Prologue

In May 2023, I joined in a Mermay Challenges and designed a villain.

I really love the way clothes are designed. Also, I'm addicted to gacha games like Onmyoji or Genshin Impact.

So, I wanna create a new appearance for my character based on the old design and my current skill.

Let's start!

Video process

Create concept

1. Inspiration

• Gachagames[Onmyoji-GenshinImpact]

  • Detailedaccessories

  • Animestyle

    • Mydesignformermay2023

2. Description

Cause this is a random character, so try to describe character by words, not questions

+ Adjective:Tall,thin,soft,ancient..

    + Noun:Shikigami,squid,ink,Japan,fudepen,kakemono,kimono,skull…

Fulfill this list with words as much as you can for easy designing.

Then, we will define them to gain more information and find pictures about them as references.

3. Presentation

There are a lot of words, only the front view can not show enough information  so that we need to expose them through various views

Let's spread out your creativity here

Rough composition [a.k.a sketch]

First of all, we need a long canvas [ longer than screen size] to present above information about character

Here is my size

[4640 x1080]

My first composition include :

• Mainillustration

• Expression

• Assets

• Skilldedication

• Frontview

• Backview

• Sideview

Then I decide to use the rough illustration as front view, and create another pose for main Illustration.

Clean sketch - Using ruler to draw side view

I tried to simple details for the front view, keep them symmetric.

Then I find this symbol to open the [KEY] tab

Open the Ruler tab by clicking on Ruler symbol.

Choose [LINEAR RULER]

Make sure to show Ruler in all layer so that you could see them when you are in another layer.

Then clarify as much details as you can before starting to line.

Color test

You could choose any colors you love cause here is your Oc.

But here is how I choose color.

Consider all characteristics for colors. Type [color semiotics] to find out more.

Keep them under 5 to control value better.

Line [Symmetry rulers & Vector layer]

I use [VECTOR LAYER] to keep high resolution for my lines.

There is no raster when scaling it up for huge canvas size.

You could read more here

https://tips.clip-studio.com/en-us/articles/600

[SYMMETRY RULER] helps us drawing two half of an object are exactly the same.

You don't need to worry about their accuracy anymore.

However, to draw front view or back view, you must keep the ruler straight.

So here is how I draw ruler on my tablet.

Find this symbol on screen edge.

Turn on the key [SHIFT] to draw a straight ruler.

After using it, make sure turn it off if not you couldn't have free hand drawn.

Choose [Show in all layers] so that, ruler can effect even you're in another layer.

If not you won't see the ruler.

Turn them on to activate your ruler.

Create separately [SYMMETRICAL RULER] for [BACK VIEW]

It seems not giving enough information about character, so after [Line] step, I added on [Avatar] as Symbolize version for my character and present Assets on others parts.

Cause avatar is a really small size picture, so you must have readable bold silhouette for character here.

To keep it simple and bold, I used Chibi style to present details.

There are some things to consider

Utilize contrast colors

Symbolize details and add them on frame [tentacles]

I only draw a half of circle then using [SYMMETRICAL RULER] to fulfill.

So here is the finished line art with some decorative details.

Color

As usual, I use my favorite tool to fulfill the illustration

You could download it here

https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1978471

To choose color conveniently, I added the color test into [SUB VIEW] tab

Adding the color test on sub view.

You could find details here.

After I fill in all colors, I found the background is the same cool tone with character color.

It means too much cool colors here.

 

 

So that, I used [Hue] to find a warm color for background but keep the same value.

Last words

So here is the new design for Sumie [ now she has a name].

I tried to change the design at some points for giving all information clearly [old design don't show much about her gender]

As you know, I built her from a random theme, so that she has many details that I like. May be she is a mess in some ways but I love her so much.

Thank you for watching and enjoy the process.

Bonus - Background story [a.k.a lore]

Lastly, create a story by giving informations.

 

Try it as simple as you can, even if it is just meanless fiction.

 

Don't worry!

 

Here is mine.

 

[On the sea, a huge storm is coming.

 

Fishermen are taking a heavy net.

 

From the dark, something is appearing.

 

With the anger from dead marine creatures, she came on revenge with curses.

 

Storm is faded, but something is still inside fishermen.

 

They gradually become weak and die even who eaten their foods.]

 

 

I created a few animatic scenes for video's intro to present lore, take a glance