v2 w/ text: First shot at photoshopp. No c4d or anything yet. Please, give me some advice and were I could improve, No " looks good/bad "
Text - Not really the best choice right there. A game like Gears of War certainly does not fit a sort of techno type font such as the one you chose. For me, text with no specific 'distraction' or something that is not simple isn't in my favor. Also, I would place the text to the right of his head (but not too close) or where you placed it but a bit lower. Flow - I don't see any at all. I assure you know all the concepts of making a good signature so you know what to do. Colors - There isn't really any way else to say it, so here it goes: They're dull. The colors do not really stand out and there really is nothing special to them. Experiment on gradient maps more. Focal - If you ask me, I would make Marcus appear bigger (but not too big). I would move him up a notch as well. Lighting - Did you add some? I don't really see anything. Add some. Once again, if it was me, I would put about 35% of the lighting to the left of his head and the other 65% to his right. The idea goes something like that regardless of the method. Depth - Kind of a hard signature to criticize about this concept. Sharpen the focal a bit more. There's your CnC, man. Hope this helps. If this was harsh in any way, I did not intend to be offensive. Sometimes, the harshest criticism may be the most helpful.
Agreed, go with a more simpler font, try adding more than just one line of text also, and make sure you keep it close to your focal. The flow goes from left to right, he smudged in that direction, there is nothing really wrong with it. The colors are really not bad. Their decent, could be better. Agreed on making him a tad bigger, also try sharpening him since he is the focal. Two different light sources? Anyway, he has lighting, he got that from smudging. I don't know if it was intended, but there is lighting, just now as great as it could be. When smudging you get tons of depth, thats what the duplicate layer part comes handy There is depth, its ok, not bad, not incredible. Overall, I'm very impressed for a first signature, what program do you use?