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#Post#: 20--------------------------------------------------
The visual power of pure form
DIR By: Pam
Date: May 20, 2021, 11:32 am
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An exercise I've been doing for the last week, once per day, is
to take a piece of background art from the classic LucasArts
adventure game Full Throttle and to analyze it in some detail to
try and figure out why it looks good. It's the game with my most
favourite aesthetic, and the process of attempting to decode the
visual language used in it has proven both very satisfactory,
and very revelatory. I plan to compile them into a PDF once I've
completed the exercise, and I'll post it here for your perusal.
For now, though, I want to focus on a single revelation it has
provided me. In preparation for examining one of my favourite
scenes, I took a quick look at the background before I started
work for the day, just to give myself some time to think about
it before I started trying to decipher it in further detail.
What I noticed is that the silhouette of the structures in the
image was incredibly complex and interesting, considering that
what they represented was a fairly simple building, in terms of
function. That brief study affected me so much that I spent the
entire workday looking forward to tracing that silhouette in the
evening, but even so, I wasn't prepared for how incredibly
detailed and ornate the result would be. Here's what I ended up
with:
HTML https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wnh5JCKwFgg/WG-2urzt1TI/AAAAAAAAAnk/AbAdsCHKmOsNbTdtFJzW6gc-a-WVSxeTQCLcB/s400/Full%2BThrottle.png
It's a wonderfully coherent, yet intensely intricate series of
shapes that combine to present a unique and memorable
silhouette. As I sat studying the result, a thought emerged:
"I'd probably recognize the game and scene that this building
was from just by looking at the pure, flat silhouette." The
building is, in a word, memorable.
Small thoughts led to another small thought: What other scenes
in other adventure games are like this? From this thought
developed a hypothesis: It is possible that one of the biggest
factors in making a scene or location memorable is the pure form
of the shapes within it, and the uniqueness, boldness, and
distinctiveness of the silhouette they present, regardless of
how they're coloured, textured and lit.
A tough hypothesis to prove, but a simple enough one to examine.
I'll look at some scenes from other old games in an attempt to
begin exploring the idea.
HTML https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aXQbeg1rAE4/WG-4xcE4sZI/AAAAAAAAAnw/FiL__SBxWNITyc1MDtHu6l_Q1Td32DxWQCLcB/s400/monkey_025.png
An easy starting point is the stone monkey head idol from The
Secret of Monkey island. It's quite possible that much of the
memorable nature of this scene lies in the expression, the
rivulets of blood, and the fact that the colour scheme is very
dark in an otherwise colourful section of the game. I think,
though, that the main factor here is that we're presented with
such a recognizable shape.
In terms of complexity, it doesn't compare to the previous
scene, however it's probably even more striking because it
represents something very easy for us to recognize. The fact
that it's so easily identifiable, even without any details,
makes this a much easier to remember structure than most of the
other locations in the game.
HTML https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_irgRNcEzeg/WG-6AYfe3uI/AAAAAAAAAn8/7kA5JunU5GQ1_CiKaEd3YVbt7SBQrQ-5ACLcB/s400/379437-beneath-a-steel-sky-dos-screenshot-swinging-across-the-city.png
In terms of presenting a single, identifiable silhouette this is
probably a step in the other direction. There's no one standout
shape here to make the scene easy to call to mind, however the
combination of the various structures in this scene is so unique
- from the ledge we start the game on, and that imposing
structure across the gap, to the twisted, smoking stacks in the
distance - that it still feels representative of the power of
pure forms.
I feel that some of the power of this scene may stem from the
angle of the camera, too, but I'd also suggest that the angle of
the camera is a method of dictating how the forms we're
represented are translated to the viewer, making this a deciding
aspect in the end appearance. If the angle from our Full
Throttle scene had been changed to one point perspective, we'd
be looking at a very different combination of shapes.
HTML https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jVxP4Tv5Crw/WG-7_xKxv7I/AAAAAAAAAoI/p1XOGb1KZok08906otC0IZCyRbJXNQaewCLcB/s400/224213-blade-warrior-amiga-screenshot-fighting-on-the-bridge.png
To step into a different genre entirely, here's a look at a
screenshot from Blade Warrior. The intensity of detail in these
pure silhouettes is breathtakingly powerful - trying to suggest
this much detail while also having them lit and coloured would
result it a much messier image, with many of the finer details
being less noticeable. Because of the high contrast of the pure
black over the bright sky, we are able to discern every
intricate part of the form.
Because of this, the game is strikingly memorable in appearance.
Our mind is very willing to jump in and fill the gaps that a
lack of texture and colour leave, telling us very quickly what
it is we're looking at.
HTML https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYhMp93LsZA/WG-9awvz7tI/AAAAAAAAAoU/bsUmuKq_itQi72rIfSlTGl-8lGLO8rmhgCLcB/s400/305258-loom-atari-st-screenshot-main-game-scale.png
When it comes to iconic shapes, this tree from the beginning of
Loom is a great example. This shape could be drawn in any
colour, detailed with any texture and lit in any way and I'm
quite positive people would recognize where it's from.
To me, this is one of the most powerful examples of the
evocative power of a single, unique design - mention Loom to
anybody, and it's a safe bet to suggest they'll think back to
this scene and this tree.
HTML https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TWolrCZMkEY/WG__gMU7OVI/AAAAAAAAAok/mT0lyId7iQojEuuSQ9V7DUyhwu2BYcwpwCLcB/s400/2837-out-of-this-world-dos-screenshot-you-find-yourself-in-a-strange.gif
Similarly, mention Another World (or Out of This World) to
anybody who is familiar with it, and it's highly likely that
their mind will think back to this scene. Though the forms
aren't quite as distinct as in the previous example, they're
still iconic enough to be instantly emblematic of the game.
This is a special case, too, because here we see an example in
which the form of a creature is almost as memorable as the
location. That shadowy beast, watching ominously from atop a
rock, doesn't need any details to be an intimidating presence -
its power and its menace are communicated wonderfully via a flat
silhouette. The stance speaks volumes about the creature's
nature, and its intent, and is another great example of a
powerful, memorable shape.
HTML https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V5ud7J25Ec0/WHAAp3tFCWI/AAAAAAAAAow/YFOjYIHonY4c2oXfB11SBXLey6lM0JYrgCLcB/s400/180682-mindfighter-dos-screenshot-bleak-starting-location.png
The incredibly simple image shown here in Mindfighter is another
great example of effective silhouettes in both scenery and
figure. We don't need any colours or textures to see that this
is a ruined city, to feel the crumbling walls and ruined homes.
A few quite simple, thoughtfully arranged shapes convey all the
detail we need to form the full picture in our minds.
The figure atop his mound also conveys a story to us. His stance
suggests his character, his frame of mind. We need little more
than these few tiny pixels, arranged in this very specific way,
to begin forming opinions on his character. Further detail is
not really necessary.
HTML https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a4V0-9wgCdg/WHABzgEairI/AAAAAAAAAo8/fTGI-4gLM-Ad8hibbH-RDtBgrLDfLV3hACLcB/s400/700234-the-dig-dos-screenshot-one-of-the-first-locations-you-ll-explore.png
It should remain important to remember, though, that details
don't discount the strength of a silhouette. This wrecked alien
ship from The Dig may be rendered in much more detail, but that
doesn't change the fact that it's the pure silhouette of the
form that conveys the most interest. The texture and lighting
here is mostly just slight enhancement.
What makes this scene truly memorable and recognizable are the
unique forms, those elevated structures jutting up on columns
above a fairly ordinary spaceship hull. They suggest advanced
technology, bring to mind classic works of science fiction, and
make us wonder about the sort of people that would construct
such a vehicle, just by presenting us with a distinctive form.
HTML https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PITLyIF6ClE/WHADW2ojQQI/AAAAAAAAApI/D0ooA5nZbU4S_6Bx00z4QIoq937X49aRACLcB/s400/734408-frederik-pohl-s-gateway-dos-screenshot-one-of-the-few-full.png
It's not just alien shapes that can be made evocative, though,
as this shot from Gateway suggests. Here we see a very ordinary
group of aquatic plants, but combined in a way that makes them
interesting and memorable. Sometimes it's more about how
ordinary structures are arranged and placed together that makes
a silhouette recognizable and interesting, rather than the
structures themselves being particularly unique.
Here, too, we see the angle of the camera playing a large part
in how the shapes read, much like the earlier shot from Beneath
a Steel Sky. Taken from above the surface, the forms we see here
would be much more everyday, less unique, but taken from this
angle, we have a wonderfully unforgettable set of forms.
HTML https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t-_ruXYJD6Q/WHAE2JeiNOI/AAAAAAAAApU/iILOcIZ7LKomXfdPf1ZzIeJUoy-2nJzQwCLcB/s400/11145-king-s-quest-v-absence-makes-the-heart-go-yonder-dos-screenshot.gif
A decent example of how unique form can stand out is this scene
from King's Quest V - here we see many trees, but our eyes go
instantly to that gnarled, twisted tree that's central to the
scene. With this interesting, dynamic shape in the shot, the
other trees become little more than window dressing - their
absence would be felt, but their presence is hardly noticeable.
By juxtaposing fairly standard shapes with a very unique one,
the artist leads our eye to where they want us to look. Some of
this is also due to placement, framing, and lighting, but the
strongest element here is still that odd, interesting
silhouette.
HTML https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GI-qXj9_OL0/WHAF1cG--8I/AAAAAAAAApg/PF0D2eA3Nt4IssA925ioyPrn0Y_o-9dygCLcB/s400/tumblr_n0dbveb8Nn1s8y7sjo1_1280.png
But even when it's not a central placement, interesting forms
have their place. The great combination of rocks and odd plant
here are great, and quite memorable, even with the most
interesting part of the plant being cut off. We don't need to
see it all to understand the form of the rest of it, there's
just enough of the shape left in the shot that we can understand
what makes it interesting.
Combining the various small structures of rocks in such an
interesting, curving composition creates a superstructure
greater than the sum of its parts, that catches and interests
our eye. It's not necessarily the presence of a unique structure
that does it, but the combination of smaller structures in an
interesting way.
HTML https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gajjgmozlQY/WHAHL68DBSI/AAAAAAAAAps/OmKurVIc_loutrjhq1uFXHa6x1o5mLgJQCLcB/s400/030%2B-%2Bc9wZ0.png
And that brings me back to our Full Throttle scene. There's no
one shape in here that's particularly unique or distinctive,
it's more the combination of various assorted structures into a
single superstructure that - with the camera placed just so, and
the elements arranged just like this - is bold, memorable and
dynamic.
The colours and textures here certainly help to make the scene
evocative and memorable, suggesting various small details such
as a wall patched up with spare scrap and a hole in the roof
where the light hits a water tank, but for me the real star of
the show here is the form, the overall shape. And it makes
sense, we're use to dealing with symbols and icons, simplified
representations that convey important information to us.
Recognizing things just from their shape alone is important to
us in daily life.
I think there's a lot of power in these shapes. After thinking
about this one building, I've been working harder to ensure the
silhouettes present in my own artistic work are more
interesting, more dynamic, and the results already have me
confident that paying attention to these will improve my work.
It's easy to focus heavily on lighting, on textures, on trying
to balance colours, but we shouldn't lose sight of the
foundation upon which all of these things sit: the pure forms
we're working from. That's an incredibly important step, and one
that will help take an image to the next level.
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