Need some advice on backgrounds

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I'm prepping a Halloween comic~. When it comes to color theory, I usually go with my gut, see, but sometimes my gut goes in the wrong direction, and I end up stuck:

I'm not quite sure which direction to go in; there are things I like about both. And at the same time, I feel like something else entirely might also work? I just want something simple that will make the main characters stand out, but not so simple that you can't tell where they are.

[SleepingPoppy]

I think the green is the more harmonious of the two choices. It might depend on what you're going for or the context of where they're located. Maybe try filling the white space with something like a neutral pale blue, though I think the white works better in the green one than the brown/orange one.

Neither is a bad choice by any means. Just my two cents. ^^

[hushicho]

I like the oranges and browns because they are warmer tones that offset the figures...but I also like the green because it feels nice as a background, even if it is close to the first two characters' skintones; it's also very different to the third.

I could also point you to Wally West's "22 Panels That Always Work" for some other ideas regarding background and composition, if perhaps you might like to incorporate them in future. They've always helped me when I'm stuck.

[jpnakashima]

I like the green one as well. It gives a calmer vibe to the scene, which seems pretty lighthearted.

That said, contrast works better on the orange, hm.

[MissionFailure]

why not green first panel, orange second, and a split of both on the third?

edit*

[SeraphicMayin]

You could take advantage of atmospheric perspective and lay down a layer of kinda low opacity gray-blue on each background and see which looks better?

Basically if the BG is less bright than the characters, they'll pop in the forefront no matter what color you use.

[storytimebiondi]

Basically if the BG is less bright than the characters, they'll pop in the forefront no matter what color you use.

This is good advice.

It allows you to better choose a colour 'mood'. I would angle your colours towards a mood, rather than natural lighting. It may better convey the feeling of your story.

[droidmonkey1]

If it's for Halloween I would choose fall colors but more dull, so the characters will pop out.

[Taru_Chan]

@MissionFailure I agree with her opinion

[DokiDokiTsuna]

I got a finished prototype, finally:

I basically just took the scheme I liked the most and added +45 blue. :9 I also changed the linework, to give the characters a more cartoony feel (I was originally going for a "high manga" sort of thing, but then I remembered that this is supposed to get done quickly).

Thanks for all your advice! Daughters of the Pumpkin Queen will launch on Tapas and Webtoon in October! Please look out for it~