Custom Strider figure

[Hinckley]

So, after 8 years as a graphic designer, I've finally learned how to use Illustrator and I don't know how I ever lived without it. I think it'll improve my customizing skills greatly. Here's my first custom with my new Illustrator skills, Strider from the Capcom Game Strider:

Here is my source material:

I will use this figure for my block block entry (and it may even end up as the prize for first place... *sweet* )

Feedback and constructive criticism welcome and encouraged. Thanks. :-)

[Kliq]

Oh wow, Hinckley, that custom minifig looks great! I've always wanted to create decals like that, and it looks like you've pretty much perfected it! :-) I would have never thought that was your first using that program.

That would be generous of you to make it the prize for first place, as I don't think I could part with such a great looking fig! *y*

[Hinckley]

Thanks Klig! X-D And thanks for being the first to comment on my first custom fig (using illustrator :-$ ) I'm kind of excited about it so I've been hovering around waiting for someone to respond. :-$ I suppose it may seem generous, but I printed out a page of these to practice and got the torso on the first try and the arms in 2.5 tries, basically, so I'm happy to offer a fun prize like this. I will have to find more fleshy arms to do the whole figure, but hey...it's also fun to give. *sweet*

Let's compare my first custom torso to my most recent:

Custom torso design is fun! I may lose some clients spending too much time on making these, but I have another one in the pipeline I hope I can finish soon.

[Kliq]

You are very welcome! I'm honored to be first. :-D 2.5 tries, eh? Sounds like there might be a story to tell there. :-P I agree that sometimes things you create can be fun to give, especially with such a great response you are sure to receive!

Oh man, your most recent is so cool! 8-

[MagPiesRUs]

Wow, great job, I love the way you've done the different materials. I'm loving the arm band and wrist band, as well as the shading on the torso *wub*

I'm not really in love with those shoulder straps, I feel they need an outline or something along those lines. And the first place may get this as a prize? I'd better start making an entry :-$

Once again, great work *y*

[iamded]

Wow! :'-) Absolutely fantastic decals, Hinckley! They look great! It really is amazing, and it fits the fig so well! *y* *y* I'd love to see what you come up with next!

~Peace

[Hinckley]

Oh man, your most recent is so cool!

No no :-$ that was the first one I ever made with Photoshop. X-D Thank you though, and I do love the idea of making more tatooed ones. I think Lao's robe would be much cooler now if I tackle it through Illustrator.

For those of you wondering how I'm a designer and didn't know Illustrator, there's a simple answer: I'm self taught. And until I got my MAC, Illustrator wouldn't open. I could install it, but my PC lacked the processing power to load all of the fonts as outline and always aborted before I could even get it started. Now I have my MAC and a great Illustrator video tutorial that came with version 3.

Man, if I wasn't trying to meet an overdue deadline, I would so finish up the new mini-fig I'm working on. We'll see it by Thursday, though, I hope.

Thanks again Kilg for the nice feedback. :-)

[Shadows]

First, great job! The custom work looks exactly right, even down to looking like official LEGO colours, which I know is something that you were working on at one time.

Not being familiar with the character, I went to google and the only difference I could see was that he is usually represented in purple instead of blue, or at least with matching torso and legs to give a more flowing look. Since I don't know what source material you worked from, I don't know if it should be the same or not.

He's definitely different than the clone version and much closer to what I saw at google. Score one for the good guys! *y*

All he needs now is:

for those times when his face is supposed to be covered. I like how you incorporated it in the neckline to show that it was pulled down to reveal his face.

Your Lao is still a winner in my book, I never could see anything wrong with him.

I just don't know how you have the patience to apply the arm stickers. That seems incredibly difficult.

As for giving one away... whoa. That's very generous. Almost makes me want to rush in an entry, but digital sucks, it loses all of it's atmosphere.

Please continue to share your wonderful creations and thank you for naming your thread so well! ;-)

[Hinckley]

First, great job! The custom work looks exactly right, even down to looking like official LEGO colours, which I know is something that you were working on at one time.

Correct! And it was a. new print cartridges and b. Brickminer and Vader's pallettes that helped that out. Thanks for remembering and noticing.

Not being familiar with the character, I went to google and the only difference I could see was that he is usually represented in purple instead of blue, or at least with matching torso and legs to give a more flowing look. Since I don't know what source material you worked from, I don't know if it should be the same or not.

Here is my source material:

I've added it to the first post.

All he needs now is:

You're exactly right and it's designed so that piece fits over the scarf on the torso! X-D

I just don't know how you have the patience to apply the arm stickers. That seems incredibly difficult.

Tweezers.

As for giving one away... whoa. That's very generous. Almost makes me want to rush in an entry, but digital sucks, it loses all of it's atmosphere.

Tell me again why your creations have to be digital? Was there a brick tragedy? :'-(

Please continue to share your wonderful creations and thank you for naming your thread so well! ;-)

:-D I thought you would like that. X-D

I'm not really in love with those shoulder straps, I feel they need an outline or something along those lines. And the first place may get this as a prize? I'd better start making an entry :-$

Thank you! And good point, I appreciate you pointing that out. I always forget how "crayon-y" the features have to be in order to show up on the small torso. It really is quite a challenge as it's truly a very small area to get that much detail in. That is something I need to experiment with. Like the wrinkles in the fabric. I thought the black against the light blue would've been too stark but it brings the features out quite nicely.

Thanks again for the kind feedback TinyPies and everybody! *sweet*

[Kliq]

No no :-$ that was the first one I ever made with Photoshop. X-D

Oh man, how embarrassing. :-$ But I now realize some things I hadn't before, in the detailing you can do with Illustrator. Strider's wristbands, for example, have great details that really bring out a sense of realism. And on that same token, tattoo work could be really cool under a more detailed perspective such as overlapping colors! The possibilities are endless!

It's too bad about that deadline, because I'm eager to see the next fig. But I suppose work comes before play, right? :-/

[Shadows]

Here is my source material:

Brilliant! Still needs regular blue pants though. ;-)

Tell me again why your creations have to be digital? Was there a brick tragedy? :'-(

I'm too cheap broke lazy busy SOMETHING to replace my camera (I keep intending to buy a new one, then I buy LEGO instead. It's a disease, a disease I tell you! :-$ *wacko*).

The bricks are all safe and sound and in the process of being organized. I don't really have the dedicated space to spread it all out the way I'd like to.

So really, it's a combination of things, but that's ok. I like having sets piled up. It's like a stack of future happiness. That sounded so corny. 8-|

[LuxorV]

Great job as always, Hinckley *y* .

It makes my custom (see link to my entry in my sign) seem a 4 years old child's pencil work 8-|

But, you need to add that silver (or simply steel ;-) ) belt to the torso or to the hips. Looking at that reference pic, it would probably fit better on the hips.

Luxorv

[Batbrick]

Great job Hinckley, it looks exactly like him, good to see that someone who has collected lego for who-knows-how-long will still hover these pages in excitement, waiting for a reply :-D

I can't wait to win this guy see your next one! X-D

Batbrick Away! >:-)

[Bobskink]

So, after 8 years as a graphic designer, I've finally learned how to use Illustrator and I don't know how I ever lived without it.

I know what you mean, when I first discovered it I was, yeah so, I don't need this. But a few hours later I got addicted, and now I can't do my job without.

Some comments on your Strider (I thought I was gonna see an Aragorn) I like it, but maybe you should simplify the whole thing to make it look more Lego. The rest has already been said.

[Brickadier General]

I really like it. Having played the games, however, I would suggest doing something different with the hair. His hair is brown, so I would either paint the hairpiece in some shade of brown or go with this arealight hairpiece. And as others have mentioned, he still needs a red bandana and blue pants. Sorry if I sound like I'm bashing on it, because I really do like it. The torso is perfect as it is, in my opinion and those are just minor changes I would suggest.

P.S.: I think it would be really cool if you did other Capcom characters. :-)

[Stauder]

Great work on the decals hink! Amazing detail 8-

[Hinckley]

I really like it. Having played the games, however, I would suggest doing something different with the hair. His hair is brown, so I would either paint the hairpiece in some shade of brown or go with this arealight hairpiece. And as others have mentioned, he still needs a red bandana and blue pants. Sorry if I sound like I'm bashing on it, because I really do like it. The torso is perfect as it is, in my opinion and those are just minor changes I would suggest.

P.S.: I think it would be really cool if you did other Capcom characters. :-)

Thanks! Your criticism is very constructive, so it's much appreciated. Post some pics of Capcom characters you like please. *sweet*

I know what you mean, when I first discovered it I was, yeah so, I don't need this. But a few hours later I got addicted, and now I can't do my job without.

Some comments on your Strider (I thought I was gonna see an Aragorn) I like it, but maybe you should simplify the whole thing to make it look more Lego. The rest has already been said.

Thank you sir! Yes, I agree about Illustrator. I even started using it to design a new website I'm working on. Live color is just too cool. Thank you for the comments as well, but I'd rather make a detailed fig than make it look like LEGO. I'd rather make it look like Hinckley! X-D Besides, I notice that the torsos are becoming more and more detailed especially for the licensed themes. Thanks again for your feedback.

[Brickadier General]

Thanks! Your criticism is very constructive, so it's much appreciated. Post some pics of Capcom characters you like please. *sweet*

Thank you sir! Yes, I agree about Illustrator. I even started using it to design a new website I'm working on. Live color is just too cool. Thank you for the comments as well, but I'd rather make a detailed fig than make it look like LEGO. I'd rather make it look like Hinckley! X-D Besides, I notice that the torsos are becoming more and more detailed especially for the licensed themes. Thanks again for your feedback.

Right now, I can list a few. From Street Fighter, you have your staples like Ryu, Ken, Zangief, Chun Li, Dhaism, etc. Then there's Megaman, who wouldn't be too difficult I think. The Avatar face could work for the head, and for the helmet, I think you could get away with painting an "X-Wing pilot" helmet blue. I can think of a few more and look for pictures later, but now I have to go to class. :'-(

[mutley777]

Strider! WOW. What a blast form the past. One of my favourite games on my sega megadrive (that's genesis to the USA guys). Love the fig hinckley the detail is just amazing. Any plans for the over-size sword?

[Lord Of Pies]

Fantastic work, it looks very professional! The decals look superb, even the tiniest detail looks clear. 8-

[zero1312]

Both are looking awesome!! *wub*

And, oh crap, I'm seeing my chances in the contest going down. X-D

[Hinckley]

Strider! WOW. What a blast form the past. One of my favourite games on my sega megadrive (that's genesis to the USA guys). Love the fig hinckley the detail is just amazing. Any plans for the over-size sword?

Then you need to check out the block block contest, it's in my sig...

Fantastic work, it looks very professional! The decals look superb, even the tiniest detail looks clear. 8-

[zero1312]

Hey now, the contest is about having fun, so no worries. :-) Besides, I'll enter only as an exhibition, it won't be part of the poll. I did that with the neighborhood contest and I think it worked out for the best and it's the most fair option.

I was just kidding, Hinck'. :-D

[natelite]

wow..it's very close to the "original" capcom mf! nice job. i agree, you need the red scarf and blue legs. :-P

[Armothe]

Awesome! Welcome to the world of Illustrator......and fleshies. Would love to see a photo of the scarf applied and w/ blue minifig hips/legs. If possible, I'd recommend a decal for the hips representing that way cool metallic belt. I think it would add that extra touch. Weapons?

-A