Help with Custom Portraits

[PenguinTuxedo]

Howdy!

I'm pretty new to the FFT modding scene (but I've been a fan of the game since it came out) and I really wanted to try my hand at portraits. I'm just doing practice portraits right now, and don't intend to use them in any mods but I'd still like them to look nice. So I was hoping to get some advice and recommendations on how to turn them from 'OK' to 'Spot On.'

The two I was hoping to get some help on were one I did of Tir McDohl (Genso Suikoden) and of a Humanised Panchito Pistoles (design by Chaico). If you know anything about how to properly do FFT style hair, that would be incredible but obviously there is a lot that could be fixed and any help is appreciated.

Reference for Panchito:
http://orig06.deviantart.net/284c/f/2012/096/c/e/assorted_pachito_by_chacckco-d4v6fl3.jpg

Thanks in adavance!

[Twinees]

I should be able to help with some quick edits later, for now, the hair on at least McDohl needs more volume upwards. Currently, its giving the impression that he has a very small head. Look at some bald character portraits and see how tall their heads are, then look at some similar face angles to the male thief portrait that actually have hair. It might help you out a bit.
Good luck.

[Angel]

There's also a really simple rule to FFT convention that's a good idea to adhere to - headroom. If you look at any portrait in FFT that isn't of a child, the top of the hair/hat/etc. is always cut off, and the chin falls around the bottom fourth of the portrait, give or take a couple pixels. That is far and away the thing that stands out most to me, in any portrait.