How to Develop Character Figures in Photoshop
In a mad scientist’s laboratory any combination of people parts, animal appendages and machinery pieces may come together to make a new and original character but real life doesn’t allow for that much creativity. On-screen, though, the world is your laboratory when you use Adobe Photoshop to develop character figures. Create your own characters for avatar gaming and chatting, website tools or just to express your individuality with Photoshop’s drawing tools ready to bring your custom creature to life.
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Instructions
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Launch Adobe Photoshop. Click the “File” menu and select “New.” Enter a name for the character such as “MsMojo” in the “Name” box. Type the dimensions for the character in the “Width” and “Height” boxes. These will vary; for example, a character for an avatar will be small such as 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches but a character for a poster may be larger.
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Pull down the “Background Contents” menu and select “Transparent” so you can use your character on any background. Click the “OK” button to open the character-drawing canvas.
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Click the pencil icon on the “Tools” column. If you don’t see the pencil right-click an icon of a paintbrush and choose “Pencil Tool” from the fly-out menu. Pull down the unlabeled menu second from the left on the toolbar at the top of the screen. Choose the solid dot tip and set the “Size” slider to “10.” This size will vary depending on your original starting canvas size.
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Double-click the “Color Picker” box at the bottom of the “Tools” column. Choose a color for the character’s body such as a traditional skin tone or something alien and outrageous such as neon blue or hot pink.
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Position the cursor on the canvas and draw the outline of the main character’s head and body or monster shape, etc., where applicable. Include all appendages that will have the same body color.
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Click the paint bucket icon on the “Tools” pane. Click inside the character shape to fill it instantly with color, making it solid.
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Switch back to the pencil tool. Reduce the tip size on the “Size” slider. Choose a new color from the “Color Picker” for the character’s facial features where applicable. Experiment with looks such as two – or three – different eye colors, fangs, facial scales and scars and other looks.
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Select a new color from the “Color Picker” and add other elements to the character such as bright green hair, a purple tail, antlers and more. Change colors and tip sizes and add clothing and accessories to the character, such as a bouquet of balloons or a lightning bolt staff.
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Click the “File” menu and select “Save As.” Pull down the “Format” menu and choose “GIF” or “PNG,” preserving the canvas background transparency. Click “Save” to complete your character.
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