Ren'Py Based Character Designer V1.0 is out

[pkt]

[update]
This was the inspiration. It's only in Japanese though from what I know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLbiYGCDiFo
That should give you an idea of the look and usage.
[update]
Figured I'd tidy up the first post. Before each release of the script files I test the program so it should be stable at all times now.
[update-6/17-10]
http://quazi-zone.com/0haku/Sakura-Papaya-All.zip
Project has reached version 1.0
Next major version will have a bg, slider buttons, accessories and maybe music.

[New Summary]
KHmix's Character Generator is the source of the art files and his program is good but I couldn't find an English version or anything else like this so Here's what I have made. I plan on having all of the assets from Khmix's program by version 2.0 and a few extra features. Namely it should be like a kiss doll program with buttons and sliders instead of drag and drop.
I'll look into drag and drop support at sometime in the future though. Also planning on making my own sets for this thing.
The best part is that if you want me to add something to it I'll try to do it most likely. Also I'd like people to let me use their dolls or assets to make additional sets.



I can handle some of the art assets if not all of them. I figure this should help out in my projects and others as well. Basically the program would use layered images which you can add to and such. There would be menus for hairstyles, gender, height and other character features. A button based menu system would be needed and the programming would need to be handled by someone else but it's a cool idea IMHO which would give lots of people character design abilities. To export from the engine all that would have to be done is setup a quick link or whatever to the screen shot function.

[Freelancer]

That sounds awesome! Especially if you could export PNG images at whatever size you chose and if you could also make guys, and put whatever characters you make into different poses with emotions. I wouldn't need a Character Artist.
This seems like a great Idea for some one to make a quick VN.

[neowired]

I've seen that a long ago, somewhere on this forum, I think.

You know what would be cool? If someone made a vector-based application like that, which would let you actually design your character. For example chose the amount of bangs, how wide the head is, how long the bangs are, how curvy, the color of everything (actually coded as color, not just chosen from already drawn bitmaps). And also all sorts of somewhat random generated elements like earlier said bangs, where the curves can have some amount of randomization. Are the eyes less closed or more closed, how wide (number based) are the shoulders or hips, how big are the breasts. How large the head is, related to the rest of the body, how much oval or circular it is. I could go on and on like that...

And the process would start with just a simple vector of a guy/girl, or even a completely androgynous character. You could even paint over the effect after you finished, to make it look even better.
Artist's work would suddenly become so easy...

A REAL character generator, mind you. I know making something like that is perfectly possible, coding/art wise, the only problem would be the size of such a project the the coder's and artist's ability/time.

Yeah yeah, I know it's wishful thinking lol

[rioka]

Yeah yeah, I know it's wishful thinking lol

You got that right! Paperdoll program ideas like this have been thrown around for quite some time now. The real hurdle is having an artist take a massive amount of time to create all the art assets. After doing it awhile it gets very repetitive and dull. If anything, I would suggest you (or whoever wants to do this) start off small like doing just faces.

[neowired]

The real hurdle is having an artist take a massive amount of time to create all the art assets. After doing it awhile it gets very repetitive and dull.

Making it based on one base vector image, and modifiable by numbers related to vector points rather than just choosing each element from a pack of already drawn assets would enable to make such a program with almost no art.
The only problem is getting someone good enough at programming and a good enough artist to work out the details of the vector points, interface and developing the required calculations/transformations.

I think this would be much more of a coding issue than it would be of a drawing issue, if such a system would be used.

I have such software on my comp, which enables generation of realistic looking real human heads (3d, not manga), based on a large quantity of numerical data relating to a chosen amount of characteristic facial dimensions.

[pkt]

Coding wise There might be some snags unless I use a lot of if statements. Artwise I know can handle it. Unless things are dynamic this would take a long time. So far I know that the colors can be changed in game. And with vector graphic slight changes wont take too long. So far getting a working reversion of the ALICE Dollmaker up is the priority. I'm looking into how to layer things the right way in renpy. When it's done it'll have the default sets built in. The images won't be dynamically loaded since I fail at coding. I'm gonna ask in the coding board for some help.

[neowired]

I was talking about this soft, btw.

http://www.facegen.com/modeller.htm

[pkt]

As of last night I started work on fixing some issues with the Japanese Anime Character Maker. Sometimes things don't show up right so the fix is renaming filenames. There's over 100 of them though. For now that could be a basis for a character gen since it's easy enough to use and not tied down too much. Translating the menus is sometime I don't know how to do but I can provide tutorials and possibly new sets.

As far as using 3d renders as a basis for something like this it is a good idea. I know how to make decent cel style shaders in blender but creating 3d CG for 2d is something kind of hard to do from what I hear. But if it'll save time I'll try it.

[rioka]

Making it based on one base vector image, and modifiable by numbers related to vector points rather than just choosing each element from a pack of already drawn assets would enable to make such a program with almost no art.
The only problem is getting someone good enough at programming and a good enough artist to work out the details of the vector points, interface and developing the required calculations/transformations.

I think this would be much more of a coding issue than it would be of a drawing issue, if such a system would be used.

I have such software on my comp, which enables generation of realistic looking real human heads (3d, not manga), based on a large quantity of numerical data relating to a chosen amount of characteristic facial dimensions.

Ah, then have you ever seen Aiko? This software; or this model to be more specific; has been out for awhile now. I've never used it but if you like 3D models, then Aiko's something to look into.

@ pkt
I hope you can complete it. Several of the paperdoll programs have been dropped over the years. ALICE.NET which was the successor for ALICE pretty much died out. If you can, screen shots would be a nice "progress report". I loves me some purty pictures!

[pkt]

Update,

Don't worry, the project's not dead just resting. My computer died a bit ago and so while I can work on layers and assets I can't get the programming done. I have limited use of this computer since it belongs to a friend who needs it back. I'll be working on the body sets and tiles though as sketches. I'll try to get scans up when I can as well.

Update-Update

Here's a mockup of the ui which is for temporary sake. I fail at UI design. The next bit of stuff has to do with choosing whether I want to use this or use the KISS doll standard. I'll likely use this though. Still need to work on translating the names from the other program.

[pkt]

Alpha Version here...

Not even sure what people will get out of this but here's a working version of it.

[Freelancer]

Alpha Version here...

Not even sure what people will get out of this but here's a working version of it.

I just downloaded it, I'll check it out.
EDIT: I just tried it out. It's great so far, You should have clothing options, and different hair and eye colors later and there shoule be a way to export them to a .PNG image, or whichever Ren'Py uses.

[Red Lilies]

Very nice - the work you have put into this is obvious. I'm going to guess that later versions will have options to change the hair and eye color as well and some clothing options, but I might suggest also having a option to have accessories - like necklaces or bracelets. It could be cool.

[pkt]

I actually only coded the interface and such. The pictures were made by some Japanese guy. There's a file in there with the relevant info.

[number473]

Looks good so far. Recommendation is to make the component selection a bit easier. Possibly a slider to select, or a tree view? Also, images are quite small.