paleologos workshop link

[paleologos]

Today's theme is a "Nordic compass":

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I am inclined to take requests -for the time being- along the Nordic spirit.

[Araval]

Nice work!

Not really a request but if you're looking for ideas, one could be something more wild like this:

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[paleologos]

I see.
My issue with this image is it has random runes drawn all over it and I can't see them all clearly.
Not really interesting, neither historically accurate, though the last part is not prohibitive to me.
Truth is I am not looking for ideas, as I have a collection of images that can feed my GIMP for a few months.
But if someone has a request that is among the patterns I am going to make, I will give that a priority.

[paleologos]

One more Norse "compass" pattern:

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[cedric37]

Nice to see you back again in business, and the last shield skins are excellent!

[Cookiegod]

hm those I like less. You can immediately see that the pattern is just a layer with transparency on top of the other one. The circles are too perfect, etc. Which would be less of a problem with Arabic stuff where people put the effort into making it look really nice, but the patterns aren't that complex and that clashes with the precision if you know what I mean.

EDIT: By that I mean the compass ones. The snake ones are great.

[paleologos]

You can immediately see that the pattern is just a layer with transparency on top of the other one.

I used that method for all patterns I have showcased here, not just the compasses.

The circles are too perfect, etc. Which would be less of a problem with Arabic stuff where people put the effort into making it look really nice, but the patterns aren't that complex and that clashes with the precision if you know what I mean.

I know what you mean.
I wasn't trying to make any "organic" patterns, that would take waaay too long.
But if you are playing a such a M2TW mod as The Last Kingdom or Wrath of the Norsemen: The Baltic Release and you want to quickly "upgrade" the looks on your vikings, would your eye stop and grunt at the digital precision of the circles?

[Akar]

I want to be able to watch my soldiers hand paint their shields before every battle.

[paleologos]

You'd need a backstage invitation and you are no VIP.

[paleologos]

One more and this is the first with a stitched leather rim:

[Akar]

I think the color of the stitching looks a little odd as gold. Have you tried a darker brown to give an appearance of leather?

[paleologos]

I didn't think anyone would take this color as "gold".
It's the color of hemp string:

[Akar]

Ahh, it's much more clear on that image. Just looks a little yellowish on the shield . It's the first thing my eye is drawn to when I look at the shield, it just feels to BRIGHT. Overall the design is good though, that's my only qualm.

[Lifthrasir]

Stitched leather rim?
Anyway, I really like the wood texture you've made for these shields. Very good job

[paleologos]

Stitched leather rim?

Yup!

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Anyway, I really like the wood texture you've made for these shields. Very good job

Thanks mate.

[Lifthrasir]

From what I've found on the subject:

The most intact artifact I know of is the Tira shield, found in Latvia and dated to the 9th century. The pics I've seen aren't the clearest but it doesn't appear that any edging survives, it might have a ring of holes near the rim all the way around though and I've seen that on a few finds I've come across in my searches. AFAIK there hasn't been any metal associated with whatever this rimming was so I assume it was organic. I've seen reconstructions that have rawhide "sewn" to the rim through these holes but I don't find it very convincing because it tends to look sloppy and the first thing that would happen in a fight is one of the stitches would get cut and the rim would be compromised in a significant way as the stitching comes undone. Not every shield seems to have had a rim but I've seen evidence in art of some kind of raised rim, an effect you probably wouldn't get from rawhide or metal. If a rope were "sewn" to the edge of the rim through those same holes before the shield was faced with leather or cloth you'd get the raised rim effect, it'd explain the holes, add a reasonably tough barrier to the rim of your shield and since it was sewn + covered with the facing it could absorb quite a number of hits before the rim was seriously compromised.

So it looks that the rope/string should remain invisible as being covered

For info, the Tira shield mentioned above:

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Anyway, your work, your choice Mate

[paleologos]

I see...
Anyway, I have the variety for anyone who is interested.

The same basic pattern with minor tweaks, also with riveted rims, metal and leather.
I took Akar's recommendation and now the stitching is barely visible.
Perhaps the normal map can make the difference.

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[Akar]

I think that looks much better with the stitching toned down.

I also really like those two shields on the top.

[paleologos]

Looking for "viking" material I found this photo of a re-enactor and was inspired by the pattern on his shield:

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Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[paleologos]

Somewhat less fancy:

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