Category Archives: Tips & Tricks

I thought it might be handy to have a ready-to-go character string you can just paste into the "Load" box to load up all of the Expansion genres at once instead of having to hunt and peck for them.

2.5*m1*ExpansionSet*Hair:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,23,
Eyebrows:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,21,Eyes:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,20,Nose:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,
FFFFFF,100,100,27,Mouth:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,
100,18,Beard:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,26,
Ears:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,19,Skin:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,6,Mask:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,
FFFFFF,100,100,22,Headgear:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,
100,29,Undershirt:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,7,
Overshirt:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,8,Coat:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,25,RightGlove:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,
FFFFFF,100,100,17,LeftGlove:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,
16,Insignia:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,9,
Neckwear:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,24,Belt:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,15,Leggings:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,
FFFFFF,100,100,10,Overleggings:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,
100,11,Pants:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,14,
RightFoot:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,13,
LeftFoot:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,12,Back:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,3,Wings:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,
FFFFFF,100,100,4,Tail:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,5,
Aura:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,2,Companion:Expansion1,
fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,31,Background:Expansion1,fraBlank,
FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,1,RightHand:,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,
100,30,LeftHand:Expansion1,fraBlank,FFFFFF,FFFFFF,100,100,28,#

To use it:

1. Copy the text string above (starting with 2 and ending with #);
2. Open HeroMachine 2 Online Edition;
3. Click on the "Load" button (the one that looks like a folder);
4. Right-Click in the big white window, and choose "Paste" from the flyout menu;
5. Click "Load" at the bottom of that window.

The first male body should load, then all of the Expansion genres, and you'll be good to go. If you want to load the first (athletic) female body with all the expansion items, change the 2.1*m1* at the beginning of the string to 2.1*f1*. For the second (dwarf) male figure with all expansion items, change 2.1*m1* to 2.1*m2*.

If you are using HeroMachine 2 Desktop Edition, holding down the SHIFT key and clicking on a color paints the opposite color area of the item. In other words, if "Color 1" is active in the color box, holding down SHIFT and clicking on a color will make that the active "Color 2", and vice versa. This does not currently work in the online version (I'm not sure why) but is functional in the Desktop Edition.

Even though Color 1 is highlighted (and set to white), by holding down the SHIFT key I can set Color 2 to light blue. This saves having to mouse up to the top and toggling the color area.

I use a Wacom graphic tablet to draw all of the items in the HeroMachine. It cuts development time dramatically, and allows me to combine the art production and code development into one application. I don't think I could ever go back to a pure pen and ink on paper method of drawing at this point, I'm lost to the dark side.

Anyway, I thought you might be interested in seeing a demonstration of how, in general, you can go from a neat photograph of something to a finished digital pen and ink illustration like those found in the program. There's no sound, just a visual -- my auditory skills haven't quite caught up to the times yet.