Let's reshare an old thread from Jesse Hamm's "Hamm Tips" account. Jesse wrote: "There's a tragic urge, lately, to add subtle shading to every shape; a temptation to over-explain forms whose contours already explain them." - ThreadSky

helioscopepdx.bsky.social • 635 days ago

Let's reshare an old thread from Jesse Hamm's "Hamm Tips" account. Jesse wrote:
"There's a tragic urge, lately, to add subtle shading to every shape; a temptation to over-explain forms whose contours already explain them."

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Comments

lartist.bsky.social•196 days ago

Remember the airbrush boom of 1980s illustration? :)

quartzcity.bsky.social•196 days ago

I’m reminded of UPS’ rebranding in 2003 when they junked Paul Rand’s iconic logo from 1961 for a cruddy 3D shield that took two years to design. That one was replaced soon afterwards because it looked so bad.

xiscob.bsky.social•165 days ago

That tweet always reminds me of this "triangle". Our brains are astoundingly good at filling in the blanks, we shouldn't underestimate them!

bluumbluum.bsky.social•554 days ago

It's supposed to make it look more fancy, but comes off as a little too gaudy

benjamindewey.bsky.social•554 days ago

I’m guilty of this for sure but I’m trying to reform my ways.

spica-lechat.bsky.social•165 days ago

I will take any permission I can get to not have to shade my pictures!

wintersouls.bsky.social•196 days ago

📌

booradleyboo.bsky.social•554 days ago

A sentiment that speaks to my soul.

https://bsky.app/profile/booradleyboo.bsky.social/post/3kf2j37ghfw2g

dolari.bsky.social•196 days ago

I remember talking about how movies based on TV animation in the US gets really airbrushed and "3D" which I always found annoying. I prefer the way anime did it, and just poured more money to make more detailed traditional animation.

abralittle.bsky.social•196 days ago

📌

emilylorange.bsky.social•634 days ago

when i was a kid it never made a whole lot of sense to me that the characters in my movies looked completely different on the VHS cover 😔

chillybears.bsky.social•165 days ago

Opened Twitter for the first time in a while just to dig up this tweet of theirs I adore

cnuan.bsky.social•634 days ago

I think another important point is that sometimes this shading doesn't only highlight the obvious, but also the uncanny: W/ more shading, Aurora's necklace is noticeably flat & the Cap's eyes are detached from his head & floating atop his hat 😬 The coherence of the design is lost.

tentavision.bsky.social•196 days ago

📌

rpstoryhour.bsky.social•634 days ago

This put into words something I’ve been feeling about my own art and couldn’t figure out what it was or how to fix it. Thank you for sharing!

randystone.bsky.social•554 days ago

Hamm Tips was truly the best thing about Twitter.

digduglett.bsky.social•196 days ago

📌

exxzackly.bsky.social•196 days ago

Good point, I always thought designs like that looked kind of fake, over-airbrushed, and plasticky. Like, for example, most fabrics aren't shiny or reflective, so when you add a little too much shading; it ends up looking like a toy (which is great if that's what you want, but not when it isn't :P)

kateoleska.bsky.social•196 days ago

I prefer the old shapes tbh. Or lightly shaded. The ones that have shadows look a bit fake.

lizardky.bsky.social•634 days ago

"Understanding Comics" had a section on how new printing and paper technology that allowed far better color and shading than old 4-color process created unintended effects.

ursadoomart.bsky.social•196 days ago

Mrmm, I just simply e joy the process of adding a lot of details and that's why I do it.

thebriang.bsky.social•196 days ago

📌

chaelrishe.bsky.social•634 days ago

Brilliant thread. Thank you kindly for it.

dashxero.bsky.social•634 days ago

Thank you for sharing this! It’s really helpful information.

helioscopepdx.bsky.social•635 days ago

(cont) "We need only add subtle shading when it offers readers information they wouldn't perceive without it. On the left, Zorn's shading tells a charming story about how sunlight graces the cheek. Losing that subtlety (right) would cost us that story. This is what subtlety is for."

helioscopepdx.bsky.social•635 days ago

(cont) "If you have a subtle story to tell about form, go ahead and tell it. But if your shading only explains things readers could easily guess from the contours (see attached), grit your teeth and back slowly away from the brush tool."

winstar.bsky.social•634 days ago

The Nimh box art is offensive to me.

joey-poey.bsky.social•634 days ago

With the countless INCREDIBLE artists out there, I really wonder how companies fail this hard with their choices

ratchetfox.bsky.social•634 days ago

This has always baffled me, so many talented artists out there but they go for people who.. aren't that accomplished and/or don't seem to care for the subject matter. I would say it's down to money, but so many great artists under value themselves and under charge, so maybe cronyism or nepotism.

imustachechu.bsky.social•634 days ago

My theory is that it's what the bosses want. It looks more "real" so it's "better". The artists drawing the movie covers and cereal boxes look like they're good draftsman and understand color. But if the guy who holds your money wants Lucky to look shiny and bland he will look shiny and bland.

redadillio.bsky.social•634 days ago

joey-poey.bsky.social•634 days ago

The bright, cheery colors and expression, who the fuck thought this encapsulates these dark ass movies???

helioscopepdx.bsky.social•635 days ago

(cont) "Along with Anders Zorn, Bob Kuhn is an artist who only softens his edges when it counts. Look at the polar bear's breath. There, subtlety was needed. Elsewhere, hard edges suffice." /thread

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