Create characters out of random shapes

**Valigarmander** · 09-11-2011, 05:21 PM

Step 1: Download this random shape generator. Unzip it, and open the application.
Step 2: Find a shape that gets your creativity going. You can generate a new shape by pressing enter.
Step 3: Once you have a good one, copy it to your drawing software of choice (I'd suggest using Photoshop or something else that utilizes layers, so you can trace over the shape), and create a character based off of it.
Step 4: Once you're done, upload it to an image hosting site like Photobucket and post it in this thread. Be sure to include the original shape next to the final product.

This is actually a pretty fun creative exercise. Here's a couple I made:

**Loot** · 09-11-2011, 09:31 PM

I've been meaning to get my Photoshop skills going. I'll give it a shot sometime

***Cosmonautical*** · 09-12-2011, 07:23 AM

Those are pretty cool. I guess you're following more of an "inspired by the shape" kind of theme? Still good, nonetheless. I dig the pirate features a lot.

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 09-12-2011, 07:36 AM

...Val is Mister Squiggle?

Jenocide · 09-12-2011, 02:20 PM

**Valigarmander** · 09-12-2011, 02:34 PM

^ Exactly. That looks pretty good.

I see a chicken in the shape. Or a rubber glove?

Quote:

Originally Posted by People of the AMS

Those are pretty cool. I guess you're following more of an "inspired by the shape" kind of theme? Still good, nonetheless. I dig the pirate features a lot.

Yep. I've thought about giving this a try before, but I never got around to it until I happened to stumble upon the program I linked in the OP.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds

...Val is Mister Squiggle?

What is that? Some Aussie thing?

***Ace Mercury*** · 09-12-2011, 02:51 PM

Nice. I'm nowhere near a tablet, so i'll have to drop something in later.

My sister works in the animation character field. She said that a popular creativity exercise is to make characters out of random shapes (sorta like this); it helps prevent that Disney everyone-looks-like-a-sack-of-flour look.

Kargath · 09-12-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valigarmander

What is that? Some Aussie thing?

**Valigarmander** · 09-12-2011, 04:09 PM

^ Are you sure that's from Australia?

It looks like it came straight from Hell.

Jenocide · 09-12-2011, 04:52 PM

Another one?

While I was drawing the first one, I thought up the second one. <_>

**Valigarmander** · 09-12-2011, 05:42 PM

I made another one nice and quick.

Jere · 09-12-2011, 06:08 PM

reminds me of one of the members from gorillaz!

***CaptHayfever*** · 09-12-2011, 10:38 PM

Reminds me of Val.

And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

**Valigarmander** · 09-12-2011, 10:42 PM

I've got the big forehead, not the big chin.

**Valigarmander** · 09-13-2011, 01:33 PM

Another quickie.

***Cosmonautical*** · 09-14-2011, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jere

reminds me of one of the members from gorillaz!

Yeah, I went and watched the video for "Clint Eastwood" after seeing it.

09-11-2011, 05:21 PM	#1
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Create characters out of random shapes Step 1: Download this random shape generator. Unzip it, and open the application. Step 2: Find a shape that gets your creativity going. You can generate a new shape by pressing enter. Step 3: Once you have a good one, copy it to your drawing software of choice (I'd suggest using Photoshop or something else that utilizes layers, so you can trace over the shape), and create a character based off of it. Step 4: Once you're done, upload it to an image hosting site like Photobucket and post it in this thread. Be sure to include the original shape next to the final product. This is actually a pretty fun creative exercise. Here's a couple I made:

09-12-2011, 02:20 PM	#5
Jenocide Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In the glovebox. Gender: Posts: 635 Thanks: 69 Thanked 97 Times in 68 Posts Blog Entries: 21	like this?

09-11-2011, 09:31 PM	#2
Loot Apparently I'm a mod? Join Date: May 2001 Location: LEGITIMATE BUSINESS Gender: Posts: 13,208 Thanks: 236 Thanked 1,237 Times in 659 Posts	I've been meaning to get my Photoshop skills going. I'll give it a shot sometime

09-12-2011, 07:23 AM	#3
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,100 Thanks: 2,151 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Those are pretty cool. I guess you're following more of an "inspired by the shape" kind of theme? Still good, nonetheless. I dig the pirate features a lot.

09-12-2011, 07:36 AM	#4
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,503 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	...Val is Mister Squiggle?

09-12-2011, 02:51 PM	#7
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,274 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Nice. I'm nowhere near a tablet, so i'll have to drop something in later. My sister works in the animation character field. She said that a popular creativity exercise is to make characters out of random shapes (sorta like this); it helps prevent that Disney everyone-looks-like-a-sack-of-flour look.

09-12-2011, 04:09 PM	#9
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	^ Are you sure that's from Australia? It looks like it came straight from Hell.

09-12-2011, 04:52 PM	#10
Jenocide Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: In the glovebox. Gender: Posts: 635 Thanks: 69 Thanked 97 Times in 68 Posts Blog Entries: 21	Another one? While I was drawing the first one, I thought up the second one. <_>

09-12-2011, 05:42 PM	#11
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I made another one nice and quick.

09-12-2011, 06:08 PM	#12
Jere Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Sutme Gender: Posts: 3,648 Thanks: 404 Thanked 331 Times in 256 Posts Blog Entries: 3	reminds me of one of the members from gorillaz!

09-12-2011, 10:38 PM	#13
*CaptHayfever* Smash SuperMod Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: (n) - the place where I am Gender: Posts: 27,659 Thanks: 1,991 Thanked 2,486 Times in 1,513 Posts	Reminds me of Val. And remember, "I'm-a Luigi, number one!"

09-12-2011, 10:42 PM	#14
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I've got the big forehead, not the big chin.

09-13-2011, 01:33 PM	#15
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,700 Times in 2,580 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Another quickie.