Cartoonish Backgrounds

[Cubical]

I'm working on a side scroller again and I need to get some Cartoon style background images. Does anyone know of any tutorials or any thing that would help me make these? I've been googling for a while but I keep coming up with 3DS tutorials and I'm not really looking for 3D stuff. More like Maplestory or Ghost Online. Any help would be awesome.

[Fulg0reSama]

I would ask Aeko (Clockwork) for help personally since his style suits your need best.

[Cubical]

yeah, can't get on graal right now to ask him

[Fulg0reSama]

Just forum pm his ass dude

[Cubical]

Well, I wanted to see if other people had any thoughts of what I should do also or links to tutorials.

[Fulg0reSama]

I see.. I would go with very bright, flat colors. Section it off by how you wish to focus the background and then figure what you want it to feature I guess.

[Cubical]

i'm too noob to even make a head which is why I need a tutorial, otherwise it'd just be lines with gradients. btw, I use gimp if that changes anything.

[Fulg0reSama]

Effect spamz?

[Cubical]

what? filters? they usually make everything uglier imo

[Fulg0reSama]

Originally Posted by Cubical

what? filters? they usually make everything uglier imo

Only if you use it illogically.. It's a 50/50 shot but it's up to you to decide how to make it work

[anubis_wing]

Originally Posted by Fulg0reSama

Just forum pm his ass

There's an image.

[DustyPorViva]

Eh, I think what's going to benefit you the most is creative design. Mario, for example takes simple concepts like mountains, hills, trees, and adds a creative twist. Also, keep designs simple and geometric. Cartoons don't like complex.

http://spriters-resource.com/ds/news.../forestbgs.png
Look at the trees. Tree trunks are simple in shape, nothing but straight lines. Simple shading to compliment the simple shapes. Then you have the designs themselves, which feature of course, simple circles You also have exaggerated Flora with bright, vibrant colors(well, sort of... since it's a background it gets background priority, aka darkened) and bushes are simple, and resemble fans.

http://spriters-resource.com/ds/news...ncanyonbgs.png
Mountains take on a very comical design. They're pretty much shaped like cones, and almost resemble an icecream cone because of the folding occurring.

http://spriters-resource.com/ds/news...asslandbgs.png
Here you have the traditional "hills" you'll often find in Mario. Simple shapes, again, very geometric. Colorful designs that you wouldn't normally find in natural landscapes. And lastly, you have the familiar shapes thrown all around on the hills. You also have very simple clouds instead of very fluffy and complex clouds.

All in all, keep it simple and get creative with it. I only used Mario here but look around, you'll see a lot in common with cartoony backgrounds that mostly come down to simple design not venturing far beyond elementary geometrics, bright colors and funny designs!

[Cubical]

That's exactly what I'm talking about wanting to make but I need like tutorials that could show me how to do it in a program like gimp or paint.net. I don;t know how to use any of the tools really but going through a tutorial showing me how to make each background will teach me and I'll be able to mix and match and be creative which is impossible for me when I don't know how things work. Also thanks for replying.

[DustyPorViva]

Oh, so you want tutorials on how to use the programs? I'm sure google will help you there. Otherwise that's out of my area of knowledge.

[Cubical]

It's more I'm looking for techniques on how to make the mario style backgrounds. Like after messing with it long enough I'll understand the tools myself. Sorry as of late I haven't been very good at explaining myself for some reason.