Continuing our "Alliteration Theme", this week's "Power User Profile" features that master bug-hunter extraordinaire and expert Open Critique Day critiquer, Panner!
- A photo (or drawing) of you in "real life": They say all artists must do at least one self-portrait in their life. Might as well get that done.
(Click to embiggen.) - Online name used in HeroMachine environs: Panner
- Real name: Bob
- Real city/state/country: Sweden
- Real job: Machine maintenance
- Real age:25
- Gender: Male
- Married/single: Single
- Online archive of your creations (if any): http://forums.ugo.com/showthread.php?t=41848
- The best piece of HeroMachine art you've created: Without the slightest hint of doubt, I have absolutely no idea.
- Favorite all-time geeky movie if any: This is a tough one. I'll go with Terminator 2, that movie kicks ass.
- Favorite all-time geeky book if any: Does Mathematics Handbook (Råde/Westergren) count as geeky? Yeah, I thought so. It's been very long since last time I read a novel.
- Favorite all-time geeky TV show if any: There are many TV shows I've enjoyed, like X-files, Twilight Zone, Buffy and Star Trek (at least the good episodes). But to be perfectly frank, the ones I appreciate the most are the more educational ones, like Survivorman, Mythbusters or Carl Sagan's Cosmos.
- Favorite all-time comic book character if any: I haven't read enough comics to form an opinion.
- If you could have one super-heroic power in real life, you'd choose: Definitely time travel, to learn and document how it actually works. While that sounds all scientific and everything, rest assured I would abuse it to its fullest potential. In fact, in any scenario where I have that kind of power, I would likely be the villain and not the hero. Oh well.
- In your leisure time you like to: I like pen and paper RPGS, but that doesn't happen a lot these days. I've tried substituting MMORPGs, with varying degrees of success. Usually I just end up playing Minecraft instead. For some unexplicable reason I enjoy cooking moderately advanced dishes, though only if I'm having company. If I'm alone I could eat cardboard with ketchup for all I care.
- Character design turn-ons (things you love to see that make for a good design): A good color scheme and composition where the colors bring out the important parts. Unusual poses and other things I haven't seen before. Character interacting with the environment. Last but definitely not least - gradients, they are a really easy way of giving a character depth.
- Character design turn-offs (things you hate to see that make for a bad design): Having a character stand around with closed fists for no reason - it doesn't look natural and it's better to use relaxed hands, hands in pockets, crossed arms, etc. Another thing is not using enough items. A character can be made much more interesting by adding shoulderpads, belt, insignia(s), bracers, kneepads and so on. I heard some famous artist had a habit of adding pouches everywhere and on everyone, so what could go wrong?
- Best tip for a HeroMachine newbie: Start using masking as soon as possible. Masking allows you to draw only a select part of an item by masking to for instance an insignia. Remember that while each item can be masked upon only once, nothing is preventing you from placing several duplicates.
- Any personal message you'd like to share with the HeroMachine community about Geek Life: That tagline for Heromachine - "...even if you can't draw a straight line" - that's me. I had zero interest in art before I found this site. Now, I very recently worked at a local library, and I always stayed several hours after work reading the 'How to draw' books and taking notes. This place has changed me, and I'm most grateful to everyone that contributes to it.
Oh, and call your mom today and ask how everything's going. She'll appreciate it.
Good one. Good advice.
Welcome aboard.
Layering duplicates to achieve Masking effects is a good technique. Starting to use it more often.
I totally agree with the ramifications of time travel. I’d be like, “Do I stop Hitler or ask my ex-girlfriend to stay?” I’ve seen “Butterfly Effect.” And speaking of time travel… I wish could get those 90 minutes of my life back!
@Jeff: Typo in the introduction? You put PapaKrok not Panner. ;9
Yes, another go goatee! Take that Myro:)
On a different note Panner; your criticism’s have always been well thought out and valuable insight. I think the Friday critique’s are a better place to be when your there as well.
Awesome job, Panner. Between your seemingly supernatural ability to hunt out bugs in the HM3 code and your contributions to Open Critique Friday, you definitely deserve this. Congrats.
Atomic Punk (2): I’m thinking your number should be called up soon for a profile too. In a way, I’m surprised it hasn’t. Also, I noticed that typo too. Jeff, coffee first, then HeroMachine updates!
MMI (3): Hey! My refusal to grow facial hair does not make me less of a man. It’s almost become a cliche to have a goatee here. I’m just trying to break that trend. 😛
@Panner: Survivorman just creeps me out, ever since that episode where he was talking to ‘Brother Raven’. He reminds me of a character from a Wes Craven movie who lives in the desert and eats people. 😀 I much prefer Bear Grylls.
@Myro: Just admit it; you had a goatee and shaved it just before your profile came up, didn’t you? 🙂
Imp (6): if by “just before” you mean 15 years ago, then yes. The only time I grew a goatee was for Halloween one year. I was working that thing for about 3 weeks in preparation, and I couldn’t shave off that chin fur fast enough.
Way I see it, if Clark Kent, Bruce Wayne, Hal Jordan, Barry Allen, Steve Rogers, Peter Parker, Scott Summers, and Reed Richards (among others) are all okay with shaving regularly, then so am I. 😀
Hey nice work! Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go call my mother…
MMI (4): I agree, goatee really is the way to go. I’m fairly certain that stroking my beard instantly makes me at least 15% smarter.
And thank you for those very flattering words, they mean a lot to me. I find myself grateful and humbled.
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Myro (5): Thanks, but there’s really nothing supernatural about me. All I did was trade in my social life. Totally worth it.
Sure, you mention a lot of fine people that all prefer to be clean shaved. But you know who I’m thinking of that had a beard? Jesus, that’s who. Yeah, think about that for a moment!
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Imp (6): Yeah, what was up with that raven? I thought poor Les had gone off the deep end. Then again, some argue that one of the greatest dangers of being alone in the wild is the isolation, and I’ve heard recommendations that one should start talking to an object to remain sane. So I guess it makes sense.