First post, batsuit question

[mr. december]

Hi, this is my first post here.

If any of you post on the Batman Message Board (this one (http://www.comicboards.com/batman/)), I'm Taran'Atar over there.

Anyway, Something's been bothering me. I hate that the Batsuit in Batman Begins and Dark Knight is all one color.

Everything is black, but the cape is a [I]darker[I] black. Wouldn't it have looked a lot better if they'ed kept it the way it was, only made the gloves, boots, cowl and bat symbol the same darker black as the cape?

Here's what I mean:

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/4268/streetcomparison2il3.jpg
By taranatar (http://profile.imageshack.us/user/taranatar) at 2008-06-23

Does anyone else prefer the photoshopped one on the right?

[juggling man]

maybe but, I assume they had a purpose behind the color. Likely, lighting. What you got there looks good static, but moving around might be different. Also, all black silhouettes better in wide shots. The photoshopped version of the cowl doesn't define as well as the original (it loses features, a big no-no imo). Another thing is that the all black design is angular and layered, allowing the light to bounce off in interesting ways. To add to that contrast color wise is overkill in my opinion.

My conclusion: The PSed version looks slick, but all considered the all black version is more appropriate.

[metalhead_dave743]

Yeah, the PSed version does look slick. But the reason the cape is a different color than the rest of the suit is because it's made of cloth. It's a completely different material than the rest of the suit so it won't give off the same shine and reflections.

And personally, thank god. I thought the rubber capes from the Burtonmacher franchise were dumb as hell, and I'm also glad these suits are more of a matte black as opposed to the shiny black or blue rubber.

[BatWing]

It looks cool, I think. The reason they don't make the suit much darker has to do with the lighting. An all-black suit hidden in the shadows can easily be seen. You have to make it a dark grey, or blue or red (Hey, it worked for Daredevil :biggrin: ) to make it almost invisible in the shadows.

[mr. december]

Here's the thing. I didn't darken ANYTHING except for the cowl and the bat. Everything else (I did have to gray scale it -- the light in the picture has a green hue.) is pretty much the same.

Yeah, you're right that the cowl doesn't define as well. But I don't know if that's because it's photoshopped or what. Keaton's batsuit was darker than Bale's, and we could see him just fine.

I'm sure they could have made the cowl a more matte-black to match the cape. That way they'd be the same color, and the cowl wouldn't be more reflective. And yes, thank god we don't have another rubber cape.

Anyway, all I'm trying to do is make Bale look more like a comic book Batman. I'm not asking for blue trim (I prefer black anyway) and a bright yellow bat symbol, just make certain already black parts blacker.

This one isn't gray scaled:

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/8423/batmannotgrayscaledmh5.jpg

[MythicBrawn]

How long must it take for Bale to get into costume? I bet it is probably extremely hot too.

[mr. december]

Actually he said in an interview that this one is a lot cooler than the first one. I'm sure it's still hot thought.

[siberia77]

There's not a lot between them imho, would definitely be up for the batsymbol being a strong standout colour, in standing with the "shoot at the most armoured part" theory

[Supermancho]

The head looks weird, too big. I prefer the cowl from Burton films.

http://myholes.co.uk/images/uploads/thumbs/thumb_batmanbegins.jpg

[Jake V]

How long must it take for Bale to get into costume? I bet it is probably extremely hot too.

the new costume is reportedly easier to get into and a lot lighter and cooler than the last one, as it's pieces of armor attached to what's basically a shark diving suit. The previous costume was one solid piece.

[Schornforce]

I like the bat being darker, but not the cowl. I dunno. I guess the cowl just sticks out too much IMO.

The chest bat was intended to be a target with the yellow, so I guess it could translate if the bat symbol was darker or dark and reflectively glossy or something.

[mr. december]

The head looks weird, too big. I prefer the cowl from Burton films.

http://myholes.co.uk/images/uploads/thumbs/thumb_batmanbegins.jpg

I HATED the Burton cowls. I cringe whenever I see Michael Keaton turn his entire body to just to look to one side.

I do agree though, that Bale's cowl looks really big. I think that's because they want it to look really armored.

Any other opinions on the photoshops?

[juggling man]

The "insignia as target" explanation is lame I find.

[mr. december]

Why? Not saying I agree or disagree.

(And the target rationale is not why I did the photoshops)

[juggling man]

I prefer bottom up design. Where the concept drives the design. The "insignia as target" is a top down decision. "There's a big yellow insignia there without any real reason so let's make on up". I find it's kind of forced. As far as top down explanations go though, it's one of the better ones IMO.

[Supermancho]

I HATED the Burton cowls. I cringe whenever I see Michael Keaton turn his entire body to just to look to one side.

I do agree though, that Bale's cowl looks really big. I think that's because they want it to look really armored.



I believe we all agree Burton cowls were really stiff and that's a minus. But in its shape and size were more accurate IMO.
http://myholes.co.uk/images/uploads/thumbs/thumb_batmanbegins.jpg

[juggling man]

I was looking at a pic of the suit more purposefully and decided that visually it's not the greatest but that it was designed to move beautifully. Can't wait to see it on screen.

[metalhead_dave743]

Well the Begins suit looks much better in motion than in still shots. I think the same will be for the new suit as well.

And that effect is pretty much the exact opposite of the Burtonmacher suits.

[frostedone]

My only issue is the huge head. I relize that needs to be heavely armored, but it just looks disproportionate to the body.

[metalhead_dave743]

My only issue is the huge head. I relize that needs to be heavely armored, but it just looks disproportionate to the body.

Well they actually based it off a motorcycle helmet to the neck could actually turn. Seriously, I would have rather had a smaller head too... people would probably complain about the neck less if the head was smaller.

[rZi]

I felt they made it a little over the top compared to begins. It looks unnessecarily detailed, thank god they don't have nipples on them!

[mr. december]

Yeah, I think the new one looks a little too busy. To me, the new suit is what Batman would wear UNDER something more cloth-like.