Game Art - Art Direction - Principles of Character Design

Game Art Design Critical Studies
Art Direction 1
Principles of Character Design

GAME 1002 Week 2 Art Direction 1
Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014
Principles of Character Design

what makes a character
visually interesting
what is their story
how do we convey this
visually
where do we begin
Roller Bunny by Gregory Callahans
What is good character design?

is it believable
silhouette
readability
fit for purpose
Journey by Thegamecompany
Believable
Ideal Proportions from Figure Drawing For All Its Worth, Andrew Loomis
Believable - exaggeration
A
2D Tutorial How to Exaggerating Body Proportions by Mike Crilley

Believable - exaggeration
A

Comparison Jack and Robin


is it believable
silhouette
readability
fit for purpose
DC Comics Batman by Neal Adams

Who am I?
by Andy Fairhurst
Silhouette
silhouette must be clearly readable
designed with a signature pose
pose should reinforce character traits
weapons should complement character
Wolverine by Andy Fairhurst

10

is it believable
silhouette
readability
fit for purpose
Tangled by Disney
11
Readability the value gradient

value the range of light and dark
regardless of colour and saturation
value gradient value should shift from
darker at feet to lighter at head
creates focal points draw the players
eye to important areas
creates illusion of depth, enhances 3D
Dota2 Character Art Guide by Valve
12
Readability value patterning

human eye looks for patterns
create contrasting blocks of value to
highlight forms
increase contrast between objects
separate unique pieces into value
test value patterns in-game, before adding
colour
characters most important features
draw the eye

13
Readability colour and saturation

primary + secondary and tertiary,
complement or contrast
avoid colours dominant in the world
saturation/colour intensity draw the eye
higher saturation to reinforce interest
ALWAYS recheck values in greyscale
14
Readability colour for mood and story
15

is it believable
silhouette
readability
fit for purpose
Farmer by Jolyon Webb, Game Art Team

16
Is it fit for purpose?

check character in context
test shapes
test colours, values
and scale
ensure it does not
distract
17
What is good character design - checklist

is it believable based on reality
silhouette is clear, recognisable, unique and unmistakeable
readability value gradient, value pattern, colour and
saturation, colour for mood and story
fit for purpose does it fit into the environment, your world
18
Who am I? Superhero recognition time
Hello Kitty super hero designs by Joseph Senior

19
The many faces of Batman
a strong design will become iconic

20
How do we create a character?

rules and story
gathering reference visual research
refining reference using mood boards visual research
thumbnail sketches generating and testing ideas
refined sketches
exploring palette
final concepts
ready for production!
Tangled by Disney
21
The game world helps define the rules

Positive
Hand-made
Chunky
Organic
Rural
Low-tech
Medieval
Tangled by Disney
22
The game world helps define the rules
Village by Mitch Small, Craig Mooney, Game Art Team

23
Rules
characters are real world proportions
silhouette must be bold and interesting with chunky shapes,
not fiddly small details
hands and feet may be slightly exaggerated
all colours from a warm, natural palette
24
Story
characters have a story to locate them in the game world
male
farmer
late 30s
overweight
rustic
jolly
likes a drink, and it shows
25
Gathering references
a collection of visual
ideas and stimulus
at this stage keep an
open mind
reject nothing
26
Refining references mood boards

start to focus your idea
prioritise whats really
interesting
impose order and
deduce visual must haves
27
Sketching generating and testing ideas

work fast
work rough
dont be precious
more done now
will save time later

28
Refined sketching

29
Exploring palette
warm and natural
no artificial colours
use saturated colour
sparingly
colours sit in harmony

30
Final concept
right proportions
right colours
right shape/silhouette
tells story visually

31
How do we create a character - checklist

rules and story
gathering reference visual research
refining reference using mood boards visual research
thumbnail sketches generating and testing ideas
refined sketches
exploring palette
final concepts
now youve got a basic understanding of guiding principles of
good character design, its your turn!
32
Where 2D and 3D collide

Game Production:
introducing you to 3DS Max
learning modelling basics
Visual Studies:
fundamentals of drawing
visual communication
visual review, tools
and techniques
33
Character design Cubee Man

well provide you with
34
Cubee Man a blank canvas
35
Cubee Man colouring in
36
Your Cubee character
37
Your Cubee character and beyond!

small changes make BIG differences
add hair and props
add more geometry
add more complexity to
the base
38
Paper Art
Paper characters by Alexei Lyapunov and Lena Ehrlich from People Too
39
Game Art Design Visual Studies
Takeaways:
believable
silhouette
readable
fit for purpose
ICONIC
GAME 1004 Week 1 Introduction
40
Takeaways:
believable
silhouette
readable
fit for purpose
ICONIC
beast the research

work hard and fast
dont concept too soon
AVOID EMOTIONAL
ATTACHMENT
41
Further reading
For essential reference, you should get the Andrew Loomis books there
is no better introduction to the technical skill of observational drawing,
and this skill will help you develop believable characters
42

Game Art - Art Direction - Principles of Character Design

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Game Art - Art Direction - Principles of Character Design

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Principles of Character Design

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Principles of Character Design

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

What is good character design?

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

2D Tutorial How to Exaggerating Body Proportions by Mike Crilley

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

2D Tutorial How to Exaggerating Body Proportions by Mike Crilley

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Comparison Jack and Robin

2D Tutorial How to Exaggerating Body Proportions by Mike Crilley

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

What is good character design?

DC Comics Batman by Neal Adams

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Wolverine by Andy Fairhurst

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

What is good character design?

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Readability the value gradient

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Readability value patterning

Dota2 Character Art Guide by Valve

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Readability colour and saturation

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Readability colour for mood and story

GAME 1002 Week 2 Art Direction 1

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

What is good character design?

Farmer by Jolyon Webb, Game Art Team

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Is it fit for purpose?

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

What is good character design - checklist

GAME 1002 Week 2 Art Direction 1

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

Who am I? Superhero recognition time

Hello Kitty super hero designs by Joseph Senior

Emma Ash, Michael Powell August 2014

Game Art Design Critical Studies

The many faces of Batman

a strong design will become iconic