Category Archives: Character Design Challenges

CDC #442 – Two Great Tastes! – SciFi Edition

Ok guys, this week I want you to create an awesome sci-fi character. But this time there's a twist, you have to mix another genre in with it. So for example, you could create a fantasy character with a sci-fi twist, such as a android paladin or a an alien wizard. Genres you can choose from include:

Fantasy, Western, Anime, Steam/ Cyber-Punk, Ninja, Superhero and Horror.

The winner this week will receive my version of their design rendered in glorious HM3.

Please follow the instructions below regarding the naming of entries.

Enter as often as you like!

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. Please keep all submissions PG13: full or partial nudity is prohibited. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warning. Only post characters that have been created solely using Hero Machine, and that you know for certain have never been entered in a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like the HeroMachine :,ImageShack, Deviant Art or whatever);Do not use Photobucket.

  • Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
  • No copyrighted characters please – they will be deleted.
  • Please name your filesas [your name]-[character name].[file extension] before you upload it. So DiCicatriz, for instance, would save his “Bayou Belle” character image as DiCicatriz-BayouBelle.png.

Please make the link go directly to the image (like this) and not to a hosting jump page (like this).

This contest will close at 9am Eastern on Sunday, December 15th..

CDC #441 – Cold As Ice – Results

Great job by everyone this week.

Honourable mention goes to Kellkin for Cryos

This week'a runner up is NerdAndProud for Deep Freeze

And the win this week goes to...

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CDC #441 – Cold As Ice!

So I was kind of stumped for a topic this week when I looked out my balcony window and there it was; sleet ice freezing rain and snow Yep it’s another Canadian winter.

So your challenge this week is to create a hero or villain with the power – or technology – necessary to drop temperatures dramatically causing ice and snow storms. Think Mr. Freeze or Ice Man.

The winner this week will receive my version of their design rendered in glorious HM3.

Please follow the instructions below regarding the naming of entries.

Enter as often as you like!

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. Please keep all submissions PG13: full or partial nudity is prohibited. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warning. Only post characters that have been created solely using Hero Machine, and that you know for certain have never been entered in a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like the HeroMachine :,ImageShack, Deviant Art or whatever);Do not use Photobucket.

  • Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
  • No copyrighted characters please – they will be deleted.
  • Please name your filesas [your name]-[character name].[file extension] before you upload it. So DiCicatriz, for instance, would save his “Bayou Belle” character image as DiCicatriz-BayouBelle.png.

Please make the link go directly to the image (like this) and not to a hosting jump page (like this).

This contest will close at 9am Eastern on Sunday, December 8th

CDC #440 – Monochromatic Masters – Results

It was difficult to choose a winner this week despite the low turnout but that's why they pay me the big bucks. (Just kidding...I get paid nothing... zip...zilch...zero)

Anyway this weeks winner is ForgivenMonster.

Beautiful work and the treatment of the glass is subtle and stunning. You have this ability to fill the viewers eye without overwhelming it with filler. A good editing eye you have. Well done you.

Shout out to Kellkin who was a close second.

Thanks to all who entered.

CDC #438 – Hey ol’ Buddy…’ol pal! – Prize for Kellkin

Kellkin's winning entry...

My version based on Kellkin's original...

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CDC #440 – Monochromatic Masters!

Monochromatic is a color scheme based on only one, single color tint. It uses only variations (shades) of a single hue, made by altering the saturation and brightness of the base color. Black and white colors are always added, as they in fact are the brightest, resp. the darkest shade of the color Posted above is a piece I made years ago using  monochromatic principles.

Your challenge this week is to create a piece of Monochromatic art using HM3. The subject matter is wide open.

You can enter as many times as you wish.

Due to my work schedule over the next two weeks there will be no prize for the winning entry.

Please follow the instructions below regarding the naming of entries.

Enter as often as you like!

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. Please keep all submissions PG13: full or partial nudity is prohibited. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warning. Only post characters that have been created solely using Hero Machine, and that you know for certain have never been entered in a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like the HeroMachine :,ImageShack, Deviant Art or whatever);Do not use Photobucket.

  • Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
  • No copyrighted characters please – they will be deleted.
  • Please name your filesas [your name]-[character name].[file extension] before you upload it. So DiCicatriz, for instance, would save his “Bayou Belle” character image as DiCicatriz-BayouBelle.png.

Please make the link go directly to the image (like this) and not to a hosting jump page (like this).

This contest will close at 9am Eastern on Sunday, December 1st.

CDC #439 – Triple Play – Results

The win this week goes to Ubiquitous Pixel For this amazing piece of work.

Stunning work! and the item use is brilliant. Well done you, and thanks to all who entered.

CDC #437 – Wild Card – Prize for ForgivenMonster

The original...

My take on the character...

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CDC #438 – Hey ol’ Buddy…’ol pal!

So many years ago, for those of you who qualify as whippersnappers, we had weekly one day contests on the blog called Pop Quizzes. Basically a theme would be posted Saturday mornings and you had roughly 24 hours to come up with a piece that fit the theme. They were a lot of fun, and NO...they are not coming back

So I decided to  resurrect one of my favourite PQs from the past.

Your challenge this week is to take the following figure from Companions / Humanoids...

...and using your machining skills. turn it into a fully realized character. This was my entry for the Pop Quiz...

The winner this week will receive my version of their character rendered in glorious HM3. I probably will not use the companion as a base. This is not the hill I want to die on...lol

Please follow the instructions below regarding the naming of entries.

Enter as often as you like!

Rules for posts, contests, and challenges: Original characters only, no copyrighted characters, no characters based on copyrighted characters, no characters based on RPG’s or other games. The characters must be your own design and not based on any character that might be copyrighted in any way. Please keep all submissions PG13: full or partial nudity is prohibited. I have the right to delete any post that I believe crosses this line without warning. Only post characters that have been created solely using Hero Machine, and that you know for certain have never been entered in a contest before. If you aren’t certain, don’t enter it, because I’m not going to go back through all of the contests and check.

All entries must be in JPG or PNG form (BMPs are too big), posted to a publicly accessible website (like the HeroMachine :,ImageShack, Deviant Art or whatever);Do not use Photobucket.

  • Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
  • No copyrighted characters please – they will be deleted.
  • Please name your filesas [your name]-[character name].[file extension] before you upload it. So DiCicatriz, for instance, would save his “Bayou Belle” character image as DiCicatriz-BayouBelle.png.

Please make the link go directly to the image (like this) and not to a hosting jump page (like this).

This contest will close at 9am Eastern on Sunday, November 17th.

CDC #436 – Monsters Updated – Prize for Kellkin

Kellkin's original...

My take on Kellkin's design...

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