Looking for some tips on finding the faces of your characters. Is there a certain site y'all use? Is there such a thing as a 'face' book with pictures upon pictures of different faces? How do you go about finding a picture that matches the image in your head?
Thanks!

Well. . . I don't usually go pursue my character's looks, but I did happen to stumble upon one or two of my characters in a Final Fantasy music video . . .

that's not very helpful, is it. Anyway, I usually just keep my eyes open in public. I study people anyway, so it's just kind of a plus when I see one that looks familiar . . .*gasp*

I am really not being helpful, am I?

lol, not for what I'm looking for! I don't envision my characters as anime peoples... But yes, I was thinking about just observing people. Taking a camera... "madam, what an amazing face you have!" *snap*

I do sort of the same thing, but I have not (yet) taken a picture of someone because they look like one of my characters! (but I have gotten pretty close. )

Magazines can be great. Just the other day, I discovered a picture from a magazine clipping in a Sunday School classroom that pictured a girl who made me think of one of my characters in another story. So I'd say that flipping through magazines and clipping out faces could be helpful.

That's all the ideas I have at the moment - except that if you see a person whose face fits one of you characters, discreetly photograph them. If you need to, pretend that you are photographing something else behind them...

You might try just going on google/images and typing in "faces", or if you're looking for somthing more specific, you could try "people with black hair" or something. Just a suggestion.
Ana

Alaethea - that's true, I hadn't thought of magazines, but they would probably work well! I'll have to dig up a couple...
I had tried stock photo - you know, those sites with thousands of different photos. But so far I haven't seen anything I like... and everyone has that model look... and some pictures I would rather not see . So I ruled that out!
Thanks for the suggestions so far, everyone.

hmmm...lots of times I'll just type one word into google images and search. But unless you have an internet filter like I do, you might not want to try it!

Usually, I don't have to think too much about the faces. I draw them out first...

Oops, I didn't think about the fact of somone not having a internet filter. Yeah I agree with Mindy if you don't have one don't google

I just came up with this idea lately (yes, I know it's an old thread ) but you could actually search through photography sites. There are a ton of random people on there. It doesn't have and 'search options' (like for people with blond hair or black or whatever) but there are a ton of them out there, and just scanning through them would help a lot, I thought.
*shrug* just an idea.

Wait, like figuring out what your characters faces before you know what they look like or after you know what they look like so you can get a more concrete image? My sister (PotK) just draws hers. Of course, if you are a terrible drawer, like me, you might not want to do that. Hmmm, I not being a very big help, am I? I suppose the best thing you could do id just go to the park or the mall and sit on a bench and watch people walk by. I really only know what my charries look like in my head.

I think it would creep me out if there was some person walking around with my characters face That's probably just my opinion.... I can draw pretty well, but can't do faces... I will just have to use my imagination and descriptions

Wow! That sounds like a very good idea... I may have to try that

And this person wasn't creeped out at all? I'd freak out if someone came up to me and asked for my picture. Of course, then again, I would probably say yes immediately anyway, after they tell me it's for a book they are writing.

I might be able to help you with this. I'm pretty good at drawing my characters. It's practically all I do other than writing. If any of you would like, I could try drawing your character, although I'd need an essence and a clear physical description first. But just a warning: 1) They look a little cartoonish. 2) They take hours to complete. With the summer break coming, that last part shouldn't be a problem.

Anyway, let me know what you all think.

Here's some pictures of my main character so you can get a feel for what it might look like.

Celestria,

Your drawings are amazing! I draw as well, though it either real life portraits or anime/manga style. I love how you have your own drawing style! Sadly, for me, I can never draw what my characters look like.

Do you draw them on paper and then use a computer program to color them? *gives you big eyes* How do you do iiiit?? 0.0

Wow, Celestria....that's good!


Would you be interested in drawing at least one concept character art pieces for me? For Chasms, my sci-fi/fantasy (it's really wavering right at this instant between the two...but costumes are going to be very fantasy) I have fairly clear pictures in my head of the major characters, and probably could work up essences if I had the time after I finish the synopsis.

One question - I want to be able to hang onto the concept art in case I can use them to pitch the script to a production company. So I'd have to have specific permission. It's okay if you don't want me to use it for that - I will just write myself a note so I don't accidentally do so - but I wanted to ask because I am a screenwriter who has to work with production companies, and only a novelist on the side.

It took me a while to figure out a style of drawing where I could actually get the character's emotions down (as well as something that would look relatively close to them). Faces are rough!

I do draw them by hand and then scan them into the computer. There's a software I have called Corel Painter Essentials as well as a pen tablet to color them with.

And I would love to draw a picture for you Melody. If there is any particular look of the characters you would like me to draw you could PM me with details or pictures similar to what you may want. And I don't mind if you use them in a pitch. If you think they're good enough, go ahead. (Also if you do, I'd like to know how it goes. )

Wow, I thought this topic was dead and just realized there's a lot here to respond to!! *overwhelming*
Okay, I'm over that. There are a lot of good ideas on here!!!
Lady Eruwaedhiel - that's a good idea! I know a photographer that puts a lot of her pics up on a website - it would be pretty easy to find a lot of "faces" there.
Evening L. Aspen - Lol - that's so cool!! Not just that she let you take a picture of her but that you saw someone that looked so much like your character!
Celestria - I love your drawings! (the first the best ) I would love it if you had time to do a drawing for me... I haven't made an essence map yet but I guess there should be a first for everything. I'll work on that.

Thanks, Celestria! I will PM you on Monday - have to get off the computer for the weekend now.

(oohhhh, my brother has a pen tablet too! what kind is yours? He uses his for gimp art - photomanips. Much fun. )

Mine is called... Bamboo I believe. I'm not sure if there's more to the name or not, but that is the jest of it. I have gimp downloaded but I'm not really sure exactly how to use it... still. It's been about a year. And yes, it is lots of fun!

And yes Robyn, I would be happy to draw a character for you. Get the essence up and I'll get started.

I may have a few questions to ask you all after I see the essence maps though. Just a warning.

Oh, that's the one my brother has. Bamboo Fun Tablet from Wacom is the full name, I think. Nice tool, though I haven't learned to use it - partially lack of need, partially because it's always hooked up to his computer, not mine. ;D

Hmm, if you want to know how to use GIMP, I could get my brother to help you, probably. (maybe...haha, I haven't asked him, but he's usually pretty amiable towards people who want to use GIMP. )

Okay, did some work over the weekend while I wasn't on the computer on some character stuff. I'll get it typed up in a couple hours, after breakfast, and PM you with it... do you have to have an essence map? I can do one, but it'll take longer. I just didn't have time yesterday.

Well, if you're brother is willing, I'm open for any advice. I've been wanting to figure out how it Gimp works. It's cool how he has the exact same kind as I do! What does he use it for?

Hmm... well I guess I could try without using an essence map if you'd like. It really just gives you a feel for who the character is: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Let me see the PM and if I have any questions after that I'll ask you. If not, then I'll get started.

I asked him, and yes he's willing. He says he knows of a bunch of good tutorials and such. I'll add his email address to the PM...

This is what my brother does:
http://diekisdreamings.blogspot.com/
(his art blog)

I would embed a photo but I don't know how.

Well, my notes that I took over the weekend might work. Some of it is very essence-map-like, only I haven't had time to organize them into a real essence map. (trying to work out plot things) I'm going to upload them into a googledoc and give you the link.

Thanks!

Awesome pictures, Celestria!

Thanks!

Drawing these pictures are going to take much longer than I anticipated, so I'm going to finish the pictures of the people I said I'd draw and then will probably stop.

Robynwaltz and Evening L. Aspen - I noticed neither of you have posted essences yet. If you would prefer, you could skip it and just PM me with a description of the character, his/her clothes, and what their personality is like.

Melody - Thanks for waiting so long! You're picture is almost done. I'll PM you with it as soon as possible.

No prob, Celestria. Thank you for being willing to do this for me!

Sorry, I haven't been on here in months.

I am working on my essence map of one of my characters... Talitha. I have her entire physical appearance finished in essence-map format, so I suppose I could PM the information to you by sometime next week...

I use people I've known in the past but not too well as the spring-board for character descriptions. For example, my secondary MC is based off of a girl I knew in middle school. My MC's face is sort of based off of one of my friend's faces. The only problem is once you get to stealing friend's faces, you subconsciously start to associate their personality with the character too

eruheran

Oh, that's fine.

I just had an amazing idea after reading this thread and the MorphThing thread. What if there were some sort of online photo-editing/database software where you could select attributes for your characters/and or mix them with pictures you already have to create your character. It could be pretty completely geared towards weird writers like us!

Additionally, you'd be able to like search the database of other faces people have made (If the creators agree to have them public) and you can use those pictures as a base/morph them further into your character.

Unfortunately, this is way beyond my programming skills, but check back on this thread in about six years! Perhaps eventually the world will have a CharacterFinder.

eruheran

Oh, that's fine Aspen! Whenever is best for you my pencil and I are here and at your service.





A CharacterFinder would definitely be cool! I guess I can wait six years though.

Ooh! Please do!

Yeah, that would be great!

Forgive me if someone has already posted this here... but have you heard of Face Finder? It's a site started by one of your members to fulfill this very need you speak of.

http://www.face-finder.net/

Wow, neat! Looks like the site was just started, but it's got a lot of potential...

Yup! We're still trying to find out ways to collect faces (People are hesitant to just blindly donate their face...I wonder why? )

eru

What about drawn faces, Eruheran?

ooo, that's a good idea. If artists would be willing to submit their works.

Hadn't thought about that. I will talk with the management team (er, Hilly...) and see what we come up with

eru

K. After all, I do draw faces, I just wouldn't put my face up on the site.

I love IE, although I second the somewhat questionable videos. Another example to avoid would be the no pants subway ride

Anyways, I've never thought of that, Lady E! It is a great idea

eru

I rather like www.face-finder.net, the Holy World-supported network.

(Thanks, Elly! )

eru