Original Character Development

[AJ Skyterra]

For the first time I want to start working on a comic for characters I've had in my head for years now. So here are some character designs (I'll try to post a few each day) that I would love critique on! Thanks in advance.

Comic is called Battle Society: Zero, and is about a group of teens living in the middle of a war between their military government of Nation-7, and a newly developed monarchy of TaiJok. Their government treats their youth as expendable weapons against the enemy as they are able to enlist in the army once they are 16. As rumors of another District Draft Tournament Rise, one teacher seeks for the four special kids that he knows that will help end the war. A full description can be found here (http://www.toonzone.net/forums/showpost.php?p=3675095&postcount=615)

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/237/c/0/rei_sketch_3_by_AJanae79.jpg

This is Raye Ashton. I used a dual tone effect after sketching so the lines could show better. I'm not a fan of the sketch on the bottom, though.

http://i464.photobucket.com/albums/rr9/ambermasen/erikasketch3-2.jpg?t=1282756082

This is Erika Hale. Unfortunately the page suffered from some water damage, but she's a character I like designing. These are two of the four teenagers that are being used to fight in the war, I'll have the rest hopefully posted tomorrow. I would love some constructive criticism, thanks!

[Furious Nick]

AJanae: These look very nice. I especially like that you tackled some variety of angles with the heads in your sketches. You've definitely got some talent there. Keep practicing and tweaking your work.


***-----------------Post Scan Tip -------------------------------------***
I have a tip for you when you scan your images and then would like to post them. If you have Photoshop (PS), you can make some tweaks that will make your pencils stand out a bit more. There are a few different ways you can do this, but I like this one the best personally.

After you've scanned your image, open it in PS. If your file is not in RGB mode, then convert it. Using the Image drop down menu, select mode and choose RBG.

Next go to your layers window (F7 in my version of PS). You'll click on the channels tab. Then while holding the Ctrl button, click on the RBG layer. This will select everything.

Next go to the Select drop down menu, and click on inverse.

Now, go to the drop down menu and create a New Fill Layer. Choose a solid color ( I usually go with a near black/dark gray color). You decide what looks best for your scans.

Once you create this new layer, you can merge the layers (this is also found in the Layers drop down menu). This should make your scans a little easier to see. I also use this technique (minus the last step) to add color to my images.

[AJ Skyterra]

Thanks for the feedback! I don't have a scanner right now or Photoshop, but I put it on my Christmas list so I'll definitely look back on this when I get it.

Here's a few more new ones I've made since then (it's been a while since I posted here).

http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/260/7/7/erika_sketch_2_by_ajanae79-d2ywtrj.jpg

http://fc01.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2010/260/9/f/erika_sketch_3_by_ajanae79-d2ywtv1.jpg

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/260/4/e/shane_sketch_2_by_ajanae79-d2ywugt.jpg

[Dudley]

http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/260/4/e/shane_sketch_2_by_ajanae79-d2ywugt.jpg

Practice forshortening by looking in the mirror. Both hands need work, the one reaching in the air fingers are off, and the hand wouldn't bend like that in that angle.
Keep practicing and keep up the good work!