Type 1.8 prototypes

Finally after much consideration, the prototypes of type 1.8 pictures are finally underway.

In Summary, type 1.8p (or Version 1.8p) pictures are a classification of drawings that are a breed different from most drawings insofar. Type 1.8p pictures differ from their 1.7 counterparts by the method of referencing, drawing constructs, as well as rendering. While type 1.7 pictures generally are created from general to specific, and emphasis are placed on the head shape, the features, and then to the details; T1.8 reverses the process from specific to general, and relies more heavily on the source material to retain realism. Both classifications use the same style of shading.

Why Type 1.8? 

For the past 3 months, type 1.7 pictures have championed my realism standards of portrait drawing, with a strong semi-realistic portrayal of facial proportions (using mathematics), depiction of the eyes, nose and hair. Lighting dynamics were also consistent and within reasonable standards. Most importantly, type 1.7 pictures have taken it's pride in its very limited usage of reference materials- this has allowed a lot of room for imagination to take it's toil, and consequently, there is a very wide range of pictures that may easily be reconverted, of conceptualized from scratch in type 1.7 pictures.

Indeed, type 1.7 pictures did not start perfect too. Initial renderings of the portrait were rough and uneven, and were subsequently refined with practice and prior experience. A standard facial shape was constructed, and positions for all facial features was standardized to ideal proportions. However in time, it was noticed that most of the improved renderings actually became normalized, and there emerged a set standard for type 1.7 pictures. Although the later renderings were realistic on their own, they were monotonous, and each subsequent picture, minus the slight variations in posture, hairstyle and eye shape, became no more than another copy of that set-rendered face.

This was undesirable, since certain higher realistic details, like facial contours, or cheekbone positions, cannot be depicted directly on imagination, and the standard face (type 2.0) does have its fair share of imperfections otherwise omitted in idealistic representations. Complex poses, i.e. looking down, bottom up, or over the back shots, too are impossible to depict realistically and are often simplified back to T1.5 standards. Indeed there was great freedom on the variations T1.7 pictures could produce from, but this freedom is compromised on the variations of drawing T1.7 pictures produce- a standard face, minimal poses, and simplified representations on the crucial details that would otherwise distinguish it from the lower standards. The need for additional detail hence required greater references from original copies.

And yes, I am confronted again with the question of purpose of copying originals.

The purpose of T1.8p

Thinking about it, I guess my objective of drawing is not really as an avenue to invent characters, but rather to realize them as perfectly as possible. Personally I already have literature at my disposal to characterize the essential characteristics of any arbitrary character; moreover, I no longer have a purpose to introduce characters into the deranged world (I already have a platoon of 22 characters since 2001). If there was one thing drawing could help me expand on this domain, it was definitely a need to turn these abstractions in literature into concrete reality, by matching their traits to the traits of reality itself.

With this now in mind, I guess I do have a reason for borrowing the architecture of God, and convert natural features (with some tweaking) into my own drawings for further refinement. Work on these pictures started two days ago, and the first prototype was finally realized.

Drawing proper

The manifestation of type 1.8 pictures was radically different. Intuition was the primary form of guide, and all measurements constructed for T1.7s were totally scrapped or revamped. References of eye position to nose position, cheekbone shape, and mouth depiction were true-to-the-original, though leeway was made to customize their shape to the character. Additional details were added subsequently to suit the target picture. For example, if I were to try to realize Rach bent forward, listening to MP3 with her eyes closed at an angle of +60 degrees (impossible for T1.7), a reference picture of a closed eye woman would be necessary as base, then her eye shape would be modified specifically to Rach's, general tweaks be made to her hairstyle, and additional detail of an mp3 player would be added.

In comparison, type 1.8 pictures are indeed more crumble some, but the effects are stunning. The level of realism in T1.8 pictures differ considerable from T1.7 pictures, even though they are equally rendered to suit standard proportions.

The end of 1.7? What lies beyond T1.8p?

Although T1.8p pictures for now are mere prototypes with heavily referencing, and personal idealism may only manifest through the above customizations, the intended goal for realistic pictures was to integrate the free details of T1.8p, with the freedom of sourcing of T1.7, into a true T1.8 picture that encompasses qualities of both sides. This itself may be technically impossible, since fresh proportions are always required for every new character, so in a way- T1.8 pictures will always remain as the more 'lifted' counterpart, and bears the threshold between semi-realistic pictures, to photo realistic pictures.

One last thing, whats left of T1.7 pictures, since it seems as if it is now no more than an intermediate step between what I have started, and the realistic ideal (haha word play) I am heading towards. Well, technically that is not exactly true. T1.7 pictures will still remain standalone, as a primary means of conversion of manga-based drawings, since manga drawing themselves have set standards which coincide perfectly with the set standards of T1.7s. Moreover, the idealistic proportions of manga based drawings are in-line with the lidealistic features of T1.7s.

Type 1.8s, on the other hand, are reserved exclusively for conversions, or depictions of contemporary characters with the potential to be real-time realistic. Of course, 1.9 pictures are still on the way as human-human conversions, but in the meantime; I guess we could always make do with a little more realism, and of course, idealism.