I am a game developer with no on-staff artist so I have to commission art from a variety of sources. In order for that art to have a consistent feel I need to learn the best way to communicate style guidelines to the artist. I have learned that the style of art I am using for my game is called multitone cell shaded. Which I realize is a bit ambiguous so I was looking around the internet for "right" and "wrong" examples of the type of cell shading I am going for.

What is really confusing me now is the range of art that is being labeled cell shaded. Having viewed a few cell shading tutorials and understanding the basics of what it takes to make a cell shaded graphic I am baffled by how some things that have been labeled cell shaded would have been created using this process.

Take this URL for example: http://explow.com/cel_shading

Most of the art on that page looks cell shaded to me. However, this image on that page: http://i01.i.aliimg....cel_Shading.jpg. Could that really be a cell shaded image?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Hello omatase,

From a content creators perspective the best way to explain cell shading is taking 3D objects and giving them a 2D look for feel. Examples would be Borderlands, Zelda Windwaker, No More Hero's, or Paper Mario. Typically cartoony, anime, painted looking 3D objects.

I would say yes your first url is, the second url definitely is not, as it looks to at least attempt to give some realistic shading value.

My recommendation is to find a popular title, show it as an example, give clear description of what aspects you do and don't like, things to emphasize on, etc.

I hope this helps!