Looking forward to the tutorial on how to create these. I've tried and just get errors when importing into Storyline.
1. I created EMF files of heads and bodies (exported from Illustrator from a PNG file, then tried again directly from Flash, where my original art was created).
2. Updated the Metadata.csv file, and it appears to be correct based on the original Articulate characters' files
3. Packaged the folder with the metadata and EMF files as a zip, renamed it as a .acp file, and added it to the Common Files/Articulate/Characters/Illustrated folder.
Still not working, but Jerson's worked when I added his packaged file....so not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Are you exporting PNG files to EMF? This won't work. I've tried it before and either I get errors or it turned out looking really bad.
You need front and side poses. If you like you can send me the EMF data and I can look at it.
Another thing is just to start with 1-2 expressions and 1-2 poses.
After figuring out the PNG to EMF doesn't work, I started exporting to EMF directly from Flash. I did start with 2 poses (front and side, heads and bodies). Not sure exactly what's wrong. I'd love to send you what I've done if you had a few moments to see if there is anything obvious that I'm putting together incorrectly.
EDIT: OK, figured out the first issue - I was missing a column in the CSV file. Now to figure out how to get the heads and bodies to align!
I had to abandon this for now. The EMF files created in Flash didn't turn out very well for whatever reason (maybe my starting images are too small?). And I'm not sure I have the time to figure out the head/body alignment situation without a starting point of knowing how it's figured.
Thanks, Jerson. I'll email you if I get a chance to pick this up again.
I'm familiar with flash, but I've never used to export .emf files so I can't tell whats going on. Do you have illustrator? That's what I use to create my characters.
hi!!! great job!! really impresive, but if i like to do my own character and use in the same way like you, how i can do???? please help me! sorry for my english i dont know so well the lenguaje.
After several attempts at doing a screencast, I realized it's way too much information for a 5 minute screen casts. I'm thinking of writing a in-depth step by step tutorial. I just have to find the time. But keep an eye out on this forum since this is the first place I'll post it when I get done with it.
Jerson, these look great! I am continually looking for new options. (I am ready to learn how to build my own). One pose I have found hard to find is a character with their back turned. I work on some customer based courses and sometimes just want to see the employee's face. That is what I am currently searching for and can't seem to find it.
Maybe not as fancy as the completely self drawn ones (unfortunately not too good at that!) - but I get quite satisfactory results with using a web app called 'CartoonYou' to create the faces;which I think are the most challenging to draw. Then, only using the faces/necks I do a bit of a paper doll action with pasting cut out uniforms on top.
The nice thing about CartoonYou is that you can make lots of expressions playing with eyes, mouth etc.
An option forposes is taking some of the E-learning art characters so you can use the different poses for your paper doll dressing.
Or grab a picture of the pose you want online and draw over it using the technique Tom K showed not so long ago in one of his blogs.
I've attached some samples -not as fancy as Jerson's - tp show some things I've tried.
@jerson, Hey, I started trying to make my own character but I'm having trouble with placement. How do you know where the head will be placed in relation to the body?
Hey yah, me too having problem with the placement in relation to the body. The head appears behind the body and I am having trouble getting it into position. Any help will be appreciated.
The program places the head first and then the body. You have to create an empty container ( a shape with no fill or stroke) where the head would be and move it up about 15px (after you align it to the top of the head). The body has to be centered on the head too. This means you have to add empty containers on the body so that the center of the body (when you select all) matches the center of the head (when you select all). It took me a while to figure this out because these shapes dont show up in the EMF/WMF files.
So, I just came across this post and wonder if there was ever any follow up. @Jerson, did you complete your packs? Are you interested in teaching others other to do this? We'd like to create a set of custom characters for our company-wide training.
Hi @Jerson! I came across this thread when searching for ‘how to build custom characters in Articulate Storyline’. Kudos for taking the initiative to do this. Unfortunately, the link you shared (https://visual-e-learning.com/) doesn't seem to work anymore. Even the video you initially shared at the beginning of the post (https://player.vimeo.com/video/53707715) is not showing the correct video. I'm really keen to look at your solution and hope you can continue to share it. Thanks in advance!
I know this is old but whatever happened with this? There was some discussion about EULA, then there was a website where you could purchase these, but now it doesn't seem to be working?
Hi Mike, with the latest upgrade to Storyline 3 and 360, the process has changed in creating the characters. And since I've gone to freelancing full-time, I haven't had much time to figure out the new process, or create new characters for Storyline 2. I still plan on offering the free characters I created, I just need some time how I want to do that on my website. But if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message.
123 Replies
love these! Thank you
Looking forward to the tutorial on how to create these. I've tried and just get errors when importing into Storyline.
1. I created EMF files of heads and bodies (exported from Illustrator from a PNG file, then tried again directly from Flash, where my original art was created).
2. Updated the Metadata.csv file, and it appears to be correct based on the original Articulate characters' files
3. Packaged the folder with the metadata and EMF files as a zip, renamed it as a .acp file, and added it to the Common Files/Articulate/Characters/Illustrated folder.
Still not working, but Jerson's worked when I added his packaged file....so not sure what I'm doing wrong.
Are you exporting PNG files to EMF? This won't work. I've tried it before and either I get errors or it turned out looking really bad.
You need front and side poses. If you like you can send me the EMF data and I can look at it.
Another thing is just to start with 1-2 expressions and 1-2 poses.
After figuring out the PNG to EMF doesn't work, I started exporting to EMF directly from Flash. I did start with 2 poses (front and side, heads and bodies). Not sure exactly what's wrong. I'd love to send you what I've done if you had a few moments to see if there is anything obvious that I'm putting together incorrectly.
EDIT: OK, figured out the first issue - I was missing a column in the CSV file. Now to figure out how to get the heads and bodies to align!
Can you post a screenshot of what is happening? I might be able to help you out. You can also email me at Jerson(at)visual-e-learning.com.
I had to abandon this for now. The EMF files created in Flash didn't turn out very well for whatever reason (maybe my starting images are too small?). And I'm not sure I have the time to figure out the head/body alignment situation without a starting point of knowing how it's figured.
Thanks, Jerson. I'll email you if I get a chance to pick this up again.
I'm familiar with flash, but I've never used to export .emf files so I can't tell whats going on. Do you have illustrator? That's what I use to create my characters.
hi!!! great job!! really impresive, but if i like to do my own character and use in the same way like you, how i can do???? please help me! sorry for my english i dont know so well the lenguaje.
Hey Alex,
After several attempts at doing a screencast, I realized it's way too much information for a 5 minute screen casts. I'm thinking of writing a in-depth step by step tutorial. I just have to find the time. But keep an eye out on this forum since this is the first place I'll post it when I get done with it.
Do let us know if you do any more work on this !
Jerson, these look great! I am continually looking for new options. (I am ready to learn how to build my own). One pose I have found hard to find is a character with their back turned. I work on some customer based courses and sometimes just want to see the employee's face. That is what I am currently searching for and can't seem to find it.
Thank you for sharing! They look wonderful!
Hi all,
Maybe not as fancy as the completely self drawn ones (unfortunately not too good at that!) - but I get quite satisfactory results with using a web app called 'CartoonYou' to create the faces;which I think are the most challenging to draw. Then, only using the faces/necks I do a bit of a paper doll action with pasting cut out uniforms on top.
The nice thing about CartoonYou is that you can make lots of expressions playing with eyes, mouth etc.
An option forposes is taking some of the E-learning art characters so you can use the different poses for your paper doll dressing.
Or grab a picture of the pose you want online and draw over it using the technique Tom K showed not so long ago in one of his blogs.
I've attached some samples -not as fancy as Jerson's - tp show some things I've tried.
Great job! Love it!
@jerson, Hey, I started trying to make my own character but I'm having trouble with placement. How do you know where the head will be placed in relation to the body?
Hey yah, me too having problem with the placement in relation to the body. The head appears behind the body and I am having trouble getting it into position. Any help will be appreciated.
Hi William,
The program places the head first and then the body. You have to create an empty container ( a shape with no fill or stroke) where the head would be and move it up about 15px (after you align it to the top of the head). The body has to be centered on the head too. This means you have to add empty containers on the body so that the center of the body (when you select all) matches the center of the head (when you select all). It took me a while to figure this out because these shapes dont show up in the EMF/WMF files.
So, I just came across this post and wonder if there was ever any follow up. @Jerson, did you complete your packs? Are you interested in teaching others other to do this? We'd like to create a set of custom characters for our company-wide training.
Hi Amber,
Yes I did complete some packs and you can find them on my website. You can also PM me if you have any specific questions.
Hi Jerson!
I forgot to thank you for your explanations.
Getting the head in the right place was the trickiest part but I managed to get things right eventually.
You're welcome Pierre, if you have any more questions just PM me. I wouldn't mind to see what you worked on.
Hi @Jerson!
I came across this thread when searching for ‘how to build custom characters in Articulate Storyline’. Kudos for taking the initiative to do this. Unfortunately, the link you shared (https://visual-e-learning.com/) doesn't seem to work anymore. Even the video you initially shared at the beginning of the post (https://player.vimeo.com/video/53707715) is not showing the correct video. I'm really keen to look at your solution and hope you can continue to share it. Thanks in advance!
I know this is old but whatever happened with this? There was some discussion about EULA, then there was a website where you could purchase these, but now it doesn't seem to be working?
Did anything ever come of this?
Hi Mike, with the latest upgrade to Storyline 3 and 360, the process has changed in creating the characters. And since I've gone to freelancing full-time, I haven't had much time to figure out the new process, or create new characters for Storyline 2. I still plan on offering the free characters I created, I just need some time how I want to do that on my website. But if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me a message.
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