You could make the icons in 3d and convert 'em to 2d bitmaps which can then be converted into .dmi format like I sometimes do... (colonisation II)

Other than that ur in the same boat as moi :)

You can follow one of three paths:


1) You can make icons that are rich in texture, look very good, and blend with the background even though they don't have solid outlines. (Look at Foomer's hub for great examples of this.).

2) You can make cartoonish graphics, which don't need to be too rich in texture to look good and be acceptable, and have solid outlines (This is my path.).

3) Or you can start with number 2, and work your way up to number 1 (Recomended.).


Of course there are others, but these are the ones I can name. Since I am skilled in cartoonish art, and getting better and better, I'll give you some pointers to that:



Always start with an outline. You don't need to make the entire outline first, but before you make say a body part of a person, or a stem of a tree, or anything, make sure it is outlined first.

Remember that when you are beginning, it will almost be guaranteed to look like a total piece of crap. Don't give up and it is the same as just about all skills: Learning helps you achieve your goal faster, and practice makes perfect.

Don't be afraid to use colors that aren't on the palette... If you don't learn to use a palette that is bigger than say, 12 colors (and yes, Maz, "COLORS" not "colours" =), you will get nowhere because just about every picture you draw will likely need at least 4 colors other than what is already in the palette.

In an area that say, is rounded, in order to make it look rounded, you have to shade it in the proper areas. This is an example of a how to shade a sphere: (D=dark, L=Light, 1=very,0=not as much)


0D0D0D
1D0D0L0L0D
1D0D0L0L1L0L0D
1D1D0L0L0L0L0D
1D1D0D0D0D
1D1D0D


I know that is a little confusing but I'm not going to link to a picture :D If anyone wants to improve on that they can.

Remember that chances are, there is supposed to be a light source somewhere above the thing your drawing. Making a shine mark for say metal (a lighter of the color used) or just use slightly brighter colors than the regular color.

Stippling isn't always the way to go. It is good for some areas, but others not. I need to work on this myself. Stippling is shading using dots. Also, when doing things such as grass/etc., there are a such thing as clumps.

If something is overlapping another thing, the thing underneath could need you to shade it with a darker of the main color.

Using other images, real or cartoon, looking at them and studying them helps a lot.

There is a lot to be learned, but I thought I'd give some of my knowledge.