05-04-2021, 04:08 AM
For the armour, are you going for a mirror reflected surface? Or more diffused reflection? I think that either way just dodge and burning it isn't the answer, it may have to be darker over all with a sharper highlight. That's what I tend to see in references or when I've seen armour on rare occasions. For example:
Of course this is inside, with lots of artificial lights shining on it, so it's not the same as outside with just the sun and sky. But it's basic aspect is a dark grey tone with reflections of the room rather softly in it, but then a bright, hard highlight on top. So I would probably try to emphasize that appearance by making the banding on the armour softer and less chromatic, but making the specular highlights sharp on top of it. I also think the style of the suits of armour in this picture is interesting. They have a very cinched in waist, and then the fullness is up higher at the chest. I don't know the period they are from but it looks kinda kewl.
Of course this is inside, with lots of artificial lights shining on it, so it's not the same as outside with just the sun and sky. But it's basic aspect is a dark grey tone with reflections of the room rather softly in it, but then a bright, hard highlight on top. So I would probably try to emphasize that appearance by making the banding on the armour softer and less chromatic, but making the specular highlights sharp on top of it. I also think the style of the suits of armour in this picture is interesting. They have a very cinched in waist, and then the fullness is up higher at the chest. I don't know the period they are from but it looks kinda kewl.