Here's a thread for us want-to-be fan artists who can't draw! And for those who can, but would like a great visual-art gadget!
If you haven't tried the HeroMachine character generator, you're missing out on one helluva lotta fun! If you do gaming, or want to shape your own avatar or other character image, it's an essential tool if you don't have drawing skills. And if you use HeroMachine, here's a place to share your creations!
You can get a great overview at the Website, but here are some of the highlights:
~ Runs in any Web browser and with use of the free Shockwave Flash Version 6 (downloaded separately). ~ FREE download, or running on line, of Version 1, with three basic character poses. ~ $10 download of (stable) beta Version 2, now with one pose, but far more options for characters. ~ For both editions, in each pose, male and female variations and unique accessories. ~ Dozens of outfit, weapon, headgear, face, decoration, and background options. ~ Finished characters can be saved in (plain text) generating-code and by screen captures. ~ Full, automatic rights to use your characters noncommercially. ~ Links to Websites, Yahoo! Groups, and other locations for discussion and character archiving.
Jeff Hebert has created an astounding tool in V1, and V2 is already even better as to what you can modify. I've used both versions for the last year, and it's helped unlock my own Muses a bit.
Try it! And feel free to post your own images, and even the HM text code for re-creating them, in this thread. I'd also be happy to answer any questions about using the program that the HM Website or its resources don't discuss, so feel free to ask.
[ July 23, 2003, 06:55 AM: Message edited by: Greybird ]
Posted by Greybird on :
Here's a screen shot of HeroMachine Version 1. You choose "dimensions" (style, pose, gender, such as Fantasy Humanoid Male) on the left, and "components" on the right that you modify by cycling through variations. The components appear as you change them on the model figure in the center.
(The program works by creating actual mini-movies in Shockwave Flash, which are run on top of the model figure.)
In Version 2, you have many more categories for the components, far more accessories, and can view them before they're applied. You have a broader color palette, with more controls, and can re-"layer" elements above and below each other to blend, hide, or emphasize them.
When you've tweaked everything you want, you can save the plain-text code that will generate it again in HeroMachine. You can also do a screen capture -- with IrfanView, Photoshop, PSP, or a similar tool -- of the image. (Shockwave Flash doesn't allow that directly, at least for now.)
Here's an example, from CoolCollecting.com, one of many HeroMachine fan sites. After creating and tweaking a rendition of Starfire ...
... HeroMachine v1 provides this code that you can copy to the Windows Clipboard (CTRL + C) and then save in a text file:
If you load that long text string (no returns within it) back into HeroMachine by copying it to the Clipboard, and then pasting from it (CTRL + V), HM will create the image once again.
You can, of course, fully tweak the image that you save in a screen capture with MS Paint, PSP, PhotoShop, or any other image editor.
[ November 17, 2003, 03:38 PM: Message edited by: Greybird ]
Posted by Greybird on :
I created this winged couple, both well-equipped with fire, in HeroMachine Version 2.
After tweaking each of them, I used Flash's "zoom" feature to view them in high resolution, and then screen-captured them with the free IrfanView utility.
They both were facing toward the viewer's right; I used MS Paint to copy, paste, and flop the man to face the woman, and then used Paint and PSP to make subtle adjustments to both characters' appearances.
[ November 17, 2003, 03:43 PM: Message edited by: Greybird ]
Posted by the boy with UltraPowers on :
i created one of these a while back, but i was unable to save it for some reason !!!
i'll have to try again .....
Matthew.
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
This was my first attempt, way back, at creating a Garth with HeroMachine.
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
This was attempt number two. You'll notice I still had a habit of shooting myself in the foot.
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
And this was the last one I tried my hand at. It was for a now defunct e-mail RPG with the Legion starting from day one. As you can see from the last two, I like the idea of Garth having a neatly trimmed beard. I do not like super-heroes who look like children.
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
And Grey, thank you for starting this topic. I had basically forgotten all about HeroMachine. I used to have great fun playing around in it. I'll have to give it a try again.
[ July 23, 2003, 05:06 PM: Message edited by: Lightning Lad ]
Posted by Faraway Lad on :
I have a number of these I did a while ago. Mainly of LMBP members but I dont know how to post them here as I dont have any web space to link to
Posted by Lightning Lad on :
quote:Originally posted by Faraway Lad: I have a number of these I did a while ago. Mainly of LMBP members but I dont know how to post them here as I dont have any web space to link to
Faraway, you can e-mail them to me and I'll upload them so you can post 'em.
Posted by Faraway Lad on :
Thanks Scott. I'm at work at the moment but I'll get on it over the weekend
Posted by Varalent on :
Cool!!! Thanks Grey! I had misplaced the URL for that website. I had created a few original characters for some stories I'm planning on writing. Here's one I did of me:
I'll post the other characters in some follow up posts.
V
[ April 09, 2004, 02:01 PM: Message edited by: Varalent ]
Posted by Varalent on :
This is Firebird
Posted by Varalent on :
Ooops! Here's Varalent
Posted by Varalent on :
... and Jolt
Posted by Varalent on :
...Nuke...
Posted by Varalent on :
& last be not least, Jynx!
Posted by Greybird on :
Bumping the topic, and updating some URL/IMG links, upon another mention of Cockrum's design for Rokk ... oh, did I mention I really like it? Here's what I did with HM v1 (tweaked afterwards) to show off my designs for us handsome Starhaven siblings:
I hope Varalent will find a new host to permit his HM images to appear above, and that others will share their own HeroMachine creations once again.
[ November 17, 2003, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: Greybird ]
Posted by Comic Addict Lad on :
I'll try and post the individual characters I did later on, but for now heres a resposting of a quick background I knocked up.
Posted by Varalent on :
quote:Originally posted by Greybird: I hope Varalent will find a new host to permit his HM images to appear above, and that others will share their own HeroMachine creations once again.
Grey: I don't know why my images don't appear. They are hosted and viewable. I tried moving them to a new website (which was intended to be a surprise for everyone here.)
Maybe I'm doing something wrong when I'm using the image posting function and someone can get me sorted out.
If you'd like to see those I had previously posted as well as a number of others I created with HeroMachine and the version used by DC Comics in their recent Hostess promo try following the following link (or cut and paste the address if I screw this up too! ):
Hot diggety! Those look awesome! I can't wait to see the rest of the site!
Posted by Greybird on :
Vee, I think I've found the problem. You have your images at varalent.com, which is apparently hosted for free at directNIC.com (since your main page has a directNIC banner).
They're readily viewable directly by opening your Webpages, but if they're hot-linked from here -- even with correct IMG codes, as you've used -- they won't appear. I pulled up the direct NIC.com FAQ, and their restriction is typical of free Web hosting:
"[...] In addition, hot linking from other websites such as eBay [or LW.net] is not supported either (hot linking is supported on bannerless hosting)."
Some locations do still offer free Webspace allowing hot linking, such as Graffiti.net, but it's becoming more rare, as large images can be a huge drain on bandwidth. Such an account is worthwhile, though, if only for images used in your message-board postings.
Posted by Varalent on :
Thanks Grey! That explains it. Now I've just got to figure out what to do about it!
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