go for something that looks right in the setting, but heavily simplified.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top