This was going to be a very unexciting thread, so I decided to try to make it more general. Sometimes while making tilesets we get stuck trying to draw something we just can't figure out how to get right, for reasons of shading, shape, palette, or whatever. Here's a thread to ask for help! (Obviously, if someone contributes to your tileset, please credit them and consider using that little reputation button.)

I make this thread because I am stuck trying to draw a small pipe curving around a larger one (palette is not final). I can accept the left side, and the front (though it could be prettier), but my priority is the right side, which doesn't look remotely right. I've tried several times and I just can't figure it out. Anyone out there good with curved surfaces receding into the z dimension?

Here's a quick redline...ignore the inner red line, look at the outer one I drew, should look better that way.

This is a half-done automation of how it "should" look, I'd finish it but I'm le tired. It's ugly in this state, but should give you a good feel for the shape of the thing. Two halves of 32px wide parabolas, then a quick and dirty "put the gradient in there too" thing. This probably does everything but help you with what you needed help with. I can upload the .xcf file if you use gimp, might give you an idea of what I did and a better idea of what you could do.



@.@ haven't pushed pixels for a tileset in forever... feels good.

Here's my semi-finished result. I just realized, though, that the bottom of the pipe should reach the edge of the tile if the top one does. Maybe I'll fiddle around some more.



Also, the shading may need some work.

EDIT:




How's this?

Also, out of curiosity, what are these pipes for?

Obi: Recolored and uploaded! Thanks a million!

Ah, very interesting! Downloading now.

Any takers?

EDIT: To clarify, I don't really intend to use this in a tileset, I'm just wondering if anyone could try reproducing the old thing.

Arg, jpeg.
I'll give it a quick try.

EDIT:
How's this for a start?

I haven't done the spire on the right, since the more I add the more obvious it will be that it's by someone else. Also, I think it still looks a bit jpeg-ish in the middle areas, but I can't really do anything about that.

Looks great, especially if it's "for a start."

Looking good, though it seems like you're straying away from the original shape somewhat.