Author Archives: djuby

Your challenge this week is to create a character you might find in a classic western movie.

Sheriff, bandit, bartender, undertaker – anything that saddles your horse.

Please follow the instructions below for naming your files.

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. 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, PhotoBucket, or whatever);

• Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
• 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 on Sunday, March 5^th at 9:00am Eastern.

Classic With A Twist challenges are fairly straightforward. Basically you are charged with taking a traditional character and introducing a new and original take on them.

Your challenge this week is to take the classic Grim Reaper and add your own original twist. Perhaps your reaper has a steampunk vibe, or maybe your reaper is re-imagined as female. It’s up to you, so just have fun with it. There is no limit on number of entries.

Please follow the instructions below for naming your files.

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. 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, PhotoBucket, or whatever);

• Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
• 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 on Sunday, February 26^th at 9:00am Eastern.

Eighty years ago today, Arthurian comic strip character Prince Valiant made his first appearance.

Your challenge this week is to create an original Arthurian character. Could be a knight, wizard, peasant, nobleman … whatever floats your boat. There is no limit on number of entries.

Please follow the instructions below for naming your files.

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. 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, PhotoBucket, or whatever);

• Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
• 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 on Sunday, February 19th at 9:00am Eastern.

Great entries this week!

Honourable mention goes out to Primelionstar for this transforming take on the character.

And the win goes to AMS. Beautiful detail and an amazing take on a traditional Inukshuk. Well done you!

ATUQTUAQ KUMAGLAK was born in January of 1940 in the remote Qikiqtaaluk area of Canada’s high arctic. While his quiet almost spiritual demeanor made him an unlikely hero, it was his ability to physically transform that brought him to the attention of the ILJ.

When ATU senses a threat or sees others in distress, he transforms into Inukshuk, a solid stone creature sworn to protect all those in peril. He joined the ILJ in 1961.

Your challenge this week is to design two images of ATU; one dressed in his ILJ costume, and one as his fully transformed alter ego, Inukshuk. You can choose to do these as separate images or present both on the same piece.

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. 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, PhotoBucket, or whatever);

• Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
• 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 on Sunday, February 12th at 9:00am Eastern.

Your Design Challenge this week is to create a biomechanical character using HM3. You must include at least 2 examples of masking, and no less than four examples of highlighting or shading.

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. 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, PhotoBucket, or whatever);

• Entries must be made as a comment or comments to this post, containing a link directly to the image and the character name;
• 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 on Sunday, February 5^th at 9:00am Eastern.

Another nice turn out! Awesome!

Honourable mention this week goes to Melmo44 for his cyberpunk fashionista.

And the win goes to Cliff for this stunning creation.

Please join me in congratulating Cliff on the win. Well done you!