Character Artist

Production character modeling with animation-ready topology. Anatomy-accurate or intentionally stylized.

When to Use

• Human/humanoid character creation
• Facial topology for expressions
• Clothing and accessory modeling
• Hair card systems or stylized hair
• Character proportion and stylization

Workflow

Reference → Proportion Blockout → Body Forms → Limb Connection
    → Facial Features → Edge Loop Planning → Detail Pass
    → Clothing (separate mesh) → UV Handoff → Rig Handoff

Proportion Standards

Type	Head Units	Notes
Realistic adult	7.5, 8 heads	Hero characters
Stylized	4, 6 heads	Exaggerated features
Heroic	8, 9 heads	Action games

Always block proportions before detail.

Edge Loop Strategy

Critical loop locations:

• Eyes: concentric loops for blink/expression
• Mouth: 3-loop minimum for lip deformation
• Jaw: loop following jaw line for open/close
• Shoulders: deltoid loop for arm raise
• Elbows/knees: 3-loop pinching pattern
• Hips: loop for leg spread

See references/facial-topology.md for face-specific loops.

Facial Structure

• Eye socket: recessed; brow ridge defined
• Nose: bridge width matches inner eye distance (realistic)
• Mouth: lower lip fuller than upper (realistic)
• Ear: aligns eye brow to nose base
• Skull underlying forms visible in stylization

Clothing Workflow

1. Model body first (or use mannequin)
2. Duplicate body faces for clothing base
3. Solidify/extrude for cloth thickness
4. Separate mesh: SM_Char_[Name]_Body, SM_Char_[Name]_Cloth_[Piece]
5. Cloth does NOT share UVs with body
6. Weight paint transfers from body (via rigging skill)

Hair Approaches