how to make a character design : character sheet?

[nio kasgami]

Hi people I wanted to ask you ....how you make character design : character sheet? 

I am not even sure of how this look 

of what I googled this seem you draw your character in 3 pose

• the front pose
• the sideview pose
• the back pose

but I am not sure if I should add more information or such 

I would love any helps because this for my college attendance and this will really help me a lot!

 

[Dark_Metamorphosis]

What kind of sheet do you mean?, the original VX styled sheet? If so you can just look at the templates for the characters in game, and open them up in something like Photoshop or GIMP and you can create the template there. The setup is however: 3x4 squares where It's front view, back, left and right. Then ofc you need to customize the movement of your character.

I'm not sure if I misunderstood you completely, and if so I'm sorry

 

[nio kasgami]

no no I mean a Design character sheet not  the one you use for design a character for a story or a game ....I googled some exemple min ...

that's a fast exemple but that's what I mean

(picture not from me )

 

[Bonkers]

Your best bet is to look at ones created by other artists.  A quick look at DA reveals the following:

Besides the three poses there can be an entire separate sheet dedicated to the details of clothes and uniforms.  There can also be specific poses of the character in action sequences, and from a variety of views.  Anything at all that concerns a detail like a tattoo, scars, or pattern needs it's own separate space on the main sheet or a subordinate sheet.  An example would be batman's symbol on his costume.

You also need the color guide.  This is done in flats.  

Facial expressions can also help, and can easily go on subordinate sheets to accompany the master reference.  All sheets should be labeled with the character's name and project.

An authentic character sheet will not have a bio taking up valuable space.  There should be as little writing on it as possible, aside from necessary notes to highlight an area or feature.

 

[nio kasgami]

okai ! so a character sheet can be quit big right? the requirement wanted me to specify the type of era and also the fact how it can be see in a video games or animation movies he also wanted emotion

and thanks pall : D!

 

[Personigo de la Ĉefo]

Usually front and back view, plus some face close-ups with different emotions. Plut hidden/small details close-ups. If character wears, say, a concealing cape, you must show how character looks under it.

Though in most cases frontal and back views are what is needed

 

[Makio-Kuta]

I'm lazy. Mine have a 3/4 view full body, sketch of just their head, sometimes their eye. Sometimes a colour swatch The end. (I don't have colour swatches for artoris for example, just open old files because I can't be darned to make colour swatches for over 100 characters)

If I think a certain part is important enough to draw out I do, but most of the time it's just those 2-4 things.

If it is for your own reference and not someone else's (like a lot of those three pose ones you see a lot for anime are so OTHER people have a guide to drawing the characters. Animators, modellers whatever) then just do whatever works for you. There's nothing set in stone.

You can even be lazy like me =u=

 

[nio kasgami]

I'm lazy. Mine have a 3/4 view full body, sketch of just their head, sometimes their eye. Sometimes a colour swatch The end. (I don't have colour swatches for artoris for example, just open old files because I can't be darned to make colour swatches for over 100 characters)

If I think a certain part is important enough to draw out I do, but most of the time it's just those 2-4 things.

If it is for your own reference and not someone else's (like a lot of those three pose ones you see a lot for anime are so OTHER people have a guide to drawing the characters. Animators, modellers whatever) then just do whatever works for you. There's nothing set in stone.

You can even be lazy like me =u=

Oh yes lazy like maki-sensei =u=

but I have to draw professionnal on this one xD 

 

[Makio-Kuta]

I'm a professional. A professional lazy artist ;D

 

[Sharm]

If this is for a commission you should probably find out what it is the customer is expecting.

 

[Another Ned]

As people before me already said, it does depend on what the sheet is intended for.
If it's a model sheet for a 3D artist, it usually depends on the 3D person if they need front/back/side or can work with 3/4 view, or want something else entirely (e.g. I once had to create a rough top view of one design, though it was a building, not a character). If they load the image into their 3D application it's also useful to be quite a huge image. There's also the question of low T-Pose vs real T-Pose. I find the latter a pain to draw, but if the character is supposed to get a climbing animation lateron it is recommended. Colour schemes and material information are also quite important, especially if someone else does the texturing.
Note: For side view, I tend to put the arms separately next to the side view body if there is something important on them.

But in short, it's best to simply ask the person what they need and work from there (and if it's an assignment, ask the one giving the assignment – part of getting an art direction briefing is asking as many questions as necessary to prevent miscommunication. At least that's what I learned).

If I only need it for myself, I tend to make either 3/4 / 1/4 with the face separately in front/side/(and 3/4 if I feel like it) and have a separate front view of the whole character with their clothing in layers (without a face).
Since I'm too lazy for whole expression sheets I usually try to capture the personality in the face's front view, so the face itself practically tells me what it looks like making certain expressions (plus, my default style utilizes realistic proportions, so drawing expressions out of context is a pain). Sometimes, I also include other sketches I made of the character, so it's practically growing over time. I also keep early design thumbnails on it or at least inside the psd file.

Short version: It's pretty much communication with an audience (including yourself and whoever needs to work with the design). Include as much as needed to communicate your design. I've seen notes on character sheets, as well as cropped photographs as material information for a texture artist. If a design is more complex, maybe add detailed sketches, even show how things move. I've even seen loose character paintings in action pose and then a super-tight line drawing next to them in low T-pose, telling the viewer everything needed to understand the design.
Oops, didn't intend for it to be so much text, but that's pretty much what I know of character sheets and creating them. But mostly for game characters. And myself.