So I've been messing around creating backgrounds in flash the last week. Thought I'd post them here.

All of it was done in flash except for the textures on some of the backrounds.

animated: http://chewyfa.deviantart.com/art/City-Dome-431988204

animated: http://chewyfa.deviantart.com/art/Background-concept-finished-430812775

From an old background I made for my Infinity Strikers tryout (can be found in the link in the description)
http://chewyfa.deviantart.com/art/Ruins-of-Infinity-430439573

This one was the first version of the animated bg with the sword
http://chewyfa.deviantart.com/art/Background-concept-430398092

Feel free to give any tips/criticism, since I'm still trying to learn new techniques to make my backgrounds better.

Holy crap, Chewy, this is as aesthetic as fuck! Once again, you've absolutely nailed it.

I like these backgrounds Mr. Chewy, I wouldn't know how to critique these, although they all do look the same unless that's what you were going for. Alrighty but here's a tip. (Don't walk in alleys at night)

First Animated BG: Very nice effects. The colors give it a nice post-apocalyptic feel, which can be assumed as to why there's a dome in the first place. However, I have to say that the buildings somewhat confuse me. There's blurring on some, but I can't tell if they're the same place as the ones in the dome, or just behind it. While it's still a lovely piece, it kind of confuses the eye. That aside, I find the actual color of the dome kind of draws the eye from everything else. Because the color is so bright, given the darkness of the rest of the scene, it stand out in a somewhat weird way (this is possibly personal preference). It also doesn't seem to go all the way down. I you look at the lower edges, the pulses go down, but the color is entirely gone.

Second Animated BG: I actually prefer the color scheme of this one a lot more. They're cool, and there's no clashing colors in the palette, and I really enjoy the look of the sword and how it's little cloth tail breezes in the wind. The buildings in the background match the rocky terrain well without being completely overpowered by them, and I can tell the depth easily. The shading on the rock structures is also quite gorgeous, I must say.

First Non-Animated BG: While I don't love the textures, I do like the image. It's pretty neat, and there's a mystery to the entire scene. The repeated symbols are a bit bothersome, as their positioning is somewhat questionable, because it really makes the symbol lose its effect. On a few structures, sure, it'd have some kind of symbolism or show symbolic nature (like on the two columns of an old entrance, or the walls of some ritual chamber). It feels forced, I suppose is the best way to say it. Still, overall the background is amazing.

Second Non-Animated BG: It's essentially the same as the second animated bg (which it actually is, minus sword and at a different time of day I assume), so my opinion is roughly the same as with that one. However, there are difference I to take note of, like the lack of the rocky spires and the cracks in the ground (the cracks may have been there and I simply didn't notice them because my attention was drawn elsewhere and the colors were different). I still like the piece, but I do prefer the animated version. This does give more of a desert-like feel, whereas the animated version gives a mountainous feel, and a good deal of that is due to the color schemes chosen, and I have to commend your ability to create two different environmental feels so easily with changes so minor.

All in all, I love all of em, and I'm totally jealous.

Quote from Azure Kite

First Animated BG: Very nice effects. The colors give it a nice post-apocalyptic feel, which can be assumed as to why there's a dome in the first place. However, I have to say that the buildings somewhat confuse me. There's blurring on some, but I can't tell if they're the same place as the ones in the dome, or just behind it. While it's still a lovely piece, it kind of confuses the eye. That aside, I find the actual color of the dome kind of draws the eye from everything else. Because the color is so bright, given the darkness of the rest of the scene, it stand out in a somewhat weird way (this is possibly personal preference). It also doesn't seem to go all the way down. I you look at the lower edges, the pulses go down, but the color is entirely gone.

Second Animated BG: I actually prefer the color scheme of this one a lot more. They're cool, and there's no clashing colors in the palette, and I really enjoy the look of the sword and how it's little cloth tail breezes in the wind. The buildings in the background match the rocky terrain well without being completely overpowered by them, and I can tell the depth easily. The shading on the rock structures is also quite gorgeous, I must say.

First Non-Animated BG: While I don't love the textures, I do like the image. It's pretty neat, and there's a mystery to the entire scene. The repeated symbols are a bit bothersome, as their positioning is somewhat questionable, because it really makes the symbol lose its effect. On a few structures, sure, it'd have some kind of symbolism or show symbolic nature (like on the two columns of an old entrance, or the walls of some ritual chamber). It feels forced, I suppose is the best way to say it. Still, overall the background is amazing.

Second Non-Animated BG: It's essentially the same as the second animated bg (which it actually is, minus sword and at a different time of day I assume), so my opinion is roughly the same as with that one. However, there are difference I to take note of, like the lack of the rocky spires and the cracks in the ground (the cracks may have been there and I simply didn't notice them because my attention was drawn elsewhere and the colors were different). I still like the piece, but I do prefer the animated version. This does give more of a desert-like feel, whereas the animated version gives a mountainous feel, and a good deal of that is due to the color schemes chosen, and I have to commend your ability to create two different environmental feels so easily with changes so minor.

All in all, I love all of em, and I'm totally jealous.

I love you.

This is the kind of criticism I was looking for. Also, the blurred buildings in the back on the dome background was actually a destroyed city but I guess the blur makes it kind of confusing lol. Anyways, thanks again for the criticism.

OMFG! If only I could make such awesome backgrounds... :rolleyes:

Quote from Chewy

I love you.

This is the kind of criticism I was looking for. Also, the blurred buildings in the back on the dome background was actually a destroyed city but I guess the blur makes it kind of confusing lol. Anyways, thanks again for the criticism.

Ah, destroyed, not distance. On closer examination, I can see it. Anyways, it really wasn't that great a criticism. I'm sure Lobo or Erin could do better than me. Still, glad I could help out some with my opinions and observations.