Updated benchmark

[Risough]

My character across all the different graphics versions we've seen. While the lighting changes are impressive, I dislike the more pronounced creases at his brow and the corners of his mouth seem thinner than the benchmark V1/live versions.

I've had a chance to sleep on it and I'd like to speak a bit more about those wrinkles on his brow. The furrows are too exaggerated compared to what we see in 6.58. This is for Face 4 highlander.










I've outlined the area I'm unhappy with above. You can see the wrinkle around the brow is much deeper and darker now. The shading and contrast give the impression that he's always angrier than before. It's especially noticeable when viewed top-down as in the images from my previous post.

Highlander players in general feel pretty ignored. It feels a bit like after 10 years of asking for brows SE has given us a "best we can do is deeper wrinkles." I don't expect to see eyebrows as part of the update but I hope there is still some time to make adjustments to match the look we had.

Comparing the current brow to the first benchmark, perhaps the crease was exaggerated to fix the lighting in the old build? If so I hope the shading can be adjusted to be less severe in 7.0.

[Astronis]

I've outlined the area I'm unhappy with above. You can see the wrinkle around the brow is much deeper and darker now. The shading and contrast give the impression that he's always angrier than before.

He actually looks ever so slightly more relaxed and happier than before, due to a subtle shadow on the corners of his mouth that hint at a smile. The slightly deeper furrows doesn't make his expression look angrier at all.

As far as not paying much attention to Highlanders, they fixed an issue on my Highlander's brow ridge that I didn't even realize was there, until I did a side by side by side of live, 1.0 bench, and A Benchmark Reborn.

[Iscah]

I've had a chance to sleep on it and that crease at his brow is a bigger problem for me than I was willing to admit. The crease is too exaggerated compared to what we see in 6.58. This is for Face 4 highlander.

I've noticed a similar issue on my female Roegadyn (face 1).

This screenshot is from the first benchmark but it didn't seem to have been fixed in the new one.



Specifically in this case it is the creases over the eye, which extend further inwards now. The blue arrows mark the end of the visible line.

She also has shadows under her eyes that weren't there before.

[gatorbait]

I've outlined the area I'm unhappy with above. You can see the wrinkle around the brow is much deeper and darker now. The shading and contrast give the impression that he's always angrier than before. It's especially noticeable when viewed top-down as in the images from my previous post.

I was scrolling through the thread and this post stuck out to me. I feel this has aged the character without the decision of the creator. It should be offered as as option not a given.

[ThatGazzie]

I agree, the highlander face 4 looks different from the benchmark and should be reverted.

[Risough]

I've outlined the area I'm unhappy with above. You can see the wrinkle around the brow is much deeper and darker now.

I would like to expand on the bolded part of my message and properly explain how I feel face 4 Highlander changed. I have revised my previous screenshots to communicate these changes more clearly. First, however, I would like to thank the development team for their efforts on benchmark v1.1. The lighting improvements are amazing!



The furrows of the character’s brow have been made much deeper. In this view you can see that the brow has soft shadows in 6.58. In the updated benchmark there is instead a prominent wrinkle. This issue is consistent regardless of which eyebrow option is selected. I have tried to show the soft shading of the original in contrast to the graphic shape of the benchmark in my drawing.



These wrinkles are also visible from the front. The wrinkle is very subtle in the shading of the current version. In the benchmark the crease creates a harsh line between the bridge of the nose and the eye.



From the side you can see the wrinkle is again much deeper and darker. There is also an unnatural angle where the wrinkle crosses the border of the eye socket.



I have also taken a screenshot of my character without face paint for those who find it distracting. Here you can clearly see the deep brow wrinkle in contrast to the subtle shading of the current graphics. It is especially noticeable on the bridge of the nose.

Overall, I feel the impression of face 4 highlander has been significantly changed by the deepened furrows. Compared to 6.58, the character feels older and much grumpier. I feel my character has changed significantly. I would appreciate it if the brows could be adjusted to remove the prominent furrow. Could you please somehow correct the shading to be softer like in the current graphics?

I know the development team is doing their best and I am sorry to ask more of them, but please accept my feedback for consideration.