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i-Moosker — Character Design Tutorial
Published: 2011-07-13 04:04:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 14362; Favourites: 414; Downloads: 270
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Description
This is just a little tutorial I created to pass the time while my internet was down. My internet was down because lightning hit the DSL/Cable/internet box outside of our home. Best part? I was 20 ft away from it and I saw it happen. The lightning was SUPER super loud and I basically fell off my chair and almost had a heart attack. Pretty cool, eh?Ah, this really isn't the best of design tutorials, but it was more made for fun. I could have made it longer and added more color combination's and explain about split complementary and tertiary colors and hue, value, saturation and whatnot, but I just kept it down to the basics so that it wouldn't be too long.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to leave a comment. Sorry for any grammar mistakes, by the way!
Tutorial layout inspired by ~sashas .
PocketMutt
Copyright 2011
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You may not trace, alter, re-use, reference, manipulate, use, or distribute my images in any manner. DO NOT steal any of these designs or the character. Thank you.
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Comments: 68
Tysm I've been looking all over for a simple color theory guide <3
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This is my favorite out of many others! I can't stop coming back to it.
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Really helpful tutorial,especialy the colour part ^^
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Hey, wow, glad you liked this~!
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This is a very helpful tutorial. But how does one name their species? Would it be best to use a word in a different language that means something that relates to the creature or to make up a whole new word?
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it depends. If your species possess a special trait or ability of some kind you can incorporate that into the name or you can base the name after what it's themed after (if it is themed after something) or just think of a name that sounds good :> I named an amphibian like species of mine Myulu just for the heck of it <3
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I suggest looking up name generators and then combining fun sounding words!
Some names I've come up with for species are: Arcai, Lerbeff, Molport, Iggysaurus, Niderakon. In my instance, most of the species names are just random original words that I made up- except for Iggysaurus, with the suffix, "saurus" suggesting that it's related to dinosaurs and "Iggy" suggesting it's also related to Iguanas in some way.
If you do decide to use a word in another language to be your original species, that sounds like a neat idea, actually!!! Never thought of it. Hmm... I'll make this up on the spot. Let's say I have an original species, an ice frog. In Norwegian, direct translation of "ice frog" is "is frosk". Isfrosk could be a cool original species name, even though it's not completely 100% original, and actually Norwegian for "ice frog", it can be neat. Or change it around a bit... like... "Isafrosk" or "Isofrosk". This is a lame example but I hope it makes sense >-<
Just go with whatever you like~!
OHH! This inspires me to write a tutorial based just on naming now... Thanks c:
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Oh I see. Thank you!
Hee-hee, you're welcome~!
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Glad to be of help. G'luck.
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As an early character design artist, this tutorial helps out a lot! I felt that everything you have said here I can agree with! I feel that I understand more of colors within a character, and how to carefully place them. I never really thought about complementary colors. They are a huge boost in understanding on my part.
I do have one question, however. For most of the examples, you had used two colors to further explain your reasons. About what would you say is the maximum number of colors that could contribute to a character without it being too much of a clusterfuck? I'm currently working on a character now, and I just had a slight question about the sort. I feel like you would be able to help me out. I understand that two primary colors is definitely better than that of 6 or so primary colors, so I just needed to know.
Thanks!
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Thank you so much, I'm glad you could have found this useful.
Oh! I never did explain how many colors you could use, maximally. Well, it really depends on the character and your style! Have you ever seen, =griffsnuff 's characters? If she balances it out correctly, she can use nine or even more colors and it doesn't seem too "busy", like on this character, [link]
She used browns, oranges, and blue. The main three colors, plus hues/saturations/values of those colors and it all still manages to flow very nicely - as orange and blue are complementary, whilst brown acts as more of a "buffer". So, while she technically only used three colors, she used different 'shades' of those three colors and still managed to make it work through placement.
OH! Also! Here's a great resource for designing color "pallets" for your character, PLEASE check it out, it's a lifesaver! [link]
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Oh, now I see what you're talking about! So balance of character design contributes to color, I never thought of that! Using different shades, eh? That's brilliant!
And thanks so much for the color wheel! It actually does help a ton! Thanks!
I'm glad you were able to help me out!
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Exactly, and sure, glad I could be of help to yah! c;
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I feel bad for all the arcai who had to have the DO NOT designs. Will they have to go through the rest of their natural lives looking like freaks or can they change?
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Unfortunately they will be stick with the same pelt coat their entire lives... because once they eat the berries that make their colors change, they can't revert back! D:
It's a sad world indeed for the outcasts... :c
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Thank you for this tutorial, it make the color theory really clear and simple and it was easy to read and understand. :3
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Awesome, I'm glad that this helped you out!! c:
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Cool~ Glad you found this tutorial useful n.n
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Thank yousss~ Glad you found this tutorial useful ~
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whoa that's so cool! you got to see lightning from just 20 feet away!
you should send that to like, ripley's believe it or not!
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i'd have to disagree on this, i would say complex designs are more original than simple.
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Original? Sure. They can be more 'original'. However, it is quality over quantity- A poorly made (but 'original') character with sixty weird 'aesthetic additions' isn't better than a very well made simple (perhaps not as seemingly unique) character with three-four 'aesthetic additions'.
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thanks, this is great! i love your style!!! How do you get such smoothe but bold lines for your creatures? With photoshop they're always sharp and wonky..
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Thanks! Glad it could be of help to you! I actually have a tutorial on how you can make your lines in photoshop nice and smooth. Check it out if you want to here: [link]
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Thank you! I'm glad it could be of help to you!
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Thank you, I'm glad it could be of help
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I am glad it was helpful to you!
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this tutorial was very well made yes people do need help cause to many CRAZY designed ocs
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Thanks so much! Haha and I surely hope so!
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Thanks so much, glad you think so
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i have quite a few characters that aren't very good so i'll probably re design them with this ^^
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Ohh okay cool, well I'm glad it was helpful
Good luck on redesigning, I'm sure your design will look good~
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Thanks so much, I'm glad you like it
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