Introduction

Have you ever imagined transforming your ideas into lifelike visual images or even 3D models? You may think it’s difficult, but this kit will help you create a one-of-a-kind virtual character in less than 20 minutes using AI tools.This kit takes you behind the scenes of creation, from conception to realization.

Let’s stand at the intersection of the virtual and the real. Giving digital life form, emotion and meaning from the creator’s point of view. In the process, you’ll realize that AI is not just a tool, but a creative partner! All about transforming your inspiration into reality through technology!

Author-created ai images

Step 1: Visualising Sound and Emotion (3minutes)

Sound connection

Listen to a piece of music and feel the emotional fluctuations in it (You can select specific music from the links below  or  choose your own).

Ask questions:

• What shapes or colours does this music make you think of?
• If a life was born in it, what would it look like?

You can find music inside this compilation, Each piece of music is labeled with a different mood color, choose the one you like!

Blue🔵

Green🟢

Red🔴

Pink🩷

Yellow🟡

Quick Record

• Use pen and paper or your phone to record 3-5 key words that represent the emotion, colour, shape or story you are feeling.

Close your eyes and imagine the birth of an avatar.

Step2: From Narrative to Character (3 minutes)

Create a story

Develop your key words into a brief story:

Questions you can refer to (Just a reference, not a must) :

• What is this character’s origin?
• What emotions drive their actions and choices

EXAMPLE: ‘A translucent guardian, born from a nebula. His body is made of light, and his glow becomes faint whenever someone approaches. ”

List a series of character traits for the character they are developing.

EXAMPLE: ‘She is introverted, quiet and has a kind heart. ”

Character concept sketch

• Use a pen to sketch the characters and scenes you image on the paper in sketch form, nothing too detailed.

An example of a sketchby tester

Step3: AI generation (5 minutes)

AI Generation of 2D Images

• Click on the link https://www.recraft.ai/projects  to use the AI drawing tools.
• Select “Login” and enter your email address, then enter the confirmation code when you receive it.

• Select “Create new image”.

• Select “image”.

• Choose the model you like. In order to successfully complete the 3D model behind, please choose a more flat, non-dimensional style model.

• Based on the emotional and narrative constructs felt while listening to the music previously, these perceptions are translated into clear AI mapping cue words. In order to facilitate the later 3d transformation, add keywords such as ‘flat style’, ‘art style’, ‘2D character’ ‘front view’ and so on in the prompt words.

• Example of prompt: ‘A floating virtual being with a translucent starlight body and a dark blue nebula behind it, art style, 2D character, front view’.

Examples of generated images by AI

Step4: 3Dize images(6 minutes)

• Click on the website https://www.tripo3d.ai/app
• Enter your email address in the same way as step3 and log in.
• Click on the red circle on the picture to import the image you just generated.

• Import the 2D design into the AI modelling tool and use the ‘Auto Modelling’ function to generate a 3D form.

Example of ai generated 3d models1

Example of ai generated 3d models2

Example of ai generated 3d models

Step6: Awakening the inner meaning of virtual life (3 minutes)

Comparison and thinking

• Drag the completed 3D model with the mouse,Observe it.
• Compare the personality traits you initially envisioned with the final results, find out which traits are retained and which are changed, and think about the source of these changes – is it their own thoughts, the influence of AI, or a combination of both?
• Think about it, does AI play the role of a tool, a collaborator, or an extension of creativity in creation?

Resource Sharing

• Invite your classmates to watch your virtual characters, and watch your classmates’ virtual characters, and communicate with each other about your characters!

• Post their experience/character/list of character traits to the Comments section on my blog！

Optional Steps

• Think about it, does AI play the role of a tool, a collaborator, or an extension of creativity in creation?

You can post your small digital life on your social media, you can tag it as #character design or or whatever you want!

‘Invisible Life’ – The Poetic Construction of Virtual Life © 2024 by Ruiqi Wang is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0