Character Artwork/Portrait generator for Traveller - need beta testers

[Klaus]

Hi there everyone.

Well finally got round to putting it in some kind of order, so here's the character artwork + character sheet I've been working on for the past 6 weeks.

http://www.crookedlimb.net/nisseau/Traveller_Wardrobe_v0.swf

To sum up it's a Flash movie (requires version 6 or higher) that allows you to design a character image, changing various parameters like eyes, hair, age, clothing; then fill in a truncated character sheet; and then be able to print out the result.

Well, I can do the last bit. I'm using a Mac running OSX with an Epson printer, and -File--Print- in the Flash player menu brings up the printer software, letting me print or save as a PDF. This is one of the reasons I need some testers: I don't know how it runs on Windows machines.

This is a Beta version. Most of the functionality is there (I hope to add a pseudo-save option in the future), but I've only compiled the artwork for the female of the species - more interesting to look at while I'm coding...

It's not entirely idiot proof, and there's no save function yet, and occasionally they look like Michael Jackson, but I hope you like it.

And please. Give me feedback on the interface, ability to print, and the figure/wardrobe artwork itself.

 

[Klaus]

Oh, and its only 428k to download, so don't worry about big files.

 

[Shadow Bear]

Originally posted by Klaus:
Oh, and its only 428k to download, so don't worry about big files.

Hi,

I tries the software and found the following problems.

While the screen graphic looks great when printed the graphic appears to loose the aspect ratio (it appers taller and skinnyer thean the screen graphic). I also saved it as a PDF and printed from Adobe and found the same problem.

The oval helmet has a problem in that some hair styles stick out.

When a skirt is used some holsters that use the leg strap show up.

Overall I say the program is great and want to see more of it (male models and diferent poses for both and more races).

I have used Charatceer Artist from Profantasy and find you program much quicker. The only advantage CA has over this program is the ability to draw or customize.

 

[Bruce]

this is very cool.

One suggestion, have the choices for each part that can have something attached to it, say a hat, have the choices cycle around instead of having to click back.

I can just imagine what it might look like when you have a Vargr or a Hiver up there.

Bruce
The Man Behind the Curtain

 

[kafka47]

This is very cool! However, I did not see settings that would duplicate Battle Dress or Combat Armour. Plus, Goblin & I (and a few others are working on the question of uniforms) so once those things are worked in...the potential is great.

 

[Klaus]

Unfortunately the artwork can't always match up, so there will be the occasional glitches, like the holster + skirt. The 'overwear' section is not in any way finished, and I'm still thinking on the best way to incorporate the harness and the armour. Battledress and vac suits are on the way. For the hair/hat problem I'm thinking that each hat resets the hairstyle to one that will fit.

There won't be any new poses, at least for a long time. That one was carefully designed to make clothes design easier and to be a generic as possible without being bland. When I get round to it the males I will inlude a 'beergut', but this will be a function of clothing.

The text is the big issue atm, as now I've looked properly I'm getting that problem too. I'll see what I can do about that.

If anyone wants to contribute some clothes designs then that would be great(credited of course). It's not time consuming putting the design into the code but coming up with designs is. I could put a figure template up and some short guidelines as how to do the various components if you want.

I've modelled the Ace Pilot and Navy uniform form the THB in there, though it has to be built up from the various components. I think I'll add some preset buttons for all the classes in the THB, as most can be modelled in some way.

Is anyone else getting problems with the aspect ratio on the pdf? Not sure why this might be happening. The base size of the swf is 820x600 pixels, so its not 4 by 3 like a standard screen.

Shadow Bear, does it fill an A$ sheet when you print?

 

[Chuck Anumia]

Excellent work!
I have very few female Characters I play and I will now have to roll this one up so everyone who sees her will know her.
Thanks

 

[Jame]

How does one download, anyways?

 

[MR TEK]

Very cool!

One bug, outer apparel will not change colors. Also Just astetics,but a Loose jusp suit or coverals w/ ;ots of pocet space seems to be a common ship "uniform" if you will.

I like that accessories seem to adust for clothing,(just layers I suppose, but much cleaner than hero machine, say. I also like that accessories and some cothing seem to have each individual piece, and then choices that are combinations of a couple of peices.

I can see where that would explode data space, but very cool to be able to have more than on item from a given group.

One other item, WAYYYY down the line. Being able to store the foldups seperatly would be nice. Maybe even a seperate section to allow printing sheets to the fold ups.

I like what I see so far.

Give me aliens, a decent range of gear, and a way to mark the fold-ups so I can print a group and tell which is which, and I could be willing to pay for this.

As has been a hot topic latly, a decent wat to get fold-ups, would be worth its weight by itself. Add the picture, and the characor sheet, and you are well on your way to a decent comercial entry.

Also the interface is clean, and simple. No huning for what I want. Add a lot of styles to any of the sections, and you might need a two tered system. Something like outer apparel being broken into Coats, vests, Overshirts and coveralls maybe, and then a styles menu benith that.

Just some thoughts, but VERY impressive.

Mr Tek

Also printed fine on a windows box, common HP ink jet.

 

[Shadow Bear]

Originally posted by Klaus:

Shadow Bear, does it fill an A$ sheet when you print?

I am using a standard letter size paper in a DeskJet 1120C from a system using Windows 2000 Pro and an Athlon prcessor.

Changing the paper size to A4 did the trick. The aspect is just fine but the resolution could be improved.

Let me know when the next version is ready.

 

[Klaus]

Can't do much with the resolution as thats just Flash.

Right-click the link to download, or do it from my website (addy at bottom).

I'd like to do a fold-up generator but I think I'll need two more orders of magnitude in coding skill to do it. Flash is funny with printable material. If I can crack a cookie style save I'll be happy for the mo.

Clothes tend to be tight atm to lessen overlap clashes with items higher in the z-order. Will add some looser oufits, most likely in the outer wear section. Thats my focus at the mo, and maybe adding some new facial features.

 

[FlightCommanderSolitude]

This is excellent work, Klaus! I especially like the "cardboard hero" you get - you should make that into a whole tool of it's own (ie, generate a page of cardboard characters).

Everything worked well for me (on Mac OS X). I think the suggestion about "cycling" through the options is a good one; I'd also suggest the ability to toggle the visibility of each clothing item, because sometimes you can change something without being able to actually see wat changed.

The artwork also works really well for this kind of project. Keep up the great work!

 

[Vanguard]

Nice work! The cardboard hero part is very nice.

A few minor issues I found:

The "Random outfit" doesn't change the outer apparel, headgear, or the top detailing layers.

Some of the previous and next buttons (most noticably on outer apparel) don't have their hotzones positioned properly. Trying to click on outer apparel often results in a footware click.

When changing an article of clothing with the next/previous buttons, the color selector button should also move to the current category. For instance, if I click the next button for headgear, the color selector thing should also move to headgear.

A "color lock" button could be nice. It automatically applies the currently selected color to each item when previous/next is pressed, so that it doesn't pick the default color for each item as it comes up.

I'm going to guess that you're familar with heromachine. If you're not, you should give it a try, it could give you some interesting ideas.

 

[penal battalion]

I like what I've seen on your web site, but can't get any joy to get it to load on my system.I'll have to go ask a tech head.
Visuals always help in the games.I'm using heromachine but this is mor sci fi.
Keep it up!

 

[Klaus]

Penal Battalion - you need Flash Player 6 or above to open it. Download from Macromedia.com

Actually I hadn't seen heromachine. Fairly useful tho I think there are too many choices and its a heavy download, all the bits. And I've personally never liked the Marvel superhero style. They've managed to get the printer functions to work properly, something I'm still struggling to find info on.

Hmmm.. wasn't planning on working it up to a level where I'd feel able to charge for it, but maybe I will now.

This'll probably end up 1.5mb or so when I've added males and some aliens.

I've been toying with most of your suggestions but I've been too lazy so far to implement them. Not thought of toggling the clothing on and off, nice one. Cycling will be added, selecting item-color on item choice I'll get round to. Not all the overwear options will be able to be colored - depends on how complex the graphic clip is.

On resolution - think resolution actually depends on the printer.

Oh, and I've noticed the hot spot issues. They are actually over the arrow, but I think its something to do with the framerate and its recording the mouse position where it was just previously, therefore triggering the wrong button.

The quirks of flash are unpredictable - half the fun.

 

[Border Reiver]

Love it, though is it possible to make adjustments to bodyshape/build. The potential here is huge.

 

[Andrew Boulton]

Very, very nice.

A few points:

- It'd be nice to be able to select items from a pull-down/pop-up list as well as scrolling through them all.

- Lists should cycle back to the start when you reach the end.

- There should be an indication of your position in the list (eg Hair 2 of 12).

- Details look odd on darker skin tones.

 

[The Hinterworlds Rambler]

I agree, This is very cool! Still need to do some stuff with it to check it out more, but very nice!

My first critique is MORE.

MORE Background Images, More Character Templates, etc.

Also, Please don't skimp on the addition of aliens and Vacc Suits, these are crucial.

Can't wait to see where this goes, its some cool doings!

 

[Scarecrow]

This is excellent.

I couldn't get anything to change colour.
Also, the miniature is an excellent idea but too low res. It's currently about the same size on screen as it is on paper (on my screen anyway) which suggests a res of around 72dpi. It really needs to be between 150 to 300 dpi for professional quality printing.

I really, REALLY want to do my Star Trek mini-maker like this now =)

Crow

 

[vutpakdi]

An excellent start! I'm looking forward to watching this generator as you develop it.

Another feature that would be appreciated (if a bit time consuming), would be to have a few different body types.

Thank you for working on this generator!

Ron