Paper Miniature and Figure Designing

Where to start!

Select an era or topic that you like and look for photographs, illustrations or movies that highlight that subject. Painted miniature catalogues are another great place to look. This will give you additional ideas and help in the creative process. We have chosen Musketeers as the era/topic we will work with for this tutorial. Once you have your basic idea consider the poses you will want the figures to have. If the figures are to be gamed make sure you design a suitable line of enemy figues as well.

Here are a few definitions to help you understand some key points in designing.

Forward View and Rear View - This is the art you see on the forward and rear of the figure. This is not the direction the figure is facing. Side A will be the Forward Art and Side B will be the Rear Art.

True Rear Art - Is what you would actually see if you looked at the rear of the figure. It is not just a duplicate of the forward art flipped over.

Front Facing, Side Facing (Right or Left) - This is the actual direction the figure is designed to be facing, either to the front or to the side (left or right).

Back Facing - This is the opposite side of the direction the figure is designed to be facing.

Designing Paper Figures - Step 1 Determine Facing, Front vs Side

All text will be in reference to the photo/picture that precedes it in the tutorial.

You must consider the figure view in your design plans. You can make the figure look to the front or to either the left or right side. The female is depicted as front side and the male as right side facing.

When you use a front facing, the rear view of the figure will be on the back side of the figure. The example shows how it would look when viewed from above with the figure on a hexagonal base. If you design the figure this way, it almost requires you to create true rear art. If you were to use duplicate forward art flipped, the figure would appear to face forward in both the forward and rear directions. In addition, details of the figure will be lost if some poses are depicted from a front view direction. Imagine looking at a Horse and rider from the side. Now imagine what that same horse and rider would look like if seen from directly in front. Most of the rider would be obscured by the horses head and not being able to see four legs might make someone wonder what the creature was in the first place.

When you use a left or right side view the rear view of the figure is actually on the opposite seam edge of it's facing. The example shows how it would look when viewed from above with the figure on a hexagonal base. So there is no real need to draw/color true rear art as it is not really visable.

We will use the Side Facing for our creations.

Designing Paper Figures - Step 2 Determine Rear View Type

Now that you have decided which facing to use, it is time to decide how you want the rear view art (Side B) to look. There are several choices, Original Forward Art Flipped (OFAF), OFAF Blackened, OFAF Back lettered or True Rear Art.

Which ever facing type you chose, Forward or Side, the original image can still be flipped upside down and glued back to back with the first image. This new image (Side B) is considerd the rear view art.

This would be the original forward art flipped (OFAF). You would use the same image done for the forward view to be the rear view.

This is the process we will use and that we recommend. Note - Flipping the image will affect objects in the left or right hand becoming reversed from one side to the other.

You could use original front art flipped and blacken it (OFAF Blackened). Unfortunately, a blackened side removes most of the character form so identification can some times be a problem. It also uses a lot of black ink from your printer cartridge.

Another drawback of using blackened art occurs in actual game use. In most cases there will be two players in a game. Each of them will sit opposite each other, rather than side by side. So from one side this will be what one player sees.

If you design all of your figures facing to the right or left then all of one players figures will all be blackened art showing to them. If you design your figures facing right and your opponent designs them facing left then one side of the table will see only blackened art.

Because of all of these problems with blackened art we do not recommend you use that style.

You could use original front art flipped and print the word BACK on it (OFAF Back lettered).

You could create and use True Rear Art.

However this requires that you make two complete sets of images for each figure. This can be quite time consuming from the artists point of view. Especially, if this hobby is done in the artists spare time and given away for free.

Designing Paper Figures - Step 3 Organizing your Characters and Troops

Since part of the enjoyment of gaming is derived from the visual quality and set up of the game you should consider how both players figures will look when displayed.

If the figures are of a different design art, say WWII, then it would be easy to tell them apart by the different style of uniform and the different color. Unfortunately that means you need to design different art for each soldier of each army. For the American Civil War could use the same style of uniform (same drawings) but change the color. If you were working with Knights or Musketeers you could use the same style and just change the color of certain portions of their clothing/uniforms.

The result, two figures designed with Side Facing, True Back Art and Color switching on their clothing.

Now that you know a little more about the general concept and procedures you are ready to try drawing and coloring or modifying.

This document and all paper miniature artwork, photo's, gif's, and jpg's are Copyright © 2006 Patrick Crusiau and Historygamer2. Personal use is granted. Reposting, Redistribution or Commercial use is not authorized!