Tutorials
To start off my research I have decided to view a number of tutorials that present how to implement certain features on photoshop that I personally struggle with implementing and for the first tutorial I have collected a video from the site Youtube that presents to you how to create a neon glow suit using the tools available to you. This tutorial is helpful to me as for my character designs I plan on implementing a neon glow in some of areas of their clothing such as for my outlaw I would like for them to have a neon hair style and so viewing this tutorial will present to a technique in which I can implement that effect whilst it will also be of assistance to me if I decide to add some neon highlighting to the outfit that both the outlaw and cyborg are wearing. For my individual assets I could also utilise what I learn from this tutorial as for my hoverboard I could add some neon glows to the the wiring along the base as well as the levitation devices on either end. With the technique shown in this tutorial I could also use it to implement a glow around the rim of my drone which will feature a spotlight that I could greatly enhance if I were to use this style and make it appear more stylish. Although for my project I aim towards a realistic dystopian style texture for my art pieces I could still achieve this with some neon highlights included in certain areas and so this tutorial will be of great assistance for me when I move into that area.
In this next video I have found a tutorial focusing on the creation of shadows for art pieces, the techniques shown in this video present simple methods for painting light and shadows that help to add more atmosphere and immersion to the final product whilst ensuring it remains suitable within the theme. For my art pieces I can use this tutorial to help me as I will be implementing shadows on each concept that will be below it so it is cast on to the ground and the techniques featured within this tutorial can be utilised by myself to add in effective and immersive shadows that make my final product look more professionally presented. The reason why I have researched this specific technique is because I believe that implementing a shadow texture through painting freehand feels better and gives it an overall greater presentation that adds a more graphical and professional tone to it.
Art Style
In this next section of my research I am gathering sources presenting the art style of multiple cyberpunk productions and for my first source I have taken a video presenting a tour through the streets of Detroit in the Cyberpunk game titled Deus Ex Human Revolution which as seen in this video I have supplied has a very dark dystopian feel to it along with the presence of a golden hue that adds an authoritarian atmosphere to the product. The art style gives this scene a dystopian feel as it is the same all around keeping the inhabitants in a repetitive gridlock that prevents them from any change of scenery and isolating them to the confines of a single environment. Although I am going to be producing characters and assets this art style could still be utilised by me to implement a dark texture onto the cyborg character that will allow me to connote them as a villain due to the aura emitted by the colour scheme and style seen in this video.
In this image we can see a piece of concept art produced for the same title presented above which shows a design of the main protagonist that is present within the title. The reason why I have chosen to look at this particular design is due to the presence of cybernetics and augmentations on their body as for one of character design I have chosen to develop a cyborg like character who is presented as having artificial limbs and a mechanical torso. This image shows me how one such character can be created using the art style that I seek to utilise for my own product as this character holds a dark and bleak texture presenting them almost as if they are a villain or one who works for a shady corporation. What I like about this image is how the limbs blend in with the rest of the outfit as they presented in a dark style that adds a covert atmosphere to this design. For my final product and initial character designs this image is one that I can utilise as a suitable reference due to its portrayal of a character within the theme I am working in.
The next title that uses a unique art style that I have chosen to include within my research is the upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077 and is one product that fits perfectly within the theme of this project due to the setting and style of the game. This games art style uses vibrant colour schemes whilst presenting the environment as messy and corrupt due to corporate presence in the narrative. What I like about the art style used in this game is how accurately it portrays the cyberpunk genre whilst presenting a dark and dystopian atmosphere through the presence of a criminal underworld which is a setting that I am aiming to use for my own productions. The characters of this production are all unique whilst featuring different cosmetics and cybernetics which provides me with a wide range of nearly limitless references that I could use to give me inspiration towards my own products.
For this image I have collected an image presenting the concept art of a bounty hunter from the above title and the reason why I have chosen this image is because of the fact that I will be creating an outlaw character for my second design for which I aim to utilise a style that presents the outlaw as a rebellious and fashionable individual who also bears some weathered down aspects that allow them to fit more appropriately with the dystopian atmosphere of the cyberpunk genre.
Moodboards
For this moodboard I have gathered a series of images presenting automated drones from the sci fi and cyberpunk genres and the reason why I have chosen this specific entity is because of my intention to produce an individual asset that I have planned out to be a drone and so I have gathered a number of references that can help to inspire me for when I set out to produce initial ideas for this product. I have tried to gather only images that present the drone flying with it in relatively small scale such as head or shoulder size as this is the type of drone I want to create so it can fit in with my cyborg character more effectively. What I like about these references is how much detail they have as well as their rusty and dystopian appearance as ones that look clean hold an aura of paranoia whilst those that are rusty seem to be post apocalyptic or run down which gives me many different possibilities to work with.
In my next moodboard I have collected a series of images showcasing hoverboards existing within the Cyberpunk genre. For my project I will be creating a detailed hover board asset that I aim to produce using a vibrant texture that makes it stand out and gives it a unique feel and so these references that I have collected can inspire the creation of my design and lead me to developing a multitude of rough sketches that allows me to go through the proper development process for my final product. What appeals to me about this research is how although all the hoverboards serve the same purpose they are each presented differently in unique and interesting styles which shows me that I can give my hoverboard almost any appearance I want within reason and it can still serve its original purpose without error.
This moodboard presents a series of images showing outlaws and mercenaries from the Cyberpunk genre and I have chosen to view references showcasing this specific style of character due to my existing intentions to produce a character design that I would to aim towards being an outlaw of an underworld society within a dystopian cyberpunk mega city. These images show me what textures and art styles are possible for such a character and so they will hold great influence over the rough designs that I produce for my upcoming ideas generation. This research appeals to me as it provides me with multiple creative and eye catching references each presenting the character concept in many convincing and appropriate styles that allow it to fit into the Cyberpunk genre.
My final moodboard presents a number of images showcasing cyborg enforcers for which I wish to design one for my own character design on this project and so these images present to me multiple concepts that I could use to inspire my own design whilst it also shows me what art styles I could potentially utilise and how detailed I could make them. What appeals to me about this research is the many concepts it presents me with as although I’d like to a cyborg enforcer who possess versatility whilst being light these images show me many characters who are bulky, skinny with many different cybernetic features which allows me to consider extensive details for my character and how I can fit them perfectly within the cyberpunk theme.
Level 3 Games Development Spencer Lee 