\nI intentionally went about this without any preconceptions and instead let the process drive the initial ideas.<\/p>\n
Scribbles to Thumbnails<\/h2>\n
This is a really fun part of the process. I literally scribble shapes that have roughly the right dimensions, but intentionally don\u2019t think too much about them. Some loose sketching and a couple of spots for eyes trigger possible ideas for forms, shapes and poses. The great thing about this process is that 1 scribble silhouette can yield multiple ideas depending on how it is interpreted. I sometimes play this game with my kids where we share a silhouette, and see what each of us makes!<\/p>\n
The image below shows a breakdown for Piccolo Diablo, our mean moustachioed intergalactic taxi driver.<\/p>\n
![\"SDS-ScribblesToThumbnails-1024x518\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/SDS-ScribblesToThumbnails-1024x518-e1470482988183.jpg\")
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This scribble silhouette could have become any number of thumbnail characters<\/p>\n
I end up doing loads of these thumbnails, most of which get discarded.<\/p>\n
As nice or interesting forms emerge, so do possible stories for this character \u2013 good or evil, their role or where they\u2019re from \u2013 and as the story evolves, so does the sketch which in turn adds more detail to the story \u2013 it\u2019s a cool little circle.<\/p>\n
Review Sheets<\/h2>\n
After I have a sheet of 10 to 15 thumbnails which have something interesting going on, I send them out to the team for a \u2018gut-feeling\u2019 review. This is without any story information \u2013 it is purely about identifying which thumbnails visually resonate well within the group \u2013 they have to feel good first!<\/p>\n
![\"SDS-ThumbnailRoughs-1024x441\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/SDS-ThumbnailRoughs-1024x441-e1470483021444.jpg\")
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Some of the thumbnails sent out to the team \u2013 some survived\u2026 most did not!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Working up a colour concept<\/h2>\n
From a chosen thumbnail (in this case I\u2019m going to continue using Picollo Diablo) I start working up the colour concept sketch.
\nIn Space Dust Racing, colour is super important as our characters must have unique palettes and silhouettes, so I gather thematic and colour reference to sample from (bottom left of image).
\nThis is also the stage where I start to flesh out detail, and sometimes things go wrong as you can see from the progression below. I started losing my way, and Picollo Diablo began to look like a cross between John Goodman and one of the Village People! I was still happy with his back-story, so I bounced the WIP out to the team for feedback, and ended up reverting back to an earlier sketch and continuing again from there.<\/p>\n
![\"SDS-ThumbnailToColourConcept-1024x570-1\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/SDS-ThumbnailToColourConcept-1024x570-1-e1470483047386.jpg\")
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From a Thumbnail to Concept \u2013 sometimes things don\u2019t always go to plan!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
This process resulted in these initial character concepts below, though it\u2019s important to note that not all of these will make it into the final game!<\/p>\n
![\"LineUp-1024x416\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/LineUp-1024x416-e1470483068806.jpg\")
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Some of these characters will miss the cut!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Prep for 3D\u2019ifying<\/h2>\n
Generally the more detail you can provide the 3D artist, the better \u2013 ideally orthographic drawings (front\/back\/side), a colour concept and\/or material reference.<\/p>\n
As the colour concept for Sarge is close to front on, I provide \u00a0a\u00a0rough<\/strong> side projection showing basic detail for his torso, posture, odd leg\/hip shape and arm.<\/p>\n The rough sketch for 3D Artist \u2018Grigs\u2019 showing the important details for Sarge.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A few chats here and there, and a few days later back comes this great 3D model.\u00a0Sarge\u2019s character has really transferred across from the sketches, which is awesome!<\/p>\n![\"SDS-SketchFor3DArtist-1024x578\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/SDS-SketchFor3DArtist-1024x578-e1470483088360.jpg\")
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![\"SDS-UntexturedMesh-1024x634\"](\"http:\/\/eidersuso.net\/design\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/SDS-UntexturedMesh-1024x634-1-e1470483124789.jpg\")
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