IVN- TASK 1:CHARACTERS DESIGN

IVN : CHARACTER DESIGN

21.4.2025 - 20.5.2025 (week 1- 5)

FANN WONG JING EN｜0382237

Design Principles | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media

Illustration and Visual Narrative COM61304

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TABLE OF CONTENT

MIB      Lecture Note      Task 1      Techniques Applied     Reflection

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MODULE INFORMATION BRIEF (MIB)

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LECTURE NOTE

WEEK 01 — Introduction to Illustrator 
 Topic: Adobe Illustrator Interface Basic Operations 

 1. Illustrator Interface Overview 
 • Workspace: Default is Essentials 
 • Key Panels: Tools Panel, Control Panel, Properties Panel, Layers Panel (F7) 
 • Toggle Preview/Outline Mode: Ctrl + Y 
 2. Importing Images: Link vs Embed 
 • File > Place to insert image 
 • Link: Keeps file size small; changes in original image will update in Illustrator 
 • Embed: Image becomes part of your document; good for sharing files 
 3. Common File
 • AI —Native Illustrator format; supports infinite scaling

 • PDF—Ideal for printing/sharing; retains text & image layout
 • SVG—Web-based vector graphics; supports interactivity
 • EPS—Older universal vector format; less common today
4. Exporting
 • Raster: File > Export As (PNG, JPG)
 • Vector: Save As (AI, PDF, SVG)

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WEEK 02 — Silhouette & Line Art
Topic: AI Sketch Generation + Pen Tool Line Art Creation

1. Generate Sketches with ChatGPT
Start with a prompt → generate draft → refine prompt for more detail
Download and place image in Illustrator → set as Template Layer (50% opacity)
2. Set Up Working File
Create new A3 file → set image as Template Layer

3. Drawing Line Art with Pen Tool

Shortcut: P
Anchor Point Handling:
• Alt = convert to smooth point
• Ctrl/Cmd = adjust bezier handles
• Overlapping ends are fine (for later cleanup)
4. Clean Up Using Shape Builder Tool
Shortcut: Shift + M
Select all lines → Hold Alt and click to delete overlaps
Merge layers when done for better organization
5. Add Line Variations with Width Tool
Shortcut: Shift + W
Click and drag parts of a line to adjust thickness → adds expression and dynamics
Add New Layer above for line art (keep layers tidy and separated)

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WEEK 03 — Coloring & Shading
Topic: Live Paint Coloring + Shadow & Highlight Effects

1. Prepare Line Art for Coloring
Group all paths: Ctrl/Cmd + G
Duplicate layer for color fill (Line Art on top, Color layer below)
Remove stroke in the Color layer
Ensure paths are closed or nearly closed

2. Live Paint Tool Coloring

Shortcut: K
Select paths in Color layer → activate Live Paint tool → click to fill areas
Use Eyedropper Tool (I or Alt) to pick colors from document

3. Expand Live Paint Group

Select colored areas → Object > Expand → turn into editable vector shapes

4. Add Shadow & Highlights

Create 2 new layers: Shadow and Highlight
Use Pen Tool to draw shadows in black (opacity 20%)

Use colors like yellow/blue for highlights (opacity 60%, blending mode: Overlay)

5. Use AI to Explore Color Variations

Use ChatGPT to suggest color palettes (e.g. via Dopely Colors)
Refine prompts → select the most suitable palette for your work

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TASK 1

SKETCHES 

fig 1.1 sketch of character design  

RATIONALE 

The three characters symbolize:

• Expression of strength (vampire girl): She dares to express anger and does not suppress her true emotions,

symbolizing the power of self-protection.

• Inner weakness (antler girl): She is calm and fragile, a carrier of inner emotions, conveying the emotional

tension of healing and empathy.

• External magic (magic cat): As a guide and mediator, the magic cat symbolizes hope, fantasy and

transformation.

They are like the personification of my personality and emotions and the image I want to give to others.

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1. Left character: Vampire girl

She has pointed ears, a cape and bat-shaped elements, with crossed arms and frowning brows, expressing

anger or dissatisfaction. The character design uses a strong contrast technique to contrast the cute

appearance with strong emotions, highlighting the character's "arrogance" and "rebellion".

2. Middle character: Deer horn girl

She wears deer horns on her head, with downcast eyes and clasped hands. Her overall demeanor is

restrained and sad. This character uses soft lines to express inner fragility and kindness, representing a

gentle and sensitive personality type. The deer horn element symbolizes nature and healing, and also

suggests that she may have the ability to communicate with nature.

3. Right character: Magician cat

Wearing a star cape and a wizard hat, holding a magic wand, her expression is cute and confident. As an

animal character, the cat, combined with the magic setting, creates a dreamy fairy tale atmosphere,

symbolizing wisdom, dexterity and mysterious power.

MOOD- BOARD

Fig1.2 Vampires girl

Fig1.3 Deer horn girl

Fig1.4 magician cat

FINAL OUTCOME 

fig 1.5 Final artwork line art

fig 1.6 Final artwork color&shadow

DOCUMENTATION

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Techniques Applied

What are the techniques you learned in class that you have applied in your works?

In this creation, I used a lot of skills I learned in class. For example, I used AI to draw lines, making the character's outline clearer and cleaner. When coloring, I also followed the layering method taught by the teacher, processing the skin, hair, and clothes separately. This is not only easier to control, but also much easier to modify later.

Did you include additional techniques that you researched on your own?

In addition to the techniques in class, I also looked for some additional references on my own, especially in terms of coloring style. I wanted the character to look softer and more three-dimensional, so I tried to use a soft light brush to overlay shadows. I also added a little halo effect to the edges, especially the hair and cape, to make it look more dreamy. Finally, I also made a unified color adjustment to make the overall style more consistent and not too different in color for each character.

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REFLECTION

What did you like the most in the assignment?

My favorite part is the character coloring process. During the coloring stage, you can clearly feel that the character's emotions and personality are strengthened. For example, the red hair and dark cloak of the vampire girl make her look more aura, the beige color of the antler girl looks soft and warm, and the blue and gold color of the magic cat highlights the fantasy and cuteness. Watching the line drawings come to life step by step is the most rewarding part of the whole process.

What can be improved based on your submission?

The areas that can be improved are in the details, such as the light and shadow levels can be richer, especially the highlights and shadows of the clothes and hair, which can enhance the three-dimensional effect. In addition, the transition between colors can be softer, especially on the magic cat's cloak and the hair of the deer horn girl, the color fusion can be more natural.