# Unvale Blog > Unvale is where 300k writers, illustrators, and story creators choose to call home. Share your creative ideas, collaborate, and grow a following from day one–only on Unvale. Public Ghost content for AI and LLM tooling. This file includes a bounded export of public pages first, then recent public posts. Append `.md` to any post or page URL to get the content in Markdown (for example, `/example-post.md`). ## Pages ### A new home for your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/a-new-home-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-06-02T19:45:15.000Z Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Phasellus pulvinar ac justo a convallis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Table-Topic-Tuesday--Winter--Niall--Darra--by-Honaki.png) [Claim Your Handle](unvale.io) - Nullam at purus dignissim, ornare urna nec, elementum arcu. Cras cursus pulvinar sapien ut porta. Etiam in nibh eget mauris tincidunt commodo. - Donec a molestie libero. Donec varius ex at suscipit ultricies. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. - Praesent sagittis sollicitudin neque eget consectetur. Sed vestibulum lectus turpis, ultrices pellentesque nibh bibendum ac! Donec a molestie libero. Donec varius ex at suscipit ultricies. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos. Phasellus pulvinar ac justo a convallis. Etiam in nibh eget mauris tincidunt commodo. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/image--14-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/21bb2eb2-989f-4e03-a35b-b75c30d0054c.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/squidge-helmet-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Untitled-design--44-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Untitled-design--38-.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Untitled-design--37-.png) Artists from UnVale. - Nullam at purus dignissim, ornare urna nec, elementum arcu. Cras cursus pulvinar sapien ut porta. Etiam in nibh eget mauris tincidunt commodo. - Donec a molestie libero. Donec varius ex at suscipit ultricies. Orci varius natoque penatibus et magnis dis parturient montes, nascetur ridiculus mus. - Praesent sagittis sollicitudin neque eget consectetur. Sed vestibulum lectus turpis, ultrices pellentesque nibh bibendum ac! [Claim Your Handle](unvale.io) Email address By subscribing, you agree with Revue’s [Terms of Service](https://www.getrevue.co/terms?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [Privacy Policy](https://www.getrevue.co/privacy?ref=blog.unvale.io). ## Posts ### Changelog: Social Share Cards URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-social-share-cards/ Last updated: 2026-10-05T18:11:34.000Z Starting today, when you share Unvale links, we create a beautiful preview card that will encourage people to check out your creations. Copy an Unvale link, and share it on Discord, socials, or through text message, and you will see a **custom card built just for your page!** With your help, this should encourage more people to check out Unvale. That also means more new followers, more favorites, and of course, more creative collaborators. This is true of growing your communities as well! We also have some more improvements folks will be excited about: - The edit character button now has a 1-click option to bypass the menu and go right to editing! Check it out - We added the bottom navigation for non-signed-in users. Believe it or not 25% of our app users are navigating Unvale and aren’t signed up yet. - Random character page shuffle is fixed! - Fixed writing hashtag duplicate issue. So go check out your new save previews!!! **Share them on socials, texts, or discord chats, and see what all the fuss is about!** ### How to Create Factions for Your OC's World URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-factions-for-your-ocs-world/ Last updated: 2026-10-03T16:05:04.000Z Whether you’re writing a post-apocalyptic story or creating a fantasy world for your next project, adding factions is a creative way to help create a world that feels more alive and lived in. So how do you create factions for your OCs? Let’s talk about it! ## Why Factions Matter to OCs First off, why are factions important? A faction gives your OC a group to belong to — or a group to go against. They can create conflict in a story, or they could provide your OC with friends and allies. Different factions might have unique structures, and it’s up to you which group your character might join. For some ideas on factions for OCs: - A rebel group lead by the OC that wants to overthrow the empire - A royal faction that’s lead by the OC’s arch nemesis - A rival faction that opposes your OC’s group - A pacifist group that uses peaceful means and serves as a found family to the OC ## Types of Power Structures Now, you’ll want to think about power structures and how that applies to a character’s world. Unique factions will have a different place in the hierarchy of the world. One faction might be more powerful than another, whether that be due to political power, social status, or something else. A world’s power structure will also look different depending on the genre of the story. Some ideas on what different genres might have: - Opposing kingdoms on opposite sides of a river - Different hunting guilds who take on different monster bounties - Powerful corporations that control a city by unethical means - Rebel groups that oppose the large government For ideas on how to build your OC’s world using genre, check out our article on [genre-based worldbuilding](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/). ![Art depicts two unique types of groups, one of a working class and the other aristocrats.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/10/Oboegirl85-Species.png) Art by [Oboegirl85](https://unvale.io/Oboegirl85?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Defining a Faction’s Goals Next up, it’s time to think about what the factions want. Each one should have unique goals that the group wants to accomplish, or a set of beliefs all the members have in common. The goals set the organization apart from others and it can create conflict between factions. It’s important to think about what a group wants, and why they want it. Another factor to consider is what’s stopping the faction from getting what they want. It might be another group, people of higher power, monsters, or something else. The faction's goals might be influenced by the moral code of the group, or it might be based on needs they need fulfilled. For some ideas on what a group’s goals might be: - A faction fighting for fair laws - A faction fighting to maintain their wealth - A faction with goals of taking down an empire - A faction with goals of stopping monsters For more ideas on how to come up with goals for OC's, check out our article about [how to give characters a goal.](https://blog.unvale.io/why-you-should-give-your-ocs-goals/) ## Faction Feuds and Alliances Now that the factions have their goals, it’s time to decide on how different groups interact with one another. Some groups may have similar goals, and so they could work together to achieve them. Others might have distinctly different goals that can’t be reconciled. Different goals or different politics might lead to problems between factions. Factions might go to war against each other, or they could sabotage each other. For some ideas on worldbuilding politics for your story: - A faction fighting for the ecosystem going against a antagonist corporation - A pair of factions with different ideas on how to rule a kingdom - Reluctant ally factions with similar goals but different moral views - An evil group of royals at odds against a small underground rebel group ![Art depicts a sea angel-like character, who's part of a rebel crew going against a republic.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/10/Mayhaps---Io-Urelia.PNG) Art by [Mayhaps](https://unvale.io/Mayhaps?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Where Your OC Fits Now that some factions have been created, it’s time to figure out where your OC belongs in the story! The OC should have a unique set of goals that impact where they might be placed. They might join a faction with similar ideals, or they might oppose one for its corruption. An OC might not join a faction at all! It’ll all depend on the character’s personality, as well as their unique role in the story. Some ideas for where an OC might fall under: - An enthusiastic member of a rebel faction - An outsider who knows of the royal group but isn’t a part of it - A jaded deserter who stopped believing in a faction’s cause - A morally grey defector who switched groups for selfish motives ## Balancing Politics and Story Lastly, you’ll want to make sure there’s a balance between the factions' politics and the story itself. It might be tempting to have a lot of information about each faction’s politics, but it’s good to narrow down what you’ll include in the story. The audience won’t need to know every bit of detail about each faction, and too much might become overwhelming. It’s important to consider what matters most to the story and what matters to the characters. Here’s some questions to think about while deciding on what to include: - What matters most to the factions? - What matters most to the main characters of the story? - What’s the main message of the story? - What does the audience need to know to understand what’s happening? ![Art depicts two characters part of the same faction, one with a purple coat and matching hair copying the pose of one with a grey coat and glasses.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/10/KohakuDragon.jpg) Art by KohakuDragon ## Find Your OC’s Place in Their World There’s lots of different ways to come up with groups and factions for your OC to belong in or go against. By thinking about power structures, goals, and conflict between groups, you can create unique factions for your OC’s world. Once you’ve created your story’s factions, [share your work on Unvale](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io). We’d love to see what you’ve come up with! ### How to Design an Angel OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/angel-oc/ Last updated: 2026-09-26T16:05:08.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*how to make an OC*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*! – The ultimate guide to character building.* Looking to design an angel OC for your next project? We’re here to help! No matter the kind of angel you’re designing, we have some tips to help you get started. Angels are a unique and popular type of character, often seen in religious settings as well as modern media. So how do you go about designing a divine angel? Let’s talk about it! ## Decide On Your Angel’s Character First, you’ll want to decide on how to characterize the angel OC. While you might think of a perfect, morally good character when thinking “angel,” there’s more options to do for an angel OC! To create a nuanced character, try giving them flaws and specific goals. Some angels might not even be as noble as they first appear. Once you have in mind the kind of divine OC to create, you can choose design features that represent their personality or their objective. For some angel OC ideas, some options might be: - An angel with a dark robe and a thorny halo for a more morally grey angel - An angel with a blue gown and a pair of round wings for a trustworthy angel - An angel with sharp armor and wings with pointed edges for an angel with goals of defeating demons - An angel with a heart-shaped halo and pink wings for one helping mortals achieve love If you need help coming up with goals for your OC, check out our article on [why every OC needs a goal](https://blog.unvale.io/why-you-should-give-your-ocs-goals/). ## Angel Details: Wings, Halos, and More Another thing to think about is the visual design choices to give an angel OC. There’s lots of different ways to go about an angel design, and there’s plenty of features to include. You can think about the form they should have and consider design elements such as wings and halos. Another option is to give the angel other ethereal features, like glowing eyes or a gradient on their limbs. Depending on how the divine character is designed, they might seem more angelic and larger-than-life, or more humanoid and relatable. Some angel OC ideas: - Bird wings on a helmet and matching wings on their boots - Multiple halos overlapping and an illuminated gradient on their hands - Several eyes on their face and eyes scattered on their wings - Multiple pairs of sparkling wings and iridescent eyes ![Art depicts an angel OC with withered angel wings and a spiked candle halo.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Mayhaps.PNG) [Dismay](https://unvale.io/character/731e1b86-21bb-4bcb-a3e5-b97faaa5533e?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Mayhaps ## Angelic Abilities and Limitations While designing an angel OC, it’s also good to think about what the angel can do — as well as what they can’t. As powerful as an angelic being might be, they still have their limits! Angels might have powers relating to healing or protection, but there are other options as well. The design of the angelic OC can reflect their powers as well as their limitations. They might change their form when they use their powers, or perhaps using their abilities causes damage to their body. For some angel character design elements, you could try: - Glowing hands and eyes when they use healing powers - Multiple halos and wings when using enhancement abilities - A shattered halo and torn wings when they’ve used their abilities too much - Their halo and wings turn black when using destructive powers ## Celestial Setting: Hierarchy and Ranks Next, it’s time to think about the structure of an angel OC’s world. Oftentimes, angels have some form of hierarchy, with different angels having different roles and rankings. Depending on what rank the angel is, they might have a different design than one of higher or lower rankings. Some angels might have different roles in the divine kingdom as well. One group of angels might be messengers to humans, another might be in charge of guarding the heavenly realms, while a different group could be musicians of their kingdom. For some ideas on how hierarchy and rank could impact an angel design: - A high-ranking angel with eyes along their halos and wings on their head and feet - A low-ranking angel with small wings and a dull halo - A commander angel with shining armor and a decorated halo - A messenger angel with winged sandals and a mailbag ![Image depicts the high-ranking seraphim angel species with several pairs of wings and a halo.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Lyon328--2----DJLYON.png) Art by Lyon328 ## Deciding on Divine Bonds As you continue designing an angel OC, it’s also important to consider how the character interacts with others in the story. While they might have bonds with their fellow angels, the OC could interact with other beings as well. The angel might serve as a friend to a mortal, or they might have a rivalry with a demon. Depending on the character, they could even form forbidden relationships with other beings. For some ideas on how the angel’s relationships could impact a design: - An angel with a more humanoid appearance and a matching friendship bracelet with a human - An angel who has a more divine and scary appearance with a flaming sword for one who’s rivals with a demon - An angel with a darker color scheme and a spiked halo for one who’s betrayed their own kind - An angel secretly in love with a mortal who keeps their angelic features out of view and wears a heart locket If you need more ideas on how to develop relationships for your characters, check out our article that [explores relationship types for OC stories](https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/). ## Where They Fit Into the Story Lastly, it’s time to think about the role the angel OC will play in the story itself. There’s a variety of different roles an angel could have in the narrative. An angel might serve as a guardian or judge, but they also could be a fallen angel who serves as a villain. An angel might also be the main protagonist and serve as a reluctant hero who dislikes their angelic title. Just like with relationships, the design of the OC could be impacted by the character’s role in the story. Here’s some things to consider to get your creativity flowing: - A reluctant hero angel who dresses casually and hides their angelic features - A guardian angel with heavy armor and a white shield - A judge angel with a scale and a hammer weapon - A fallen angel antagonist with a broken halo and blackened wings stained with blood ![Art depicts a kind-hearted angel in a suit who cares for humans and protects them. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Lyon328--1-.png) [Seraphiel](https://unvale.io/character/d7395910-3fb6-47fe-ba4d-4bdb509345dd?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Lyon328 ## Share Your Angel on Unvale There’s a lot of options when it comes to creating an angel character for a story. By utilizing details, abilities, setting, and more, you can design an angel OC that fits right into your story. Once you're finished designing your angel, come [share them with us on Unvale](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io). We’d love to see what you’ve come up with! ### How to Design a Dragon OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-design-a-dragon-oc/ Last updated: 2026-09-19T16:05:32.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*how to make an OC*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*! – The ultimate guide to character building.* Wanna design a super cool dragon for your next fantasy story? Well look no further! Whether you want to design a full-on dragon or a humanoid one, we have some tips to help you out. Dragons are a fun type of character for a project, especially for a fantasy story. So how do you go about designing the perfect dragon OC? Let’s talk about it! ## Deciding Your Dragon’s Fierce Form The first thing to think about when designing a dragon is the form they’ll have. While the first thing that comes to mind when you think “dragon” might be a lizard-like creature with wings, there’s different types you can consider. The type of dragon might impact their lore, personality, as well as their design. For some different types to think about, you might consider, you might create: - A full-blooded dragon - A hybrid species dragon - A humanoid dragon - A shapeshifting dragon who can shift between forms ## Dragon Details: Scales, Wings, and More Another thing to think about as you design a dragon OC is the kind of details you want to give them. You can think about the kind or scales they might have or consider what size they’ll be. A more humanoid dragon character might have fewer scales than a full dragon, with scales only on their face and arms. It could be the same thing with wings: a hybrid OC might have smaller wings than a fullblood. You could also think about color symbolism and how it might impact a dragonish OC design. Here’s some dragon OC ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A fullblood dragon with large, tattered wings and red scales to symbolize danger - A hybrid dragon with less scales, feathered wings, and a green color scheme to symbolize growth - A half-dragon with rounded scales, medium-sized wings, and a blue color scheme to symbolize stability - A humanoid dragon with small, delicate wings and yellow scales to symbolize cowardice ![Art depicts both the dragon form and humanoid form of a dragon OC, and the humanoid form has dragon eyes.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Metir-3.webp) [Metir](https://unvale.io/character/b6e78e17-e8f8-4d00-aded-aa72ae6dc00c?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera ## Dragonic Powers and Limits Now, it’s time to think about the powers and limits of a dragon. Dragons are often powerful beings with magic abilities. That being said, even the most powerful of creatures have their limits! There are dragons that breathe fire, there’s also ones that breathe frost, and others might breathe poisonous gas. You might think about how the dragon OC’s magic affects them, whether that be in a positive or negative way. A dragon OC might also be able to affect others with their abilities. If you need some ideas, here’s a few to consider: - A supportive half-dragon with healing magic, but they can only use it for short periods of time - A dangerous hybrid dragon who can breathe fire, but doing so for too long can burn their throat - A villainous humanoid dragon with dark magic that slowly deteriorates their body over time - A heroic fullblood dragon who can fly, but their wings could tear easily ## Creating Your Dragon’s World Another aspect to think about when designing a dragon is the world they’re in. You can think about the lore of the dragon species, their customs, or other factors. Perhaps a certain species of dragons paints their scales, while a different one uses jewelry and treasure to signify their status. Certain species might be territorial, while others aren’t. For some inspiration to think about, here’s some to get you thinking: - A dragon species that’s territorial over their treasure and uses jewelry and gold as a status symbol - A race of dragons who live in social groups and have territories in different forests, each one wearing a different color of paint on their scales - Two groups of dragon species who have a long history of war between each other and wear unique armor based on their location - Different dragon civilizations that are allies who hunt together and have matching gemstones For help on how to develop a world for an OC story, check out our article with [worldbuilding questions to help you create your world](https://blog.unvale.io/worldbuilding-development-questions/). ![art depicts a small, bird-like dragon who has the perfect build to catch fae](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Qet--2.webp) [Faecatcher Qet](https://unvale.io/character/6f7684df-80a6-4347-8f86-32cb9f6510f1?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Pegasuswhisper ## Personality of a Dragon An important thing to think about when designing your character is what kind of personality they might have. It’s common for dragons to be wise creatures or fearsome beasts, but there’s plenty of other archetypes to consider. A unique personality can help with deciding on what physical traits the dragon OC could have and help the audience guess what kind of character they are. You might consider using personality to decide their color symbolism, shape language, or their design theme. For some ideas, you could consider: - A grumpy dragon with a grey color palette and sharp shape language - A cheerful hybrid with an orange color palette and round shape language - A mysterious shapeshifter with sharp and round shape language as well as a purple color palette - A steadfast dragon with square shape language and a black color palette If you need more ideas on how to decide on your OC’s archetype, we have an article on [how to choose an OC's personality](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-choose-your-ocs-personality/). ## Where Your OC Fits in the Story One more factor to think about while designing a dragon OC is where they’ll fit into the story. Some dragons might take the role of a mount or companion, while others might be the protagonist or villain of a story. Depending on what you go with, the design could have elements that match it. Accessories could reflect their role and give the audience an idea as to who the dragon is meant to be in the story. If you need some dragon OC ideas, here’s some to inspire you: - A mount dragon who wears a saddle and gear - A humanoid mentor dragon who wears robes and carries a book of spells - A villainous fullblood dragon who wears skulls and bones - A guardian shapeshifter who wears protective armor ![Art depicts a regal purple dragon OC who appears to be a strong guardian.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Pegasuswhisper.webp) Art by Pegasuswhisper ## Share Your OC on Unvale There’s plenty of ways to go about designing a dragon OC. By thinking about their form, world, details, and more, you can create a unique dragon perfect for the story you want to tell. Once you're finished designing your dragon OC, share them with us on [Unvale](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io). We’d love to see them! If you need a specific spot to share your dragon, make a post about them in the [Unvale-Blog community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Changelog: Character Sections, My Creations, and more URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-character-sections-my-creations-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-08-27T22:29:54.000Z We’ve been hard at work coming up with our new release for OC creators and Worldbuilders. And today we’re proud to launch **character sections, bulk image upload, bulk character editing, and a total overhaul of “My Creations”.** ### Character page sections 📝 - Organize all your art and writing into custom sections. Add a name, description, and easily reorder content. Finally, showcase your little guys exactly how you want! - Creations in sections remain in the correct order when browsing! So artwork, writing, and comics in full screen remain in the order the creator intended. - New “recent” button instantly shows the most recent character creations. ### My Creations overhaul 🎭 - Bulk Image Upload!!! You can now upload up to 20 images at once, choose the settings for all of them while you upload. - Bulk edit multiple characters at once! Including bulk privating, bulk adding hashtags, and bulk adding to worlds. A lifesaver for worldbuilders and avid OC creators. - Private creations now have their own folder in My Creations, so they are easier to find. ### Creation card menus 🚥 - Every creation card (...) menu has been expanded to include editing, reordering, add to world, link copying, and create a post. (This is actually my favorite! Try it out) We improved character page editing, consolidating traits and trivia into a “Lore” section, and matched theme colors on art and writing cards to fit the background. Finally, we added bug fixes for tagging issues, character-card cropping, and better monitoring against bots/crawlers 🚫🤖. 🎨 Upload, organize, and share. All one click away. All made **1000x easier with this release.** Once again, we wanted to build something for *everyone!* The fanatical character creators with hundreds of OCs, the lore-burdened worldbuilders, the prodigious writers, and scrupulous curators. We hope you like it. 🫡 Until next time, **Diogenes and team** ### 8 Signs You've Outgrown a Notes App for Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/have-you-outgrown-a-notes-app-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T22:36:59.000Z A Notes app is a great place to start building your OCs. You can jot down a name, a few traits, or maybe a color palette. All on the go. It's a perfectly respectable method to get your creative ideas somewhere for later. But then your cast grows, and your [favorite OC's lore](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) becomes more complicated than your own family history. The same app that used to feel simple starts to slow down your creative process. Here's how to tell you've hit that point. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## 1\. You Ctrl+F Too Often [Eye color](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/). Height. Hometown. Whether they have a partner. You wrote it down once, and now you're sifting through the archives as if they belong to someone else. ## 2\. You've Forgotten a Character Existed Not just a vague, "oh yeah" moment. Full-on staring at a name with no memory of who they are until you scroll far down enough to shake it loose. ## 3\. Two OCs Have the Same Name . . . And You Didn't Notice Speaking of names. There's one that you just can't shake. And you don't find out that you used it twice until you're rereading old notes and get confused about the completely different backstory. ## 4\. Your "Notes" Are Screenshots of Other Notes A photo of a sticky note. A screenshot of a Discord message. A social media post comment. None of it is searchable, but all of it counts as "documentation" purely because you can technically find it if you look hard enough. ## 5\. Your Cast Lives Across Four Different Apps Notes for bios. Google Docs for backstories. A Discord server for relationship drama. Your camera roll for [reference art](https://blog.unvale.io/25-free-image-reference-sites-for-creatives/). Nothing links to anything else, and keeping a character "up to date" means updating them in four places. ## 6\. You Avoid Starting New OCs If managing new OCs feels like a chore, of course you won't feel energized to start a new one. It's not a lack of ideas, and it's not [writer's block](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-start-a-story/). But the thought of adding another character to the pile of disorganized data is enough to talk yourself out of it. ## 7\. You've Lost Reference Art and Other Links Keeping links in your Notes is a great way to save reference art, guides, and other resources without copy/pasting whole pages or images. However, those links can get lost fast, and they aren't guaranteed to be live six months from now. Or when you really need them. ## 8\. There's Nothing Shareable Someone asks to see your OCs and the honest answer is, "It's complicated . . . " You'd have to gather notes from several sources and export them together because there's no single place you could actually point someone to. ## **Find Where Your Cast Belongs** Sound familiar? If a few of these really resonate with you, the problem isn't your organizational skills. A Notes app was never built to hold a cast of characters. It was built to hold notes. Filling that gap is exactly why [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) exists. It's the platform built for people to manage an actual cast – not just a single character sheet. Profiles are easy to find. Redesigns don't erase what came before, so it's easy to see the progression of a character's look. And you never have to start from zero. Bring over what you've already got, and give it the home it should have had from the start. Finally, you can share a character with someone instead of exporting a screenshot of your Notes app. ### How to Design a Robot or Android OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/robot-android-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T16:05:50.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*how to make an OC*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*! – The ultimate guide to character building.* Are you looking to design a robot OC for your next sci-fi project? Whether you’re looking to design a fun robot helper or an intelligent android, we’ve got some tips to help you out. Robots are a fun type of character to use, especially in a sci-fi story. So how do you go about designing a cool and creative robot OC for your latest project? Let’s talk about it! ## Robot vs. Android vs. AI The first thing you’ll want to consider is what kind of robot OC you want to create. There are robots, androids, and AI. While the terms are often used interchangeably, they do have some important differences! You’ll want to think about what kind you want to use for your character. Depending on which kind you choose for your robot, you can design them accordingly. If you need help figuring out which type is which, here’s a short explanation of each: - Robots: machines made to perform specific functions, often with a more mechanical appearance. - Androids: machines made for more human behaviors, often with a more humanoid appearance. - AI: Also called "artificial intelligence,” a program made to mimic human thought. ![Art depicts a character with dark hair and a brightly colored dress, looking towards an ominous robot with glowing eyes.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Monte-Truck.png) [Monte Avéja ](https://unvale.io/character/a9cc33a2-150e-4f3a-b5ed-e7e6aa2a70dc?ref=blog.unvale.io)by Oboegirl85 ## Mechanical Design Details One thing you’ll want to consider is how you’ll choose to design certain aspects of your robot character. You can think about whether they appear more human or robotic, what materials they’re crafted from, and more. What you choose for your robot OC can help your audience understand what kind of character they are. You can even use aspects like damage or how new an android appears to give your audience an idea of your character’s story. A few ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A robotic OC made from synthetic materials for a more humanoid appearance - A robot made from metal and gears for a more mechanical appearance - A broken and battered appearance for an android who’s been through many wars - A shiny robot made from a futuristic material for a more advanced design ## Robotic Rules of Function Another thing you’ll want to think about as you design your robot character is how they function. Since they’re a type of machine, they’ll have a different set of strengths, weaknesses, and abilities than a human might. You can think about how they’re powered, as well as what they’re designed to do. Creating a functional robot system for your story can be useful for your character as well. You can incorporate functionality into their design in a variety of different ways! If you need some ideas on how functionality could impact your robotic OC’s appearance, here’s a few to consider: - A strong build with limited joints for a robot made to lift heavy objects - A robotic character with a fuel tank attached to their back as their power source - A robot with large blasters that take a while to charge up - An android with wheels that are useful for fast travel but not rough terrains For more ideas on how to create functional systems for your world, whether they be mechanical or magical, check out the article [How to Build a Magic System for Your OC's World](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-add-magic-into-your-ocs-world/). ![Art depicts a character with a glowing robot mask and armor.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Kenira.png) [Kenira Hatherfel](https://unvale.io/character/bb4a8d46-aa1f-4b74-9522-4edf64394ea3?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Oboegirl85 ## Story Origins for Your Robot OC Next up, you can think about the origin and backstory of your robot OC. You’ll want to think about where they were made, and what purpose they were created for. You can also think about whether your robot is unique, or a standard design meant to be mass-produced. They might be designed to endure the specific kind of atmosphere or terrain of their home planet. If you need some robotic OC story ideas, here’s a few to think about: - A ready-made robot made for assisting explorers - An android with a human mind uploaded into it - A broken-down robot from an ancient planet's civilization - A futuristic android that’s the first of their kind If you need some help creating an immersive planet for your OCs to live on, we’ve got a guide all about [building a sci-fi planet design](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-planet-for-your-sci-fi-story/). ## A Robot's Identity and Emotion Another factor you can consider as you design your robot character is how they act emotionally and what kind of identity they develop. Some android characters might be built to learn and develop the way a human would. Others might be unfeeling machines made for a single purpose. Depending on what you choose for your robot OC, you can design them in a way that shows off their identity. If you need some ideas, you could consider: - An android with an expressive faceplate that shows off their emotions - A robot with no face for an OC that doesn’t think for themselves - An android with a brightly colored outfit that shows off their individualism - A robot with a uniform that shows off their loyalty to their empire ## Where Your OC Fits in the Story Finally, you’ll want to design your robot OC around their role in the story. Depending on what kind of character they are, you can create an appearance that suits their archetype. From antagonists to companions, there’s plenty of different options you could choose from. Your robot might be the main threat of the story, or they might be an android adopted into a found family. Some ideas for your robotic character's design: - Round shape language and a friendly face plate for a companion robot - Advanced weapons attached to the arms along with glowing red lights for a villain android - A bulky build and built-in shields for a protective parent-figure robot - A human-like appearance and lit-up armor for a protagonist android ![Art depicts a white-haired character in a dark, robotic mask with glowing red eyes.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Argus.jpg) [Argus](https://unvale.io/character/e07b3695-c329-4ca2-a598-23684d8e1370?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Vates ## Share Your Robot or Android OC on Unvale There are plenty of things to think about as you design your robot OC. Deciding on their type, their functions, and identity are all aspects you can use in your robot character’s design. Once you’ve designed your android or robot OC, be sure to [share them with us on Unvale](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io)! We’d love to see your characters and their stories! ### 5 Best ToyHou.se Alternatives for Character Creators URL: https://blog.unvale.io/best-toyhou-se-alternatives-for-character-creators/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T03:04:28.000Z If you've spent any time in OC spaces, you probably already know ToyHou.se has been the default for character storage and trading for years. For a lot of users, it still works great. But between the invite-only signup, the [moderation complaints](https://www.reddit.com/r/toyhouse/comments/1sqnufn/petty%5Fconflict%5Fcircle%5Fwith%5Fmods/?ref=blog.unvale.io) that keep piling up, and the general sense that nothing has been updated on the platform in ages, more and more creators are wondering: what else is out there? We combed through what creators are actually saying and using to put together a list of solid alternatives worth trying. Here's what we found, starting with the platform we think does the best. Though we may be a little biased. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## 1\. Unvale – The Best Anti-AI ToyHou.se Alternative [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is built specifically for original characters, writers, and worldbuilders. There's no invite code or membership necessary to get started, so you can sign up and get to building character pages immediately. The platform has a built-in [trading and selling marketplace](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927117-unvale-market?ref=blog.unvale.io), a dedicated mod and support team, constant feature and QOL updates, and tons of topic- and fandom-based [communities](https://unvale.io/communities/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) to join. ![Unvale homepage featuring new creations in a classic social media platform format](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Screenshot-2026-08-19-at-4.51.13---PM-1.png) ## 2\. World Anvil If your priority is worldbuilding organization – think timelines, locations, lore., etc. – [World Anvil](https://www.worldanvil.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is worth checking out. It's a dedicated platform for creating and managing your world's lore, rather than a general OC gallery. With [templates](https://www.worldanvil.com/features/worldbuilding-templates?ref=blog.unvale.io) for characters, settlements, and an interactive map that lets you link characters directly to the world around them. It's definitely a platform more for creators wanting to get down to business. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/WorldAnvil-Featured-1.jpg) ## 3\. Refsheet [Refsheet](http://refsheet.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) comes up often in "[ToyHou.se alternative](https://toyhou.se/~forums/14421.help-questions/409114.toyhouse-alternatives?ref=blog.unvale.io)" threads, usually with the same caveat: it's functional but pretty bare bones. It's easy to store your characters and reference sheets, but the customization and visual polish isn't quite up to snuff. It's a respectable backup option, but not somewhere to migrate your OCs to full-time. ![Refsheet UI example with OC reference sheet](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Refsheet-features-1.png) ## 4. **VGen** [**VGen**](https://vgen.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io)is mainly used as a commission marketplace, rather than character storage, but it's worth a look if trading and selling OC designs is your priority. It includes an integrated payment solution, request/queue management, and service listing functionality, which makes it a strong contender for artists that run an active commission business. ![VGen profile for commissioning art](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/VGen-featured-1.png) ## 5\. Art Fight [Art Fight](https://artfight.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) wasn't built as a dedicated OC-storage site. It's an art-gifting community built around a yearly event where users draw each other's characters. But profiles and characters stay up on the site year-round, so it doubles as a character archive. It supports [up to 100 character slots](https://artfight.net/info/faq?ref=blog.unvale.io), allows for several images per character, and has basic CSS support on profiles. The catch? It's guest-restricted (non-members can't view profiles or characters), and it's more of an art-trading platform first – character archive second. ![Art Fight 2026 celebrates 10 years of the event](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Art-Fight-featured-1.png) ## Which ToyHou.se Alternative Is Best for You? It depends on what you're optimizing for. - **Want the closest thing to a modern, actively maintained ToyHou.se, with real moderation, trading built in, and tons of communities to join?** Go with Unvale. - **All about lore and worldbuilding, not so much the socialization?** Notion. - **Looking for a no-frills character storage platform?** Refsheet. - **Running a commission business?** VGen. - **Want to get fan art made for your character and contribute your own?** Art Fight. No single platform truly has it all (we're working on it), nor is there a perfect replica for ToyHou.se. But for most creators looking for a genuine, well-supported home for their original characters, Unvale is the closest thing to a true replacement available today. ### Tips for Designing a Mentor OC! URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-mentor-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-08T03:11:05.000Z There’s lots of different types of characters you can design as you create characters for your next story or project. One popular type of character you’ve likely seen is the mentor figure! But before we get started, if you need some tips on creating other types of characters, check out one of these articles! - [Tips for Designing an Appealing Villain OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Hero OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/) - [Designing Citizens in Your OC Worlds!](https://blog.unvale.io/designing-citizens-in-your-oc-worlds/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to talking about mentor characters! You might know them for being a parental figure to a story’s protagonist, or you might know them as the wise teacher to the hero who always ends up dying to the villain. (It’s for the protagonist’s character development, trust.) So how do you go about designing a mentor character for your own story? Let’s talk about it! ### What kind of mentor is your OC? First of all, you want to think about what kind of mentor character you want to create! There’s lots of different types of mentor characters in stories. Some are friendly, others are grumpy. Mentors could also be anyone! They might be the character’s professor, or they might be a parent. You’ll want to think about the kind of person your character is as you start designing them! If you need some ideas to consider, here’s some questions to get you started! - What’s the mentor’s personality? - Are they introverted, or extroverted? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? (Just because they’re a mentor, doesn’t have to mean they’re a good one!) - How do they know the protagonist? - Does the character want to be a mentor figure? - Why are they the mentor character? - Do they have any other role in the story apart from the mentor figure? Once you have an idea of what kind of character you’ll be creating, you can design them! Having an idea of what kind of person a character is can help you decide how you want to go about designing them. ## Design their appearance! Now it’s time to design the appearance of your mentor! Oftentimes mentor figures are older and wiser than the protagonist. (Though, not always! It will depend on the character you’re creating.) The appearance of your mentor OC can reflect their age and wisdom! ### Pick a build for your OC! One thing you can think about while designing your mentor OC is their build. Are they old and frail? Maybe they’re strong and intimidating! It will depend on the personality of the mentor and their role in the story. You can consider incorporating shape language into their design to help your audience get an idea as to what kind of character they are! Shape language is often used in character design to represent different aspects of a character. If you need some ideas for how you could use shape language in your OC’s design, you could try… - You might use large square shapes to signify a mentor that’s strong and steadfast! - Triangles and sharp shapes might suggest the mentor is on the more prickly side! - Round shapes could be used for a mentor who’s kind and gentle! - A mix of square and triangle shapes could mean the mentor is imposing and intimidating - A mix of round and sharp shapes might mean the mentor is friendly, but dangerous There’s plenty of different ways you could use shape language in your OC’s design! You could incorporate it into their body, hair, face, and more! If you need a more detailed explanation of shape language and how you can use it in your OC designs, there’s an article all about [choosing the shapes and silhouette of your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ### Design the face of your OC! The next thing you can think about is designing your mentor OC’s face! The face of a character is especially important, since it’s the part of the design that will be seen most often. You can think about how you want to design their eyes, nose, face shape, and other details! You could incorporate shape language here as well! You might give a mentor character sharp eyes if they’re a grumpy character. You might give them rounder eyes if they’re more kindhearted! If you need some ideas for what you could add to your OC’s face, here’s a few ideas you could think about! - Tired, sharp eyes for a grumpy mentor - Large, round eyes for an eccentric mentor - Wrinkles for an older mentor - Eyebags or dark circles for an exhausted mentor - Scars for a battle-hardened mentor - Glowing markings for a magical mentor There’s lots of different things you could think about as you design your mentor’s face! How you design them will depend on what kind of character you’re creating. That being said, you could also give them a face that’s the opposite of the OC’s personality! A mentor with a mean-looking face might be much kinder than they look, or a mentor with a friendly face might be more strict than they appear. Earlier I mentioned designing the eyes of your mentor OC! If you need more ideas for designing the eyes of your characters, and not just a mentor OC, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/)! ![Image depicts a doodle of a spiky-haired character asking an older character with a beard if he'll teach them how to be a hero. Text reads "So, will you help me learn to be a hero?" "No." "Please?" "Fine"](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-5acf268c-a2ad-45ff-bed5-a2467ea27522.png) Don't worry, the mentor will come around! ## Design the outfit of your OC! Next, you can design the outfit of your mentor OC! You might give them a work outfit, or maybe a cool uniform. You can design their outfit in a lot of different ways! ### Give them a motif! Something you can think about as you design your mentor character’s outfit is a motif! A motif can show up in many parts of design. It can hold symbolism for the character, or it could just make them look cool! Since it’s a mentor character, you might consider using a motif that symbolizes wisdom or strength. That being said, there are plenty of other options for symbolism you could use! If you need some ideas, you could try… - An owl motif - A hawk motif - A wolf motif - A fox motif - A gemstone motif - A water motif - A lightning motif - A star motif - A sun motif - A moon motif - A leaf motif - A flower motif - A skull motif The motif you choose can be used throughout a design, or in just a few places! It depends on how subtle or how obvious you want the symbolism to be. You might incorporate the symbolism into the clothes and accessories, but you could also incorporate it into the shape language and other parts of the character! Another thing you could consider is giving your mentor an aesthetic! If you’d like some ideas on how to choose one for your character, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/)! ### Give them some cool clothes! Now that you have a motif picked out, it’s time to work on designing the clothes of your mentor character! You could consider giving them a work outfit, something that shows off their role, or something that shows off their rank! You could also consider how long the mentor has done their job for. If they’ve been a royal guard for a long time, their armor might be covered in scratches and dents. A monster hunter might have clothes that are super tattered or covered in stains. If you want a few ideas, here’s a few to help you think! - A neat suit - A long trench coat - A tattered fur coat - A long, tattered skirt - An elegant robe - A nice vest - A fancy button-up shirt - A long gown - A suit of armor It’s up to you what kind of clothes you give your OC! There’s lots of options you can choose from, so you’ll want to consider aspects like their personality and other things as you design them! Once you design your OC’s outfit, you could also consider giving them secondary outfits! If you’d like some tips for how to go about that, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/)! ### Give them some fitting accessories or tools! One last thing you can add to your mentor’s design is some accessories or tools! They could hold important significance to the character, but they could also just look cool. Depending on what kind of mentor you’re creating, it could be a magical object, or an awesome weapon! If you need some inspiration, here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing! - A tall staff - A magical book - An enchanted necklace - A protective charm - A mobility aid - A rusted sword - A worn down bow - A pair of glasses - A set of tools - A work apron - A mysterious mask Accessories can help bring a design together, while also showing off what’s important to your character! They may keep something that has sentimental value to them, or they might keep an item that helps them control their powers. You can add as many accessories as you want, or as few as you want! However, if you do add a lot of accessories to your OC’s design, you might want to make your character a reference sheet! A reference sheet helps you keep track of your OC’s design so you can draw them consistently. If you need some help with creating one, there’s an article with tips on it that you can find [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/)! ![Image depicts a doodle of the previous spiky haired character with glowing eyes and a glowing star next to the other character with a beard. Text reads "I did it!" "Great job."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/data-src-image-e1f8fa12-1e54-40e6-a43a-e43a947fae60.png) What a good mentor! He helped the protagonist learn how to be a hero after all! --- Mentor characters can be an awesome addition to your cast of characters! When you finish creating your mentor OC, be sure to share them with us here on [Unvale](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you want, you’re welcome to post about them in the [Unvale-Blog](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) community! We’d love to see your creations! ### Changelog: 30 HUGE fixes to search, comments, and writing URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-3/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T17:39:01.000Z This is one of our biggest quality-of-life releases EVER. It’s so big, in fact, that this is the longest changelog we have ever made! Let's dive in! ### **1\. Search everything, even users!** You can now search for USERS! As well as communities, characters, worlds, art, writing, and posts all in one search bar. Finally 😮‍💨 ### 2\. Autosave for writing, posts, and comments Writing now **auto-saves** drafts even if you close the page. Protect your lore, posts, or a super long comment with autosave! **🙏** ### **3\. Comment editing, pinning, and quotes on replies** You can now *edit* comments, pin your favorites at the top, and reply with a reference quote, so long conversations stay easy to follow. 🗣️ ### **4\. Image preview editor** You can edit the preview image for your character, world, and art cards using *drag and zoom*. This works for profile pictures too! So glam up 💅 ### **5\. Multi-attachment on post selector** You can multi-select attachments, easily order attachments, and search for them more accurately! It’s at least 10x better… There's so much more too! - Creations search added to My Creations and QOTD - Character count added to writing up to 50k - Autocorrect doesn’t mess up text - Creations and art ordering save more reliably when editing - Creator credit is automatically assigned to art and characters when you create them! - Remove followers button added and new auto-unfollow when you block users We made over 30 improvements, the rest of which are organized below! This was a **massive amount of effort from the team.** If these fixes are meaningful for you, and you want to support us, the *best* way to do that is to [subscribe to Ultra](https://unvale.io/ultra?ref=blog.unvale.io). It’s the #1 way to support our team, and it helps us know we are going in the right direction. [—> Link here to subscribe <— ](https://unvale.io/ultra?ref=blog.unvale.io) Continued Release Notes: ### **Find Anything, Faster** - Search anything on Unvale in one search bar - Search prioritizes exact matches, strong matches, and popular content - Art, writing, and communities can now be searched by creator! - You can now search characters and worlds inside My Creations and the QOTD picker Those with 200+ OCs, your life just got a little easier. ### **Never Lose Your Work** - Closing the writing editor warns you first and keeps a recoverable draft - Hitting the character limit no longer deletes what you already wrote - Post drafts remember text, title, audience, community, and settings - Every comment and reply box keeps a draft Lore dumpers rejoice! There is room for your madness, and it is safe. ### **Better Posting Experience** - Easily attach multiple creations to posts sequentially - Reorder attachments with left and right arrows - Untitled art now shows its character or world name for easier search - Private creations are labeled and can't be attached to posts ### **Comments are so back** - Edit comments and see an indicator that it's been edited - Pin comments to the top of your creations and posts - \*\*Reply button is in the right place in a comment chain!\*\* - Replies provide a quote header for reference - Improved performance on super long comment chains. ### **Creation and organization improvements v1.0** - Character ordering save now sticks more reliably - Gallery image order and Primary image selection now work consistently - Reordering world sections is easier to do - Card previews are picked via drag and zoom - New characters and uploads auto-credit you as creator/artist ### **Safety and Reliability** - You can now remove users from your follower list - Blocking someone removes follow relationships in both directions - We built new defenses against scam and spam - Private creations and ones without images show up in your own search - Tagging a creator or artist now searches faster and doesn't flicker old results OH BOY. That was a lot. So go forth and enjoy the quality-of-life improvements on [Unvale.io](http://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Unvale Team ### Tips for Designing a Scientist OC! URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-scientist-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T16:05:05.000Z What kind of character can you usually find doing research in a lab? Why, scientist OCs! Scientists and similar characters are a fun addition to stories, especially stories of the sci-fi genre! You might recognize different scientist characters such as… - [Ryland Grace](https://projecthailmary.fandom.com/wiki/Ryland%5FGrace?ref=blog.unvale.io), also known as Dr. Grace, from the book and popular movie [Project Hail Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project%5FHail%5FMary%5F%28film%29?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Victor Frankenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victor%5FFrankenstein?ref=blog.unvale.io) from the book [Frankenstein](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Dr. Doofenshmirtz](https://phineasandferb.fandom.com/wiki/Heinz%5FDoofenshmirtz?ref=blog.unvale.io), from the show [Phineas and Ferb](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phineas%5Fand%5FFerb?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Professor Oak](https://pokemon.fandom.com/wiki/Professor%5FOak%5F%28anime%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), from the [Pokémon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon?ref=blog.unvale.io) franchise! There’s a lot of different types of scientists with all kinds of unique roles! Whether you need a cool smart professor for your protagonist OC, or you want to create an evil inventor antagonist, a scientist can be a great addition to a story! So how do you go about designing a scientist OC? Let’s talk about it! ## What kind of scientist is your OC? First off! You want to think about what kind of scientist you want to design and what their world looks like. You might design a scientist differently if you’re trying to create a more realistic story than if you were to design a scientist for a sci-fi story! You’ll also want to consider what field of science your character is in. There’s a lot of different kinds of scientists! If you need some ideas for what you can consider before you start designing your scientist, here’s some to think about! - What genre is your OC’s story meant to be? - What’s the personality of the character? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What field of science do they study? - What kind of scientist are they? - What role in the story does the scientist play? Once you have an idea for what kind of scientist you’re creating, you can decide how you want to go about their design! Since there’s so many kinds of scientists, there’s plenty of ways you could go about designing your OC! Having an idea for what kind of character you want to create can help you get started with designing! ## Give your scientist a fitting outfit! It’s time to design your scientist’s outfit! Whether it’s a lab coat or a nice suit, scientists often have outfits that fit their role and job! ### Add a cool motif or aesthetic to your scientist’s design! One thing you can think about is giving your scientist a design motif or aesthetic. Both can be used to give the design a cohesive look that also fits the OC! There’s plenty of aesthetics that have a scholarly or sci-fi look that you could choose from. There’s a lot of different motifs you could use for a scientist as well! You could choose a motif that fits the field of science your OC is in! If you need some ideas for what kind of aesthetic or motif you could add, you could try… - A gear motif - A dark academia aesthetic - An electric motif - A light academia aesthetic - An animal motif - A cyberpunk aesthetic - A bone motif - A steampunk aesthetic - A plant motif A motif or aesthetic can provide you with a guide for starting your scientist OC’s design! You can choose one based on something like the personality of your OC, their interests, or the genre of their story! What aesthetic or motif you give your character is up to you, and you don’t even have to give them one if you don’t want to! Earlier I mentioned that you could choose a motif based on an OC’s personality. If you haven’t given your OC a personality and you need some ideas for how to get started, check out this article on [how to choose your OC's personality](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-choose-your-ocs-personality/)! ### What clothes would fit your scientist best? Now that you have a motif or aesthetic picked out, it’s time to pick the actual clothes of your scientist character! While not always, scientists often wear professional clothing that suits their scholarly role. That being said, the clothing your scientist wears will also depend on the character’s unique personality. A more carefree or experimental researcher might have a more disheveled look than another scientist who’s more uptight. If you need some ideas for clothes you could give your scientist, you could try… - A vest - A sweater vest - A suit and tie - A button up shirt - A turtleneck sweater - Dress pants - A blouse - A blazer - A T-shirt with a science joke on it There’s plenty of options when it comes to clothing for your scientist OC! You can also add different accessories to make a scientist OC look more…science-y! If you need more ideas for designing your OC’s outfit, you might consider how their design changes over the course of their story. If you need ideas for how to visually design your character’s growth, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-visually-designing-character-growth-for-your-ocs/)! ### Give your scientist some cool tools or gear! For the next aspect of your OC’s outfit, you can think about giving them tools, gear, and accessories! Scientists, especially ones who run experiments or work in the field, often wear protective gear while on the job. They also might have special tools specific to their job! Scientist characters might also have fun accessories that match their interests. They might have a cool pin, earrings, or something else that has a cool theme to it! Accessories could also be a great way to incorporate your OC’s motif if you decided to give them one! If you need some ideas for gear or accessories you could give your scientist, you could try… - A labcoat - Goggles - Rubber gloves - Protective headgear - Headphones - A lanyard - Animal earrings - A skeleton-themed hair clip - A gas mask - A glass vial - A clipboard - A research journal Accessories can be a great way to tie a look together! The accessories could help your audience tell what kind of scientist your character is, as well as just being a cool way to add interest to your scientist’s design! If your scientist resides on a unique planet, they might have more advanced gear than a human scientist would. If you need help creating a planet for your OC’s world, check out this article all about [creating a planet for a sci-fi story](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-planet-for-your-sci-fi-story/)! ![image depicts a doodle of a pair of goggles next to a lab coat.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-c17d919a-e821-4a07-a786-47ff8fbe6ec1.png) What clothes will you give your scientist OC? Goggles? A Lab coat? ## Can you use your scientist’s appearance to your advantage? Another thing to consider when designing your scientist OC is their appearance! You could utilize aspects like shape language, hairstyles, and unique details to enhance your scientist’s design! ### Could you use shape language in your scientist’s design? One aspect you can think about when designing your OC is shape language! Shape language can be helpful for showing your audience what type of character your scientist is. Different types of shape language can give a character a different look! Sharp shape language often indicates a more action-based character. It could also indicate a more dangerous one! Square shape language often indicates a steadfast character, while round shapes often represent a more friendly character! If you need some ideas for how you could incorporate shape language into your scientist’s design, you could consider… - Sharp shape language for an energetic scientist OC who’s always on the go - Square shape language for a scientist OC who never backs down - Round shape language for a sweet scientist who wants to help others - Sharp shape language mixed with square shape language for a dangerous and imposing scientist - Square combined with round shape language for a strong but sweet scientist - Round shapes combined with sharp shape language for a scientist who’s both energetic and friendly You can mix and match shape language however you see fit! You might incorporate it into the face shape, body, hair, or clothes of your scientist OC! Shape language can also help give your OC a recognizable silhouette and make it easier for your scientist to stand out among other characters! If you need more tips on shape language and silhouette, check out this article all about the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ### Give your scientist a fun hairstyle! You can also think about giving your scientist a cool hairstyle! Some scientists wear their hair tied back so that it’s out of the way. Other scientists might wear their hair more wild! You could pick a hairstyle based on the scientist’s personality. A more uptight character might wear their hair neat, while a more laid-back scientist might just wear their hair down. You could also consider incorporating the shape language you picked for your character into the hairstyle! If you need some ideas for hairstyles you could give your scientist, you could try… - A high ponytail - A tight bun - Spiky messy hair - Neat braids - Wild curly hair - A short bob - A short mid-part style There’s lots more hairstyles you could choose from as well! Pick whatever you think will fit your scientist character best; have fun with it! If you need more tips for choosing hairstyles for your OCs, check out this article all about the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/)! ### Add some unique details to your scientist’s design! Lastly, you can choose to add unique details to your scientist’s design! This can be especially fun if you’re creating a sci-fi story, and you can incorporate cool elements into your scientist’s look! Maybe an experiment went wrong and it left them with a white streak in their hair. Or, maybe an experiment succeeded and it gave the character superpowers! If you need some ideas for details you could add to your scientist OC, you could try… - Multicolored hair - Multicolored eyes - A streak of color in the hair - Glowing eyes - Glowing limbs - A fantasy skin tone - A gradient on the limbs - A large scar - Neon tattoos There’s plenty of different features you could add to your scientist’s design! Unique features can help a character stand out among other OCs, so mix and match to see what you like best for your character! If your OC ends up with too many extra details and you’re not too sure how to simplify the design, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/) for some tips to help you out! ![Image depicts a doodle of a head with spiky hair and a white streak, next to a doodle of a glowing eye.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-a4a340b2-0355-4b04-a86c-69d7e9663c68.png) Could an experiment have resulted in some interesting details for your OC? --- Once you create your scientist OC, be sure to share them with us here on Unvale! You’re also welcome to make a post about your scientist character in the [Unavle-Blog](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) community! Have fun creating! ### How to Design Your Own Persona URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-your-own-persona/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T21:55:29.000Z Want to reimagine yourself as a sona? There’s lots of different kinds of sonas to design – whether you decide to base it on a favorite franchise or mythological creature. If you’re looking to design a *fursona* specifically, we also have an article that includes [everything you need](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fursona/) to get started. A sona is a useful way to represent yourself, whether it be as a way to draw interactions of yourself, or maybe just to use as a profile picture. To learn more, check out our [beginner's guide to sonas](https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-sona-a-quick-guide/). Otherwise, let's get started! ## Start With What Makes You, You First, you'll want to think about aspects of yourself to keep in the persona’s design. If there are any details that make you recognizable, that might be what to add to the sona. For ideas to consider, you might think about using: - Eye shape - Nose shape - Details like freckles or scars - Favorite accessories - Trademark hairstyle - Taste in clothing ![Art depicts a sona with glowing features climbing a tree.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Baest-B--st--1-.jpg) [Bæst](https://unvale.io/character/8a01b3fb-92e9-49fe-8a47-9654c3c5c6c2?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Baest ## Choose Your Sona’s Form Now, let’s get to designing the appearance of the sona. Start by deciding which creature you want to be. For a more simple look, you might opt to stick with a human sona – and that’s perfectly fine! A sona doesn’t have to be crazy complex, especially if you plan on drawing them often. If you need some ideas for creatures to use for a persona, here’s a few to consider: - A bioluminescent mermaid - A bookish elf scholar - A battle-scarred vampire knight Pick a creature that reminds you of yourself one way or another. If you love nature or have a whimsical personality, the perfect sona might be a fairy or elf. If you love the night and the macabre, maybe go for a vampire or ghost. ![Art depicts a sona from The Outer Wilds with multiple eyes and a multicolored outfit.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Orkanera-Okra.webp) [Okra](https://unvale.io/character/0b12a3b3-a9f1-408f-8cb7-6af6f72f1f93?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera ## Give Them a Signature Look Now that you have a sense of your persona's appearance, it's time to work on their outfit. When choosing an aesthetic, start with what feels true to you. If you already dress in a specific style, then that's a natural fit for your sona. However, if there's an aesthetic you love but can't pull off in real life, that works too. Your sona can wear what you can't! Need help narrowing it down? Check out [this guide](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/) an aesthetic for on picking an aesthetic for your original characters. If you need a spark, here are a few starting points: - A cottagecore fairy in a flowing linen dress with floral embroidery - A cyberpunk hybrid in a cropped jacket with glowing circuit patterns - A dark academia vampire in a tailored blazer with a pocket watch Accessories are another great way to make a sona instantly recognizable. Pull from pieces you already wear and love, or add them based on your character's lore or world. They can be very valuable and useful storytelling tools. An accessory can hint at your sona's backstory or foreshadow something yet to come. A few ideas: - A cracked pocket mirror hinting towards a mysterious past - A cluster of star charms representing loved ones - Leather gloves worn to hide clawed hands ![Art depicts multiple drawings of a persona with a tail and a long cloak.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Orkanera-Orka.webp) [Orka](https://unvale.io/character/37177736-c3e1-4076-9097-acdd0489b19f?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera ## Bring Your Sona to Life on Unvale There are lots of ways to approach sona design. By using your own features, adding unique details, and creating a signature look, you can design a persona that feels personal to you. A sona should be a fun way to represent yourself, so go and create one that you like! If you’d like to share your newly designed persona with the community [here on Unvale](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=home&contentType=characters&sort=recent&ref=blog.unvale.io), feel free to make a post about the sona in the[ Unvale-Blog community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io). We’d love to see! ### Popular OC Designs to Inspire Your Next Character URL: https://blog.unvale.io/16-popular-oc-designs-and-tips-on-how-to-design-them/ Last updated: 2026-08-22T21:59:46.000Z Looking to create your next OC, whether it be for your passion project, or just for fun? There are lots of cool character designs and OCs you could create! If you’re wanting to find some inspiration for a new character, look no further. Today we have a special round up ofpopular OC designs and special tutorials linked for each. ## Hero & Villain OCs Stories usually have a protagonist: the character the story follows. There are also antagonists: the character or force standing in the protagonist's way. - [Hero](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/) – The character who drives the story forward by taking on the central conflict. Often designed with confident posture, warmer color palettes, and a costume that reads approachable rather than threatening. ![Dove, the hero with wings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Dove-2-2.png) [Dove](https://unvale.io/character/01911710-435d-4f29-b700-e0bad12fc876?ref=blog.unvale.io) the hero by saxsays - [Villain](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) – The character or force standing in the hero's way, whether through power, cunning, or ideology. Sharp body composition, dark or high-contrast color palettes, and asymmetry are common go-tos for a classic villain. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Argus-2-1.jpg) [Argus](https://unvale.io/character/e07b3695-c329-4ca2-a598-23684d8e1370?ref=dc350471-bccc-45b0-aa97-18e3a6e0d310) by vates - [Magical Girl](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/) – An otherwise normal girl who transforms to fight evil. Their transformation often results in colorful hair and a costume completed with bows, ribbons, jewels, and frills. ## Aesthetic & Style OCs These character types aren't tied to a specific story role, but they're popular for their distinct look and feel. - [Royalty](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/) – An elegant, powerful, and often arrogant character in power. Rich fabrics, structured silhouettes, and a status symbol – crow, ring, cape, etc. – helps sell the power dynamic with a single glance. - [Cowhand](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-designing-a-cowhand-oc/) – A rugged, frontier-style character on the open range. Worn leather, dusty earth tones, and practical layers (vests, boots, flannels) keep their look grounded. - [Pirate](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/) – A seafaring character shaped by adventure, their crew, and life on the run. Weather coats, mismatched accessories, and scars or tattoos to convey their rugged and often dangerous lifestyle. ![Pirate style aesthetic OC design](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Yvoi-1.png) [Vornir](https://unvale.io/character/7230980b-e415-44a9-8b64-6ed1e17b0377?ref=blog.unvale.io) by morgan ## Monster & Horror OCs Monsters and other creatures of the night are staples of horror, but they’re also a popular type of character for fantasy and sci-fi stories as well. - [Monster](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/) – A creature-based character that goes bump in the night. Exaggerated features, unnatural proportions, and mismatched color combinations help push the design past "human." - [Vampire](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) – The undead blood sucker of your dreams. Pale skin, sharp fangs, and a wardrobe that honors that iconic gothic/Victorian style. ![Chenyu, a happy vampire with black and blue dress and dark hair](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Chenyu-4.png) [Chenyu](https://unvale.io/character/0742e46d-eb19-4777-b836-6a31cbec2996?ref=blog.unvale.io) the vampire by SuperSoftCorgi - [Werewolf](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-werewolf-oc/) – A shapeshifting character stuck between human and beast. Designs often hint at both forms at once – fur patches, claws, or ears blending into an otherwise human appearance. - [Ghost](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-ghost-oc/) – a spirit tied to unfinished business or a haunted past. Translucent skin, faded clothing, and a lack of solid ground contact are classic visual cues. ## Fantasy OCs Now, let’s talk about fantasy OCs. There’s plenty of fantasy characters that are popular in stories and roleplaying games. - DND [Class](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-your-dnd-oc-based-on-their-class/) – Created based on a specific class role. Gear and weapon choices are important here, regardless of your character's race. Lots of leather for a barbarians, elegant robes for wizards, or hoods for rogues. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Florian-Clairvaux-1-1-1.png) Florian Clairvaux by callingtheartangel - [Wizard / Witch](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-wizard-or-witch-oc/) – Spellcasters defined by their relationship to magic and how they wield it. Robes, staffs or wands, and accessories that hint to their specialties are common design anchors. - [Mermaid](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-mermaid-oc/) – Sea-dwelling and potentially dangerous. Since their bottom half can't be clothed, focusing on their scale design is crucial. Combine with iridescent or ocean-toned colors, and hair or fins that appear to move like water – even on land. ![Mermaid OC with pastel color palette and whimsical scenery](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Mermaid-4.png) [Mars](https://unvale.io/character/6f24aa32-668e-4f3d-a745-0d103b276f36?ref=blog.unvale.io) by SuperSoftCorgi - [Elf](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-elf-oc/) – Rooted in classic fantasy lore, often tied to nature or ancient tradition. Pointed ears, refined features, and nature-inspired accessories are common identifiers. - [Fairy](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/) – Small, magical, and often connected to nature, mischief, or enchantment. Delicate wings, floral-inspired color palettes, and a smaller scale set them apart. ## Share Your OCs on Unvale Whether you’re designing a protagonist, a monster, or a fantasy character, be sure to show off your amazing creations on Unvale. Our community would love to see them! If you want a specific place to share your new OCs inspired by one of our blogs, feel free to post about your character in the [Unvale-Blog](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) community. If you have any article suggestions for either of us, we’d love to hear about them in the blog community as well! Happy creating! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Changelog: Ultra Release! URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-ultra-release/ Last updated: 2026-07-15T17:28:38.000Z **Unvalers!** Today we're launching [**Ultra**](http://unvale.io/ultra?ref=blog.unvale.io): THE way for you and your creations to stand out on Unvale. Subscribe to Ultra and get 40 special character themes, 30 profile frames, flair, a color picker, and a custom display name to share your creative side. Also, in true Unvale spirit, 20 new themes are accessible to everyone for free. **We didn't paywall any existing functionality.** And we launched with the ability to gift Unvale to your friends and spread the love! Ultra comes in two tiers: 🔵 Ultra Basic at $3.99/mo – with 15 profile frames, 20 character themes, username flair, and up to 6 communities. 💠 Ultra Pro at $9.99/mo – with 30 profile frames, 40 character themes, username flair, a custom site-wide display name, and up to 10 communities. We also are launching invite only communities for Ultra users and you can gift Ultra to a friend! Share the creativity with someone whose OCs deserve it. \[→ Subscribe to ✨ Ultra ✨ TODAY ←\](https://unvale.io/ultra) Ultra will help keep Unvale sustainable and moving fast. We plan to keep the core creative tools free for everyone and make this a true oasis from the AI slop overtaking the rest of the internet. So, if you love this community, if you love what we stand for, and if Unvale has a positive impact on your life, **support us by subscribing! The more subscribers, the faster we can move!** Your support means the absolute world to our tight-knit crew. Thanks for being here :) ✨✨✨ Diogenes and the entire Unvale team ✨✨✨ ### Tips on Writing a Redemption Arc URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-a-redemption-arc/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:33:15.000Z A redemption arc is essentially an extended period of time that a character spends trying to work on themselves and trying to make up for past choices. Characters with redemption arcs can be anything from being a bad romantic partner to an evil galactic dictator. Of course, this means that **different characters will have different arcs** with different impacts, time the arc takes, and choices made. Ultimately, the point of a redemption arc is to develop a character in real time and get your audience invested in their self-improvement. ### Starting a Redemption Arc To properly start a redemption arc that your audience (and other characters) can believe in, you have to first **show the character in question’s “realization moment”**. This is the moment where they understand, at least partially, the harm they’ve caused and commit to doing better. I say partially because your character doesn’t need to understand all the harm they’ve caused right away. The scope of their actions could be beyond what they can immediately see, and revealing the scope over time is a great way to sustain the arc and cause more drama. As for committing to doing better, what this means depends on your character and what they’ve done. A true redemption arc doesn’t just mean ceasing the actions that cause harm (after all, being unable to steal doesn’t redeem a thief), it means **actively working on correcting bad habits and choosing to do the right thing**. If a character has a chance to steal, lie, cheat, or perform a behavior they used to, they choose not to. As a writer, take the chance to show that the character is making an active effort to be better and examine their own behaviors. Here are some examples: - Telling the truth and correcting themselves when they tell lies - Stopping a certain behavior like gambling or drinking - Backing off and removing themselves from situations that could turn into physical fights - Apologizing when they’re in the wrong and thanking people who help them ![Solar has set another fire. Again.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5961.png) Hahahaaaa, whoops! ### Don’t Expect Perfection Redemption isn’t a switch that can be flipped, and a villain sacrificing themselves to save the hero at the last second doesn’t erase all the harm that they’ve already caused; redemption is a continuous process. This means **you shouldn’t be afraid to show your character backsliding** and going back to their old habits when they’re stressed or in a bad place, and it’s okay not to have an ‘end point’ for the arc. Some characters might spend the rest of their lives working to combat their bad habits and darker urges, and maybe what they did can never be forgiven by those affected. **Your character also shouldn’t suddenly start using therapy-speak**. Maybe they’ve spoken to a therapist or a character with deeper insights into their personality, but most people don’t suddenly realize they’ve been dealing with [cognitive distortions](https://www.therapistaid.com/worksheets/cognitive-distortions?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [black and white thinking](https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/black-and-white-thinking?ref=blog.unvale.io). Understanding yourself takes time and doesn’t happen all at once, especially if you’ve been deep in a certain mindset for a long time (especially if you’ve been raised in it!). ### Making Amends Forgiving someone means letting go of your own negative emotions and letting yourself move on. Some people find it easy to forgive, and others find it difficult; it’s a personal journey, and not owed to anyone. **During the redemption arc, consider the scale of hurt your character has caused.** Have they hurt someone? Killed someone? What could you, personally, forgive? What would someone have to do to earn your forgiveness? Here are some more questions to consider: - Does your character expect to be forgiven? - What will they do if they *aren’t*? - What lengths is your character willing to go to be forgiven? - Is there a limit to what they’ll do? Showing that your character is willing to go to great personal lengths for the *chance* to earn forgiveness is a great way to show their redemption, with bonus points if they don’t expect to be forgiven. Of course, getting to that point will likely take time and effort from the character, and they don’t need to be perfect. **Being forgiven is a process that takes time and continuous effort from both sides**. ![(She’ll definitely set something else on fire.)](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5962.png) No more setting fires! Promise! ### Failing a Redemption Arc If you’re interested in exploring a redemption arc in a different or potentially tragic way, **you could have your character fail to redeem themselves**. This could be due to consistent backsliding and the character eventually giving up, being unable to go the distance and make the effort to be forgiven by those they’ve hurt, or expecting to be forgiven after an apology without any change. The loss of potential can be tragic for those invested in their character, and it can be a way to show that a character is unwilling or unable to change (at least at that moment). --- If you have a redemption arc you’d like to share with the community, you’re welcome to share it in the [Unvale-Blog community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) as a post! We hope to see you there. ### Designing Your OC's Visual Evolution URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-visually-designing-character-growth-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:34:17.000Z Whether you’re writing a webcomic, or planning out an animated series, your characters probably won’t have the same design for the entirety of it! Characters change and grow over the course of their story…and oftentimes, their design does too! Before we get started, if you need other ideas for your OCs, there’s also articles on… - [How to Build an OC with Friends!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-build-an-oc-with-friends/) - [How to Avoid Same Face Syndrome When Designing Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-avoid-same-face-syndrome-when-designing-your-ocs/) - [Tips for Designing Secondary Outfits for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/) Now, back to talking about design changes! One way you can show off the progression of your character’s story is by changing the character’s design over time. So how do you decide on what to change about your OC’s design? Let’s talk about it! ### What are the important aspects of your OC’s starting design? First up! You’ll want to figure out what aspects of your OC’s design are most important to their character. You’ll also want to keep in mind what parts of your design you like best! If there’s details within the design that have special meaning or specific symbolism, you can keep those in mind. If you need some suggestions for what to consider, you could think about… - How does the OC wear their hair? - What kinds of clothes do they wear? - What kind of accessories do they wear? - Does their design come with a specific aesthetic, or motif? - What kind of color scheme does their design have? Once you have an idea, you can think about what might change! A character might decide to start wearing a different style of clothing, or they might cut their hair. There’s lots of different aspects that might change. You’ll also want to keep in mind how the important aspects could change based on the character’s arc! It’s a good idea to keep in mind whether your OC grows as a person, or regresses! You can alter certain aspects of a design based on how the character’s arc goes. ## How can your OC’s outfit represent growth? A big aspect of a character’s design is the outfit they wear. Their outfit can demonstrate aspects of their personality, or their job in the story. There are lots of different ways you could change up an outfit to represent character growth! You can change the outfit itself or change up specific details in the design. If you need some ideas, you could consider… - A uniform could be changed to fit a new job, role, or rank! - A more form-fitting outfit could be changed to a looser one to represent a change from more uptight, to more casual! - A baggy outfit could be changed to a more form fitting one to represent a change from anxious, to more confident! - An outfit could change from casual to more fancy to represent a change in status! - An outfit could become more ragged over time to represent the struggles of the OC! Depending on what kind of change your character goes through in the story, you can use certain aspects of their outfit to represent character growth. You might use a specific accessory, or maybe the clothes the character wears. The character might end their story with a new outfit entirely! You’ll want to consider your OC’s struggles, and whether they grow from them or not. How can you incorporate that into their outfit? You could also consider any changes in personality or beliefs as well. There’s plenty of different ways you could change up their outfit to show the audience how they’ve changed! If you need some more ideas for your OC’s outfit, there’s an article all about the topic that you can find [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! ## How can your OC’s motif represent growth? Next up! Motifs! If your character has a design or color motif, you can also use that as a way to represent growth! You can look into the symbolism of the motif and see what it usually represents. Then, you could change how often the motif appears or change the motif entirely! It depends on the meaning behind the motif, and what you want it to symbolize. If you need some ideas for what you could try, you could consider… - A motif changing from one kind of animal to another - A moon motif changing to different phases of the moon - A star motif that becomes brighter or more dim - A color motif that shifts hues - A plant motif that changes from one type of plant to another - A gemstone motif that changes from one kind of stone to another Symbolism is a great way to silently tell your audience something about your character! It could be done with a motif related to nature, or animals, or celestial things! There’s lots of different ways you could use your OC’s motif to show off their growth as a character! If you want to use a color motif to show off the character's change and you’re not sure how to pick a color palette, my [co-writer](https://blog.unvale.io/author/solar/) has an article about how to do so! You can find it [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! ![Hair could grow longer, horns could grow taller, or a color palette might change!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-5c517671-5cd8-4ac7-a34a-2914039c85fa.png) You might use hair, magical details, or colors to represent growth! ## How can your OC’s hair represent their growth? Another aspect that can be used as a visual representation for growth, and one of my personal favorites, is hair! Hair is something that grows and changes over time, just like what happens with a character arc! The way an OC wears their hair can tell you a lot about their character, so it can be a perfect way to showcase change! If you need some inspiration, you could consider… - An OC might initially use their hair to hide their face but start wearing it tied back as they grow more confident! - An OC might grow out their hair as they grow as a person! - An OC might cut their hair as a representation of their regression! - An OC might dye their hair to show newfound confidence! - An OC might start wearing their hair more neat as a way to show their maturity! - An OC might start leaving their hair messier as a way to show them becoming more relaxed! There’s plenty of more ways hair might be used to show off character growth as well. You could play around with different hairdos, colors, or even the shape language of the style! If you’re looking for more ideas for your character’s hair, there’s an article about [choosing a hairstyle for your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/)! ## Does your OC have special details that could be used to represent growth? Finally, special details can be used to show growth through a design as well! Unique features are a good way to show off character growth, especially if your OC is a fantasy or sci-fi one. Whether the character has magic powers or natural animal features, there’s plenty of options to alter the details to show off the results of a character’s arc. If you need some ideas to consider, you could try using… - Horns growing out to represent growth - A broken horn to depict loss or regression - Glowing features to represent a character’s magic growing stronger - A gradient in the hair or on the limbs to represent a change in character - Wings becoming more tattered over time to represent a struggle for the character - A character becoming more monstrous over time to represent a negative character arc - A human character slowly looking more magical as the story progresses to show off newfound strength There are more options than the ones above for you to choose from too! It’ll all depend on your character, their story, and the character’s arc. Have fun deciding what you think will best fit your OC! If you need more tips for how you can add cool extra details to an OC design, there’s an article on [choosing unique details for Your OC](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/)! ![A younger character might start off shy and closed off, with messy hair that covers their face, but end up wearing it out of their face as they get older!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/data-src-image-1b9d7f17-7cb7-4d3c-8c36-9c2e2f27c626.png) A character's design could change over time as they grow more confident! ### Share your OC’s character growth on Unvale! Want to show off your OC’s character growth and their later design? Be sure to share your OC here on Unvale! If you need a space to share your projects, there’s communities like [ConceptPurgatory](https://unvale.io/community/conceptpurgatory?ref=blog.unvale.io) or [OC-Concepts](https://unvale.io/community/oc-concepts?ref=blog.unvale.io). Share your creations there and be sure to check out your fellow creatives’ projects too! Feel free to also post your OC’s character growth in the [Unvale-Blog](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) community as well! We’d love to see your characters! If you need some ideas for other aspects of character creation, there’s articles on [how to start writing your OC story](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-start-writing-your-oc-story/), [common strengths and weaknesses to give your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/), and [5 big questions to help develop your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/)! Happy creating! ### New Official Communities + Daily Doodle Has Moved! URL: https://blog.unvale.io/new-official-communities-daily-doodle-has-moved/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:35:46.000Z Hi, Unvale! Today I’m opening two new communities for you to highlight the OCs, art, worlds and writing you're proud of, plus activities (like UV TCG and collabs!) you're running on Unvale! Both of these communities will act as ways for you to share with staff the creations and events you’re most proud of and excited about - and in turn I’m going to begin picking creations from these communities to share on the [Featured](https://unvale.io/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io) page via monthly features and announcements! ## **Firstly: Unvale Activities** Unvale Activities is a new community hub for activities on Unvale - this starts with Daily Doodle, which is moving into this community to make room on the blog for our resident editors, and will continue as a hub for me to find and feature the events you’re loving and running on site! From today on I’ll be running activities here, and browsing the community to find events you’re working on to feature! This covers all kinds of events and interactive communities - share your communities, collab worlds, secret santas, contests, games, and so on! **Check out the Unvale Activities community** [**here**](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-activities?ref=blog.unvale.io)**!** Check out July's daily doodle [here](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-activities/post/daily-doodle-july-f811cbd1?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## **Secondly: Unvale Feature Me** Unvale feature me is an expansion of our [#UVFeatureMe](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22uvfeatureme%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) hashtag - a community where you can directly show staff the OCs, art, writing and worlds you’re the most proud of and nominate them for a spot on the feature page! Every month I'll check this community for creations to feature! Check out the community rules for more information. **Check out the Unvale Feature Me community** [**here**](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-feature-me?ref=blog.unvale.io)**!** Read the rules [here](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-feature-me/post/about-rules-ac9c8bbd?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Show me what you've got! ### Why Every OC Needs a Goal URL: https://blog.unvale.io/why-you-should-give-your-ocs-goals/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:36:54.000Z When designing an OC, giving them a goal is like installing an engine in a boat. You can have all the structural details, backstory and appearance written down, but without a goal to drive them forward, your OC will drift along wherever the story takes them. All of this to say, **a goal is a driving force that moves your OC through the world**. In my past article on [5 Big Questions to Help Develop Your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/), the second question was “What’s your OC’s main goal?”, and I focused on the importance of giving your OCs goals. This article will expand on **how** you can use your character’s goals to drive your story and characters forward. - Why You Shouldn’t Give Your OCs What They Want - Wants Verses Needs - When Success Creates Conflict - What To Do After Success ![Solar makes an X with her hands.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5952.png) Don’t give them what they want! ### Why You Shouldn’t Give Your OCs What They Want You might ask what the point of giving a character a goal is if you never give them what they actually want. Maybe they want revenge, to regain their social status, or to become someone important; but once a goal is fulfilled, you can’t use it to drive the character anymore. If you’re not careful, they might have nothing left to aspire for until you give them another goal (which we’ll discuss a bit later). **So, if you plan on fulfilling a goal make sure you set another goal of equal effort or value first.** This way, you’ll have an easy springboard from solving one problem to dealing with a new one. Having multiple goals at once is also useful for driving conflict if the character has to choose one goal over another. Forcing your OC to choose between furthering their goals and something else is also an excellent way to drive conflict. Here are some examples: - Your OC has a chance to achieve revenge, but taking this chance will hurt an innocent person. Will they dirty their hands for the sake of revenge? - In order to regain their spot in high society, your OC has to ruin the reputation of their best friend who helped them at their lowest moment. Will they sabotage the only person who believed in them? - Your OC has a chance to steal something that would help with their goals, but doing so could mean getting hurt. Will they risk their health for their goal? ![A sun and moon themed scale.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5954.png) Measure your OC’s wants and needs on the scale! ### Wants Verses Needs A ‘want’ isn’t always a ‘need’. Needs are usually food, warmth, shelter, safety, comfort and human contact. A want can be candy, a mansion or being famous; I’m sure you can think of plenty of more examples. When a character sets a goal, it’s usually a short-term or long-term want. **As a writer, it’s up to you to consider what a character wants and what they actually need**. They might *want* revenge, but will revenge actually make them happy? Maybe what they need is someone to rely on and to build up a new life. Sure, getting back their noble title would let them return to their comfortable life, but are they returning to it only because it’s familiar and high-stress? Maybe what they need is calm and time away from their toxic environment with the chance to make their own decisions. **Try considering giving your OCs what they need instead of what they want, even if they don’t understand that it’s necessary for their happiness.** ![A trophy cup filled with tentacles and eyes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5955.png) Come up and claim your prize! ### When Success Creates Conflict If you plan carefully, a character **succeeding in a goal or getting what they wanted can be a chance to plunge them even further into disaster**. True love can become a dangerous obsession, the people they crushed to move up can return to drag them back down, obtaining fame can lead to enemies bringing up old mistakes, and winning the lottery can turn everything they thought they could trust against them. If you’re familiar with the horror short story [*The Monkey’s Paw*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FMonkey's%5FPaw?ref=blog.unvale.io), you’ll understand the narrative value of a wish gone terribly wrong. Even if meeting the goal is wholly a good thing, **you can use it to create new problems**. If your character took revenge, they might have to avoid the law and the consequences of revenge or if they restored their social status, they might have to battle against their old friends and social circle. **The character’s new situation creates new problems**, and you can continue your story from something that could be seen as an end point. ![Solar thinking carefully.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/IMG_5956.png) So, what now? ### What To Do After Success After your OC achieves their goal, there are a few routes you can take. Like I mentioned earlier, having a second long-term goal set up and prepared to use next is important; your audience can usually tell when you’ve written yourself in a corner and need to throw out a new goal to work towards. If the goal seems contrived and has been hastily introduced, your audience will notice. **Your next character goal should be a logical next step for the character**. If it feels like the new goal will lower the stakes and make things less tense, you might need to rewrite or have that new goal clash with the goals of another important character. It’s important to make sure your character doesn’t remain without a goal for an extended amount of time. **It’s not uncommon for authors to kill off characters once they’ve completed their goal and character arc**, so it’s possible your reader might assume that’s what you’re planning on doing. It’s not a bad idea if you don’t have anything left to do with the character, and killing them would be an effective way to move your story forward, especially if they would just float around in the background for the rest of the story. Personally though, I’d always recommend trying to find new ways to use your established characters so you don’t have to introduce new ones. --- If you want to share your character goals, you’re welcome to make a post in our [Unvale-Blog community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Come share your OCs with us. ### How to Find Your OC's Personality URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-choose-your-ocs-personality/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:37:55.000Z Ever finished an OC design…only to realize you don’t know what kind of personality your OC has?! Whether you like to pick a personality for a character before you design them, or pick one after, sometimes it might feel difficult to come up with something more than just “shy” or “extroverted.” Before we get started, if you need some other tips for your OCs, check out one of these articles by my [co-writer](https://blog.unvale.io/author/solar/)! - [Common Strengths and Weakness to Give your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/) - [5 BIG Questions to Help Develop Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/) - [Tips on Writing Hero and Villain OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-hero-and-villain-ocs/) Now, back to choosing personalities for your characters! Personality is a pretty complicated thing, so how do you figure out one for your OC? Let’s talk about it! ## Choose a personality based on your OC’s design! One way that can help you think about your OC’s personality is by considering the design you gave them! (If you haven’t designed your character yet, feel free to skip this section!) There are lots of different aspects of a design that might hint at what kind of personality a character might have. For example, you could consider…? - How does the OC wear their hair? - What kind of clothes does the OC wear? - What kind of accessories, tools, or weapons does the OC have? - What kind of color palette does the OC have? - Is there any obvious shape language in the OC’s design? - Are there any design motifs within the OC’s design? - What expression does the OC usually have in the art of them? - Are there any other design factors that could help you decide on a personality? Depending on your answers to the above questions, you might discover some details of your OC that can help you pick a personality for them! If a character wears baggier clothing as opposed to something more form-fitting, they might be a more chill character, or they might be really shy. A character with sharp shape language might be more energetic, or they might be a bit more prickly. Using the already-existing design of the OC can be a great way to choose their personality! That being said, depending on the purpose of the character, you could even do the opposite. A character with a design that seems more reserved might actually be really extroverted, and a different character with a design that seems more fun and happy might actually be really mean! Color symbolism can also tie into the personality of a character. If your OC has a design but doesn’t have a color palette yet, try checking out this article on how to choose one for them [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! ## Choose a personality for your OC by considering the personalities of your other characters! Another way you can choose the personality of your OC is by picking something based on the personality of your other OCs. You might consider different character dynamics and see how the OC would interact with another character. Whether that be a best friend, or an arch nemesis, there’s plenty of different ways you could choose! Depending on what kind of character dynamic you want, choosing different personalities can help establish the dynamic. You might give a protagonist character a personality completely opposite to the antagonist as a way of making them a mirror of each other in the story. You could do something similar with a friend or love interest dynamic as well! If you need some ideas, you could try… - A best friend duo with polar opposite personalities - A pair of lovers who have similar personalities but different vibes - Friendly rivals who have personalities that bounce well off of each other - Arch-nemesis characters who have personalities that mirror each other - A hero and villain with the same personality There’s plenty of different character dynamics that you could use to decide on what kind of personalities your characters have! If you need more ideas for writing character duos, there’s an article you can find all about the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-writing-a-duo-pair-or-trio-dynamics-in-your-stories/)! ![A personality test filled out with "INFP" as the result!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-9991d611-d63c-470d-94b7-15e62c6587ce.png) Try taking a personality test on your OC's behalf! ## Try using a personality test to decide on a personality for your OC! If you’ve been using Unvale for a while, you might have noticed in the traits of character pages that there’s the option “Myers-Briggs Type.” The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, also known as just the MBTI, is a type indicator for personality types! The MBTI has 16 different categories for personalities, and each one is a combination of different traits that the individual prefers. By learning about the different aspects of the personalities, you can choose what would work best for your OCs! If you need to see the different traits of the different MBTI types, here’s a brief overview! - Introverted or Extroverted (Is energy focused inward, or outward?) - Intuitive or Observant (Is focus placed on possibilities, or concrete facts?) - Thinking or Feeling (Is rationality prioritized over emotion?) - Judging or Prospecting (Is structure preferred over flexibility?) You could use the different characteristics to decide on what your OC might be! If you still aren’t sure which to choose, you could try taking the test on your character’s behalf! You can make up answers that you think your OC would choose, and see what result they get! If you want to try out an MBTI personality test for your characters, there’s a free one you can try [here](https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test?ref=blog.unvale.io)! (The site also has lots of resources for understanding each personality type!) If you’re not too interested in the MBTI, there’s plenty of other type indicators you could try, too. Personality can be influenced by many different factors, such as culture or a person’s upbringing. You might consider the backstory of your character when choosing their personality! If you need some ideas for developing an OC’s backstory, check out the article: [Backstory Building Questions for Your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/)! ## Try using a character alignment chart to decide on a personality for your OC! Another thing you can use for your OC’s is an alignment chart! If you’ve heard terms such as “lawful good” or “chaotic evil,” those are from alignment charts! The DND character alignment chart is a popular way of categorizing characters based on how they interact with the world. (It’s also another option in the traits section of a character page on Unvale!) The character alignment chart divides the categories based on whether the character is good or evil, whether they do things lawfully or not, or whether they’re neutral. If you need to see the different alignments, there’s… - Lawful good - Neutral good - Chaotic good - Lawful neutral - True neutral - Chaotic neutral - Lawful evil - Neutral evil - Chaotic evil A chaotic good personality might have a kind heart and want what’s best, but they might do so in ways that result in destruction or collateral damage…the end justifies the means to them! On the other hand, a lawful evil character might have questionable goals…but they’ll accomplish them in a way that’s *technically* within the rules. Using an alignment could be a good way to get a feel for what your OC’s personality could be! If you’re looking for something less serious, there’s meme character alignments you can find as well. Meme templates often cover funny scenarios and how different OCs react to it. (Unvale has a few for you to use too, which you can find [here](https://unvale.io/world/2c4c13e6-ae77-476b-9b87-e2042325318a?ref=blog.unvale.io)!) ![A character alignment chart featuring a character above it! ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-8c96cea6-effc-4039-94db-4879e32e0071.png) What character alignment would your OC fall into? ### Communities to share your stories and get advice from! Looking for a place to either share your stories, or to get some advice from your fellow creatives? There’s plenty of communities on Unvale that might help! Be sure to check out… - [The Writing-Advice Community](https://unvale.io/community/writing-advice?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Need some advice for writing your story? Make a post in the Writing Advice community so that your fellow creatives can help! - [The Writing-Share Community](https://unvale.io/community/writing-share?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Want to share your writing, but you don’t need feedback on it? Make a post in the Writing Share community! - [The OC-Lore-Help Community](https://unvale.io/community/oc-lore-help?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Need some help figuring out your OC’s lore? The Lore Help community can, well, help! Make a post for fellow OC creators to help give you ideas! - [The Yap-About-Your-OC Community](https://unvale.io/community/yap-about-ur-oc?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Just feel like yapping about your characters? Leave a post in the Yap About Your OC community! Be sure to check out the cool OCs and stories from your fellow creatives too! There’s lots of awesome stuff for you to find! (Also, If you want to talk about your OCs’ personalities, feel free to share with us in the [Blog Community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)!) If you need other ideas for your OCs, there’s articles on [avoiding Same Face Syndrome](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-avoid-same-face-syndrome-when-designing-your-ocs/), [designing secondary outfits](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/), and [choosing shape language for your characters](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ### Superstars: Batch 6 Announcement URL: https://blog.unvale.io/superstars-batch-6-announcement/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T20:14:32.000Z We have the long-awaited, much-anticipated SUPERSTARS ANNOUNCEMENT! For those who may not know, the Superstars program is a special acknowledgment of community members who help make Unvale special! These are users who are welcoming, kind, talented, and very active in the Unvale community. You all waited twice as long, so there are double the superstars joining this time around!So let's get right to it! 🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁🥁 ### New Superstars! [callingtheartangel](https://unvale.io/callingtheartangel?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Vates](https://unvale.io/Vates?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Oboegirl85](https://unvale.io/Oboegirl85?ref=blog.unvale.io) [saxsays](https://unvale.io/saxsays?ref=blog.unvale.io) [racaral](https://unvale.io/racaral?ref=blog.unvale.io) [SolOddity](https://unvale.io/SolOddity?ref=blog.unvale.io) [mikeytymian](https://unvale.io/mikeytymian?ref=blog.unvale.io) [toastytot](https://unvale.io/toastytot?ref=blog.unvale.io) [fruitshrine](https://unvale.io/fruitshrine?ref=blog.unvale.io) [sondekmo](https://unvale.io/sondekmo?ref=blog.unvale.io) [mixubug](https://unvale.io/mixubug?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Renworkshere](https://unvale.io/Renworkshere?ref=blog.unvale.io) [bsodas](https://unvale.io/bsodas?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Klaatu](https://unvale.io/Klaatu?ref=blog.unvale.io) [lenyeehaw](https://unvale.io/lenyeehaw?ref=blog.unvale.io) [IMrSandman](https://unvale.io/IMrSandman?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pegasuswhisper](https://unvale.io/pegasuswhisper?ref=blog.unvale.io) [lizdoestheart](https://unvale.io/lizdoestheart?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Rongrii](https://unvale.io/Rongrii?ref=blog.unvale.io) [ThatsTheAddax](https://unvale.io/ThatsTheAddax?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Orkanera](https://unvale.io/Orkanera?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Alavsith](https://unvale.io/Alavsith?ref=blog.unvale.io) And our own [ponyo](https://unvale.io/ponyo?ref=blog.unvale.io)! CONGRATULATIONS, NEW SUPERSTARS!!! If your name wasn’t called this time around, don’t worry. We will be doing this on a more regular cadence in the future (every 3 months or so)! So keep being a wonderful, active member of the community, and your time may come soon! As you know, the superstars get some cool benefits like access to an exclusive Discord channel, sneak peeks at new things being built, and they are featured on the new Featured Page. We also have some new perks in the pipeline! So look out soon. We will be reaching out via email and with the new Discord role soon! So look out for that, new Superstars 🌟. We will be doing this in the fall, so keep on the lookout! ### How to Write Your OC's Backstory URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-start-writing-your-oc-story/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:44:22.000Z Any writer knows that one of the most difficult parts of writing is, well, writing. The second hardest part is editing, but that’s something you shouldn’t worry about until you’ve got plenty of story and scenes to work with; so we won’t be talking about that in this article (but maybe in the future…?). So, writing. How do we even start? ### How to Sit Down and Get to it Getting this part of the process out of the way is the first thing we’ll focus on. There’s no sure fire way to get yourself to sit down and write, but here’s a few methods that professional writers use to get themselves motivated. > **Method 1: Freewriting** This is the ‘writing by the seat of your pants’ method. It might be something you did in the past for fun, or something you do right now! To freewrite properly, you need to completely turn off the ‘critical editor’ part of your brain and let yourself be fully creative and do whatever you think sounds cool or is fun. If you have plans in place already, don’t stick to them too strongly and let the scene go where it may. Some say that “*90% of what we produce is just okay, and that remaining 10% is genius*”, so some writers agonize over that 90% and never manage to produce the 10% because of it. Producing stuff you might not like is part of the process, because managing to produce anything at all is a victory. That’s the core of freewriting. **Once you’ve written enough material to actually edit, that’s where you can put on the pressure and turn carbon into diamonds**. Another phrase writers like to use is “*writing is rewriting*”; it means that the biggest part of writing our stories is rewriting and refining them over time. Freewriting is useful for getting to that point of being able to rewrite quickly. > **Method 2: Daily Word Goals** If you check the word count of a document, you can see how many characters and words you’ve written up to a certain point. Agonizing over word counts and checking against the average amount of words are needed for a manuscript to count as a novel isn’t rare; but if you find yourself struggling to get words on a page, word counts can be used to your advantage. It’s a simple trick: just set a daily word goal. Maybe you want to write 500 words a day, but you usually only manage 100\. In that case, **let’s set your goal at 100 words, and if you have the motivation to continue after that 100, keep writing!** Sometimes you’ll find you’ve gone above and beyond your word goal, which is the point of the whole exercise. Keeping your expectations low so you can surpass them on good days and meet them on bad ones is a good way to stay motivated and stop you from being hard on yourself unnecessarily. ![Solar doodle thinking…](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5887.png) Now, let’s see… how do I start my story? ### Writing Your First Chapter Now that we’ve figured out some ways to get writing, the question becomes *what* to write. If you’ve already decided to start on lore and backstory information, it’s easier to pick what to share and what order to share it in. It’s good to put the most important information at the top, **use bold text to highlight important concepts and words**, and use lists and bullet points to break up big chunks of text. You can see this formatting in action in Whim and my articles. This doesn’t really help if you actually plan to get into it and write your original story though. It can be tough to decide *where* in your story you want to start, and you might be asking yourself how to begin writing that critical first chapter; after all, the first impression of a story is the biggest way to get a reader hooked and interested. I do have a foolproof solution for you this time, actually… **simply skip the first chapter!** **Start in the part of the story that you’re most certain about, and write that section first.** While writing your chapters in order might seem like the right way to go about it, it’s basically never necessary. Even if you’re releasing serial chapters every week, I’d always recommend you complete the full narrative first so you don’t have any inconsistencies or mistakes you have to correct later. Let go of the notion that things need to be written in order and suddenly everything becomes much easier (and more fun). ![Doodle Solar looks at the Unvale logo](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5888.png) We’re waiting to see what you create on Unvale! ### Share your Story on Unvale! The most motivating thing for me sometimes is having other people who are just as interested in my creative work as I am, and maybe that’s true for you too. With so many incredible stories in the world, it can be hard to stand out, but don’t be discouraged! Take the time to look for people with similar interests, and **put yourself out there**! [Maybe you’ll get featured on the front page](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9792412-how-do-i-get-featured-on-unvale-s-community-page?ref=blog.unvale.io), find a great community, or meet some new friends along the way. [The Writing-Advice community](https://unvale.io/community/writing-advice?ref=blog.unvale.io) is one of Unvale’s largest communities, so if you need any help or advice, you’re always welcome there. The best way to get noticed on Unvale is to be kind, interact with others, and most importantly, be yourself! **We wish you the best of luck on your Unvale journey.** ### Other Handy Articles This article will be updated over time with links to future articles on writing. - [How to Create a Plot Twist In Your Original Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-plot-twist-in-your-original-stories/) - [How to Swap Between Narrating OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-swap-between-narrating-ocs/) - [How to Write a Fight Scene in your Original Stories ](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-fight-scene-in-your-original-stories/) - [How to Write a Scary Scene In Your Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/) - [Tips for Using Mythology in Your OC Stories](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/) - [Different Types of Relationships to Write about for your OC Stories](https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/) - [Tips for Writing Duo/Pair or Trio Dynamics in your Stories](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-writing-a-duo-pair-or-trio-dynamics-in-your-stories/) ### How to Build an OC With Friends URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-build-an-oc-with-friends/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:41:07.000Z You know what’s more fun than creating a character? Creating a character with friends! Whether you want to develop characters for the story you’re writing or maybe work to create a new collab world OC, it can be nice to work with your friends to create cool stories. But before we get started, if you’re looking for other OC ideas, there’s also articles on… - [Tips for Designing Secondary Outfits for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/) - [How To Use MUSIC To Design An OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/) - [5 Ways To Revive Your Old OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/) - [Tips on How To Make a Reference Sheet for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/) Now, back to collaborative character creations! Sometimes it’s nice to have help when creating characters or stories. Maybe you’re mainly a writer, while your best friend is mainly an artist, and you want to work with them to create a new character… or vice versa! So, how exactly *do* you design an OC with your friends? Let’s talk about it! ## Start planning your OC with your friends! First off, you need to come up with a plan! You’ll want to work with your friend to decide who will do what when creating the OC. You’ll want to consider potential ideas, and make sure you and your friends are on the same page! You and your friends will want to think about… - Will one of you do the majority of the drawing, or will you both work on art for the OC? - Will one of you do the majority of the writing, or will you both work on writing for the OC? - Do you have story ideas for the OC already? If so, what are they? - Do you have design ideas for the OC already? - Do you have relationship ideas for the OC already? - If you and your friends have different ideas, can you find a middle ground that you all like? - Is there anything you want to avoid when creating your OC? Sometimes you and your friends might have ideas for the characters that conflict with one another…and that’s perfectly okay! You’ll just want to try and find a middle ground that works for everyone. It’s important that everyone gets to share their ideas, and that nobody feels left out of the creation process. It’s definitely important to make sure that everyone is on the same page. Communication is key! Make sure you let your friends know your thoughts, ideas, or plans, and make sure you know theirs! Mistakes might happen as well, so it’s important to be patient and understanding as well. If you’re working on creating characters with your friends, you might be considering roleplaying with the characters too. If you want some tips on roleplaying etiquette, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/roleplaying-etiquette/)! ## Find inspiration for your OC with your friends! Next up! Inspiration! Now that you and your friends have some brainstorming for your OC done, it’s time to work together to find inspiration! There’s lots of different ways you can look for inspiration, and plenty of options for collaboration too! You might put together a list of characters with personalities that inspire your OC, or you might pick some songs that match the vibe of your character! If you need some ideas on what you and your friends could look for, you could consider… - A playlist for your OC - A moodboard - Inspiration from favorite character designs - Weapon or prop inspiration from favorite shows - Inspiring quotes from favorite media - Pose ideas There’s more than the above too! You could make a list with your friends of all the things that inspire you. Some sites have options for collaborations as well! If you want a collaborative moodboard, you might try using Pinterest. If you want to create a collaborative playlist, you might try Spotify! There’s plenty of ways you and your friends can combine your inspirations! If you need more ideas on how to find character inspiration, my [co-writer](https://blog.unvale.io/author/solar/) has an article about [how to use things in your daily life for OC inspiration!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/) Be sure to check it out! ![Two friends work to brainstorm their ideas for a new character!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-f6411860-f825-414d-87a0-88f6e2ac6b72.png) These two friends are brainstorming their latest OC idea! ## Decide on the OC’s personality and story with your friends! Now, it’s time to start working on your character with your friends! You might already have some story or personality ideas for your OC, so you’ll want to put those together and write them down! If you haven’t considered the personality or story of your OC yet, now’s a good time too! It’s fun to incorporate such details into the design of your character, so it can be a good idea to work with your friends to put together your OC’s personality before you start designing them. (That being said, the rule of cool when designing a character is perfectly fine too, so don’t stress too much!) If you need some ideas for where to start, here’s some questions for you and your friends to answer! - Is the character an extrovert, introvert, or ambivert? - Is the character shy or timid? - Is the character loud or outgoing? - Is the character humble, or prideful? - Is the character good, evil, or morally grey? - What are the character’s goals or motivations? - What are the character’s fears? - What will the character arc of the OC be? How you work with your friends on the personality of your OC is up to you! One option is to divide the above questions up between you and your friends. You could also create your own questions! Or, if one of you prefers writing, they could handle the personality and story while the others focus on the design of the character. Do whatever works best for everyone! If you need more ideas for developing your character, check out this article with [5 big questions to help develop your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/)! ## Design your OC with your friends! It’s time to get to designing your character with the help of your friends! There’s plenty of ways you and your friends can work together to come up with a design for the OC! You can all come up with design concepts, and maybe vote on your favorite one. Or, you might incorporate elements of all the concepts of the character into the finalized design! If you need some ideas for aspects of a design you could consider, you could all think about… - What hairstyle will they have? - What kind of top will they wear? - What kind of pants or skirt will they wear? - What kind of shoes or boots would they wear? - Would they wear a dress or a one-piece outfit? - Would they wear a jacket, coat, or cloak? - Would they wear jewelry? - Would they wear a hat, headband, or crown? - Would they carry a bag or backpack? - Would they carry a weapon or tool? You can discuss with your friends what you want to do for the character’s design! Once you have an idea of what you all want to do, you can start concepting the character. You might work together to come up with different concepts, and then come up with new concepts combining the favorite aspects of the other ones! How you settle on a final design is up to you and your friends! If you really like creating concepts while your friend prefers drawing illustrations, you might try creating the character concepts while your friend handles the illustrations of your character after! If you and your friends are unsure where to start, you might consider using a specific aesthetic for your OC! If you want some ideas for how to pick an aesthetic for your OC’s design, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/)! ## Create character dynamics for your OC with your friends! Lastly, create some character dynamics for your OCs with your friends! This part is especially fun if you plan on creating multiple characters with your friends! You can work with your friends to come up with the relationships of your OC. If you need some ideas for who might be important to your OC, you can consider… - The OC’s parents - The OC’s siblings - The OC’s friends - The OC’s rival - The OC’s love interest or significant other - The OC’s coworkers or team members Once you have an idea for the characters important to your character, you and your friends can decide on how the characters interact with each other! You could all write out ideas for the different character dynamics, or you might have a plan for your character’s relationships already! One thing you can do to collaborate with your friends on character dynamics is by drawing out the interactions. You can both draw separate character interactions, or you might use a program that allows multiple people to draw on one canvas! Another option is to collaborate on a single drawing! You could start a drawing, leaving enough space for your friend to draw the other character! Looking for more ideas for your OCs’ relationships? There’s an article on different types of relationships you can write for your OC stories! You can find it [here](https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/)! ![A finished character page for the OC the friends worked together to create!](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-46a1af0d-e407-44da-b199-74f1239355b9.png) Look at the cool character the friends worked to create! ### Collab worlds for you and your friends to check out! If you and your friends are looking for a collab world to create characters for, there’s plenty of cool communities to join here on Unvale! Be sure to check out… - [Space Dwellers](https://unvale.io/community/spacedwellers?ref=blog.unvale.io), a collab world filled with different factions and space pirates! - [Raging Waters](https://unvale.io/community/ragingwaters?ref=blog.unvale.io), a collab world featuring two rival pirate crews, one composed of humans and one of sirens! - [Makeshift Exorcist](https://unvale.io/community/makeshiftexorcist?ref=blog.unvale.io), a collab world where exorcists are working to defeat demons and protect their town from destruction! - [Long Lost World](https://unvale.io/community/long-lost-world?ref=blog.unvale.io), a collab world where survivors are left to live on a post-apocalyptic planet! - [Pretty Please With a Cherry on Top](https://unvale.io/community/ppwct?ref=blog.unvale.io), a collab world with magical people based on snacks and treats! There’s lots more for you to discover as well, and you can find other collab world communities [here](https://unvale.io/communities/explore?category=Collab+World&sort=trending&trendingFilter=week&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Also, if you want to share the OCs you’ve been working on developing with your friends, feel free to share them in the [Unvale-Blog Community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you need other ideas for what to think about while creating an OC with your friends, you might consider giving the character [a signature makeup look](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/), [a job](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/), or [a companion](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/)! ### It’s Not Too Late to Join Artfight URL: https://blog.unvale.io/its-not-too-late-to-join-artfight/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:43:09.000Z It’s almost July, which means Artfight season! Maybe you’ve joined before, maybe you’ve heard of it in passing but never joined, or maybe this is the first time you’re hearing of it! If you’re new to Artfight like I am, **it’s not too late to join this year**. [Artfight](https://artfight.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is an **annual art trading event** that anyone over 13 can join (same as Unvale) and draw artwork of other people’s OCs to get points for their team. Usually there are two teams that you can join when participating in Artfight, but this year there are three; the [Comedy](https://artfight.net/team/23.comedy?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Mystery](https://artfight.net/team/24.mystery?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [Tragedy](https://artfight.net/team/25.tragedy?ref=blog.unvale.io) teams. **When you draw art for another person you get points for your team**, and you get the most points when attacking the other team(s). While Artfight has looser rules about gore and nudity than Unvale, you can easily apply filters to hide anything you’re uncomfortable with. **Artfight is also anti-AI like Unvale**, so rest assured you’ll be in good hands. ![Solar holds an hourglass](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5864.png) Make sure you use your time wisely! **Before you join Artfight…** - [Read all the rules of the site](https://artfight.net/info/rules?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [Read the About Artfight article](https://artfight.net/info/about?ref=blog.unvale.io) for more information on how the game works. - Join the [Unvale Artfight Community](https://unvale.io/community/artfight?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Check out the FAQ](https://artfight.net/info/faq?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - You could join the [Artfight Discord](https://discord.gg/artfight?ref=blog.unvale.io) (or the [Unvale Discord](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io)!). **After you join the Artfight website…** - [Pick a team to join!](https://artfight.net/event/12?ref=blog.unvale.io) - Upload your OCs. - Find and bookmark OCs to draw once the event begins. **Some things to keep in mind…** - **Artfight starts on July 1st at 6pm (18:00)**, **UTC**. Make sure to convert this to your local time zone. - **You aren’t allowed to start drawing until the event begins**, and you can get banned for starting early. - [Traditional art](https://artfight.net/info/drawings?ref=blog.unvale.io) (paper and pencil art), [3D models](https://artfight.net/info/3d-modeling?ref=blog.unvale.io), [animation](https://artfight.net/info/animation?ref=blog.unvale.io), and even [crafts like sculpting](https://artfight.net/info/crafts?ref=blog.unvale.io) are allowed and encouraged. - **Unvale’s profile links have a space for your Artfight link**, and Artfight has a space for Unvale links! Make sure to add your links. Check the profiles of your favourite Unvale artists and follow them on artfight! - **You can join regardless of your skill level**, and it’s okay to join and only do one attack during the event period. The main point is to have fun! Looking for people to follow on Artfight? You can find the profiles of your favourite Unvale blog writers [here](https://artfight.net/~WhimsyTheWhimsical?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [here](https://artfight.net/~Solar%5FSunrise?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### How to Design a Splatoon OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/designing-a-splatoon-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:44:54.000Z With [Splatoon Raiders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splatoon%5FRaiders?ref=blog.unvale.io) coming out soon (as of this article), it’s finally time for me to spread the word about one of my favourite games! Besides the basics of kids and squids, designing an OC for *Splatoon* gives you so many design options; both anthropomorphic and humanoid characters exist in the world beyond the weapon-toting battlers seen in player vs. player Turf Wars. There are anemones that run shops, jellyfish hiveminds that mimic the average family, and even vocalists made out of seaweed! So, let’s dive into the world of *Splatoon*! ### Splatoon Lore If you’ve never played *Splatoon* before, don’t worry; I’ll give you the basic run down, spoiler-free! *Splatoon* is set in **the far future**, after the apocalypse and global climate change **wipe out all mammals on Earth**… except one, [Judd the cat](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Judd?ref=blog.unvale.io). But besides being an immortal creature capable of perfectly calculating the ground coverage of wars, he’s not important to this article (and neither is his clone, Lil Judd, who schemes to replace him). In the aftermath of the apocalypse, something strange happened… **sea creatures began to evolve, yearning to see the sky**! Discovering the remains of humanity, the creatures modeled their lives and cultures after them, and some evolved to resemble humans. The most famous of these human-like sea creatures are the [Inklings](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Inkling?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [Octolings](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Octoling?ref=blog.unvale.io), who are the playable characters in *Splatoon* (with Octolings being playable in *2*’s DLC *Octo Expansion* and onward). Locally, the Octarians and Inklings had a conflict called the [Great Turf War](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Great%5FTurf%5FWar?ref=blog.unvale.io) 100 years ago, but around the world Inklings and Octolings get along (though, in the first *Splatoon*, Inkopolis’ Inklings thought that Octarians were extinct!). The story mode of the first two *Splatoon* games focus on the conflict between the Inkling New Squidbeak Splatoon and the Octarian army; the conflict comes from the echoes of the war long ago, and are led by two leaders of that conflict (Craig Cuttlefish and DJ Octavio respectively). You play as an Inkling recruit (Agent 3 or Agent 4) and you work to battle the Octarians. Eventually you bring Inkling music and culture to the heart of Octarian society, and become the catalyst for Octolings to enter Inkopolis. **Music is a major aspect of Splatoon**, and each game has a group of idols that are popular at that time and lead news broadcasts and [Splatfests](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Splatfest?ref=blog.unvale.io); but you can discover all about that on your own! Besides all that, there are all sorts of evolved sea creatures that exist in *Splatoon*’s world, best seen with merchant NPCs and the [fictional bands](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fbands%5Fin%5Fthe%5FSplatoon%5Fseries?ref=blog.unvale.io) that make the music you hear in battles in game. Some look human, and some look like their real-life counterparts but with clothes, but all of *Splatoon*’s denizens are **inspired by and designed after real-life sea creatures**. ![Solar’s Splatoon OC, Amaryllis](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_0189-1.png) Your OC doesn’t need a weapon… mostly because they’re hard to draw. ### Designing a Splatoon OC If there’s one thing that any *Splatoon* fan can tell you, it’s that fashion and culture are the cores of *Splatoon*’s world. Subcultures thrive on the graffitied streets of the cities, whether it’s the modern [Inkopolis](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Inkopolis?ref=blog.unvale.io) or the rough and rapidly growing [Splatsville](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Splatsville?ref=blog.unvale.io). The denizens of these places will do a lot for the sake of fashion, and body modifications can sometimes go to wild extremes ([Fred Crumbs is something of an exception to the rule of realistic designs…](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Fred%5FCrumbs?ref=blog.unvale.io)). So besides picking some interesting fish for your OC, you should **be sure to explore the** [**fashion**](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/) **side of things too**! Besides having the same body types and wielding the same weapons, Inklings and Octolings have a few **basic design rules you can see in their designs**. Inklings have 6 hair tentacles, Octolings have 4\. Inklings have mask-like facial markings, while Octolings have markings only around their eyes. Inklings have suckers on the inside of their tentacles, while Octolings have them on the outside. There are more little differences here and there, but if you dislike designing characters with rules but you still want to make an iconic character, I’d recommend [Salmonids](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Salmonid?ref=blog.unvale.io). Salmonids are based on salmon, which migrate up and down rivers to mate, and change their appearance during their life cycle. Salmonid are inspired by this, and are the species with the most variety in appearance in the entire series. They can be giant Kaiju-like abominations, or as small as the the plushie-sized Small Fry. Salmonid have a unique culture inspired by Vikings and the Roman Empire. They live to fight, and **to die an honourable death in battle and be eaten and return to the life cycle is the ultimate reward for any Salmonid warrior**. Thus, they use cookware as weapons and build food-like structures and towers to make themselves seem tastier. They’re really a unique species in the *Splatoon* world. Other fascinating creatures are [the denizens of the deep](https://splatoonwiki.org/wiki/Denizens%5Fof%5Fthe%5Fdeep?ref=blog.unvale.io), bizarre travelers on the Deepsea Metro. They’re inspired by sea creatures from the bottom of the ocean, which have some of the strangest appearances in the world. Here are some interesting creatures you could make an OC out of! - The ornamental [Flowerhorn cichlids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flowerhorn%5Fcichlid?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Koi fish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koi?ref=blog.unvale.io), and [goldfish](https://www.thesprucepets.com/12-types-of-goldfish-5525618?ref=blog.unvale.io). - The deep sea [yeti crab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiwa%5Fhirsuta?ref=blog.unvale.io), the [Japanese spider crab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese%5Fspider%5Fcrab?ref=blog.unvale.io), and the aesthetically varied[ king crab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%5Fcrab?ref=blog.unvale.io). - The unique looking [goblin shark](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goblin%5Fshark?ref=blog.unvale.io), [sawfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sawfish?ref=blog.unvale.io), and [upside-down jellyfish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassiopea?ref=blog.unvale.io). - The [black dragon fish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idiacanthus%5Fatlanticus?ref=blog.unvale.io), the [barreleye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barreleye?ref=blog.unvale.io), and the neither-vampire-nor-squid, the [vampire squid](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire%5Fsquid?ref=blog.unvale.io). ![Old art of Solar’s Octoling persona](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_7928.png) Ready to get into a turf war? ### Naming Your OC After you have a design (check out [my other articles](https://blog.unvale.io/author/solar/) for help with building backstory and more!) the next thing to do is to pick a name. In the Splatoon manga, the Inkling and Octoling characters are **named after their clothing and gear**, but in the games most characters are **named for puns, ocean related things, and seafood**. I’ll use the idol characters as examples: Callie and Marie together make the [squid dish calamari](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squid%5Fas%5Ffood?ref=blog.unvale.io) when their names are said together, Marina and Pearl are named after the sea and pearls which suit their appearances, and Shiver, Frye and Big Man are named after a group of sharks (a shiver of sharks), a group of eels (a fry of eels) and… well, Big Man is a Mantaray. Need I say more? Looking into your creature of inspiration’s Latin name, common name, and name in other languages might help you discover the perfect punny name for your new OC! ### Community OCs Let’s check out some community OCs from the [Splatoon hashtag](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22splatoon%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Poka](https://unvale.io/character/6031c7f0-c655-4841-9dd0-e25704bba07f?ref=blog.unvale.io), a jellyfish OC by [CaesarSizzaa](https://unvale.io/CaesarSizzaa?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Gladys](https://unvale.io/character/b743fe72-f214-4280-8815-150faa9c74ba?ref=blog.unvale.io), and Octoling Agent OC by [Shigamegako](https://unvale.io/Shigamegako?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Foamy](https://unvale.io/character/4dfca5af-236d-48a8-8389-8cdb2926e118?ref=blog.unvale.io), an Octoling OC by [EmoKitsuneDesigns](https://unvale.io/EmoKitsuneDesigns?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Carrot R. Cord](https://unvale.io/character/284c9669-68c4-4b83-933a-81d731414d29?ref=blog.unvale.io), a sea bunny OC by [vampytoasty](https://unvale.io/vampytoasty?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Gary](https://unvale.io/character/3f5b5751-31da-47d1-926b-eeb87efe9aa2?ref=blog.unvale.io), an Inkling OC by [FazDude](https://unvale.io/FazDude?ref=blog.unvale.io) **As always, feel free to share your *Splatoon* OCs (finished or concept art) in the** [**Unvale-Blog community**](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)**!** Anyone can post, as long as it’s relevant to Whim and my articles. ### How to Avoid Same Face Syndrome in Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-avoid-same-face-syndrome-when-designing-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:52:37.000Z Have you ever looked at your OC designs, only to realize…everyone has the same face?! Same Face Syndrome is something most OC creators experience from time to time…and it can be a habit that’s hard to break out of! But before we get started, if there’s other OC tips you need, there’s also articles on… - [Tips for Designing Secondary Outfits for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/) - [5 Ways To Revive Your Old OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/) - [Tips for Simplifying an OC Design!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/) Now, back to avoiding Same Face Syndrome! Unless your story cast is a family of quadruplets, you probably don’t want all your OCs to have the same face. When several characters have a similar face, it can be difficult to tell who is who. So how do you avoid Same Face Syndrome while designing your characters? Let's talk about it! ## Keep in mind your art style when designing faces! Everyone has a different art style, and that means how you design a face will be different from how someone else designs one…and that’s perfectly okay! That just means you’ll want to play into the strengths of your art style. You might simplify one aspect of the face, while enhancing a different part. For example… - An anime inspired style might have big eyes, but a small nose and mouth - A cartoon style might have the eyes simplified to dots - A semi realistic style might have mostly balanced features, with slightly exaggerated eyes Your art style will affect how the faces you draw look! With that in mind, you’ll want to decide what to focus on when you draw faces. You might have big eyes that can have lots of detail, or you might draw semi-realistic noses. It’s up to you and what you like most! If you’re not too sure what you want to do, try looking at the real world or your favorite media for inspiration! Simple observation can be really helpful for seeing what different features look like. How does your favorite animated show draw eyes? How many different nose shapes can you spot while on a trip to the store? Inspiration is all around you! ## Pick a head shape for your OC! First off! You’ll want to pick a different head shape for your OCs. Some faces are more rounded, while others are more angular. Some faces are long, while others are shorter! There’s lots of variety when it comes to head shapes, so you’ll want to be sure to give different OCs different face shapes that suit them. If you need some ideas, here’s a few head shapes you’d see in the real world! - Round! A circular head shape! - Oval! Similar to the round shape, but longer and with more balanced features! - Square! A more angular head shape! - Rectangle! Like the square, but longer! - Inverted triangle! The chin has a more angular point, while the forehead is a bit wider! - Diamond! Like the inverted triangle, but with slightly more balanced features! There’s more than just the ones listed above, too! Depending on your art style, you might draw head shapes differently too. The shape might be a little more subtle if your style is closer to semi-realism! If your style is more cartoony, the shape might be more exaggerated instead. With head shapes, you might pick one based on your OCs’ personalities. You could give a more friendly or innocent OC a rounder head shape and give a different OC with a more aggressive personality an angular face shape! Shape language is especially useful for head shapes! If you want more ideas for how to use shape language in an OC design, there’s an article all about that right [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ## Design your OC’s eyes and eyebrows! Next up! Eyes and eyebrows! They do say eyes are the window to the soul, right? Eyebrows can be pretty important too. There’s lots of different shapes you could choose from, for both the eyes and eyebrows! If you need some ideas for both, you could try… - Large, round eyes - Thin eyebrows - Sharp, angular eyes - Thick, angular eyebrows - Square eyes - Bushy eyebrows - Dot eyes - Dot eyebrows - Upturned eyes - Triangle eyebrows - Downturned eyes - A unibrow Both the eyes and eyebrows of your OCs can say a lot about them, so it’s good to have some variety! Choosing different types for different characters will ensure all your OCs look distinct and recognizable! Just like with the head shapes, you can use shape language to pick the shapes of the eyes or eyebrows. If you have a more cartoonish art style, you can really stylize the look of the eyes! You could make them really big…or even make them simple dots! With more stylized art, you might even pick unique shapes or designs for the pupils of your OCs eyes! I also have an article specifically about designing eyes for your character! If you’d like to check it out, you can find the article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-81a2bdd6-c3e7-426b-a195-1839ca8cd835.png) What will you pick for your OC? ## Pick a nose shape for your OC! Another thing to consider when avoiding Same Face Syndrome while designing your OCs is nose shapes! There’s a lot more variety with nose shapes than you might think. Some noses are round, others are pointed! Some are long, others are short! If you need some ideas on what kinds of nose shapes you could give your OC, you could try… - A button nose - A round nose - A hooked nose - An aquiline nose - A flat nose - An upturned nose - A downturned nose You can play around with the proportions and structure of the nose when designing your OCs to ensure that each one has a unique shape! You can change the length, size, and shape to fit your characters. Whether you have a cartoon style or a more realistic one, there’s plenty you can do with nose shapes! (Unless you don’t give your OCs noses…Then I can’t help you…) You can keep it simple, or draw it really detailed! You could even draw the nose as a simple shape, like a basic square or triangle. You might even base the shape around your OCs motif if they have one! For example, if a character has a bird motif, you might give them a more “bird-like” nose shape! If your OCs take place in a fantasy setting or something similar, you could even have an animal nose instead of a human one for a more unique look! If you’re looking to add more cool features to your OC’s design, check out this article on [choosing unique details for your OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/) ## Pick a shape for your OC’s mouth or lips! Lastly, it’s time to design the lips of your character! It’s easy to forget about different lip shapes when designing characters, especially if you have a more simplified style. If you do draw lips, there’s plenty of different shapes you could give your OCs! If you need some examples, there's… - Thin lips - Full lips - Heart-shaped lips - Bow-shaped lips - Round lips - Downturned lips When designing, you could adjust the corners of the mouth, how wide or thin the top and bottom lips are, or even the shape of the “Cupid’s bow.” (The part of the top lip that looks like an “M” is the Cupid’s bow!) If you want to utilize more shape language, you could make the overall shape more round or square! If you don’t draw lips, there’s still an opportunity to give your characters different mouth shapes! Even if you draw mouths as a simple line, you could change the shape of that too if you wanted to! You might draw the mouth as a “V” shape, a “W” shape, or something else. It’s up to you and what you think will fit your OCs best! Another thing to consider is makeup! You could give your OC lipstick or other kinds of makeup to make them look more distinct from your other characters. If you need more ideas for how to choose makeup for your OC designs, check out [this](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/) article all about the topic! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-fd6ce9e4-2e15-4d5e-9578-820d0e6c9418.png) There’s lots to choose from when picking features for your OC! ### Check out the new Blog Community! Want to share your own thoughts on how you avoid Same Face Syndrome, or show off an OC inspired by one of the blogs? Share your work in the [Unvale-Blog Community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Feel free to post about any OCs, art, or writing related to a past or recent blog…Solar and I would love to see them! (If you want to do fanart of Solar, you can also post it in the blog community! …But you didn’t hear that from me! Shhh…) ### Changelog: Featured Page 2.0 URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-featured-page-2-0/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:48:03.000Z We have another exciting release for you, especially if you’ve been hoping to be featured soon! Introducing the **Featured Page 2.0**! A new hub to discover all the incredible things happening on Unvale every day! We will be highlighting way more creators, community events, and inspiring creations on the featured page–WAY more often. The Featured Page now has: ✨ An announcement feed. No more accidentally click the X on the banner and missing out on a cool event or announcement! It will stay here for reference! ✨ Featured creations. We will be updating these more often and coming up with special themes to highlight diverse work and creators. Check out #Pride and Rising Stars, live now on the Featured Page! ✨ Trending creations of the day, week, and month for all content types. Share the love (and favorites) with your favorite creators and discover something incredible every day. ✨ We also added a community events spotlight, as well as a quick digest of the communities that are trending! We hope this does a few things! We hope to showcase new kinds of creators–including up-and-coming artists–WAY more often. We also want to highlight special events and the unexpected creative moments happening on Unvale. We want this to be a dynamic center for the UV magic that is sometimes hidden away. Please share your feedback as we experiment with the Featured Page! We will be launching a community soon to It also might just be used to announce a long-awaited new batch of superstars soon... Just maybe. So check back on featured, as it will become the jumping-off point to all the incredible things happening all across Unvale. Hope you like it! ### How to Design a Pokémon Team for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/designing-a-pokemon-team-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T21:49:22.000Z Welcome to the world of Pokémon! I’m Professor Solar, and I’ll be your guide to creating a Pokémon team that will be the very best (that no one ever was). I won’t be delving into [info about Pokémon’s history and what games have been published](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pok%C3%A9mon?ref=blog.unvale.io), instead giving newbies an easier way to get into picking a team; but as a fan, I’ll definitely be going into extra detail. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5794.png) ### Welcome to the World of Pokémon! To start with, a Pokémon trainer (a person who raises Pokémon for competitive battling) **can only travel with a party of 6 Pokémon at a time**. Some trainers try to diversify their teams so they can tackle anything the world throws at them, and others prefer to stick to a single type. **Types** are ‘themes’ for Pokémon and they decide what Pokémon can win against another in a fight, similar to the game rock-paper-scissors. There are currently [18 discovered Types](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Type?ref=blog.unvale.io), and a **Pokémon can have one or two types**. Types include: Normal, Fire, Water, Grass, Electric, Fighting, Flying, Poison, Ground, Rock, Psychic, Ice, Bug, Dragon, Ghost, Dark, Steel, and Fairy. Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses, and some are even immune to certain types! Pokémon also have four **Moves** they can perform in battle, and those moves can be different types from the Pokémon itself. If you *really* want to go all in on making your party, deciding a moveset for each member doesn’t hurt. One last thing; a Pokémon’s personality is called a [**Nature**](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Nature?ref=blog.unvale.io). There are 25 natures, and they raise or lower a Pokémon’s stats (their battle skills). More importantly for you, young trainer, **they affect what flavours a Pokémon prefers**! If you want to give your Pokémon a treat, make sure to check their nature and preferred flavour. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5793-2.png) “Hmm… now, who do I pick for my party?” ### Picking a Party When it comes to picking the right Pokémon for your OCs, **if you’re new to Pokémon I’d suggest picking a type and choosing Pokémon that look cool to you**. Some say that a truly strong trainer can become powerful with only the Pokémon they like, after all, so don’t worry about picking a strong Pokémon. Your OC might already suit a certain Type; a gardener could have grass-types, a mermaid could have water-types, a whimsical character could have fairy-types, and so on. You could also choose more **specifically themed Pokémon**. As an example, if your OC is a chef, you could choose the trio of [Pansage](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pansage%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Panpour](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Panpour%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), and [Pansear](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Pansear%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io); sweets themed Pokémon like [Alcremie](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Alcremie%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [Swirlix](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Swirlix%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io); or maybe even [Sinistea](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Sinistea%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), a teacup Pokémon. If your OC loves Pikachu, they could have a team of [electric rodents from across the world](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Electric%5Frodents?ref=blog.unvale.io)! (Don’t forget [Mimikyu](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Mimikyu%5F%28Pok%C3%A9mon%29?ref=blog.unvale.io)!) If you want a special and unique Pokémon for your party, you could seek out a [shiny Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Shiny%5FPok%C3%A9mon?ref=blog.unvale.io); **these uniquely coloured ‘mons** have 1/4096 odds of appearing out in the wild, making them popular with collectors. Sometimes trainers find a shiny out in the wild and make a new best friend or discover a new favourite Pokémon. The last way I’d recommend picking Pokémon (besides picking the ones you like) is by [region](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/Region?ref=blog.unvale.io). There are many regions besides the core games, but focusing on Kanto, Johto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Unova, Kalos, Alola, Galar, and Paldea is your best bet for choosing your party. Of course, if you’re starting your journey in a specific region, taking a [starter Pokémon](https://bulbapedia.bulbagarden.net/wiki/First%5Fpartner%5FPok%C3%A9mon?ref=blog.unvale.io) with you will be a great help. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5795.png) Now that you’ve got some ideas for your party in your head, here are a few trainer OCs from the Unvale community to check out: - [**Giovanna and Rexy**](https://unvale.io/character/53dafed2-0912-421f-9b13-f1d5aa33c998?ref=blog.unvale.io), a trainer and Tyrunt duo, by [cherrytwelve](https://unvale.io/cherrytwelve?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [**Sukie**](https://unvale.io/character/91f2f052-da39-42a0-89dd-eba1ad93df0c?ref=blog.unvale.io), by [waterworkssobs](https://unvale.io/waterworkssobs?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [**Mio McCormick**](https://unvale.io/character/50fc55b0-ac9b-4596-b404-a9eb25a1253f?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Glaymor](https://unvale.io/Glaymor?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [**Prof. Jawbite**](https://unvale.io/character/0d1f2068-f9ed-460e-ac40-a2b1872e6ae2?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Pippistrelllus](https://unvale.io/Pippistrelllus?ref=blog.unvale.io). Here are some Pokémon communities on Unvale: - The [**Pokémon**](https://unvale.io/community/pokemon?ref=blog.unvale.io) community on Unvale is dedicated to art only, so make sure you follow the rules! - [**Pokémon-trainer-ocs**](https://unvale.io/community/pokemon-trainer-ocs?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a place you can share your Pokémon trainer OCs. - [**PokémonOcs**](https://unvale.io/community/pokemonocs?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a place for your Pokémon OCs; please don’t post fan-created Pokémon though (known as ‘fakemon’). - [**thepokémoncenter**](https://unvale.io/community/thepokemoncenter?ref=blog.unvale.io), a general community for all your Pokémon needs! There are more [Pokémon communities you can find](https://unvale.io/communities/explore?view=all&search=Pokemon&sort=trending&trendingFilter=all&ref=blog.unvale.io), but they’re pretty small; so give them some love! If you want to share your Pokémon OCs with other blog readers though, post them in the [**Unvale-Blog community**](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io); I’ll share my Pokémon OCs there too. ### How to Design a TADC Fan OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-tadc-fan-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T16:49:13.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* ## What Is The Amazing Digital Circus? *The Amazing Digital Circus* is an animated show from Glitch Productions, written by Gooseworx, about a group of people trapped in a digital cartoon world run by an AI ringmaster. It's free to watch on YouTube. It is a bit mature, so younger viewers should check with a guardian before watching. ## **TADC OC Personality Basics** Personality drives every OC design, and it matters even more for *TADC*. The cast's designs tie directly to their personalities and flaws. Base your character's traits on their personality or insecurities: - Animal symbolism - A mask that shows off their emotional state - Color symbolism in their outfit - Small details that hint at their nature If you're designing a *TADC* [sona](https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-sona-a-quick-guide/), rather than an original character, base their traits on yourself instead. ## **Build Around Shape Language** Shape language plays a really big part in the designs of the *Digital Circus* cast. Every character is composed of geometric shapes; specifically circles, squares, and triangles. Shape language, along with thoughtful costume design, helps the viewer understand each character right off the bat. For example, take a look at Bubble’s design below. He mainly consists of two shapes: circles and triangles. As he is a literal bubble, he is perfectly round, which makes him appear approachable and nonthreatening. However, his sharp, triangular teeth hint at an unpredictable nature. ![Bubble from TADC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Bubblerender.png) Bubble by [Glitch Productions](https://tadc.fandom.com/wiki/Bubble?file=Bubblerender.png&ref=blog.unvale.io) With that in mind, here are some ways to incorporate shape language to showcase your OC's personality: - Circles for a friendly or easygoing character - Squares for a stagnant or resilient character - Triangles for an active or unpredictable character - A mix of shapes to show different sides of a character If you need more ideas for how to use shapes in your OC creation process, check out our corresponding [shape language guide](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/). ## Costume and Color for Your Fan OC Costume and color choices work alongside shape language to tell a character's story before a single line of dialogue. Ragatha's look is a good example. Her Raggedy Ann-inspired outfit, in a simple, muted color palette, reinforces her role as the group's more grounded, nurturing presence. Think about what you want a color palette to communicate – warm tones read as comforting, while bold or clashing hues can be interpreted as chaotic or high-energy. Then, choose a silhouette or garment style that best complements the palette and your character's shape. ## **Small Details to Complete Your Character** Small details define *TADC* characters and fan OCs. Jax's yellow gloves, for example, are a deliberate nod to classic rubber-hose cartoon design. Details like this can point to a character's inspiration or highlight a specific trait. A few directions to consider: - Mismatched limbs - Asymmetrical or extra eyes - A tail, horns, or animal ears - Angel or dragon wings Find more ideas in our guide of [unique character details](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/). ![Jax from TADC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Jax_Render-1.png) Jax by [Glitch Productions](https://tadc.fandom.com/wiki/Jax?file=Jax+Render.png&ref=blog.unvale.io) ## **Wrapping Up: Designing Your TADC Fan OC** Designing a *TADC* fan OC comes down to a handful of connected choices – a personality to build around, shape language and color to express it visually, and a few unique details to make the character feel complete. As a fan of the series, you already have plenty to draw from. So be sure to have fun! However your OC comes together, [we'd love to see it](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) on Unvale. ## TADC OCs From the Unvale Community Looking for more inspiration? Check out these *Digital Circus* fan OCs from Unvale creators: [Gizmie (TADC) on UnvaleSilly robot girl :D![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-4d7f467c-e134-4f1c-a8fb-92e4044b91e7.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/77185296-9563-4a51-b299-325af71b142e-ac66e9c8-5203-4371-bdcf-c639c438f3e2.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/2c453da4-a8a7-4430-9949-0af22ea9b9f2?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Dribbel on UnvaleBefore the circus, Dribbel used to be a military pilot but after developing glaucoma in his right eye, he was medically discharged. Afterwards he struggled to…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-e2dfafa9-e2cc-46c6-bc09-da7d63844b0a.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/18c210e1-8452-420d-afd9-f05a9ff125a1-62cc006c-0178-4022-9994-64394c9b0e30.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/e61f4d8b-573d-4e4c-9b71-b2432f5659a0?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Siren on Unvalea mermaid in the digital circus that can float and swim around in the air like it’s water. her tail doubles as a lyre that she can play, and it changes color…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-83966344-cbca-4e04-a0ce-789dc04ccce2.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/ba8b3fb0-c4e6-417b-bec0-d670176472fd-39c1a1d9-e8e0-4edc-a0e1-0b59c606dd45.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/2c762f39-0818-41c1-a62a-a875ebcc7a62?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Cammy on UnvaleCammy is my The Amazing Digital Circus Oc. She is a very bubbly character to contrast with the rest of the TADC cast. Cammy was based on a mood ring because of…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-78c44c8e-a204-4f20-8a80-651e6a39cb5e.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/c65d6095-9b2f-4f0f-a2ac-8b78852d2560-d5189d00-684a-42b4-9af3-5165184007f7.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/c779f377-0a41-4062-aa0b-1ad40d5359a3?ref=blog.unvale.io) If you post your own *TADC* fan OC on Unvale, be sure to use the tags [#TADC](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=home&sort=newest&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22TADC%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) or [#TheAmazingDigitalCircus](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=home&sort=newest&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22TheAmazingDigitalCircus%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io). And [join our fan community](https://unvale.io/community/tadc-server?ref=blog.unvale.io) run by [Ducky](https://unvale.io/DUCKYTHEREALCRAP?ref=blog.unvale.io). ## FAQ: Making a TADC Fan OC **How do I make a *TADC* OC?** You don't need to follow any specific order, but it's helpful to start with their personality and build from there. Incorporate shape language, thoughtful costume design, and small touches to really convey who your character is through visuals alone. **What makes a good *Digital Circus* OC design?** The strongest TADC fan OCs tie their visual design directly to their personality or backstory – just like the original cast does. **Can I post my *TADC* OC on Unvale?** Yes. Tag your post #TADC or #TheAmazingDigitalCircus so other fans can find it! ### Build a World from the Ground Up: Sci-Fi Planet Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-planet-for-your-sci-fi-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T20:07:26.000Z **Science fiction** is a broad genre that can cover space adventures, the colonization of planets in and outside our solar system, and more! This article is for those unfamiliar with astronomy (or those who need a refresher) and can hopefully serve as a checklist, guide, or inspiration to those who want to create their own planets for their sci-fi stories. [If **you** want to share your sci-fi world (literal worlds too, of course), you’re welcome to leave a post in Unvale blog community!](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io) We here at Unvale would love to see your characters and hear about their sci-fi adventures! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5758-1.png) Your OC is here. Somewhere… ### Stars and the Solar System Let’s start with the center of any solar system, the star. Or, star**s**, if you choose to create [a binary star system](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary%5Fstar?ref=blog.unvale.io). Stars are huge and have their own gravitational pull, which causes celestial bodies to orbit around them, forming a solar system. They also have [letter classifications based on their temperature](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stellar%5Fclassification?ref=blog.unvale.io); O, B, A, F, G, K, and M. The temperature of a star also affects its colour, with blue stars being hotter than red ones. There are a variety of star sizes, with the largest being the rare [hypergiants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypergiant?ref=blog.unvale.io), and the smallest size being [brown dwarfs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown%5Fdwarf?ref=blog.unvale.io). Besides deciding the size and colour of your planet’s sun, you should also decide its place in the solar system. [The **habitable zone**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitable%5Fzone?ref=blog.unvale.io), also known as the Goldilocks zone, is the area of orbit around the sun that’s best located to hold liquid water. If a planet is too close to the sun the greenhouse effect takes place in the planet’s atmosphere and any water evaporates (like [Venus](https://science.nasa.gov/venus/?ref=blog.unvale.io), for example). If a planet is too far from the sun the water freezes, like on [Titan](https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/moons/titan/?ref=blog.unvale.io). **So, here are some questions for your planet:** - Where is the planet in relation to the sun? - How long does it take to rotate around the sun? (How long is one year on your planet? 300 days? 657?) - How long does it take to rotate? (How long is one day and night cycle.) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5759.png) A strange desert on a strange planet. Two moons hang in the sky… ### Your Planet’s Features Like how a sun is orbited by planets, planets can capture their own celestial bodies into their orbits and create moons and [natural satellites](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natural%5Fsatellite?ref=blog.unvale.io). Deciding how many (if any) moons your planet has and what they look like can be a fun exercise, and if your planet has intelligent life, the moon(s) can be an interesting cultural or religious icon for that species. Before you develop life though, it’s a good idea to think of what environments your planet has! **Here are some examples…** - Forests and jungles - Prairies and savannas - Deserts and volcanic plains - Oceans, rivers, lakes and seas **You should also consider…** - What is the atmosphere of your planet made of, and how dense is it? - What colour is your planet’s sky? - How strong is the gravity of your planet? - What is the most common metal or mineral found on your planet’s surface and in its crust? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5760.png) Take me to your OCs! ### Life Amongst the Stars Once you have environments created, it’s time to imagine **the plants and creatures that live there**. If you need help or want to share, I’d always recommend [the **Species Builders community**](https://unvale.io/community/species-builders?ref=blog.unvale.io)! But here are some questions to keep in mind when creating an ecosystem: - How did your creatures and plants evolve? - Why do they look a certain way? *Design a creature with their environment and survival in mind!* - Do your creatures use camouflage? - Are your creatures able to use ink to escape, like an octopus or squid? - Do your creatures fly or run away when faced with predators? *Every creature needs to eat, so…* - Are there plants or animals that survive off of sunlight? - Is there fungus that recycles dead plants and animals? - Are there herbivores that eat plants? - Are there predators who eat herbivores? *If you have intelligent lifeforms…* - How do their cultures differ across environments? - How do they interact with other creatures? - Do they raise animals for their resources or as companions? - How do they communicate with each other? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5762.png) Behold, the universe in the palm of your hand! ### Thanks for reading! If you want to read more sci-fi and world building articles, let us know by leaving a post in the Unvale blog community! Speaking of communities, here are a few you might find interesting… - With Artfight upcoming, check out Unvale’s own [**Artfight** community](https://unvale.io/community/artfight?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you don’t know who to draw for, you can find some new friends and incredible creators here. - Happy pride month, Unvale! Join the [**Queer-Club** community](https://unvale.io/community/queer-club?ref=blog.unvale.io) to celebrate and support queer artists and share your queer characters (or just hang out). [Make sure to read the rules first, of course](https://unvale.io/community/queer-club/post/rules-1d99bf9f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - If you want to draw for others but it isn’t Artfight season, check out [**ArtTrades**](https://unvale.io/community/arttrades?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Participating in Kaijune? [Subjectively has their own community, the **Subjectivists**](https://unvale.io/community/subjectivists?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Join to see cool kaiju art. - Calling all furries! [**Anthro-Club** is the place for you!](https://unvale.io/community/anthro-club?ref=blog.unvale.io) Check it out and support your fellow enthusiasts. - Last but not least, [**DungeonsAndDragons**](https://unvale.io/community/dungeonsanddragons?ref=blog.unvale.io) is one of my favourite communities. If you’re a nerd like me, come join! ### Changelog: Explore on Homepage + Improved Filtering + New Communities Page URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-explore-on-homepage-improved-filtering-new-communities-page/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:13:39.000Z **This is a big one.** Explore Characters is now on the homepage! Not only that, but it can be set as the default home experience every time you return to Unvale! “For You” can remain your home page, OR you can change it to Explore or Following. This was obviously highly requested!!! And we hope this allows everyone to enjoy what they love best about Unvale. We also brought back **all the filtering options, with some improvements!** But that's not all. We have **a new communities hub**, making it easier than ever to find the communities you run and moderate! View at unvale.io/communities - Set the new default homepage experience for you! - Filter is back! With trending, following, newest (+ oldest), and it works within communities! - All of your communities are now ordered in a slimmer view and organized by notification count. Communities you run are at the top! - The header/footer now has dedicated space for “communities”, community notifications, and a dedicated “featured page.” - Discovering communities is easier than ever! Check out the discover communities page, now organized by trending and categories! - New flair for community creators and mods, so you know who is who! - Now we have space for a newly organized featured page, and we will be adding new things to it soon! Stay posted! This layout change is big! and may take some getting used to. Please help your fellow Unvalers if you see anyone confused. We hope folks like this direction, as it was an effort to center creations, characters, communities–all the things that make Unvale unique and special. We’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions! We have a lot more to do, but we hope this is another step in the right direction for the community we love so much. Happy Homepage day ♥️ ### How to Design Secondary Outfits for Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-secondary-outfits-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T22:01:47.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* You know what’s more fun than designing an outfit for your OC? Designing multiple outfits for your OCs! But before we get started, if you need some other character design ideas, check out one of these blogs! - [Tips for Designing a Cowhand OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-designing-a-cowhand-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Vampire OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Wizard or Witch OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-wizard-or-witch-oc/) Now, back to talking about secondary outfits for your characters! If you plan on bringing your OC’s story to life, maybe in the form of a comic or animated series, chances are your character will need more than one outfit for different occasions. So how do you design alternate outfits for your OCs? Let’s talk about it! ## What’s your OC’s main outfit design? First off, you’ll want to consider your OC’s main design! There might be important aspects of their outfit that you’ll want to keep when designing their secondary outfit. You could consider aspects such as… - Does their outfit have important symbolism? - Do they have accessories with sentimental value? - Do they have accessories with other significance? - What style is their outfit? - Do they have a specific color palette in their outfit? - Does their outfit have a specific type of shape language to it? Certain parts of a character’s design might make it into their secondary outfits so that it’s easy to recognize them! Once you know what aspects you want to keep, you can work them into their secondary outfits as well! You might keep their color palette, or maybe they have an important necklace that they never take off. Keeping the parts of the outfit most important to the design will ensure your OC is recognizable in their secondary outfits! ## What would your OC most likely wear outside their main outfit? Next up! You’ll want to think about what kinds of outfits your OC would wear outside their main one. While you can design as many outfits as you want, it might be easier to stick to ones they’ll wear most frequently. If your character’s main outfit is their work or school uniform, their secondary outfit might be a casual outfit that they wear outside of their job. They also might have outfits for certain types of weather or seasons. If you need some suggestions for what kind of secondary outfit to give your OC, you could try… - A work outfit - A school outfit - A travel outfit - A spring or summer outfit - An autumn or winter outfit - A comfy outfit or pajamas - A formal outfit - A casual outfit The kind of secondary outfit you choose to design will depend on the setting of your story! If your story mainly takes place at the cafe your OC works at and their favorite hangout spot, you probably won’t need to design them a formal outfit. If your story takes place in a palace, you probably won’t be giving your royal OC jeans and a T-shirt. (Unless that’s part of their character arc!) If you want to give your OC a work outfit, but aren’t sure what kind of job to give them, there’s an article on choosing jobs or roles for your OCs [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/)! ## Would your OC’s personality affect what their secondary outfits look like? Another factor you’ll want to consider is your OC’s unique personality and personal preferences. There’s certain styles a character may prefer over others, and there might be styles they avoid like the plague! A character who doesn’t like to dress up might opt for a button-down rather than a suit and tie, while a different character who loves fancy outfits might be rocking an extravagant ballgown to the party! If you need some ideas on how personality might affect different outfits, here’s a few to get you thinking! - A shy character might opt for more simple casual clothing, like a sweatshirt or hoodie - An outgoing character’s casual clothing might be more bold, with bright accessories or jewelry - An artistic character might customize their work uniform with pins or buttons - A simplistic character might opt to just wear their favorite necklace with their work uniform - A bold character might wear an eye-catching, sparkly suit to a formal event - A serious character might stick with a neat suit and tie to wear to a formal event …And so on and so forth! You can use the secondary outfit to further demonstrate your OC’s personality. You could also use it to show off another aspect of your character’s personality that might not be seen in their main design! If you’re not too sure about your OC’s personality and you’re unsure where to start, you might consider giving them a character trope! If you would like some character trope ideas, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-character-trope-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-21ffcb43-f0bc-4b50-9448-fa754f5e2c1b.png) Will your OC dress up for special occasions? ## Does your OC have a specific aesthetic that could be included in their secondary outfit? Like using a character’s personality to help design their secondary outfit, you’ll also want to consider utilizing the aesthetic or motif of their main outfit in their secondary one. If a character wears a specific aesthetic, they might try to incorporate it into all of their outfits! Your OC’s aesthetic might affect the color palette of their secondary outfits, their accessories, choice of clothing, and other aspects of their design! If you need some ideas for how an aesthetic might impact an OC’s secondary outfits, here’s a few to help you brainstorm! - An OC with a cottagecore aesthetic might wear a flowy, floral dress as their casual outfit - An OC with a goth aesthetic might wear a goth band tee and lots of accessories as their casual outfit - An OC with a dark academia aesthetic might wear a dark-colored blazer and loafers to school - An OC with a decora aesthetic might wear colorful boots and lots of bracelets with their school outfit - An OC with a fairycore aesthetic might wear a pastel gown to a party - An OC with a mushroomcore aesthetic might wear a sweater and skirt with a mushroom print to a party Incorporating an aesthetic into an OC’s secondary outfits can help your audience distinguish them from the other characters in your story! It can help their outfits feel unique, but also consistent. If your OC doesn’t have an aesthetic and you’re thinking about giving them one, check out this article on choosing aesthetics for your OC’s [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/)! ## Can you give your OC some new accessories or items for their secondary outfits? Finally, a secondary outfit can be the perfect time to show off some new accessories for your OCs! The accessories can show off other aspects of your OC’s personality that might not be as obvious from the details of their main outfit. Maybe an OC carries around their favorite book, or maybe they have a pair of headphones they’re always wearing outside of work so that nobody bothers them. Alongside new accessories, you could keep the important ones in their secondary outfits too. If an OC is always switching out accessories, except for that one ring they never take off, your audience might notice and note it as important! If you’re not too sure what accessories would work best for your OC’s outfits, you could consider… - What does the OC value most? - What kinds of hobbies does your OC have? - Does your OC have any important tools or weapons they carry around? - What does your OC keep with them at all times? - Does your OC bring a bag when they go somewhere? - Does the OC keep useful accessories on them, like pins or hair clips? - Does the OC have any hyperfixations, or special interests? The above questions could help give you some inspiration for what your OC might have! They might keep certain tools on them while on the job, or they might carry around things to pass the time when they travel. Their interests or fixations might shine through their accessories too, and they might wear things that represent what they love! Another aspect of your OC’s design you could consider is their makeup look! They might change it up depending on their outfit. If you need more ideas on choosing makeup for your OCs, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/data-src-image-446ffa9c-c682-45e7-8f2c-fdab57917bec.png) Maybe your OC can have secondary outfits based on the seasons the story takes place in! ### Design-based communities from the wonderful users of Unvale! If you need some extra feedback on your OC designs, want to check out your fellow creators’ designs, or just want to share your own, there’s some communities perfect for you to check out! Take a look at… - The [Character Designs Community](https://unvale.io/community/character-designs?ref=blog.unvale.io), created by [FUNT](https://unvale.io/FUNT?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - The [Design Tips and Advice Community](https://unvale.io/community/designtipsandadvice?ref=blog.unvale.io), created by [VoidedEclipse](https://unvale.io/VoidedEclipse?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - The [Fashion Fiends Community](https://unvale.io/community/fashionfiends?ref=blog.unvale.io), created by [GUTSNFLUFF](https://unvale.io/GUTSNFLUFF?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Be sure to check out the awesome communities if you plan on posting your characters’ secondary designs to Unvale! It might be a great way to find new inspiration or get some extra tips on your designs! ### Changelog: Creation Sharing and Art/Writing Count Indicator URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-2/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T22:05:29.000Z Now you can post just creations to the home feed and to communities–making it easier than ever to share and discover UV creations! Also, all creations now show a count of how many art/writing exist within the Character or World! ### Creation sharing–what does this mean? You can now share "creations only" to home and communities. This means they will be recommended to your friends, can be posted just to communities, and can be posted as a series of creations in a single place. What this helps with: - OCs and creations can now get more attention on the home feed. No need to add a title or description, just update and share to be discovered. - There is no "extra" social functionality attached to a creation post. All favorites and comments happen on the creations you are sharing! So it can grow over time as you keep investing in your awesome characters. - We improved the experience of sharing a creation post, so hopefully it's easier now. If you save a creation, it's only one click to share with friends. - Posting creation only to communities is possible! And we improved the UI for picking the community you wish to post in. **ALSO! We added a number indicator–creation count–to character and world cards!!! (Hallelujah).** ### Creation Count Indicator - Now every character and world card indicates the number of writing and art within. World cards also include how many characters are within as well. - Hopefully, this makes it even easier to get excited about jumping into a character or world! We also had bug fixes, including: more reliable login/authentication, the community modal now loads more than 50 communities, improved character trait sorting/editing, additional protections against bots, and moderation improvements. We hope you love this new experience. We have some very exciting updates coming soon that we think folks will love! ### Mermaid Legends for OC Inspiration URL: https://blog.unvale.io/mermaid-myths-that-you-can-use-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T03:01:51.000Z This is a companion article to Whimsical Wonder’s [Tips for Designing a Mermaid OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-mermaid-oc/), so check it out! Generally we think of the western mermaid when we hear the term ‘mermaid’; the top half is a beautiful human woman, the bottom half is a fish tail. While Whimsy’s article covers different designs for mermaids outside the usual style, this article will be taking you around the world to explore **different cultural mermaid myths**. Let’s start our tour! ### The Little Mermaid Hans Christian Andersen (2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a bisexual Danish author who authored *The Little Mermaid*, along with other fairytale collections derived from [oral folktales](https://www.britannica.com/art/oral-literature/Oral-genres?ref=blog.unvale.io) told around Europe. The Little Mermaid in particular was inspired by the German fantasy romance novella [*Undine*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Undine%5F%28novella%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) (1811) by Friedrich de la Motte Fouqué. Both stories feature **a supernatural spirit of water** as the female protagonist; neither titular character has an immortal soul (like humans do) as a result. Undine gains a soul through marriage to a human man, but in *The Little Mermaid* the mermaid is unable to marry and perishes, turning into seafoam. She is redeemed by her pure heart and striving to gain a soul and become a spirit of air. By doing good deeds for the rest of her existence, she can eventually gain a soul and go to heaven. **Here are some takeaways you can use for your OCs!** - A mermaid becomes mortal and gains a human soul through marriage to a human. - If a mermaid strives with all their heart to become human, they can become an air spirit instead. - In *Undine*, water spirits who are berated or treated poorly by their partners near water sources are whisked home by their family. - In *Undine*, if the spirit’s partner betrays them and marries another while the spirit still lives, the spirit is compelled to murder their spouse. They can only be kept at bay by avoiding water sources. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5697.png) **Blub blub…* ### Japan’s Ningyo The [ningyo](https://yokai.com/ningyo/?srsltid=AfmBOor2SB04T-Tpz%5FaCKVAUXEQtHnYOIQE2DkkMRrOjaAo%5FHMPvNT3F&ref=blog.unvale.io) are a type of youkai (Japanese spirit or supernatural entity) that are **traditionally depicted as fish with the head of a human woman**, but various versions exist partially due to European influence. They’re known for their mysterious flesh, which when consumed, **grants eternal life** (or 800 years of life). Ningyo are just as dangerous as most youkai, however; they can curse their hunters with natural disasters such as earthquakes or tsunamis. If you’re curious about experiencing a story about ningyo, I’d recommend the game [*Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paranormasight:%5FThe%5FMermaid's%5FCurse?ref=blog.unvale.io) (2026). It’s a horror visual novel style game, so be advised! **Here’s some lore you can use!** - Ningyo have the face of a gorgeous woman, and their bodies also can have human torsos; some are scaled and monsterous, some are more human. - Ningyo flesh can give the one who eats it immortality; or eternal youth for 800 years, like [the mythical Yao Bikiuni](https://yokai.com/yaobikuni/?srsltid=AfmBOoph3uq38XP1uHNPxSR2Yp2bxLuviJ4EDwzouYyIQm0lF2B9ATvX&ref=blog.unvale.io). - The ningyo can curse those who harm them or capture them with natural disasters. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5698.png) **Love isn’t just skin deep… it’s in the merrow! (Ba-dum tish)* ### Ireland’s Merrow The **Irish merrow** are also known as red cap or red cape mermaids for their distinctive red headwear known as *cochaillín rúin.* By taking off their caps, they can become human and walk on land. In their true form, they have green hair, webbed hands and wear shiny garments that resemble fish scales. Male merrow are depicted as more monstrous than their female counterparts with scaled bodies, pig-like noses and tusks. There are three main ‘cycles’ or myths about the Merrow according to this article by [Daniel Kirkpatrick](https://www.danielkirkpatrick.co.uk/irish-mythology/merrow-irish-mythology/?ref=blog.unvale.io) (which was my main source for this section, so you should go read it); - A female merrow’s cap is stolen by a human man, who coerces her into and unhappy marriage; if the merrow finds her cap, she returns to the sea and abandons her spouse. - Merrow guard treasure from shipwrecks and store the souls of drowned sailors inside of jars. - Merrow sing or cry before storms which are recognized as warnings against going to sea by sailors. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5699.png) **“Kiddo, you can’t just flop around the beach and look cute to get what you want. We’re going home.”* ## The Selkie The [selkie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selkie?ref=blog.unvale.io) originates from Scotland, but similar tales of shapeshifting seal women exist in Iceland and the Faroe Islands. Selkies are a race of supernatural creatures who can **transform from seals to humans by removing their seal skin**. Scottish selkie tales about marriage involve the same yearning for the sea and their home that Irish Merrow tales have, but the selkie often has children with her partner who sometimes discover and return her seal skin to her so that she can return to the sea. This falls under the **‘animal bride’** or [‘swan maiden’ archetype](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan%5Fmaiden?ref=blog.unvale.io), and in fact, animal bride stories have unique variations across the world! Perhaps your culture has one too. There are many kinds of seals around the world, so [don’t be shy in finding one to inspire a selkie OC](https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/the-pinniped-families?ref=blog.unvale.io). **While Whim’s article focused on sharing merfolk, here are some selkie OCs from UnVale’s community!** - [**Eira**, a ribbon seal selkie](https://unvale.io/character/7eb2b8d8-c4dd-4e8e-8a13-ff3d68afde42?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [quallengeist](https://unvale.io/quallengeist?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [A Twisted Wonderland OC, **Lir Delmar**](https://unvale.io/character/0c0a0e7d-6deb-42b1-8d11-7e787badf221?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [artwithkroe](https://unvale.io/artwithkroe?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The mysterious **Vivienne Winters**](https://unvale.io/character/8948b023-a549-4ed3-bfaa-8bb7e39e9c70?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [iLikeCake](https://unvale.io/iLikeCake?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [**Iankar**, a leopard seal selkie](https://unvale.io/character/7ab17c5f-8c9c-47d8-9ab6-94c9b5447625?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [Emberheartsarts](https://unvale.io/Emberheartsarts?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/IMG_5702.png) A new community under the sea! Use the hashtags [#selkie](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&searchMode=home&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22selkie%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io), [#merrow](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&searchMode=home&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22merrow%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io), and [#ningyo](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&searchMode=home&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22ningyo%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) to show off and find more amazing community OCs! **I’m also pleased to announce our new community,** [**the Unvale-Blog community**](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-blog?ref=blog.unvale.io)**!** Do you want to share your mermaid and selkie OCs with other blog readers along with Whim and I? Well, feel free to post your OCs, art, and writing related to and inspired by our blogs to the community\~! (*And if you want to draw fanart of Whim, you can post it there. Shhhh, don’t tell them I told you to do this…*) I’d personally love to see posts about your culture’s mermaid myths and stories, so if you have any stories to share, please do! ### How to Design a Mermaid OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-mermaid-oc/ Last updated: 2026-09-04T22:05:38.000Z *This is part of our design series on*[ *How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* Mermaids are a popular type of character in media and mythology who appear to be half human and half sea creature. How do you design a mermaid OC of your own? Let’s talk about it! ## Defining Your Mermaid OC’s Personality and Backstory First off, you want to know what kind of merperson you’re designing. A villainous mermaid might have a different design than a mermaid protagonist. Another thing to consider is where the merfolk are located too. If you need some ideas of what to think about, here’s some questions to consider: - What’s the personality of the mermaid? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - Where in the ocean do they live, and would it affect their design? - What’s their status? Are they royal? Commonfolk? - Do they have any powers? - What’s their story? If you’re wanting to design a scary antagonist mermaid, try taking inspiration from some of the spookier sea creatures rather than using a traditional mermaid look! Or, if a mermaid lives at the bottom of the ocean, researching sea creatures that live down in ocean trenches could be especially helpful. For more ideas for a mermaid OC, check out our article on [mermaid myths to use for OC inspiration](https://blog.unvale.io/mermaid-myths-that-you-can-use-for-your-ocs/). ## Designing Your Mermaid OC’s Physical Features Since mermaids aren’t exactly human, they often have interesting aquatic features – and not just tails! Depending on what kind of mermaid character they are, you could add details that make them look more or less human. If you need some inspiration, here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - Scales - Fins instead of ears - Pointed ears - Glowing eyes - Glowing limbs - A fantasy skin color - Gills - Colorful markings - Webbed fingers - An anglerfish lure - Translucent skin The above ideas are just a few of many different details to add to a mermaid. Sea creatures have many different cool and strange aspects to their look. For some more inspiration, try doing some research on ocean creatures. Some of my favorite marine animals are deep sea creatures – there’s all kinds of odd creatures down in the deep! Some are transparent, others glow, some have no eyes, and lots of other things. Utilizing nature for inspiration can be a great way to create a unique mermaid OC. ![Art depicts a character with fin ears as well as fins along her arms. She also has scale details on her face and siren-like eyes. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/callingtheartangel--1-.png) [Marina ](https://unvale.io/character/4dc2202a-109a-4a23-93db-f111476c2802?ref=blog.unvale.io)by callingtheartangel ## Mermaid OC Hairstyle Ideas Another thing to consider is the hairstyle the mermaid OC will have. There’s lots of fun hairstyles to choose; a mermaid doesn’t have to wear their hair down – but that’s perfectly fine too! For some hair ideas for a mermaid OC, you could try: - A long flowy ponytail - A fin mohawk - A fishtail braid - A wavy half-up style - Curtain bangs - Tentacle hair - A pixie cut - Bubble braids - Side braids Depending on how sea creature-y you want the merperson to look, you could give them hair that doesn’t look like normal hair. Aspects like tentacles, fins, or other things can be used as hair instead. Try playing around with different ideas to see what you like best for the mermaid OC. If you need some more ideas for how to choose character hairstyles, and not just merfolk ones, we have an article all about [how to choose a hairstyle for an OC.](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/) ## Mermaid Tail Design Ideas Time to design your mermaid OC's tail. It’s probably the most important part of designing your mermaid character. They could have a normal fish tail, or you could base their tail off of a different sea creature! Need some ideas? Here’s some to consider: - A koi fish tail - A clownfish tail - A sea angel tail - An eel tail - Octopus tails - Squid tails - Jellyfish tails - A shark tail - A stingray tail - A lionfish tail - An orca tail There are all kinds of unique ocean critters to use for a mermaid OC's tail. Some creatures have average fish tails, some have tentacles, some have translucent tails, and much more. A mermaid doesn’t have to have a normal-looking tail either. Play around with unique shapes, colors, or patterns to create a beautifully unique look for your merperson! ![Art depicts a fish princess who has a goldfish tail.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Thatstheaddax-FishbowlPrincess-.png) [Fishbowl Princess VII ](https://unvale.io/character/8cbd9ab7-032d-46d3-befc-f5f7dfce38b6?ref=blog.unvale.io)by ThatsTheAddax ## Fantasy Details: Scales, Fins, Gills, and More As you design a mermaid OC's look, one thing to think about is incorporating ocean-themed elements into the design. There’s plenty of different underwater aspects to use for OCs. If you need some mermaid-themed ideas, you could try: - A cloak with a fishtail pattern - Turtle-shell themed armor - A coral-inspired crown - A bubble-themed set of hair ornaments - A water-themed skirt - An iridescent scale pattern - A wave-shaped hairstyle Since merfolk don’t usually wear normal clothes and accessories, there’s a perfect opportunity to use sea-themed ideas to decide what they might wear. If you want more ideas for coming up with possible design ideas, why not [take inspiration from your day-to-day life](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/)? ## Choosing an Ocean-Themed Design Element Next, you’ll want to think about clothing to give a mermaid character. Merfolk might not always wear the same kind of clothing as a human, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give them unique clothes anyways. If you need some ideas for clothing to give a mermaid, you could try: - A shell top - A fishnet poncho - Fin-themed sleeves - A crop-top with ruffles that mimic waves - A flowy blouse - A scale halter-top - A coral-colored tube-top - An asymmetrical skirt with a fin pattern What kind of clothing you give an OC might depend on the type of mermaid or their story as well. Another option is to think about what the OC might wear based upon their unique personality. Try considering what materials the mermaids have available to them to make clothing out of too. ## Mermaid OC Accessory Ideas Another thing to consider for your mermaid OC is their accessories. There’s plenty of fun options to use for a mermaid OC design. A mermaid might use things found in the ocean for their accessories. If you need some inspiration for accessories to add, you could try: - A coral hair clip - A shell crown - A pearl headpiece - A pearl belt - A kelp boa - A trident - A conch instrument - Starfish ornaments - Golden armbands - Clam shell earrings Try taking your favorite ocean items and see how you can turn them into cool accessories for merfolk OCs. Accessories could be inspired by different fish, sea creatures, sea plants, coral, or other things. A mermaid might use human-made objects that fell to the bottom of the ocean as accessories too. Maybe they found a sunken pirate ship filled with items unknown to them – and turned them into accessories! ![Art depicts a sharkfolk character with shell accessories and pearl jewelery.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Princess-Vista-1.webp) [Princess Vista](https://unvale.io/character/3eef67f7-b5be-4f21-87db-fe19776ff8a2?view=Lore&ref=blog.unvale.io) by keegamonsters ## Wrapping Up Your Mermaid OC Design There’s plenty of fun ways to create a unique mermaid OC. It can be fun to pick accessories, design their tail, and more. If you post your merperson [here on Unvale](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=home&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), be sure to use the tags[ merperson](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=home&tags=%5B%22merperson%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io),[ mermaid](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=home&tags=%5B%22mermaid%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io), or[ merman](https://unvale.io/explore?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=home&tags=%5B%22merman%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) so your other merfolk enthusiasts can find your OC! If you need other OC ideas, there’s blogs on [how to pick the perfect aesthetic for your characters](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/), [how to revamp your old OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/), [music-based design tips](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/), and more. ### The Art of Asking for (and Giving) Good Feedback URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-ask-for-and-give-useful-feedback/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:29:09.000Z Sometimes asking for feedback can feel like casting a fishing line into an ocean; while you’d want a big fish in the best case scenario, often you end up with minnows, seaweed, or even an old boot. **It takes a lot of bravery to ask for feedback** in the first place, and it can be really disappointing when you don’t get what you’re looking for. On the other hand, giving feedback can be hard for some people too. When someone just asks for ‘general feedback’, **they’re more likely to get** [**biased**](https://books.lib.uoguelph.ca/principlesofequitablerecruitment/chapter/step-2-understand-personal-biases/?ref=blog.unvale.io) **answers based on the viewer’s likes or dislikes**. While this can be useful in some cases, if someone dislikes or doesn’t read fantasy or romance, they might not give a romantic fantasy story useful feedback about the actual genre or tropes. This article aims to give you the most effective ‘bait’ for your hook when it comes to asking for advice, and to equip you with skills to give kind and supportive feedback to other creatives. While I’m writing from a writer and reader’s perspective, you can theoretically use this advice for any sort of feedback in your life, creative or otherwise! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/05/IMG_5680.png) **Uh-oh! Looks like Solar needs help!* ### How to Ask for Advice The best way to get useful feedback is to **be highly specific** with what you’re asking for. This requires you to really sit down and think about what your writing or creation needs which can be a bit hard, especially when there’s something off that you can’t quite place. But wait a second; “something off that you can’t quite place” *is* actually something specific! Here are some examples of highly specific feedback requests: - “Do my characters properly show off the dynamic I intended?” - “Is my prose descriptive enough of the environment?" - “Can you help me figure out what feels ‘off’ about the fourth paragraph?” - “Do you understand my worldbuilding with what I’ve shared in this chapter?” Another tip is to **go into the experience with positive intentions**. Getting feedback can be scary, so I want you to try and engage the person giving feedback with genuine questions to understand their thoughts and where they’re coming from. Properly given critique can change your perspective and improve your work; but it’s important to remember that feedback is just feedback. **You’re the creator, and you don’t need to change your work unless you agree with the feedback**. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/05/IMG_5681.png) **Even if you don’t like it, it’s important to be kind and objective.* ### How to Give Feedback Much like asking for feedback, being specific with what you choose to share is important. If someone is asking for your general thoughts and feedback, your personal thoughts are fine to share! But when someone asks for more specific and direct feedback, **it’s important to ask yourself if the advice you’re giving is something that will genuinely help them** rather than something you’d personally want them to do. Personal bias can muddy up your otherwise useful advice. It’s also important to be gentle and approach feedback constructively. You want to frame it as **improving what’s already there, rather than fixing something** that’s wrong. A lot of young and new creators are anxious about feedback, so providing them with a safe space to discuss their work is important. Here are some examples of how you can gently phrase your feedback: - “I really like how you wrote this section, *and* I think you can improve it by…” - “I agree that the section you pointed out feels a bit strange. I’ve got a few ideas for what you can try…” - “I noticed a way you can instantly make your writing *even better*…” (this one is useful for suggesting paragraph breaks to newer writers) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/05/IMG_5682.png) **Practice your feedback giving skills with our community!* ### A Community for Advice and Feedback Not to brag, but one of the biggest communities on Unvale right now is the [Writing-Advice community](https://unvale.io/community/writing-advice?ref=blog.unvale.io), created by me! This blog was originally written for that community, and I’ve expanded it for everyone on the site here. Everyone in the community has been fantastic and so helpful, so I’d like to shout out our first 1,000 members! Hi! If asking for or giving advice isn’t your style but you still want to get your work out there, the [Writing-Share community](https://unvale.io/community/writing-share?ref=blog.unvale.io) is small but mighty. You’re welcome to post to your heart’s content there; both your own work, and the writing of other folks on Unvale you’re a fan of! ### Changelog: Image Quality Improvements URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-image-quality-improvements/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T22:10:52.000Z We improved image quality! We know this has been a concern for a while, so this is a big step forward for us. See examples below. There should be a noticeable improvement to all character, world, and post images across Unvale. This effects new and old uploads! NOTE: We are running a process that will retroactively improve all the images!! NO NEED TO RE-UPLOAD. This process may take 1-2 days. You should notice immediate improvements to new image uploads and very recent images already. We also added new image formats! Mobile users rejoice as we now support HEIC, HEIF, and JXL. Art courtesy of Valo on Unvale! ### Changelog: Spoilers and Community Admin URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-spoilers-and-community-admin/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T22:11:31.000Z Hey Folks! We are excited to announce the release of some highly requested safety and community features. Here's a rundown: - **Spoilers for sensitive content** \- Spoiler sensitive content - Unvale users can now apply a sensitive content filter on posts, characters, and creations on Unvale. You can provide context by tagging an option–like eyestrain or phobias–and a filter will be applied. This will help make the Unvale browsing experience safer and more pleasant for all! (Just click a post or creation and find the eye, and you can select the spoiler tag to be applied) - **Community Admins** \- Community creators can now add admins! They can pin posts, remove posts, help edit your community, and remove problem users. - **Community Categories** \- We’ve had thousands of communities made on Unvale. So we made it easier to find what your interests are. From fan communities to writing to collab worlds, now you can find your people around the stuff you love. - **Community Improvements** \- Communities are now organized by notifications. You can easily “mark all as read”. And now you can easily favorite or see comments on pinned posts. Get out there and give the new features a whirl! But please use spoiler tags for their intended purpose and give people a heads up if content may be sensitive. You can also read more about spoilering on our help desk - [https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/15002159-spoilering](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/15002159-spoilering?ref=blog.unvale.io) Thanks, everyone! ### Changelog: Communities URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-communities/ Last updated: 2026-03-30T15:43:39.000Z Hello, Unvalers! After previewing this a couple weeks ago, we’re excited to finally launch COMMUNITIES! Read on for more! - Create your own community on Unvale - Whether it’s for your collab world, a contest you’re hosting, or your favorite fandom, you can now have a dedicated space to connect with others on the platform. Just click "[Create](https://unvale.io/communities/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io)" on this page to get started. - Moderation and management controls - You can remove users and posts from your community, pin posts, and customize your community just the way you’d like! What we’ve added now is just a start for what’s to come! - Share posts to main feed - When posting to a community, you can also choose to share your post to the main posts feed on Unvale, getting more visibility and spreading the word about your creations! - Find new communities to join - On [the Community page](https://unvale.io/community?ref=blog.unvale.io), in the new mobile menu in the top-right, and on your desktop sidebar, you’ll now be able to see the communities you’re a part of, in addition to trending and new communities on Unvale. Find your friends, join others with similar hobbies, and explore the platform in a whole new way. To get you started, here’s a few communities that I’m excited about: - [Official Unvale Announcements Community](https://unvale.io/community/unvale-announcements?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Amazing Digital Circus Community](https://unvale.io/community/tadc-server?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Draw This in Your Style (DTIYS) Community](https://unvale.io/community/dtiys-collection?ref=blog.unvale.io) We are really hoping this release gives everyone a chance to use Unvale how THEY want to; if you love trading, join (or create!) a trading community. If you love JUST characters, create a character-only community! The possibilities are endless. ### Light Mode Theme Using Tampermonkey URL: https://blog.unvale.io/light-mode-theme-using-tampermonkey/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:33:16.000Z If you’d like to set up your own light mode theme for browsing Unvale, this unofficial user script is for you! This page covers a step by step tutorial on how to install a browser extension and script that will work on most browsers to add light mode to Unvale. This tutorial uses a browser extension called **Tampermonkey**,which makes it possible to use client side scripts to change the appearance of Unvale, without affecting anyone else's experience while using the site. **Tampermonkey is a well known extension but is not associated with Unvale. It’s important to make sure you are cautious when installing user scripts, and to never install anything from strangers without ensuring you know what they do and where they’re from!** **Keywords:** Browser: A web browser is how you access the internet. Most people use Chrome, but there’s lots of different ones. Extension: A piece of software made to help you customize your browser. Script: A piece of code made to modify a website's appearance. Client: Your phone, tablet or computer is a ‘client’ accessing the Unvale website. Client side script: A piece of code that uses an extension to operate in your device’s browser. **Supported browsers:** - Chrome - Microsoft Edge - Firefox - Safari - Opera **Installing:** 1. Install Tampermonkey - [https://www.tampermonkey.net/](https://www.tampermonkey.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) - On the Tampermonkey website pick your browser and click ‘Get from Store’ to install Tampermonkey. 1. Navigate to the Tampermonkey Dashboard - You can access the dashboard by clicking the extensions button on your toolbar, then the Tampermonkey icon, and finally selecting ‘Dashboard’. - On most browsers the extension button looks like a puzzle piece icon! - On Opera the extensions button is a cube. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-be1e0378-10ae-4c88-9c12-754c64125e19.png) 1. Click the new script button - This will open a new script with a basic template. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/03/data-src-image-e6766853-165c-4022-ba24-cd3473312380.png) 1. Erase the contents of the template script 1. Copy the userscript from this link and paste it into the empty template: [https://pastebin.com/0eGFiU9B](https://pastebin.com/0eGFiU9B?ref=blog.unvale.io) 1. Click ‘File’ and ‘Save’ - This will save the light mode script to your Tampermonkey, and you’re done! **FAQ:** As this script is unofficial, staff can’t provide troubleshooting via support tickets. If something isn’t working, double check the points below or check the official Tampermonkey FAQ: [https://www.tampermonkey.net/faq.php?locale=en](https://www.tampermonkey.net/faq.php?locale=en&ref=blog.unvale.io) **To use this script on mobile browser:** - Install Firefox and follow the tutorial above. - To access your extensions on Firefox mobile, click the three dots in the top right corner. **If the script did not work:** 1. Check that the script was copied exactly 2. Enable developer mode in Tampermonkey 3. Enable ‘Allow user scripts’ in Tampermonkey **To disable light mode:** 1. Click the extensions button (Puzzle piece/cube icon) in your toolbar 2. Click the Tampermonkey icon 3. Toggle ‘Unvale — force light mode (unofficial)’ to OFF ### Changelog: Homepage changes and Communities sneak preview URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-homepage-changes-and-communities-sneak-preview/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:06:16.000Z We’re bringing you a big change today–posts are back on [the homepage](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)… As well as QOTD, the welcome feed, and the brand new trending hashtags! We’re doing this for a few reasons: ✨ Posts allow you to share your world, art, character, or any type of creation card with others. This provides an equal chance for all types of creatives to get discovered! ✨ We now have more posts than any other type of creation! When used best, they allow for context and collaboration across Unvale–things like collab worlds, events, and follower celebrations. ✨ We have a GIANT feature release coming that will make posts much more useful! Soon, you’ll be able to create your *own* community, where you can organize collab worlds, share specific creation types, fandom AUs, or just chat with friends. (SEE IMAGES BELOW) Posts make this all possible! Don’t worry. The explore feed remains untouched in all its creative glory, just one click away, located under “Explore” in the site or app’s navigation. We’ve done a lot of work to address your complaints from the last time we put posts front-and-center. ✨ A lot of folks didn’t like seeing non-creative content on Unvale; with the new home feed, you will almost entirely see posts from folks you follow. No more SPAM! ✨ When we release Communities, you’ll be able to better keep up with what makes Unvale so great — the community activities. May the #copyrightwar continue!!! ✨ With Unvale's new block button, you can put distance between yourself and users you'd prefer not to interact with! We're committed to making sure folks feel safe on the platform. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/03/community-sneak-preview-3.png) Sneak preview of Unvale's upcoming Communities feature There are so many different types of creatives on Unvale now, from collab world builders to contest enthusiasts to that one person who keeps turning everything into Sonic. This is a big step towards making Unvale work for everyone, allowing your incredible work to be discovered, and to make more Unvale collaborative magic happen every day. Our goal is to make Unvale feel more expansive, more connected, and cozier. While these ideas seem at odds at first, we think its possible–and this is a big step in that direction. We understand this is a big change! You may get fewer favorites on your characters right when you save them... But we encourage you to share them in a post and see what happens! As always, we’re open to feedback, questions, or concerns about this change! Let me know your thoughts, and keep your eyes peeled for Communities in the coming weeks! [Go Explore Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### 10 Ways to Spot Generative AI Art URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-ways-to-spot-generative-ai-art/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T19:00:59.000Z Unvale is 100% AI-free, and one of our biggest defenses against AI art is our team. We manually review every AI art report that comes in and remove any art that doesn't appear human-made. If you've ever wanted to help remove AI art from the platform, or just want to not be fooled by it elsewhere, here's what to look for. ## 1\. The Hands Are All Wrong This is a classic tell, and it's still the most reliable one. AI generators have historically – and often hilariously – struggled with hands. Watch out for: - Too many fingers (or not enough) - Fingers that blend together or appear fused - Extra joints that bend the wrong way AI has gotten better at creating realistic arts, but hands are still the first thing worth looking for but hands are still a great first thing to check when something feels "off" about a piece of art. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## 2\. Symmetrical Eyes Real faces are asymmetrical. Noses can be crooked, one eye may sit slightly lower, and eyebrows are often sisters, not twins. AI tends to over-correct for this and produce faces that are eerily symmetrical. This reads as unsettling, even when you can't immediately say why. This is the uncanny valley: something that looks almost human, but not quite. A lot of AI-generated faces land there. If a face looks like a supermodel crossed with a wax figure, it's worth a second look. ## 3\. Hair That Defies Physics AI-generated hair often looks good at a glance, but falls apart on closer inspection. Look for: - Strands that pass through shoulders, clothing, or other people - Hair that floats or has no clear origin at the scalp - Hair blending unnaturally into a background or object Curly and coily textures are especially challenging for AI to render. If curls appear to be more of a repeating pattern than actual, organic hair, that's a red flag. ## #4: Backgrounds with architectural chaos AI images often look convincing in the foreground, but they fall apart in the background. Some examples include: - Shelves, bookshelves, or cabinets won't align or may be blurry - Lines on stairs, railings, or doorways often aren't parallel - Text on signs, books, bottles, or storefronts is almost always illegible If a cozy coffee shop scene has beautiful lighting and a perfect latte in the foreground but the bookshelf in the background looks like it was stacked by someone with fever dreams, that's AI. ## #5: Fabric and clothing that doesn't follow gravity Real clothing wrinkles. It responds to the body wearing it and to gravity. AI-generated clothing often looks like it was painted on; it hugs the body unnaturally, drapes in ways that don't make physical sense, or transitions into skin or background without a clear edge. Buttons are also good to take a look at. They're often off-center, duplicated, floating slightly above the fabric, or absent entirely where they should be. ## #6: Jewelry and accessories that aren't fully there This one is always interesting. AI struggles to generate accessories with consistent logic. Earrings might be two completely different styles, a necklace might pass through a collar, and glasses may seem embedded in the face rather than sitting on it. The more complex the accessory (like a statement necklace, a layered bracelet stack, an elaborate crown), the more likely it is to be garbled. ## #7: The lighting doesn't come from anywhere Experienced artists know that light has a source. They draw shadows, bright spots, and you can see light in reflections. AI often produces images where the lighting feels *too* encompassing. Everything is well-lit and beautiful, but if you try to find where the light is coming from, it falls apart. With genAI art, shadows may not match between the subject and the background. It's subtle, but once you start looking for it, you won't be able to stop. ## #8: Everyone looks like a stock photo model This is the harder one to quantify, but it's real. AI has been trained on a lot of stock photography, and it shows. AI-generated people in artwork tend to look: - Ethnically ambiguous in a way that feels calculated - Weirdly ageless in a way you can't quite explain - Unblemished (no pores, under-eye circles, or imperfections) - Like their expression is "fake" or forced Real characters have weird teeth and uneven skin and expressions that give them a personality. AI characters don't. ## #9: Reverse image search This one isn't always reliable, but it's worth considering. If someone is willing to use genAI for their character art, they likely are willing to steal art from somewhere else. If you suspect a piece of art is AI, you can always use reverse image search on Google to see if it exists on another site where it may have an AI tag. On the other hand, if you *are* able to find another platforms the artist has posted the image on, you might be able to compare it to the style in their other artwork, see a work-in-progress video, or just verify that they don't solely rely on an AI tool. It won't always work, but it's an option! ## #10: Ask yourself: does this look *made*? This is the most subjective tip, but I think it's also the most important. Real art shows skill, decisions being made, and effort. You can see where the artist chose to add detail and where they didn't. AI images are generated, not made. They're the average of millions of inputs, not one person's point of view. They often are overly generic, like: - A scene is vaguely European but not a specific city - A character is beautiful but you can't tell anything about them from the design - A bouquet of flowers is perfectly arranged, not a leaf out of place If you're looking for an escape from generative AI art, [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is committed to being 100% AI-free. We'd love to have you! We even block many of the robots that train AI tools, and we plan to add even more protections in the future. Sign up on our website or download our [new mobile app](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### 20 Free Procreate Brush Packs for Creatives URL: https://blog.unvale.io/20-free-procreate-brush-packs-for-creatives/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T22:14:01.000Z If you're a beginner artist, the idea of downloading brush packs to elevate your creations might be intimidating – but never fear! There are so many amazing brush packs that are not only helpful, but very easy to install and begin using in your art. Here's a list of 20 brush packs to check out; don't forget to share your creations on Unvale afterwards! **1\. Nilyn Hair Brushset** ([https://nilyn.gumroad.com/l/ermlx](https://nilyn.gumroad.com/l/ermlx?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Hair is tricky to do well, but this brush pack makes it so much easier. Create the swaying, silky hair of your dreams! **2\. Glitter Brush Set (**[https://hazelong.gumroad.com/l/hazeg2](https://hazelong.gumroad.com/l/hazeg2?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Looking to add some sparkle to your characters and scenes? This glitter brush set will do the trick! **3\. Afro Hair Brushes (**[**https://dj990j.itch.io/afro-hair-brushes**](https://dj990j.itch.io/afro-hair-brushes?ref=blog.unvale.io)**)** \- Want twists, braids, locks, and other Black hairstyles? Check out this free brush pack from DJ990J! **5\. Bardot Fur Brushes (**[https://bardotbrush.com/product/free-fur-brushes-for-procreate](https://bardotbrush.com/product/free-fur-brushes-for-procreate?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Finally, if you're wanting to create animals or anthro characters, this fur brushes pack will surely come in handy. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) **6\. Tamberella Grass & Fields Pack (**[https://tamberella.gumroad.com/l/grass2](https://tamberella.gumroad.com/l/grass2?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Want to draw your character frolicking in a field or wearing a dress of flowers? This pack has over 100 nature brushes! **7\. Manga Brush Set (**[https://dibrushes.gumroad.com/l/free\_manga\_procreate](https://dibrushes.gumroad.com/l/free%5Fmanga%5Fprocreate?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Wanting to create your own manga or web comic? There are 23 brushes in this set that will save you a ton of time! **8\. Ghibli-inspired Nature Set (**[https://dibrushes.gumroad.com/l/freeghibli](https://dibrushes.gumroad.com/l/freeghibli?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - From the same brush creator as above, create scenes inspired by some of your favorite Ghibli classics with these brushes. **9\. Feather Brush Set (**[https://attki.gumroad.com/l/IaAXd](https://attki.gumroad.com/l/IaAXd?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Easily create fluffy, fun feathers with the brushes in this set! **10\. Fabric Texture Brushes (**[https://tatyworks.gumroad.com/l/TatyWorksFabrics](https://tatyworks.gumroad.com/l/TatyWorksFabrics?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Looking to make a cozy sweater? Want to an interest to a pair of jeans? These fabric brushes will make that easy! **11\. Jewelry Brush Set (**[https://crystalhawklee.gumroad.com/l/BEuEJ](https://crystalhawklee.gumroad.com/l/BEuEJ?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - There's so much you can do with this versatile jewelry brush set with 30 free brushes, including diamonds, pearls, chains, and more! **12\. Rain and Lightning Brush Set (**[https://bybaobab.gumroad.com/l/JkXJh](https://bybaobab.gumroad.com/l/JkXJh?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - This brush set is perfect for adding weather elements to your art, and it's totally free! **13\. Ruffles Brush Set (**[https://attki.gumroad.com/l/srEQow](https://attki.gumroad.com/l/srEQow?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Elevate your character's attire with this free anime ruffles brush pack from Attki! **14\. Skin Detail Set (**[https://taozipie.gumroad.com/l/gTUDI](https://taozipie.gumroad.com/l/gTUDI?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Taozipie has created a brush set meant for adding interest to your character's skin, whether that's through blemishes or freckles! **15\. Anime Eyes Brush Pack (**[https://attki.gumroad.com/l/rzVrU](https://attki.gumroad.com/l/rzVrU?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Save yourself time by stamping these adorable anime eyes onto your OC! **16\. Brow and Lash Set (**[https://brusheskn.gumroad.com/l/RbuGR](https://brusheskn.gumroad.com/l/RbuGR?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Looking for pixel-perfect brows and lashes? This set will really elevate your characters! **17\. Tattoo Brush Set (**[https://rodiiaz.gumroad.com/l/TABpb](https://rodiiaz.gumroad.com/l/TABpb?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Want to design some neotraditional tattoos for your OCs? This brush pack will really help you nail the stippling, outline, and other elements! **18\. Lip Gloss Stamp Pack (**[https://hayley59.gumroad.com/l/Wged](https://hayley59.gumroad.com/l/Wged?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - If you want that shiny. lip gloss effect, these stamps will make it easy. **19\. Smoke Brush Pack (**[https://basix-brushes.gumroad.com/l/snJTPI](https://basix-brushes.gumroad.com/l/snJTPI?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - While this brush pack is smaller, the brushes are incredibly well-made and will give your art a professional look! **20\. City Brush Set (**[https://tamberella.gumroad.com/l/YLfEvh](https://tamberella.gumroad.com/l/YLfEvh?ref=blog.unvale.io)) - Drawing a moody city scene? Whether it's an iron fence, a string of windows, or a brick texture, this pack is worth checking out. Have a favorite pack that isn't listed here? Be sure to share it with us on social media! If you need help installing your brushes after downloading, here's [a helpful tutorial](https://www.creativefabrica.com/the-ultimate-graphic-design-guide-2/procreate-tutorial-how-to-install-brushes-on-your-ipad/?ref=blog.unvale.io) on how to do so. I can't wait to see what you create! ### Top 12 Free Character Maker Apps, Games, and Websites URL: https://blog.unvale.io/25-free-character-maker-apps-games-and-websites/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:24:02.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* Whether you’re suffering from art block, interested in trying a new art style, or struggling to draw certain things, free character creators and templates are here to help. You can use them to design a simple image or create a 3D model to act as a reference for commissions, test out design concepts for your next OC, or just have fun creating new characters. Once you try using these character creator websites, apps and games, upload what you’ve created to [Unvale](http://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io), [with proper credit of course](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927101-uploading-art-you-didn-t-draw-yourself?ref=blog.unvale.io). You can also attach a hashtag to your uploaded images to make them easier to find by other Unvale users. ## 1\. Picrew If you’ve been on Unvale, you’ve likely seen an OC created on [Picrew](https://picrew.me/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Picrew is a character creator website with thousands of options to find the perfect art style for designing your next OC – for free! Each individual Picrew functions like a dress-up game where you can select anything from a character’s hair style, eye colour, and even outfits and accessories. It’s a reliable way to design a reference for commissions or a simple stand-in for an OC until you’ve drawn them. We even have a dedicated guide for [how to use Picrew and Gacha Life](https://blog.unvale.io/picrew-and-gacha-life-giving-your-oc-a-free-face/) (our next entry). ## 2\. Gacha Life 2 If you’re a fan of anime-style chibis, Gacha Life 2 might just be for you. Whether you’re on mobile or PC, you can download it through [iOS](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/gacha-life-2/id6468838207?ref=blog.unvale.io) or [Android](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.com.lunime.gachalife2&hl=en%5FUS&ref=blog.unvale.io) and play for free. Gacha Life 2 has a massive variety of customization and poses to choose from and is super popular on Unvale; you can see what customization options and possible characters you can create with [#gachalife2](https://unvale.io/search?q=&ref=blog.unvale.io#GachaLife2). You can create mermaids, angels, demons and whatever else you can dream up. ## 3\. Heroforge While this site is actually for designing tabletop miniatures for role playing games like *Dungeons & Dragons*, [Heroforge](https://www.heroforge.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is also a convenient tool for creating 3D models of your OCs. Heroforge’s options span more than just humans; there are anthropomorphic animals and even giant spiders you can customize and color on the site. It boasts a large variety of options for designing your OC’s facial features, poses, and outfits, and is easy to work with even for first time users. A perk of Heroforge is being able to rotate and zoom on your model’s face and clothes so you can take screenshots of your OC for references and to show off to your friends. ![A screenshot from the websites HeroForge, featuring a 3D miniature being customized.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6051-1.jpeg) ## 4\. Reroll Like Heroforge, [Reroll](https://www.roblox.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is another tabletop roleplaying game inspired character creation app with stylish pixel art characters. It also features a built-in character sheet for *Dungeons & Dragons* 5th edition (2014) to use for your OCs, whether they’re currently in a campaign or not. Reroll has a free demo feature that grants you access to some of its character creation options and one character sheet slot. If you enjoy the app and plan to use it for your gaming sessions, you can purchase complete access with a one-time payment. This gives you access to more character slots and more customization options. ## 5\. Clangen If you’re a fan of the *Warriors*, [Clangen](https://clangen.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is made for you. This downloadable game is a life simulator inspired by the *Warriors* series of novels with randomly generated, pixelated cats. Unfortunately, this means you can’t necessarily customize and create your real life feline best bud. But the simulation gameplay can help you create and develop your OCs. Unvale has plenty of examples of character created on Clangen, which you can find with [#ClanGen](https://unvale.io/search?q=&ref=blog.unvale.io#clangen). ## 6\. Dragon Builder Hosted on the website [MonsterBrainSoup](https://www.monsterbrainsoup.com/dragon-builder-import-export/?ref=blog.unvale.io), this dragon builder lets you design your own unique dragon on a side-profile template. Choose from a variety of scales, fur and feathers and assign each part any color you’d like. Independently customize your dragon’s head, torso, legs, wings and tail and add accessories like scarves and saddle bags. The site even has a randomizer and preset designs to help spark your inspiration, along with a dark mode for late night designing. ![A screenshot of Dragon Builder from the website MonsterBrainSoup. The dragon is pink and aquatic themed with a flower and a red scarf.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6052.jpeg) ## 7\. VRoid Studio Ever wanted to try 3D modeling? [VRoid Studio](https://vroid.com/en/studio?ref=blog.unvale.io) is an anime style character creator with presets and sliders for easy use. You can even draw digitally using a stylus to edit your 3D model’s clothes, hair and more. Besides being able to create and share your original characters through VRoid Studio, you can also transfer your 3D models into programs like Blender and animate them. ## 8\. Meiker.io Featuring a vast variety of character makers, [Meiker.io](http://meiker.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a free to use website similar to Picrew. The art styles range from anime, western style cartoons, and even popular games like *Animal Crossin*g. You can even create your own character maker just by uploading image files. If you do, make sure to share your character maker with other Unvale users! If you use Meiker for your own OCs, make sure to link the maker or the artist in the artist section when you upload on Unvale. ## 9\. Charat.me [Charat.me](http://charat.me/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a Japanese character maker with a simple, streamlined creation process. The site features both headshot style makers and full body makers in a charming anime style. Once you finish customizing your OC, you can add a background and directly download the image from the site. And then [upload your new OC](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to Unvale, of course. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6049.jpeg) A screenshot of a full body character maker from the website Charat.me ## 10\. Ponytown [Ponytown](https://pony.town/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is for fans of *My Little Pony* and town building sims. The game has pixel art style horses in the style of My Little Pony and an island to explore and build on. While it’s mainly a Massive Multiplayer Online (MMO) social game, you can fully customize and create a variety of colourful ponies and stick to yourself with single player options. Of course, [keep internet safety in mind at all times](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927129-online-user-safety?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you choose to use the social features. If you’re curious about the artstyle and possibilities, check out [#PonyTown](https://unvale.io/search?q=&ref=blog.unvale.io#ponytown) on Unvale and find other creators to play with. ## 11\. Life Makeover [Life Makeover](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2626940/Life%5FMakeover/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a free-to-download dress-up game you can find on Steam. Design your character in a 3D anime style down to the very last detail. You can even decorate a dream home for your character. Just a warning: this game features in-game purchases and a gacha system, meaning you may have to spend in-game currency to randomly collect the outfits and items you want. If you would rather stay away from gacha games, this may be one to skip. ## 12\. Avataaars Generator [Avataaars Generator](https://getavataaars.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is one of the most user friendly avatar creators on this list. The generator can be used by both younger and older family members who might not be familiar with character creators, but still want to make their own avatar. If you envision your character a realistic setting and you don’t need to depict them in a complex style, Avataaars Generator is the perfect fit. ![A screenshot from Aaavatars character creator, with a person in a green hoodie with a blonde bob as the customized icon.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6050.jpeg) ## Creating Original Characters Has Never Been Easier This list only scratches the surface of the available options out there for free character creators. If you're ready to dip your toes in and want a comprehensive resource on character design, be sure to [check out this master guide](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)! And a special thanks to our Community Manager [StarKorg](https://unvale.io/StarKorg?ref=blog.unvale.io) for helping put this initial list together on the Unvale Discord. ### 21 Free Image Reference Sites for Artists URL: https://blog.unvale.io/21-free-image-reference-sites-for-creatives/ Last updated: 2026-09-24T18:29:38.000Z Whether you're a beginner artist or an up-and-coming professional, using reference images and practicing your creative skills is a must! If you’re looking for free image reference sites, we’ve got a list here of cool websites for you to check out. ## Photo References and Stock Image Sites ### Unsplash Looking for image references for poses, animals, or backgrounds? [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) has all kinds of high-resolution images you can use for references and studies. ### Pexels There’s plenty of free stock photos you can use for reference on [Pexels](https://www.pexels.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io). You can find especially great images to use as reference for landscapes and dynamic poses. ### Burst By Shopify [Burst by Shopify](https://www.shopify.com/stock-photos??ref=blog.unvale.io) has a variety of different collections full of images. Whether you need art references of people, scenery, or even food, you might be able to find what you need here. ### Kaboompics If you’re looking for an art reference site with close-up images, [Kaboompics](https://kaboompics.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) might have what you need. There’s lots of high-quality photos that feature close-ups of hands, scenery, and everyday objects. ![Kaboompics is best for close-up images of flowers and plants.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Kaboompics-Image.PNG-1.png) [Kaboompics](https://kaboompics.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Life of Pix For some great references of scenery and environment, be sure to check out [Life of Pix](https://www.lifeofpix.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io). There are all kinds of images of different landscapes, cities, and more. If you want to try studying something new, you could even take a look at their Photographer of the Week for unique references. ### ISO Republic For more landscape and environment image references, take a look at the photos on [ISO Republic](https://isorepublic.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! There’s plenty of other picture references too, such as food, flower, and texture pictures. ### AdorkaStock Looking for an art reference website for all your character-posing needs? [AdorkaStock](https://www.adorkastock.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) has it all! Sort the images by the amount of people, perspective, type of pose, or even body shapes to find the perfect image reference for your art. ![AdorkaStock is perfect for dynamic pose references of all kinds.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/AdorkaStock-Image.PNG-1.png) [AdorkaStock](https://www.adorkastock.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Flickr, Creative Commons Find a variety of photo and image references ranging from scenery to people on [Flickr](https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons?ref=blog.unvale.io). Just be sure to check the license of the image before you use it for reference! Flickr also has a brief guide explaining each license, which makes each one easy to understand. ## Wildlife Sites with Animal and Insect References ### Animal Diversity Need animal image references? [Animal Diversity](https://www.flickr.com/creativecommons??ref=blog.unvale.io) has you covered. There are all kinds of animal pictures. Search by the animal itself or learn about new creatures by searching for specific characteristics. Be sure to check the “conditions of use” section of an image to see if you can use it for reference! ### Birds of the World If bird images are what you’re looking for, be sure to check out [Birds of the World](https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home?ref=blog.unvale.io). There’s plenty of specific species of birds on the website, with a variety of images of the sitting and flying. It’s a great site to use for learning to draw birds and finding new inspiration for your avian characters! ### NOAA Photo Library Use the “photo library” search to find images of different fish and sea creatures on the [National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration](https://www.noaa.gov/noaa-collections/photo-library?ref=blog.unvale.io) website. Whether you need references for fish, sharks, coral, or some other kind of ocean-related image, the NOAA Photo Library has everything under the sea! ![The NOAA has the best image references of sea creatures.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/NOAA-Image.PNG.png) [The NOAA Photo Library](https://www.noaa.gov/noaa-collections/photo-library?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Insect Images Need art references for all kinds of bugs, arthropods, and other creepy crawlers? [Insect Images](https://www.insectimages.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io) has photos of any insect or arthropod you might need a reference for. Just make sure you check the license of the image to see if it can be used as an image reference for your art! ### Smithsonian Botany Collection The [Smithsonian Botany Collection](https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/search/botany/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a dedicated department for plants and botany. If you need image references for different plants, living or pressed, check out some of the specimens of the Botany Collection! ## References From Archives and Museums ### Smithsonian Open Access There’s also the [Smithsonian Open Access](https://www.si.edu/openaccess?ref=blog.unvale.io), which has a wider variety of images than the Botany Collection. Whether it’s art, architecture, plants, or something else, the Smithsonian has all kinds of different images to use for reference or studies. ### Getty Open Content Program Looking for some art images to use as reference as you create your own art? The [Getty Museum Collection](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/search?open%5Fcontent=true&&ref=blog.unvale.io) has a large variety of historical art pieces. From sculptures and sketches, to painting and pottery, you’re sure to find some good art references here. ![The Getty Museum Collection has a variety of art images.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/Getty-Museum-Image.PNG.png) [Getty Museum Collection](https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/search?open%5Fcontent=true&&ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Cleveland Museum of Art From art of landscapes to portraits, the [Cleveland Museum of Art](https://www.clevelandart.org/art/collection/search?cc0=1&&ref=blog.unvale.io) has plenty of different art pieces to study or use for inspiration. Whether you’re looking for sculptures or paintings, this site has it! ### Library of Congress Digital Collections The [Library of Congress](https://www.loc.gov/collections/?fa=original-format:photo,+print,+drawing&&ref=blog.unvale.io) has all kinds of collections with a variety of works to look at. Browse by collection to find different categories consisting of art pieces, photos, and even videos. You’re sure to find some interesting references here! ### New York Public Library Digital Collections Find all kinds of different photos, prints, and illustrations to study and use as reference in the [New York Public Library Digital Collections](https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Just be sure to check “search only public domain” to find images free to use! ### NASA Image Library If you need image references for stars, planets, or something else out of this world, the [NASA Image and Video Library](https://images.nasa.gov/?ref=blog.unvale.io) has you covered. Find all types of space-themed images to inspire your art. ![NASA is best for references of outer space.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/NASA-Image.PNG.png) [NASA Image and Video Library](https://images.nasa.gov/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## 3D Texture Reference Sites ### Poly Haven The [Poly Haven](https://polyhaven.com/all?ref=blog.unvale.io) website has lots of different assets for you to use for reference, especially for practicing lighting. Enhance your texture drawings and lighting skills with the 3D model references here! ### CGBookcase For a website with art references for texture specifically, [CGBookcase](https://www.cgbookcase.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is the site to use. From wooden floorboards to brick walls, CGBookcase has the perfect references for you! ![CGBookcase is best for finding references of textures.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/CGBookcase-Image.PNG.png) [CGBookcase](https://www.cgbookcase.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Share Your Creations on Unvale There are all kinds of different websites that can help you find the perfect image reference for your creations. Just be sure to double-check if images require permission or credit before you use them. Have fun creating, and once you're finished, share your work on [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) so we can check it out! If you’re looking for other resources, check out our article on [free character makers](https://blog.unvale.io/25-free-character-maker-apps-games-and-websites/) and our list on [free Procreate brush packs](https://blog.unvale.io/20-free-procreate-brush-packs-for-creatives/). ### How to Design a Cowhand OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-designing-a-cowhand-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:37:12.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeehaw! Howdy there partner! If you’ve been keeping up with this ‘ere town’s local paper, you may have read my co-writer’s article on artist safety tips for the online experience. If ya haven’t read it, you can find it [here](https://blog.unvale.io/unvale-psa-artist-safety-tips-for-your-online-experience/)! Ya might’ve also noticed the nifty [PSAsona](https://unvale.io/posts?contentType=social&searchMode=all&sort=newest&tags=[%22PSASona%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag to help spread the word, with the challenge to dress yer sona or OC up as a cowpoke or defender! Well I’ve got a special article for you folks today, ‘cus today we’re talking about designing a cowhand OC! Before we get started, if ya need a few other ideas for yer OC designs, you can try one of these ‘ere articles! - [Tips for Designing a Valentines Themed Outfit for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-valentines-themed-outfit-for-your-ocs/) - [Tips for Designing a Werewolf OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-werewolf-oc/) - [Tips for Designing Your DND OC based on Their Class!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-your-dnd-oc-based-on-their-class/) Now, back to the cowpoke designs! Yeehaw! Cowhand characters are a mighty fun type of character often seen ridin’ horses, wranglin’ cattle, or maybe even having a shootout! So how do ya go about designin’ one of these cowhand characters? Well, get yer horses at the ready, ‘cus we’re ‘bout to talk about it! # What kind of cowhand is your OC? First off, ya wanna keep in mind what kind of cowpoke your OC is! Usually, cowhands are people who tend to cattle, but there’s also plenty of other characters you might categorize as a “cowpoke!” Maybe there’s a space cowboy fighting off aliens, or a monster hunter taking down critters in the wild west! When you design your cowpoke, you’ll want to consider… - What’s the setting of the world? - What’s the genre of your story? - What’s your OC’s job in the story? - What’s their role in the story? - What’s their personality like? - Are they good, morally grey, or evil? Thinkin’ about what kind of cowhand character you’re creating will give you an idea as to how you could design them! The personality of your cowpoke might impact how they dress! A more extravagant cowhand might dress a little more flashy than a shy one. Other factors could like the setting and their specific job could influence their outfit as well! # Give your cowhand a cool outfit! Cowhand characters are most often known for the distinct style they usually have! The outfit of your OC will tell the audience your cowpoke is, well, a cowpoke! ## Try adding a nice motif to your cowhand’s design! Quite a few cowpoke designs have lots of details or patterns in them! If you want lots of details, or even just a few, on your cowhand’s design, you could use the opportunity to incorporate a motif into the design! The motif could be of something like a plant or animal that might be common in their area, or it could be something that might represent their personality! If you need some ideas for motifs that might work for a cowpoke character, you could try… - A floral motif - A cow print motif - A vine motif - A leaf motif - A sun motif - A star motif - A cactus motif - A skull motif - A pattern motif - A feather motif - A fire motif - A gun motif The motif could be incorporated into embroidery on your cowhand’s shirt, the design on a cloak or poncho, or it could be included in the different accessories your OC might have! If you need a fun example of motifs within a cowpoke design, check out [Demiglint's](https://unvale.io/Demiglint?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sonya](https://unvale.io/character/8d341fbe-0ec4-4e6c-a762-52c7b382b477?ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a cool flower motif! Another fun example you could check out would be [FarFarOut's](https://unvale.io/FarFarOut?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Smokey](https://unvale.io/character/3b474747-88ad-4256-8130-63d51e354d48?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a cool rose motif! ## Give your OC clothes fit for the cowhand role! Since cowhands are often out in the wild wilderness tendin’ to their duties, they usually dress in clothes that would be more practical. Practical clothing isn’t always what a cowpoke might go with, especially if they have a more extravagant personality, but useful clothes will help them get the job done. There’s some types of clothing that are pretty common amongst cowpokes too! When you think of a cowboy character, clothing that might come to mind are button-up shirts, or bell-bottom pants. If you need a few ideas to think about, you could consider… - A button-up shirt - A snap-button shirt - Denim jeans - Leather chaps - A vest - A flannel shirt - A T-Shirt - Bell-bottom pants If you want to show off different aspects of your cowhand’s personality, you could play around with how their clothes fit as well! A more confident character might wear clothing that’s a little tighter or more form-fitting. A different character who’s more shy or not as confident might wear looser fitting clothes or clothes that seem a little too big for them! If you need a fun example of using clothing for a cowhand design, check out [Seaweed's](https://unvale.io/BoxOfCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Dakota](https://unvale.io/character/ce74fe4b-bd58-4111-ba1d-06a96ebd83b8?ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a cool vest along with other fitting clothes! Another fun example would be [Dragón's](https://unvale.io/dragonlunar?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Gabriela](https://unvale.io/character/c384e4c5-3fdd-47e9-8cc8-67c5d6d734b0?ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a button-up shirt as well as other fitting clothes! ## Give your cowhand nice accessories or weapons! Another fun part about cowpoke designs is the accessories they have! Accessories often have a practical function, but that doesn’t mean they can’t look cool too! How over-the-top your cowhand’s accessories will also depend on factors like their personality. Some cowhands might prefer something less fancy. That being said, a lot of cowpoke characters have flashy accessories, like a big belt buckle or a colorful poncho with a fringe on the ends! If you need some ideas on what kind of accessories you could add, why not try… - A poncho - A belt with a large buckle - A cowpoke hat - Cowpoke boots - Wrist cuffs - A lasso - A pistol - A gun holster - A large cloak with a fringe - A tie - A shiny badge - Leather gloves With accessories, you could add as many or few as you want! If you decided to add a motif to your cowhand’s design, you could incorporate it into the accessories you give them as well. If you need a fun example of utilizin’ accessories for a cowhand design, check out [Keegamonsters'](https://unvale.io/keegamonsters?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Safrole](https://unvale.io/character/d4741626-ed5a-4ccd-b9ba-10c84c38a729?ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a cool bandana along with other fitting accessories! If you need another example, check out [Dror Nitzan's](https://unvale.io/saintfires?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Avi](https://unvale.io/character/0a006232-17f8-48c6-8c91-eb6502cfcb32?ref=blog.unvale.io), who has a cool hat and other fitting accessories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-5a5a7016-08d1-4c11-b28b-0362be7a3a46.png) Hm…What ‘bout a cowpoke hat…or a sheriff's badge! # Can you use the appearance of your cowhand to enhance their design? Another thing you could consider when designing your cowhand OC is their appearance! What do they look like? What kind of hairstyle would they wear? Are there extra details you could add? ## Could you give your cowhand a build that suits them? The build of your cowhand character can tell your audience what kind of character they might be. If the character is faster, they might have a thinner build. A cowpoke who’s stronger might have a larger build! You could also utilize shape language in your cowpoke OC’s design. Sharper shapes in their design might mean they’re more dangerous, or that they’re a more action-based character. If you need a few ideas for the build of your cowhand OC, here’s a few ideas to get ya thinkin’! - A bulkier build for an intimidating cowhand - A softer build for a friendlier cowpoke - A sharp build for an action-loving cowhand - A build with a combination of different shapes to show the varying traits of the cowpoke You could also consider giving your cowhand physical traits that wouldn’t seem like it fits their personality! Maybe you want the appearance of your OC to mislead your audience. You could give them a build opposite of what would be expected for their personality! If you want more tips on using shape language in your OC designs, you can check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ## Give your cowhand a fitting hairstyle! Since cowhands are oftentimes very active individuals, they might wear their hair in a style that keeps it out of the way while they’re working. If they don’t want to fix their hair up before having to work, a character might opt for a shorter haircut instead! There’s plenty of different ways a cowhand character might wear their hair! They might choose something that’s quick and easy, or if they enjoy styling their hair, they might choose something a little more complex. If you need some ideas for styles and haircuts you could give your cowhand, you could try… - A high ponytail - Thick braids - A short half-up half-down hairstyle - A pixie cut - A wolf cut - A jellyfish cut - A pair of pigtails - A loose bun - Asymmetrical parted bangs There’s a lot more hairstyles than what’s here on this above list as well! Try out different styles on your cowhand OC, and see what you think works best for them! If you need some more ideas on picking out a hairstyle for your OCs, there’s an article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/)! ## Add some extra details to your cowhand’s design! Lastly, you could incorporate some extra details into the cowhand character’s design as well! The details could be used as a way to help your cowpoke OC stand out amongst other characters. The details could also have some significance to your character! A tattoo might have a specific meaning to it, or the way a character got a scar might be tied to an important part of their backstory. If you need some ideas for details you could add, you could consider… - Tattoos - Scars - Heterochromia - Vitiligo - Prosthetic limbs - A birthmark - Ear piercings There’s lots of unique details you could add to your OC’s design! If your OC’s world has more than just humans in it, you could try adding more fantasy-style details to their design too! If you want some more ideas on unique details you could give your OCs, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-f43c301e-64a0-4b25-b5b4-4a70abc8d6df.png) Get yer cowpoke boots on and yer lasso at the ready! ### Cowpoke PSAsona posts from the awesome folks on Unvale! Remember at the start of this ‘ere article when I mentioned the [PSAsona](https://unvale.io/posts?contentType=social&searchMode=all&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22PSAsona%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag? Well, it’s time to see some of the cowpoke-themed PSAsona posts the community came up with! Look here, and check out… - Epic [Cowboyiest](https://unvale.io/character/58c69196-f067-48c2-a807-05c23bcfba74?ref=blog.unvale.io), by [Beaniest](https://unvale.io/beaniest?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Strange's](https://unvale.io/Strange?ref=blog.unvale.io) nifty [PSAsona post](https://unvale.io/post/yeehaw-7c7b8225?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Jude's](https://unvale.io/ThatWeirdCreature?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool [PSA post](https://unvale.io/post/scam-psa-ad76b11b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Awesome [Safety shout out](https://unvale.io/post/safety-shout-out-5a63938e?ref=blog.unvale.io), by [TheSilentBanshee](https://unvale.io/TheSilentBanshee?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Scarlet's](https://unvale.io/ADriftedAwayScarlet?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool animated [PSAsona post](https://unvale.io/post/did-the-psasona-thing-1513c868?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Awesome ["J" Boone](https://unvale.io/character/e315ebcb-0033-4576-8596-297cd4ddf0c4?ref=blog.unvale.io), by [JesterOnUnVale](https://unvale.io/JesterOnUnVale?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Be sure to take a look at the awesome posts! If you want to find more PSAsonas, be sure to check out the tag! If you make yer own PSAsona, use the tag in your post or character page to help spread the word! Stay safe out there folks…and have fun creatin’! --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) Bring your Cowpoke designs over to Unvale! [Download the App HERE ](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### A Little Romance: Valentine's Outfit Ideas for OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-valentines-themed-outfit-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T20:10:21.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Time to force my characters into cute outfits…I mean…What? Who said that? Ah, Valentine’s Day…a day known for showing your care for those you love, confessing your feelings for someone, the day a man was decapitated…oh, uh, that last one is a story for another time…Anyways! Valentine’s Day is also the perfect time for…a new outfit for your OCs! Before we get started, if you’re looking for writing tips for your OCs, check out one of these articles! - [Different Types of Relationships to Write About for Your OC Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/) - [Making Traditions for Your OCs and Their Worlds!](https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/) - [Tips for Using Mythology in Your OC Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to talking about Valentine’s outfits! Whether your characters are ready to spend the day with their significant other, go to a Valentine’s Day party, or you just want to force them into a cute outfit, it can be fun to give them a new design for the occasion. So how should you go about designing their new outfit for the lovely (pun intended) day? Let’s talk about it! ## Incorporate a Valentine’s motif into your OC’s design! One way you start with designing a Valentines outfit for your characters is by adding a Valentine’s motif to their outfit and design! You could either add a new motif alongside their normal one (if they have one!) or you could replace their normal motif with a Valentines themed one. If you need some ideas for some Valentine's motifs, you could try… - A heart motif - An angel wing motif - A chocolate motif - A rose motif - An arrow motif - A strawberry motif - A letter motif - A swirl motif - A lace motif - A gemstone motif Oftentimes, motifs associated with Valentine’s Day revolve around love and gift giving. Why not use these motifs for a fun Valentine’s twist on your OC’s look? If you don’t want to entirely change their normal design, you could instead just replace small details with things like hearts or roses instead. Round shapes could be changed to have a heart shape, or patterns be replaced with swirling designs or roses! You could also alternate between motifs, you don’t have to completely remove their normal motif for a Valentine’s look! You could only replace some details with a Valentines motif, and keep the normal motif in some areas of the design. Depending on how subtle you want the Valentine’s motif to be, you could base your decision on that as well! If you want a less-obvious look, you might opt to replace little details that might go unnoticed with a heart motif. For an obvious look, you might instead add heart details wherever you can! It’s up to you! Another option is giving them a new color palette for the occasion. Valentine’s Day is often associated with various shades of red, pink, and sometimes white as well. If you want more ideas for color palettes in general, check out this article by my cool co-writer right [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-859b0db8-b01a-48f2-b3c1-41c3bace4981.png) What Valentine’s motif would you pick for your OCs design? ## Give your OC a fancy Valentine’s outfit! Next up, clothes! You don’t necessarily have to give your OC some new clothes for Valentines Day, especially if you opt to stick with a motif and color palette change instead, but a cool new set of clothes is always a fun choice! Fancy clothing is often a popular choice; maybe your character’s heading to a Valentine’s party! You’ll want to consider your OC’s unique style and what they’re comfortable wearing. There’s lots of different kinds of fancier clothing, so there’ll probably be something your OC might like! Some characters might prefer a dress, other characters might be more comfortable in a jumpsuit. If you need a few ideas for clothing pieces, you could try… - A fancy suit - A cute babydoll dress - An ethereal mermaid-style dress - An outfit with suspenders - A cool blazer - A sweater with a fun design - A sharp vest - An elegant jumpsuit - A gorgeous ballgown Of course, you’ll also want to consider your OC’s relationships! An OC might dress a little fancier than usual to impress their lover and wear something they normally wouldn’t! With clothes, another thing you could try is incorporating an aesthetic into the design! If you want more ideas on picking aesthetics, try this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/)! ## Add some fun Valentine’s-themed accessories to the look! Why not complete the Valentine’s look with some fun accessories? Whether your character likes crowns or ties, there’s plenty of accessories perfect for the occasion! You could go for something fancy, or something cutesy! If you need some ideas, you could try… - A heart chain belt - A rose flower crown - A dainty heart hair ornament - A necklace with an envelope charm - An elegant crown - Cutesy hair pins - A flower pin - A fancy tie - A heart choker necklace - An adorable bow - Lace gloves - A pair of heart-shaped glasses - Pearl hair accessories - Earrings that are heart-shaped There’s plenty of fun accessories you could add. You could change the look of their current accessories to fit the Valentine’s theme too! Do they have a signature accessory? Try incorporating a Valentines motif into it! A character with a crown could have a new heart-shaped one, or a character with a necklace might have one with Angel wings instead of its usual charm! Normal accessories could be altered to look a little more Valentine’s Day themed, and it’s an easy way to get your OC’s looking ready for the festivities! If you need more ideas for accessories, why not take some inspiration from your own life? Maybe that chocolate box at the store had a cute design, or maybe you have a favorite Valentine’s day decoration that would make a great accessory for your OC! If you want more ideas on using inspiration in your daily life for your characters, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-65df05c0-1b4c-4360-befe-d84017d24e7f.png) A fancy suit with a heart tie? A dress with a sweetheart neckline? Hmmm… ## Pick a nice hairstyle to give your OC for the occasion! Is it time to give your OC a new hairdo for the day? Dressing up often comes with a fun hairstyle too! A character might curl or straighten their hair, or they might try something fancier to compliment their outfit. If you want to really add to the lovely Valentine’s day look, you could utilize shape language in the hairstyle you choose as well. You could use loose hair strands to create heart shapes, or the hairstyle itself could be heart shaped! If you need an example, think of the character [Romance](https://kpop-demon-hunters.fandom.com/wiki/Romance%5FSaja?ref=blog.unvale.io) from [K-Pop Demon Hunters](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KPop%5FDemon%5FHunters?ref=blog.unvale.io). Fitting for his name, his hair is styled to look like a heart! A heart shape could be incorporated into several different aspects of a hairstyle. If you need a few ideas for hairstyles, you could consider… - A neat bun - Bangs curled to have a heart shape - Pigtails twirled to have a heart shape - A waterfall hairstyle - An elegant mid-part style - A fun half-up hairstyle - A pretty braided bun - A fancy bubble braid - A sleek ponytail There’s all kinds of fun looks you could give your OC to get them into the Valentine’s spirit. It can be fun to try a new hairstyle on your OC…especially for events like Valentine’s Day! Try playing around with different styles and shapes to see what you like! If you want to learn more about shape language, there’s an article about it that you can check out [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ## Add some extra details to the Valentine’s fit! One last thing you can experiment with for your OC’s Valentine’s look is...some extra details! Whether your OC is human or not, there’s lots of little fun details you could incorporate into their design. If your character is human, they might have face paint, hair dye, or a fun makeup look! If your OC isn’t human, you could change up their non-human features for the occasion! Tails or antennae could have hearts at the end, or a character’s animal ears could be changed to a Valentine’s day color! You could also experiment with stickers, or temporary tattoos on your OC’s design! If you need some inspiration, why not try… - Angel wings - Antennae curved to look like a heart - heart -shaped wings - A tail with a heart at the end - Horns curved to look like a heart shape - Antlers with flowers on them - A heart-shaped halo - Glittery heart stickers on wings - Floral tattoos - Heart face paint - Pink or red makeup Some extra details are not only fun to add, but they can bring together the rest of the Valentine’s look and make it look even more festive! You could add as many, or as few as you want! If you decide to go with a new makeup look for your OCs and need some ideas, there’s an article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-c0b553f3-1b9e-4f33-9e92-f4cf1e153c98.png) Hearts and…well…uh…more hearts! With a side of hearts. Maybe add a heart or two as well. ### Valentines OC’s from the awesome users on Unvale! If you need inspiration, why not check out the cool Valentine’s-themed OC’s from the amazing users here on Unvale? Be sure to check out… - [HaloGlaze’s](https://unvale.io/HaloGlaze?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Esme](https://unvale.io/character/9cd91c6e-7095-4b32-a4d6-7da8473b82d9?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [PinkAngelic’s](https://unvale.io/PinkAngelic?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Valentina](https://unvale.io/character/24d5c0cb-8ef0-4f5d-a4f4-5217f49b1c50?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Missleo’s](https://unvale.io/missleo?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Qupil](https://unvale.io/character/1d7c5c7a-5f56-41ab-b585-66eb595354c2?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [DannyDraws’](https://unvale.io/DannyDraws?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Taffy](https://unvale.io/character/95242093-1140-4552-82c9-35a3d7d697cb?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [SunsetDoggo’s](https://unvale.io/SunsetDoggo?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Hart](https://unvale.io/character/3dc3a689-eaf2-4606-b39e-6d506affdd61?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Candyfae’s](https://unvale.io/Candyfae?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cupid](https://unvale.io/character/adb79206-c12e-49cb-9c81-66135f3740f7?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Want to see more Valentine’s themed characters? Try checking out the [Valentine's](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=%5B%22Valentines%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag! Make sure to show the characters some love! Get it? Because it’s Valentine’s…I’ll stop… Now, it’s time to get your OC’s ready for Valentine’s Day! Happy creating! --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) Share your Valentine's Day designs on Unvale! [Download the App HERE ](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Writing Chemistry Between Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-writing-a-duo-pair-or-trio-dynamics-in-your-stories/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:28:03.000Z *Whether a duo or a trio, this article’s for you and your OCs!* When it comes to writing one on one dynamics with your OCs (or if you’re writing a trio, one on one on one), there are tons of different ways to go about it. You might have already read last week’s article on [different kinds of relationships to write about when it comes to your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/), and if you haven’t; well, what are you doing, go read it! That article covers some examples of kinds of relationships you can explore beyond the basic friends, enemies, and lovers. This article will focus on tips for those looking to write relationship dynamics between two (or three!) characters. Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up on your skills, this article is for you! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-619c54ad-cb56-45f6-81f5-be52806393e7.png) *Need some character writing tips? I’ve got you!* ### Tip 1: Character Development Scenes When it comes to writing character relationship development scenes, as a rule of thumb, **each scene should progress the relationship in some way**. Even if it’s backwards progression through a misunderstanding or a reveal of a character’s lies, there always needs to be something that moves and shifts. In reality, our relationships aren’t like that; we can simply enjoy each other’s company without changing the nature of our relationships. But when it comes to writing, the audience *usually* isn’t reading for these quiet moments, and you as a writer **only have so much time to show off and explore your characters**, so it’s important to use it well. This isn’t to say you *shouldn’t* write cute scenes that don’t progress the relationship where your OCs enjoy each other's company, but if you’re writing a novel or TV show script, try to find ways to integrate these moments into their interactions throughout the text. That brings us to our next tip. ### Tip 2: Showing off the Relationship **Integrate relationship dynamics throughout the text**. You want to avoid the trap of expository dialogue as much as possible. For example, introducing your sibling characters by having them call each other “brother” or “sister” is an example of this, at least in the English language. If you have siblings, you can probably agree that you don’t go around referring to them by that relationship; you just use their names. **Basically; show, don’t tell.** So, how do you go about showing a relationship without specific scenes or exposition? You might need to practice it a fair amount to get it right, but it all comes down to the little things. Some examples might include: - If they are sitting around a campfire or table, do they sit together, or apart? - If they’re out in public together, do they walk side by side or avoid being seen together entirely? - Do they encourage and comfort each other when they struggle? Or do they tease each other, but ultimately offer a helping hand? - If one wakes up before the other, do they help the other character prepare for the day by making breakfast or ironing their work uniform? Or maybe they just leave without a word? - Do they put each other down, or build each other up when speaking to other characters? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-5e810a92-d752-4a16-845a-fe58bd2260ff.png) *The key to a healthy relationship is to communicate.* ### Tip 3: Communicate (or Don’t!) When it comes to relationships, communication is what makes or breaks them. **If you want to show a healthy relationship, show respectful communication** between your OCs (especially in cases where you want to have a functional [throuple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A9nage%5F%C3%A0%5Ftrois?ref=blog.unvale.io) or [polycule](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycule?ref=blog.unvale.io)). This involves: - Listening to the other character’s desires and feelings, and not belittling them even if they disagree or don’t understand. - Asking questions to try and understand the other character’s position. - Clearly communicating their own needs and wants, even if they’re ‘shameful’ emotions like envy or jealousy. - Taking a mindset of “you and me against the problem” instead of “you vs. me”. - Showing respect and appreciation to the other character in a way that makes that character *feel* appreciated and respected. **If any of these suggestions resonate with you personally, that’s because these tips are actually for real life relationships, platonic or not!** Now, if you want to set up a catastrophic, toxic *disaster* of a relationship, you can easily **reverse all of the above suggestions** on one or both sides of the relationship. - Belittle and dismiss the other character’s feelings, worries and needs. - Bottling up emotions and assuming that the other character can “figure it out” (or the dreaded, “you know why”). - Fighting against each other rather than compromising or focusing on the actual problem, dragging up past *resolved* fights as ammunition. - Showing ‘appreciation’ in a way that a character *clearly* doesn’t appreciate (such as murdering love rivals or harassing the character at their job). You can show characters on a journey from having poor communication skills to having good ones instead of just a static relationship, if that’s the story you want to tell. --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) Thousands of people are waiting to read your stories! [Download the App HERE ](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Unvale PSA: Artist Safety Tips URL: https://blog.unvale.io/unvale-psa-artist-safety-tips-for-your-online-experience/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:59:28.000Z Yee haw! It’s your ol’ pal Sheriff Deputy Solar! (Well, ex-Deputy, they got me on desk work these days.) Okay, to drop the cowboy theme for a bit; today’s article is on artist and internet safety, especially here on Unvale. Lately we’ve seen a rise in fake accounts with names like “UnvaleStaff” or “UnvaleSupport” sending scam links to our users, and we figure that now is a great chance to cover how to recognize real staff, what information to not share on the internet, and for those just getting into commissions, artist safety tips! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) If there are any questions you have that aren’t answered here, check out the [**Unvale Help Center**](https://help.unvale.io/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Unlike this article, those articles are updated and edited over time and reflect the site’s current state and rules. ### Table of Contents - Anti-Scam PSA - Internet Safety Refresher - Artist Safety Tips - How *You* Can Help --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-38f1b829-bdf0-4472-9166-8e7bd043eaaf.png) *Behold, the mighty Staff Badge!* ### Anti-Scam PSA Now, cowpokes, first thing to note is that all Unvale Sheriffs have a **fancy badge** on ‘em; granted, **we don't have them on that spankin’ new app yet**… so y’all gotta check the site if you aren't sure. We here at the Unvale Sheriff’s office don't use generic names like “UnvaleSheriff” to contact ya, since we’re a small group of cowpokes. You can read about staff on the [**Unvale About page**](https://unvale.io/about?ref=blog.unvale.io). Staff will clearly link to other staff in their Unvale page bios, which you can get to through the About page. Now, what should ya do if you spot a faker, an imposter, a heinous ne’er-do-well? Well, ol’ Lumi’s gotcha covered. Simply click the [**Help Center link**](https://help.unvale.io/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) at the bottom of any Unvale page, and look to the **bottom right of the page**. Our hardworkin’ mascot Lumi should be night or day! (**Unless you have an ad blocker turned on**. Even Lumi is powerless against the mighty ad blocker.) While Lumi is there around the clock, our human staff gotta sleep. **You gotta give some time ‘n wait for staff to roll ‘round**. Our horses take weekends off and we can't ride ‘em over to deal with site problems, but Lumi logs everything for us, so rest assured! So after that, then what? Well, these’re some rules that might be familiar to you veteran cowpokes… - **Do** send links, screenshots and any other evidence you can provide through the Help Center. - **Don't** engage with or harass the person you’re reporting. This includes comments, liking their content, and tagging them. - **Don't** create a callout post on them, or draw attention to them. This is for your own safety as well, so that the problem user doesn’t bother you. - **Do** block them. While blocking isn’t perfected yet, it should give you some peace of mind. While ya wait for staff to handle your troubles, you can read some of the info filed away in the help center about the local laws ‘round these parts. **I’ll also include what you can do to help out your friendly Unvale sheriffs at the end of this here article**. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-46b83e1f-2f4f-492b-a7d2-cd91b16ececf.png) *Listen up, kiddos!* ### Internet Safety Refresher If you want a refresher of what not to share on Unvale, the Help Center’s article on [**Online User Safety**](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927129-online-user-safety?ref=blog.unvale.io) is the place to go. It also goes over what I mentioned in the section above about staff badges. **Here are examples of sensitive information to keep private online:** - Your real name (nicknames and deadnames too; you don’t want any jerks misusing your deadname) and your face (even when it’s partially covered). - Your location, address, and school/workplace (when traveling, keep that information private too so people don’t know your home is empty). - Your personal and school email addresses, and anything that could leak that such as a Google Doc or Google Classroom link. - IP information, passwords, or banking info; Unvale staff will **NEVER** ask for any of these. Something important to keep in mind when using any online platform is that the internet is forever, and that it is public. This means that anything you post can be saved by *any* person out there in the world, whether they have good intentions or not. This also includes people you might meet and work with in your future career, whether you pursue art, writing, or something else. If you’re interested in becoming an [Unvale Superstar](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9876096-unvale-s-superstar-program?ref=blog.unvale.io) for instance, being a good example for other users to follow when it comes to internet safety is a great start. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-23034124-dba2-4607-83eb-e2d9cc588436.png) *Guard yourself against scams!* ### Artist Safety Tips Step number one when starting out with commissions (whether you’re paid for them with cash, art, or something else) is creating a **Terms of Service** (ToS) contract. It might sound scary and complex, but it can be as long or short as you want. The purpose of a ToS is to protect you and your clients; **it’s an agreement that your clients need to be okay with in order to work with you**. Here’s an example ToS from my own adoptables, which the buyer agrees to when they purchase my work: - *Do not edit the original image or claim it as your own art.* - *You may modify the design as you wish!* - *You may resell the design for the amount equal to any art commissioned for the character, but you may not resell the design on its own (aka the original image drawn by me) without my permission or for an amount higher than the amount you purchased the design for.* - *Please credit me wherever possible!* Other artists have different ToS conditions for their clients, and I encourage you to explore other artist’s Terms of Service to help design your own. (If you want to use my example above for your own adoptables or modify it, you’re welcome to.) **Here are some more quick tips to protect yourself as an artist.** - Always sign and/or watermark your art. - Leave a big watermark on any commission or trade artwork you do until you get payment, and then resend the artwork without the watermark. - Make sure any bases you use are free to use or allowed to be used commercially. - If you accept art or other kinds of payment for commissions, always specify *what* you expect and *when* you expect it. You may be comfortable waiting a year for a piece of art (like me), but if you’re too generous, it’s possible you might get something you weren’t expecting or nothing at all. *If you accept cash payment…* - List your payment methods clearly, and link to them where possible. - If the payment received seems smaller than you expected, it might be fees from your payment method. Look into it if you find discrepancies. - Specify which currency you’ve listed your prices in, and list your price in multiple currencies because people are often too lazy to check themselves (USD, euros and the British pound are the big three). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/02/data-src-image-66cf9ea6-4d23-48fe-a9dd-7745042f857a.png) ### How You Can Help So cowpoke, you’ve made it to the end. Good on ya. Now, how can you, the average Unvale citizen, help out the Sheriffs ‘n staff? Well, first off, **sharing this article** to folks who’re lost and confused in the wilds helps. While it might not be the pinnacle of pinnacles, this article is a handy introduction to the basics of the basics. [**The Help Center**](https://help.unvale.io/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is ultimately the place to go if you’ve got questions burnin’ a hole in your pocket, so if you were brought here by another handy cowpoke lookin’ out for ya, take a gander over there. Hrm, now, how to get the word out… Ah, I got it! Hey cowpoke, can you do me a favour? Last time I asked ya to make a post with a hashtag, yeah? Let’s do it again this time, but let’s add a lil bit of spice to it. You might not be a fan of cowboys, so let’s make it more inclusive… **Use** [**#PSAsona**](https://unvale.io/posts?contentType=social&searchMode=all&sort=newest&tags=[%22PSAsona%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) **to spread the word, with your own persona or OC dressed as a cowpoke, or a defender of Unvale**. Maybe you’re a knight or a scout, but no matter what, y’all are the ones keeping your eyes peeled for scammers and bots. Make it a post, or a character page, art, or what-have-ya ‘n **use your own words and style to spread the message**; but make sure it’s accurate! (And that ya link this article while you’re at it.) Thanks for readin’. Keep on reportin’, and keep on enjoying Unvale and makin’ it a safe place for all! ### How to Design a Werewolf OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-werewolf-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-29T23:39:10.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* *Awooo!! Wait, I’m a vampire, not a werewolf!* A type of character lurks in the shadows of the moonlit night…they’re not the [ghosts](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-ghost-oc/)…Sometimes they’re considered the enemies of [vampires](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/)…You might consider them a kind of [monster](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/)…This type of character is…the werewolf! Werewolves are another popular character in media and stories! You might recognize the names of characters such as… - [The Wolfman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FWolf%5FMan%5F%281941%5Ffilm%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Professor Lupin](https://harrypotter.fandom.com/wiki/Remus%5FLupin?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Clawd](https://monsterhigh.fandom.com/wiki/Clawd%5FWolf%5F%28G1%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) Werewolves, also sometimes known as Lycanthropes or Lycans, are characters who shapeshift into wolves or wolf-like creatures! In popular stories they change into their wolf form under the light of a full moon…Usually against their own will! In more modern stories they might be the nemeses of vampire characters too. Werewolves are an interesting kind of character that you can find in films, shows, and stories! So how do you design a werewolf OC? Well, first you need to wait for a full moon before we can start…Just kidding! Let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What kind of werewolf is your OC? First off, what kind of werewolf is your character? Werewolves vary in different kinds of stories and there’s different kinds your OC could be! Some werewolves may only have werewolf features during a full moon, others may still have animal ears or other features regardless. Some werewolves may have better control over their abilities, others may have no control at all! You’ll want to consider the kind of werewolf they are as you design them. If you’re not sure where to start, you could consider questions such as… - How did the character receive their powers? - When do they turn into a werewolf? - Do they have control over their abilities? - Do they have wolf-like features only while transformed? - When they transform, do they turn into a humanoid wolf, or a normal wolf? - What’s their personality like? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? The questions above will give you an idea of how you can design your werewolf character! A werewolf with no control over their powers might have more ragged clothing since the transformation was unexpected, or if they have control they might be more prepared for it. Thinking about how a werewolf’s powers affect them can help you design them! ## Give your werewolf an interesting outfit! Since werewolves appear in modern stories and old myths alike, there’s a lot of different outfits you could give your werewolf character! You’ll want to consider the setting as well as the personality of your character when designing their outfit. ### Incorporate a motif into your werewolf’s design! For starters, a motif could be a great addition to a werewolf design! The motif could be based around their powers or what causes them to change into a werewolf. A motif could be the audience’s hint to the character being a werewolf before it‘s revealed too! There’s several different themes that could be used as a motif throughout a werewolf design! The motif might take the form of jewelry, or it might be a pattern on the OC’s outfit! If you need some motif ideas to try, you could consider… - A moon motif - A wolf motif - A plant motif - A skull motif - A fang motif - A pawprint motif The motif could be whatever you want it to be! There’s a lot more than the list above, and the motif you use will depend on the character you want to create. The motif could be a large part of the design…or it could be more subtle! A more subtle motif could be fun for a character who’s secretly a werewolf, and the reveal could make for a fun plot twist later. If you plan on writing a plot twist in your story and you need some ideas for that, check on this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-plot-twist-in-your-original-stories/)! ### Give your werewolf some cool clothes! The kind of clothes your OC wears might depend more on the setting of the story. Werewolves are in all kinds of different stories. Some werewolves may be in a story set in the modern day, others might not be! Other factors could impact the clothes your werewolf wears too! A werewolf with less control over their powers might have clothes that are more worn-down or torn up due to their transformation…Or they might keep extra clothes handy just in case! If you need a few ideas to get you brainstorming, you could try… - A coat with a fur trim - Torn jeans - Ragged shorts - A torn shirt - A leather vest - A wool skirt Just like with motifs, the werewolf character’s clothes could hint at them being a werewolf too. Maybe they have a lot of fur details in their design, or they have a T-shirt with a wolf design on it! A fun example of using clothes for a werewolf design would be [Yaèl](https://unvale.io/character/54e5e6a6-5809-45fc-94c3-1bc663cda3fe?ref=blog.unvale.io), [NiniBini’s](https://unvale.io/UnhingedArtist?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Yaèl has cool medieval clothes! Another fun example would be [Ezra](https://unvale.io/character/95c72bdb-1551-4d03-8f7c-5e41dd18a48b?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Namscabbagepatch’s](https://unvale.io/Namscabbagepatch?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Ezra has a cool jacket with a fur trim! ### Add some accessories to your werewolf’s design! Accessories! Accessories are always a cool thing to add to create some more interest in a design, and werewolf designs are no exception! An assortment of accessories could be your chance to incorporate the motif you chose (if you decided to add one!) into the design, as well as just being a nice addition! The accessories could be more than just a cosmetic part of the design too. They could have significance to the werewolf character too! Perhaps they have a necklace with a charm that keeps their powers under control, or they carry their favorite weapons with them! If you need some ideas, you could try… - Gloves with a fur trim - A tooth necklace - A ragged cloak - A leather belt with weapons on it - A chain belt - A choker necklace - A pendant - A weapon with a strap to hold it - A fur pelt cape Accessories could be a cool way to make your werewolf OC’s design more unique and help them stand out among other characters! You could add as many, or as few as you want. It’s up to you! A fun example of using accessories for a werewolf design would be [Adelene](https://unvale.io/character/3675f501-20fd-44ed-8613-d5855059b6bd?ref=blog.unvale.io), [FlareBlaze45’s](https://unvale.io/FlareBlaze45?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Adelene has a cool moon clip and other accessories! Another fun example would be [Cyrus](https://unvale.io/character/bc8146c1-2639-4b7a-bc2c-03f0c1abac6d?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Bug’s](https://unvale.io/bugzilla44?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Cyrus has a cool knife sheath and other accessories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-e98b5b08-d587-49b6-987f-1a7dd23252b9.png) What kind of outfit will you give your werewolf? A fang necklace? Some skull details? A fur-trim coat? ## Could you use the appearance of your werewolf to enhance their design? The appearance of your werewolf is an important aspect of their design! Their design could tell the audience that they’re a werewolf, or hint at what kind of werewolf they are. ### What kind of build would suit your werewolf? Whether your character’s in human or werewolf form, the build of your werewolf can play a big part in their design! The shape language you use could suggest what kind of character the werewolf is, or it could show how powerful they might be! For some ideas, you could consider… - Lots of sharp shape language for a powerful werewolf - Softer shape language for a more friendly werewolf - Square shape language for a stubborn werewolf - A more muscular build for a stronger werewolf - A thinner build for a faster werewolf Since your werewolf will likely have a normal form as well as a werewolf one, there are more opportunities to use shape language as well! You could use shape language in the fur, ears, and tail! Even though features like wolf ears are triangular, you could draw the shapes sharper or with rounded edges depending on the kind of look you want! While soft shapes are usually associated with friendlier characters and sharper shapes associated with more action-based characters, the opposite could be used too! Perhaps you want your werewolf to seem more menacing at first…But really they’re just a gentle giant! You could give the character lots of sharp shapes to make them look more intimidating. A cool example of using the build for a werewolf design would be [Abraham](https://unvale.io/character/12ba8c99-ab6e-4db9-b540-6ea7f53d3ff5?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Floppy’s](https://unvale.io/GoldenFloppy?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Abraham has lots of square shape language! Another cool example would be [Ava](https://unvale.io/character/9ba987e6-bc05-46d1-a1ea-e8c5b51f83af?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io), [Tinylion08’s](https://unvale.io/tinylion08?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Ava has lots of round shape language! ### Give your werewolf fun hair! There’s lots of cool hairstyles you could give your werewolf character! It’s fairly common for werewolf characters to have messier hairstyles, likely due to the sudden transformations! They don’t always have to have a messy hairstyle though, and you could pick something that suits their personality better! A higher-ranking, or just really fancy, werewolf might have something more elaborate! If you need a few hairstyle ideas to help inspire you, here’s some ideas: - Long, wild hair - A wolfcut - An untidy bun - A long beard - A bushy mustache - A thick ponytail - A messy jellyfish cut - Unkempt bangs There’s plenty more hairstyles than the ones listed above too! If you decided on a kind of shape language to use for your werewolf character, you could use it in their hair as well! A fun example of using hairstyles for a werewolf design would be [Wren](https://unvale.io/character/45bca43b-0877-4503-b247-c5f232da50d6?ref=blog.unvale.io), [RedactedDream’s](https://unvale.io/RedactedDream?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Wren has a cool spiky hairstyle! Another fun example would be [Nicolas](https://unvale.io/character/003985d5-d430-43ad-9da5-1bb2e5d6c8e9?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Imaginaire’s](https://unvale.io/Oicha?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Nicolas has a cool hairstyle that works well with his animal ears! ### Add some special features to your werewolf’s design! Time to add the werewolf features! There’s several different details a werewolf could have as part of their design! Some werewolves may have more subtle werewolf features, such as sharp pupils or yellow irises, while others may have more obvious ones! Some characters keep their wolf ears and tail even in their humanoid form. You can choose what features to add depending on the kind of werewolves your story has! If you need some ideas for cool details to add to your werewolf OC, you could try… - Pointed ears - Animal ears - An animal tail - Special markings - Sharp fangs - Unique eyes - Claw-like nails - Paws instead of feet - A unique eye design Some interesting details can also make your character feel more intriguing! You could give your werewolf a lot of different features…or you could stick to just a few for a more subtle look! A fun example of using special features in a werewolf design would be [Vash](https://unvale.io/character/ea1d28e2-bff0-43b0-b246-857e13167516?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Sourdough17’s](https://unvale.io/Sourdough17?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Vash has cool, sharp teeth! Another fun example would be [Harrow](https://unvale.io/character/8e690743-36dc-48dc-a293-c52d580c2bf7?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Mockrates’](https://unvale.io/ColeOrchid?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC! Harrow has cool hands with a gradient to them! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-c0dde207-2dcd-4f36-988f-03930bcbb500.png) Wolf ears! Wolf tail! Wolf eyes! What will you choose to add?! Designing a werewolf character can be a lot of fun! If you want to find more cool werewolf OCs, be sure to check out the [werewolf](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22werewolf%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag! You can also use the tag yourself if you post your werewolf character on Unvale. Happy creating! If you need other ideas for your already-existing OCs, there’s articles on [reviving old characters](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/), [creating a reference sheet](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/), [using fear in a backstory](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-fear-in-your-oc-backstories/), and [more](https://blog.unvale.io/tag/oc/)! --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) Share your new werewolf OC on Unvale! [Download the App HERE ](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Beyond Romance: Relationship Types to Explore in Your OC Stories URL: https://blog.unvale.io/different-types-of-relationships-to-write-about-for-your-oc-stories/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:48:34.000Z When it comes to making OCs, most beginners are interested in only a handful of types of relationships; friends, enemies, and lovers. When you’re young, these might be the kinds of relationships you find most important or see the most in media, but it’s important to start exploring other types of relationships in your work where you can. Whether it’s a parent and child traveling across the wasteland together, or a pair of coworkers with a professional friendly relationship, let’s get into some examples! *(Also, keep an eye out for another upcoming article about tips for how to write relationship dynamics between your OCs from me!)* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-bdf3d126-7378-4e4d-8bc0-7a7d875a5aa2.png) *Siblings!* ### Familial Relationships Exploring familial relationships between your OCs involves a fair amount of empathy and watching how people interact around you, especially if you don’t have the familial relationships you want to write about in your life. Daydreaming how it might be like to have a sibling or a close knit extended family might be familiar to you, or maybe you’ve wished that you were an only child and didn’t have to deal with your annoying younger siblings. Either way, here are some potential familial dynamics you can try writing about in your stories. **Siblings** Whether you love ‘em or hate ‘em, most people have one. Writing sibling dynamics are a goldmine of different potential interactions because there’s no single way that siblings are expected to act. They can be close and trust each other, distant and cold, or bicker constantly but love each other at the end of the day. Here are some sub-types of sibling dynamics that you can try. - [*Twins*](https://unvale.io/?tags=[%22twin%22]&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io): Twins tend to be considered close and to have a unique bond, but if two people are constantly seen as two halves as a whole, they might rebel against that perception and even each other. - [*Half-siblings*](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22halfsibling%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io): Maybe the characters are the result of a blended family, an affair, a surrogacy, or a one-night stand ages ago. How do your characters feel about sharing one parent? - *Siblings with a 10+ year age gap*: Maybe one character went to college while the other was growing up, and they’re estranged because of it; or maybe the older sibling is a cool extra parent figure. - *Adopted/chosen siblings*: Sometimes our true family are the people we meet after we’re born. Even if your characters aren’t related by blood, this doesn’t mean they don’t act like siblings. **Parent/Child** I’m sure that at least 90% of you reading aren’t parents, but that doesn’t mean we can’t write them. When it comes to parents in stories starring teens and children, authors often find ways to remove them from a narrative. This is usually because it’s easier to write a fun adventure without parental guidance. But, I do encourage you to at least develop how your character interacted with their parent figure(s) in their early life if you don’t have the parent in the story. Besides that, here are some other similar dynamics: - *Adult and their nibling*: ([‘Nibling’ is a gender neutral term for niece or nephew](https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/words-were-watching-nibling?ref=blog.unvale.io).) Sometimes a person is raised by another family member, like an aunt or uncle (or parent’s non-binary sibling). - *Grandparent and grandchild*: For those who grew up near their grandparents, this dynamic might feel familiar and comforting to write about. The bridge between generations can be a bit hard to write about, but it’s rewarding. - *Adopted/chosen parent*: Maybe your character was adopted at or a bit after birth, as a child or teen, or brought under the guidance of an older mentor figure as an adult. **Other Relationships** - [*Cousins*](https://unvale.io/?tags=[%22cousin%22]&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io): Maybe your OC has a large web of extended family with cousins, and maybe those cousins have their own partners and children, adding to the family. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-bf039ef8-8b18-414c-a499-898dfc873312.png) *My friends live on my phone!* ### Friendships and Antagonistic Relationships I’m putting these two into the same category to keep things quick. There are all sorts of kinds of friendships; each one is unique. The same applies to antagonistic relationships (a fancy way to say ‘arch nemesises’, really), so let’s go through some examples. - *Best friends*: The classic. A best friend is your favourite person, whether you love them romantically or not. - [*Rivals*](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22rival%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io): Rivals can exist in any situation. As long as two competitive people are in a position to compete, they will. - *Coworkers*: A professional relationship between two working adults doesn’t have much room for personal feelings, but you can always change that. - *Boss and employee*: Similar to the above, but with a power dynamic. Might not be the best for romance, if HR has anything to say about it. - *‘Frienemies’*: A potentially toxic dynamic of mutual sabotage and pettiness. Sometimes pals, sometimes nemesises. - *Begrudging partners*: These characters don’t actually get along or like each other, but they work well together. “I don’t even know who you are?” Sometimes a character will hold a grudge against another without them even realizing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-87120c97-5db0-4fdb-af6b-e326283adc54.png) *They are married, your honour.* ### Romantic Relationships Romance is in the air\~! One could argue that February is the most romantic month, but when you live up north like this blog writer, it’s another month of snow and cold weather. But maybe your OCs are taking advantage of this to cuddle up together… Anyways, something a lot of writers struggle with or outright ignore is writing characters who are in established romantic relationships. You’ve likely seen or read more media that’s about *falling* in love rather than the promised ‘happily ever after’. So along with the usual tropes, here are some different kinds of romantic relationships you might not consider! - *Best friends to lovers*: These characters start as best friends, and then transition neatly into lovers. There’s probably not much different than before, except maybe more handholding? - *Exes meet again*: Maybe it didn’t work out the first time; maybe they’re high school sweet hearts who moved away for university, and met again in their home town, interested in rekindling their romance. - *Arranged marriage*: This could be a classic use of the trope with the two falling in love, or maybe it could turn into something else; two queer people forced together finding lovers outside their marriage, maybe. In that case, it could be a type of friendship or partnership instead. - *Happily ever after*: These OCs have done the whole marriage thing, and now they’re ready to be a married couple. But what does that entail? After the honeymoon phase, maybe happily ever after is harder work than they thought… - *Polyamory*: A relationship that includes more than two people built on communication and consent. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-4a550790-725e-46c8-8d0a-128d60416d6f.png) *A challenge for you, the reader!* So, what do you think? Are there any new relationships you’d like to explore in your work? Now that we have the new tagging feature, let’s try it out! - Use [#relationships](https://unvale.io/posts?contentType=social&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22relationships%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) in a post about your OCs and their relationships. - Then, tag one or more of your friends or favourite creators who have OC relationships and challenge them to share! - Let’s see how many posts we can create about our OCs. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) Thousands of people are waiting to read your stories! [Download the App HERE ](https://unvale.io/app?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Changelog: World and Writing Improvements on Web URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-world-and-writing-improvements-on-web/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:06:06.000Z I know you just heard from me, but we're doing releases BACK TO BACK TO BACK these days. We're bringing you some MUCH NEEDED improvements you're going to love, so let's dive in: ✨ World sections - Right now, creations in a world are just in one, giant pile. NO LONGER! You can now add sections to your worlds and organize your creations however you'd like. All types of creations can go in a section, so you can sort by chapter, by creation type, or however you choose! Link me your world after you organize it so I can check it out! 💖 Images in writing - You can now add images into your writing in both worlds and OC pages. Whether you want to create custom headers, cool scenes for your story, or write an in-depth piece on the evolution of your character's design (sketches included), there's so much potential here. 🔥Webcomics in writing - This is VERY EARLY and still needs work, but--when we added image support into writing– we did it in a way where it could support webcomics! That's right, we see everyone uploading their comics piece by piece as individual art, and we thought there could be a better way. Hopefully this is a good first step to supporting more creation types on Unvale! (\*Tip: If you're uploading a lot of images at once, you can drag-and-drop them into writing!\*) These are all live on the Unvale website RIGHT NOW! Also, for transparency, this is also coming soon: ✨ Tagging is being released in the app ASAP 💖 World and writing editing (including these new additions) in the app is in progress RIGHT NOW Unvale has been your go-to place for characters for so long, and now we want to make it your go-to place for sharing stories, webcomics, and other types of original creations. As always, send feedback, report bugs, and ask questions. See this release at: [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### How to Nail Your OC's Aesthetic URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:37:43.000Z Aesthetics! If you’ve read some of my past blogs, you’ve probably heard me talk about them a bunch. I love aesthetics and I think they can be a great addition to a design! Before we continue though, if you need some ideas for specific kinds of characters, check out one of these other articles! - [Tips for Designing a Vampire OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Fairy OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Ghost OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-ghost-oc/) The articles above also have some lists with different aesthetics in them! Now that we have that out of the way…Let’s continue talking about aesthetics! ### What is an aesthetic? First off…What exactly is an aesthetic? Originally, the word itself referred to beauty or art, and it’s still often used that way! More recently however, [aesthetics](https://aesthetics.fandom.com/wiki/Aesthetics%5F101?ref=blog.unvale.io) became a sort of categorization of different styles, to put it simply. (Especially on social media!) It can refer to music, cultures, room decor, fashion, and more! For our purposes, we’ll be using the term to refer to fashion styles you could use for your OCs! You might be familiar with some aesthetics already, and you might recognize the names of popular ones such as… - Fairy Core - Mushroom Core - Dark Academia - Sweet Lolita - Victorian Goth - Y2K Aesthetics can be helpful for figuring out your OC’s design. Picking one can be useful for finding references, or creating moodboards for your character! It’s also important to do your research when it comes to aesthetics. An aesthetic isn’t just about the fashion itself. Each type has a different history surrounding it and a different thing it could represent! Some aesthetics are also focused around heavier topics, so it's important to keep that in mind as well. Incorporating an aesthetic into your OC’s look can be a great starting point for their design, or help their outfit look more cohesive! Not every character needs an aesthetic though, and it’s okay if their design doesn’t fit into a specific type. An aesthetic can just be a fun thing to incorporate into a character design! So how do you pick an aesthetic for an OC’s design? Let’s talk about it! ## What’s the setting of your OC’s world? One thing you’ll want to think about is the setting of your OC’s world. There’s lots of aesthetics based around certain time periods, but there’s also plenty of aesthetics that wouldn’t fit in a specific time period! It might be a bit odd to see a character with a modern aesthetic in a mediaeval world, or vice versa! (...Unless the character’s a time traveler!) Since aesthetics often have a specific theme to them, different types could fit better in certain settings! A character in a Victorian-inspired setting might have a Victorian Goth aesthetic, or a character in a sci-fi setting might have a cyberpunk one! To help you brainstorm, here’s some questions you could answer about your OC! - What time period does the story take place? - What kind of area does the OC live in? - What’s the weather there like? - Would their culture influence the kinds of aesthetics they might, or might not, wear? - Is the story meant to be more inspired, or more historically accurate? Answering the questions above could help give you an idea as to what aesthetics might work better for your character and their story…and what aesthetics might not work as well! You could also just take inspiration from aesthetics for a design, and not have the whole design centered around an aesthetic! If you need help with developing the setting of your world, my co-writer has an article on world building development questions right [here](https://blog.unvale.io/worldbuilding-development-questions/)! ## What kind of personality does your OC have? Next, you’ll want to consider your OC’s unique personality and their interests. There’s many aesthetics with subcategories to them that have a different look from the main aesthetic! For example, you may have heard of lolita fashion! The first thing that might come to your mind is pastel frilly dresses with cutesy animals or food designs…This is the subcategory Sweet Lolita! There’s also Classic Lolita, Gothic Lolita, and many others! Each style fits under the Lolita category, but each has aspects that make it unique from the other kinds. There’s also aesthetics with similar themes to other aesthetics, but have different themes or motifs that separate them. Different characters might prefer different aesthetic looks than other characters! Some aesthetics might be more focused on practicality or comfort, while others might be more extravagant! You’ll want to think about how your character’s personality or what they like might influence the aesthetic they have. If you’re not sure what might work best, here’s some questions to get you thinking! - What’s your OC’s personality like? - Do they prefer pastels, or more dark colors? - Do they have an interest in animals and nature? - Do they like studying and reading? - Do they like fantasy and mythology? - Do they prefer extravagance, or practicality? - Do they like frilly clothing and bows? - Do they like belts and lots of accessories? - Do they like a specific kind of music? - Do they have any specific hobbies? The questions above can help you get an idea for the kind of character you’re creating and what kinds of aesthetics might fit them! You can always create your own questions too that you can answer for your OCs! If you need some more things to think about for developing your OC’s, try this article on strengths and weaknesses for OCs [here](https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-5ed826a4-fdb5-4c08-8e52-6c402d721f23.png) Lots of aesthetics have unique motifs to them! ## What job or role does your character have? Another thing you could consider when you pick an aesthetic for a character is the job, or role, they have! Some jobs or schools may require a uniform or certain way of dressing. A character might have an aesthetic based on that! Different aesthetics often focus on different types of clothes, whether it be fancy dresses or a nice suit! Since some aesthetics are centered around specific activities, that could also be a way to factor an aesthetic into a design! You’ll want to consider how a career might impact the attire of your OC. For example, a student might dress with an Academia aesthetic! The job or role could also tie into the setting. Say our student character has been sent to a mysterious academy out in the middle of a dark forest. The Dark Academia aesthetic might work well for their design! If you’re not too sure where to start with thinking about your OC’s job or role and how it could affect the aesthetic they might have, here’s some questions to consider! - Does the OC have a specific job? - Do they go to a specific school or academy? - Does their job place or school require a uniform? - Does their type of work require a specific type of clothing? - Does the setting affect their job? The job your OC has could be an important part of choosing an aesthetic for your OC’s design! The questions above are just a few that could help you figure out how a job could impact a character design. If your OC doesn’t have a job or role just yet, and you need some ideas for how to pick one for them, there’s an article about the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/)! ## How to incorporate an aesthetic into a pre-existing OC’s design! If you have a pre-existing character, you can choose an aesthetic based on that as well! Adding a specific type of aesthetic doesn’t have to mean a complete redesign of your OC. Your character might have design elements that already match a specific type of aesthetic! It might be a specific motif, or the style of clothing they wear. Use what you already have to decide on an aesthetic! Giving a character an aesthetic isn’t always necessary, but it could help you enhance their design! There might be details on an OC design that you really like and want to add more of. Taking inspiration from aesthetics and the motifs or accessories from those might be useful! If you need some ideas, here’s a few to get your creativity flowing! - Does your character have floral themes in their design? Fairy Core might be fun for them! - What about mushroom motifs? There’s always Mushroom Core! - Lots of belts and modern clothes? Maybe Cyberpunk! - What about layered clothing and earthy tones? Perhaps Mori Kei would work! - Darker colors and fancier clothes? Try Romantic Goth! - Lots of ruffles and dessert motifs? You could try Sweet Lolita! The aesthetics mentioned in this article are just a few different ones you could try. There are many, many more aesthetics out there! It can be fun to give a pre-existing OC an aesthetic to enhance their outfit! For more on updating older character designs, there’s an article with tips on reviving old OCs [here](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-0a077d04-bc9c-4b15-935f-2053558e8190.png) What’s your favorite aesthetic? ### OC’s with cool aesthetics from the awesome users on Unvale! If you need inspiration from the cool OC’s on Unvale, there’s plenty you can find! Here’s a few awesome characters with specific aesthetics! - [Splautism’s](https://unvale.io/Splautism05?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool OC [Evanora](https://unvale.io/character/e4b7df13-0efa-487b-b5a5-df53693b0c56?ref=blog.unvale.io), with a Fairy core aesthetic! - [Rory’s](https://unvale.io/rorbyz?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool OC [Dolly](https://unvale.io/character/eb466e01-707a-4af3-a55e-34b818ec1220?ref=blog.unvale.io), with a Lolita aesthetic! - [Valo’s](https://unvale.io/valo?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool OC [Malice](https://unvale.io/character/b70604a6-a7c8-4156-8f95-2251413c6dcd?ref=blog.unvale.io), with a goth aesthetic! - [ZafraZaleska’s](https://unvale.io/ZafraZaleska?ref=blog.unvale.io) cool OC [Trish](https://unvale.io/character/a50a44c3-f8d2-4a66-9033-11943673668b?ref=blog.unvale.io), with a cyberpunk aesthetic! Be sure to show the characters above some love! If there’s any specific kinds of characters that you’re looking for, you could always try looking through different tags as well. For example, the [goth](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22goth%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [cyberpunk](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22cyberpunk%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tags have lots of different OCs you could check out! Have fun exploring different characters, and have fun creating! ### Fursona 101: How to Make Your Own Fursona URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fursona/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:41:48.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* A fursona is a [sona](https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-sona-a-quick-guide/) built around an animal or animal character. Some are created to look more realistic, while others are anthropomorphic (an animal with human traits). Here's how to design your own, step by step. ## What Is Your Fursona For? Before you tackle their design, figure out how you'll actually be using this character. The answer surprisingly shapes a good deal of every design choice. - Are they a stand-in for your online persona, a character in its own right, or both? - If it's a character, what is their role or story? - How often will you be drawing them? - Will they be anthropomorphic or not? If you'll be drawing your fursona constantly, simple is best. A design with fewer complex parts is faster to whip up. If they're an occasional showcase piece, you have room for a more intricate design. And if they double as a character, let their personality or role influence the design (see our guide on [simplifying design](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/) if you create something too complex to sustain long-term). ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Picking an Animal This is the core decision. It drives the rest of the creative process. Common picks are cats ,wolves, and foxes, but a "fursona" doesn't actually require fur. Reptiles, insects, dragons, video game characters, and completely made up species are all fair game. For building a species from scratch, check out our guide to [creating an original species](https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-think-about-when-creating-an-original-species/). **But what if the animal you love doesn't fit the character you have in mind?** This happens constantly, and there is no single fix. Some creators lean into the contrast on purpose, while others adjust the personality instead of giving up the species. And some just accept the mismatch. A fursona doesn't have to justify its species with matching traits any more than a person has to match their name. **What about anatomy?** Feral (all-fours, non-anthro) and anthropomorphic builds don't just affect your character's posing – they affect the whole design. Anthro fursonas usually stand digitigrade or plantigrade on two legs. Ears often move from the side of the head (realistic feral) to the top (anthro) due to common posing angles. Tail placement and length may also need to be adjusted for balance if your character is upright. All of these factors direct a fursona's look, clothing options, and posing limitations. Okra, in the example below, stands digitigrade, so her pants are cropped accordingly. ![An athro fursona based on the Nomai from Outer Wilds](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Orkanera-.webp) [Okra](https://unvale.io/character/0b12a3b3-a9f1-408f-8cb7-6af6f72f1f93?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera ## Pattern and Textures Patterns give the design visual interest and directs the eye. They can vary based on body part, with different markings on the tail, ears, or paws. Deciding on a pattern – stripes, spots, gradients, and animal-specific prints (tiger, cheetah, panda, etc.) – is a great starting points. Keep in mind that if you're drawing this character often, fewer patterns will save time and prevent continuity mistakes. For color choice inspiration, see our [color palette guide](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/). It's worth pulling a couple of real reference photos of the animal or character to understand actual marking placement. Texture will often go hand-in-hand with pattern, as they are often animal-specific. A lion has very short, coarse fur, while a fox is much softer and fluffier. Using references will also help you figure out fur direction and where an animal tends to have more or less of it. ## Clothing and Accessories Clothing is mostly relevant if your personal is anthropomorphic. Dress them in your own everyday staples, an aesthetic you'd like to try, or something tied to their role or the world they live in. The possibilities are endless. Keep their anatomy in mind, too. Digitgrade legs (walking on "toes" like a dog or bird) makes it difficult for them to wear human-cut pants without some adjustments. This is also a great worldbuilding source – do they need custom clothes made for their unique proportions, or is it the status quo? ![Anthro cat-like fursona named Aliana with pastel color palette, halo, and wings](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/PeteyTheParrot.png) [Alaina](https://unvale.io/character/4070bade-01f4-494e-9459-71c5b8eba92d?ref=blog.unvale.io) by PeteyTheParrot In terms of accessories, it doesn't matter if a fursona stands upright or walks on all-fours. A tiara, glasses, or a halo like Aliana wears in both forms portrayed here are all options that can be applied to any design. As mentioned before, try not to overdo it – too many accessories can be distracting and a pain to draw on repeat. ![Aliana in an all-fours form](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/PeteyTheParrot-copy.png) [Alaina](https://unvale.io/character/4070bade-01f4-494e-9459-71c5b8eba92d?ref=blog.unvale.io) by PeteyTheParrot ## Extra Design Details to Consider Small, creative touches, such as glowing eyes, extra tails, wings, or an unusual eye color, can make a fursona more distinctive. These details are also a natural way to hint at powers, special abilities, status in their society, or origins. One or two details is enough to make a design pop. Any more than that and you're faced with a potentially busy looking and difficult to draw character. More on this in our guide to [simplifying OC design](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/). ## How to Make a Fursona: From Start to Finish Now that we're armed with knowledge, let's create a fursona from scratch. For our example, we're going to create a character that's calm, a little mysterious, and is easy to draw often. Here's how the choices we make might play out: - **Animal:** Cat – Common, but is easy to draw often, and cats are known for being calm and aloof. - **Build:** Anthropomorphic – We want to draw them in outfits and social settings. - **Pattern:** Colorpoint – A realistic, visually distinct pattern that is easy to keep track of. - **Details:** Glowing eyes – Hints at a potential magical ability. - **Clothing:** Something simple – A dark hoodie and loose pants reinforces the mysterious, "low key" vibes we're going for. This outfit style also hides some of the more difficult anatomy to draw. - **Accessories:** A silver chain necklace – Just one, nothing flashy that draws attention. Notice how each choice is doing double duty? They fit both the personality *and* the "draw this often" constraint. This trade-off is the real complexity behind fursona design. Cool elements are appealing, but they are difficult to draw over and over again. ## Unvale Fursonas in the Wild Get inspired by these fursonas made by Unvale users! [Tommy \[Persona\] on UnvaleAfter three-hundred and eleven days of being on Unvale, I AM \*\*FINALLY\*\* putting out a sona page! \*\*Fun Facts about me!\*\* --- · I cannot choose a favorite…![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-b5ac64fb-b5a7-4b52-bdd4-303b628b3897.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/2afc2a20-e01f-424e-90cc-0c37830c843a-bef5b1e8-71ff-4564-ab12-71e9deb07762.awebp)](https://unvale.io/character/ea03875c-d3d5-475a-b1f1-5c0e86a5d046?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Crumb (fursona) on UnvaleCheck out my OC on Unvale, the home for original characters! Create, display, and share all of your OCs for free.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-27a766be-3c11-44a5-9440-82e4cb54db6a.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/76293ba7-af6b-4d79-a52b-3e0f414aec5b-bdde8229-34e4-4819-8e01-dcda6d0c7bd8.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/af3d6a97-ad7e-4369-8947-ccafd6538e6d?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Mika | Fursona on UnvaleDecided to update my fursona recently. So behold Mika! A shapeshifting dragon!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-fe6c623a-a4dd-4d65-a28e-1239c836857e.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/b31f3c97-e868-4dd4-86e3-913e62b9cc00-733f31e4-c7b6-4881-b791-09e2467a4bc7.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/536979e2-ccc5-468c-9619-d6d476bb5db1?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Azazel (fursona) on Unvaleliterally just my fursona, idk what else to say![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/favicon-008b5679-648a-4014-bed3-23b3abe676b9.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/cce1bbaa-3b33-4f61-93b0-8d0b4b0b0311-49265d4c-5aa4-4fda-a4e6-2d9b20c897be.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/132dd9c5-3df7-4829-8fd0-342d1dc9fb8a?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Changelog: @Tagging on Web URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-tagging-on-web/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:33:30.000Z Hello, everyone! We've got an exciting release for you on the website today, and it's TAGGING! That's right, you now have another way to (respectfully) notification bomb your friendos. Here's how it works! - @Tagging - When you type @ and someone's username now, a little dropdown will appear and allow you to select their username. Once selected, it'll automatically apply the correct markdown for you to link to their profile! Tagging works in profile bios, posts, and comments for now. - Notifications - BEYOND just a link to their profile, tagging someone will also send a notification! So if you really want your BFF to see the fan art you posted, use a tag. - App soon - Hold tight, app users! While you'll now receive notifications for tagging in the app, you won't be able to tag folks yourself for a little longer. We need a bit more testing to make sure it doesn't implode on the app, then it'll be in your hands! Hooray! We've got more REALLY COOL STUFF coming out soon, so keep your eyes peeled. Now go check out tagging at [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Character Strengths and Weaknesses: A Guide for Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-31T18:43:53.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* If you've been creating OCs for a while, you've probably heard this advice: give your character strengths and weaknesses. Strengths are the easy sell – a cool OC needs cool abilities. But weaknesses seem like a way to hand them a loss, and nobody wants to see their favorite OC suffer. However, a character with no weaknesses isn't strong. They're boring. Every character is chasing something. A strength makes that goal easier to reach, while a weakness makes it harder. And if your character is constantly winning, it can make for a pretty uninteresting story. Here's the twist, though: the same trait can be a strength or weakness, depending on the goal. A character's stubbornness may motivate them to get through a tough time, and exactly what wrecks them in another. Then there's realism. Nobody is good at everything. And a character who is often reads flat or untrustworthy. The mix of strengths and weaknesses isn't a compromise, it's what makes your OC worth rooting for. Now let's get into some examples to bring your character to life. ![Solar is dressed as a princess.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-5393c3f4-d41b-4069-bd21-d9ddb09665e5.png) ## Social Strengths and Weaknesses These traits stem from your OC’s place in their society, and how people around them interact with them. Social traits are easily improved or lost, making them an interesting character trait to play with as a creator. - **Strength**: *Pretty Privilege –* Your OC has a pretty face, which makes people more likely to treat them well. - **Strength**: *Family Ties –* Your OC is part of an influential family, which lets them wield that influence themselves. - **Strength**: *Important Job –* Your OC is in a position of power through their job. - **Weakness**: *Thuggish Look –* Your OC has the face of a tough thug, which causes people to be scared of them. - **Weakness**: *Social Outcast –* Your OC has been shunned by their community for some reason. - **Weakness**: *Rumor Magnet –* Your OC has tons of negative rumors swirling around them. ![Solar’s OC Erika flexes her prosthetic arm.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-384e2d71-bdc5-400e-a397-466bc1e5caeb.png) ## Physical Strengths and Weaknesses Like social traits, most physical traits can be easily gained or lost, whether by working out or being injured. However, physical traits are never a sign of moral failings or successes; some people simply can’t go to the gym due to chronic pain, some people lose limbs or senses later in life, and others are simply born a bit different (myself included). These might be considered “weaknesses” when it comes to achieving a person’s goals *in a story*, but they’re a fundamental part of us as humans in reality. Like I usually say in my articles, if you want to portray a disabled character in your story, research real people! I encourage you to explore and represent real human experiences in your work.And of course, these are my opinions and experiences as the (able-bodied) writer of this article. Everyone has their own way of implementing these themes and conveying certain experiences; one of the best things about Unvale is our user’s diversity and respect for each other, so as always, do your best to show others that Unvale is a safe and kind place! - **Strength**: *In Shape –* Your OC does parkour and backflips, and is in peak physical condition beyond the average human. - **Strength**: *Able-Bodied –* Your OC doesn’t suffer from any chronic pain, doesn’t need glasses, and has all 4 limbs. - **Weakness**: *Out of Shape –* Your OC works a desk job and doesn’t go to the gym. - **Weakness**: *Disability –* Whether your OC can’t see without their glasses, struggles with an invisible disability, or needs a cane, your OC represents a variety of wonderful humans through their existence. 💙 ![Solar struggles with ADHD and reading complex subjects.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-a43a3804-20ee-4e60-bae5-eaabcafb39ec.png) ## Mental Strengths and Weaknesses Mental traits are more immutable than physical ones. While modern medicine can be used to help treat disorders and syndromes, a person’s basic personality doesn’t change without recognition, understanding, and effort. Additionally, sometimes positive and negative personality traits can become weaknesses and strengths respectively depending on the situation. I should also mention that a character can potentially have all the listed strengths and weaknesses at once! Learning disabilities don’t prevent a person from being naturally brilliant, and even if you have healthy coping mechanisms, that doesn’t mean you’re free from past trauma. - **Strength**: *Natural Intelligence –* Your OC has a natural inclination to learning, and thinks quickly and thoroughly when needed. - **Strength**: *Strong Empathy –* Your OC has a strong sense of empathy and can understand the emotions and behavior of others. - **Strength**: *Healthy Coping Mechanisms –* Your OC has done the work to make peace with themself, and can handle stressful situations. - **Weakness**: *Social Anxiety –* Your OC struggles in social situations and would rather avoid conflict than face it head-on. - **Weakness**: *Learning Disorder –* Your OC has ADHD, dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or another disability. - **Weakness**: *Traumatic Backstory –* Your OC is haunted by the burning of their village, the murder of their family, and the loss of their favorite plush. ![Solar checks her list of traits.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-ae41da06-d11c-4b5c-93f7-7d1b64fdbc3c.png) ## Other Traits Not every trait fits neatly into physical, mental, or social categories. They may come from your character's world. Maybe your OC is a supernatural creature with strengths and weaknesses based on what they are. Or they have a superpower that comes with an allergy to water. - **Strength**: *Superpower –* Your OC can do something outside the norm! Whether it’s laser eyes or the power to fly, your OC’s got an advantage. - **Strength**: *Animal Friend –* Your OC gets along great with animals. - **Strength**: *Special skill –* Maybe your OC can draw or make their own OCs, or maybe they can play piano or embroider. - **Weakness**: *Cursed –* Maybe your OC can only tell the truth to questions, or maybe they spill toads out of their mouth when they talk. - **Weakness**: *Unusual Diet –* Your OC might survive off of electricity, blood, or other substances that most people don’t. - **Weakness**: *Allergies –* Whether it be pollen, peanuts, or kryptonite, your OC is defeated by exposure to a thing that doesn’t affect the average person. ## Community OCs I’d like to use this chance to show off OCs with disabilities on Unvale. Go favorite and leave a comment on these characters if you like them! If you want to share your OCs with disabilities with other users, use [#disability](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22Disability%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), or other similar hashtags. - [**Kai**](https://unvale.io/character/d946e404-6415-40bf-854f-f5704fba89dd?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [enbetweeen](https://unvale.io/enbetweeen?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [**Maya**](https://unvale.io/character/0502d607-9525-4955-906d-569e4ccae56c?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [Artsyarmy](https://unvale.io/Artsyarmy?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [**Amelia**](https://unvale.io/character/3377955a-0c3f-4408-b4f2-fa59d6f65e3f?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [KwestiaCzasu](https://unvale.io/KwestiaCzasu?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [**Ezra Wayne**](https://unvale.io/character/071d46e0-f0cb-42c7-aacf-3ed11dfbe8c0?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [HeyItsVanilla](https://unvale.io/HeyItsVanilla?ref=blog.unvale.io) (CW: eye injury and scarring) - [**Jamie Sterling**](https://unvale.io/character/79f17018-bdef-4c19-a517-42c710cc694c?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [GlitchKat](https://unvale.io/GlitchKat?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [**Regina of Siora**](https://unvale.io/character/aa565753-6e5e-44c2-88c7-4d7c8a4cabef?ref=blog.unvale.io), by user [MusaMusix](https://unvale.io/MusaMusix?ref=blog.unvale.io) I hope you can think of some new strengths and weaknesses for your OC, and some strengths that can become weaknesses in certain situations; and the opposite too. ### How to Design a Wizard or Witch OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-wizard-or-witch-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:36:27.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Many cool characters can be found in the world of Unvale! You have [aliens](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/), [elves](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-elf-oc/), [magical girls](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/), and more! Speaking of magic…That’s the topic of today! Wizards and witches are popular characters in movies, fairytales, and other stories as well! You might recognize the names of some such as… - [Merlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merlin?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Gandalf](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalf?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Glinda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glinda?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Ursula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ursula%5F%28The%5FLittle%5FMermaid%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) Magic users often use spells and potions to accomplish their goals! Sometimes they’re a helpful side character, other times they can be a powerful villain! It depends on the story. So how do you go about designing a witch or wizard character? Grab a magical wand…and let’s talk about it! ## What kind of magic user is your OC? First off, you should figure out what kind of character your magic user is! Some gain their magical abilities in different ways and some have different intentions than others! Having a clear idea of the kind of witch or wizard you want to create can give you an idea as to what design you want to give them! If you’re not sure where to start with figuring out your magic user, here’s some questions you can answer to give you some ideas! - How did they gain their powers? - What do they use their powers for? - What kind of magic do they have? - What kind of world are they in? - What kind of personality do they have? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What role do they play in the story? Answering the questions above might give you a better idea as to what you want to do with your wizard or witch OC! The type of character they are can influence all kinds of different aspects of their design. The questions above are just a few things you can consider. You can come up with questions of your own to answer if you need more ideas! ## Give your wizard or witch a magical outfit! The outfits of a magic user can be really fun to design! It could be mysterious, mystical, elegant, or something else entirely! ### Try incorporating a cool motif into your magic user’s design! When it comes to a magical character, a motif can be a fun addition to their design! Since some OCs have powers centered around a specific type of magic, a motif based on that could help make your OC stand out! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing… - A water motif - A fire motif - A plant or flower motif - A celestial motif - An animal motif - A skull motif - A wind motif - A mushroom motif - A jewel motif - An insect motif - An arachnid motif If your witch or wizard has a different power that doesn’t match any of the ideas above, that could be used for a fun motif as well! They could have a couple motifs as well if they use multiple different kinds of magic. A motif can be cool for getting started with your wizard or witch OC’s design! It can be as subtle as the shapes of little jewels on your character’s cloak, or as obvious as a fun pattern on their robe! A fun example of using motifs for a magical user’s design would be [boredtennis’](https://unvale.io/boredtennis?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pumpkin](https://unvale.io/character/e69bab16-2202-46b8-836c-51de888d7070?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Pumpkin has a cool pumpkin motif! Another fun example would be [Teya’s](https://unvale.io/PatsTheCools?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Frðrik](https://unvale.io/character/351dc47c-0402-4b13-9640-21b3538b85d8?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Frðrik has a cool star motif! ### Pick some fashionable clothes for your wizard or witch! There’s definitely plenty of options for clothes to give your magic user! They often have mystical outfits that fit their character. If you need some ideas, you could try… - A long robe - A flowing gown - A lace-up corset - A top with draping sleeves - A fancy vest - A mysterious cloak - An elegant skirt There’s more to choose from than the list above as well! If you decide to add a motif to your OC’s design, you can incorporate elements into their clothes. The type of wizard or witch your OC is could impact their outfit as well! An evil wizard might wear a tattered robe, while a good one might dress more fancy. It’s up to you what type of clothes you give them! A fun example of using clothes for a magical user’s design would be [LORT’s](https://unvale.io/DertLORT?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Riv](https://unvale.io/character/9b8abb28-9fe5-4067-8c65-4cf625c20b22?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Riv has a cool fancy outfit! Another fun example would be [Leel’s](https://unvale.io/WoolMasterLeel?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Magolor](https://unvale.io/character/011a9a3e-d533-4ce5-b50b-db4d44a54eef?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Magolor has a cool fancy robe! ### Add some magical accessories to your wizard or witch’s design! Accessories are another thing you can add to a wizard or witch design! It could anything from a pointy hat, to a belt with potion bottles. Often, magic user designs have lots of fun accessories! If you need some inspiration, here’s some ideas: - A pointed hat - Lace gloves - A bag of potions and tools - A long staff - A cute wand - Flower hair accessories - A chain belt - A sash belt - A lace choker - A glowing necklace - dangling earrings - Mysterious rings Accessories, especially for a magic user, can be more useful too! A wizard or witch might carry around a spellbook, potions, a wand, or something else. Other accessories could be enchanted, or have a different special use! Accessories can be a good way to incorporate motifs just like with clothes! Accessories can be good for subtle motifs too since their often smaller details in a design. Try changing the shapes of different accessories to match your OC’s motif! A fun example of using accessories for a magic user’s design would be [Gimble’s](https://unvale.io/Gimble?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Valor](https://unvale.io/character/83ffab1e-bde3-41ee-93c3-78e32745dfa6?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Valor has a cool hat with glowing details! Another fun example would be [Vi’s](https://unvale.io/paintedintegrity?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jasper](https://unvale.io/character/db07acb3-d5f3-4a0e-8db5-e7bc90cf6e01?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Jasper has a cool cape! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-920c7616-d83d-4921-9414-2633dca25eef.png) What will you give your magical character? A wand? A pointy hat? A corset? ## Could you use your magic user’s appearance to enhance their design? The appearance of your magic user could be designed in a way that makes them feel magical! You could also use things like shape language and special details to help the audience tell what kind of character they are. ### What kind of build should you give your witch or wizard? The build of your magic user can be used to enhance their design! It could hint at their personality, role, or just look cool! If you need some inspiration, here’s a few different ideas you could try! - Sharp shape language for an evil magic user - A long and graceful build for a wise magic user - Rounded shape language for a friendly magic user - A strong build for a powerful magic user There’s lots of things you could try for the build of your witch or wizard OC! A combination of different shape language could be fun to try and give the audience an idea as to what kind of character your magic user is! If you wanted their design to be purposely misleading, you could give them shape language that wouldn’t seem like it would match your OC’s personality too! A witch or wizard with lots of sharp shape language might be more friendly than they look, and one with more round shape language might be more deadly than they seem. A fun example of using the build for a magic user’s design would be [Mirrkun’s](https://unvale.io/Mirrkun?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC the [Garden Witch](https://unvale.io/character/3bca700f-9da8-4b05-b3fd-c59c1c28fed4?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Garden Witch has lots of round shape language! Another fun example would be [Arwy’s](https://unvale.io/arwy?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Luna](https://unvale.io/character/ab9f82a4-a83d-4e0a-9b28-35dbbb10bc5c?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Luna also has lots of square shape language! ### Give your wizard or witch a magical hairstyle! What kind of hairstyle could you give your magic user? There’s formal ones, messy ones, cutesy ones…The hairstyle your witch or wizard has could reflect their unique personality or style! If you need some ideas, you could try… - Long wavy hair - Long elegant braids - A fun half-up half-down ponytail - A fancy bun - Cute bubble braids - A neat combed back style - Low pigtails - Messy bangs A highly-ranked wizard might opt for a more elegant hairdo, while a fun-loving one might opt for something more cute or wild! The hairstyle they have could be more based on practicality if they are more serious, and a more extravagant one for a more frivolous witch or wizard. However, just like with the magic user’s build, their hairstyle doesn’t always have to reflect their personality! It could be the opposite, or you could just pick one you like! A fun example of using hairstyles for a magic user is [Vim’s](https://unvale.io/Vim?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Maiev](https://unvale.io/character/ef5b7644-b876-41dc-990e-4fdd9b70d9aa?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Maiev has cool wild hair! Another fun example is [Court’s](https://unvale.io/ignatiuscrose?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Merin](https://unvale.io/character/8cee7200-87d6-48e1-96a3-09f85441e61a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Merin has a cool neat hairstyle! ### Incorporate some magical features into your witch or wizard’s design! Since magic user’s are, well, magical…It could be fun to add some magical elements to their design! Some fun things you could try adding are… - Glowing fingers - Hands with a gradient on them - Glowing eyes - A magical eye design - Glowing hair - A fantasy skin tone - An animal tail - Animal ears - Animal wings - Insect wings - Long horns - Tall antlers Magical details like the ones above could be features the witch or wizard has naturally, or ones they gain while they use their powers! A magic user’s eyes might glow while casting a spell, or they might be able to gain animal features through their magic! Extra details could make your witch or wizard feel more unique and make them more fun to draw as well! The rule of cool is perfectly fine too and details don’t always have to have an explanation if you don’t want it to! A fun example of using special details for a magical user is [Starbornsea’s](https://unvale.io/starbornsea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cassius](https://unvale.io/character/19c0ce09-a2a9-4017-b9ad-1df45c77000f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Cassius has a cool crystallized eye! Another fun example is [AleksanderRune’s](https://unvale.io/AleksanderRune?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Hyacinthe](https://unvale.io/character/9fce1ae2-e92e-4f6c-97c9-3a787d3212fc?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Hyacinthe has cool horns! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-9fa00c10-d217-4761-a801-f26bfa1b6e21.png) Sharp shape language for a powerful witch? Long hair for an elegant one? Glowing eyes while they use their magic? There’s many possibilities! There’s a lot of ways you could design your wizard or witch character. You could give them fitting clothes and accessories, or some magical features! Make sure to have fun designing your character! If you’d like to explore the cool witch and wizard OCs here on Unvale, be sure to check out the [wizard](https://unvale.io/?sort=newest&searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22wizard%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [witch](https://unvale.io/?sort=newest&searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22witch%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) tags! The same tags can be used if you decide to post your magical character here! Need tips on other concepts for your OC? There’s articles on [creating a language for your OC's world](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-new-language-for-your-ocs-world/), [making traditions for your OC's](https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/), [ways to add magic to your OC's world](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-add-magic-into-your-ocs-world/), and more! ### Class-Based OC Design for D&D URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-your-dnd-oc-based-on-their-class/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:39:18.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* D&D! Perhaps you’ve been playing for a while, or maybe you’re just getting into it! If you’re unfamiliar, [D&D](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons%5F&%5FDragons?ref=blog.unvale.io), also known as Dungeons and Dragons, is a popular table-top role playing game (also called a [TTRPG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop%5Frole-playing%5Fgame?ref=blog.unvale.io))! It can be fun to come up with your Dungeons and Dragons character…but it can be equally fun to design them! Before we talk about designing your D&D character, if you’re looking for other types of characters to design, check out one of these other articles! - [Tips for Designing an Elf OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-elf-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Royal OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Vampire OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Villain OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) Now, let’s get back to D&D! A fun way to design your D&D OC is by basing it off their class! There’s lots of different classes your character could be, and it could impact how you design them as well. A bard might not look the same way a cleric would, so creating a look by utilizing their class can be an interesting way to find inspiration for their design! So how do you design your D&D OC based on their class? Roll for initiative, and let’s talk about it! ## What kind of character is your D&D OC? First off, what’s your D&D character like? The class your character is can influence several different aspects of their design, but that doesn’t have to be the only factor! Other things that could impact your OC’s design could be… - Their personality - Their alignment - Their setting - Their background or backstory - Their status - Their role Taking into consideration the other aspects of your OC’s character can help create a fun and unique design for them! Certain classes can share similarities, so using other aspects of them as well can make them stand out amongst other characters of their class! ## Outfit A big aspect of your D&D character’s design can be their outfit! Oftentimes, you can guess a character’s class just by their outfit. This isn’t always the case, and it doesn’t have to be, but it can be fun to design an OC’s outfit in a way that makes it easy to tell what class they are! ### What kind of clothes would suit your character? The clothes of your D&D OC can play a big part in their design! Since different classes have different strengths, you can give your character an outfit that will be practical for them! Different classes might wear different outfits compared to other classes. A rogue might go for something more stealthy, while a bard might wear something more flashy or extravagant! If you need some ideas, you could try… - A shining suit of armor for a paladin - A dark cloak for a rogue or ranger - A light-colored robe for a cleric - A brightly-colored suit for a bard - An outfit with flowing sashes for a monk - A long flowing cape for a sorcerer or wizard - A rugged animal skin outfit for a barbarian - A dress with plant themed details for a druid There’s a lot of different cool clothes you could give your D&D OC by using their class as inspiration! Their clothes don't always have to reflect their class either, as it could be fun to have an OC that wears a surprising outfit instead. If your OC is multiclass, their design could be a combination of different elements as well! If you need more ideas for outfits to give your OCs, try checking out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! ### Add a motif to your D&D OC’s design! A motif can be a fun addition to a D&D character’s design too! It can help people guess what kind of class your OC might be, or even hint at their personality! A design motif could be based on symbolism, or just be an element that you think would be a fun addition to their design! If you need some ideas for motifs you could give different classes, you could try… - A music note motif for a bard - An animal motif for a druid - A celestial motif for a wizard - A forest motif for a ranger - A skull motif for a barbarian - An insignia motif for a paladin - An elemental motif for a sorcerer - An elemental motif for a monk The design motif you give your D&D character can help their design feel more coherent and interesting! You can add the motif to their clothes, accessories, and other aspects of their design too! If you need more inspiration, try [using things from your daily life](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/)! ### Try adding accessories or your OC’s weapon to their design! Accessories can be another fun thing to incorporate into your D&D OC’s design! Their weapon of choice can be a part too! A few unique accessories can make the look of your character feel more unique and add interest to their design! If you need some ideas, you could try… - A flower crown for a druid - A decorated helmet for a paladin - A long staff for a wizard or sorcerer - A quiver for a ranger - A spiked shoulder-piece for a barbarian - A sash belt for a monk - A face mask for a rogue - A necklace with an important symbol for a cleric The accessories your OC has could relate to their past as well! Perhaps a necklace was passed down through the character’s family, or that staff was given to them by their old mentor! If you want to learn more about choosing accessories and weapons for OCs, (any OCs…not just D&D ones!) try [this](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/) article on the topic! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-6a3eebdc-1253-4c01-b0c6-856cdfec18d4.png) What kind of outfit will you give your D&D character? A cloak? A robe? Maybe some armor? ## Could you give your OC an appearance that fits their class? The kind of class your D&D OC has could influence your design choices for their appearance too! ### Consider the build of your D&D OC! Some classes rely on agility, others rely on strength…you get the idea! The build your character has could be one that suits the type of class they have. A paladin might need to be strong enough to wear their armor, while a monk might need to be more swift! You could also design their build around [shape language](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! A chaotic rogue might have sharper shape language, while a steadfast cleric might have more square shape language! If you need some ideas for the build of your OC, you could consider… - A more muscular build for a paladin or barbarian - A more agile build for a rogue or ranger - A fit build for a bard or fighter - A thin build for a sorcerer or wizard These are just some ideas you could try! There’s lots more options you can choose from, so mix and match and see what works best for your own character! ### Pick a fun hairstyle for your D&D character! There’s plenty of cool options for when it comes to hairdos for your OCs! Just like with their outfit, their hairstyle might depend on their class as well! If you need some ideas, you could try… - A fancy updo for a bard - A short ponytail for a barbarian or fighter - Long, flowing hair for a sorcerer or wizard - A messy half-up style for a druid - A neat updo for a cleric or paladin - Long, mysterious bangs for a rogue The hairstyle you pick for your OC could depend on their unique personality as well. Some personalities might prefer a more neat look, while others might not care too much! The look you choose for your D&D OC’s hairstyle could tell people what kind of character they might be! How a character keeps themselves can often say a lot about their personality! If you need more ideas for choosing a hairstyle for your OCs, try this article about the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/)! ### Are there any extra details you could add to enhance your D&D OC’s design? Lastly, some unique details could really add the finishing touches to your Dungeon and Dragons character. Extra details could give your OC a more interesting design and enhance their look! If you need some ideas for what you could add, you could try… - Glowing eyes for a warlock or sorcerer - Glowing details for a cleric or wizard - Lots of battle scars for a fighter or barbarian - Animal-like features for a druid - Tattoos for a rogue or bard - Symbolic markings for a monk The list above is just a few different ideas you could try for your OC! Try out different ideas and see what works best for your character! Extra details could say more about them than just their class too. An elf might have pointy ears, tieflings might have horns, and dhampirs might have fangs! If you want a few more ideas for choosing unique details for your OCs, check out [this](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/) article about the topic! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-73ec3758-bcdd-4979-a20e-95ae3914ab3d.png) Choose your weapon! ### D&D OCs from the users of Unvale! Designing your D&D character can be lots of fun! Did you know there are a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons characters on Unvale? There’s plenty of cool D&D OCs you can find here! If you’re looking for bard characters, check out… - [Jessi’s](https://unvale.io/anxietea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Vivian](https://unvale.io/character/37ea08b5-584a-495e-aef7-9d41a9d701cc?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Lei’s](https://unvale.io/grvfted?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Keltran](https://unvale.io/character/6c80157f-69f8-432b-8534-054af73b28a0?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Looking for paladin characters? Check out… - [Alixya’s](https://unvale.io/Alixya?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Hadrian](https://unvale.io/character/d8bf6f92-8751-41f3-8dc4-ffd5bbf26de6?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Felix’s](https://unvale.io/capsaiciin?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aleph](https://unvale.io/character/fc466ee4-4d53-4987-a415-088fc50b5cce?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you’re looking for druid characters, check out… - [CatsidheSilvie’s](https://unvale.io/CatSidheSilvie?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Zilvra](https://unvale.io/character/33340781-a3a4-4937-8fab-f2183b7c2101?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Rookie’s](https://unvale.io/Rookieruee?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nymiah](https://unvale.io/character/47927ce8-b379-4370-81fd-cf02c4b4237d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Looking for cleric characters? Check out… - [Dori’s](https://unvale.io/saltydori%5Fe3f2f49a?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Eva](https://unvale.io/character/9599e8aa-622c-4a0e-8da0-192dd29f9494?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Fay\_Waltz’s](https://unvale.io/FayWaltz500?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Buggs](https://unvale.io/character/4c157d4b-cdb1-48f9-a087-82b41c185a2e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you’re looking for rogue characters, check out… - [Toast’s](https://unvale.io/renownedtoast?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cyrus](https://unvale.io/character/620a8392-4ddc-4b9e-8cb8-b4bf076b0532?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [CrowsDraw’s](https://unvale.io/CrowsDraw?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aack](https://unvale.io/character/a4a9969c-e6d4-4735-8486-a8dd8ed82bc3?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! These are just a few of the cool D&D characters you can find. If you’re looking for more D&D OCs, try checking out the [#DND](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22dnd%22]&sort=recent&ref=blog.unvale.io) or [#D&D](https://unvale.io/?contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=[%22D&D%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tags! If you decide to post your own D&D characters to Unvale, be sure to use the above tags so your fellow creatives can find them while looking for cool Dungeons and Dragons OCs! ### Building a Language for Your OC's World URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-new-language-for-your-ocs-world/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:52:14.000Z Ah, languages! Let’s be realistic; making a whole new language isn’t easy. While this article will discuss and give resources for budding [conlang](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constructed%5Flanguage?ref=blog.unvale.io) students (conlang being a portmanteau of ‘constructed language’), it will also present much easier solutions to depicting multiple languages in your writing, along with creating a cipher or substitution language for your visual works. So, let’s get into it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) Language has likely existed since the birth of humanity, and most (but not all) language systems in the world also have accompanying written language. Some languages are (or were) only verbal or visual, while language systems like braille were designed to allow the visually impaired to read easily through touch. When you’re planning to create a language, I suggest you go through this checklist. - Why do you need another language in your work? - What are you using it for? - What medium are you creating your work? (Comic, fiction writing, maybe even a podcast!) - How much effort are you willing to put into creating a language? - Are you willing to study languages to make sure you get it right? After going through this checklist, you’ll know roughly what you want from both a language in your OC’s world and this article. I’ll be covering language or word substitution, ciphers, and finally proper conlangs, so I suggest you start on the section that interests you the most. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-7c96ebe5-c62d-42ca-bc3a-95b8ab56ade8.png) *Substitution of words or languages.* ### Language or Word Substitution Have you ever read a novel or story in a fictional world in your native language and suddenly come across a foreign language in the story? In some cases it can be meant to represent another language in the world. It’s simply one of the easiest ways to depict another language in your story, especially if your setting has parallels to real life cultures or societies. However, it’s always best to be careful with what you might be saying about speakers of a specific language with your world’s depiction. Be cautious with how your readers might interpret your choices. If you’re creating a world and only need to throw in a word or two of a fictional language, the thing you want to do is a simple word substitution. Make up a word for your fictional language and mention what it means; bam, you’ve sorted it out. In cases where characters are speaking the language but you want to directly translate it to the language you’re writing in (in my case, English), the solution is to use *italics* on the text. Using English as an example here; if you choose to represent your fictional language through *italicized English*, you also avoid the issue of having to translate other languages to English for your English readers, and the issue of bilingual readers being able to read the ‘fictional language’ anyways. These issues tend to come hand-in-hand especially if you don’t actually speak the language(s) you used. A native speaker will easily notice if your English translation of say, Spanish, is incorrect. Even *if* the incorrect Spanish text is supposed to be a stand-in for your fictional language, it will still bother your Spanish-speaking readers. Even if your reader can’t understand the language you used, you still need to spend extra time translating for them, so I recommend using the italics method with a few substitution words to make things the smoothest for you and your readers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-940603c9-0c9c-4ab0-99c1-b22ab422e679.png) *It says ‘ciphers’, Solar.* ### Ciphers A cipher is a way of hiding or encoding text through various means. A good example would be [Morse Code](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse%5Fcode?ref=blog.unvale.io), a cipher made up from dots and dashes. You might recognize the famous S.O.S. or ‘save our souls’ code (… - - - …). [There are many ciphers out there](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Classical%5Fciphers?ref=blog.unvale.io), so picking a specific cipher to use to represent your fictional language in text form is definitely an option if you want your audience to be able to potentially translate it. You can find simple copy/paste cipher tools online, or create your own cipher. You can also use symbols or numbers to substitute for letters and create a cipher that way. If you’re using a visual medium or have a word limit, a more character heavy cipher like Morse Code is not recommended since it takes up a lot of space. As an example, let’s try my name, Solar: … / - - - / .-.. / .- / .-. That’s a lot of space. Putting that into a comic strip could be a bit unwieldy. Ultimately, depending on your audience and their investment, and how often you use ciphers and if you translate them or not, this option can be a fun way for your readers to crack the language code, or an annoying chore to copy and paste into a cipher solver to figure out what you mean. Still, what you find fun is the most important thing to consider. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-d1848d0b-e08b-48eb-824a-472093ef234d.png) *Time for the big, complex stuff!* ### Conlang Finally, the crown of fictional languages: Conlang. A portmanteau of ‘constructed language’, conlangs are works of art in and of themselves. The most famous examples of conlangs are found in the works of the author [Tolkien](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J.%5FR.%5FR.%5FTolkien?ref=blog.unvale.io) and the series Star Trek. Tolkien created: - Quenya - Sindarin - Rohirric - Westron And more (if you’re interested, [start your rabbit-hole journey here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages%5Fconstructed%5Fby%5FTolkien?ref=blog.unvale.io)). [Star Trek’s Klingon language](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klingon%5Flanguage?ref=blog.unvale.io) has been learned and used by many Trekkies out in the real world. Creating a conlang takes a fair amount of effort and interest in language, and unfortunately I’m not the right person to guide you in this effort. However, [a friend of mine](https://unvale.io/rosequartzish?ref=blog.unvale.io) who is into conlang has recommended the book *The Language Construction Kit* by Mark Rosenfelder, which should start you on the right path. ### Language Concepts and Ideas Now that we’ve covered all the academic stuff, here are a few concepts for ways you could present languages in your worlds. - A half verbal, half physical language with gestures built in to add nuance - A psychic language that projects contextual images into the brains of the listener - A solely signal-based language transmitted through electricity - A language that appears as text in the air as you speak it ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/01/data-src-image-630c2c56-ad46-4ee2-900d-9cb02aad0a03.png) *Try translating this!* ### Community Examples Looking through the [tag for conlang](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22conlang%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), there are a few users who have created languages with the most prominent being [Voxxil](https://unvale.io/Voxxil?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [**Ashralî**](https://unvale.io/character/c03b058d-b684-43be-b7bd-177705e7394a?ref=blog.unvale.io), inspired by Japanese Hiragana and Georgian Mkhedruli. - [**Sanzahgati**](https://unvale.io/character/47f52a4c-b4c3-4177-b6f9-6ead58fa5bf3?ref=blog.unvale.io), inspired by Ogham, Devanagari, and Arabic. - [**Novio**](https://unvale.io/character/20be2080-b0f0-444f-9cc8-fc89ac9bf610?ref=blog.unvale.io), a language stemming from Ashralî. Check out these two users as well! - [IrisTheGreenF0x](https://unvale.io/IrisTheGreenF0x?ref=blog.unvale.io), who created the alien species [**Akarans**](https://unvale.io/character/e6acb7e8-5cf6-46e4-9109-fb8450147410?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [rynio](https://unvale.io/rynio?ref=blog.unvale.io), who created the language [**Zhwaidheh**](https://unvale.io/character/69473f85-db21-4b78-940c-1629078c7894?ref=blog.unvale.io) for their original story. Thanks for reading! I can’t wait to see more of your original languages! ### Changelog: Drag-and-Drop on Web URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-drag-and-drop-on-web/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:40:35.000Z You know the feeling. The dread you get when you decide it's time to reorder your OCs. You might use a notebook. You might try to do wild math in your head. Either way, reverse engineering "Send to front" 5,000 times is NOT the ideal reordering experience. So, we've been working on a fix! READ ON! **Drag-and-drop on web** \- On the "My Creations" page or in edit mode on your profile, you can now drag-and-drop your characters to adjust the order. You can also drag-and-drop writing, and we added drag-and-drop images a bit ago! **Page markers when reordering** \- If you're a homie with a Table of Contents in your profile bio or MTA post, this one is for you! When reordering your characters, you'll now see page markers that let you know on which page your character will appear. (For example: "Page 1: my favorite lil guys. Page 2: my collab world OCs. Page 3: chaos.") **Other details** \- If you really want to keep sending to front, you can do that! It's now more easily accessible outside of edit mode. Also, this isn't on the app yet, and it doesn't apply to ordering worlds yet. We are still working on this, but we wanted to go ahead release what we had so you can use it and give feedback! Alright, that's all for now! Go check it out on [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and send feedback if you can! ### Kickstart Your OC Ideas for 2026 URL: https://blog.unvale.io/top-3-tips-for-entering-2026-with-oc-inspiration/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:58:50.000Z The new year is almost upon us! The new year is the perfect time to try out new ideas, create new characters, and develop new stories! Before we get into the tips, if you need some other ideas for your OCs, try one of these other articles! - [5 Ways to Get Your OCs Festive for the Holidays](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-get-your-ocs-festive-for-the-holidays/) - [Tips on How to Summarize Your OC’s Backstory in 20 Words or Less!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-summarize-your-ocs-backstory-in-20-words-or-less/) - [How to Put Your OCs Into Memes!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-put-your-ocs-into-memes/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to finding inspiration for your characters and stories! So how do you get ready for the new year with OC inspiration? Let’s talk about it! ## Tip 1: Set a goal about what kind of OCs you want to create! When finding inspiration…You want to know what you should look for! Figuring out the goals you have for your OCs will help get you motivated and help you learn what you should look for when searching for inspiration! Whether that goal is just to create some cool-looking OCs, or it’s to develop OCs for your passion project, it can still help you out to know what you want! If you need some ideas on what you can think about, try answering some of these questions! - What is the purpose of the OC? - Do they have a design theme? - Do they have a story theme? - What’s their personality like? - How do they develop in their story? - How does their story end? The questions above are just to give you some ideas to think about for your characters. You don’t need to answer all of them, and the goal you have for your OCs doesn’t have to be super elaborate if you don’t want it to be! A clear end goal can help inspire you to work more on your characters! For some further ideas for figuring out your OCs, check out this article on developing your OCs [here](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-3e973c33-9082-4f3a-84be-317afe6b336e.png) Personally, I find having an idea for what I want to do makes it easier to get motivated and inspired for it! ## Tip 2: Look for inspiration from your favorite media! If you’ve been creating characters for a while, it might start to get boring or you might lose interest! One of the best ways to get your inspiration back in such a scenario is to try out different kinds of media! There might have been a specific show, book, or something else that originally inspired you to create! Try checking out your favorite media and looking for inspiration there! If you need some ideas you could try… - Seeing how your favorite show handles the themes/morals of its story - Seeing how your favorite animated show utilizes poses and action - Seeing how your favorite book handles character development - Seeing how your favorite creators design their characters - Seeing how your favorite comics lay out their pages - Seeing how your favorite video game Sometimes a rewatch or reread of your favorite stories can give you new insights! Maybe a book you love has a character arc that’s similar to one of your OCs, or maybe your favorite anime has a similar theme to the story you want to tell! How do you like the characters and their stories? What don’t you like? What would you do differently? Try looking for similarities to your own stories and OCs and see if you can use it for further inspiration! You could always try out some new media as well. Maybe there’s a game you’ve been wanting to play, or a show you’ve been dying to watch! Those could be a good place to start looking for inspiration too! For some more ideas on using different kinds of media for inspiration, there’s also articles on [using music to design an OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/), [using mythology in your stories](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/), and [using public domain monsters for your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-public-domain-monsters-you-can-base-your-ocs-on/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-b6be37be-1ba3-4f4b-b508-034e80089363.png) A favorite game, YouTuber, show, or book could all be good sources for inspiration! ## Tip 3: Incorporating current interests! A third tip for finding inspiration is incorporating your current favorite things into your characters and stories! It doesn’t have to be just a favorite show either, it can be something else as well. If you have any current hyperfixations, those could give you ideas too! You could use interests such as… - A favorite animal - A favorite artstyle - A favorite location - A favorite mythical creature or cryptid - A favorite subject - A favorite aesthetic - A favorite color palette - A favorite anime - A favorite comic - A favorite hobby - A favorite food or sweet - A favorite item - A favorite outfit The things you’re interested in can be a fun addition to your characters and stories. Using what already interests you can be a big inspiration for your creative projects and help create ideas for them! You could try taking your favorite concepts or interests and create some moodboards for them! You could also make a list of the interests and decide which ones you want to use for your OCs. Try and use your current favorite things to inspire your characters! If you need some more ideas for using things as inspiration, try this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/) on using daily things for OC inspiration! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-f4c54766-4edb-4d06-8d19-83e6a2ef700c.png) Do you have a favorite hobby? An animal you’ve done a crazy amount of research on? A favorite mythological story? All of those could be great inspiration for characters too! ## Cool characters from the users of Unvale! Now that we’re done with the tips…You know what I find really inspiring? The amazing characters and stories you can find here on Unvale! There’s plenty of talented creators with characters worth checking out! Here’s a bunch of awesome OCs you should totally see! - [Kkara’s](https://unvale.io/Kkara?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cajun](https://unvale.io/character/72047f58-167c-4e2b-84cb-0e4ab55840e7?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Cajun is an assassin and spy with electric powers! - [Muszkaowocowa’s](https://unvale.io/muszydlowocowe?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Maria](https://unvale.io/character/7de949c9-6a0c-4b1b-83a3-60fec4444a00?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Maria uses magic and seems confident yet distant! - [Jettdotangel’s](https://unvale.io/Jettdotangel?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Truth](https://unvale.io/character/3e4f0e73-5420-4b56-b554-fb3f8df90af2?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Truth is a DND tiefling who’s also a cleric! - [Odysseus’](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pim](https://unvale.io/character/e20090f6-1334-4fd3-a76f-cf602b32e753?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Pim is a loyal protector who also likes wolves! - [Elibi’s](https://unvale.io/Elibigott?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Melania](https://unvale.io/character/be2da446-b0ee-4e1f-9719-309edb591a5a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Melania is an elf who seems cold and works in fashion! - [News’](https://unvale.io/newspaper?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Eddie](https://unvale.io/character/0387600c-8b54-4f4a-af6b-5805f68beda2?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Eddie is a young kid who enjoys drawing and reading! - [Aldwynbob’s](https://unvale.io/Aldwynbob?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Andi](https://unvale.io/character/5c8e5e7c-6f74-4abb-bf8f-a8dc0fc006df?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Andi used to be an activist but ended up in hiding! - [Eden’s](https://unvale.io/edensway1?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Kelvhan](https://unvale.io/character/a8dda7cc-6200-434d-966f-b497287d4037?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Kelvhan is a quiet vampire who can use weapon manipulation! - [SillyMagsnificentt’s](https://unvale.io/SillyMagsnificentt?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nevoid](https://unvale.io/character/b518c0db-c08c-4a92-b67e-8cf9aeafa9c5?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nevoid is a stoic cyborg who’s stuck on Jupiter! - [Lilgimli’s](https://unvale.io/lilgimli?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nevine](https://unvale.io/character/b2d0b438-f4ad-4db9-9581-10f266292228?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nevine becomes a leader of a group who goes against the government! - [Fr0gg0saurus’](https://unvale.io/Fr0gg0saurus?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Julian](https://unvale.io/character/40fca41c-1f15-4c57-b9dc-6dc97c3b431f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Julian is a confident student of Redwood Academy who loves science! There’s all kinds of cool characters here on Unvale…be sure to check them out and show them some love! Unvale’s first ever Original Creation Awards also featured many cool users, stories, and characters! If you’d like to see the results of the award show, you can find a recap of it [here](https://blog.unvale.io/the-2025-original-creations-awards-recap/)! I hope your new year is filled with cool ideas and inspiration! Happy creating! ### Tips for Writing a Story Crossover URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-creating-a-story-crossover/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:58:06.000Z Worlds collide in the new Unvale crossover special-! *Just kidding\~* To put it simply, story crossover is an event where two or more separate storylines merge into one. This can be anything from a special TV show episode for the fans ([*The Jimmy Timmy Power Hour*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FJimmy%5FTimmy%5FPower%5FHour?ref=blog.unvale.io)), to a movie special where monsters fight ([*Godzilla vs. Kong*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla%5Fvs.%5FKong?ref=blog.unvale.io)), to even video games ([*Marvel vs. Capcom*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel%5Fvs.%5FCapcom?ref=blog.unvale.io)). But for folks on Unvale, a story crossover to us might look more like another person’s OC appearing in a different story or even a creator merging two of their worlds. This article will focus on individual tips to aid in the smooth crossover between stories. *Bon voyage*! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-6829c63f-76e8-47b9-9c97-814a6123a6c8.png) **“Well, I have no idea what this is but you seem nice.”* ## Tip Number 1: Establish Intentions My first tip is figure out what your plans are with this crossover. Crossovers can be exciting and chaotic and if you don’t make sure to keep your intentions clear, it can be easy to get sidetracked. Even if the main point is to just have fun (which it usually is), the more you can narrow in on what you want to do the better. Here are some main ‘intentions’ for you to consider. Are you doing a crossover to… - … have specific OCs interact? - … show that two different stories or characters are in the same world? - … explore how an OC interacts with another setting? - … mix everything together and pull out the parts you like for a new canon? - … give your fans a fun thing to read? ## Tip Number 2: Merging Worlds When it comes to crossovers, there are plenty of ways to go about it, so I’ll give you a few examples. The first way to do it is to pick a world to serve as a **‘host world’** that will serve as the ‘rules’ for the interaction. This can also go two different ways: - Method 1: All guest characters adjust to the rules of the host’s world. This means adjusting the character’s powers and backstory to fit the host world. I’d refer to this as the **integration method**. - Method 2: The guest characters have the same powers and backstory as their home world and are just showing up through a portal or a tear in dimensions. I’d refer to this as the **visitor method**. The second way to do it is to create a new world to serve as neutral ground. This might mean dropping all the OCs into a haunted mansion to escape from or have them fight it out in an interdimensional arena. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-b6b8faa2-93e0-4b96-a9ab-be928d0af2a9.png) **From squid to kid! Er… octopus to girl.* ## Tip Number 3: Ways to Adapt Backstories Adapting a backstory to a new world can be the hardest part of doing a crossover! A lot of creators who adore their OCs can struggle with changing things to fit a new setting. To be honest, it often means making compromises. Adapting a fantasy elf princess who’s lived in the woods all her life and has powerful magic to a regular modern setting means making a *lot* of adjustments. The trick to adapting a character like this is to just focus on events and a lifestyle that would **lead your OC to having the same personality as they normally would**. Here are some examples! - The elf princess example I mentioned above might have her backstory change to this instead: she’s the daughter of a village chief of an isolated forest community. Maybe they don’t use modern technology for religious reasons, or because they can’t easily access it. This makes the character curious and unfamiliar with the outside world, and distrustful of outsiders. - Sometimes you have to remove all the supernatural elements from a character. If I was going to adapt my character [Bea](https://unvale.io/character/bbc542d4-165e-4b19-9ae5-042e89103827?ref=blog.unvale.io) to our world, I’d remove all her powers, her backstory about being arrested for using her powers, and adjust her appearance to match the regular features a person has. It might make your character *seem* more boring, but if you keep all the personality of the character, the interaction should still be fun! - Unlike the two above examples, sometimes you might adapt a regular human OC like you or me to another more fantastical world! This might mean altering their appearance and giving them powers. Instead of being intimidated, make it into an opportunity to show off your character’s personality through these changes. If you’ve read this tip and realized that you might be struggling with not having enough backstory or having an undefined personality, I recommend you check out [**Backstory Building Questions for your OCs**](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/) and [**5 Big Questions to Develop your OCs**](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/). ## Tip Number 4: Dealing With ‘Difficult’ OCs Sometimes you want your OC to meet another OC, but one of those OCs is… difficult. Maybe they’re mean, or quiet and don’t talk to strangers, or maybe they literally eat people. It can be hard keeping an OC in character while also having them interact with other characters… so, here are some specific tips! - Have the characters work towards a common goal… or make them enemies! Their fight could be the whole point of the crossover. - Put the characters in close proximity and require them to interact if they normally wouldn’t. Maybe one needs something the other has, or they need help with something. - Create a pre-existing relationship if possible to smooth out interactions. This means adapting the characters to the same world, or maybe you have something else in mind to make this work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-79bb4f7a-ec66-43ed-b08a-040e91d01aa1.png) **So how do you make people want to read your crossover?* ## Tip Number 5: How to Make Crossovers Interesting After you’ve figured out what you want to do with the crossover (as mentioned in tip number one), you’ll have a basic plan for how to proceed. How do you make it fun to read though? Well, firstly, if it’s just for you (and a friend), you don’t need to do anything extra to make it more appealing for others to read. After all, if it’s just a fun exercise for you, then other people can’t judge! But if you want other people to read and enjoy the crossover, here are some suggestions… - Make sure to introduce and familiarize your readers with the characters being featured. Maybe they’re fans of one creator and they don’t know the other creator’s characters. Since the characters might be slightly different due to the crossover, it’s important to introduce the fans of your OCs to the new versions of them too! - Introduce the world to your readers as much as it makes sense. If the world is familiar to most readers (such as our modern world or a popular piece of media), you can gloss over the details a bit; but if it’s your (or someone else’s) original world, you should take the chance to show it off as much as possible. - Show off the chemistry and dynamics of the characters that are crossing over. They’re the stars of the show, after all! Think about how their personalities might interact, and how they might react to each other’s backstories. - Have fun! When the creators are enjoying something, it often makes it more fun for the readers too. ## Tip Number 6: Organize! If you’re doing a crossover for, say, [a collab world](https://unvale.io/?tags=[%22collabworld%22]&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io), you want to keep everything super clean and organized. Who’s OC is who, what boundaries other creators have for their characters, and what lore has been established; in a collab world, things can be a bit messy. That’s why organization is so important. Here are some things worth organizing and keeping track of: - In big groups, who’s OCs belong to who and which OCs have certain boundaries (such as ships, ways they can be drawn, etc.) - What plots you want to arrange and the OCs involved - If you’re doing group RP, keep track of past RPs If you’re using something other than Unvale, make sure to keep your email or personal information private and safe. You can learn more about [online user safety here](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927129-online-user-safety?ref=blog.unvale.io). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-b3e7c9ef-cd58-40ed-9f08-2ca92ef61e19.png) ## Shout Outs For a recent big crossover, take a look at the [**Unvale Awards Red Carpet Lookbook**](https://unvale.io/world/63ee01cd-cdbf-427a-a6d0-7749ff12087f?ref=blog.unvale.io) (hosted by [Ponyo](https://unvale.io/ponyo?ref=blog.unvale.io)). Featuring more than 20 artists, this is a great example of an art crossover. Here are some other crossovers I found! - [**Ganenboar**](https://unvale.io/character/4fde5af1-ee1d-4787-8e70-c2e450d947dd?ref=blog.unvale.io), a Pokémon and Legend of Zelda crossover; what if Ganon was a Pokémon?! Created by user [GingerHug](https://unvale.io/GingerHug?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [**Moondancer and Venom**](https://unvale.io/character/064370b4-cca0-43c8-8377-231fad2eada6?ref=blog.unvale.io), a dynamic duo of pony and symbiote. This crossover of Spider-Man and My Little Pony was created by user [chillykitty](https://unvale.io/chillykitty?ref=blog.unvale.io). - Finally, we have a recently created world called [**The Hole in the Sky**](https://unvale.io/world/d9ca58ea-3868-46b8-9d64-c449725cbd58?ref=blog.unvale.io), which is a crossover between James Cameron’s Avatar and Pokémon. Featuring the character Emmet (from Pokémon Black and White) going on an adventure in Pandora, user [tdart](https://unvale.io/tdart?ref=blog.unvale.io) has just begun their Unvale journey, so stay tuned! Check out [#crossover](https://unvale.io/?tags=[%22crossover%22]&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io) for more crossover OCs, worlds and writing! ### How to Design an Elf OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-elf-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T22:47:47.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* With the holidays just around the corner, another kind of character is ready for the season…Elves! While not always related to the holidays, they’re definitely a popular character for them! But before we continue talking about elves, if you’re looking for other festive topics…check out one of these other articles! - [What’s a Secret Santa? Creative Edition!](https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-secret-santa-creative-edition/) - [5 Ways to Get Your OCs Festive for the Holidays!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-get-your-ocs-festive-for-the-holidays/) - [Making Traditions for Your OCs and Their Worlds!](https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/) Now, let’s get back to elves! You may know them from your favorite holiday movie, or a popular fantasy book! Elves are typically magical beings who can be ethereal, cutesy, or mischievous…It depends on the story or mythology! So how do you design an elf OC? Hop on a sleigh headed to the nearest magical realm, and let’s talk about it! # What kind of elf is your OC? First off, what kind of elf are you designing? The little toy makers helping Santa probably won’t look the same as the elves of a medieval fantasy story! When designing your elf, you’ll want to consider what elves are like in your universe and what kind of character your OC will be! You can come up with different questions such as… - What kind of world does your elf OC live in? - What kind of story are they in? - What mythology or story is the OC based off of? - What’s their personality like? - What kind of job or role do they have? - Are they good, morally grey, or are they evil? Planning out your elf will make it easier to design them. You’ll have a better idea as to what kind of looks would work better for them compared to other concepts! Even if you go with a specific type of elf, aspects such as personality and their role will play a part in their design too! The questions above will help you brainstorm the kind of elf you want to create! # Give your elf a fitting outfit! Elves often have iconic outfits! Whether it be enchanting and mysterious, or cute and creative, a fun outfit will make your elf shine! ## Try out a mystical motif for your elf’s design! Since elves are magical beings, usually they have some sort of element or power relating to them! If your OC has some kind of ability, or if they’re a specific kind of elf, you could give their design a motif to represent that! If you need some ideas for different outfit motifs, you could try… - A holiday motif - A candy motif - A water motif - A star motif - A frost motif - A flower motif - A gemstone motif - An insect motif - An animal motif - An elemental motif - A mushroom motif If you decide to add a motif, you can let it influence all different aspects of the design! Whether it influences the shape language or the color theme, a motif can help bring a design together. You can pick a motif based on your OC’s powers, their home, personality, or just pick a random one for fun! It’s all up to you and what you want for your OC! A fun example of using motifs for an elf design would be [Damien’s](https://unvale.io/sleepysnailz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Emory](https://unvale.io/character/3bda79bc-6eca-46ef-964d-47a948c2b4b4?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Emory has a cool celestial motif! Another fun example would be [Sobbie’s](https://unvale.io/SobbieScribbles?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Elodie](https://unvale.io/character/0b76917d-e944-4b28-a011-a8dc65cf1718?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Elodie has a cool solar motif! ## Give your elf some fun clothes! Clothes can play a big part in an elf design! It can tell you what kind of elf they are, or what their personality might be like! Since elves are often in a fantasy setting, their outfit often matches that! If you need some inspiration for what clothes you could give your elf, you could try… - A festive holiday outfit - A fun adventure outfit - An elegant, flowing gown - A dress made of flower petals - A long, mystical robe - A rugged outfit made of animal fur - A fancy suit of armor - A camouflaged plant outfit Depending on what kind of elf you’re creating, you can choose a specific outfit based on that! The role your elf plays can impact their design! If you’re designing a royal elf, you could give them an ethereal gown. On the other hand, an elf working for Santa might have a festive uniform! A fun example of picking clothes for an elf character would be [Raichana’s](https://unvale.io/Raichana?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ciella](https://unvale.io/character/2a3aba20-96f2-4516-8d79-82d0360b90bd?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ciella wears a gorgeous white dress! Another fun example would be [Fiendology’s](https://unvale.io/Fiendology?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lumi](https://unvale.io/character/ea5cdc62-2f5e-40c8-a5f7-0ee344fda7be?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lumi has cool, dark armor! ## Add some fun accessories to your elf’s design! Does your elf’s outfit feel a little bland? Accessories can be a fun addition to your elf’s design as well! There’s plenty of cool accessories you could give your elf OC! If you need some suggestions, you could try… - A pointed hat - Pointy shoes - Candy hairclips - A long cloak - Lots of jewels - Golden necklaces - A flower crown - Leather gloves - A belt with tools - Ear cuffs - Silver earrings Incorporating some accessories to your elf OC’s design can create a unique look for them! If you decide on a motif for your elf’s design, you can pick accessories that match it as well! Adding accessories could be a good opportunity to incorporate important details into your elf’s design! Where did they get the accessory from? What does it do? A fun example of using accessories for an elf design would be [Enbyprincex’s](https://unvale.io/enbyprincex?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Kethryllia](https://unvale.io/character/a4a252c0-9dec-431e-8a1b-78d69c7be23b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Kethryllia has cool golden accessories! Another fun example would be [Avnas’](https://unvale.io/Avnas?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nealie](https://unvale.io/character/8450bb0b-415f-464b-af92-634d1e02283b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nealie has a cute flower crown and other accessories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-86f9f860-1703-4968-a414-b5680b21234a.png) A fun motif, some cool accessories, and a nice outfit will give your elf an awesome look! # Give your elf a magical appearance! The overall appearance of your OC can ensure they look elf-like as well! You can play around with different design elements and see what works best for your elf! ## Consider your elf’s build! Depending on the type of elf you're designing, you can decide on a build that suits them! Some elves are tall, some are small, it’s up to you as to what kind of elf you want to design! The kind of build they have might say something about their personality, or what kind of role they might have! If you need some ideas for inspiration, you could try designing… - A tiny elf with a loud personality - A tall and graceful elf - An evil elf with sharp shape language - A friendly elf with round shape language When designing the build of your elf, shape language can be fun to experiment with! The shape language could hint at the kind of character they are, or it could be purposely misleading for a fun twist! A fun example of using build for an elf design would be [KAilana’s](https://unvale.io/IKAilana?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lyrei](https://unvale.io/character/ae8e9412-bd39-470e-abe1-8c399cce381a?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lyrei has round shape language that matches her caring personality! Another fun example would be [Link’s](https://unvale.io/Linkbelle?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sylk](https://unvale.io/character/ffc07726-56ff-4d23-b59b-029d1414f2f3?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sylk has square shape language that matches their determined personality! ## Give your elf a fitting hairstyle! It can be fun to pick a cool hairstyle for your elf OC too! There’s plenty of hairstyles to choose from that are fit for an elf! If you need a few ideas, you could try… - Long, ethereal curls - Fun spacebuns - A cute pixie cut - A messy wolf cut - Long twirly pigtails - A spiky hairstyle - A fancy bun - A stylish dragon braid There’s all kinds of different hairstyles you could use for your elf OC. Since elves are fantasy characters, you could even try out hairstyles that wouldn’t be possible in the real world! If you need more inspiration, try looking at your favorite pieces of media and seeing what kind of hairdos the elf characters have! Does it match their personality? Does it match their role? Does it just look cool? A fun example of using hairstyles for an elf design would be [Kii’s](https://unvale.io/kiikiibee?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Tifenn](https://unvale.io/character/9744e69e-488c-47db-b8dd-3a7658bb84ef?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Tifenn has long ethereal hair! Another fun example would be [AccursedPenner’s](https://unvale.io/AccursedPenner?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Friday](https://unvale.io/character/c073531a-4867-4a29-bf06-d624fd285284?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Friday has fun pigtails! ## Add some magical details to your elf’s design! Lastly, some magical details will really help your elf feel like…well…an elf! It doesn’t just have to be pointy ears. (Though pointy ears are pretty iconic for elf designs!) If you need some inspiration for details you could add to your elf’s design, you could consider: - Pointy ears - A unique eye design - Glowing eyes - Glowing tattoos - Glowing hair - Sparkly hair - A gradient on the hands - A gradient on the ears - A fantasy skin tone - A unique hair color - Animal-like features Incorporating some cool extra details to your elf’s look can really help them feel magical or otherworldly! Magical details will help your elf feel unique…and make them look awesome in the process! It could even reflect the powers they have; their design could change as they use their abilities! A fun example of using magical details for an elf design would be [HiddenOasis’](https://unvale.io/HiddenOasis?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [April](https://unvale.io/character/ffce5f83-1ab4-4a1b-8983-9f9272fde92d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! April has cool glowing details on her design! Another fun example would be [Sleepykisune’s](https://unvale.io/sleepykitsune?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Valya](https://unvale.io/character/a32e4a76-3ccb-4da9-8fee-699482a18905?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Valya has cool animal features as part of her design! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-007add42-9ed7-4066-a3c5-2e30e20f278e.png) Elf ears are super cool, but they don’t have to be the only fun details your OC has on their design! If you’re looking for inspiration from elves of the festive variety specifically…check out these OCs! - [ConcreteRobo’s](https://unvale.io/ConcreteRobo?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Mary](https://unvale.io/character/81559dd2-cd40-4c2a-9223-1f52ce7782d5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Liilypad’s](https://unvale.io/liilypad?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Isobel](https://unvale.io/character/4ef28047-8f8b-4ae9-9e34-cbbbcb9bdf71?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Mystiny’s](https://unvale.io/Mystiny?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Eira](https://unvale.io/character/2b8b40fe-9b95-45dc-8878-affe580cb481?ref=blog.unvale.io)! There’s lots of different ways you could go about designing your elf OC. Experimenting with outfits, accessories, build, and magical details can all help create a unique look! Design your elf however you want…and make sure to have fun with it! ### The 2025 Original Creations Awards Recap URL: https://blog.unvale.io/the-2025-original-creations-awards-recap/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:57:10.000Z Missed out on the OCA live stream? No worries, we're covering it in this blog! From the red carpet art trend to the announced winners of 2025, you'll find everything down below. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/Saturday--December-20th--2-.png)](https://www.youtube.com/live/rrg0DveTAfc?si=YGlHsKhNNGkrCyyW&ref=blog.unvale.io) Want to see the show yourself? Check out the VOD! [Watch Here ](https://www.youtube.com/live/rrg0DveTAfc?si=YGlHsKhNNGkrCyyW&ref=blog.unvale.io) # OCA "Red" Carpet — #UVAwards Started by nominee, [Wasobs](https://unvale.io/post/dressed-to-impress-452cbe50?ref=blog.unvale.io), on Unvale and beloved Discord moderator, [Ponyo](https://unvale.io/post/red-carpet-collab-31eea93f?ref=blog.unvale.io), in the Discord server; Unvale celebrated the Original Creations Awards with their own "red" carpet event. Users were invited to draw their OCs walking down the carpet in their best awards show attire. Check them out below! [![Several users' OCs on the red carpet of the Original Creations Awards](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/DEFAULTRedCarpetCollabDONE194f45a3-d10c-4fe2-abbb-fd9f402934b9.png)](https://unvale.io/world/63ee01cd-cdbf-427a-a6d0-7749ff12087f?ref=blog.unvale.io) The finished collaborative piece from the Unvale Discord server; hosted by [Ponyo](https://unvale.io/ponyo?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![Several character's from Wasobs world at the OCA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image.png) The OCs from Wasobs' nominated world, [There is Already Nothing](https://unvale.io/world/962b78e7-a459-43bf-972c-e4849aa77acb?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![Art of user's OCs attending the OCA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/1-1.png) [mixbug](https://unvale.io/mixbug?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [BoxofCereal](https://unvale.io/BoxofCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [oddoddity66](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [LordieLordez](https://unvale.io/LordieLordez?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [VDori09](https://unvale.io/VDori09?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [callingtheartangel](https://unvale.io/callingtheartangel?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [cecilpalmer](https://unvale.io/cecilpalmer?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [knick](https://unvale.io/knick?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![Art of user's OCs attending the OCA](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/Creator-mixbug.png) [PrismaticArt](https://unvale.io/PrismaticArt?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [MysticFaun](https://unvale.io/MysticFaun?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [grcr](https://unvale.io/grcr?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [kameleon](https://unvale.io/kameleon?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [starnomad](https://unvale.io/starnomad?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [spaceguy](https://unvale.io/spaceguy?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [SNARETRAP](https://unvale.io/SNARETRAP?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [Cent](https://unvale.io/Cent?ref=blog.unvale.io) A special thank you to [mixbug](https://unvale.io/post/uvawards-666b3548?ref=blog.unvale.io) for providing the backdrop so users could participate! # Chat Shenanigans Nearly 400 viewers attended the show, creating a fun and chaotic atmosphere in chat. However, with all the excitement came some unfortunate moderation by Nightbot — timing out several chatters for simply cheering and having fun! Fortunately, Cel and Xen were able to put Nightbot into its own timeout. This silly interaction lead to several users sharing their gripe in the form of art on Unvale. Here are some of them below! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/vitaminsupplements.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/zerothegreat.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/PrismaticArtNB.webp) [VITAMINSUPPLIMENTS](https://unvale.io/VITAMINSUPPLEMENTS?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [zerothegreat](https://unvale.io/zerothegreat?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [PrismaticArt](https://unvale.io/PrismaticArt?ref=blog.unvale.io) # Announced Winners The first six categories had nominees that were selected based on backend data that staff were able to review — keeping the selection fair. These categories were created to showcase the amazing work that made Unvale special. Voters were asked to select 1 out of 5 of the preselected nominees (per category) to award. Here are those winners: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/1-2.png) [RadioRaine](https://unvale.io/RadioRaine?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [BOberts](https://unvale.io/BOberts?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [Porcelain Skin by BoxofCereal](https://unvale.io/world/469e1c4d-eb58-4635-b5f7-f2a812b81319?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [EatingEpidemic by LamoonTheCAT ](https://unvale.io/world/cf7479a7-ba04-4f40-999e-524f6b618486?ref=blog.unvale.io)|| [Time by TiredCherry](https://unvale.io/character/1fe358a6-85fc-4c48-badc-2af973023d71?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [CharoLyn](https://unvale.io/charolyn?ref=blog.unvale.io) The next 5 categories were write-in based, meaning that anyone could be nominated and win! Categories, such as Silliest Bean, were made to highlight the type of creators who brought positive and fun vibes to the platform. Out of over 900 votes, each category had an average of 400 unique nominations — meaning that there were at least 400 people nominated per category! While many nominations tied, there were distinct winners who had several votes. In the last few moments, Cel revealed an *exclusive secret category* that was only available to [our Superstars](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9876096-unvale-s-superstar-program?ref=blog.unvale.io); the MEGA Superstar. Superstars are folks who are recognized for being a star quality user — being active, welcoming and kind. The Mega Superstar category is THE Superstar that all Superstars strive to be. That said, here are the final 6 category winners for the Original Creations Awards: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/2-3.png) [Alora](https://unvale.io/Alora?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [Beaniest](https://unvale.io/beaniest?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [BoxofCereal](https://unvale.io/BoxofCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io) || [Baest](https://unvale.io/Baest?ref=blog.unvale.io) Each awards show winner was sent an official certificate and profile assets to brag about their win. Be sure to check out the above winners and give them a big congrats! Thank you to everyone who could join the show. We hope to host another one in the future. Did you predict any of the winners? Let us know on Unvale! --- [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/UnvaleApp_Landscape.png)](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) The Unvale App is available NOW! Don't forget to leave a positive review 🌟 [Download the app HERE! ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### What's a Secret Santa? Creative Edition URL: https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-secret-santa-creative-edition/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:07:11.000Z ‘Tis the season for gifts and giving! What better way to get into the spirit than a Secret Santa exchange?! Even better, what about an artistic version of the event?! Before we get started, if you’re looking for something to do with your own OCs instead…check out one of these other blogs! A couple by me… - [5 Ways to Get Your OCs Festive for the Holidays!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-get-your-ocs-festive-for-the-holidays/) - [5 Ways to Revive Your Old OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/) And a couple by my cool Co-Writer! - [Making Traditions for Your OCs and Their Worlds!](https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/) - [5 Big Questions to Help Develop Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/) Now, let’s get back to talking about Secret Santas! ### What’s a Secret Santa? For starters, what exactly is a Secret Santa? A Secret Santa is basically a holiday event where someone is assigned a random person to get a gift for! Since it’s random, the person receiving the gift won’t know the other person is getting them a gift…hence the name “Secret Santa!” So how do we turn the game into something artistic? Let’s talk about it! ## Secret Santa…Creative Addition! Secret Santa events are popular here on Unvale too! But how do you give a gift online? Through art of course! Instead of giving physical gifts, it’s common to draw art of others’ characters instead. Who doesn’t love getting art of their OCs?! When it comes to a Secret Santa event, you can either join an existing one or start your own! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-236a803d-db0b-4642-a0e5-d11bf1f3bf38.png) Time to give the gift of…art! ### How do you host a Secret Santa event? If you want to host your own gift exchange event, there’s a few things you need to do to get started! #### Step 1: Getting your event ready and setting rules in place! First off, start with making your event post! In your post, you’ll want to include important details about your event! Not sure what to include? You can consider… - What’s the deadline for signing up? - How will you go about assigning people to be each other’s Secret Santa? (Replying to their comment on the post, leaving a comment on their profile page, etc!) - What’s the deadline for the art to be finished? - What’s the rules regarding dropping out of the event? - Does the art have to be holiday themed? - What tag should be used for the event? - Make sure to mention [Unvale’s guidelines](https://help.unvale.io/en/collections/10359739-unvale-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Include a space for questions! You’ll want to make sure your post has all the details folks need to understand your event! This will make both your life easier…and your participants lives too! #### Step 2: Get your Secret Santa’s assigned to one another! Now that your event is ready, it’s time to assign your Secret Santas to each other! With assigning your Santas, you’ll want to consider… - Making sure there’s enough participants for everyone to have a Secret Santa! - Either reply to your participants’ sign-up comments on the post, or leave a comment on their profile to tell them who they’re gifting art to! - Make sure everyone has a different person to give a gift to! - Make sure to make an announcement when sign-ups are closed! If you don’t have enough people, be prepared to make some art for those who don’t have a Secret Santa…We don’t want anyone to be left out! #### Step 3: Keep an eye on your Secret Santa event and enjoy the festivities! Now that your event’s ready and Santas are assigned, it’s time to keep an eye on your event! While your event’s taking place, you can… - Make sure the rules are being followed! - Check on your participants: make sure nobody needs extra time or needs to drop out! - If there’s drop-outs, make some art for the people who’s Santa dropped out! Keeping an eye on your event will ensure there’s no miscommunications or problems and make sure everyone has a good time! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-2a2c1b42-c4c5-4eb6-b489-ee7c4b7e3e68.png) Secret Santa exchanges can be a fun way to gift art to others! ### Partaking in a Secret Santa Event: things to keep in mind! Partaking in a Secret Santa event can be a lot of fun too, but there are some things to keep in mind! - Be respectful of the sign-up deadline! Try not to join an event after it’s closed! - Be respectful of the event deadline! If you think you need more time, be sure to let the host know. Try not to drop out, but if you end up having to do so, be sure to let the host of the Secret Santa know about that too! - When you’re picking the character to draw for the person you’re gifting to, be sure to pick a character you’re comfortable drawing. But if you want a challenge, that's ok too! - When drawing the character, make sure to keep important details! Some details play a big part in a character’s design, so be sure to keep those details in your art. If they have a [reference sheet](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/), be sure to use it! - When drawing the character, be respectful of culture and ethnicity as well! It’s very important to stay true to the original character design! When partaking in any kind of event, it’s important to be respectful and considerate of everyone. Doing so will make sure everyone has a good time! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-69c08e4f-61c9-406c-8795-e7fa8ec25ee9.png) Looks like our little friend here took part in a Secret Santa exchange! Didn’t he do such a great job? There’s plenty of cool Secret Santa events here on Unvale! Check out… - [PhoenixMasked’s](https://unvale.io/PhoenixMasked?ref=blog.unvale.io) awesome [Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/b1eead42-11c1-43a5-9283-f9407f296048?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [KadeTheTransGuy’s](https://unvale.io/KadeTheTransGuy?ref=blog.unvale.io) festive [Art Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/327854f9-bb34-4f5d-984c-0f3be12eeb74?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you need some inspiration for Secret Santas, check out these wonderful gifts from previous Secret Santa events! - [FlamesHope’s](https://unvale.io/FlamesHope?ref=blog.unvale.io) beautiful [Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/4d8263e3-2b9a-49e9-a5c4-8e4ddf578828?ref=blog.unvale.io) for [Darklake](https://unvale.io/Darklake?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Aoifawho’s](https://unvale.io/Aoifawho?ref=blog.unvale.io) gorgeous [Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/a1b5f0a7-e9b9-4c7e-ab0a-5e2ccf65bc02?ref=blog.unvale.io) for [VikaRosnova](https://unvale.io/VikaRosnova?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Mitarashi’s](https://unvale.io/Mitarashi?ref=blog.unvale.io) super cool [Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/3189e744-d890-490d-82e0-c910e27b9e4d?ref=blog.unvale.io) for [Twisted](https://unvale.io/Twisted?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Theotherkyree’s](https://unvale.io/Theotherkyree?ref=blog.unvale.io) wonderful [Secret Santa](https://unvale.io/character/118ed700-e8d1-4ef6-9fab-bae8a7ce4368?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io) for [PastaBucket](https://unvale.io/PastaBucket?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Secret Santa exchanges can be a super cool way to enjoy the holidays. Whether you create an event of your own or partake in one, be sure to have fun! If you do create your own event, (whether it be Secret Santa related or not!) don’t forget that you can add the tag [#UVFeatureMe](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&sort=newest&tags=[%22uvfeatureme%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) for the chance to be featured in a Community Event Spotlight! ### How to Create Traditions for Your OC's World URL: https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:55:09.000Z With the winter holidays around the corner, now is a perfect time to think about traditions for your OCs! Whether for a holiday or another special event, creating unique traditions for your OCs can add more depth to their character and their world. But first, let’s define the word ‘tradition’: **a tradition is a set of customs, beliefs, or practices passed down through generations**. It can also be a consistent practice, like having a tradition of going out to a certain restaurant after winning a sports game, but this article will mostly be focusing on the first definition. Real-life traditions include: - Decorating the home for specific holidays - Hosting a New Year’s party every year - Carving Halloween pumpkins with your family - Taco Tuesday ✨ - Gifting gold jewelry to the bride for her wedding - A bride wearing white or red for her wedding While you read this article, try to think about your own traditions. If you want to, you can even write them down! Try categorizing them by personal traditions, family traditions, and cultural or religious traditions. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-a64b2dfb-407e-40ea-8544-02cf0a4c0f66.png) **Okay, but why?* ### Why Create Traditions? Like I’ve talked about in previous articles, traditions are just one of those things that add more life and realism to your fictional world. It’s just something that people do, consciously or not; I'm sure you can think of a few traditions you’ve unintentionally made. Traditions inform your audience about the world you’ve created and what is important to the people in it and you. It informs the reader about the everyday lives of the people you want them to get invested and interested in, and it might even surprise you as the creator with what you come up with. Sometimes something silly you created as a throwaway gag could come back as a solid reason a character might act a certain way or do something specific you need for the plot to happen. While accidental, what you’ve done in that case is create foreshadowing. Obviously not every single tradition you add will be plot significant, but if you can use what you’ve created to your advantage, your audience will be happier for it. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-eee3dc4c-86a6-424b-b22b-15eefbdee79c.png) **My family has always had a Christmas tree. In the future, I’ll probably have one too!* ### How do Traditions Arise? Traditions can stem from many different places and exist for many different reasons, such as: - Religious practices - Bonding with family or friends - Celebrating or remembering a specific event - Keeping cultural practices alive into the next generation - Passing down practical knowledge When it comes to your OCs and their world, consider what previous generations found important to teach their children. Does your world have any historical or mythological events that could be honoured through traditions? What about ways of life and survival taught through a coming of age ceremony of sorts? Any reason will do as long as you (and your characters and their world) feel that it’s significant. Heck, even if it’s not significant! Sometimes a tradition will be something like hanging wreaths made of a certain plant on the door to keep away evil spirits, and sometimes it will be rearranging all your plushies every year. A tradition doesn't necessarily have to begin with the previous generation; it just has to be consistent enough in a person’s life to be noticeable. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-c38723a4-7542-4485-9495-a86e66353498.png) **Hope these help you out!* ### Example Traditions for your World Here are a few example traditions you can use or adapt for your own world. - On a child’s 13th birthday, they get to summon a magical companion that will accompany them for the rest of their lives. - Every year in the autumn, the village celebrates a harvest festival dedicated to their local god. The biggest part of the festival is burning down an effigy of a goat made of straw as a sacrifice. - Whenever a new Royal is born, a tiny tiara is commissioned with their name emblazoned on it. It has a flower motif assigned by the child’s mother. - Whenever a person masters magic, they are given a ring to symbolize the weight of their power and responsibility. - Each experiment in a project is given the name of a constellation to represent the project’s lofty goals. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-ffd56eef-12f3-4902-a702-95f8a5cedcfe.png) **Thanks for reading! Check out these worlds from the community!* ### Wrap-Up So, what have we learned? Traditions are practices repeated by people throughout time, often passed down through generations. They exist for a variety of reasons, and if you add traditions to your world it will become a bit richer. Speaking of worlds, here are some worlds from the Unvale community! The world’s descriptions are italicized and in quotes, so if the creator’s words intrigue you, check out their world! - [**End World**](https://unvale.io/world/080cf0c8-c88f-4746-9dbf-9e46a098dd26?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [racaral](https://unvale.io/racaral?ref=blog.unvale.io). “*An enormous story about a depressed god trying to rebuild the world he once again destroyed with the help of some very colorful people, literally and in personality!”* - [**In Harmony**](https://unvale.io/world/f17c1534-3d97-4de8-ad07-258c57c75900?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [hawkfurze](https://unvale.io/hawkfurze?ref=blog.unvale.io). *“In Harmony is a queer horror webcomic following Pacific Cservak, a new student at the Winchester College of the Creative Arts in Aria, West Virginia. Pacific wants to focus on reconnecting with their friends and family, as well as their poetry. Their friends, old and new, want to include them into their newest venture; looking for monsters in Aria. Pacific thinks that they're pulling their leg, but their friends may know more than first impressions give, and a darker secret lurks just beneath the surface.”* - [**Scavenge Humanity**](https://unvale.io/world/6c57b61f-476f-481e-9446-d5259da655b5?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Rambluz](https://unvale.io/Rambluz?ref=blog.unvale.io). “*The Altered, people infected by the T’Seraaa parasite, who were forced to become cannibals to satisfy the alien creature that’s attached itself to their stomach. They built and harboured an Underground society with strict rules to keep their infection hidden for over a hundred years. After an incident that wasn’t contained, the Altered are discovered and hunted by police and mercenaries to purge them and their infection…*” - [**Fusion**](https://unvale.io/world/de05fac4-bb54-428c-ba3c-979c06aaf8ea?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [RedactedLite](https://unvale.io/RedactedLite?ref=blog.unvale.io). “*Fusion is a parody on the magical girl genre. The Fusion Fighters are a group of individuals who transform with the help of Spirits, magical creatures that have a specific theme. The host and Spirit each have their own theme that if the themes work together, the stronger the bond is. But if a person and Spirit bonds through trauma or force, it will corrupt both into a monstrous beast and only take the Spirit's theme. The story follows Joey and her balance of being a Fusion Fighter and the kid of one of the leaders of the city.*” ### 2025 Original Creations Awards URL: https://blog.unvale.io/2025-original-creations-awards/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:44:51.000Z **Unvale is hosting our first ever award show, the Original Creations Awards! 🎉🏅** Join us on December 20th, 2025 at 4pm EST over on the [official Unvale YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io) account for the livestream hosted by TheActualCel. In this awards stream, we'll be honoring members of our community who have showed up and showed out during the year of 2025\. We'll be looking back at memorable moments, celebrating all we've accomplished together, and ending this year out with a BANG! ### How does it work? Starting today, you'll be able to vote for nominees in various categories or write-in your own favorite Unvalers. We'll then tally up the votes and present the winners in the live awards show! Winners will each receive recognition on Unvale social channels and a set of unique profile assets to use on the platform. The live show will also feature various raffles for those tuning in! ### How can I vote? Use the form below to vote for who you think should win in each category. The multiple choice section is based off of data pulled by the Unvale team and the write-ins are up to you! You'll only be able to vote *once* so think carefully with your choices. You are free to promote yourself if you've been nominated or write yourself in. [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/Awards-Show---Voting-9_16---1-1.png)](https://tally.so/r/WO20BQ?ref=blog.unvale.io) ****VOTE HERE! Form closes on December 17th, 2025** ****11:59pm EST** [Vote Here ](https://tally.so/r/WO20BQ?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ## Nominees for the 2025 Original Creations Awards ### **Top Writer** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--2-.png) ### **Top Artist** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--3-.png) ### **Top World** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--4-.png) ### **Best Collaborative World** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--5-.png) ### **Top Character** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--6-.png) ### **Top Content Creator** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/image--7-.png) ### Categories to write-in your picks! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/Write-In-Nominations-and-Voting.png) - Best Profile Layout - Most Chaotic Creator - The Silliest Bean - Most Likely to be Your New Friend - People's Choice - Creator of the Year ## [VOTE HERE NOW](https://tally.so/r/WO20BQ?ref=blog.unvale.io)! --- ### **We'll see you guys on Saturday December 20th, 2025 at 4pm EST for the show!** > **Make sure to** [**subscribe to our YouTube channel**](https://www.youtube.com/@unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io) **to be notified when we're live!** ### 5 Ways to Get Your OC Festive for the Holidays URL: https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-get-your-ocs-festive-for-the-holidays/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:44:46.000Z It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Have you been stumped with coming up with holiday art ideas for your OCs? Well fret not, for this article is all about ideas for the season! Before we get started, if you need help designing a character to start with, try one of these other articles! Here’s some articles by my super cool co-writer: - [How to Make an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) - [Making a Video Game Character Into an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/making-a-video-game-character-into-a-oc/) - [How to Make a Self-Insert/Fandom OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/) - [How to Make a Gijinka!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-gijinka/) Here’s some articles by me: - [How to Use Music to Design an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/) - [Choosing a Hairstyle for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/) - [Choosing the Shapes and Silhouette of Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/) Now it’s time to kick off the holiday season with some ideas to get your OC’s into the spirit! Here’s five ways you can get your OCs festive for the holidays! ## 1: Turn your OC’s design into a festive one! One way to get your OCs ready for the holidays is by turning their current design festive! Just a few fun adjustments to a design can make it feel more fun and holiday-themed! If you need some ideas, you could… - Make their design better suited for the season - Add a fur trim to their clothes - Change their color palette to more festive colors - Add sparkles or lights to their design - Add some festive accessories to their design - Add a festive motif to their design - Add a festive aesthetic to their design - Add a fun pattern to their design By taking your OC’s current design and changing some details in it, you can create a festive look and still keep the iconic look of your character! With what you decide to change for your character’s festive design, you can make it as subtle or detailed as you want. It all depends on how festive you want to make your OC, so go crazy with it! If you need some help with color palettes, try this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! ## 2: Give your OC a new festive outfit! If you feel like giving your OC a special look for the holidays entirely, you can give them a completely new outfit! If you go this route you can choose something fresh, but still in character for their personality! For some ideas, you could… - Give an outgoing OC a silly sweater and a fun headband - Give an elegant OC a fancy suit or dress - Give a shy OC a subtle outfit with a light festive motif - Give a grumpy OC a more normal outfit with a singular festive accessory (Maybe their friend forced them to wear it…Bah humbug!) Giving your OC a new outfit can be a fun way to get them ready for the holidays! (Especially if you’re like me…and are always looking for an excuse to give your OC’s new outfits…) Your characters can have new outfits that still look like something they’d wear! You could base their festive design off of their key personality traits. If you need extra inspiration, you could even use decorations around you for ideas! If you want some tips for using daily things for an OC design, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/)! ## 3: Give your OC’s matching festive outfits! To branch off of the last two ideas, you could also try giving your OCs matching festive outfit themes! Giving multiple of your characters a festive theme to their fits can be a cool way to coordinate your OC’s designs! Matching clothes could be especially fun for characters who are close…Or it could be funny to have enemies who want nothing to do with each other forced into silly matching outfits! If you need some matching outfit ideas, you could try… - Mr. And Mrs. Clause outfits - elf and reindeer costumes - Matching sweaters - Matching color schemes - Matching fancy outfits Matching designs can be fun for the holiday season, and show off your characters’ dynamics with each other! Their opinions about the outfits could hint at how they interact with each other! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-59167a6f-07ab-4b0b-b875-c82a3cf11113.png) Festive clothes are the best way to get into the holiday spirit! Huh? We’re talking about OCs? Oh…uh…well it works the same for them too! ## 4: Put your OCs into festive scenes! Now that you have some ideas on fun seasonal outfits for your OCs, you can try putting them into fun festive scenes! Now’s your chance to experiment with background designs! There’s lots of different scenes you could put your OCs into, or you could use fun patterns for a background instead! if you need some ideas you could try… - A holiday party - A cozy decorated living room - A snowy forest - A busy kitchen - A wrapping paper themed background - A tinsel themed background - A starry night themed background A fun background can be a jolly way to get your OCs ready for the holidays! You could experiment with scenery and room design, or you could settle for a fun pattern. ## 5: Have your OCs partake in festive activities! Lastly, to go with the last idea, you could give your OCs fun things to do! If you really want your OCs to seem like they’re ready for the holidays, have them partake in the festivities! Drawing your characters mid-celebration, or mid-preparing for said celebration, can really bring your OCs to life! How your OCs prepare or celebrate the holiday could show off different aspects of their personality too. For some ideas for things your OCs could be doing, they could… - Be baking - Be wrapping gifts - Be decorating - Be exchanging gifts - Be drinking hot cocoa - Be dancing - Be playing games Giving your OCs fun activities to do for the holidays can be a great way to get them ready for the festivities, and give you a chance to practice and experiment with different poses for your characters! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-653a5ea9-60e0-4e01-9110-9fb42d37b289.png) Will your OCs exchange presents? Bake cookies? Go sledding? The possibilities are endless! If you want to see some cool characters ready for the festive season from the creators on Unvale, check out… - [Duke’s](https://unvale.io/DukeLagoon?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Carol](https://unvale.io/character/8dbe03c9-ebcb-4f35-8e90-d87399a38c8c?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Hellofromplanetearth’s](https://unvale.io/hellofromplanetearth?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ms. Jingle](https://unvale.io/character/1bf61998-ca0a-4782-985f-5f92b820fb4b?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Inkubus’](https://unvale.io/Inkubus?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Carol](https://unvale.io/character/cdf06625-b24b-4523-b9b1-b7c8344a9e74?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Squid’s](https://unvale.io/AnAnonymousSquid?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Princess Philomena](https://unvale.io/character/558b2e0d-9593-45ae-8718-30759ec3cba4?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Sides’](https://unvale.io/Sides?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ginger](https://unvale.io/character/7d291b8f-f4e6-4b4b-a55e-ed0104e475a6?ref=blog.unvale.io) Hopefully you have some inspiration for OC festivities now! Time to let your OC’s join in on the holiday fun! If you need some other ideas for your OCs, try [reviving old OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/), [putting your OCs into memes](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-put-your-ocs-into-memes/), or [give your OCs a reference sheet](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/)! ### New Release: Unvale App URL: https://blog.unvale.io/unvale-app-ios-android/ Last updated: 2025-12-09T22:00:10.000Z Today, Unvale crosses a major milestone, and I'm SO EXICTED that you're a part of it! Our new mobile app is now available on iOS and Android! Download here: [https://unvale.io/app-store](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) **Why a mobile app?** 💖 Creating and sharing your amazing art and writing is just EASIER with an app 🔔 Get immediately notified when you get a new favorite, comment, or follow 🐛 New app = fresh start in some ways, so less bugs! Our team has worked incredibly hard on this, so PLEASE give a round of applause for them! And if you feel even MORE generous, we'd really appreciate a five-star review on the app store. The more positive reviews we have, the more folks will come to check out our amazing community! And, even with this huge release, we STILL have more amazing stuff coming your way before the end of this year! YOU'LL HEAR FROM ME AGAIN SOON! 👀 ### 5 Big Questions to Help Develop Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:45:25.000Z There are a lot of OC questionnaires out there, and some of them tackle the big important questions and some… don’t. Of course, if you like answering questions about your OCs and figuring out all the little details, you should answer the [Question of the Day on the community page](https://unvale.io/community?ref=blog.unvale.io) of Unvale every day. But if you want some big OC defining questions, you’ll find some here. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-b035a903-8738-4f25-abe7-44f1950c9885.png) . . . **Who’s the froggy-est of all?* ### Question One I’ve always found the question “*how does your OC see themselves*” to be a bit limited. It’s natural for a person to have a somewhat warped perspective of themselves, especially based on what other people say about them. So we could change it to “*how does your OC see themself and how do other people see them*”, but that lacks the most important information about your OC: the truth. **“How does your OC see themselves, what do other people think of them, and what’s the truth?”** This question comes in three parts, and should have three different answers. Only you as the creator can answer the final question, but if you need some help you can always ask others about your character and what they think of them. - Are they scary at first glance? - Do they look sweet? - Do they help others out in public? - Do they curse a lot, or do they speak politely? Even if they do act in certain ways, they might be performative; bad people can do nice things to seem like good people, good people might make a bad impression by seeming scary. The reason why this question is important is because it makes your OC more ‘real’. Understanding ourselves as people and seeing ourselves objectively can be just as hard as understanding someone else. Adding those layers to your OC might change how your OC interacts with other characters in your stories, adding more misunderstandings or more chances for characters to talk and really get to know each other. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-ad9edb87-a696-42c2-bbb3-b7d1c0884c8e.png) **Right now, my main goal is to get this article out on time…* ### Question Two **“What is your OC’s main goal?”** I’ve always struggled in school to set goals. Having a lack of direction in your life as a teen isn’t uncommon, and if your OC (and you!) don’t have any big goals in life, that’s absolutely fine! I’ll get back to this in a minute, but here are some examples of big-scale goals for ambitious OCs. - To open a five star restaurant - To graduate top of their class with honours - To defeat the big-bad-evil-guy who burnt down their hometown, killed their family, and save the world - To take over the world Some of these goals are life-long, some of them could be done in a year. But there’s also smaller goals that drive us and our OCs. Maybe they want to save money to buy something important, create the perfect date night for their partner, or just survive the winter. No matter how simple or unimportant it might seem, a goal is a goal, and is an important part of [making a character](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/). Writing with a character’s goal in mind will change how they act. Maybe you want them to do something that might get in the way of their goal; at that moment, the OC has to decide what’s more important, the thing you want them to do, and their goal. Sometimes your own character might surprise you! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-371b4d1b-0740-4592-8077-90a6e18fd576.png) **My style? Cozy and colourful.* ### Question Three This one’s for the character artists out there: **“What is your character’s style, and why do they wear what they wear?”** Sometimes it’s fun to just go wild and design a cool but impractical outfit for your OC (trust me, I’ve done this). But if you want to develop this character, you have to pause and scrutinize your own fashion choices; and your OC’s fashion choices too. For characters who are assassins, thieves, scouts and spies, it might be fun to put them in a skintight black catsuit; but if you’ve ever worn skinny jeans or something tightfitting, you might quickly realize how difficult it can be to move around in. And then you put your black sweater in the closet, but it pops out in the shadows! What gives?! Well, shadows aren’t actually black. If you think about it too long, the outfit becomes super impractical. And then maybe you realize that your OC hates black, or maybe they have some sensitivity to certain textures or fabrics. Maybe this question is something you’ve already sorted out though; as you get more used to character design, the easier you’ll find character design and backstory integration. If you want to show off your character development skills through visuals, making sure their fashion is appropriate for their daily life is key! If you want to read more about character outfits, [check out this article by WhimsicalWonders](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! If you want to read more about colours in OC designs, [check out this article by me](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-2ec27b54-a447-4c3b-85e4-baef57640a45.png) **Why do I want to know? No reason… muahahaha…* ### Question Four **“What are your OC’s strengths and weaknesses?”** Sometimes when you’re just starting to make OCs it can feel boring or not fun to add weaknesses to them. Other times, you just want to make your OC suffer with infinite angst and weaknesses. Either way, it’s actually good to give a character a balance of strengths and weaknesses to round them out as a person even if you just want to use them as wish-fulfilment (or an emotional punching bag). The more your reader can empathize with the characters you want them to, the better! Thinking about strengths and weaknesses can lead into more questions and discoveries so once you have your ideas written out, ask yourself these questions about your OC: - What strengths can be turned into weaknesses? (Being too kind, trusting, or polite) - What other skills does your OC have that can cover for their weaknesses? - What weaknesses are a part of your character’s personality, rather than something outside their physical control? (Being selfish, having a temper, or lacking impulse control) - What strengths does your OC have that are just due to luck of their birth and not due to any actual hard work? (Physical strength, magical powers, being rich) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-0daa00a6-2b34-432b-8c7a-1d07fd134438.png) ### Question Five **“What kind of person does your OC have the potential to grow into?”** This question is about character development. Rather than just going with what you might have planned out for your OC’s journey (if you already have that figured out), I want you to consider all the facts about your OC and then think about where else they could go. The answer might surprise you! Sometimes a series of catastrophes can cause life to swerve off course. Sometimes you win the literal lottery! Think about how your OC might change as a person with a sudden change of luck. Would they try to stay kind and positive through their struggles, or would they become distant and uncaring about their former friends if they suddenly came into wealth? Going back to the question about goals… - What kind of person would your OC be if they suddenly got everything they ever wanted? - Would they become bitter because they didn’t have to work for it, or just be happy that everything worked out the way they wanted it to be? - What would they do next? - Would they be unable to move forward now that they fulfilled their purpose? Think about all these “what ifs” and try to imagine *different versions of the same character*. Maybe different parts of the character come out in different situations. It’s your job as their creator to find these hidden parts! --- I bet you’re all quizzed out by now! If you’re hungry for more though, remember that **you can find** [**Unvale’s Question of the Day**](https://unvale.io/qotd?ref=blog.unvale.io) **on the community page**! If you’d like to do some more reading, here are some community OCs that you might enjoy (bilingual edition!): - [Tsuk1](https://unvale.io/Tsuk1?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s [**Phoebe**](https://unvale.io/character/6d5f60c4-bc15-4cc9-8bc0-bbcee02400d0?ref=blog.unvale.io), a young girl as gentle as soft summer rain whose life in a lab hasn’t destroyed her kind nature. (If you’re looking for Portuguese-speaking creators on Unvale, check out Tsuki!) - [Nectarbloom](https://unvale.io/Nectarbloom?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s [**Camille Nakamori**](https://unvale.io/character/d4e5ec1a-1deb-4e9b-88c6-de519a65f6c3?ref=blog.unvale.io), who I think can be summed up by the user’s own TL;DR: Flower person. Indestructible. Awesome sauce. (If you’re looking for Thai-speaking users on Unvale, check out Nectarbloom!) - [Chalane](https://unvale.io/Chalane?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s [**Louisa Amandèl d'Arna**](https://unvale.io/character/3cf08608-6dce-473f-96d6-8ed19e989369?ref=blog.unvale.io), a princess with a difficult past who’s risen to become a defender of her people. (If you’re looking for French-speaking creators on Unvale, check out Chalane!) ### Changelog: Blocking URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-blocking/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:05:32.000Z I'm not sure if it's the holiday cheer in the air or just the Unvale devs casually delivering another W, but we have a long-awaited feature to share with you today: blocking! This is the FIRST version of blocking, which essentially acts like a "do not interact" feature. when you block someone on Unvale, they can no longer: ⭐ favorite your creations 💬 comment on your profile or creations 💖 follow you 🎤 reply to your comments A blocked person can still view your profile, comments, and creations on Unvale, but we plan to address this in a future release! You can block someone from their profile, and you can view your blocked list in your account settings. If you've been following along, you know how difficult this feature was for our team, so THANK YOU for your patience and support! We're looking forward to adding more functionality to keep Unvale a safe, friendly, and inclusive community! 💖 There's only a few weeks left in 2025, but we have more surprises coming your way. You'll hear from me soon! 👀 Check out blocking now at: [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### How to Design Citizens for Your OC's World URL: https://blog.unvale.io/designing-citizens-in-your-oc-worlds/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:51:23.000Z Have you ever thought about designing citizens for your OC’s world? Maybe you need some background characters for your story, or some people for your hero OC’s to save! Is it finally time to create some characters for your OCs world? Before we get started, if you need ideas for designing your main characters, check out one of these articles! - [Tips for Designing a Hero OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/) - [Tips for Designing a Magical Girl!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/) - [Tips for Designing a Villain OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to designing citizens for your stories! It’s nice to have some extra characters for your story, especially for a comic or animation! Your OC’s world might seem pretty empty if the main cast is the only characters the audience sees! So how do you design some citizens for your world? Let’s talk about it! ## What kind of world are your OCs in? First off, you need to know what kind of world your characters are in! The kind of place the characters live in can determine how their design will look. Weather, culture, time period and other things can all impact how a group of people might dress! If you need some ideas, you could consider questions such as: - Where does the world take place? - What time period does it take place? - What kind of weather does the place have? - What is the culture like? - Are their common religions in the area? Depending on your answers to the questions above, you can design your citizens based on that! Then if you need to, you can do research on the culture or other factors of the area! If your world takes place in a fantasy setting, you can base your citizen’s designs off of the worldbuilding you’ve done! If you need further ideas, try looking at the people around you each day! Do most people dress casually? Are they in work uniform? Dressed formally? Observing the people around you can give you an idea of what the majority of people wear! If you need ideas for your world, there’s an article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/) about using genre for worldbuilding! ## Make your main OCs stand out from the others! Another important thing to consider when designing your citizens is making sure your main cast stands out! If your main cast of characters look like all the rest, it might be hard for the audience to distinguish between them. Depending on the design your important characters have, you can design your citizens around that! Whether your characters are in a fantasy setting or a realistic one, you can still design your citizens in a way that will put the main focus on your important OCs! If you need some ideas you could: - Give the citizens a different hair color or style from the main cast - Give the citizens a less detailed outfit than the main cast - Give the citizens a different style of outfit for the main cast - Give the citizens a different color palette than the main cast Giving your citizens a distinct look from your main characters will make your main ones stand out better! Depending on your story, you could give your citizens a more interesting design than your main OCs. If a main character is supposed to seem normal or they’ve been transported to another world, the citizens might have a more detailed design instead! Using different color palettes for your characters can be a great way to give each one a unique look! If you want to learn more about picking color palettes for your OCs, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-49b3a60b-3aa7-485b-b03e-c89fa9f34a21.png) Try to guess which are the citizens, and which is the main character! ## What will your citizen characters be used for? You’ll also want to consider what you’ll use your citizens for! If you have a few that have some importance in your story, you’ll want them to have a distinguishable design from the other background citizen characters! If some citizens are purely to fill up space while others might help your protagonists, the ones that help could have a more detailed design than the others! Even if it’s simple, a few extra details will help your audience remember them if they appear multiple times! If you need some ideas for what you could do, you could: - Give them a pin or charm - Give them a unique necklace - Give them a unique hair color - Give them a unique color palette - Give them a unique eye design The citizens that have importance can still have unique designs, without outshining your main cast! It could get confusing if some of the more important citizens have too similar a design to the rest. Adding some distinguishable design details can help! If you need some more ideas, try this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/) on giving your OCs unique details! ## Use variety in your citizens' designs! Just because your citizens are for background characters, doesn’t mean they have to be boring or all look identical! Giving different citizens diverse designs will make your world feel more real! When designing your citizens, you can utilize different physical features to make each one unique! If you’re not sure where to start, you could try: - Different face shapes - Different eye shapes - Different nose shapes - Different body types - Different hairstyles - Different hair textures A variety of different features in your citizens’ designs can make the world your OC’s live in feel more alive! Try mixing and matching different features to give your citizens distinctive designs! Picking out eye designs for OCs is another fun way to create a unique look for them! If you want to learn more about eye designs, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/12/data-src-image-8e5d57f3-471f-468f-ae42-f10f09a330b9.png) Try to guess…now! Is it easier? If you want to see some cool background characters from the users of Unvale, check out… - [Eirinkou’s](https://unvale.io/eirinkou?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nick](https://unvale.io/character/b53c9cf4-cd42-4900-9a43-1e18db2b2924?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Toast’s](https://unvale.io/toastraccoon?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Marcel](https://unvale.io/character/a13541f0-61a9-407e-89d7-986234e61cad?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Dylan’s](https://unvale.io/Ent1ty404?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Arwen](https://unvale.io/character/5bb0145e-9005-423c-9c2a-ad4ab3a62726?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Huxleia’s](https://unvale.io/Huxleia?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Karl](https://unvale.io/character/df9752e5-ef83-4e5e-a036-323684159b6d?ref=blog.unvale.io) Creating citizens for your world can seem daunting at first, but it doesn't have to be! You can give them all a distinct look, while making sure they don’t outshine your main OC’s! If you need some more design ideas for your characters, there’s articles on [using music for OC designs](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/), [choosing hairstyles for OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/), [choosing makeup looks for OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/), and more! ### What Is a Sona? The Beginner's Guide URL: https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-sona-a-quick-guide/ Last updated: 2026-08-13T21:46:44.000Z Have you seen the word "sona" floating around Unvale and wondered what it means? Here's the quick rundown, from someone who's got a few sonas [of her own](https://unvale.io/solarsunrise?ref=blog.unvale.io), so I know a thing or two about what makes one click. ## Origins "[Sona](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=home&contentType=social&sort=newest&search=sona&ref=blog.unvale.io)," short for "persona," is an old Latin term that means "theatrical mask." Nowadays, it's used to convey the versions of ourselves we present in a given social situation. Think of your persona as a prism refracting light into different colors. It's not a false identity, it's one facet of a whole personality. We all adjust how we present ourselves depending on context, whether that's with friends, family, authority figures, or coworkers. That's not fake, it's just being human. Unless you're being actively dishonest, of course. ![Morgan, an elf-like sona with pale skin and dark hair](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Yvoi.png) Yvoi's Sona – [Morgan](https://unvale.io/character/3c1a40de-2fb4-42de-90e5-dbd6421be90b?ref=blog.unvale.io) The word made its way into fandom spaces decades ago, most visibly through the furry community, where "fursona" became shorthand for the character someone created to represent themselves. From there, "sona" broke off as its own general term – no fur required. Nowadays, someone could have a super detailed OC or a simple doodle to represent themselves online. ## What Makes a Sona? A sona is unique to you. It can be an original character, or one rooted in a specific fandom. *My Little Pony* fans, for example, create [ponysonas](https://unvale.io/?tags=%5B%22ponysona%22%5D&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io): pony, pegasus, or unicorn versions of themselves. When a descriptive word gets attached to "sona" (like "pony-"), it usually points to a specific fandom. What matters most is that is a representation of *you*, not a standalone OC. ![Example of two ponysonas created by Unvaler](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Ponysona.png) [Ponysonas](https://unvale.io/character/105c2dc9-3d75-46c3-818d-37febd76e5f4?image=7e4a16d5-f401-460b-b97a-8a6c37a4519c&ref=blog.unvale.io) by callingtheartangel ## Why Are Sonas So Popular? If you've spent any time in online creative spaces, you've probably noticed just how many people have at least one. A few reasons sonas have such staying power: - **They're low-stakes self-expression.** You can try on a personality trait, an aesthetic, or even a whole vibe shift without it having to be a permanent statement about who you are. - **They let you show more than one side of yourself at once.** Plenty of people have multiple sonas, each one reflecting a different angle of their personality. - **They give you a consistent face in a community.** The same way a username becomes recognizable over time, a sona becomes a visual signature. - **They're just fun.** Never underestimate the appeal of having a character to express your individuality! ![Kibble, an angelic bunny sona](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Kibble-4.png) Ponyo's sona – [Kibble](https://unvale.io/character/7edfb8eb-9db4-4ed4-8a79-c46ea22ef40e?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## **How to Start Building a Sona** Not sure where to even begin? You don't need to settle on a specific character right away. Start small and let it grow: - **Pick a form.** Human, animal, hybrid, something entirely fantastical – whatever feels right. - **Choose one trait you want to experiment with.** A sona is a great place to lean into a specific trait and get reflecting. - **Nail down the vibe in a few words.** Soft? Sharp? Feral? Chaotic? Regal? Having a quick shorthand makes every future creative decision easier. - **Give them a name.** (If you need a hand with this part, [we've got you covered](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-come-up-with-names-for-your-oc/).) - **Don't be afraid to edit.** Plenty of long-time sona owners are on version four or five of their design. It's allowed to evolve as you do. ## Your Sona, Your Rules At the end of the day, a sona is just another way to show up as yourself, whether that's a pastel ponysona, a VTuber avatar, or something entirely new, there's no single look or format it has to follow, and no wrong way to create one. That's the quick version of what a sona is, straight from someone who plays in this space daily. Got a sona of your own? [Give them a home on Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! We'd love to see them. ## FAQ - **Is a sona the same thing as an OC?** Not exactly. Every sona is *technically* an OC, bu a sona specifically represents its creator in some way. An OC can be a completely independent character with no connection to the artist. - **Do I have to be a furry to have a sona?** Nope. While the term has roots in furry fandom, sonas today show up across every kind of fandom and character style, from ponysonas to fully human designs. - **Can I have more than one sona?** Absolutely, and plenty of people do. Your sonas can reflect different sides of your personality or different moods entirely. - **Does my sona have to look like me?** Not at all. Some people design sonas that are close physical stand-ins for themselves, while others go for a fully idealized or fantastical version. ### How to Create a Plot Twist in Your Original Stories URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-plot-twist-in-your-original-stories/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:53:40.000Z Ever wanted to make your story more interesting and add a little surprise to it? Well, maybe it's time to incorporate…a plot twist! Plot twists are a fun way to spice up your story, and leave your audience surprised in the process! But before we get into the twists and turns you can add to a story, if you need other tips for writing your stories, check out one of these articles! - [Tips for Using Mythology in Your OC Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/) - [Tips on Writing Hero and Villain OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-hero-and-villain-ocs/) - [How to Write a Fight Scene in Your Original Stories!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-fight-scene-in-your-original-stories/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about plot twists! ### What’s a plot twist? First off, let me briefly explain what a plot twist is! A plot twist is when a story takes a turn that you didn’t expect. Maybe that all-powerful magic crystal was a fake, or the best friend of the hero turned out to be working with the villain. Plot twists can create extra excitement and leave a big impact in your story! So how do you create one in your own stories? Let’s talk about it! ## Leave Foreshadowing and Hints throughout your Story! With a plot twist, foreshadowing can make or break it! Too much foreshadowing, and there’s no twist. On the other hand, no foreshadowing can make the twist seem too unbelievable or unearned. Balance out the foreshadowing, and you’ll have a fun plot twist that surprises your audience and seems believable! So what is foreshadowing? Foreshadowing is leaving little hints and warnings in your story that will say something about the future events. Foreshadowing could take place in a conversation, be in the form of an object, or other things as well! Depending on the kind of story you have, foreshadowing can be done differently too. If you need some ideas for foreshadowing, you could… - Have a random statement from a character hint at the future - Add a motif to a design that hints at the character’s true role - An object in a room that hints at a character’s role or future events - Symbolism that hints at the future events The fun part about foreshadowing is that it can give your audience clues as to how the story’s events will play out, without directly telling them what will happen! For the people that can put the subtle pieces together and guess the twist before it happens, they get a nice “Aha! I knew it!” moment! For the people that don’t, they instead get a fun “I should’ve seen that coming!” moment. It can be fun to foreshadow through character design too! If you want some design ideas for a potential plot twist villain, check out this article on designing a villain OC [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/)! ## The Power of Misdirection in Your Story! Along with foreshadowing, misdirection is another way to help create a plot twist! Foreshadowing is fun, but the twist might become too obvious without something to balance it out. That’s why you can use something to distract your audience from the truth! Something that seems like a hint, but actually isn’t, is called a [red herring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red%5Fherring?ref=blog.unvale.io)! A red herring can seem like foreshadowing, but actually leads your audience down a false trail. It can make your audience think they have the right answer, when really it was just a trick to make sure they don’t figure out the real twist! To create misdirection in your story, you could add things like… - A character that seems suspicious but actually isn’t - An object that seems like a clue but is unrelated - A strange conversation that doesn’t have real foreshadowing in it Leaving some fake hints throughout your story can help the twist feel more surprising! Combined with foreshadowing, all the hints are there, it’s just a matter of figuring out which hints are the real ones. However, just like with foreshadowing, it’s best not to overdo it! A good balance of both is key! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-10b7912d-766f-46a7-9480-60e41a54556f.png) What a totally normal room with no suspicious foreshadowing in it… ## Build up the plot of your story! Just like with any other story, you have to build up the plot! No build up or no stakes won’t make the plot twist rewarding. Why should the audience care about the twist? What makes it matter? Building up the plot is essential to your story! Therefore, you’ll want to include events that create stakes or problems for your characters. For some ideas, you could have events such as… - A plan gets sabotaged - A character gets hurt - A character gets kidnapped - The situation has a time restraint - Important items are stolen Putting pressure on the characters can make the situation feel more intense! Building up the plot could include things like the characters finding clues too! For more ideas on how to build up a plot, check out this article on [writing a scary scene](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/), where my co-writer goes over creating tension in a story! ## Reveal your plot twist of your story! Finally, you have to make the plot twist happen! Plot twists can be revealed in many different ways…you’ll want to make it satisfying! Depending on the story you’re writing, you might go about your plot twist a little differently than you would for another kind! A plot twist’s placement can happen in different parts of the story, but oftentimes they’re placed somewhere around the climax or near the end! Some plot twists are dramatic, others take a more nonchalant approach. If you need some ideas for your plot twist, you could… - Have the plot twist revealed during an intense moment - Have the plot twist revealed during a villain’s monologue - Have the plot twist revealed by a character unintentionally - Have the plot twist revealed in the background of a scene - Have the plot twist revealed casually It’s up to you how you decide to reveal your plot twist! A plot twist doesn’t necessarily have to happen at the end of a story either. If it’s not as big of a reveal, it could take place earlier in your story! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-7490175a-a9cb-4a92-aa09-a1b2a99df07f.png) If only he noticed that evil-looking potion on that table… If you’re looking for inspiration from the cool users of Unvale, check out these collaborative worlds that have had many twists and turns! - [Protocol: EX](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22ProtocolEX%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Raging Waters](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22RagingWaters%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Eating Epidemic](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22EatingEpidemic%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) A plot twist can be a fun addition to your story for both you and your readers! Utilizing foreshadowing, misdirection, buildup, and the reveal itself will help you create a memorable plot twist in your original stories! If you need inspiration for designing the characters of your story, there’s articles on [how to use music for designing an OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/), [how to use things in your daily life for OC inspiration](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/), [how to make a Gijinka](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-gijinka/), and more! ### What Does Your OC Sound Like? Music-Based Design Tips URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-music-to-design-an-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:56:00.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Have you ever been uninspired with designing a character? Maybe it’s time for a new source of inspiration…music! Music can be a great source of inspiration when it comes to creating a character! But before we get into that, if you need some help with already existing characters, check out one of these other articles! - [Tips for Simplifying an OC Design!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/) - [Choosing a Power for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) Now that we have that done, let’s talk about my favorite musical! Oh, uh, I mean…talk about using music for designing characters! Music is a goldmine of inspiration when it comes to designing characters! You don’t have to be an expert on music, and it can be a fun way to get yourself motivated! Whether it be a current favorite song, a trending one, or one that’s relatable to you! So how do you design a character with music? Grab some headphones, turn on your favorite playlist, and let's talk about it! ## Use the literal lyrics of the song as inspiration for your OC! The first way you can use music for designing an OC is by using the lyrics themselves! Songs often use vivid language and imagery, and that can be a great inspiration for a character! Think about what you “see” in a song. You could take objects in the song and turn those into design features! If you’re not sure what to look for, here’s some questions that can help! - Are there any characters in the song? (Like a lover, an enemy, etc!) - Are there any animals in the song? (Like a wolf, a hare, ect!) - Are there any plants in the song? (Like a rose, a tree, etc!) - Are there any places or buildings in the song? (Like an old home, meeting place, etc!) - Are there any other objects in the song? (Like a knife, a necklace, etc!) - What’s happening in the song from a literal standpoint? (Like something burning, something breaking, etc!) Oftentimes, the imagery in a song is representative of something else…but that doesn’t mean you can’t still use it for ideas! Maybe the imagery can serve as the character’s outfit, or personality! The things in the song could be used as a motif for a character design. If there’s any plants or animals in the song, you could base your OC’s design off of that! Plants could serve as a pattern on a character’s outfit, or as part of their powers! Animals could be inspiration for giving a character animal features or fur accessories! If you want to know a little more about motifs, check out this article on outfits [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! ## Use your interpretation of the song as inspiration for your OC! While it can be fun to use the lyrics on their own as inspiration, using the meaning behind the imagery can be fun as well! What is the song about from your perspective? The fun part about music (and art too!) is that everyone has a different interpretation of what its meaning is! Your favorite song might be interpreted differently by your friends, and that’s perfectly okay! If you're not sure where to start with deciphering a song, you can consider questions such as: - What is happening in the song, and could it be symbolism for something else? - What kind of personality does the character or characters in the song have? - What kind of objects or animals are in the song, and what could they represent? - What is the message or purpose of the song? Depending on how you interpret the song, you could use that for your character design as well! If the character in the song feels aggressive or rude, you could give your OC a design with lots of sharp shape language! If a character seems mysterious or strange, you could make their appearance just as mysterious with a cloak or mask! If you want to know more about shape language, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-f2aa098f-2708-429c-8505-94efa334b4cf.png) What’s the song about? What symbolism is there? Let it influence your character design! ## Use the vibe of the song as inspiration for your OC! Sometimes, different music just has a certain vibe to it! It creates a certain feeling or mood. More than just happy or sad too! Some songs feel wistful and nostalgic, others might feel eerie or mysterious! This can go beyond just the lyrics of the song too. Some songs might have a really cheerful, energetic beat…only for the lyrics to be really sorrowful! When it comes to your character, you can use the vibe of a song as your inspiration for their design too! It can be based on the genre of music, or just on the feel of it! Here’s some ideas if you need some: - A character based on a relaxing song could have a cozy outfit with a rounder silhouette - A character based on a melancholic song could have a gloomier expression or eye shape - A character based on an upbeat song could have a bright or wild outfit - A character based on an intense song could have a more intimidating appearance Try designing your character based on how a song makes you feel! Just like with your interpretation of the song, some people will get a different feeling from a song than you do! Using the vibe of a song can be a fun way to make design choices for your OC, and you can play around with the face and eye shape of your OC! If you want to know a bit more on eye designs for a character, check out this article on the topic [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/)! ## Use multiple songs as inspiration for your OC! When it comes to designing a character based on music, you aren’t limited to just one song for a character! If one song isn’t enough for your character design, try more than one! If you’re not sure where to start when looking for multiple songs to use, try an album or musical with songs that tell a story! If you need ideas on how to use multiple songs for a design you could… - Use the vibe of one song and the imagery in another for a character design - Use the imagery from one song and your interpretation another song for a character design - Combine all the aspects of two songs into one character design Creating an OC design from a few different songs can be fun and create a unique look for them. Combining different aspects you like about multiple songs can help give you ideas for an interesting character too! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-ded98c0d-125c-49f1-a3a3-22cadd3daf3f.png) Some songs just have a vibe that makes you cry, even if the song itself isn’t sad! Now, go forth…use those vibes for mischief and design a character around it! Muahahaha! If you want to see some cool musical characters from the users of Unvale, check out… - [Sides’](https://unvale.io/Sides?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Myoris](https://unvale.io/character/96a953b9-42db-420b-9350-40c6fda32852?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Leel’s](https://unvale.io/WoolMasterLeel?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Octavous](https://unvale.io/character/739a6263-b8ff-4e8a-9cc3-de6444486da6?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Alixya’s](https://unvale.io/Alixya?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aimhirghin](https://unvale.io/character/3375eae6-75be-4b78-a5e8-243516f71426?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Kaikaiju’s](https://unvale.io/kaikaiju?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Kevo Bun](https://unvale.io/character/8c00713b-3421-4092-8ad9-50ce80a302fa?ref=blog.unvale.io) Using music for designing a character is both fun and can really inspire some ideas! [Unvale](http://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) you can even add a spotify playlist to your OC pages! Whether you use the imagery in the song, your interpretation, or just the vibe, you can find inspiration for a cool character! If you want some inspiration for more specific types of characters, there’s articles for [designing a royal OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/), [designing a villain OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/), [designing an alien OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/), and more! ### How to Use Your Daily Life for OC Inspiration URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:56:47.000Z We all have a daily routine; you likely go to school every day, whether by walking, transit or riding a bike, and then you have classes, and then you go home. Maybe you also have daily chores too. Finding little spaces to be creative can be difficult, but this article aims to help you turn your boring routine into an OC development fest! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-f48194f1-d881-4cad-86ac-385b144494ac.png) **Become the master of time! (The secret is making boring things fun!)* ### Turning Class Time into OC Time I'm not so bold as to suggest you daydream in class since I’m a big nerd who loves to learn, and part of that is because I use this *secret technique*. If you have a school subject you don't find interesting or outright hate, the trick to making it fun is turning it into a chance to create an intelligent and talented **OC in that subject**. If you reframe learning into a chance to create a new OC or improve your writing on another OC, suddenly learning the subject has a purpose; OC development! Along with that, if you ever find yourself curious about something, look it up and research it. The more you learn, the more you can use in your creations after all. These are some subjects that might be worth studying; - Fashion (for OC designs, which my fellow blogger Whim specializes in) - Biology (to get ideas for [how your original species might work](https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-think-about-when-creating-an-original-species/)) - Geology (gemstones and metals to create interesting accessories) - History (for modern and historical OCs alike!) Anything can become inspiration. Speaking of items becoming inspiration, check out these gijinkas made from every day items by our community members! - [Macaroni](https://unvale.io/character/d7d53bb3-555c-475d-964c-8492dfa099b4?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [mirror2mirror](https://unvale.io/mirror2mirror?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Ronnie](https://unvale.io/character/f463d064-03b6-4609-942b-8b02d425ba14?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Artekai](https://unvale.io/Artekai?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Suitcase](https://unvale.io/character/e84ebc7a-c60b-4e94-9005-04a8cb087932?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [gyernon](https://unvale.io/gyernon?ref=blog.unvale.io) If you want to see more, go through [the gijinka tag on Unvale](https://unvale.io/?tags=%5B%22gijinka%22%5D&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-57ad649e-3118-4b84-804c-00882293caf2.png) **Pick a card, any card… the Ace of Lumi… wait, I mean Diamonds!* ### Using Playing Cards to Generate Concepts I bet you’re thinking, “Okay Solar, obviously you’re suggesting that we write things on the cards to shuffle, and pull them out randomly, right?” Well… yes and no! Of course, you can do that with any deck of cards you have on hand, but if you’ve read my [previous articles](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/), you might already know I have an ace up my sleeve… What do you know about [tarot cards](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarot?ref=blog.unvale.io)? Let’s put aside all the superstitious ideas you might have and focus on what tarot cards were made for and actually are; fancy playing cards. The tarot deck and regular playing cards (known as [**French-suited**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French-suited%5Fplaying%5Fcards?ref=blog.unvale.io) playing cards) have four card suites: clubs, diamonds, hearts and spades; or for a tarot deck, wands, pentacles, cups and swords (a *‘pentacle’* in this case is a coin with a 5 pointed star drawn on it, which is a symbol of protection). These Tarot cards are called the [**Minor Arcana**](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor%5FArcana?ref=blog.unvale.io) and have 56 cards, four more than a French-suited deck. This is all to say that you can use a regular French-suited deck for this exercise. Besides the lovely symbolism laden artwork featured on tarot cards, the reason why I think you might find tarot useful is because **each card has a meaning and something it represents**. Let’s use one of the most iconic cards as an example: the Ace of Spades. The Minor Arcana version of this playing card is the [Ace of Swords](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ace%5Fof%5FSwords?ref=blog.unvale.io), which depicts a single crowned sword with plants symbolizing ‘mercy’ and ‘severity’. If you drew this card when thinking about your character’s backstory, what inspiration could come from it? Well, maybe: - You can take it literally: your character is royalty! - It’s not literal: with great power, comes great responsibility to be gentle but strong! - Your character *is* the sword: used by someone else, who’s both merciful but harsh. You can also use the meanings attached when it comes to divination decks, but if you’re uncomfortable with that aspect of tarot, coming up with your own meanings and your own inspiration is a great idea. If you enjoy the ideas of tarot though, I’d recommend you [**design your own tarot cards featuring your OCs**](https://unvale.io/?contentType=art&sort=newest&searchMode=all&tags=%5B%22tarot%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io)! (And check out this link for lots of gorgeous OC illustrations!) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-5a00af7e-86f9-4a60-ad62-42c90e472f5a.png) **I’ve always written stories on walks. Exercise is great for the brain!* ### Go for a Walk! No matter the season, getting your blood flowing and looking at the world around you is always the best bet for finding hidden inspiration. If you’re looking for fashion inspiration, walk down busy streets and see what people are wearing or visit a clothing shop you’ve never been to. Even window shopping at a mall can be fruitful. Personally, my eye is always drawn to flowers and trees. Each season has its own scenery, and different plants bloom as well. If you can use the colours and shapes of plants in your art to inspire you, every walk will be useful. Looking at houses and front yards can also be useful. Try to think about how your OCs would decorate their houses and yards. What sort of things would your OC prioritize? Maybe… - Patio furniture - Flower gardens - Vegetable gardens - A Zen Garden - A tree (maybe a fruit, flower, or evergreen tree!) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-9cfe05c7-4e1a-4034-9f05-16ebf8f90379.png) **One last tip for you all…* ### Closing Thoughts Ultimately, finding inspiration in your daily life is a matter of your mindset. Some people might struggle to transition between a working mindset and a creative one, and that’s okay. That’s why my final suggestion for this article is to keep a **paper journal**. I don't want you to be prim and proper with it though; sketch, write or doodle anything that comes to mind. If you find a cool plant, take a photo of it to look up later, and write down some info about it in your journal. Use lots of colours, let markers bleed across pages, and most importantly, have fun! I have my own journal, which I use as a monthly planner, a sketch book, a diary, a wishlist, and more. Looking through it can spark new ideas, or reignite old ones for me, and I hope that a journal can be the same for you. (Just make sure to hide it if you have a bunch of nosy siblings!) ### How to Put Your OCs Into Memes URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-put-your-ocs-into-memes/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:53:52.000Z Memes are the lifeblood of the internet, often consisting of funny or relatable images, videos, or audios! You’ve probably seen all kinds of different memes, but did you know you can put your OC into some?! But, if you’re looking for something else you can do with your OCs, you can try one of these articles instead: - [5 Ways to Revive your Old OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/) - [Tips on How to Make a Reference Sheet for Your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/) - [How to Use Fear in Your OC Backstories!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-fear-in-your-oc-backstories/) Now, let’s get back to the topic of memes! You’ve probably seen memes all over the place. Whether it be of a particular number, a popular song, a random dog, or a viral clip…memes are found everywhere! Some have fun meanings, others have none at all! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) There’s all kinds of different memes, so how should you go about making a version of one with your character? What kind of meme should you try? Well, let’s talk about it! ## Draw your OC over a meme/image! One way you can put your OC into a meme is by taking the meme you want, and drawing your character over it! You could do this with a regular meme, a meme template for OCs, a stock image, or just by taking the scene a meme is from and drawing your character over it! This is pretty easy to do, and there’s a few ways you can do it: - Draw a one-to-one version of your OC in the pose over the image - Draw your OC in a similar, but unique, pose over the image - Draw the most recognizable design traits of your OC onto the character in the image - Putting a (purposely) poorly cropped image of your OC over the meme - Draw your OC into a character meme template - Draw your OC over a stock image pose Putting a drawing of your OC over an image can be both fun, and humorous! Depending on your style and what the meme is, this can be especially silly if your OC doesn’t quite match the setting of the image! (This method doesn’t work for everyone though, and if you’re a traditional artist, the next way might be easier instead!) Drawing your OC into an image can be an easy way to create a fun meme! It doesn’t have to be a crazy amount of effort, either! (If you need some ideas for ones to try out, try looking for the “draw your OC in this pose” trend, or the “draw the squad” memes!) A fun example of using a meme like this would be [this meme](https://unvale.io/character/48715376-b035-418a-8458-e0e82e60a229?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Smiley](https://unvale.io/smileyisley09?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## Redraw a meme…with your OC in it! Redrawing a meme is pretty similar to the last option, but in this case, you’re redrawing most of the image yourself! If you want the meme to feel a bit more unique, feel more fitting for your characters, or have a bit more personal flair…this is the way to go! With redrawing a meme completely, you can: - Add a funny background that suits your characters better - Change up the pose a little to suit your OC better - Change up the expression slightly to suit your OC better Redrawing a meme might take a bit more effort than just drawing over one, but it can be well worth it in the end! The nice thing about this is you can also do it digitally, or traditionally! A redrawing of a meme can make it feel more unique to you, since it’s drawn in your own style, and give a new life to the meme! A fun example of redrawing a meme like this would be [AlittleAumbry’s](https://unvale.io/AlittleAumbry?ref=blog.unvale.io) take on [this meme](https://unvale.io/character/b7d2e298-ce59-462e-a074-4561c14320f6?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-5a98beb4-5647-4b17-890a-20051cbe3bfd.png) Nearly every OC suffers this tragic fate…It’s for…uh…character development, trust me! ## Draw your OC to a video or audio! Drawing your OC to a video or audio is another way to make a meme, that takes a little extra effort but can be really worth it in the end! Just take a funny audio, and draw your OC in different poses or expressions as if they were saying the lines themselves! It can be any audio! If you need some ideas, it can be… - A funny line from your favorite show - A funny line from your favorite movie - A funny clip off of the internet - An animation meme song - A trending song The fun part about drawing your OC to an audio is that it can make your OC feel more alive! It doesn’t have to be a full-on animation, either. It can just be a few drawings or even just simple doodles! Depending on the vibe you want for your meme, simple doodles might make it even funnier! This can be done traditionally too, and you can just record and pan over the different drawings to create the video! (If you need some ideas here, try checking out the “Punk Tactics” animation memes, or the “OC vs creator” memes!) A fun example of drawing OCs to an audio would be [this animation](https://unvale.io/character/5e9b41c8-6e58-48ae-8b90-90480d8dbc84?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Seaweed](https://unvale.io/BoxOfCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## Create your own original meme of your OC! One more way to put your OC into memes…is to just create your own meme! “But how do I do that?” Simple! Just draw your OC in a silly way…Yes, really! It doesn’t have to be anything high quality, it’s just meant to be silly! If you need ideas for this, you can try… - Drawing your OC with a silly expression - Drawing your OC as a silly doodle - Drawing your OC in a goofy pose - Drawing your OC at a funny angle - Drawing your OC as a fun reaction image or emote - Drawing your OCs in a silly comic Some of the best memes, in my humble opinion, are just OCs being goofy! Drawing an OC as a silly doodle or in the style of a reaction image can be the most fun for memes. Goofy doodle memes of your OCs can even serve as a fun inside joke with friends! With creating your own meme, you can take inspiration from other memes, or just come up with a silly idea yourself! Sometimes though, the best memes come unintentionally! Maybe a little doodle became a favorite of your friends, or maybe a random drawing just ends up representing a super specific emotion in a way emojis can’t truly portray! A fun example of an original meme would be [these character memes](https://unvale.io/character/f788b631-4752-4ad5-bd2f-83cd00b54258?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [CoffeebeanSketches](https://unvale.io/CoffeebeanSketches?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-971f0273-6806-42b9-8375-7b476315ddd1.png) This could be my current favorite meme…But…You can’t prove it… Putting your characters into memes can be a fun way to bring life to your OCs, break out of artblock, or just be a fun thing to do with your friends! If you don’t know where to start, or don’t have any ideas, Unvale actually has a few fun templates that you can try out! If you want to try one of those, you can find them [here](https://unvale.io/world/2c4c13e6-ae77-476b-9b87-e2042325318a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Or, if you need more inspiration, try checking out the tag [#Meme](https://unvale.io/?tags=%5B%22meme%22%5D&contentType=characters&sort=newest&searchMode=all&ref=blog.unvale.io)! [How to make an OC!The ultimate guide for making an OC, including naming, design, lore, and more. Everything you need! Character builders start here.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--d6369bb4-dbf0-4479-be5a-4fd98809436e.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial-Banners--12--22a7eace-9990-4e73-8923-c4824c8a19d6.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) ### Hiring: Short-Form Content Coordinator URL: https://blog.unvale.io/hiring-short-form-content-coordinator/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:51:48.000Z Are you chronically online, know every meme under the sun, and love everything about being a creative? Do you think making short silly videos is awesome and fun? We want you on our team!! ## About the Role We're looking for someone to make short-form content for our socials (ex. Instagram reels, YouTube Shorts, TikTok, etc.) that resonates with young, aspiring creatives in both a relatable and memey way. You'd be a great fit for this role if you're someone who isn't afraid to be silly or crack jokes online, keeps up with trends, is self-driven, and works well independently. ### Your responsibilities will include... - Consistently creating and posting short-form content on a weekly basis - Recycling assets, memes, etc. is totally fine! We're not looking for someone to draw something new every time — that's too much. - We're not looking for high quality content, ***we're looking for fun and relatable***! [Check out this example!](https://www.instagram.com/p/DI-3bsROfZj/?ref=blog.unvale.io) - Interacting with the comment section - Answering questions or just having some light chats with folks who love your videos. - Staying up to date with trends in the creative community - Collaborating with Unvale's Marketing and Community team ### Details and Requirements - Entry level — no professional experience necessary! - Contract — Monthly rate (one-month trial of $500 w/ intention to raise compensation if all goes well.) - Growth — Future option to grow into a full-time position with equity. - 100% Remote — we do everything online in the comfort of our homes or local coffee/boba shops. - Must use and love Unvale. - Must be 18+ to apply. - **We heavily encourage BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ applicants to apply!** What are you waiting for!!! If you think this is right up your alley, apply here: [Short-Form Content Coordinator Application Form](https://forms.gle/DenLtxstcCmLNiRh8?ref=blog.unvale.io) If you have any questions about the role or the Unvale team, send Xen an email at secxen@unvale.io ### 5 Ways to Revive Your Old OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/5-ways-to-revive-your-old-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:47:38.000Z > “I forgot I had this character! I like this old OC’s design…but it could be better! This old OC had such a cool concept, maybe I should revisit it!” Have you ever had thoughts like these about your old characters? Do you miss these OCs that have been ‘dead’ for a while? Is it about time to bring them back to life? Let’s see what we can do! Before we try reviving some old OCs, if you want some ideas for a spooky (un)dead character, try one of these articles! - [Tips for Designing a Ghost OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-ghost-oc/) - [5 Public Domain Monsters You Can Base Your OCs On](https://blog.unvale.io/5-public-domain-monsters-you-can-base-your-ocs-on/) - [Tips for Designing a Monster OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/) Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get back to the topic of reviving OCs! Most of us have old characters we’ve left forgotten for a while, whether it was intentional or accidental! Maybe a hyperfocus shifted, you thought of a new story, or you just haven’t had the time to think about your OC for a while! That’s not at all a bad thing, but what do you do when you’re finally ready to bring these poor lil characters back from the grave? Well, put on your lab coat and goggles, and let’s talk about it! ## What aspects of your old OC do you want to keep? Before getting into the 5 ways, let’s decide what aspects you want to keep about your old OC! There’s a reason you made the OC in the first place, whether it was just out of boredom, a fan character, or for an old story you were writing. So what made you create your old OC, and what are your favorite details about them? If you’re not too sure, here’s some questions to try and help you remember! - Was the OC for a specific story? - Was the OC a fandom character or self-insert OC? - Was the OC created from a specific interest or fixation? - What kind of personality did the OC have? - Did the OC have a key aspect of their design? Thinking about why you made your OC in the first place can help you determine what to keep about them, whether it be their personality, a part of their design, or something else! If you think about what you liked about a character, you can then try to expand upon that aspect of them, or add new things that go along with that idea! Now that you have an idea of what you want to keep about your character, let’s get into the 5 ways to revive them! ### 1: Find new inspiration for your OC! Inspiration plays a big part in creating a character! It gets you excited to create, and can give you new ideas for your characters and story! Inspiration can come from just about anywhere, whether it be a favorite book or a favorite video game. Incorporating elements from things you’re interested in will make your creation process more fun! If you need ideas for where to look, here’s some ideas: - A favorite fairytale - A favorite mythology story - A favorite novel - A favorite comic book - A favorite cartoon - A favorite manga series - A favorite anime series - A cool moodboard If there was a specific piece of media that was your main source of inspiration for your OC in the past, you could try revisiting that as well and see if there’s anything you interpret differently! You might interpret things differently because you’re at a different stage of life now. You can use that inspiration for your own characters! Maybe your favorite book has a character that’s more morally complex than you initially thought, or maybe the side character in your favorite childhood show has accessories that serve as symbolism. Try diving deeper into your current or old interests and look for inspiration there! If you’re interested in using mythology specifically for a story, check out this cool article by my co-writer over [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/)! ### 2: Try combining your OC with another old OC of yours! Another way to bring to life an old OC is to combine them with another one of your old characters! Consider combining your favorite elements of both characters to create an OC you really like, because now they have more things you like about them! If you’re not sure how to go about this, some ideas could be things like… - Taking one OC and giving them the outfit that belonged to a different OC - Combing your favorite personality traits of different characters - Giving your OC a design motif that another OC had - Taking a story theme one OC has and giving it to a character with a design you like better Sometimes you might have aspects of one character you really like, but maybe it feels like they would be better suited as part of another character. If one of the characters is one who maybe you didn’t like the concept of that much, you could give the concepts about them you do like to the character you want to revive! By doing this, you can create a character you liked even more than before! Maybe with one character, you really liked their development in the story, but didn’t really like their design! If there’s a different character who feels kind of flat but has a cooler design, you could combine the two OCs! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-0c20e6d7-6068-448a-a9d6-cb330528dd6b.png) Inspiration can come from all kinds of places! Books, comics or manga, a video game, and more! ### 3: Give your OC a new personality or theme to their character! A third way you could revive an old OC is by giving their character a new theme or personality! If you have a character who was made more just for fun and didn’t give them much story or personality, adding that to them can really help them feel more alive, and even inspire new ideas for their design! Try coming up with new things about your OC. If you’re not sure where to start, here’s some questions to get you thinking: - Is the OC an introvert or extrovert? - Do they work better as part of a team, or do they do better solo? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What are their goals? - Why do they have the goals they do? - What could be the moral of their story, based on their personality? Adding onto an old character’s personality or coming up with new traits for them can help you figure out what part they play in the story they're in, or help you get an idea of how to change up their design to better suit their personality! A new personality trait or moral theme can create new ideas for what you can do with your OC! It can influence the design, their goals, how they interact with others, and more! If you need some more ideas, a character trope could be a fun addition to their character! If you’d like to learn a bit more about that, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-character-trope-for-your-oc/)! ### 4: Incorporate a new motif and/or aesthetic to your OC’s design! If you’ve read some of my other articles before, you might know that I LOVE a good design motif and aesthetic! Incorporating either into an old OC’s design can both freshen up their look, and make them feel more interesting! If you need ideas on what to add,you could consider: - An animal motif that matches the OC’s personality - A flower motif that symbolizes their role or fate - An aesthetic that showcases the time period they’re from - An aesthetic that gives a glimpse at their personality Incorporating a motif or aesthetic throughout the design of your OC can make a design feel more coherent, and also tell the audience a bit about your character in a subtle (or not so subtle) way! Maybe a deceptive character has a motif of a poisonous flower, or a free-spirited character has an aesthetic that represents that! Motifs and aesthetics are great ways to revive an old OC! Both can help give you ideas on many different parts of their design, and you can make it as subtle or obvious as you want! If you’re not sure what a motif is, I cover it a bit more in this article about choosing OC outfits [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! Shape language is another way to create a more cohesive look, and if you’d like to learn more about that, check out [this article](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/) about it! ### 5: Create a new story for your OC to be a part of! Listen close…Now this, I saved for last…because it’s the most DANGEROUS. Number 5 is…creating a new story for your old OC entirely. Why is this so dangerous, you ask? Well, because there’s a chance you might end up loving this new story so much that it becomes your new favorite to work on and becomes a new passion project! …Huh? Am I speaking from experience…? Uh…heheh…Let’s continue! A new story can truly bring to life an old OC, or even multiple old OCs! Maybe there’s something about an old side character that could make a great story separate from the original, or maybe a specific design element inspires worldbuilding you could turn into a new world! You might get ideas from an old OC such as… - A new idea for an original species - A new concept for character development - A new concept for a world - A new concept for a magic system Creating a new story for an old OC can not only be a fun way to revive them, but can also be a fun new story to work on when you feel burnt out or bored of your other ones! It might take a little more effort than the other ideas, but if you put your mind to it, it can be really worth it in the end! If you need some further ideas for creating a new world for your OCs, check out these articles on [worldbuilding concepts for OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/) and [original species](https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-think-about-when-creating-an-original-species/)! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/11/data-src-image-d9a47367-e99c-4035-a983-4ce92d13d477.png) Combining aspects of different characters or adding new concepts or motifs to an old character can really add some new life to them! If you want to see some cool OC redesigns from the creators on Unvale, check out… - [Denzy’s](https://unvale.io/TheTalkingDenzyMan?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lexley](https://unvale.io/character/a14200e6-3434-4d91-bed5-ab67650a3836?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Elibi’s](https://unvale.io/Elibigott?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ollie](https://unvale.io/character/bee9aedf-969a-483f-86cb-106881533ddd?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [NinaSlay’s](https://unvale.io/NinaSlay?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pearl](https://unvale.io/character/e36bcc10-4fc8-4a89-bcb6-7287cc8bafe2?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Zero’s](https://unvale.io/zerothegreat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OCs [Unicorn + Uni-cat](https://unvale.io/character/6c542edd-5b1e-4d2c-b4f7-7a274a8c9416?ref=blog.unvale.io) Reviving an old forgotten OC can be a lot of fun! Looking for new inspiration, combining ideas, and incorporating new elements are all ways you can go about giving new life to these old OCs! If you’re looking for more ideas for writing your characters, check out these [tips for writing hero and villain OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-hero-and-villain-ocs/), learn [how to write a scary scene](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/), or learn about [how to write a fight scene](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-fight-scene-in-your-original-stories/)! ### Mythology as OC Inspiration: Where to Start URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:57:47.000Z Mythology! If you’ve got certain nerdy interests, your mind is probably going to Greek Mythology; an age of gods and monsters, used in [popular novels](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22PJO%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), movies, and even musicals. However, this article aims to expand your idea of what mythology really is, and how you can use it. So, starting off, what is a [*myth*](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myth?ref=blog.unvale.io)? Myths are cultural stories explaining past history, supernatural phenomena, or cultural practices, such as why certain holidays are celebrated. An example of modern mythology would be the American Wild West; while it’s been deconstructed in recent years as reconciliation efforts are being made with the native people of the land, the Wild West has long been romanticized and become myth. Every culture in the world has myths, from the ancient and expansive history of Egypt and China, to the American cryptids such as the Flatwoods monster and the Mothman ([as I mentioned in my last article](https://blog.unvale.io/5-public-domain-monsters-you-can-base-your-ocs-on/)), mythologies shape and contextualize our understanding of the world and how it works. Now, let’s dive into how we can use myths in our original works! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-37235665-424a-40c2-be24-6a1abbb801f8.png) **From book to film, from myth to musical, adaptations of myths are everywhere!* ### Adaptations An adaptation of something is changing the medium or context of the work. Have you heard of the manga [*Dragon Ball*](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=[%22dragonball%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io)? What about [*LEGO Monkie Kid*](https://unvale.io/?tags=[%22monkiekid%22]&searchMode=all&contentType=characters&ref=blog.unvale.io)? Okay, now, how about *Journey to the West*? Okay that was a trick question; if you know the first two, then you’ve experienced an adaptation of [*Journey to the West*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey%5Fto%5Fthe%5FWest?ref=blog.unvale.io). Actually, if you’ve watched anime or read manga, or watched anything inspired by Japanese or Chinese media you likely have encountered something that references the famous work of fiction; [check this list on Wikipedia and see if you have](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fmedia%5Fadaptations%5Fof%5FJourney%5Fto%5Fthe%5FWest?ref=blog.unvale.io). In short, you can create a new work by simply re-imagining a myth or story in a new place or time. As I mentioned in my last article, public domain fiction is available for use without copyright and thus can be freely adapted into a new form. A story or myth that originally has a certain moral or purpose can be modernized and updated for the modern audience. As an example, the well-known story of Hades and Persephone is often updated as a consensual romance between two equals to make the story more comfortable and enjoyable for the audience. A modern adaptation might look like a young woman meeting and falling for an older, wealthy CEO and moving to his city; maybe you can think of at least two stories like this. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-aa16e6e4-651a-4044-997b-9e4b9ff10aa2.png) **Imbue your stories with a magical force…* ### Weaving Real Myths Into your Story **To start this section, I need to get serious for a moment**. As stated in the Unvale community guidelines, [certain cultural creatures or figures aren’t allowed here on Unvale](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927102-creation-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io#h%5Fff8e547499). I mentioned the word *‘reconciliation’* in the intro in the context of North America’s indigenous/native peoples, and that’s part of why that rule is in place. In [Navajo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navajo?ref=blog.unvale.io) culture, sk\*nwalkers are not to be discussed with outsiders, and in [Algonquin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algonquin%5Fpeople?ref=blog.unvale.io)culture, mentioning or depicting w\*ndigos is taboo. These are living, existing cultures and their practices and desires for their cultures not to be used lightly are recognized and respected by us here at Unvale. **Okay, let’s get back to being unserious now.** So, you want to use mythology in your stories? I mean sure, just a reference or two can spice up your work but as Greek Mythology fans know, if you wanna get the best results you gotta go *deep*. Research might seem boring at first, but what you’re really doing is going down a rabbit hole of stories, history and culture. Myths are deeply woven into culture, and even if that culture is no longer what it used to be, the descendants of that original culture still exist and live on the land used by their ancestors. Frankly, I think this is wonderful and part of what makes myths so intriguing. But something to consider about cultural myths is that there are certain myths that **we as creators shouldn’t touch**. Knowing what and what not to use in our own work is key to making a good impression on our audience, after all; which is why research becomes necessary the more you include myth in your work. For instance, using those myths to spice up our own work can become a slippery slope into speaking for other cultures that aren’t our own, and certain ‘myths’ are regularly misused or misunderstood and separated from original religious and/or cultural practices. So what to do? Don’t be nervous, as I said above, simply research! The more you learn about the culture whose myths you’d like to use, the more you’ll know what to use and what to leave alone. Speak to people from those cultures, and read what you can. If you find you can’t use a certain concept, creating your own unique creature or myth that has all the parts you want might work instead. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-f9cb3b88-7227-4614-9a49-0a1a8df8e1c2.png) **No need for a mythical quill to create your own myths, just your own creativity!* ### Creating Myth Within your Original Story No matter what setting you’re using, mythology can be used to deepen your world and make it feel more alive. Here’s why you should add myths to your original worlds: - It adds a potential plot point you can use, whether the myth is real or not; the pursuit of the myth itself can be a character motivation. - It adds history to your world, giving more agency to the people around your main protagonists through the creation and perpetuation of myths. - It adds culture to your world, through contextualizing certain social behaviours or even entire words and phrases. - It can act as foreshadowing to a monster, creature, location or person. - It can add legitimacy to a powerful or well-known figure through stories about their deeds or actions. So you want to add myths to your world; now what? Of course, you can use real myths to inspire your creations like I mentioned above, but I want to help you create your own myths. So how do we go about that? The simplest method is simply to create a truth, and then exaggerate it. If you have a few friends willing to help you out, try this: start by writing down a story, and then tell it to your friend. Then, at the end of the day, ask them to tell another friend the same story from memory and let them exaggerate certain bits they find cool. Do this a few times, and viola! You’ve simulated how myths are formed. Of course, if you need a myth to function as a story tool, think about what you need it to do first. Do you need a character to think something about another that isn’t necessarily true? Do you need a character to be able to solve a puzzle through the myth? The myth you create has to have the parts in it that you as the author need. But if you’re like me and like to create worlds for fun, mythology can be a great way to colour in the world. The tale of a festival that your characters visit to relax, the reason why villagers don’t leave their homes after dark, even [why cats are revered and kept in a library](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library%5Fcat?ref=blog.unvale.io); myths can be simple parts of daily life in your world and add a sense of wonder and joy. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-1fb1ce11-240b-41f9-ba0f-4368924a132b.png) **Thank you for reading!* Let’s end things off with some mythological OCs! - [Angelique](https://unvale.io/character/bf85bd41-5f4e-4dd4-90e3-15a55b00815a?ref=blog.unvale.io), a Life Angel and the protagonist of [KrystalSakura](https://unvale.io/TheKrystalSakura?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s novel, [*Ode to Aurora*](https://unvale.io/world/3db2a140-1859-48ee-9e46-61c9c046a812?view=Creations&viewFilter=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io). This user has other angel and demon characters to check out too! - [Silas ‘The Abyssal’](https://unvale.io/character/a1c49b24-f01a-4c6b-ae96-1f3a51151db0?ref=blog.unvale.io), an outer god of the void and empty expanse of space and night. She and her mythology have been lovingly crafted by user [IMrSandman](https://unvale.io/IMrSandman?ref=blog.unvale.io). - [Ode](https://unvale.io/character/04cfcde2-79c5-4d4c-9e2d-ad16b17dc524?ref=blog.unvale.io), a spriggan of Cornish mythology created by user [Rosequartzish](https://unvale.io/rosequartzish?ref=blog.unvale.io). Raised by humans, they’re slowly discovering their family *roots*. One last thing! In the past, I’ve linked certain hashtags to show off your original characters and stories from certain genres, but now that the Unvale team has [*unveiled*](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/12651472-what-are-social-posts?ref=blog.unvale.io) [posts](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/12651139-unvale-social-post-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io), I think there’s an opportunity to show off your creations through a single hashtag… [#UVblog](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=all&tags=[%22UVblog%22]&sort=newest&contentType=social&ref=blog.unvale.io). This time if any of my wonderful blog-readers have a **mythological based** character, world or art piece, or their own original mythology, show it off in a post and add the hashtag! And if you’ve got any stuff you want to show off based on past blog posts too, please do! ### How to Design a Ghost OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-ghost-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:28:42.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* The spooky characters just keep coming! With [aliens](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/), [monsters](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/), [vampires](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/), and other creatures lurking around, another ghoul joins the party…ghosts! Ghosts are a popular character type, often found in fantasy or folktales! You’ve probably seen ghost characters before, and you might recognize some such as… - [The Headless Horseman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headless%5FHorseman?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Emily](https://corpsebride.fandom.com/wiki/Emily?ref=blog.unvale.io) (I personally think she falls into the ghost category!) - [Nabstablook](https://undertale.fandom.com/wiki/Napstablook?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Spectra](https://monsterhigh.fandom.com/wiki/Spectra%5FVondergeist%5F%28G1%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) Ghosts are a fairly popular kind of character! They often serve as characters who have died and haven’t been able to move on! Sometimes they’re friendly and just want help, other times they’re evil and out for vengeance! So, how do you design a spooky ghost character? Enter the nearest haunted manor, and let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What kind of ghost is your OC? First off, what kind of ghost character are you designing? A design for a spooky specter in a horror story might appear different from a sweet spirit in a comedy or fantasy story! Depending on the purpose behind your ghost OC, you might want to consider different kinds of designs that match that! Ghosts are often characters who died a long time ago, so their design might reflect the past instead of the modern day! Before brainstorming ideas for your ghost OC, you can consider different questions such as… - What kind of story is your ghost OC in? - What kind of ghost are they? - What time period are they from? - Are they meant to be scary? - How did they become a ghost? - Why are they a ghost? - How long have they been a ghost for? - Are they a nice, evil, or morally grey ghost? Coming up with answers to the questions above, or questions of your own, can help give you an idea on how to go about designing your ghost character! If you want a scarier or evil ghost, you could lean more into the horror aspects of their design! If you want a more cutesy or sweet ghost, you could give them a design that reflects their friendliness! If you’re stumped on how you should design your ghost character, considering different things like their personality and role in the story can help give you ideas! As we go through this article, try thinking of answers to some of the questions above, and see if you can use those to give you inspiration for your ghost OC! # Give your ghost an eerie outfit! Outfits are a great way to make a ghost design look interesting and eerie! Whether their outfit shows what kind of person they were before they died, or shows off the time they were from, a good outfit will be a great part of your spirit’s spooky look! ## Could you incorporate a unique aesthetic into your ghost’s design? One way to start off designing a ghost design is to research a cool aesthetic to give them! There are plenty of aesthetics that reflect different time periods in fashion, or have a wistful feel that could fit a ghostly OC. If you need some ideas or inspiration for different aesthetics to consider looking up, you can try different ones such as… - Ghostcore - Vampire - Goth - Romantic goth - Victorian - Dark Academia - Dark fantasy - Knightcore - Medieval fantasy - Whimsigoth - Plaguecore - Goth lolita Giving your ghost an aesthetic that suits their character can be a great way to help create a unique look, and coordinate their design. The ones above are cool aesthetics you can consider, but there are many more options you could use! A good example of using aesthetics for a ghost design would be [Stove’s](https://unvale.io/Ghostea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Leo](https://unvale.io/character/c28a713b-9ef1-43e8-b617-5d5398cab3f5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Leo has a fun gothic aesthetic to their design! Another good example would be [Enfysnarratives’s](https://unvale.io/enfysnarratives?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Grey](https://unvale.io/character/ead3f1b8-a169-42c3-b94b-2e06e2874da6?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Grey has a fun victorian aesthetic as part of the design! ## Give your ghost some interesting clothes! Clothes are a great way to create interest in your ghost’s design! Since their deaths often took place long in the past, their clothes are often worn out or outdated. You could take inspiration from a specific aesthetic, or try researching the kinds of clothes worn in the time period your ghost is from! If you need some clothing ideas to get you started, you can try things such as… - A long tattered gown - A tattered dress shirt - A flowy robe - An old suit - A faded ball gown - A corset - A vest - A large coat - An eerie cape There are lots of different types of clothing you could use for your ghost character’s design! Depending on the context around your ghost, you can pick different clothing that would suit them! A fancy ghost from the Victorian era probably wouldn’t be found wearing modern fashion, and a ghost haunting a modern-day high school probably won’t be wearing clothing from a hundred years ago! A good example of using clothes for a ghost design would be [Frolltomstein’s](https://unvale.io/Frolltomstein?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Duke](https://unvale.io/character/de54193c-6e11-463f-8ab1-d02379f113f0?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Duke wears fancy masquerade attire! Another good example would be [Ast’s](https://unvale.io/Astremina?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ghost](https://unvale.io/character/ed6306be-29da-4de7-8622-c79183cc8236?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ghost wears fancy and mysterious clothing! ## Try adding some spooky accessories to your ghost’s design! When it comes to a ghostly outfit, adding some interesting accessories can really enhance their design and really make the character look more otherworldly! Ghosts often have eerie or strange accessories that make them look even spookier! If you need some ideas for ghostly accessories you could include in your character’s design, you could try adding... - A spooky lantern - A spooky candelabra - A tall staff - Chains - A dark veil - Lace gloves - Elbow-length gloves - A wilted flower crown - A faded shawl - A plague mask - A tattered doll There’s plenty of unique accessories that could really make your ghost look haunting and eerie! Adding some accessories that fit your ghost character will create extra interest in your ghost’s design, and make them look more unique! Accessories could reflect what they might have done in their past life, or just be a fun addition to their look! A good example of using accessories for a ghost design would be [Fiendology’s](https://unvale.io/Fiendology?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nocuous](https://unvale.io/character/7a7d4180-c54d-43ba-a0f2-a4ad4910f778?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nocuous has spooky glowing chains! Another good example would be [Emjey’s](https://unvale.io/emjey?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jora](https://unvale.io/character/3264a747-46eb-49d0-8541-84178dc9682f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Jora has a spooky lantern and other accessories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-5dce85b5-6833-4a82-9187-9aa58a8af250.png) A love dark and mysterious aspects in a ghost design! # Could you use your ghost’s appearance to your advantage? Ghosts are often known for having an otherworldly and melancholic look, and you can use their appearance to show that off! Since they’re supernatural beings from beyond the grave, they often have spooky traits that reflect that! ## Consider your ghost’s build! Something you can consider about your ghost’s appearance is their build! Since they are a type of undead character, they can have details that a normal human wouldn’t have! If you want to add to your ghost’s spooky factor, you could play around with details that could make them look extra eerie! You could try giving your ghost different things such as… - Elongated arms - Elongated legs - A frame thinner than a human’s - Features that reflect how they died - Limbs replaced by bones - Missing limbs - A ghost tail instead of legs - Claw-like fingers - Uncanny features There’s lots of ways you could use your ghost’s build to create an interesting and spooky look! Features like the ones above can help the audience determine that your ghost is, well, a ghost! A good example of using build for a ghost design would be [IllegallyExisting’s](https://unvale.io/IllegallyExisting?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Dr. Vincent](https://unvale.io/character/a0d4957d-c6d2-4c6b-bbc2-d5a8ad31d68e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Dr. Vincent has a cool ghost tail! Another good example would be [Phantaloon’s](https://unvale.io/KawaiicoreRibo030?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Phantrap](https://unvale.io/character/71148bec-a762-4741-9a03-78b8be708c5f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Phantrap is another character with a cool ghost tail! ## Is there an eerie hairstyle that would suit your ghost? Another aspect of your ghost’s appearance you can consider when creating their design is their hairdo! You could give your ghost a hairstyle that makes them look mysterious, or you could try a hairstyle that was trendy in a different time period! - wispy wavy hair - A short, choppy bob - Long bangs covering the eyes - An old-fashioned bun - Long curls A fun and spooky hairstyle can be a great addiction to your ghost’s design! It can help reflect their character, and show off their ghostly character! A good example of using hairstyles for a ghost design would be [Rainbo’s](https://unvale.io/LunarFoxes19?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lini](https://unvale.io/character/dc9fdb48-93e3-41a8-bbbb-f99ad4c611dc?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lini has some fun green braids! Another good example would be [Sol’s](https://unvale.io/Pseudorot?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Merona](https://unvale.io/character/a44e2388-ee8c-4c04-96e9-6b0d129c5d94?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Merona has glowing multicolored hair! ## Add some spooky details to your ghost’s design! A final cool way to really add to a ghost character’s design is to incorporate some spooky details! Since ghosts are supernatural creatures, they can have fantasy-like elements as part of their appearance! Some fantasy elements can help your ghost feel mystical! If you need some inspiration, some ideas you could add could be things like… - Translucent skin - Transparent skin - A gradient on limbs - Floating hair - Glowing hair - Glowing eyes - A ghostly color palette - Cartoony, jelly-like organs visible - Sparkling skin - Floating objects around the OC Adding some eerie and interesting details to your ghost will help them look unique and cool! Just like with your ghost’s build, details like the ones above will help the audience tell that your character’s a ghost! A good example of using spooky details for a ghost design would be [Jesso’s](https://unvale.io/jessocohen?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nefarre](https://unvale.io/character/f7412421-a53c-4869-be40-f614121ecf20?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nefarre has eerie, glowing yellow eyes! Another good example would be [Marcelo’s](https://unvale.io/MarceloGToonz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jackson](https://unvale.io/character/c66e0ff6-a6bb-4bea-84aa-3e3b59a53af7?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Jackson has a spooky pumpkin head! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-46d3cabd-eab4-4c3c-94d1-9ea6e5538ad9.png) I love ghost designs with eerie glowing details! Designing a ghost character can be a fun challenge! Incorporating a fitting aesthetic, choosing spooky clothes and accessories, and giving your ghost an eerie appearance are all fun ways to create a cool design for your character! While we’re on the topic of ghosts and ghouls, have you considered using a public domain monster for character inspiration? If you want to learn about different public domain monsters, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/5-public-domain-monsters-you-can-base-your-ocs-on/)! If you already have enough spooky characters for a story and want to learn how to write a scary scene, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/)! ### Changelog: Posts URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-posts/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:05:23.000Z One of the most exciting platform releases EVER is now LIVE on Unvale! You can finally make POSTS! Read on for more info: - **POSTS ON UNVALE!!!** \- Want to announce your new chapter? Share a WIP doodle? Host an artist Q&A? See if anyone wants to RP? Promote your collab world? Reveal a pet pic? POSTS ARE HERE! You no longer have to use character pages for posts! HOORAY! Remember to review our Community Guidelines on the Help Center if you're questioning what's OK to post. - **Site layout changes** \- This one may take awhile to get used to, but I think you'll really like it long-term! The EXPLORE page (which now has posts) has become the new HOME page, and a lot of the features on the old home page are now on the COMMUNITY page! There's also a snazzy new navigation menu for if you're on your phone. - **Support link changes** \- Because of our new mobile menu, you'll now need to use the "Help Center" link in the profile dropdown menu to submit a ticket to our team. We are still just a few taps away and always willing to help out with whatever we can! - **Usernames can now be swapped** \- Tired of being stuck with an outdated username? Want to rebrand? NOW YOU CAN! Just submit a support ticket and our team will do our best to help you update your username. - **Search bar for adding OCs to world** \- We've added a search bar for when you're adding multiple OCs to a world from the world edit page. NO LONGER must you go to every OC page individually. NO LONGER must you hit "load more" 100 times. Now, you may search and add! THIS IS A BIG ONE! I can't WAIT for y'all to go see this release! As always, we're open to feedback. We still have a lot of things in the works, plus a MAJOR announcement coming very soon. That's all for now! Go to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to see what's new! ### Designing Your Own Alien OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:29:52.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Many strange characters lurk the streets of Unvale… [monsters](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/)… [vampires](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/)… [fairies](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/)… and many others! But another kind of spooky OC comes from a distant land…a different planet from your own...Alien characters! These Sci-Fi sillies can be found in all kinds of different media! You might recognize different alien characters such as… - [The Xenomorph](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xenomorph?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Yoda](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoda?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Stitch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stitch%5F%28Lilo%5F&%5FStitch%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Groot](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groot?ref=blog.unvale.io) Alien characters are pretty popular! Sometimes they serve as a scary monster antagonist, other times they’re a friendly being investigating humans! So how do you go about designing a cool alien character? Hop in the nearest UFO… and let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) # What kind of alien is your OC? First off! What kind of alien are you designing? There’s many different kinds of aliens, from cutesy ones to scarier ones! Depending on what you’ll use your alien for, and the story you want to tell, you’ll probably have to design them a bit differently than you would a different kind of story! You can try coming up with questions such as… - What kind of story is the alien in? (Horror, Comedy, etc!) - Are they more humanoid, or more creature-like? - Are they meant to be intimidating, scary, cute, or something else? - What’s their personality like? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What’s their home planet like? - What's the culture like? - Are they more, or less, advanced than humans? Considering questions like the ones above will give you an idea of how you can go about designing your alien! If you need a scary antagonist alien, you can really lean into the creepy factor! If you want a more friendly alien, you could give them a more friendly look! (Or, you could do the opposite to surprise your audience!) Trying to think of answers to the questions above, or think up some questions of your own, as we go through this article! You can think of different aspects of your alien’s design based on your answers! # Give your alien a cool fit! If you’re looking to create a more humanoid alien, giving your OC a cool outfit can really add to their look! Usually aliens have a Sci-Fi or otherworldly fit! ## Try a fun and futuristic aesthetic out on your alien! First off, choosing a cool aesthetic to base your alien off of can really add to their character and make them feel more fitting to their story! Often, aliens are portrayed as having more advanced tech than humans, and so futuristic aesthetics work well! If you need some ideas, you could try aesthetics such as… - Sci-Fi - Cyberpunk - Solarpunk - Atompunk - Cybergoth - Raygun gothic - Futurism - Retrofuturism - Future Funk - Vaporwave - Mecha Looking for cool aesthetics can help inspire you and get you motivated to design your alien, and there’s many more than just the ones above! Not every alien needs a futuristic aesthetic though, but there’s plenty of other aesthetic options to choose from as well! A good example of using aesthetics. For an alien design would be [aFrogInAHat’s](https://unvale.io/aFrogInAHat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Calbyián](https://unvale.io/character/4ce02589-201b-4e2f-a91d-10d0f43ce341?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Calbyián has a cool Solarpunk aesthetic! Another good example would be [Lyntown’s](https://unvale.io/Lyntown?ref=blog.unvale.io) persona [Lyntown](https://unvale.io/character/d57f73ea-e4fe-4c80-be4b-7e12f7a2bc43?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lyntown has a Cyberpunk aesthetic! ## Give your alien some stylish clothes! Now that you have some aesthetic inspiration, you can give your alien some fitting clothes! There’s plenty of different clothing pieces you could use for your OC, and it can play a big part in your alien’s design! The kind of clothes you give them can help the audience know what kind of alien they are, and the role they have in the story! If you need ideas to help you start, you could consider clothes like: - A sleek black leather outfit - Cool knee-high boots - A one-piece suit with light-up details - A sci-fi space suit - Mech armor - A metallic dress - A futuristic organization uniform - A long robe Picking some cool clothes will help give your alien an interesting look! Depending on what your alien does, you could choose based on that! Is your alien part of a galactic council? Maybe give them a long and elegant robe! What about an alien who’s part of a scout team? They could have a cool uniform to match that! There’s plenty of different things you could do! A good example of using clothes for an alien design would be [Cyan’s](https://unvale.io/Killoff?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pacif’k](https://unvale.io/character/314f4a91-a5ad-47c8-b1b7-fbbe0ae1cd6d?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Pacif’k has a cool spiky robe! Another good example would be [SeiKittea’s](https://unvale.io/SeiKittea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Anavin](https://unvale.io/character/3d69f8b7-0db2-402f-b0ce-5c64e9532069?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Anavin has a cute bubble dress! ## Add some fun accessories to your alien’s design! Another way to add to a cool alien design is to add some super cool accessories! Since aliens often have a more futuristic theme, they often have access to cool technology that we don’t have! You can utilize this for cool futuristic accessories! You could give them different accessories such as… - A futuristic gun - A futuristic blade - A futuristic crown - A cool visor - A Sci-Fi headset - Fun-shaped glasses/sunglasses - A belt with unique tools on it - Space themed charms - An ethereal cape - Metal bracelets - A jacket with lots of zippers - A mask with light-up details There’s so many types of accessories you could use for an alien design! Accessories can create some more interest in your alien’s design, and make your OC stand out! A good example of using accessories for an alien design would be [Artgelic’s](https://unvale.io/Artgelic?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Konor](https://unvale.io/character/3f6b2a26-989f-4028-9831-96b911b65fe4?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Konor has a cool mask and other accessories! Another good example would be [Myra’s](https://unvale.io/myrapaints?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Elowen](https://unvale.io/character/19e3bf79-dd4f-4812-9ab9-5619355e3ea3?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Elowen has various gold accessories, even some decorating her antennae! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-a7c55b5e-610b-41da-a44b-051faed80594.png) # Use your alien’s appearance for a cool design! One of the most important aspects of an alien design might be their appearance! Since aliens are from another planet, they have unique appearances and features that are meant for their environment! ## Play around with your alien’s build! One thing you can consider is the build of your alien! Since they’re from a different planet, their build might be different from a human! It could be anything from them having a more animal-like body, or just longer limbs! You could try different things like… - Longer arms - Longer legs - A build that’s bulkier than a human’s would be - A build that’s thinner than a human’s would be - A taller build than a human’s would be - Animal legs - Insect legs - Animal paws/claws Using your alien’s build to enhance their design can be a fun way to make them seem more alien-like! A good example of using build for an alien design would be [Kite’s](https://unvale.io/sentinel705?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Kallex](https://unvale.io/character/40115c63-f0c0-4396-bdbf-1ea363284329?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Kallex has a sleek mech build! Another good example would be [Roxirin’s](https://unvale.io/roxirin?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [C1PH3R](https://unvale.io/character/e90438b8-467a-4824-a3c5-fa4669a9f70d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! C1PH3R has a cool jelly-like build! ## Try out a cool hairstyle for your alien! Hair is another fun way to add to an alien design, especially for more humanoid ones! Since aliens aren’t human, you can give them all kinds of wacky hairstyles and colors! You could play around with ideas such as… - Super twirly pigtails - Multicolored hair - Extra long graceful braids - Floating hair - A retro bob - Hair made from something that’s not hair - Cutesy space buns There's lots of fun options when it comes to hairstyles for aliens! You can mix and match different hairstyles to create an extra unique look as well! A good example of using hair for alien design would be [BrainR0t’s](https://unvale.io/BrainR0t?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Vrávny](https://unvale.io/character/860305c0-d2ca-4045-b3a6-92e30b6cbda6?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Vrávny has cool floaty hair! Another good example would be [wizzardpantz’s](https://unvale.io/wizzardpantz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Candice](https://unvale.io/character/baf62886-6874-461a-8a3e-e5c33a4f853c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Candice has cool messy green and black hair! ## Add some unique extra features to your alien! A part of alien designs that’s really fun, and my personal favorite aspect, is unique features! There’s lots of different things you can add to an alien to help them look more, well, alien-like! If you need inspiration, you can consider things like… - Fun-shaped antennae - Unique skin colors - Cool skin patterns or tattoos - Extra eyes - Extra mouths - Extra teeth - Extra arms - Extra legs - Pointed ears - Translucent jelly-like limbs - Fins - Sharp teeth - Animal ears - Animal tails - Bug wings - A unique eye design The sky’s the limit when it comes to alien features! Or, er, past the sky I suppose! The details can have to do with the environment of their home planet, or it could just be based on the rule of cool! A good example of unique features on an alien design would be [WR10’s](https://unvale.io/WR10?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Zal’ni](https://unvale.io/character/8d6ff202-4355-4c95-bd1f-96fe6cbe2263?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Zal’ni has cool scales, antennae, and other features! Another good example would be [Reagzan’s](https://unvale.io/reagzan?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pterois](https://unvale.io/character/707e83e0-01e2-48d8-a263-ef38161d656b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Pterois has cool antennae, patterns, and other features! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-9942a8c0-e745-4e46-9f84-127c594bf83c.png) Antennae are cool, and so are eye designs and other features for an alien character! Creating an alien character can be a lot of fun! Leaning into aesthetics, picking out cool clothes and accessories, and giving your OC an interesting appearance can all help you design a unique and creative alien character! Don’t stress too much about your alien’s design, and remember to have fun with it! Need some more ideas for your alien character? I mentioned eyes earlier, and there’s an article dedicated to eye designs [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/) if you’re interested! If you need some backstory ideas for your alien, try this article on using fear in a backstory [here](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-fear-in-your-oc-backstories/)! ### Partner Interview With Matty Bites URL: https://blog.unvale.io/i-with-matty-bites/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:54:51.000Z Hellooo, Unvale community! We have a very special blog post for you all that's the first of its kind on Unvale! We had the absolute pleasure of getting to chat with [**Matty Bites**](https://www.youtube.com/@mattybites?ref=blog.unvale.io), YouTuber, reviewer, and creative (along with being one of our awesome partners). But enough of me yapping! Ready to see what they had to share? **Keep reading!** --- ### **Can you share a bit about who you are and what you do?** My name is [Matty](https://unvale.io/MattyBites?ref=blog.unvale.io) and I [make videos about Webcomics I come across](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgOOn2SNmkE&ref=blog.unvale.io)! I also draw my own comics in my free time! ### **What got you into creating art and/or OCs?** Spite. As weird as that sounds I was from a small school and was "the best" artist in my class. So when I had nothing challenging myself to grow and learn I actually stopped drawing and started writing. Then when I went to High School I realized I had a lot to learn. When I met my best buddy, they were SO TALENTED (still are) and before I realized it, I was angrily trying to become a better artist than them (still am). As I was drawing and drawing and drawing, I started to fall in love with creation and I couldn't stop. While Spite initially sparked me to want to be the best in my school, it helped rekindle my passion for art and as I've grown, I've come to realize that I love art. I love it so much. It has helped me be the person I am today. It has helped me meet so many INCREDIBLY TALENTED people. It has brought me closer to those I want to surround myself with. While spite initially pushed me, my love for art fuels me. ### **What are things and/or people that inspire your creativity today?** I think one of the biggest things that inspires me is the human touch that has been added into any piece of art you come across. My experiences, my challenges, my emotions are what makes my art uniquely mine. So when I see other artists putting themselves into their craft I can't help but get excited. Each choice a person makes when creating is inspired by hundreds of thousands of hours of trial and error. It's truly beautiful to witness such amazing artworks created by so many different people. ### **What's your favorite piece that you've uploaded on to Unvale?** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/image-19.png) [**This is Eliza**](https://unvale.io/character/f1e4d48d-3162-40b2-847d-d783e5287928?ref=blog.unvale.io)**!** She's a character I have for a comic I am currently scripting out. I often don't have time to do a lot of fun random art, so this is one of my current favorites. It was fun getting to try new poses and make the background match the rest of her. I still have a lot to learn, but this is my favorite I've posted to Unvale. ### **You're a Webtoons reviewer! Out of all the series you've read, what's a series that you wish you could read all over again?** Oh gosh that's a tough one. If I could choose any Webtoon to read and experience all over again, I think it would probably have to be ["My In-laws Are Obsessed With Me"](https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/my-inlaws-are-obsessed-with-me/list?title%5Fno=3918&ref=blog.unvale.io). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/image-20-1.png) Promotional graphic for ["My In-laws Are Obsessed With Me"](https://www.webtoons.com/en/fantasy/my-inlaws-are-obsessed-with-me/list?title%5Fno=3918&ref=blog.unvale.io). While I do love other comics, I always find myself thinking back to that one. The more I think about it, the more I feel the artist of the story has really done an outstanding job of bringing the entire story together. The thing I specifically like is how they frame their panels. Often with Webtoons there is so so much filler that takes you out of a story when there is clearly supposed to be an intense moment happening. The artist seems to have the opposite approach as there will be nothing on screen but what you need to focus on. I think it's what really keeps me thinking about the moments characters have together long after I've read certain chapters. We sit on emotions. We the reader have no other choice but to see exactly what the artist wants us to see, and that is such an important talent to have when you're drawing a comic. I respect the artist of that comic so much, not only have they done amazing work, but they seem to really understand how to use the webtoon format to their benefit. ### **What would you say are some core elements for making a great Webtoon?** Focus on the story first. While having good art is a plus, it won't really matter if there's only surface level beauty to look at. I'd also play into your strengths as much as possible! You don't have to be perfect or good at everything, just try your best! ### **To wrap it up, what are some words you'd like to share with other creatives out there?** You really can do anything you set your mind to. Go for it. Throw away any inhibitions you have and do what makes you happy. --- **And that ends the interview!** Thank you again to [Matty Bites](https://www.youtube.com/@mattybites?ref=blog.unvale.io) for being such an amazing guest and thank YOU for taking the time to read! > **Did you enjoy this and want to see more?** > [Let us know!](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9735574-get-in-contact-with-us?ref=blog.unvale.io) And don't forget to check out [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you haven't yet! ### 5 Public Domain Monsters for OC Inspiration URL: https://blog.unvale.io/5-public-domain-monsters-you-can-base-your-ocs-on/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:46:09.000Z Ghosties and ghoulies, oh my! Here are five different monsters to inspire you to create new OCs; but first, what the heck is the ‘public domain’ bit? To skip the tricks and make it short and sweet, media that has entered public domain has no copyright attached. In the U.S., Canada and Europe, media enters copyright 70 years after the creator’s death, making most public domain media quite old. Either way, monsters are often born from superstition and folklore, making them already properly ‘public domain’ in a sense. I’ll touch a little bit on folklore and popular public domain media that features these beasties. This’ll be a long one, so buckle up! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-7ac848d2-b45d-48d4-aa35-b05348f997ab.png) **Blehhhh… bleh bleh!* ### Vampires Starting off with the iconic [**vampire**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22vampire%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), these creatures of the night have held Europe in a vice grip of fear as recently as the 1970s with the [Highgate Vampire of London](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highgate%5FVampire?ref=blog.unvale.io). The most famous public domain works featuring vampires are, of course, the legendary novel [*Dracula*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dracula?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Bram Stoker and the silent film inspired by it, [*Nosferatu*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nosferatu?ref=blog.unvale.io). While vampires these days are glitzy and glamorous beauties, the titular Dracula is (to put it politely) a crusty old man. Some other interesting details from *Dracula* are that vampires: - can only rest on soil from their homeland - need to be invited into a home before they can enter it - have the ability to transform into a wolf, mist, or a bat - are weak to garlic and have an aversion to the cross and other Catholic rituals - are weakened by sunlight, but not made vulnerable or killed by it I’d highly recommend looking through historical records of vampire hysteria for inspiration, along with researching obscure old variations of vampire mythology if you want to make your OCs truly stand out from the black-clad bloodsucking crowd. I also have two honourable mentions to add to this section; dhampir and jiangshi. [**Dhampir**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22dhampir%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) are classically half-vampires. This can be because one of their parents was a vampire, or because the mother was drained of blood by a vampire while pregnant. Meanwhile, [**jiangshi**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22jiangshi%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) might be more recognizable to you as a [‘Chinese hopping vampire’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiangshi?ref=blog.unvale.io). They absorb lifeforce or qi from living creatures, and are commonly depicted as being rotted and stiff, and only being able to hop due to rigor mortis. However, some jiangshi mythology describes them as being quite fast runners. Like European vampires, jiangshi mythology stems from the concept of improperly buried dead. In a lot of cultures world-wide, the dead that don’t receive a proper burial or last rites might return as [revenants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revenant?ref=blog.unvale.io), undead creatures that haunt the living. Maybe your own culture has similar ideas and concepts that you could explore and share with your own OCs! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-6a87e47a-e74e-4406-9e67-d86dd7e4b9b8.png) **“Shout-out to all my werewolf buddies!” … is what he’s probably howling.* ### Werewolves Next up is the classic [**werewolf**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22werewolf%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io). If we want to be clear cut about it, the two basic parts of werewolves are that they: - Turn into a wolf or wolf-human hybrid - Are forced into this shape on the full moon However, these basic ideas can be modified, replaced, or flat-out ignored. Sometimes instead, you get [**werecats**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22werecat%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), [**therianthropes**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22therianthrope%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), other [**werebeasts**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22werebeast%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), or [**shapeshifters**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22shapeshifter%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io). But let’s focus on werewolves in particular for this section. An early public domain film featuring werewolves is [*Werewolf of London* (1935)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Werewolf%5Fof%5FLondon?ref=blog.unvale.io). Here’s some werewolf mythology from the film: - Lycanthropy (being a werewolf) can be temporarily treated through the (fictional) rare moonlight-blooming Tibetan flower, *Mariphasa lumina lupina.* - Lycanthropy is passed on through bites and a person turns into a werewolf for several days around the full moon. - Werewolves will try to kill whatever they love most, and they must kill a person every night or they won’t turn back. - Werewolves can be killed by a regular bullet and revert to human form when killed. The movie used light prosthetic make-up that allowed the lead actor to be recognizable to the audience and the cast, as the protagonist’s friends recognized him in his werewolf form. The idea of people turning into wolves can be traced to Greek mythology with the [story of Lycaon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycaon%5F%28king%5Fof%5FArcadia%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), but one of my favourite stories is the well documented history of the [Beast of Gévaudan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast%5Fof%5FG%C3%A9vaudan?ref=blog.unvale.io); a real life cryptid of sorts that plagued the French province of Gévaudan between 1764 and 1767\. Predatory animals don’t usually attack humans for no reason and that’s part of what makes the Beast so scary; it ignored livestock and attacked and killed human women and children without eating them. While probably not an *actual* werewolf, the real-life stories of the beast might be a great inspiration to you as a creator. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-f00b8988-6873-4a0a-b519-14b397aa0217.png) **Maybe humans are the real monsters…* ### Frankenstein’s Monster [*Frankenstein*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a novel by Mary Shelley, first published in 1818\. Shelley is not only an iconic female author, but she also began to write *Frankenstein* at the age of 18\. The story depicts the creation of an intelligent lifeform reanimated from various body parts by the protagonist, Victor Frankenstein. The nameless creature (eventually referring to himself as like the biblical ‘Adam’) longs for the companionship of humanity and is rejected at every turn, even by his own creator. Eventually, ‘Adam’ asks Victor to create a companion for him; a bride. Even then Victor fails to do this, leading to greater tragedy. The monster began to be portrayed as an innocent and childlike creature in the [1931 film *Frankenstein*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein%5F%281931%5Ffilm%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), where the monster also gained its iconic green skin and neck bolts. Though Victor doesn’t reject his creation in this version of the film, the creature is attacked and antagonized by humans and becomes the monster it appears to be. The main themes of the monster are the tragedy of its existence and rejection from normal society, but even if you don’t want to create a mishmash of flesh, you can create OCs with the same themes and a similar story to Frankenstein’s monster. Here are some examples: - A lab experiment OC created or changed by humans - A character with strange powers entering society for the first time - A cyborg or android OC in a world of humans There are many stories about creatures created by humans, such as [**golems**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22golem%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [**homunculi**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22homunculus%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), and the modern [**robots**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22robot%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [**androids**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22android%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io). --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-b67f3ceb-01a5-4b9b-a6e0-fe8cb73dceb6.png) **”Danger! Damaged bridge ahead!”* ### Cryptids Maybe you’re thinking about [**Big Foot**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22bigfoot%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) or the Loch Ness Monster, but there are many more exciting and bizarre cryptids out there that aren’t copyrighted. Starting off with the [**Mothman**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22mothman%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), a creature reportedly seen around [the Point Pleasant area of West Virginia, U.S.A](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mothman?ref=blog.unvale.io) starting in 1966\. Thought to be a harbinger of doom due to it being seen before the lethal collapse of the local [Point Pleasant Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver%5FBridge?ref=blog.unvale.io). The Mothman has been described as a large, dark, man-like creature with massive wings and hypnotic glowing red eyes. While some skeptics believe the initial Mothman sightings were just a lost giant bird, Mothman is celebrated in Point Pleasant to this day with a Mothman Festival. Whether a winged menace or a benevolent hero, Mothman has captured the imaginations and hearts of many. Next on our list is the [**Chupacabra**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22chupacabra%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), or literally [‘goat sucker’](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chupacabra?ref=blog.unvale.io). Starting from 1995 rumors of livestock mutilations in the town of Moca, Puerto Rico and later becoming an island-wide issue, farmers began to report their livestock killed with their blood sucked through three puncture wounds on the chest area. While likely just a product of mass hysteria with no actual medical evidence, and with the most important eye-witness testimony describing a monster *literally* out of a movie… any Chupacabra sightings otherwise were probably just wild dogs with mange, or local [Mexican hairless dogs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xoloitzcuintle?ref=blog.unvale.io). A bit of a bummer, but the story of the Chupacabra is iconic and has inspired many creators. Just look at the Unvale tag! There are plenty more cryptids out there to base your OCs on; two of my favourites are the North American [hoopsnake](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoop%5Fsnake?ref=blog.unvale.io) and the Japanese [Tsuchinoko](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuchinoko?ref=blog.unvale.io). While they’re not monsters per se, they’re both very silly. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-843b9bb0-285a-4abe-a516-f05b25afeac3.png) **Be not afraid… of these fabulous heels!* ### Demons and Angels The bible is of course, public domain, meaning so are [**angels**](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22angel%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [**demons**](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22demon%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io). But if you’re not interested in pouring over religious texts for inspo, I’ve got a sort of ‘bible fanfiction’ for you: Dante Alighieri’s [*Inferno*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inferno%5F%28Dante%29?ref=blog.unvale.io). Dante also wrote two follow-ups, [*Purgatorio*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purgatorio?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [*Paradisio*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paradiso%5F%28Dante%29?ref=blog.unvale.io). To put it simply, Dante was a 14th century author who was a big fan of a long dead Roman poet, [Virgil](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virgil?ref=blog.unvale.io), and wrote an epic poem about being guided around hell, purgatory, and eventually, heaven itself by his hero. The way each is area structured is enough to give a person inspiration, so I’ll give you a quick run-down about Dante’s personal interpretation of hell. Skipping the top, City of Limbo, we have: - The Second Circle of Lust: where sinners get put in naughty-jail on top of cliffs buffeted by storms and wind. - The Third Circle of Gluttoney: sinners get rained on with icy cold water. - The Fourth Circle of Greed: people who hoarded their wealth and spent beyond their means joust in this circle. - The Firth Circle of Wrath: the violent fight in a muddy river and eventually plop into the mud when they get tired out. - The Sixth Circle of Heresy: heretics chill in flaming tombs here. After that, there’s a lot more separation for the circles and what each involves, but each of the previous circles have interesting themes that you can assign to your demons. Forgive my oversimplification, but if you’re at all interested in these concepts, I recommend starting with the Wikipedia article linked above and researching for yourself. It includes some diagrams to get your brain working and imagining what sort of demon OCs you could create. As for those more angelically inclined, *Paradisio* describes the nine spheres of Heaven: the moon, Mercury, Venus, the sun, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, the Fixed Stars, and the ‘Primum Mobile’. In contrast to hell’s circles named for sins, each of the Heavenly spheres represent a virtue; but this article is already getting too long, so I’ll leave that research to you. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-a2fee001-47ec-40b3-be05-0a233c0e1071.png) I think the real scary thing in all of this is the length! I’m proud of you for reading this far, and I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing. Remember to check each of the OC tag links that I **bolded** to see some cool OCs! ### Using Fear to Build a Compelling OC Backstory URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-fear-in-your-oc-backstories/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:54:09.000Z How do you make a backstory a little more interesting, in a way where it can affect the main story as well? Well, it’s Spooky Month, and a key part of this fun time of year is…fear! (Wanna know what else is a part of Spooky Month? MONSTERS! Want some tips on designing one? Check out my last article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/)!) We all have something that puts us on edge, or makes our skin crawl! You might recognize the names of common fears or phobias, such as… - [Arachnophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arachnophobia?ref=blog.unvale.io) (fear of spiders) - [Acrophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acrophobia?ref=blog.unvale.io) (fear of heights) - [Entomophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomophobia?ref=blog.unvale.io) (fear of bugs) - [Ophidiophobia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ophidiophobia?ref=blog.unvale.io) (fear of snakes) There’s things people are afraid of…everywhere! Sometimes there’s not a real reason for the fear, and other times the fear is caused by something that happened in the past. This doesn’t just apply to real life though, we can apply this to characters as well! Using fear as part of a character’s backstory can make them feel more real, and it can be helpful to explain their behaviors in the present! So how do you add fear to an OC’s backstory? Let’s talk about it! ## What is your OC afraid of? For starters, you need to know what your OC is afraid of before incorporating fear into a backstory! If you already have some fears for your character, you can skip this step! Everyone has something they're afraid of, whether they’re fictional or not! Giving your OC a fear or phobia, or multiple of either, will help create conflict for your character in the story they’re in! Maybe a character afraid of the dark has to wander into a dark cave to find their lost pet, or a character with a fear of heights has to walk across a bridge over a tall ravine! There’s plenty of different fears or phobias you could give your OC, with some being more common and some being more rare! If you need some ideas for different fears to give an OC, here’s some different ones you could choose from: - Atychiphobia (fear of failing) - Astraphobia (fear of lightning/thunder) - Autophobia (fear of being alone) - Claustrophobia (fear of small/crowded spaces) - Thalassophobia (fear of deep water) - Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words…w-who named this?!) - Hemophobia (fear of blood) - Glossophobia (fear of public speaking) - Aichmophobia (fear of sharp things) - Trypophobia (fear of holes/repeating patterns) - Megalophobia (fear of large things) Having fears is a completely normal thing. It’s our bodies’ way of warning us about something, big or small! Fear can also skew reality however, as being too scared to do things can have a negative impact on a character’s (or real person’s!) life. Characters with different fears can feel more real and relatable, and can make them seem more sympathetic! Fears can be subtle, or more obvious. It can cause anything from slight anxiety, to full on panic! An interesting example of a fear a character could have would be [Yamaiix’s](https://unvale.io/Yamaiix?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Wade](https://unvale.io/character/cde31696-2555-485e-b7b9-3c633e5399bf?view=Writing&writing=f1c6fd46-89d5-4ba9-b549-a5acac542ad7&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Wade is afraid of the ocean, and for good reason too given his backstory! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-97152ef8-c179-4a7f-a43c-cf60ed89995d.png) I’m not afraid of anything! …Just kidding, cockroaches make my skin crawl ...Ticks do too…and I’m REALLY scared of mold…Bleh… ## Why is your OC scared of their fear? Now that you have a fear or two for your character, let’s get into why they’re afraid of it and what happened in their past to cause it! Some fears don’t have a certain event that caused it, and other fears might just have gotten worse due to a traumatic incident! So what happened in your character’s backstory that caused their phobia, or made it worse? Oftentimes, experiences from the past can influence how a character acts! Depending on what the fear is, it might’ve been caused by people, animals, or just bad experiences! One character might be scared of the ocean because they fell into the water. Another character fears bugs because they were bit, and a character afraid of being alone might have gotten left by themselves for an extended period of time! You’ll want to think about how your OC could’ve gotten their fear! You can try thinking about different questions like… - What is the fear? - Could the fear have been influenced by the area they're in? - Could the fear have been influenced by the people they were around? - Could the fear have been influenced by their beliefs? - What does your character have access to? - Did a past event create the fear, or just make it worse? - Was the fear caused by a person/people? - Was the fear caused by a bad experience with an animal or creature? - Was the fear caused by an accident or scary incident? - Did one instance cause the fear, or multiple over time? Depending on your answers to the questions above, you can come up with ideas to what could have influenced their fear! What the fear is specifically will determine what could have caused it as well! If a character only had experiences with nice animals or works with friendly animals often, it might not make much sense for them to be scared of them! If they’ve had one or multiple experiences with scary animals, it would make total sense for them to have developed a fear of them! An interesting example of the reason behind a character’s fear would be [Jesturre’s](https://unvale.io/Jesturre?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Alexander](https://unvale.io/character/45a45ffa-dee1-4881-bba2-580c82fc5c50?view=Writing&writing=899ed089-6114-4861-b8b5-db7d6cfa0190&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Alexander’s fears were caused by the cursed lands he lives in! I would be pretty scared too! ## How can your OC’s fear in their backstory affect the present story? Finally, when incorporating fear into a character’s backstory, you’ll want to consider how it will influence the current or future events for your OC! A cool backstory is great, but a backstory is even better when it plays a part in your character’s behavior and tendencies. Fear can do a lot to a person! It can determine how a person makes decisions, how they interact with others, and how they go about day to day life! Some examples of how fear in a backstory could impact an OC could be things like… - A character’s scared of making friends because all their childhood ones moved away - A character’s scared of snakes because they were bit by one as a kid - A character’s scared of the dark because they got locked in a dark closet as a kid - A character’s scared of making mistakes because they had strict parents growing up - A character’s scared of ducks because one chased them when they were a kid There’s lots of different ways fear can affect a character! They could try to avoid the things they’re scared of. Maybe they don’t talk to people because of it. Or maybe they won’t try anything new that might relate to their fear! Using fear created from a character’s backstory can be a great way to add conflict or tension to your story! Maybe by the end of the story, they won’t be afraid of their fear anymore! Or, maybe they just have to push through it! It all depends on what kind of story you’re telling and what you want to do! An interesting example of how fear as part of a backstory could affect a character would be [Mun3’s](https://unvale.io/Mun3?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Brynn](https://unvale.io/character/cf0b5299-9dfd-4638-a8d5-873b0bae2190?view=Writing&writing=f48e5bf6-7c3d-43ac-ba31-f2fcf3bf4b38&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Brynn has to work the same job her father did before he was lost…How hard will the job be because of this? Scary! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-80e7bc96-36d1-4287-a1fc-95223b003cc4.png) Maybe a character is scared of heights, but the team has to cross a scary rope bridge over a giant ravine to escape a bunch of monsters! Whatever will they do?! Using fear in your OC’s backstory can be an interesting way to add to the plot of your story, and make your character more relatable! Picking a fear, deciding what caused it, and how it affects their current story can really bring a story to life! Need some other ideas and tips for your character’s backstory? Check out this article on summarizing an OC’s backstory [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-summarize-your-ocs-backstory-in-20-words-or-less/), or check out this article on backstory building questions over [here](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/)! ### Changelog: Private Creations URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-private-creations/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:37:18.000Z Hello, everyone! We've got another Unvale release for you. FINALLY, the option to no longer be perceived. Read on for more: - **Private your own creations** \- You can now make your characters, worlds, art, and writing private. Private creations won't show up on Explore, Search, Community, Favorites, or really anywhere on the site, but you'll still be able to share a direct link with friends to view. Learn more on the help center! - **Minor UX and bug fixes** \- Sharing now works better on mobile, we did some minor layout changes to certain pages, and some other small tweaks you may not notice. If anything seems borked, let our team know! I can't wait to NOT see your creations on the site. I know we've been slow-moving on these privacy and safety features, but I hope this release will make everyone feel excited about what's to come! We have a BIG announcement in the coming weeks... the #1 most requested Unvale feature ever. Keep your eyes peeled! Check out privating now on [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Tips for Writing a Genuinely Scary Scene URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:36:47.000Z Boo! Happy October, Unvale! To celebrate, we’ve prepared a special article about how to write spooky and scary scenes in your writing. Note the word *scenes* here, not scary stories or horror genre fiction. I’ll explain why shortly! But before that, I think these scary fandoms might be familiar to you all… - [Five Nights at Freddy’s](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22fnaf%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io), and other mascot horror games - [The SCP fandom](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22scp%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Roblox game Pressure](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22pressure%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) Now, while I’m not a member of these fandoms, they’re popular on Unvale and you’ll find lots of spooky OCs to check out to get you in the mood! --- ### Tension and Safety What do you feel when you’re scared or anxious? When you watch the heroine enter the room where you know the killer is or when you watch the monster approach the hiding spot a survivor is hidden, do you hold your breath and does your heart race? That’s what I mean when I refer to an audience feeling tense. **Tension** is a crucial part of any horror media, and without it, your audience won’t react in the way you want them to. Tension is naturally released when something scary happens, whether it be a sudden loud noise or a reveal of a monster in writing, and this is a good thing. As a writer, you want to control the levels of tension in your audience as they fluctuate and make sure you keep them on the edge of their seats at the right time. So, in order to keep your audience properly scared when you’re writing your scary scene, you need to let them rest and give them breaks too. This is because humans are super adaptable, and something that might be scary at first like going to a new school will gradually become familiar and less scary. Of course, the same thing applies to horror; people who replay horror games a lot don’t react to the scares anymore. Obviously your reader probably won’t be constantly rereading your work, so it’s not *really* the same, but constantly teasing your monster but not doing anything with it will make it less scary (I’ll explain why in a bit). **Here’s a sort of recipe for how a scary scene fits into your story:** 1. Build up to your scary scene, that is, build tension. 2. Use the maximized tension in your scary scene! 3. Allow the tension to drop; maybe your characters escaped, or the big scary thing happened, and there’s nothing left to worry about. If you regularly write action or drama scenes, this format will be familiar to you, and for good reason! Tension is used in a lot of different genres. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-8032ff00-d29f-4145-a5a8-818dd314e4e8.png) **Tension is like a rubber band. Pull too tight, it snaps, but if you don’t do anything at all, it’s limp and boring.* --- ### An Example of How to Build Tension Say you have a monster stalking your heroes that you’re building up to. You… - Show the monster’s tracks. - Have one of your heroes *almost* encounter… *something.* - Then show mutilated farm animals. - Hint that one of your heroes has been feeling strange lately. - Show human victims. - Finally reveal that one of the heroes is the monster while in a tight space, where the heroes have to escape. - Let the tension fall as the heroes survive to tell the tale. Can you tell where the tension is at its highest point? Escalation is a delicate process with building tension. Try rearranging the list, or reading it backwards. If the monster starts with humans and then goes to animals and then finally just leaves everyone alone, that’s not as scary as the other way around. It’s always exciting to write the main scary part, but if you really want to make your scene shine, building up to it will help a lot with scaring your audience. To explain why showing off your monster and not doing anything is actually a bad thing, try repeating the monster encounter in that list every other number. At that point, you might think “wait, what if the hero being the monster is being foreshadowed by the monster not hurting the heroes?” That’s a great conclusion to come to from the text! But, if that’s not what the author is trying to say, it creates a bit of a trust between the reader and the monster by accident. “It won’t hurt our heroes! It didn’t before, after all.” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-591a1dfe-dae9-4d7f-b74a-80ec69a6b2d9.png) **“I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. It was as if an invisible force was watching me…”* --- ### Writing Scary Scenes First, when it comes to settings, horror is something that thrives in closed and tight spaces. There aren’t many horror stories or games that take place in wide open fields, after all. One of my favourite horror games to take this concept to the extreme is [Bioshock](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22bioshock%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io). You are trapped in the underwater city of Rapture, an aging capitalist hellscape filled with things that want you dead; including the very city itself, in a way. There’s no way to just go outside and enjoy the open air, and the city is falling apart which makes it a sort of antagonist on its own. Otherwise, think of: - Old castles - Haunted manors - Cursed forests - Abandoned hospitals They all have similar unfamiliarity and a sense of hostility to them. Using your setting to help you build fear is always a good idea. With a setting decided and tension building scenes created, how do you go about spooking your reader? Unfortunately, this is highly dependent on your audience. For example, young teens and children likely won’t relate to the adult fear of losing a child in a crowd, and adults won’t feel that failing a test is as life-or-death as a younger person. Some readers will simply skip over descriptions of harm or gore, so if that’s your main fear-factor, you’ve lost them; other people might find your descriptions mild instead. It can be tough, which means ultimately: **don’t be hard on yourself if some people don’t find your scene ‘scary enough’**. If you want to get a baseline for what’s scary though, I’d suggest going after basic human instincts; things that make us naturally uncomfortable as humans. Doing a bit of research about common phobias and human psychology might inspire you to write something truly terrifying! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-2f7746c7-8fb7-4909-a6c6-132d3641cd6a.png) **Use isolation and hostile environments to your advantage. This can include isolation in hostile social environments too!* --- ### Imagination, Your Final Tool Maybe you’re like me, and have always had an active and anxious imagination. Maybe you’re not, and horror’s been something that lulls you to sleep. Either way, your audience’s imagination is your final tool you can rely on with writing scary scenes. It’s also another reason not to show your monster right at the start or too often because usually, the thing your reader imagines in their head is scarier than whatever the true horror is. **And that’s a good thing**. Why? Because they’re doing your work for you; scaring themselves! The solution to different audience members having different fears is to let them imagine their own fears onto your work. Whether you channel the [horror of the unknown](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lovecraftian%5Fhorror?ref=blog.unvale.io), leave the answer open ended for your audience to imagine, or leave them with a scary idea you don’t go into detail about, the audience’s fear comes from their own mind, and you’re just the conduit. That’s why horror can be so hit or miss. But, another perk is that people who enjoy scary things and horror seek out what scares them, so you’ll be sure to get a scare out of your intended audience; and they’ll love it. **Here are some ways to use your audience’s imagination against them:** - Give multiple options for what your monster could be - Describe the environment **vividly**, with notes about strange sounds (or other small details) that could be your monster - Don’t over-describe your monster’s appearance, do show off what your monster has done --- **Warning that the image below contains multiple eyes and limbs! If you do not like things like that, keep scrolling!** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-6ba06587-180b-48e6-9582-95372de8284d-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-7e6ec686-f2db-41c1-81e7-b1b2f28215bb.png) **Boo! A real art piece jumpscare!* --- Now, I do want to acknowledge here at the end that I use the term “monster” throughout this article, but your antagonist could be human, an animal, or the very environment around your characters. A scary scene doesn’t need a big scare at the end of it; it just needs to be tense, which means it can be in any genre you want. If you have a scary scene to show off to others reading this article, use [#scaryscene](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&contentType=writing&tags=[%22scaryscene%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) on your work. Otherwise, check out the [horror](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&contentType=writing&tags=[%22horror%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag at your own discretion! **Have a spooky October, Unvale!** ### Designing Your Own Monster OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:40:47.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* You walk down the darkened streets of Unvale…the faint sound of wind blowing echoes through the dark night…You hear a sound, a faint whisper, and you slowly turn…to see…a vampire! Here to give you tips on designing…a MONSTER OC! (Pst…want some tips on designing a vampire character specifically? Check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/)!) There’s plenty of eerie creatures that can be found throughout all kinds of different media! You might recognize some such as… - [Frankenstein’s monster](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein's%5Fmonster?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Dementors](https://www.harrypotter.com/fact-file/creatures/dementor?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Sulley](https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/James%5FP.%5FSullivan?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Clawdeen](https://monsterhigh.fandom.com/wiki/Clawdeen%5FWolf%5F%28G1%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Godzilla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godzilla?ref=blog.unvale.io) Monsters are often known to be scary creatures that can cause mischief or harm to people! (Though that isn’t always the case!) Whether they be the enemies in video games, the villains of a horror movie, the subject of a campfire tale, or something else, they can be found in lots of stories! So how do you go about designing a monster? Wander into the moonlit woods…and let’s talk about it! ## What kind of monster is your OC? First of all, you need to decide what kind of monster you want for your story! Since “monster” is such a broad term, you need to know what kind of monster you want your OC to be! Some monsters are more humanoid, others more animal-like! Some questions to think about when coming up with your monster character are… - What’s the setting of the story? - Where is the monster found? - Will they be more humanoid? - Will they be more animal-like? - Will they be more evil, good, or morally grey? - Will they be more or less scary? - Are they an intelligent monster? - What is the monster’s purpose in the story? Thinking about what kind of monster you need for your story will help you figure out what kind of design you want for them! Some stories have monsters that function more like animals, while others portray them as a mysterious creature hardly anyone has seen before! Coming up with answers to the questions above will help give you some guidelines for how you should design your monster! If you want the monster to function as an antagonistic figure, you could make them more scary than you would make a friendly monster. It all depends on what you need…or whatever you just feel like creating! ## Look for inspiration for your monster! First off, you might need some inspiration to create your monster OC! Sometimes it’s hard to come up with ideas in an instant, and that’s okay! There’s all kinds of different places to find inspiration, and fueling your creative juices will be a great benefit to you! Having some ideas of what kinds of monsters or strange creatures are out there and what about them makes them creepy can be a great start to a good monster design! Try looking through your favorite media and your favorite stories! If you need ideas for places to find good inspiration you can try looking at… - Creatures in fairytales - Creatures in books - Creatures in mythology/folklore - Creatures in movies - Creatures in anime - Unique bugs - Unique animals - Unique plants Taking inspiration from the world around you can be great inspiration for a monster character! Sometimes, reality can be just as crazy as fiction. There’s plenty of odd creatures you could use! There’s strange bugs, and many deep sea creatures often have an interesting and eerie look to them! A good example of monster designs with cool inspiration would be [Lemon’s](https://unvale.io/Lemonkitkat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Subject #1880](https://unvale.io/character/2bf58ebd-8e39-46a8-a97f-8c86af2b7d5e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Subject #1880 has some cool eel inspiration! Another good example would be [OrneryEagleray’s](https://unvale.io/OrneryEagleray?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Morrígan](https://unvale.io/character/ea83538c-6b9f-4a53-bab3-1a3124721c24?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Morrígan has some cool vampire inspiration! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-0e06c602-f29c-42b5-9b80-f7e411d86101.png) There’s all kinds of spooky creatures you can take inspiration from for your monster’s design! ## Incorporate spooky elements into your monster’s design! When designing a monster character, you might want to incorporate spooky elements to make them creepier! Monsters are often known for being scary creatures, so adding spooky elements can help them appear spookier! Is there something that spooks you? Try incorporating elements of whatever it is into the design! You could also incorporate other fears or light phobias into their design! Another way to make a design a little spookier, especially with more humanoid monsters, is by making things seem just a little off! This is called the [Uncanny Valley](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncanny%5Fvalley?ref=blog.unvale.io), and it can definitely create a spooky effect for a character! Some ways to create an eerie effect for your monster character could be things like… - A face that looks too perfect - No face - Eyes that are too big - Extra eyes - Multiple mouths - No eyes - No mouth - A smile that’s too wide - Sharp teeth - A mouth that opens too far - Extra limbs - Stretched out limbs - Limbs in the wrong spots Creating an eerie look for a monster can be as simple as an extra pair of eyes, or as complex as a creature that barely looks human anymore! This can work just as well with more animalistic monsters too. A normally cute animal like a bunny might be a bit creepy if it had extra legs or too many eyes! You can also incorporate shape language to add different vibes to your monster! Round shape language could create an eerily innocent look, while squares might make the monster look imposing, and sharp shape language could make them seem more dangerous! A good example of a monster design with cool and creepy elements would be [Snail’s](https://unvale.io/Snailsareforever?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [90LY-81U5](https://unvale.io/character/75a87bab-2b45-4100-9755-d54a5a4102f5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! 90LY-81U5 has long limbs and a big, eerie grin! Another good example would be [Inkbl0t’s](https://unvale.io/Inkbl0t?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Dri](https://unvale.io/character/9fb567bb-68ba-4228-ab43-25dc56c743db?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Dri doesn’t have a normal face, and instead has a glowing diamond shape where the face would be! ## Incorporate creepy features into your monster’s design! Incorporating strange features into the design is another good way to create an odd and eerie monster! There’s a lot more you can do than just altering normal human features! Monsters often have features that don’t belong to whatever creature they are! There’s plenty of different features you can add to your monster to make their design more interesting! You can take features like ones from an animal and it if to your monster! You can try adding things like… - Scales - Animal ears - Animal eyes - Animal horns - Animal teeth - Claws instead of hands - Talons, paws, or hooves instead of feet - An animal tail - Animal wings - Bug wings - Limbs made from plants - Shadow limbs Adding features that wouldn’t be normal to a human is a good way to create an eerie monster! Same goes for more animal-like monsters as well, mixing and matching different features can create a unique and interesting monster look! A good example of a monster with spooky features would be [Forgotten’s](https://unvale.io/Forgotten?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Subject 3287](https://unvale.io/character/75171c77-8ddb-4959-a4a4-6bf2ef5c1e9e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Subject 3287 has some cool animal features throughout the design! Another good example would be [Doughnut’s](https://unvale.io/DoUgHnUtBoMb?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Camden](https://unvale.io/character/b7d96411-81df-4ca8-b883-e6d1fcf44b5c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Camden has some cool horns and a tail! ## Adding other unique things to your monster’s design! There’s plenty of other ways you can make a monster design more interesting, other than adding on animal features or an extra limb! You can play around with the features they already have too! Incorporating interesting details into your monster’s design can be a fun way to create a unique look as well! You can do anything from messing around with their eye design to giving them translucent gelly-like skin! Some different ideas for other spooky things you could add to a monster design could be things like… - Glowing eyes - Glowing limbs - Limbs with a gradient on them - Limbs made of bone - Hair/fur with a unique pattern - Spikes covering limbs - Unique markings or tattoos - Different colored veins - Patches stitched on to the skin Adding some extra details can really make a monster design stand out and feel more unique! Combining it with the other aspects of your monster design will help you create a spooky creature for your story! A good example of a monster with cool details would be [ArstyArticTiger’s](https://unvale.io/ArtsyArcticTiger?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cicatrix](https://unvale.io/character/461abe1d-fcc1-4226-bca6-2db2b972d644?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Cicatrix has some cool markings and spooky eyes! Another good example would be [HeadphoneArtists’](https://unvale.io/HeadphoneArtist?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Raiju](https://unvale.io/character/2f3257d4-68a5-43d6-8001-9b9855fe4d72?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Raiju has some cool glowing eyes and markings throughout his design! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/10/data-src-image-eaffc781-69c2-4e21-81f6-506fdd3b6887.png) Lots of spooky things you can add to a monster design! Do you have a favorite monster feature? Creating a monster character can be a fun addition to your story, whether they’ll be a friendly monster or an evil one! Looking for cool inspiration, incorporating creepy elements, cool features, and unique details are all ways you can create a spooky addition to your characters! It’s up to you how you design your monster, so don’t stress too much about your monster’s design, and remember to have fun with it! Need some other ideas for your monster? Try giving them [powers](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) or a unique [silhouette](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! #### A small disclaimer! When creating a monster character, it’s fun to have a scary creature, but you also should be sure to stay mindful of Unvale’s Creation Guidelines if you plan on posting your monster to Unvale! Some things might be a little too scary for others, especially when it comes to things like gore, so be sure to check out the guidelines [here](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927102-creation-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io) so we can keep Unvale a fun and safe space for everyone! ### How to Make a Reference Sheet for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-make-a-reference-sheet-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:41:47.000Z We interrupt your “tips for designing” series for some tips on an important part of drawing your character…Reference sheets! …Huh? You haven’t read the “tips for designing” articles? And you wanna check ‘em out? Well, fear not, for there’s lots to read! There’s tips for designing characters such as… - [A Royal OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/) - [A Hero OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/) - [A Vampire OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) - [A Fairy OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/) Have you ever designed a character, only to have trouble remembering how you last drew them? Or maybe they just end up looking different each time you draw them! If either of these are the case, it might be time for a…drumroll please…reference sheet! So what is a reference sheet? Having a reference sheet is a good way to help keep the art of your character consistent! Oftentimes, they’re used for animations or comics, but they’re also just nice to have in general! It can also be helpful if other people want to draw art of your character. A reference sheet usually includes things like your character's outfit, and how they look from different angles! So how exactly do you put together a reference sheet? Let’s talk about it! If creating a reference sheet sounds too difficult since your OC has a lot of detail, you might want to try simplifying their design! If you need help with simplifying, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/)! ## Focus on your OC’s full design! In my opinion, the most important part of a reference sheet is showing your character’s full design! This will ensure that you’re able to draw your character, regardless if the art you're doing is a bust shot, or a full body piece. Without a full reference of your OC, it might get a bit frustrating when you want to draw your character in a new pose or view! With the main part of your reference sheet, you’ll want to focus on what you’ll need most for drawing your OC! How do you want to draw your OC in the future? Thinking about how much you’ll draw your OC and how you’ll draw them can help you with designing a reference page for them! You can include things like… - A full-body front view of your OC - A full-body back view of your OC - A full-body side view of your OC - An alternate outfit for your OC - A reference for things like your OC’s scars or tattoos Depending on what you need the reference sheet for, you can add more or less to it as well! For example, if you need the reference sheet for a comic or animation, you might want to include more than what’s listed above! Some extra angles, or a few poses might be helpful additions! If you don’t plan on doing a lot of diverse art of your character, you might be able to get away with just a front and back view! A good example of a reference sheet with art that covers the character’s full design would be [Bug’s](https://unvale.io/bugzilla44?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Xero](https://unvale.io/character/93f33ce7-5cc6-41b2-b1ed-6db10fa84f52?image=d0b82bc1-cd16-44ce-86d9-b808fe0ca641&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Xero’s reference sheet has a front and back view that shows off the full design! Another good example would be [Tommy’s](https://unvale.io/TommyTucker239?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [EE Tommy](https://unvale.io/character/b44b6ae5-7a95-4f14-b390-f731207eaea2?ref=blog.unvale.io)! EE Tommy’s reference sheet includes multiple different views and alternate designs! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-a35be1c2-7245-4870-9023-eaa29a77108c.png) A front and back view of your character’s design could be a great place to start for a reference sheet! ## Have a reference for expressions and angles! Another important aspect of a reference page is drawings of your character with different facial expressions and angles! Often, the face is the main focus of art pieces! The eye often moves to faces first when observing art. Therefore, it’s good to have different references for your OC’s face! While it’s fine to have your OC with the same expression in different drawings, drawing different expressions for them will help them feel more alive! The same goes for the head of your character as well! It can be pretty limiting to only have an idea of how to draw your OC in a front view. Having references for different head angles will help you in the long run! On a reference sheet, you can include different things such as… - A front view - A 3/4ths view - A side view - A neutral expression - A happy or excited expression - A nervous or sad expression - An angry or annoyed expression Just like with the main part of your reference sheet, you’ll want to consider what you’ll need most for your character! You want to draw expressions you know you’ll use for your OC. If you have a character who doesn’t get excited, you might not need a reference of them with a super ecstatic expression! Taking into consideration expressions you’ll use most for your OC will be helpful for deciding what to include on your character’s reference page, and same goes for different angles as well! A good example of a reference sheet with different angles would be [Jadepi’s](https://unvale.io/jadepi?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ezra](https://unvale.io/character/622b9e64-847f-4673-9772-032c1fe488c0?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ezra’s reference sheet includes multiple angles for the face! Another good example would be [Rae’s](https://unvale.io/cherrae?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jackie](https://unvale.io/character/5dfdc961-744d-4393-8f2a-2cb7c1bf9a3a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Jackie’s reference sheet also includes different angles for the face! ## Have a reference for your OC’s color palette! Colors are another good thing to include for a reference sheet! When doing art of your characters, it’s easy for the base colors to get lost among all the shading and lighting! Colors often look different next to other colors too, (which is a part of [Color Theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Color%5Ftheory?ref=blog.unvale.io)!), so you’ll want to keep that in mind! (Don’t have a color palette for your OC just yet? Check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/) for some tips!) Having a reference that shows the base colors alone will be helpful for keeping the right colors each time you draw your character! For having color references you could add things to your reference sheet such as… - A colored piece with shading and lighting - A colored piece with no shading or lighting - Color swatches of all the colors used for your character Thinking about the colors used for your OC and what their base colors are will be helpful for drawing a reference sheet for your OC! A color reference will help you keep the character’s colors consistent across multiple art pieces! A good example of a reference sheet with color references would be [FaTaL30’s](https://unvale.io/FaTaL30?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ajax](https://unvale.io/character/fcaea333-1922-41fa-b6e7-4ab2b392a56d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ajax’s reference sheet includes all the different colors used for the design, including colors some for shading and lighting! Another good example would be [Odd’s](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) persona [Odd](https://unvale.io/character/5dd3f57e-4c73-4f64-81a6-70d5961b93d5?image=1bce4132-b9a2-4381-b8bb-287eb2ac9996&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Odd’s reference sheet includes all the base colors of the design alongside the art! ## Add your OC’s tools and accessories to their reference sheet! Characters usually have different accessories or tools they keep with them! Having a good reference of their most-used items can be a fun addition to a character page! Including different things your character has or used will help you draw your OC with those objects in the future! There’s lots of different things you can include on your character’s reference page, so you’ll want to pick things you think you’ll use most when drawing your OC in the future! Does your OC have a weapon they use throughout their story? You could add it to the page! What about a character who journals often? Try adding their journal and favorite pen! For a reference sheet, you can include different items such as… - Their signature clothing accessory - Their favorite object - An object their seen with often - Their best weapon - Their most useful tool Adding different accessories or tools to your reference sheet will be beneficial for drawing unique poses for your OC in the future! Not only will adding important objects be helpful for future reference, it’ll also just make your character page more interesting to look at! A good example of a reference sheet with tools or accessories would be [Space\_AlienArts’](https://unvale.io/PsycoEcliptic?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Remy](https://unvale.io/character/fb13a1e8-e689-49ec-8dee-618366f1a94a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Remy’s reference sheet includes accessories like a leaf bag and a journal! Another good example would be [Salamander’s](https://unvale.io/PostapocalypticSalamander?ref=blog.unvale.io) persona [Alexandra](https://unvale.io/character/f26d0d13-24ea-490d-a4ec-4a797e50aa07?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Alexandra’s reference sheet includes the different rings she wears! ## Add some fun details to your OC’s reference sheet! Finally, one more thing you could add to a reference page is some fun little details to create some extra interest! While reference sheets are usually used for more practical things, that doesn’t mean you can't have some fun with it and some cool things to it! There’s all kinds of different things you could add to make your character’s reference sheet more fun! Adding some extra details will make your reference sheet more unique and visually appealing! You could add little things to your character’s reference page such as… - Some cute doodle-style drawings of your OC - Some of your OC’s favorite things - Some fun shapes or symbols - A cool border around the reference sheet When adding some decorative designs to your page, you can take into consideration your OC’s personality and character! A villain could have a dark and spooky border, while a hero could have some shining sparkles on their reference page! It all depends on what you think would be a fun addition and would make their page more interesting. A good example of a reference sheet with some fun details would be [Lordie’s](https://unvale.io/LordieLordez?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [James](https://unvale.io/character/69c3a05e-b4fa-4fb3-b9c8-6162c5e12187?image=2cd497f9-de33-4950-829e-b8e42df8c024&ref=blog.unvale.io)! James’ reference sheet includes cute little doodles of him and other fun shapes! Another good example would be [Mayhaps’](https://unvale.io/Mayhaps?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ames](https://unvale.io/character/73dc1ab9-a395-4e96-9fa5-2fa7c3113d99?image=5bd1b22a-131e-40e7-b9c6-07f234d90075&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ames’ reference sheet includes different doodles and some drinks on it! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-9b592e82-d352-468b-beab-2e5d9ee93ee1.png) Try adding some fun shapes, doodles of your OC, or their accessories to the reference page! Creating a reference sheet for your OC can be pretty daunting if you’re not sure how to go about it! Thinking about things like your character’s full design, common expressions for them, their color palette, and accessories will help you decide what you’ll need for their reference sheet! A reference sheet can be as simple, or as complex as you need it to be! It’s all up to you, and remember to try and have fun with it! Having trouble creating a reference sheet because you need help designing your character? Try checking out these articles on [outfits](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/), [hairstyles](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/), and [shape language](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! ### Writing Heroes and Villains Your Readers Will Remember URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-hero-and-villain-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:43:31.000Z Before we start, let’s draw a line between heroes and villains and [‘protagonist’](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protagonist?ref=blog.unvale.io) and [‘antagonist’](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antagonist?ref=blog.unvale.io), as they are not the same things. The protagonist is the character we follow through a story; but not always the point of view (POV) character. [Sherlock Holmes](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherlock%5FHolmes?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a great example of that dynamic; Watson is the POV character, while Sherlock is the main protagonist, the focus of the story and events. It’s also possible to have a villain as a protagonist and a hero as an antagonist; stories that follow criminals trying to outwit the police could be considered to be these sorts of narratives. But if you are looking for the POV of the protagonist who is also considered the hero, a great example to look at is [OllieDoesArt](https://unvale.io/OllieDoesArt?ref=blog.unvale.io) and their story [The Cosmic Course Universe](https://unvale.io/world/8ffecbbe-7b73-4065-ac72-b14c3d4395da?ref=blog.unvale.io)! So, this leaves the definitions of hero and villain as “good guy” and “bad guy” in this case. We won't be covering the nuances of morally grey characters, but as a bonus, I will be discussing the tropes ‘anti-hero’ and the more elusive ‘anti-villain’ at the end of this article. But for now let’s start with tips! --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-6722d2f5-7b1c-4d8f-b43c-cc3ecad42389.png) **The heroine uses her powers to heal the injured and comfort the sick!* ## Tips on Writing Heroes - The biggest thing to keep in mind when writing heroic characters is that they have some **aspirational feature** that people look up to. Heroes uplift us and make us feel like we can change the world or help others. - Unless you want to write a **moral** [**paragon**](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheParagon?ref=blog.unvale.io) type character (a character like classic Superman, who always knows right from wrong and always does the right thing), always give your heroes flaws or weaknesses. - In terms of **weaknesses**, this could be anything from kryptonite style weaknesses to a peanut allergy. Any weaknesses you come up with need to be brought up and used at some point to add some difficulty to your hero’s journey. - In terms of **flaws**, this can range from anything like crippling anxiety or an addiction of some kind. Something that readers can relate to and connect with, and makes your hero more human. - **Show don't tell** when it comes to proving your character’s heroic nature. Little gestures, the way they speak and interact with others; stuff like that. - Telling your readers that your hero is a good person without proving it in the story can cause **narrative dissonance** (meaning your reader feels differently from the way you’re telling them to feel because of *how* you wrote it); however, if you want to use this effect to create an unreliable narrator villain protagonist, you can use it to great effect! - Don't be afraid to give your heroes ‘non-heroic’ abilities. It’s **the way they use their powers** that shows their innate goodness, rather than being light and sparkly. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-ae954e28-cc40-4a90-b760-6332ef9d5ba7.png) **This villainess empowers her minions!* ## Tips on Writing Villains - Follow similar principles to the writing heroes tips, but adjust them for villains. - In opposition to heroes, traditionally villains are characters that represent **negative traits in society**. A villainous character embodies things that shouldn’t be aspired to, and that people should avoid. - Depending on how much you want to focus on your villain, you can make them sympathetic and **redeemable or completely irredeemable** and terrible. Both options can be complex and nuanced with interesting backstory and motivations. - Give your villain a **clear motivation**, even if you subvert it later and reveal you were tricking your audience. It’s completely okay to simply have a force of nature style villain who destroys simply because they exist, just like it’s okay to have a highly sympathetic and relatable villain. - If your villain isn't always an antagonist, think about times where the **hero and villain’s goals align** and they can work together. This can lead to some interesting conflicts and adventures. - Sometimes when there’s a hero and villain team up against a new threat, the villain can go through something called [‘**villain decay**’](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/VillainDecay?ref=blog.unvale.io), where they become less scary and more comical. When writing situations like this, you need to ask yourself if you want to prevent villain decay or lean into it. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-ebdc9a94-bb10-4b7b-adbc-b7bfe4b92ef8.png) **Meanwhile, this anti-hero wasn’t expecting to be drawn…* ## Anti-heroes and Anti-villains The term [‘anti-hero’](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AntiHero?ref=blog.unvale.io) originally meant **a heroic character that doesn’t necessarily have the traits of what society expects a hero to be**, and it still somewhat means that; the term became more commonly used in the age of gothic novels and poetry. Nowadays though, an anti-hero is more along the lines of characters like [The Punisher](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Punisher?ref=blog.unvale.io); someone who’s using amoral tactics with a moral goal. That’s actually what the definition of [‘anti-villain’](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AntiVillain?ref=blog.unvale.io) is too; except the anti-villain crosses the moral line into villainy (or is simply designated as such by the narrative). The two character archetypes can be a bit hard to distinguish when placed side-by-side, so it’s up to the audience to figure out the author’s intent and come to their own conclusions. So, when writing an anti-hero or an anti-villain, you need to justify the actions of your hero and show that your villain is going too far; even when the two are doing the exact same action. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-090d4f51-f612-4dc0-8f55-7f1982bd964e.png) **What do you think my super power would be?* That’s that! While writing all this, I couldn’t help but think of Unvale user [FazDude](https://unvale.io/FazDude?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s OCs - looking for hero and villain characters? He’s your guy! **As for other tags and interesting characters on Unvale, check these out!** - [The Spider-Verse tag](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22spiderverse%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io), a super popular tag and fabulous collection of characters. The [superhero](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22superhero%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [supervillain](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=newest&tags=[%22supervillain%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tags, of course! ### How to Design a Royal OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:45:36.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Silence! [Fairies](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/), [vampires](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/), and all other characters make way! The royals have arrived! Royalty characters are often known for being the leader of the kingdom or empire. There’s many different royals in media, and you might recognize the names of royal characters such as… - [Princess Leia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess%5FLeia?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Rupunzel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapunzel%5F%28Tangled%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Aragorn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aragorn?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [King Arthur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%5FArthur?ref=blog.unvale.io) Royals are a popular type of character, and they appear in all different kinds of stories! They can range from beloved leaders and heroes, to evil tyrants and more! So how do you go about designing a royal character that looks the part? Ride a magical carriage to the nearest castle, and let’s talk about it! ## What kind of royal is your OC? Royal characters can appear in many different kinds of stories, and so there are lots of different types of royals you could design! Depending on what story you have and what kind of character you want, you might design your royal OC differently! You can consider questions about your character such as… - What’s the setting of the story? - What’s the kingdom like? - What’s the culture like? - What’s their royal status? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What’s their personality like? Questions like the ones above can help give you ideas for what kind of royal character you’re designing! Different royals will have unique outfits from other types, and not every royal will look alike! A preppy princess probably won’t have the same design as an evil tyrant, so you’ll want to think about what kind of character you want before designing them! As we go through this article, try thinking about your answers to the questions above! Your answers can influence all kind of different aspects of your royal OC’s design! ## Give your royal a regal outfit! A big part in a royal character’s design is the outfits they wear and accessories they have! Royal characters often have iconic outfits set apart from other characters in a story! ### Could an aesthetic add to your royal’s design? One thing you can consider when designing a royal OC is aesthetics! Regal characters often have very put-together outfits, and an aesthetic can help you achieve that look! Some different aesthetics you could try for your character could be ones such as… - A Royal aesthetic - A Victorian aesthetic - A Gothic aesthetic - An Art Nouveau aesthetic - A Dark fantasy aesthetic There’s many unique aesthetics you could use for your royal character, and there’s many more to choose from! You may want to factor in your royal’s personality as well when choosing an aesthetic! A good example of using aesthetics for a royal design would be [Daelightcore’s](https://unvale.io/Daelightcore?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Tiresias](https://unvale.io/character/62d47406-b001-4a2a-a509-801ff0b67d32?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Tiresias has a Victorian aesthetic! Another good example would be [Sushiiplate’s](https://unvale.io/Sushiiplate?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aria](https://unvale.io/character/9abe3848-7ba4-4c8c-957a-df8b7a948d6c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Aria has a princess aesthetic! ### Try adding a motif to your royal character! Another way to make a royal design feel cohesive is by adding a motif! There’s plenty of different motifs that could fit a royalty character. Sometimes places royals rule over have a sort of theme to them, and you could use that for a motif! If your character has some sort of power, that’s another thing you could use as a motif! Here’s some ideas for royal motifs you could use! - A motif of a precious gem - A motif of a strong animal - A motif of a regal flower - A motif of an element - A motif of an important resource There’s lots of different things you could use as a motif! A motif can be a fun way to add to a royal design! Since royalty often have outfits with lots of details, there’s plenty of ways to incorporate a motif into your OC’s design! A good example of using motifs for a royal design would be [Becca’s](https://unvale.io/BeccaBunny215?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Queen Leur](https://unvale.io/character/293865fb-f1b1-48b2-9df5-0d1dd9e27ab2?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Queen Leur has a subtle Chroma Stone motif to her design! Another good example would be [Looly’s](https://unvale.io/LoonyLooly?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Edith](https://unvale.io/character/d7edb24b-95ae-4b43-a6ad-c82d0808bfad?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Edith has a subtle ice motif to her design! ### Give your royalty character some fashionable clothes! The clothes royalty characters wear are a big part of their design! Characters with royal status often have pricey things or lots of money, and can afford expensive tailors and precious fabrics. They often have extravagant and regal outfits with lots of detail to show off their status! Royal characters will often wear things such as… - Big dresses - Flowing Robes - Elegant Suits - Long capes - Fancy coats There’s many options when it comes to the kinds of clothes your royal will wear! You’ll want to factor other things in when deciding what your royal will wear as well. Knowing aspects like your royal’s personality or culture can help you choose what kind of clothes they wear! A good example of using clothes for a royal design would be [ETERNALGHXST’s](https://unvale.io/ETERNALGHXST?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [King Finrod](https://unvale.io/character/327273c7-b3e8-4121-a3ec-71f88d050894?ref=blog.unvale.io)! King Finrod has a very elegant and royal outfit! Another good example would be [Lolooz’s](https://unvale.io/Lolooz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Princess Lila](https://unvale.io/character/177e1935-acc5-4dbf-a009-bddb70ea358e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Princess Lila has a pretty regal dress! ### Add a few accessories to your royal’s design! One more way you can make a royal outfit feel even more royal is by adding some fitting accessories! Since royalty characters often have a lot of resources, they can afford all kinds of different accessories! Here’s some ideas for accessories royal characters might have: - A crown - A tiara - A necklace - Rings - Earrings - Bracelets - A scepter - Gloves - A fan Accessories are a great way to make a royalty outfit feel more regal! Picking out some good accessories will add to your royal character’s design and show off their status! A good example of using accessories for a royal design would be [FrongFennel’s](https://unvale.io/FrogFennel?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [King Augustus](https://unvale.io/character/98411a77-5326-444f-b70e-f45893c9649b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! King Augustus wears a fancy royal headdress! Another good example would be [Draclicre’s](https://unvale.io/Dralicire?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Robin](https://unvale.io/character/42505a1e-8b60-4044-8c74-108bfeea4317?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Robin wears fancy hair accessories! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-aef10346-f3cb-4eac-9d10-cb9f689279e9.png) Love a good fancy outfit! And shiny accessories…shiny accessories are my weakness… ## Can you use appearance to make your OC feel more Royal? Depending on what kind of royal character you have, their appearance can show off their character and what kind of ruler they are! ### Could shape language and build add to your royal OC’s design? Shape language is a way you can incorporate what kind of person your royal character is into their design! The shape language they have can tell the audience what type of ruler they might be! Here’s some ideas of how shape language could be used for a royal design: - A large, square build for a strong and protective royal - A dainty build with round shape language for a sweet and gentle royal - A strong build with sharp shape language for a strict and scary royal Shape language could be used all throughout a design, or as little as you want! You could use it in the opposite way as well, to help with plot twists or surprises! A good example of using shape language for a royal design would be [Thing7567’s](https://unvale.io/Thing7567?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Qumo](https://unvale.io/character/f71222fe-dc56-4c55-8e76-ee8918f1cad4?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Qumo has both sharp and round shape language that shows off her seemingly cold, but calm personality! Another good example would be [Aj’s](https://unvale.io/Nottoofoxy123?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Marcus](https://unvale.io/character/e4a2e3b8-feb5-42ef-a7ac-dd1b1a433ad4?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Marcus has lots of sharp shape language and some round shape language that shows off his strength and goofy personality! ### Give your OC a royal hairstyle! An additional way to enhance a royalty character’s design is by giving them a fancy hairstyle! Oftentimes, royals wear elegant hairstyles that make them look professional and majestic. They might wear an extravagant hairdo, or a simple but classy one! Here’s some ideas for hairstyles you could consider for your royal OC: - A low bun - A twisted bun - A braided bun - Elegant braids - A swept-back hairstyle - A high ponytail - A half-up ponytail There’s plenty of extravagant hairdos you could give your royal OC! You could even combine ideas to make a hairstyle seem more elaborate! A good example of using hairstyle for a royal design would be [Vv’s](https://unvale.io/vv?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aorihn](https://unvale.io/character/91bc3bc5-05cb-4064-ac47-c413136b201e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Aorihn has a long, elegant ponytail! Another good example would be [JJust’s](https://unvale.io/JJust?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Elliot](https://unvale.io/character/05a091ca-d20b-4dd9-b10e-580baf908f83?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Elliot has a fancy low ponytail! ### Finish off your royalty character’s design with some cool details! One more way you could make a royal design stand out would be to give your character some extra details! Giving your royal character some details other characters in the story don’t have could be a fun way to show off their power and status! Some ideas for special details could be things like… - Glowing eyes - Glowing symbols - Glowing hair - Large wings - A halo - Claws - Extra eyes Depending on what type of character your royal is, there’s all kinds of different ways you could add unique features to them! Depending on which you use, they might seem more menacing, or more gentle! A good example of using unique features for a royal design would be [Midi\_chibi’s](https://unvale.io/midichibi?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Evangeline](https://unvale.io/character/3e5d8614-2855-4675-b68c-834f7775df69?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Evangeline has sheep ears! Another good example would be [Midniqhtx’s](https://unvale.io/Midniqht?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ryuu](https://unvale.io/character/7a4ed972-6a0e-4987-b301-7c15046a19ab?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ryuu has large horns! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-b3661321-3e58-4c84-be47-4b738ca70e3e.png) I don’t have many preferences for the appearance of royal characters! What about you? What are your favorite design features? Royal characters can be a really fun type of character to design! Thinking about ways to enhance their outfits, accessories, and appearance can all help you come up with a unique and regal look for them! Don’t stress too much about their design though, and remember to have fun with it! Need a few more ideas for your royal character? Try giving them a [signature makeup look](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/) or a [companion](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/)! ### Community Events Spotlight: September 2025 URL: https://blog.unvale.io/community-powered-events-15/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:58:28.000Z We've had a ton of cool things happening on Unvale lately, but now let's take some time to look back at what the community is doing...with all of these SUPER COOL COLLAB WORLDS AND EVENTS!! This month's community events spotlight will heavily feature lots of collaborative worlds for you to explore and even join with friends both new and old! Want your event or contest spotlighted? Tag your OC page or write somewhere on your World with [#UVFeatureMe](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22uvfeatureme%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) for us to find you! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-17.png) Image for the collaborative world "The pumpkin patch pals". It features a pumpkin head humanoid carrying a jack-o-lantern while in a wheat field. ### [✦The pumpkin patch pals✦](https://unvale.io/world/a986bd74-3201-4ce2-be28-9d8ea160bb12?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Ghostea](https://unvale.io/Ghostea?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### > *As the leaves turn the warm hues of autumn and the wind becomes bitter and cold with the coming winter, you may find yourself wandering the streets of Gourdborough, whether you're a local having resided in Gourdborough for many a year, a newcomer joining us in Gourdborough for your first year, or a visitor drawn to Gourdborough Perhaps for it's cozy small town charm, or the mystique surrounding a town full of the supernatural. Whatever your reasons for being in our town, all are welcome to join us for our yearly fall festivities! Will you be joining us this year?* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-8.png) Image for the collaborative world "The Immortals Guild". It features a person standing behind a bar mixing a magical looking drink in a very red tinted room with string lights. ### [The Immortals Guild](https://unvale.io/world/95323379-b99d-4d6e-853e-0d24911c77f6?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [MacaRomy](https://unvale.io/MacaRomy?ref=blog.unvale.io) > *The Immortals are a race of ghosts that cannot die, and the humans want to use them for testing, so The Immortals have to hide away from society, which is why my character; Evita made a facility known as The Immortals Guild, so apparitions could live comfortably.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-9.png) Image for the collaborative world "the Sanctuary". It features a castle in the middle with a depiction of all four seasons on each side of it. ### [the Sanctuary](https://unvale.io/world/7569c527-b9a4-4877-b29f-b5c023c17c4c?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [CrystalUni](https://unvale.io/CrystalUni?ref=blog.unvale.io) > *The Sanctuary is always open:* > *This world is a pocket dimension, and is a safe place or sanctuary for people and characters from all worlds, some are permanent residents while others just visit from time to time.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-10.png) Image for the collaborative world "The UV Mafia games". It shows a pixelated version of the Unvale logo and the tile of the event with sparkles and stars surrounding it. ### The UV Mafia games (UVmg) by [Rawr101](https://unvale.io/Rawr101?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### > *One day you get a letter in your mailbox.. You open it and see you have been invited to a dinner at the mayor Nenoke's home. Will you join for a delightful dinner?* ***Please note: this is not an official Unvale event and is entirely community made!*** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-12.png) Image for the collaborative world "A Fool's Regime". It features a jester holding a dagger, the title of the event, and the suit symbols of playing cards. ### [A Fool’s Regime](https://unvale.io/world/99f21792-de15-432a-9dcd-204fbd87d1cc?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [ChamomileJester](https://unvale.io/ChamomileJester?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### > *You’ve always been a bit of an outcast. One way or another, society never seemed to understand you. The steep taxes and demanding officers were even less understanding of your situation. Inevitably, you lost your home and all connection to your family, sent to work in the mines or to be executed for whatever crimes you were accused of. Or, at least, that’s what was supposed to happen. Instead, you’re one of the lucky people who was saved by Retsi, a former jester, now rebellion leader against the wretched king! She offered you a chance to join her fight for justice and bring freedom back to the kingdom.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-13.png) Image for the collaborative world "WANTED!". It features a wanted poster that shows an OC and a reward amount of $500\. The poster seems to be sitting in some dirt with hoof tracks. ### [WANTED!](https://unvale.io/world/712d52c5-9323-493b-9bd0-f6551c9bfd38?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [WR10](https://unvale.io/WR10?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### > *Usually people think of a stable as a nice place where animals and people can have fun. Well not this stable. In this world there are half human-half animals who are captured and brought into the stable where they are treated like a regular animal with no feelings. Although, there is a chance to escape. You can be saved by Maybelle’s group or join Levi’s crew and fight of any of the stable workers/capturers. You can also take the role of a human working in the stable or one who tracks down the escapees and brings them back.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-14.png) Image for the collaborative world "Fox Hound". It features four different sets of eyes belonging to different people with the title of the event being shown on the side. ### [Fox Hound](https://unvale.io/world/ce1e084e-6f67-49ff-8d18-01b342f84a03?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [ALigaters](https://unvale.io/ALigaters?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### > *The chill of the breeze carries the smell of autumn leaves, but the season's change only reminds you of one thing: the hunt...* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/image-16.png) Image for the event "Viva la Revolución". It features the name of the event and traditional patterns typically seen in traditional Hispanic cultural designs. ### [¡Viva la Revolución!](https://unvale.io/character/5151847c-cd2b-48ad-99cb-b10177e83f2d?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Joeylovecookies](https://unvale.io/Joeylovecookies?ref=blog.unvale.io) > *Hello and welcome to *¡Viva la Revolución!* A Hispanic Heritage Month event. This event celebrates how the Hispanic communities have influenced and contributed to American society. And like my last event, I want you to show your support by making a drawing that involves the Hispanic culture.* WOW! That's a lot of collab worlds and events to check out. Didn't find one that really caught your eye? [Go and see what else we have around](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### If you ever want to have YOUR collab world, contest, collab, or challenge featured, don't forget to use the tag [#UVFeatureMe](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&sort=newest&tags=%5B%22uvfeatureme%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io)! And if you want to take a chance at making your own collab world or contest, [learn how to do that here](https://blog.unvale.io/these-5-simple-tricks-can-boost-your-community-and-creativity/)! ### How to Design a Hero OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:05:39.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Someone’s gotta step up to stand against the [villains](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) of Unvale! Some of the [pirates](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/) and [vampires](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) have taken the evil route, we need somebody to stop them! We need…heroes! There’s plenty of hero characters in media, and you might recognize some such as… - [Spiderman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spider-Man?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Batman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link%5F%28The%5FLegend%5Fof%5FZelda%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Mario](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mario?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Leon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leon%5FS.%5FKennedy?ref=blog.unvale.io) Without heroes, evil would run the world! Heroes are helpful, selfless characters that are found in many different stories. They can range from valiant knights, to powerful superheroes! So how do you design a memorable hero for your story? Let’s talk about it! ## What kind of hero is your OC? Since there’s so many different kinds of heroes, you’ll want to think about what kind of hero your character is! A character in a superhero story probably won’t dress the same as a hero in a medieval fantasy story! Here’s some questions you can consider about your character: - What kind of story are they in? - What’s the setting of their world? - What’s their personality? - Why are they a hero? - Do they have powers? - What kind of powers do they have? Starting with questions like the ones above can help give you an idea of how you can design your hero! A design can reflect what type of character they are, and help give the audience clues about them! Different factors can influence the design of your hero and how they dress. As we continue through this article, try thinking about the questions above and how they could influence your OCs design! ## Give your OC a heroic outfit! A key part in a good hero design is the outfit and accessories they have! Different heroes have different kinds of outfits, but a good hero design will grab your audience’s attention! ### Try starting with an aesthetic for your hero! One thing you can consider about a hero’s design is giving them an aesthetic! Not every hero needs one, but it can be a helpful way to bring an outfit together! There’s lots of different aesthetics that might fit different types of heroes! Here’s a few aesthetics to get your creativity flowing! - Angel core - Fairy core - Light academia - Cyberpunk There’s all kinds of different aesthetics you could use for your hero, depending on what you want to go for! Aesthetics can be a fun way to add to your character, and help them have a coherent look! A good example of using aesthetics for a hero character would be [Talkymarksig’s](https://unvale.io/Tallymarksig?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [The Silver Guard](https://unvale.io/character/9227a73b-7242-40d7-a58f-066b82c44237?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Silver Guard has a cool sci-fi aesthetic to his design! Another good example would be [Phione’s](https://unvale.io/PhionePlatinum?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Mamiko](https://unvale.io/character/15397e04-d91f-4925-9b4a-f046a74e1185?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Mamiko has a fun magical aesthetic to her design! ### Try adding a motif to your hero’s design! Another way you can bring a hero’s outfit together is by giving them a motif! Since heroes in fiction often have some kind of power, the outfit they have can reflect that! They can also hint at the hero’s character and their personality as well! A motif can be simple and subtle, or super obvious! Some motif ideas could be things like… - A snow motif - An animal motif - A plant motif - A star motif - A lightning motif - A light motif - A shadow motif - A heart motif Depending on what kind of hero they are, they might have a darker motif too! Some heroes might have a more ominous look, despite being heroes. It all depends on what kind of hero you want for your story! A good example of using motifs for a hero character would be [Annormalartist’s](https://unvale.io/Annormalartist?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ms. Blue Sky](https://unvale.io/character/fba127bf-876e-4c7d-82da-ce50005e4ad1?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ms. Blue Sky has a wind motif throughout her design! ### Give your hero some fitting clothes! The clothes your hero wears will give the audience an idea as to what kind of hero they are! A hero needs an outfit that’s somewhat practical, and easy to fight in. The setting of the story will also be a big factor in what kind of clothes your hero wears! A hero in a superhero story probably won’t be wearing the same kind of clothes a medieval fantasy hero would wear! Here’s some ideas for different clothes you could give your hero: - A colorful super suit for a superhero - A fur lined set of clothes for an adventurer hero - A set of fancy armor for a medieval hero - A rugged but comfortable set of normal clothes for an apocalypse hero There’s plenty of different types of outfits you could give your hero! Not every hero outfit has to be super extravagant too! It’ll all depend on the setting, the character’s personality, and what’s available to them! A good example of using clothes for a hero design would be [Jeli’s](https://unvale.io/JellyfishBean?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Space Girl](https://unvale.io/character/8ccebafc-e9cd-4678-8f26-449a0fb80ea8?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Space girl has a cool astronaut-themed super hero outfit! Another good example would be [Taxcity6’s](https://unvale.io/taxcity6?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Alexander](https://unvale.io/character/ffff2517-4368-4fc2-a2a6-bd0ba2d49fe3?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Alexander has a cool lighting-themed super suit! ### Can you add some accessories or weapons to your heroes design? Another factor in a hero design is the accessories and weapons they have! Heroes often have weapons to fight with, or accessories to help them out! If you have a superhero character, they might have tools or gadgets to help them fight! A more fantasy hero might have a more traditional weapon like a sword! Here’s some ideas to get you thinking: - A mask to hide their identity - A belt with special tools on it - A bag carrying important items - A decorative accessory that doubles as a weapon - A sleek sword - A large axe - A pair of daggers - A bow and arrow There’s all kinds of different accessories or weapons you could give your hero! You could even go with something unexpected, or something that wouldn’t be normally used as a weapon! A good example of using weapons for a hero would be [Arrow’s](https://unvale.io/WDCUF?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Soleil](https://unvale.io/character/d0fad310-274b-466a-b0ab-a315e62cc792?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Soleil has a cool glowing weapon! A good example of using accessories for a hero character would be [FazDude’s](https://unvale.io/FazDude?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Bombshell](https://unvale.io/character/4da3f6bd-cef9-43ad-87d0-cf18c108c1df?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Bombshell has cool pilot goggles! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-1cf2fe65-04e8-4353-ac36-501897a2bafb.png) I don’t really have preferences for hero outfits…I love a good fantasy weapon though! ## Appearance The appearance of your hero will also say a lot about them! It can tell the audience what kind of person they might be, and make them look unique in the process! ### Use build and shape language to your advantage when designing your hero! Shape language plays an important part of character design, and especially so with hero designs! The build of your character will help add to your OC’s appearance too! Sharp shapes are for action! While often used for villains, they’re used for heroes as well! The other shapes can work with heroes too depending on what kind of hero your OC is! Here’s some ideas on how you could use shape language and build for your hero character: - An thin build and sharp shapes for a quick and agile hero - A strong build and square shapes for a powerful hero - Circle shape language and a rounder build for a support hero Shape language will help give your audience an idea of what kind of person your hero is! You could always do the opposite of what they expect as well, depending on what kind of character you have! A good example of using shape language for a hero character would be [bogwater’s](https://unvale.io/bogwater?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sucrose](https://unvale.io/character/bfcc8a7b-3a24-4586-8b70-008206ce81da?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sucrose has lots of round shape language that reflects her kind nature! Another good example would be [Dawn Weaver’s](https://unvale.io/DawnWeaver?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Stayvos](https://unvale.io/character/39b0e2d3-e296-4471-9cac-2b0f859bef32?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Stayvos has lots of sharp and square shape language that reflects his brave personality! ### Give your hero a cool hairdo! Hairstyle can be another way to add to a hero design! While not required, a hero might want a more practical hairdo, that won’t get in the way during heroics! Some ideas for hairstyles more fitting for heroes might be ones such as: - A ponytail - braids - A short side part - A half-shaved style - A bob - A pixie cut - A bun A hero doesn’t have to have a hairstyle like the ones above, but it could be helpful to make their design seem more practical or believable! If your story is more fantasy-like or fanciful, something more ethereal might work better! It depends on what kind of story you have, and what your hero character is like! A good example for using hairstyle for a hero would be [Naviaeil’s](https://unvale.io/Naviaeil?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Daiana](https://unvale.io/character/43ac1697-dd0d-4e98-b40f-5df97c8c8896?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Daiana has a cool, short and practical hairstyle! Another good example would be [Alex’s](https://unvale.io/CrxwnedAlex?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Zituile](https://unvale.io/character/e3ec4c37-296c-4469-ae7d-6e7347874067?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Zituile has a cool half-shaved hairstyle! ### Special details If you really want your hero character to stand out, you could give them some kind of special details! Maybe your OC gained their powers, or they're not human! They might have some cool features to go along with that! A battle-hardened hero might have more common features too. Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing! - Wings - Antennae - Glowing eyes - Glowing hair - Extra limbs - Animal features - Scars There’s many different options when it comes to extra details that’ll make your hero stand out! You’ll want to think about how they got these features or why they have them before adding the details too! A good example of special details for a hero character would be [Kyle’s](https://unvale.io/SamK?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Mallory](https://unvale.io/character/9920e95c-b5a1-472e-946d-42c553cafd23?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Mallory has cool antlers! Another good example would be [Kashin’s](https://unvale.io/Kashin?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Marcy](https://unvale.io/character/195f433d-3fea-42bc-8e81-aa4736c57edf?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Marcy has cool wings and talons! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-6776452e-5d48-4a2c-93ce-1ce421bb0429.png) Sharp shape language can be a lot of fun for a hero character! Design features like wings are pretty cool too! Designing a hero can be a lot of fun! Thinking about the kind outfit they might wear, the accessories they might have, their shape language, and special features they might have are all ways you could go about creating a memorable hero character! Just create your hero how you want, and remember to have fun with it! Go, send out your heroes to defend Unvale! Need some ideas for different aspects of your hero character? Try giving them [powers](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) or a [character trope](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-character-trope-for-your-oc/)! ### 10 Tips for Designing an Original Species URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-think-about-when-creating-an-original-species/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:48:39.000Z Here’s a list of 10 things to consider when making your own [original species](https://unvale.io/explore?tags=[%22originalspecies%22]&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io). This list mostly covers intelligent lifeforms rather than basic animals, but hopefully the early items can still help you develop your rare cave fish species in your original world that has never seen the sun. **Here’s the list of contents, and then we’ll get straight into it!** - Thinking Outside the Box - Natural Habitat - Biological Features - Adapting Real Life Myths - Social Behaviour - Language - Technology - Culture and Self Expression - Domestication - What’s Fun to You? --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-346ad533-95ca-4c3c-865f-8d520b5cf07f.png) **Just what could an original species be…?* ### Thinking Outside the Box Let’s start with the basics: what a species is and doesn’t have to be. As you might remember from your high school biology class, in real life terms a species is [a group of creatures that can mate and produce fertile offspring](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/species?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=-s%C4%93z-,plural%20species,a%20two-part%20scientific%20name). Some animals can mate and produce infertile offspring, like [zebroids](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zebroid?ref=blog.unvale.io), the hybrid offspring of zebras and other equine animals. As creators, we can both draw from and ignore the rules of reality; ultimately, your species doesn’t have to be a ‘species’ in the traditional sense. It can be a type of human or creature that can intermingle with regular humans, evolved animals that resemble their original form but with new features, alien lifeforms, plants, or even machines! ### Natural Habitat This might be a bit hard to figure out at first, but everything has a [natural habitat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat?ref=blog.unvale.io) in some way. Humans can exist in a lot of places on earth due to our ingenuity and tenacity, but places like the South Pole and under the ocean aren’t our natural habitats; our bodies simply can’t exist in those conditions without lots of preparation and technology. Likewise, while your species might be able to exist all over their world, there are places where your species lives their best life. Consider the following: - Where did your species first arise? (The place they were created, evolved, or placed into.) - Where do they survive the best? - Where are places they can’t survive without help? - What does your species need to survive? (Shelter, water, food, air, etc.) ### Biological Features Like other mammals, humans have a fancy set of chompers and your species potentially does too. Use your tongue to feel the shape of your teeth and think about what they’re for; as omnivores, we have both flat teeth like horses and cows, and sharp canines like cats and dogs. What sort of teeth does your species have based on what they eat? Here are some other things to consider: - Do you want to keep things grounded in biology, or explore fantastic and sci-fi possibilities? - If they’re aquatic, do they have gills like fish or do they breathe air like whales? - If they fly, do their wings support their body weight, or do they use magic to help keep them afloat? - If they look human but aren’t, what internal differences do they have to humans? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-2e4c5c35-911f-467b-b9c5-a3c01b945b20.png) **The mythical sun crow! Amazing!* ### Adapting Real Life Myths If you remember my first ever article, you’ll know about [genre fiction](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/). If you want to learn more about how to use audience expectations to your advantage, then check out that article! But if you’re using real life myths as your inspiration, you need to check to see if the mythology you’ve chosen is appropriate for Unvale; meaning, it fits our guidelines regarding [culturally sensitive content](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927102-creation-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io#h%5Fff8e547499). Certain cultures and traditions have been consistently appropriated by other cultures for many years and become a part of pop culture; BUT, if the culture of origin of the myth you want to use prefers that it’s left alone and not used, please take that into consideration. ### Social Behaviors All animals have some sort of social behavior; even if it’s eating their own species upon contact. How does your species interact with others of their kind? - Is your species a social animal that likes to form packs or family units? Humans and wolves are the best examples of animals like these. - Maybe your species is a herd animal, like horses and cows, and survives best in a large group that travels together and looks out for each other. - Maybe they’re a solitary predator with distinct territory that they mark. - Does your species have special mating rituals? For example, [the male might have fancy feathers and have to dance for the female](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird-of-paradise?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=The%20birds-of-paradise%20are,45%20species%20in%2017%20genera.) to win her affections. ### Language How does your species communicate? Maybe they… - Make vocal sounds like humans and dolphins. - Use hand signals or body language. - Change colours like cuttlefish. - Communicate telepathically. - Use radio waves to communicate to each other. - Communicate through scent like cats and dogs. Do they have a written language? Maybe they *only* have written language. There are lots of possibilities for what you can do with language and communication, and it’s worth exploring what you can do. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-d6b0c240-43e1-4247-b599-28d5b4077c65.png) **Home improvement with a pair of drills… via painting! The wonders of Inkling technology and culture!* ### Technology Even if your species only uses sticks to dig in the dirt for bugs, that’s still a form of “technology”. Here are some questions to ask yourself about your species’ technology levels. - What sort of tools does your species use? Maybe they use primitive spears, maybe instead they have high powered lasers. - What do they use their tools for? Hunting, farming, warfare, or artistic self expression? Or all of the above? - Do they have the ability to refine materials to make more advanced tools and items? (And what basic materials do they have available to create these items?) - If the answer to the above is ‘no’, but you still want to give them advanced tools, is there another group or species that can trade with them? Or maybe your species inherited these technologies? ### Culture and Self Expression Culture can be simply defined here as food, art, fashion, language, and social norms. - What ingredients does your species have access to, and how does that define their food culture? - If your species creates art, what materials do they have and use to do so? Do they paint, create textiles, weave, carve wood or stone, or forge metal? - If they have the ability to create fabric (or can find it), how do they dress? Do they wear a lot of accessories to show status or heavy furs to combat the cold? ### Domestication Some people say “dogs are man’s best friend”, and that’s probably due to thousands of years of domestication! Domesticated animals live longer natural lives than their wild counterparts and are friendly (or tolerant) of humans. Cats and dogs are both pets and useful creatures to humans; cats hunt down mice and other pests that would eat our food and dogs have been bred for a variety of purposes as well. Does your species have any domesticated animals, whether they’re pets or livestock like sheep and cows? ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-f1cae73e-4c1a-408d-80a2-10d463ff8149.png) *The most important thing.* ### What’s Fun to You? This is the biggest thing to think about. Throw out almost everything I said before if it just confuses and stresses you out. What’s the most fun thing for you to do? What brings you joy? That’s what matters most when creating. --- Phew! That’s a lot. But if any of these points don’t resonate with you, it’s okay to not think about them too much (especially if they straight up don’t apply to your species). One of my favourite original species on Unvale are [Raksz’s](https://unvale.io/Raksz?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Radrians](https://unvale.io/world/d8cf6087-753b-43aa-b3af-054d91952408?ref=blog.unvale.io), but there are plenty more to see and explore; check out the [#originalspecies](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&sort=newest&tags=[%22originalspecies%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag! We here at Unvale are excited to see your incredible creations! ### How to Design a Vampire OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:52:13.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* When the sun goes down…While many [magical girls](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/) and [pirates](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/) are fast asleep…another type of character emerges from the shadows. They’re iconic and they can make great [villains](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/)…Everyone give it up for…vampires! We’ve covered one of my favorite types of characters to design, fairies, and now it’s time to cover my other favorite! (Psst…If you missed my last article on designing fairy characters, check it out [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/)!) Vampires are a pretty popular type of character, and you’ve likely seen all kinds of them! You might recognize names such as… - [Count Dracula](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count%5FDracula?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Selene](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selene%5F%28Underworld%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Draculaura](https://monsterhigh.fandom.com/wiki/Draculaura%5F%28G1%29?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Count Von Count](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Count%5Fvon%5FCount?ref=blog.unvale.io) Like I mentioned before, vampires are one of the types of characters that are my favorite to design! They’re often known for their mystery, dark aesthetics, and mystical appearances! So, how does one design a vampire character? Well, step into the nearest spooky castle, say hello to the bats, and let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What kind of vampire is your OC? First of all, you need to decide what type of vampire your OC is! Vampires living in dark spooky castles are most definitely cool, but they aren’t the only options. They’re a popular type of character and you can find them all across different media! In older stories a vampire might be more scary and evil, while a vampire from more modern media might be more of a charming heartthrob! Since vampires are typically known to be immortal, that gives a lot of different opportunities for the time period they’re from! The kind of story your vampire is in and what type of vampire they are will help you choose how to design them! Here’s some questions you can consider before designing your vampire: - Are they based on vampires from folklore? - Are they based on vampires of modern stories? - Are they good, evil, or morally grey? - What kind of story are they in? - What time period are they from, and which are they currently in? - What’s their social status? - What are their powers? Thinking about what type of character your vampire is can help you decide how you go about designing them. The kind of look your OC has can tell the audience a bit about what kind of vampire they are and make them look stylish at the same time! You can incorporate all kinds of different aspects into your vampire’s design based on what kind of vampire you want your OC to be! As we go through this article, try thinking about the above questions above to help you get an idea for what you want to do for your vampire! ## Give your vampire a cool outfit and accessories! An iconic part of vampire designs is the stylish outfits they wear! Regardless of what kind of vampire they are, you can give them a fashionable outfit that’ll make them look chic as they roam the night! (Pst…you know what also helps with outfits? Color palettes! If you want to learn more about that, check out this cool article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/)!) ### Try giving your vampire a spooky aesthetic! There’s lots of different aesthetics that just scream “vampire”! Vampires often have dark, mysterious aesthetics. Picking an aesthetic that fits your vampire can add to their design! Depending on the kind of vampire they are, they might have a different aesthetic than other vampires. While not always, different kinds of goth aesthetics are often popular! Some common aesthetics fitting for vampires include… - Vampire goth aesthetics - Romantic goth aesthetics - Victorian aesthetics - Pastel goth aesthetics - Gothic lolita aesthetics - Aristocratic goth aesthetics - Grunge aesthetics - Cyberpunk aesthetics - Dark academia aesthetics When choosing an aesthetic, you’ll definitely want to think about where your vampire is and what story they’re in! There’s lots of different options to choose from, and there’s way more than the aesthetics listed above! A good example of using aesthetics for a vampire design would be [Dralicire’s](https://unvale.io/Dralicire?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Marilyn](https://unvale.io/character/9a1eb656-dd57-465d-9c90-e72291c46b44?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Marilyn has a stunning gothic aesthetic! Another good example would be [FancyFishSticks’](https://unvale.io/FancyFishSticks?ref=blog.unvale.io) monsterfied sona [FancyFishsticks](https://unvale.io/character/36cdb3ae-abc1-4fee-8990-53a9309acd95?ref=blog.unvale.io)! She also has a gorgeous gothic aesthetic! ### Can you give them a motif that pulls their look together? Another way you can really add to your vampire’s design is by utilizing a motif to bring everything together! There’s lots of things you can use as a motif for your vampire character! Here’s some ideas for vampire motifs to get your creativity flowing! - A ruby motif - A fang motif - A bat motif - A celestial motif - A heart motif - A spider motif - A rose motif - A skull motif There’s plenty of options when it comes to what kind of motif you can give your vampire! Depending on their personality, you don’t have to give them a dark one either! A good example of using motifs for a vampire design would be [AngieAKAskull’s](https://unvale.io/AngieAKAskull?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lilah](https://unvale.io/character/26461332-f1d2-4bbb-bfe5-634f1740d133?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lilah has a fun bat motif! Another example would be [RosieJewel’s](https://unvale.io/RosieJewels?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jewel](https://unvale.io/character/85d7b8b1-07e3-4075-bcd9-af697bd9d5ba?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Jewel has a cute heart motif! ### Pick a fangtastic fit for your vampire! Some are fancy, some dress more sleek…Choosing clothes that fit your vampire is a fun part of designing them! There’s all kinds of different clothes vampires are seen in. Here’s some clothes ideas to get you thinking about how you can dress your vampire! - A long-sleeved shirt with ruffles - A long trumpet dress - Dark leather pants - A vest - A long coat - A corset - A velvet top - A frilly dress shirt - A long cape There’s quite a few options for what kinds of clothes you can give your vampire! When and where your vampire is from will also play a large part in what kinds of clothes they might wear! An example of a good outfit for a vampire would be [Mikeytymian’s](https://unvale.io/mikeytymian?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Valeron](https://unvale.io/character/7705a733-82a8-4a8c-a17e-728ace086ca2?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Valeron has a fancy outfit great for a vampire! Another good example would be [DreamKnightmare’s](https://unvale.io/DreamsKnightmare?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Theia](https://unvale.io/character/9df5e819-122a-4a15-a18d-43f8bf2315ae?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Theia has a stylish red dress that’s fitting for a vampire! ### Add some artistic accessories to your vampire’s design! Additional ways to enhance your vampire’s design are including fun accessories! Depending on what aesthetic and motif your vampire has, they might have accessories dissimilar to accessories other vampires would have! There’s many accessories you could give your vampire, and here’s a few ideas to get your imagination fired up! - Lace gloves - A choker - Ruby earrings - A black pearl necklace - A chain belt - A spider crown - A large hat - A jabot - A bat-shaped bag - A rose pendant - A tie There’s many different accessories that can make your vampire’s appearance more appealing! You can add as many, or as few accessories as you want. Your vampire could have a signature spooky accessory, or have a bunch of different accessories! A good example of using accessories for a vampire character would be [Sunkiller’s](https://unvale.io/Sunkiller?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Vampire Queen](https://unvale.io/character/3f80d118-1f1b-4665-ad69-51665a8a8e24?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Vampire Queen has elegant gloves and silver accessories that show off her status! Another good example would be [Becca’s](https://unvale.io/BeccaBunny215?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Bram](https://unvale.io/character/b196b502-9ea7-486c-bd51-ce395849015a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Bram has a fancy jabot and gold accessories that make him look fancy and elegant! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-e7335a52-bdb8-4c5c-8e09-bba1430d64c6.png) For vampire designs, I personally like gothic aesthetics, fancy clothes, and jewelry accessories! ## Don’t forget to design your vampire’s overall appearance! Vampires are also well-known for their fabulous appearances! Using your character’s appearance to your advantage is both fun, and can make your character look great in the process! There’s lots of different things you can consider. ### Try using shape language and build to your advantage when designing your vampire! When designing your vampire, you can try using shape language and build to tell the audience more about your vampire! Depending on the shape language they have, they might seem more dangerous, or more friendly! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing! - A dangerous and quick vampire with a thin build and sharp shape language - A friendly vampire with a strong build but lots of round shape language - A protective vampire with a blocky build and square shape language Incorporating shape language into your vampire's design can be a fun way to help your audience know what kind of vampire they are! This can be especially helpful if you have a friendly vampire, but still want to give them a dark aesthetic. They could have more friendly shape language to show that! A good example of using shape language for a vampire design would be [Cecil’s](https://unvale.io/cecilpalmer?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Virgil](https://unvale.io/character/491d31d7-4bab-4dcc-a658-1dc0f5acd845?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Virgil has lots of square shape language that make him seem unwavering! Another good example would be [Neil’s](https://unvale.io/Buneilly?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Julia](https://unvale.io/character/a19b47c6-34e2-42dd-84f0-9c2263071f4a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Julia has some round shape language that makes her look sweet and friendly! ### Give your vampire a stylish hairdo! Hairstyles are another thing you can think about when it comes to your vampire’s design! They might have a different hairstyle depending on what kind of vampire they are. A more elegant vampire might have a fancy updo, while an assassin vampire might have a short hairstyle! Here’s a few hairstyle ideas to get you thinking: - Elegant braids - A blunt bob - A voluminous half-up hairdo - A fancy bun - A long ponytail - A pixie cut The kind of hairstyle your vampire can have will depend on what they do and what their personality is like! Some vampires might need a more practical hairstyle for fighting and others might just want to look stylish! A good example of using hairstyles for a vampire character would be [Chris’](https://unvale.io/SillyClownChris?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Caspian](https://unvale.io/character/6bdb515b-f34a-4d79-8af2-82d2918038eb?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Caspian has a long, wavy ponytail that suits his fancy design! Another good example would be [Sage’s](https://unvale.io/SageGreenPossum?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Romeria](https://unvale.io/character/8b8bef75-547f-429a-97ac-71e96fe11f67?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Romeria has long, voluminous hair that matches her sweet but stubborn personality! ### Can you give your vampire cool or spooky eyes? Oftentimes, vampires have cool eye designs! They usually have unique eyes that make it easy to guess that they’re vampires amongst the other characters in the story. Sometimes it’s something simple like an abnormal eye color, and sometimes it’s a little more obvious! Here’s some ideas you can consider for your vampire’s eyes! - Yellow irises - Red irises - Purple irises - Sharp, animal-like pupils - Skull-shaped pupils - Dark scleras - Red scleras - Glowing eyes You can play around with different colors, eye shapes, and pupil shapes and see what works best for your vampire and the world they’re a part of! It’s all up to you! Some choices might make them seem more scary, and others might make them feel more mystical. A good example of using eye designs for a vampire character would be [Croc’s](https://unvale.io/Crocinator404?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Heinrich](https://unvale.io/character/21d1901c-0c91-4be9-bf99-52d035316063?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Heinrich has spooky red scleras and yellow irises! Another good example would be [Enbyprincex’s](https://unvale.io/enbyprincex?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Shiro](https://unvale.io/character/a9ceb867-452b-463d-b143-1156e9bbf2fd?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Shiro has subtle red eyes! ### Try adding some unique design features to your vampire! You can’t have a vampire without some cool extra details! Well, you totally can, but some extra details can be fun to add! Vampires are typically known for having fangs, but that’s not the only thing they can have! Some other things you could add could be things like… - Pointed ears - Bat ears - Bat wings - Sharp claws - Cool tattoos - Limbs with a dark gradient - A fantasy skin color Depending on what kind of vampire look you’re going for, there’s some different options to choose from for special details! Some vampires might have a more subtle look, while for others it might be pretty obvious that they’re a vampire too! Some vampires also have more bat-like features as well. A good example of using unique details for a vampire would be [Millabel’s](https://unvale.io/LilacLoveheart?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Waffeln](https://unvale.io/character/b1d1a4ae-1fa8-4d1a-b8cb-b0dc31b7e066?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Waffeln has cute bat wings and ears! Another good example would be [Necrokirby’s](https://unvale.io/necrokirby?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Astrophel](https://unvale.io/character/ca00232a-8d2e-405c-ad6e-7f563413a84d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Astrophel has pointed ears that have a dark gray gradient on them! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-340a57d9-de91-4a5f-a66a-c82d59eb2944.png) For vampire characters, I like designs with pointy ears, long fangs, monsterish eyes, and as much sharp shape language as possible! Vampires are really fun characters to design! By thinking about different outfit ideas, aesthetics, special details, and more are all ways you can come up with a fabulous vampire design! When it comes to designing your vampire, do whatever you like best! Have fun creating! Want a couple more ideas for different aspects of your vampire? Try a [makeup look](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/), or give them some cool [powers](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/)! ### How to Summarize Your OC's Backstory in 20 Words or Less URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-how-to-summarize-your-ocs-backstory-in-20-words-or-less/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:53:12.000Z *“Brevity is the soul of wit”* \- [Shakespeare’s *Hamlet*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamlet?ref=blog.unvale.io) You might have heard that phrase here and there, especially if you’ve studied Hamlet in high school English class. But what does it mean? [Brevity](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brevity?ref=blog.unvale.io) is another word for conciseness or briefness, so in rough summary: “being concise is the backbone of wise words”. Being concise with words is often a better show of well-thought out points than rambling explanations; it also often holds your audience’s attention better. This article is all about being overly [terse](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terse?ref=blog.unvale.io) (meaning “using as few words as possible”), using brevity in your work without trying to be overly [verbose](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/verbose?ref=blog.unvale.io) (using a lot of words); in summary, making things quick and keeping the same information together without depending on big words. So, here are some quick tips! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-df26cfd0-534d-4b7d-9308-d508a6eebbfc.png) **Professor Solar is here to pass along some knowledge!* - **Don’t depend on big, unfamiliar words**. Looking up synonyms (different words with the same meanings) to try and convey information in fewer words can make things more confusing than just using three or four extra words that convey the same meaning. If you’re not used to using a word or term in everyday language, skip it. - Consider if you don’t mind a comedic factor in your summary; **sometimes it can be more fun to describe an incident in a bizarre (but still accurate) way**. For instance: “*Bea got whacked over the head with a stick filled with Eldritch madness and got DJing superpowers.*” Silly and a bit incomprehensible, sure, but: - **Don’t use overly technical or specialized language in summaries for a general audience** (meaning, those who aren’t familiar with what you’re talking about). To use the above example with [jargon](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jargon?ref=blog.unvale.io) terms: “*Bea was attacked with a Mania Weapon and awoke as an S-Class Sinner.*” You likely have no clue what any of those specific terms mean, and if you use your own specific backstory terms, your reader might not understand the summary either (which can defeat the whole point). - **Cut out unnecessary information**. It might be hard to do at first, but not all information in your character’s backstory is equally important. Consider making a tier list of sorts for information and plot points. As you get more used to summarization you might be able to fit in more information, but try to focus on just the most important parts. - To practice the above, **try highlighting the most important parts of your character’s backstory**. This can be on paper or online, but take note of how much you highlight; is there too much highlighted? Too little? It can be hard to strike a balance but if you can comfortably turn your highlights into a quick summary, you’re doing well! An exercise to help practice summary involves taking something you’ve watched or read, and then summarize the plot into a single paragraph. Once you’re satisfied with what you’ve written, try summarizing it further; aim for a single sentence, though if you can’t manage that, that’s okay! The point is to practice summarization. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-2187d29d-553f-4926-aa56-81d6eb963955.png) **Hmmm… what to prioritize…* ### Summarize with Intent Like I mentioned before, focus on specific kinds of information you find important. In the case of backstory summarization, are you summarizing your character’s personal history or motivations? Depending on what information you prioritize, you’ll convey different things. If you talk about their [inciting incident](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/writing-101-what-is-an-inciting-incident-learn-how-to-use-inciting-incident-in-writing-with-tips-and-examples?ref=blog.unvale.io) rather than their family and childhood, your reader will understand more about their goals rather than their life before it. Your reader might naturally conclude that the dramatic event that set them on their current path is more important than their childhood; and maybe that’s not what you’re going for. All of this is to say, if you want your readers to understand something you think is core to your character such as their: - History - Personality - Goals - Motivations - Or place in the greater world focus on backstory pieces that convey that information. Practicing summarization can help your English language skills, and help teach you how to convey information more effectively in daily life. Practicing using something you care about and enjoy will benefit you even more in the long run! Here are some interesting OCs with good summaries I found while looking around Unvale! - [iluwhiro’s OC Solveig](https://unvale.io/character/557ba807-aaa2-4147-a979-81d1a4d20ac2?ref=blog.unvale.io), a cute (and weird) anthro cat girl. The user’s [world](https://unvale.io/world/80377ab9-7ced-4f8f-97da-b62ee0432558?ref=blog.unvale.io) summary is fascinating, and I’m curious to learn more! Like Solveig, let’s stare with unblinking eyes and wait for more of this user’s future work! - [KISITRON’s Transformers OC, Decibel](https://unvale.io/character/c071e8a5-311b-4af5-abd8-4ac8c11fb45b?ref=blog.unvale.io), has a super descriptive character summary that gives me a great idea of his personality. If you’re a Transformers fan (especially of the [IDW 2005 continuity](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transformers?ref=blog.unvale.io#IDW%5Fpublishing%5F%282005%E2%80%932022%29)), you’ll be happy to know the user is planning to add lots of lore to this character! - [CHSAJA’s OC Fen Granson](https://unvale.io/character/c43caafa-6ae7-4c78-a1ca-ff580ddc1eff?ref=blog.unvale.io), a horror protagonist in the year 1985\. With the sudden reappearance of a rabbit-masked serial killer after ten years, Fen must face her past and investigate the recent murder of one of her classmates… This user’s summary gives me chills! I can’t wait to see more! - [Solar’s OC Beatrix Cheng](https://unvale.io/character/bbc542d4-165e-4b19-9ae5-042e89103827?ref=blog.unvale.io)\- hey wait a second-! While I mentioned her in the article earlier, this page has a good example of what **jargon** can look like. As a [Path to Nowhere](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Path%5Fto%5FNowhere?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC, Bea’s page has a lot of specific terminology that makes it a bit harder for regular people to understand. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-d648f80b-6639-4c4e-9b54-ec589289ff0b.png) So, to summarize everything- … just kidding! Just keep these two points in mind: - Only add important information - Don’t use big and unfamiliar words if you don’t have to Summarizing takes practice, so don’t be hard on yourself if you struggle with it at first. If you write up a 20 word (or less) summary, post it with the hashtag [#20wordsummary](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=writing&tags=[%2220wordsummary%22]&ref=blog.unvale.io)! I’ve already put up my own summary about the character I mentioned in this article, so add your own and check out other people’s too. It’s a great way to introduce new people to your characters. ### How to Design a Fairy OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-fairy-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:53:41.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* [Pirates](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/) sail the seas…[Magical girls](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/) and [villains](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) roam the streets of Unvale…but another kind of character stays hidden, believed to be mere myth…Fairies! We’re back to our regularly scheduled tips for designing series! (Oh, and if you missed the last article about simplifying designs, you can check that out [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/)!) Fairies are found all over, and you’ve likely seen all kinds of fairies! There’s lots of them, like ones such as: - [Tinker Bell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tinker%5FBell?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Fairy Godmother](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy%5Fgodmother?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Sugar Plum Fairy](https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%5FNutcracker?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [The Blue Fairy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairy%5Fwith%5FTurquoise%5FHair?ref=blog.unvale.io) Fairies are one of my favorite types of characters to design! They’re popular in folklore and fairytales, but also in books and films. They’re often known for their mischievousness, magical appearances, and beautiful wings! So how do you go about designing a fairy? Well, step into the nearest fairy ring, join me in the fairy realm, and let’s talk about it! ## Decide what kind of fairy your OC is! There are lots of different kinds of fairies, and various different interpretations of them! In folklore, they’re often mischievous, and sometimes even dangerous! In fairytales and more recent media, they’re often helpful guides, mentors, or even heroes! Depending on what kind of fairy you have and the story they’re a part of, you might want to design them differently! When designing a fairy character, you can think of different questions such as: - Are they based on fairies from folklore? - Are they based on fairies from fairytales? - Are they mischievous and dangerous, or helpful and friendly? - What kind of story are they in? - Do their kind of fairies have wings? - Are they more ethereal, or cutesy? - What type of fairy are they? - What are their powers? Thinking about what kind of fairy your OC is will help give you an idea of how you can design them! The type of fairy they are can influence their outfit, accessories, appearance, and more. There are plenty of ways to incorporate different design aspects into your OC’s design based on the kind of fairy character they are! You can try using the above questions as we go through this article to help you decide how you want to go about designing your fairy! ## Choose an outfit and accessories that fit your fairy! Regardless of what kind of fairy they are, fairies often have iconic designs! Picking an outfit and different kinds of accessories that suit your fairy will help them feel magical as they go about their fantastical adventures! ### Try picking a fun aesthetic that suits your fairy! There’s plenty of different aesthetics you could choose for your fairy! Some aesthetics can make your fairy look more mystical, while others might make your fairy look more cutesy! Some fun aesthetics you could try can include… - Fairy core aesthetics - Nature core aesthetics - Cottage core aesthetics - Dark Cottage core aesthetics - Whimsigoth aesthetics - Goblin core aesthetics - Mushroom core aesthetics - Angel core aesthetics There’s a lot more aesthetics you could choose from as well! It all depends on what kind of look you want your fairy to have! Utilizing different aesthetics could help your fairy feel more fairy-like! A good example of using aesthetics for a fairy character would be [C8E’s](https://unvale.io/C8E?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Zed](https://unvale.io/character/19bab267-f951-4d66-94f7-a9f69aaa69ae?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Zed has a fancy aesthetic as part of his design! Another good example would be [Antrea’s](https://unvale.io/Antrea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Umbra](https://unvale.io/character/2bd7f9a5-1695-4954-9a5b-5cba0a9e396b?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Umbra has a cute lolita aesthetic as part of her design! ### Could you give your fairy an interesting motif? If you really want to add to your fairy’s design, you can try giving them a mystical motif! Fairies often have magical powers, and you could give their design a motif that represents their abilities! (Don’t know what kind of power to give your OC? You can try this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) for some help with deciding!) Choosing a motif can help you create a magical look that looks put together! Here’s some motif ideas to help you brainstorm: - A water motif - A flower motif - A celestial motif - A weather motif - A sea motif - A heart motif - An animal motif - A season motif - A gem motif There’s plenty of different motifs you could choose from! A motif can add to your fairy’s mystical look, and tell the audience what kind of fairy they are in the process. The motif your fairy has can influence all different aspects of their design! A good example of using motifs for a fairy design would be [EllielikestomakeOCs’](https://unvale.io/ellielikestomakeOCs?ref=blog.unvale.io) character [Marí](https://unvale.io/character/f15e440d-aaff-4200-b05a-aaa032a04463?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Marí has a butterfly motif throughout her design! Another good example would be [SaltedSalamander’s](https://unvale.io/SaltedSalamander?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Alyssa](https://unvale.io/character/263aa003-803e-4a05-86a4-4e93a5a4520c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Alyssa has a plant motif throughout her design! ### Give your fairy a good outfit! Fairies often have ethereal or fun outfits! Picking clothes that suit your fairy and make them look more magical is a great part of designing fairy characters! The kind of outfit your fairy has will depend on their personality or role! While what you choose will depend on the type of character your fairy is, common fairy clothes can include different things such as: - Clothes made of flowers or leaves - Clothes made from animal fur or insect wings - Flowing robes - Long dresses - Draping sleeves - Poofy skirts - Corsets There’s lots of different clothes fairies wear! You could tie what kind of fairy they are into their outfit as well. An ice fairy might wear a fur coat, while a flower fairy might wear a skirt made of petals. It all depends on what you want your fairy to look like! A good example of utilizing clothes for a fairy character would be [Plant’s](https://unvale.io/HellovPlant?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Opal](https://unvale.io/character/44a133e6-a075-4906-bb49-af5cab54f7c8?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Opal has an elegant and mystical outfit! Another good example would be [Raichana’s](https://unvale.io/Raichana?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ciella](https://unvale.io/character/2a3aba20-96f2-4516-8d79-82d0360b90bd?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ciella has a cute and frilly outfit! ### Pick out some magical accessories for your fairy! Another fun part of designing fairies, and one of my favorite parts, is giving them cool accessories! Fairy designs often have accessories that feel fanciful and enchanting. You can pick accessories that fit your fairy, and match their motif if they have one! Here’s some fun ideas for accessories you could give your fairy; - A sparkly crown - A pearl belt - Gems - Flower bracelets - Sashes - Glass charms - Potion bottles - Feather hair adornments - A fur scarf - Vine-shaped armbands - Butterfly wing earrings - A leather satchel Accessories are a fun way to enhance your fairy’s look and make them look fun and magical! Accessories can be both useful, or just be there to make your fairy look cooler! It all depends on how you want to go about designing your fairy! A good example of using accessories for a fairy design would be [BluePeppou’s](https://unvale.io/BluePeppou?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aspen](https://unvale.io/character/392db1a1-a3eb-491a-8b9a-cb4d24bd04de?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Aspen has lots of mystical accessories like feathers and stones! Another good example would be [Light’s](https://unvale.io/Light?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Fayla](https://unvale.io/character/07582acc-0ac4-451f-af23-001b4d5279c1?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Fayla has flower accessories and metal armbands! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-2b4e94fe-8521-4a20-96d7-7d6898374b99.png) For fairy characters, my personal favorite design elements are long clothing, jewels and stones, and celestial motifs! ## Can you use your OC’s appearance to heighten their fairy look? Using the appearance of your fairy is another way you can enhance their design! There’s many kinds of different fairies, so you can use their appearance to show off what kind of fairy they are! ### Try using shapes to your advantage in your fairy’s design! Just like with other characters, shape language can play a big part in a fairy’s appearance! With fairies, you have more ways to utilize shapes. If you plan on giving your fairy wings, that’s an extra opportunity to try and use shape language! You can use shapes and your fairy’s build to tell the audience about their personality or role. Here’s some different ideas about how you can use shape language for a fairy OC: - A friendly fairy with round wings, a poofy dress, and a flower crown with circular petals - A dangerous fairy with sharp wings, a dress made of pointy petals, and thorny vine armbands - A strong fairy with square patterns on their wings, blocky gem charms, and a headpiece with rectangular gems There’s plenty of ways you can add shape language into your fairy’s design! It can be as obvious or as subtle as you want. You could even incorporate shape language into the patterns on your fairy’s wings! A good example of using shape language for a fairy would be [Foxday21’s](https://unvale.io/Foxday21?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Glass](https://unvale.io/character/d5bc5d66-9236-4b8e-a63d-e4a54f0b62c6?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Glass has lots of rounded shapes that fit their calm personality! Another good example would be [Fox’s](https://unvale.io/Foxdoodles?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Dannie](https://unvale.io/character/4188f951-83c8-4a67-ad58-32196c83b64f?ref=blog.unvale.io) has lots of sharp shape language that hint at their manipulative character! ### Give your fairy a fun hairstyle! Fairies could have all kinds of different hairstyles that can make them look magical or wild! Since fairies are mythical beings, they could have more impractical hairstyles or more crazy hairstyles that a normal person wouldn’t have! The kind of hairstyle you choose for your fairy will depend on what kind of fairy you’re designing. Here’s some different hairstyle ideas to get you thinking: - A short, messy pixie cut - Extra long, flowing hair - Wild twirling pigtails - Choppy, layered shoulder-length hair - Long, elegant braids - Cutesy space buns There’s lots of hairstyles you can choose from! You can choose based on what kind of fairy you have, or what kind of person they are. A powerful, mystical fairy might have a long and flowing hairstyle, while a chaotic and free-spirited fairy might have a messy or wild hairstyle! A good example of using a hairstyle for a fairy design would be [Soda’s](https://unvale.io/AceofClubSoda?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Calcifer](https://unvale.io/character/55d63d24-ca6a-4eb4-bd05-5a9d24039329?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Calcifer has a messy hairstyle that matches his courageous personality! Another good example would be [AstralVoyager’s](https://unvale.io/AstralVoyager?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Luna](https://unvale.io/character/2b1eb1d1-62c4-4ea6-a85e-3cc2d0f28b60?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Luna has long twirling pigtails that give her a magical look! ### Give your fairy some unique features! Since fairies are magical creatures, they often have characteristics different from humans! Giving your fairy unique details will make them look more magical and fairy-like. Fairies can have all kinds of different features, and sometimes they have animal-like features as well! Here’s some different details you could add to your fairy: - Pointy ears - Bug antennae - An animal tail - Glowing eyes - Limbs with a unique gradient - A unique skin color - Special tattoos - Sparkly freckles - Extra limbs There’s a lot of options when it comes to what you can give your fairy! Depending on how your world’s fairies work, they might have different kinds of features! Adding a mystical feature or two can help your fairy feel extra magical! A good example of using unique features for a fairy character would be [Kiboona’s](https://unvale.io/Kiboona?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Meda](https://unvale.io/character/c86243c5-d7cf-42cf-8ed6-b92f8b3a0f5e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Meda has a unique skin color and cool antennae! Another good example would be [IridescentStudios’](https://unvale.io/IridescentStudios?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Dilani](https://unvale.io/character/46e9834a-502b-4480-991d-9e572f88935d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Dilani has pointed ears and swirly antennae! ### Try giving your fairy wonderous wings! You didn’t think I forgot the best part, did you? Last, but most certainly not least, is wings! While not all designs have them, wings are often an iconic part of fairy designs! Fairy wings are usually depicted in media as similar to that of insect wings, but it doesn’t always have to be like that! They can be solid colored, or translucent! It all depends on what kind of fairy you’re designing. Here’s some ideas for different wings you could give your fairy! - Butterfly wings - Moth wings - Beetle wings - Dragonfly wings - Bat wings - Bird wings The kind of wings your fairy has all depends on what the fairies in your story look like! Maybe one type of fairy in your world has butterfly wings, while another kind might have moth wings. Since fairies are magical, they don’t have to be limited to a natural look! You could give fairy wings magical characteristics as well! Some different ways you could make a fairy’s wings look more magical could be things like… - Glowing effects - Sparkles - Special patterns - Cool shapes - Unique color combinations - Swirly tails Giving your OC a pair of magical wings is a fun part of designing fairy characters! You could even use wings to show off a fairy’s status or powers! Maybe some powerful fairies have glowing wings, while others have special patterns. It all depends on what you like best! A good example of using wings for a fairy design would be [Xu2star’s](https://unvale.io/xu2star?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Tiên Xuân](https://unvale.io/character/7cef1e26-4d25-418c-accb-63e0cb3b5798?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Tiên Xuân has iridescent and gold wings! Another good example would be [Bæst’s](https://unvale.io/Baest?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Chip](https://unvale.io/character/a591bd58-fb47-40ea-85bb-af6e0f07ea8d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Chip has translucent wings with unique wavy patterns! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/09/data-src-image-bf48c9fc-d8bd-4709-8b27-f5fbdab6c660.png) For fairy designs, I personally like long hair, a mix of round and sharp shapes, and sparkly butterfly wings! Designing a fairy character can be a lot of fun, and are one of my personal favorite kinds of characters to design! Using a fairy’s outfit, accessories, hair, unique features, and more are all ways to make them look magical! You can design your fairy however you want. Remember to have fun with your designing! Need some ideas for other aspects of your fairy? Try giving them a [job](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/) or [companion](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/)! ### Changelog: Favorites Everywhere URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-favorites-everywhere/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:05:04.000Z Hello, everyone! I know you just heard from me, but we’re BACK AT IT AGAIN with another awesome Unvale release! I really think you’re going to like this one. DIVE IN NOW! ✨ **Favorites Everywhere** \- That’s right, you can now favorite worlds, writing, and art! Just like with character favoriting, you’ll be able to see all of the newer favorites listed on your profile. Keep reading to learn more about our Favorites Everywhere Mini Challenge! 💖 **Hearts on comments** \- Have you ever wanted to thank someone for their compliment on your OC, but you didn’t quite feel like typing? Do you want to let someone know that you saw their comment without touching your keyboard? Do you just want to tell someone they’re hilarious? HEARTS ON COMMENTS ARE HERE! You can also sort comments by “Top” (most hearts) and “New” now, so you can see what’s poppin’! 🎨 **New OC Page Theme Drop** \- What better way to say goodbye to summer than a Summer Send-off theme drop! We’ve got popsicles, we’ve got summer afternoon rainstorms, we’ve got plants, we’ve got beach. These are some of the snazziest themes we’ve ever revealed, so go check them out now! 🔔 **Notification Improvements** \- As much as we love a favoriting bomb, it kind of makes it hard to keep up with on-site conversations. NO LONGER! There are now tabs for each type of notification, so you can respond to your roleplay partners promptly. We’ve also fixed a couple of long-standing notifications bugs, so hopefully they work a lot better for you all now! As I shared in the recent Staff Update, we have some long-awaited privacy features coming your way soon, and we have some other really fun stuff planned in the coming weeks. Like Popirby said recently, this is the Unvale golden age, and we’re not slowing down !! THANKS! ### **🚨 FAVORITES MINI-CHALLENGE** 🚨 That’s right, we’re doing a MINI-CHALLENGE to celebrate this release! Get your thumbs and clicker fingers ready, because it’s time to go wild with favorites. The three folks who favorite the most creations between now and Sunday (September 7th) at midnight CT will receive an amazing commission from KohakuDragon! The specific prizes are: - First place: Full body commission - Second place: Half body commission - Third place: Chibi commission You can favorite OCs, art, writing, and worlds! COMMENT HEARTS COUNT, TOO! As always, the requested commission needs to fall within Unvale’s and the artist’s guidelines. We’ll contact the winners on Monday, September 8th! NOW GET TO TAPPIN’ AND SPREAD SOME POSITIVITY! ### Less Is More: Simplifying Your OC Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:36:49.000Z We interrupt your regularly scheduled “tips for designing” series for some tips on an important aspect of character creation…simplifying a design! …What’s that? You haven’t seen the “tips for designing” articles? And you wanna check them out? Well, fret not! So far there’s one for… - [villains](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) - [magical girls](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/) - [pirates](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/) Now, have you ever designed a character, only to realize they have way too much detail in their design? (I have…with several characters…I might have a problem.) How do you fix this problem? Simplify the design! But how do you do that? Let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) Before we get started, if you need help figuring out how to make a character to begin with, check out these articles by my cool co-writer! - [How to Make an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) - [How to Make a Self Insert/Fandom OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/) - [Making a Video Game Character Into an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/making-a-video-game-character-into-a-oc/) Now that that’s out of the way…let’s get started! ## Figure out if your OC’s design has too much detail! First off you need to figure out if your character’s design needs to be simplified! If the character isn’t one you’ll be drawing often, you might not need to simplify them! Simplifying designs is helpful for characters you’ll be drawing a bunch, like if you’re creating a comic or working on an animation! Some questions you can consider to see if you need to simplify a design are… - Can I draw the character from memory, without forgetting any details? - Is drawing them fun, or too tedious? - Is it easy to turn them into a doodle? - Can others draw them, and get the design right easily? Questions like the ones above will help you figure out if you need to simplify your OC’s design! A simpler design should be easy and fun to draw, for both you and other artists who want to draw the character! ## What’s most important to your OC? Next you can decide what is most important to your OC’s design! Some details will have more significance than others, and you don’t want to get rid of those details! Important aspects of a design might have sentimental value or story importance! Details that would be important could things such as: - An accessory or tool from a loved one - An accessory or tool with magic powers - The character’s signature weapon - Details that might hint at the character’s past - The character’s favorite item - A tattoo that shows off the character’s status - Features important to the species, like wings or tails Items with value like the ones above are ones you’d likely want to keep in a design! The design of your OC says a lot about them, so you’ll want to keep important details! (Pst…If your OC doesn’t have many accessories and you’re not sure how to go about adding some, check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/)! If you’re looking to add more unique details, check out this other article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/)!) ## Are there parts of your OC’s design that don’t quite fit? Sometimes, it’s easy to add details just for the sake of adding details! Sometimes we want to do as much as possible to get our OCs to stand out, and that’s okay! But if you want a design that’s easier to remember, you might want to make sure all the details fit your character! If there’s any details that seem unnecessary, or don’t entirely make sense for the character, it might be best to leave them out! Here’s some questions to get you thinking about what you could remove from a design: - Does the detail make sense for the character’s personality? - Does the detail make sense for the character’s species? - Does the detail make sense for the character’s role in the story? - Could the detail be simplified into something smaller? - What does the detail say about the character? - Do any details feel unnecessary or too much? - Does the detail add anything to the character? Questions like the ones above can help you figure out what you can remove to make your OC’s design a little more simple! By figuring out what each detail is for, you can decide whether it’s worth keeping, or if it would be better to leave it out! A good example of details that fit a character would be [Honovie’s](https://unvale.io/Honoviee?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Daria](https://unvale.io/character/4f62646a-05bc-498d-a112-098865519f53?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Daria is a magical girl, and the details of her outfit fit that! Another good example would be [Ana’s](https://unvale.io/artisticana?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aqua](https://unvale.io/character/be02b7b6-67ad-4867-b514-1c289a0bec00?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Aqua is a mermaid with design details that match that! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc_O6_2uHYB7TE0dgF0y3q3O2_hEYPl3jgXdpL5bbPiJhJ6W_nOcx_BCX1TRm4jyxBCctuZPR9UyHCZW2yH9c2Wok4hNxJMLlTP4OwkrGj6HogTtKmBxGIXQXHydHp35UbOB4--eA?key=QVXmv9FJrtyg8J8VFcAabA) There’s nothing wrong with a complicated design! But, sometimes it’s better to have a design that’s simple to remember, it could make your life a lot easier! ## Which details make your OC stand out most? Another thing you can consider for simplifying a character design is by thinking about the details that make your OC stand out or help draw attention to them! When simplifying a design, you might want to keep aspects that’ll help the audience notice your OC amongst your other characters! Some things will quickly catch the attention of the audience, and you’ll want to keep those parts of the design! Details that might make a character stand out could be things such as… - A cute pin - A large hat - A unique hairstyle - Hair with bright streaks - A special pendant - Cool tattoos - Uncommon features Some details don’t even have to be super crazy to make an OC stand out. Even using details that your other characters don’t have can help! For example, if a bunch of characters don’t have freckles but one does, the one with freckles might stand out a bit more! You can keep design aspects that will catch people’s attention, and take out ones that don’t! A good example of details that make a character stand out would be [Koji’s](https://unvale.io/JustKoji444?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Shurami](https://unvale.io/character/d23f389a-bcfb-40e1-a4f1-e1b7cf7579aa?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Shurami has cool tattoos that give him a unique look! Another good example would be [Waffles](https://unvale.io/awfullywaffley?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Cedar](https://unvale.io/character/7cc6d71b-3f3a-4b1d-90e9-33d77373fa86?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Cedar has cool horns with gold on them that makes her stand out! ## The power of balancing an OC design! Another thing to consider is keeping your OC’s design balanced when you simplify them. A balanced design can have a more appealing look, and could also help with simplifying details! Balancing the details of your OC throughout the design is another way you can simplify their look! Knowing where you should put your focus can help you decide what details to keep, and which to remove! Here’s some questions you can think about for balancing a design! - What aspects of the OC do I want to draw attention to? - Can I remove details that take away from the main focus? - Are there details that draw attention to the main focus? - Are there details that directly add to the main focus? - Are there too many details that make it hard to tell what the main focus is? When balancing out a design, you’ll want to decide on what you want the main focus to be, and make sure other aspects of the designs elevate it! Too much detail can make it hard for the audience to know where they should look, and take away from the important details! A good example of a balanced design would be [Nik’s](https://unvale.io/nikogo?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Princess Rain](https://unvale.io/character/e7d42775-5af5-4ccb-a2d7-a9c9ba169eb7?ref=blog.unvale.io)! In Princess Rain’s featured design, the details in her outfit help draw attention to her face! Another good example would be [V1ctory’s](https://unvale.io/v1ctory?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Pinsa](https://unvale.io/character/d669f194-810f-43c3-b649-6a8ddfc6e4a3?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The details in Pinsa’s design help make her sparkly hair one of the main focuses! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf2Zsg1ziCVJrYgUl8OdsXeiJOMWTpFpktxd7HVTKsL1CsijGjc2Ivi-9j2HGs97k_QOPbMzQQbJ_yBGT1962_5i0RSZdyBrb3sX16kyu7TBU6167zdtTe3ahe6sIR7oVQ9L_Cp?key=QVXmv9FJrtyg8J8VFcAabA) Designs can be simple, and still have important details at the same time! You can make a character stand out with just a few extra details too! If you need help figuring out how to simplify an OC, thinking about the importance of certain details, what fits the character, what makes the character stand out, and how you can keep a design balanced are all ways that can help you out! It’s also important to remember that not every design needs to be simplified, and it’s totally okay to have a design that’s more complicated! (For me, I personally like giving character designs a decent amount of detail…even if it makes things a little harder in the long run!) At the end of the day, it’s up to you how you design your character, and what you feel might be too much for them or not! Just have fun with it! If you’re not too sure how to go about picking certain design features for an OC, there’s also articles for choosing [makeup](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/), [hairstyles](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/), and [outfits](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! ### D&D Roleplay for Beginners URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-get-into-dnd-roleplay-a-simple-guide/ Last updated: 2026-07-30T23:59:22.000Z For those just stumbling upon this article, [D&D](https://www.dndbeyond.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoqck6xKTVZi9Eeb2gPC6WrC-dbLgnJ9oH6qDfbiWpnWLmdV-2mV&ref=blog.unvale.io), also known as [Dungeons and Dragons](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dungeons%5F&%5FDragons?ref=blog.unvale.io), is a well-established table top role-playing game ([TTRPG](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tabletop%5Frole-playing%5Fgame?ref=blog.unvale.io)) widely popular across the world. Other games include [Vampire: The Masquerade](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire:%5FThe%5FMasquerade?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Pathfinder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathfinder%5FRoleplaying%5FGame?ref=blog.unvale.io), and [Call of Cthulhu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Call%5Fof%5FCthulhu%5F%28role-playing%5Fgame%29?ref=blog.unvale.io), but D&D greatly eclipses all others in terms of simplicity and accessibility. This article is mainly intended for D&D players (or those who have [cool D&D OCs on Unvale](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22dnd%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io)), but as someone who has played TTRPGs for nearly a decade, this guide should be equally applicable to all other TTRPGs. Additionally, TTRPGs can be played in person and online, and because of that, table etiquette and role-playing style can vary greatly. ### Table of contents: - Setting Expectations - Voice Acting - Physicality - Integrate your Backstory into the World - Work with the Numbers --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdaBge0nsp8UMcaDUKWuHAgK5w526WAmg2o2x2aFMEVOZrtRONoGfQ_s_FPAba78OzA-zF-XCRrCyEqG9d5CoCzBHideN5EdhIpR2Y4cSLWmQqioNXXYme993qW3YntMS5Eu5AE?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) **”This campaign will be relaxed, with no character death.”* ## Setting Expectations Before ink is even printed on your character sheet or stats are rolled, you *must* set expectations with the group. Sit down as a group and discuss. - What kind of story do you want to create? - Are you comfortable with character death? - How familiar and comfortable is everyone with roleplay? - How comfortable is everyone with in-game romance? As an example, my Game Master (aka GM, a generalized form of Dungeon Master or Story Teller) asked me before the session if I was comfortable with a Non-Player Character (NPC) flirting with my Player Character (PC). I was fine with it, and I was subsequently handed a rose made out of meat by a stand-up comedian next session. Even though it was simple and cute (and no, you won't get to know the context), my GM checking in with me made the situation much more comfortable. For more flirty PCs and NPCs, checking in with other players (and your GM!) about their comfort levels with romance and adult content is a must. Additionally, if you or one of your fellow players is coming in fresh from watching D&D Podcasts like [Critical Role](https://critrole.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) or [Nat 19](https://nat19show.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io), it’s important to mention that you and your group are (probably) not skilled voice actors with highly developed improv skills. Improvisation and acting don't come naturally to everyone, and some of your new party members might be a bit stiff; so the rest of the article will focus on how to get into roleplay proper. --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdRuAv5dVpWBK6wjS_ZsxcTvMBLeHz6RiSAfhRn2oGXRimWzSN51rieqfkPICjFD8XpfnlU6e4MyYc70V1MFq5LMAVI6zURFCGaSs19v0sQ0oLkauQHaLQYDvJa6gWFFNJgwCH1?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) ”**So I go up to Sora and I say, ‘Have you seen Draco?’”* ## Voice Acting Okay I literally just said that you and your group probably aren't professional VAs, but still! There’s a bit of a difference between speaking with a different pitch and a full on “character voice”. Firstly, if you want to speak like a horrid little kobold all session, you *need* to be able to keep it up for three (or more!) hours without damaging your voice. This involves testing out what voices you can manage comfortably. The problem with voices is that we’re all physically unique, which affects our vocal cords. Training your voice to a pitch it’s not naturally at is both difficult and takes time (but it’s absolutely possible!) and some voices are just not capable of straining themselves beyond certain pitches, and that’s okay! Your vocal range doesn't limit the kinds of characters you can play. If you have a naturally deep voice and want to play a gorgeous and elegant maiden, all you need to do is simply soften your voice. Imagine how you might speak quietly to a small child to soothe them. Add an accent, if you want! Your voice will naturally take on a sense of warmth if you channel that sort of energy. The key is to be able to make it fully clear when you, the player, is talking, versus Miranda the elven Life Domain Cleric. A lot of character comes from tone, but what about emotions? As a former theatre kid, the concept I heard a lot was to imagine a time in your life when you felt that emotion and act it out, rather than putting yourself in a fictional situation. Even if you’re not playing in person or with video, you should also still make the expression of the emotion you’re trying to convey. [You can hear a person smiling when they speak](https://www.npr.org/2008/01/19/18255131/hearing-a-smile-in-tone-of-voice?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you listen carefully, and that’s due to the physical changes in their body required to smile. ### So, quick recap on voice acting! - Be able to be consistent, but don't hurt your voice! Find voices that you can do comfortably. - Your vocal range doesn't limit what characters you can play. - Try softening your voice, deepening your voice, or even add an accent! - Make it clear when you the player is talking versus your character talking. - Don't forget to add emotions both in facial expression and tone. It helps! --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXezki5XHDkpN858GK4Teb8DoHmdOQ7g5sOooYlraGI14anZFK2_a-sM9fm9Wmy1lWse1BToYzCyOhayoIwLahGKn1phFgvu1Dy-1TcfevaPhixVFw8meUBcC43svDRqRsn1tbcAmw?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) **Just add a bow and I’m good to go as Nina!* ## Physicality You can skip this section if you only play online without cameras, but this is about how to physically get into character. How you hold yourself can help you show the other players what kind of character you’re playing; whether you sit up straight and look down your nose, or hunch over and avoid eye contact, your physical appearance will help others imagine your character. You can also: - Make or find props to help show your character’s habits, like rubbing a locket when talking about their family. - Cosplay causally or professionally as your character, whether it be elf ears from a costume shop or a simple straw hat or scarf. - Style your hair differently, like putting it up in a ponytail or using bobby pins to style your bangs in a part or side swept. - Use a plush toy to represent your familiar (ambush your GM with an attack by your 3 foot tall Cyndaquil plush!) --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfCYv57JeF3D77ZIyuc_h0Xr5IIKuili7Q1BA1YpvP7TnbccNvJANSTUrtq550bOfBWeyQwDzmm7JREo8PMaoQaAnuTNZtsPITa4EKbh9AacJxXNu9LlMFyrEvWXGv3oTOUzDK2FA?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) **”So Lilia, from your channeling you manage to discover…”* ## Integrate your Backstory into the World D&D is not a game where you can hide crucial backstory information from your GM, nor is a game where you can give your GM nothing and expect them to create a fantastic and deep backstory for you. Even if you have a backstory figured out, you need to sometimes accept that other players might have a more integrated backstory than you. If you’re from another city or country, you might have less attachment to the local goings on; and that’s okay! It’s good to be patient and wait for your GM to add things for you, or if you feel left out, you should always talk to them about it. As an example, my character Lilia was raised by Pokémon for the first portion of her life and was adopted by humans later, so she doesn't have a family background like the other characters in our game. But this gives context to other parts of her character; she is able to emotionally connect to Pokémon through a mysterious power of hers, and that’s something that other characters can't do. So, my GMs do a lot with this power and connect it to the story for me. [Like I mentioned in the roleplay opener article months ago](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-an-effective-roleplay-opener/), a good hook in RP is everything. Having a lot for your GM to work with is highly beneficial. So spill everything about your character to them! ### To summarize! - Backstories play a big role in roleplaying. - Sometimes others will have more in-depth backstories and that's ok! Yours is still plenty important. - If you feel left out, talk to your GM about it to help. - Different types of backstories can allow for cool new types of perspectives and context! --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdsIIMa9R5lzOTpWsBBGKqFdJSY7TpyFLdXTq9aNUEv9BKnrm9fUYMC2w4iSLy6BayTJapSHj50mlJUjjzf0JWXaT7jPTjq0QB8JXPkiagR_g-MrmIU07abDTXaozJYVEPeIdFRrA?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) **Some of us aren’t so blessed with good rolls.* ### Work with the Numbers What the heck does that mean? Well, in TTRPGs, each action is ruled by the dice and your stats. A good roleplayer works with the numbers rather than fights them. For instance, say you have a character who has a low intelligence stat, but a high wisdom stat. You’re bummed out because you don't want to play a dumb character who can't contribute. But actually, you have a chance to play a super interesting character! They might struggle to learn, but they’re quick witted and sharp about the world around them, emotionally intelligent and good with practical knowledge. Or maybe you’re playing a character with a low constitution and high charisma; your character is a bit sickly and weak, but very pretty, well-spoken, or just funny and great to be around. Each stat is a chance to develop your character in a certain way. Not every party member will be the smart one, the strong one, or the tough one, but that's the point of a party; to cover each other’s weaknesses. Now, as for the dice; if you’ve played any TTRPG before, you’ve felt the highs and lows of critical failures and critical successes. Once, I rolled three nat 20s in a row and sprinted through the fabric of reality. Another time, I verbally fumbled and outed a couple for being together- actually, I didn't roll for that one. Anyways, the point is that you can and should use your dice rolls in your roleplay. Roleplay your failures and successes in equal measure, and you’ll end up having a blast! Fighting to keep your character looking cool and perfect won't work; in any D&D game, you will miss, get poisoned or injured, fall into a pit trap or accidentally hit your ally. It’s going to happen, so play into it! Maybe an enemy that rolled a critical hit on you left a nasty scar. ### What we learned here - Actions are ruled by your dice rolls and your stats. - Your stats allows your to lean into really different types of characters. Use them to your advantage! - Everyone has a role in your party, but working together you all cover each other's weaknesses! - Dice rolls will affect how successful you are and how badly you fail. Roleplay both types of results equally in character and you'll have a great time! --- ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeua4OL6mHcPw_Z3oV7GLnsxFcw8jAM7ATKldSDTf7k94f6I7xH7Xmpme7unvMrmQlotd__t_Rl9Sj4hFSV9u9feQk-iqFuOBwIpburUahi3kEAGNszldbmAaLMuCtmjv7cCuW9cg?key=wECjDob2sP65fyydtqR-Jw) **Shocking revelation?!* Phew! That turned out to be a lot, huh? Nice work reading through it all. While Dungeons and Dragons is a numbers based game, it also thrives on the storytelling from both the GM and the players. Learning how to roleplay more effectively might help your group members feel more confident and comfortable role-playing themselves, so always try to gently initiate those who seem a bit more nervous or shy. If you support others, you’ll find yourself with a fantastic party in no time! And don't forget to check out the cool [DnD](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22DnD%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [TTRPG](https://unvale.io/explore?searchMode=all&contentType=characters&tags=%5B%22TTRPG%22%5D&ref=blog.unvale.io) OCs over on Unvale! They might leave you with some cool inspirations for your next character. ### How to Design a Pirate OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-pirate-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T00:03:21.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* While [villains](https://unvale.io/explore?search=Villain&ref=blog.unvale.io) and [magical girls](https://unvale.io/explore?sort=recent&search=Magicalgirl&ref=blog.unvale.io) roam the lands of Unvale…another kind of OC takes to the seven seas…Pirates! YAR! (But if you want to join the magic and create a magical girl of your own, check out my last article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/)!) There’s plenty of pirates in the world, both in history and in fiction! You might recognize the names of popular pirates such as… - [Captain Jack Sparrow](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack%5FSparrow?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Captain Hook](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain%5FHook?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Monkey D. Luffy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey%5FD.%5FLuffy?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Blackbeard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackbeard?ref=blog.unvale.io) Pirates are iconic for their thievery, hunts for treasure…and their iconic looks! So how exactly do you go about designing a swashbuckling pirate to adventure across the seas? Let’s talk about it! ## Decide what kind of pirate your OC is! The type of pirate your OC is will help you determine different aspects of their design! Depending on who your pirate is, the way they dress, their appearance, and other details can help show who your OC is! There’s plenty of different types of pirates to choose from! Some might be more historical based, while others might end up more fantasy-style! Personality will play a big part in the style of your pirate character as well! Some pirates have more ragged attire, while others might prefer a fancier look! Here’s some things to think about before you start designing your pirate: - Are they a more historical pirate, or a more fantasy pirate? - What’s their personality like? Would it affect their style? - Are they evil, or good? - What kind of role do they play? - Do they have a specific style of fighting? Thinking about the type of pirate your OC is will give you an idea as to how they might dress! The personality can also affect other parts of your character’s design as well! There are lots of different ways you can incorporate design details based on the kind of pirate your OC is! You can try using the questions above while considering different design aspects of your pirate as we continue! ## Pick a fitting outfit and accessories for your pirate! The outfit and accessories your character has will really determine how piratey they look! Deciding on a cool outfit will really enhance your pirate’s swashbuckling style! ### Utilize the pirate aesthetic for your OC! When designing a pirate one way to make them look like a pirate is…the classic pirate aesthetic! The pirate aesthetic has a lot of iconic aspects of it! Common features of the aesthetic include… - Lots of layers - Ruffles - Metal accessories - Leather boots - More desaturated colors Using the pirate aesthetic to help create your OC’s design is a great way to start creating a cool pirate outfit! Knowing what pirate design aesthetics look like in general can help with knowing what kind of clothes and accessories you can give your character! A good example of the pirate aesthetic would be [Artgremlin’s](https://unvale.io/Artgremlin?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Captain Fang](https://unvale.io/character/5c14ae4b-9499-45b2-9036-f8a24c80edd0?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Captain Fang has a very regal pirate look! Another good example would be [Mechaviper’s](https://unvale.io/Mechaviper?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Captain Warfin](https://unvale.io/character/eb5c6f54-2647-4d14-befb-eb1b1ccb56f6?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Captain Warfin has a very leader-like pirate look! ### Pick some perfect pirate clothes for your OC! A big part of a pirates’ design is the clothes they wear! Pirates often have a certain type of clothes they wear! Some clothing items pirates are often seen with are: - Big jackets - Leather boots - Big hats - Ruffled shirts - Corsets Pirate attire seen in media is often inspired by the pirate outfits from the 1700s! If you want some inspiration, you can look up pirate outfits from that time period! Then you can decide how accurate you want your pirates’ fit, and go from there! A story set in the real world might have more accurate clothes for a pirate, while a more fantasy style story might stray a bit from historical accuracy! A good example of using clothes for a pirate design would be [Artroomgremiln’s](https://unvale.io/Artroomgremiln?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Captain Alice](https://unvale.io/character/b8de18ef-6ea1-4c4c-9ee8-4daa4fd7298c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Captain Alice wears a large jacket along with other piratey clothes! Another good example would be [Lemon’s](https://unvale.io/Lemonkitkat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lieutenant Sparrow](https://unvale.io/character/54434b4b-1bda-4b60-b1d0-764f00480389?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Lieutenant Sparrow also has a fancy jacket and other pirate-like clothes! ### Give your pirate some cool accessories! Another big part of a pirate design is the accessories they wear! Pirates often wear a lot of different accessories that enhance their design! You’ll often see pirates with lots of accessories like: - Necklaces - Earrings - Chains - Belts - Sashes - Gloves Sometimes such accessories are just for decoration, as a way of showing off loot, and other times they might have some importance! Accessories could be something important like a key necklace for a treasure chest or a magic compass on a chain! A good example of using accessories for a pirate design would be [cjcheesy’s](https://unvale.io/cjcheesy?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Johnny](https://unvale.io/character/44f074e1-fc45-4dbb-8f30-1fd3bedd39fa?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Johnny wears lots of belts and buckles that add to the pirate look! Another good example would be [Aoifa’s](https://unvale.io/Aoifawho?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Alizeé](https://unvale.io/character/4d89d5a0-3930-48b1-9593-9405c66fffee?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Alizeé has plenty of accessories like jewelry and sashes that add to the pirate look! ### Try adding a fierce weapon to your pirate’s design! No pirate design is complete without a weapon! …Well, it’s not necessary for a pirate design, but plenty of pirates have them! Pirates often have weapons like: - Cutlasses - Daggers - Pistols - Muskets Depending on your pirates style of fighting or their personality, they might choose a different kind of weapon! A more ruthless pirate might go for a blade, while a more elegant pirate might have a gun! A good example of using weapons for a pirate design would be [Vic’s](https://unvale.io/ScratchTheFlea?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Camila](https://unvale.io/character/d4afa1a2-647f-426f-a0c9-02cd8b9b7794?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Camila is a sharpshooting pirate with a gun! Another good example would be [Calen’s](https://unvale.io/ThatOneBlueDog?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Wisteria](https://unvale.io/character/363bb14d-11b1-41ea-ba0c-8cdc8045f58c?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Wisteria is a pirate who has a cool blade as a weapon! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcugJyetc05o1ge7G9AgvZdGofM1MANlFfAIe8Aadpk4R0EzY8qlyulwMTqvs1W_BdflGJQ5WheSZaGmGw6CTz_1J-9xmsdH5y2eZV73Dqv3MKV9JKMkNfLWxryKYnnFc18wERUdw?key=zjuE5zvKa5IsNCL7nvGmSw) Personally I like pirate designs with a fancy coat, a belt or two, and LOTS of accessories! ## Can you use your pirate's appearance to enhance their design? All kinds of pirates have a different appearance! That being said, you can use appearance to your advantage! Depending on the kind of pirate your OC is and the story they’re a part of, you can use appearance to show off their unique character! ### Use shape language and build to your advantage for your pirate! Some pirates might be more quick and agile, while others might be strong and imposing! You can use the build of your character to show the audience what kind of pirate they are! You can use the shape language to tell the audience about your pirate as well! Sharper shape language might show a pirate is more dangerous, while squares might make a pirate look more tough and powerful. Here’s some ideas to get you thinking! - A lanky build with sharp shapes for a quick and dangerous pirate - A strong build with square shape language for a mighty, grand pirate - A softer build with round shape language for a friendly, helpful pirate Build and shape language can also be used in the opposite way, to purposely trick your audience! Maybe the scallywag that betrays the crew has more round shape language, while the crew member that’s nicest has the most sharp shape language. A good example of using shape language for a pirate design would be [Amber’s](https://unvale.io/KohakuDragon?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Apollo](https://unvale.io/character/ed0e6b6f-3ba1-47d5-859e-590d7bc178eb?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Apollo is a ruthless pirate with lots of sharp shape language! A good example of using build for a pirate design would be [Gimble’s](https://unvale.io/Gimble?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Captain Ragnar](https://unvale.io/character/dd113a25-d9e9-42ee-b354-239c549fcd32?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Captain Ragnar has a strong, imposing build that makes him intimidating! ### Pick a good hairstyle for your pirate! An additional way to add to a pirate design is the hairstyle the OC has! The personality of your pirate will affect the kind of hairstyle they have! A pirate who cares more about fighting might have a shorter hairstyle or a hairstyle that keeps their hair out of the way! On the other hand, a pirate who cares more about appearance and aesthetic might have a fancier hairstyle. Here’s some ideas for hairstyles you could give your pirate: - Neat braids - A slicked-back ponytail - A half-up style with choppy bangs - Long hair that’s messy and unkempt The hairstyle your pirate has can tell the audience a bit about their personality, without directly saying anything at all! A fun hairstyle can also just be a great way to make your pirate look epic as they sail the seas and plunder treasure! A good example for using hairstyles for a pirate design would be [NachoPirate’s](https://unvale.io/NachoPirate?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Vrill](https://unvale.io/character/29559330-cb3f-49b8-a26f-db127a1db16a?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Vrill has wild, messy hair perfect for a pirate! Another good example would be [Chapinz’s](https://unvale.io/Chapinz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sammy](https://unvale.io/character/198732e0-bd13-418c-a7db-2f055e251879?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sammy wears a messy ponytail that’s fitting for a pirate character! ### Would some special features make your pirate stand out? Lastly, some extra details can really make your pirate stand out! Whether it be fish-like features or a hook for a hand, different features can make your OC look unique, or can be used as part of their backstory! (Pst…if you want help developing parts of the backstory for your OC, try checking out this cool article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/)!) Here’s some ideas for interesting details you could add to your character: - Fins in place of ears - Tentacles for hair or limbs - Scales on their skin - An eyepatch covering a blinded eye - A hook for a hand or a peg leg You can use features like the ones above just to make an OC look more interesting, or it can hint to the audience about your OC’s backstory! Maybe one pirate lost their eye in an epic battle, while another has scales because they’re half merfolk! It all depends on what would fit your pirate! A good example of using special details for a pirate character would be [Wilgo’s](https://unvale.io/wilgos0up?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Maxim](https://unvale.io/character/e472fe40-45e8-472e-91b3-44f8f88e53a3?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Maxim is a shapeshifting pirate, who can have cool features like a tentacle arm! Another good example would be [Sun’s](https://unvale.io/SunStew?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Silas](https://unvale.io/character/265441fb-d298-430d-b623-71c029cbb3e5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Silas is a siren pirate with a cool tail that makes him stand out and look awesome! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeohLiACDJq0qEAbF14o2Lf9ye2dMa5_0uloQfPa275WZGwBYudXEVEN-r6lnQbqWd8nRDUmPeCK2WB63rgGHQJGnvn8XmmTNvLBEny31iMBVihtRZvPNLsXUdgED_Y1-Wiccv8mA?key=zjuE5zvKa5IsNCL7nvGmSw) I think pirates with sea creature features are cool! I like a mix of sharp and square shape language for a pirate, and a messy hairstyle too! By choosing the right outfit, accessories, special details, and more, you can create a pirate OC that will sail the seas of Unvale and look awesome in the process! It’s all up to you when it comes to how they’re designed, and just remember to have fun with it! For other ways to add to your pirate, try giving them a [role](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/) or [character trope](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-character-trope-for-your-oc/)! ### Level Up a Video Game Character Into an OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/making-a-video-game-character-into-a-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T01:08:25.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* If you have to battle the urge to play games when you want to draw like me, it might be time to merge your interests! By my estimate, there are two ways to turn your video game character into a brand new OC: 1. Turn your customizable character into a new OC; whether for the fandom or not! 2. Turn your boring, un-customizable player character (who probably doesn't talk) into a version of that character unique to you! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) Before we get into it though, here are some other articles to help you out: **By** [**myself**](https://unvale.io/solarsunrise?ref=blog.unvale.io)**:** - ☀️[How to Make an OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) - ☀️[How to Make a Self Insert/Fandom OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/) **By my** [**co-writer**](https://unvale.io/WhimsicalWonders?ref=blog.unvale.io)**:** - 🌙[Choosing an Outfit for your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/) - 🌙[Choosing a Hairstyle for your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/) - 🌙[Choosing an Eye Design for your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/) - 🌙[Choosing a Weapon and Accessories for your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/) - 🌙[Choosing Unique Details for your OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/) - 🌙[Choosing a Signature Make-up Look for your OCs!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/08/data-src-image-eea3e627-18a1-498c-926b-51f94bf6135d.png) **Looking fresh, Pokémon trainer!* ### **Customizable Characters** Ah, the main appeal of games for some! What’s better than a game where you can live the dream of having an expansive wardrobe of cute and cool outfits and accessories? Now, the simplest way to go about making your player character into an OC is just to take the look and attach a name and backstory. But, maybe you’re interested in using the game lore to help develop something unique and disconnected from the original game protagonist. There are a few ways to go about it, so let’s tackle them independently. Playing with the character creator in games is always fun! Sometimes, you only have so many options with outfits; pre-designed armour sets in games like Monster Hunter would be a good example. However, as creators, we have the ability to change our references into something uniquely different on the page. Consider more limited customizers as templates and references for your own design. Maybe your character wears a uniform, but they’ve customized it in some way. Or, you dislike the colours of a certain outfit you otherwise love, and change it up in your own art or writing. When it comes to more expansive creators that let you design things like...: - Faces (face shape, skin tone, eye shape) - Hair (hair style, hair colors) - Individual items (tattoos, glasses, etc) - Outfits (uniforms, daily wear, pajamas) - Accessories (rings, necklaces, piercing, etc) - and more! ...there is a lot more potential for choices (obviously). Games like The Sims are a fantastic example of character customization, featuring a thriving modding and customization community. Though, sometimes having too many options can be overwhelming. In cases like that, pick a theme or a certain character you want to make, and try stuff out! Like I mentioned above, worst comes to worst, you can change things in your own work. If you're interested in finding some games on Steam with character customization, **you can find them**[ here](https://store.steampowered.com/tags/en/Character+Customization?ref=blog.unvale.io). (If you need any design help, check out the links at the start of the article by my co-writer!) --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/08/data-src-image-1a183a7c-ccb6-42ee-8c3f-98bc3d5455e0.png) **They keep calling me Chief Solar Sunrise… so I might as well make this character into me!* ### **Making OCs out of Non-Customizable Characters** Everyone has a different interpretation of their player characters, especially when they are [silent protagonists](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent%5Fprotagonist?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=In%20video%20games,%20a%20silent,occasional%20interjections%20or%20short%20phrases.). This means, they’re perfect for making into OCs! Well, aside from having a set, canon appearance. But not to worry! Here are some ways to OC-ify your boring ol’ player character: - Change the character’s hair colour, style, or texture. - Change up the outfit’s design, colour, and style. - Make up your own original backstory and relationships with the other characters. - Give them your own interpretation of their voice. It’s just a few basic things, but customizing your player character into an OC really can connect you to them and the greater world they exist in. After creating your own version of your player character with their own history and personality, you might enjoy the game even more! Consider how you tend to play the game, and what you prioritize. Maybe you ignore a certain mechanic completely, or you tend to explore dungeons instead of farm, or you stock buy a certain healing item and throw yourself into harsh battles to get more experience. Take your gameplay habits and entwine them into your new OC to further separate them from their original, plain self. --- ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/08/data-src-image-43f3327a-99cd-4ff8-8fea-2cf421d89f82.png) **Hey! Listen! Hey! Look out!* **By the way…** did you see the big news?! Unvale has just had a **MAJOR UPDATE**! [Check out this blog post by Brilovely for more information](https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-huge-search-explore-upgrade/). Try searching for your favourite games in the new worlds and writing search tabs, and leave loads of comments. Who knows, maybe you’ll find a new bestie who loves your favourite games as much as you do! If you want an example of a master of videogame OCs, check out [StarKorg](https://unvale.io/StarKorg?ref=blog.unvale.io)! At present, they have 48 character pages. 48 times nine OCs per page and… dang, that’s a lot of OCs! Give them a few favourites and ask them for help creating video game inspired OCs, you won’t be disappointed. ### Your Magical Girl OC Origin Story Starts Here URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-magical-girl/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T01:09:48.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Hm…There seems to be lots of villains roaming the streets of Unvale…How do we combat them? (Pssst…If you want to add to the villainous chaos…check out my last article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/)! But don’t tell anyone I sent you!) Why not stand against them with the power of…magical girl characters?! (Or you can create a villainous magical girl…that’s an option too…) There’s lots of magical girls in the world of art and media! Characters that might come to mind could be ones from Sailor Moon, Winx Club, and I’d even argue some of the characters in the Final Fantasy franchise count! So how do you design a magical girl character for your own story? Let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What kind of magical girl is your OC? “Magical girls” might seem pretty specific at first, but there’s a bit more variety to it than you might think! Therefore, you can think of what type of magical girl your OC is first. A magical girl in a super hero world might look a little different than one in a fairy fantasy story! There’s lots of different kinds of magical girls out there! You have fairies, super heroes, pop stars, mermaids, mages, and many more! You’ll want to design your OC in a way that shows off who they are and what their story is like! Here’s a few different ideas to get you thinking: - Round shape language for a bubbly magical girl - A fantasy-style outfit for a magical girl in a fairy story - An elegant hairstyle for a fashionable magical girl The kind of magical girl your character is can give you plenty of ideas for different parts of their design! A fun, fashion-loving popstar OC might have a frilly dress with lots of ruffles, while a more chill mermaid magical girl might settle for a few simple pearl accessories on her outfit! Knowing what kind of magical girl you have can help you figure out their appearance! The world they’re in, their personality, and other things can help you decide what they’ll look like and what they wear! ## Designing an outfit and picking accessories for your magical girl! Probably some of the most important aspects of a magical girl design is their outfit and the accessories they have! Picking a fun outfit, cool accessories, a stylish aesthetic, and maybe even a design motif can all help create a memorable look for your magical girl character! ### Consider what kind of outfit would suit your magical girl best! The outfit of a magical girl character is often the most iconic part of their look! The outfit they have can tell the audience what their magical powers are could show off their personality! A calm magical girl who can turn into a mermaid might have a flowy outfit that mimics waves, while an upbeat princess magical girl might have a frilly skirt and a top with equally frilly sleeves. Thinking about what a magical girl’s outfit will say about them can be a good way to come up with ideas for their outfit. Here’s some ideas to help you get started: - A chaotic fairy magical girl with a wild fur coat - A preppy princess magical girl with a frilly short skirt lined with jewels - A cold mage magical girl with a long cloak An outfit as equally magical as your magical character will help them look stylish as they go about their wondrous adventures, whether that be saving a forest from an ancient evil or protecting a magical academia! A good example of a fitting outfit for a magical character would be [Hahaman’s](https://unvale.io/Hahaman28?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Amelia](https://unvale.io/character/b4ec981e-6f0d-4bfb-86f2-7e7e7a13b794?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Amelia has a fun and frilly dress that looks magical and beautiful! ### Can you give your magical girl a mystical motif? Magical girls have some sort of power that makes them powerful, and you can use a motif to show that off! There’s lots of different motifs that can show off what powers they have, or where they got their magic abilities from! A magical girl with animal powers could have a motif of the animal their powers are based on, while a character with water powers might have a pearl motif. Just about anything can work for a motif, especially when it comes to magical girls! Here’s some ideas to help you brainstorm: - A magical girl with plant powers and a flower motif - A space magical girl with a star motif - A mermaid magical girl with a shell motif There’s all kinds of things you can do with the motif your magical girl has. You can incorporate their motif into their outfit, accessories, and more! A motif can help bring together an outfit and it make more memorable! A good example of using motifs for a magical outfit design would be [TheNinabeans88’s](https://unvale.io/TheNinabeans88?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Rosa](https://unvale.io/character/d5df21f4-6a54-4f5e-be43-80883549de14?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Rosa has a rose motif that is seen throughout her design! ### Try giving your magical girl a fun aesthetic! Similar to motifs, there’s plenty of aesthetics that feel magical and would be perfect for, well, magical girls! Picking an aesthetic that fits your OC’s magical abilities or their personality can help enhance their design. A water fairy or a mermaid magical girl might have a beach or ocean aesthetic, while a fairy or nymph magical girl might have a forestcore aesthetic! Magical girls often get their magical powers from some special force, and their outfit’s aesthetic can show off what it might be. Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A magical girl with plant powers that has a fairycore outfit - A magical girl with an energetic personality who has a spacecore aesthetic - A magical girl who goes to a mystical and has a dark academia aesthetic A fun aesthetic that suits your character will help tie their look together and make them look fashionable as they go about their magical endeavors! The aesthetic they have can tell the audience something important about them! A good example of using aesthetics for a magical girl design would be [DatDaLettuce17’s](https://unvale.io/DatDaLettuce17?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Nyasha](https://unvale.io/character/37e1026d-dab0-4aff-a5e3-cfc91e389c1f?view=Trivia&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Nyasha has a cute princess aesthetic that makes her look extra magical! ### Accessories and weapons! An iconic part of a magical girl design is the accessories and weapons they have! Oftentimes, a magical girl has some sort of item that enables their magical transformation! Sometimes it’s a necklace, a scepter, or a magic gem! You can base their magical accessory or weapon on the motif they have, or pick one that matches their personality. Since it’ll be magical, the weapon doesn’t even have to be a normal weapon! Here’s some ideas to help you come up with ideas: - A magical brooch - A magical giant pen - A magical sword The accessories or weapons a magical girl has can show off how they transform and how they go about using their magic! A cool accessory can make a magical character look extra cool as they transform and use their powers! A good example of a cool accessory for a magical character would be [Akaringos’](https://unvale.io/akaringos?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Rose](https://unvale.io/character/a1d81b73-5e01-42e2-b0d1-1fe403ac889d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Rose has a giant pair of fancy scissors to use…as his weapon! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXe-H1lCZmoiI6WUnQ_3gqoYrlPhPC_1BPrJwIQAy-NzV98RZWLat7oa3xdh6ZeIrjJARSzabJb7Y3ImYEl_d2pr2pqOD-PBrupoY69jzo-zcXXx31o72DL3Ei-0OqdX2H73wDCTmw?key=lznzQPa4PeaBB6ZRqAtR2g) My personal favorite design elements for a magical girl are cutesy frilly outfits, a classic weapon, and a celestial motif! ## Use appearance to your advantage for your magical girl! The appearance of your magical girl isn’t just reliant on their outfit however! The shapes, hair, and eyes can tell the audience all about your character, and just make them look cool in the process! Not every magical girl is happy-go-lucky, and so their appearance can tell you something about their personality if you so choose! ### Choosing shape language for your magical girl! There’s all kinds of things you can do with the shape language for your magical girl! The shape language can tell the audience about their personality. Maybe a quick-witted and snarky magical girl has lots of sharp shape language, while a timid and quiet character might have more round shape language. A more level-headed magical character might have more square shape language! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - Sharp shape language for a quick and energetic magical girl - Round shape language for a calm and friendly magical girl - Square shape language for a strong and courageous magical girl The shape language of your magical girl can affect every aspect of their design if you want! From their build, to their eyes, hair, clothes, and accessories! If you have a team of magical girls, things like the shapes in their design can tell the audience who has what kind of personality. A good example of utilizing shapes for a magical character would be [Red’s](https://unvale.io/RedVelvetDemon?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sarita](https://unvale.io/character/56d31ac1-6820-4cc8-a56d-c56d34f85fa5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sarita has sharp shape language that matches her confrontational personality! ### Pick a cool eye design for your magical girl! The eyes of a magical girl can be a good way to make them look more magical! The eyes can hint at the personality of the character, but it can also just be fun to give them eyes that match their mystical powers. Maybe they have glowing eyes, or maybe the highlights in their eyes are a subtle nod to their powers! You could even give them a unique pupil shape that makes them feel more magical! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A mermaid magical girl with bubbly blue eyes and waterdrop-shaped pupils - A fairy magical girl with flower-shaped pupils and rainbow-colored eyes - A animal magical girl with heterochromia and animal pupils The eyes of a magical girl can make them look enchanting and fantastical! There’s lots of ways you can make the eyes of your character look unique, and you can use the motif to help you figure out some ideas. Eyes can say a lot about a character, and this is especially true for magical girl characters! A good example of a magical eye design for a character would be [Kloverr’s](https://unvale.io/KLOVERR?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ayane](https://unvale.io/character/a6a00034-d11a-48a3-8cd1-8e8b9ed3d030?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ayane has sparkly pink and brown eyes with heart shaped pupils! ### You could give your magical girl a fun hairstyle! Another iconic part of magical girls is the hairstyles they have! Magical girls often have a fun, flowing hairstyle that matches their whimsical energy! Picking an interesting hairstyle for your magical girl character can make them look stylish and mystical! A short-tempered magical OC might have a short, choppy hairstyle with long bangs, while an elegant and graceful magical girl might have a long ponytail that swirls around them! Since the character is magical, the hairstyle doesn’t even have to be realistic! It can be abnormally long, or defy the laws of gravity! Here’s some ideas to think about: - A bow-shaped hairstyle - An impossibly long set of pigtails - A pair of messy spacebuns There’s all kinds of hairstyles you can choose from, and you can go wild! Picking a cool hairstyle will help your magical girl look more fantastical and add to their look! Be as creative as you want with it! A good example of a fun hairstyle for a magical girl would be [Eimie7’s](https://unvale.io/eimie7?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Hayase](https://unvale.io/character/d7d4da7a-00fe-4f9e-82a5-20a22d521399?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Hayase has a fun twirly hairstyle that makes her design look fun and whimsical! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeqtcplVxIT_K8Hpca3avftkEPuQfqmGbRQY9JbX4gQkiRL9BtrXd8GyXNylzKtof8-EfvJuwtgpJ95aBUKGEY1fOSXJMJeqbVH6kPHI9oP177qA55SVz5PGS1RPi8piRQgPkL98A?key=lznzQPa4PeaBB6ZRqAtR2g) My personal favorite design elements for a magical girl’s appearance are big sparkling eyes, flowing hair that’s impossibly long, and rounder shape language for a cute look! By thinking about your magical girl’s outfit, hairstyle, accessories, and more are all ways you can help them look as magical as possible! But magical girls don’t just have cool designs! You can also give them cool [powers](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) or a reliable [companion](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/)! Now go, have fun, and create some cool magical characters to defend Unvale from the dastardly villains! ### Changelog: HUGE Search & Explore Upgrade URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-huge-search-explore-upgrade/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:04:54.000Z Hello, everyone! I am SO EXCITED to share the release that we have been talking about for literally like a year at this point. We have FINALLY finished our massive project to address some long-standing site issues, and it's all live on Unvale RIGHT NOW! Read on below for details, or just go browse the redesigned Explore page: [https://unvale.io/explore](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **New Explore design**: We've made it easier to browse all the creations you love on Unvale by redesigning Following, Trending, Explore, and Market all into one, simple page. We put a special emphasis on making sure it looks great on phones, so definitely check that out when you can! - **New Default Explore view**: One of the best parts of Unvale is that everyone's creations get shown on the front page of Explore, no matter if you have 1,000 followers or 10\. Now, in addition to new creations going on the front page, you'll now be able to see everyone's "Recently Updated" creations! This means when you add new writing to a world, you get bumped up on Explore. When you add new art to an OC, you get bumped up on Explore. When you add a new trait to your OC because they dyed their hair green during a small menty b, you're BACK on EXPLORE! (And we still have "New" sorting if you *really* just want to see brand new stuff, don't worry. AND you can sort by "Oldest" now, too!) - **Improved Search functionality**: Want to see #space characters from everyone on the site? Want to see #space worlds from just those you're following? Want to see the trending #space writing from the last month? YOU CAN DO THAT NOW! You can even search someone's username and see the creations they've made! - **Speed fast zoom woah**: No, it wasn't your internet or the Chromebook you've dropped 800 times, our site was really slow before. But now, viewing your Following page or search results is SO FAST! No more waiting 500 years to see the latest creations in your favorite collab world. Now, it's more like 0.5 seconds. Thanks so much to our amazing community (you) for your patience as we tackled this massive, massive project. Now, we finally are going to be able to speed up our releases and bring you even more cool stuff. I CAN'T WAIT!!! As always, let us know if you have feedback! ### How to Design an Appealing Villain OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T20:34:45.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* Are you looking to design an evil villain OC for your latest project? Well, look no further, because we've got some tips to help you create the ultimate evildoer for your story. I love a good villain design, and I'm sure many of you do too. So how do you go about designing an evil OC who'll cause problems for your protagonist and look great doing it? Let's talk about it! ## Choose a Villain Archetype First off, you need to know what type of villain you're creating. A corrupt corporation owner in a dystopian city will definitely have a different look than the evil fairy overlord of the fae realm. There's plenty of unique villain types out there: evil tyrants, dark wizards, charming traitors, petty rivals, and so many more! You'll want your OC's design to give the audience an idea of who they are. The kind of antagonist your character is can be a good starting point for designing different aspects of them. ![Malatesta's regal costume design](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Malatesta-1.png) [Malatesta](https://unvale.io/character/59e4983f-9d5e-4003-83f1-8026724dd5cf?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Yvoi A few ideas of how archetype affects appearance, to get you thinking: - An elegant vampire with a romantic, goth aesthetic - A malicious inventor who leans steampunk - A wild, chaotic monster with a gremlincore look ## Design Your Villain's Physical Appearance Isolating the build, eye design, and hairstyle of your OC helps you design a villain that is both evil and awesome. Whether your character is ruthless or charming, thinking about their overall appearance and how that will make them look can be a good direction for designing your antagonist. ### Choose a Build That Suits Their Character Shape language is an important aspect of designing OCs – especially when it comes to their build. If you'd like a comprehensive guide to using shape language, I have a guide you can read all about [using shape language for an OC design](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/). Sharp shape language can often be a great choice for villains. Sharp shape language can convey action or danger – the perfect compliments for a dangerous character. Combine that with a bit of square shape language, and you have a build that is strong and imposing. If you have a twist villain, you can use more neutral shape language to make them seem trustworthy or friendly. Here’s some ideas for incorporating shape language into your villain’s build: - A broad chest and shoulders for an imposing look - Angular elf ears for a dangerous look - A round face shape for a seemingly innocent look Check out [Scarlett’s](https://unvale.io/scarlettscabin?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Diabolus](https://unvale.io/character/8d496835-27cf-4c8e-8260-52828d25d77c?ref=blog.unvale.io), for an example of a square, strong build that effectively communicates intimidation. ### Pick an Evil Eye Design Eyes can say much more about a character than you might think, and villain characters are no exception. A sharp eye shape is a great choice for a malicious character; depending on how you approach it, the eyes can read as sly and charming, angry and dangerous, or both. You don't have to stop there, though. Consider the pupils and irises of your OC too: a sharp pupil like a cat's or snake's can add a sly look, and a unique iris shape can create a scary or ominous effect. You can even add unique details, like making the eyes glow, appear bloodshot, or look completely empty. ![Glowing, angled eyes give off the vibe of a villain](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/KohakuDragon-eye-style-1.png) [Elara Draconis](https://unvale.io/character/31e91f3d-4c19-4a25-b799-028a8132b441?ref=blog.unvale.io) by KohakuDragon If you need further tips, we have you covered with an awesome guide to [choosing an eye design for OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/). ### Find a Perfectly Wicked Hairstyle Another thing you can think about for the appearance of your villain is their hair. There’s lots of different styles fit for an evildoer. If you have a more elegant and charming character, you could give them sleek, tidy hair. A proper, formal hair style can fit a character who’s sly and arrogant. If you have a wild and unpredictable antagonist, make their style reflect that. For more help, check out my comprehensive guide to [choosing a hairstyle for your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/). ## Design Your Villain's Outfit and Costume The outfit your villain wears tells your audience what kind of character they are, and makes your evildoer look stylish and epic. If your villain is elegant and royal, they might wear a sharp suit or a form-fitting dress that shows off their status. A more aggressive antagonist might wear armor or tattered clothes to communicate their strength and history of battles. An OC who fights often will likely avoid clothes that get in their way, or care less about fashion overall. ![Art depicts a character with a wide smile in a detailed purple suit, along with the text "I was young and a menace."](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Ulanys2.png) [Ulanys](https://unvale.io/character/33ee1cca-6f78-4b0c-876f-b478072ac052?ref=blog.unvale.io) by StarKorg ### Complete the Look With Accessories Complete your villain's look with some fitting accessories! There are all kinds of accessories that suit antagonists. A corrupt, wealthy aristocrat might flaunt their status with an expensive blade, while a wild hunter might carry tools made of animal teeth. Here are some ideas to consider: - Expensive jewelry that doubles as weapons for a tyrant - A dark magic staff for an evil sorcerer - A weapon set made of animal bones for a fierce warrior If you want to learn how to write your villain's epic fights against the hero, learn [how to write a fight scene](#) in your original stories. ## Share Your Villain OC on Unvale There are plenty of ways to go about designing an epic villain. A stylish outfit, a fitting build, and those small details that make all the difference can turn your OC into an antagonist your audience will secretly want to root for. And remember to have fun with it. Now go forth, my creative friends, and create some dastardly villain OCs. Muahahahahahahaha! Once you finish designing your villain OC, be sure to [share them with us](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) on Unvale. We'd love to see your characters! ### How to Host a Q&A for Your OC (and Yourself) URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-host-a-qna-for-your-ocs-and-yourself/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:54:12.000Z As an obligatory introduction, to those new to the term, ‘*Q&A’* literally stands for [*questions and answers*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Q&A?ref=blog.unvale.io). While the concept seems simple at first glance, there are actually multiple ways to run a Q&A for you as an artist, your OCs as individuals or a group, or even your persona (sona)! Some notes before we start: - Remember to use hashtag [#UVCreators](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:UVCreators&ref=blog.unvale.io) on anything you post about yourself or your sona! That’s the official hashtag for us Unvale creator folk. - Don’t be too bummed out if your Q&A doesn’t gain traction immediately; new users are constantly discovering you, and might not be familiar with you, your OCs, or your sona, and be a bit unsure of what to ask. [Linking to relevant pages](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10858781-clickable-links?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a great idea to help other users get familiar with you. - Remember not to share any personal information that would [break guidelines](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927129-online-user-safety?ref=blog.unvale.io), as your Q&A will be taken down. Your safety is top priority; and on that note, if anyone gets weird in your comments, remember you can delete or report comments through the [Unvale support button](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9735574-get-in-contact-with-us?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### The Interview Method An interview tends to be a sit down conversation between two people: the interviewer, and the interviewee. While it might be a bit unconventional for Unvale and require a bit of writing chops, this is a great way to get long form information out that you want to prioritize sharing! Here are some options for how your interview Q&A could go… - You could use questions from other users and respond to them in long form; but remember to shout them out with [clickable links](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10858781-clickable-links?ref=blog.unvale.io) to make your interview more snappy and clean! - You could interview your sona or one of your OCs… or the other way around! Think about what big questions you’ve got for your OCs that you or others have always wanted to know, and ask away… - If your OC isn’t much of a talker, try asking questions that could be asked by a simple ‘yes’ and ‘no’. - Take a list of general ‘get to know me’ questions and apply them to yourself or your OCs. **What are some ‘get to know me’ questions for creators? I’ve got you covered!** - Why did you choose your username, or why/how did you choose a character’s name? - What got you into creating OCs, drawing or writing? - What’s your favourite thing to draw or write? - What’s your favourite thing about Unvale? ### The ‘Ask Me Anything’ Method ‘Ask me anything’, also known as ‘AMA’, is a pretty common form of Q&As. It’s an open forum for people to ask you about yourself, your work, your characters, and more! If you’ve got any specific things you want people to ask about, make sure to mention it; guiding and suggesting certain kinds of questions and conversation can make more shy users more likely to interact with your post. Like I mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to link to relevant pages on your AMA because other users might not be familiar with you and be unsure of what to ask you. These users will want to participate, but might end up asking more shallow questions than you might be hoping for. Like always, [**the best way to get others interested in your work is to be interested in theirs**](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?ref=blog.unvale.io). Asking other users about their OCs might give you an idea of the kind of questions you’d like to be asked! You can answer questions in or out of character, but make sure you give your commenters the ability to pick, or tell them beforehand what’s up! Not everyone is comfortable with roleplay out of the blue, after all. ### The Frequently Asked Questions Method Frequently asked questions, or FAQ, is a form of Q&A that focuses on the most important information that is commonly asked about. FAQs are unique because they tend to be updated over time with new information and new questions and answers. Consider the following: - What questions are you asked the most often about yourself and your OCs? - What is the most important thing that you think other Unvale users should know about you and your work? - What is essential information for people being introduced to your work for the first time? FAQs are great ways to introduce a new potential fan to your work, or to simply summarize the most important things to remember about a character or a project. Plus, as the name implies, FAQs are the most commonly asked questions and will cut out repetition and avoid repeats! Adding your replies to questions you answered in the comment section to a FAQ also helps prevent users from having to track down information you’ve already shared. Now that you’re equipped with some inspiration, go forth and question and answer away! Depending on your style, you might want to use #Q&A, #Q+A, or even #QandA; or all three! Making sure you cover all your bases is usually the best bet. Though, I’ve got a question for you already… which of my blog posts has been your favourite?! Wait, there’s no blog comment section? Dang it. ### How to Choose a Character Trope for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-character-trope-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-07-31T01:15:51.000Z Ever design a character…before you came up with their personality, or what kind of character they were? Maybe you were stuck…and you didn’t know what to do! Well, you can try using character tropes based on your OC’s design! How? Let’s talk about it! If you’re looking for more ways to develop your OCs, you can try giving them a [role](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/), [companion](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/), or [powers](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/)! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### What’s a character trope? First off, let’s quickly talk about what a character trope is! A character trope is a common concept you see in media. They can make you familiar with a character before you know much else about them! A character trope gives you an idea about a character’s personality, or their role in the story! You’ve definitely seen them before. These are your anti-heroes, jocks, nerds, mentors…and many more! Some character tropes can be fairly specific, and some can be more broad. If you’ve seen different kinds of them in different stories, they’re likely a character trope! There’s lots of character tropes out there, and not all characters of the same trope will be exactly alike. ## What’s your OC’s shape language? One thing you can consider is the shape language of your OC! The shape language of your OC can say a lot about them, and you can use it to decide what tropes might fit your character better! If you’re not too sure what exactly shape language is, you can check out this article [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/)! Shape language can help you narrow down the kind of tropes you can use for your OC! Maybe a character with lots of triangles or sharp edges in their design could be your easily angered hot-headed trope, or your cold and mysterious loner trope! On the other hand, an OC with lots of curves or circles in their design could be the lovable and goofy sidekick, or the silly and fun comic relief character! Here’s some ideas for shape language and the tropes they might match: - Circle shape language for clown characters, parental characters, cowardly characters, hero characters, or princess characters. - Square shape language for mentor characters, nerdy characters, stoic characters, grumpy characters, or protective characters. - Triangle shape language for villain characters, antihero characters, bully characters, rebel characters, or bad boy characters. The overall shape language of your OC can be a great way to get started with the kind of character trope you want your OC to be! If your OC has multiple types of shape language, your OC could have more than one character trope too! Maybe an OC with square and circle shape language is both the protective trope and parental trope, or an OC with triangle and circle shape language is both the rebellious trope and the princess trope! You can also choose a trope that doesn’t quite fit your character’s shape language! Maybe you’ll choose to trick your audience by making the OC with circle shape language the antihero of the story, or maybe the OC with square shape language is actually the coward of the hero team! It’s all up to what you want to do for your story, and what you think will fit your OC’s best! A good example of using shape language for character tropes would be [Artgelic’s](https://unvale.io/Artgelic?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [The Commander](https://unvale.io/character/9a4c7216-e7bd-4381-b270-7bab62e0b58f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Commander is a villain trope with lots of sharp shape language! Another good example for using shape language and character tropes would be [Rongrii’s](https://unvale.io/Rongrii?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [James](https://unvale.io/character/418bb85d-562a-4059-a79f-218d04187575?ref=blog.unvale.io)! James is also a villain who also has lots of triangle shape language! ## What’s your OC’s aesthetic and style? Another thing you can consider when thinking about what trope you can make your character is your OC’s aesthetic! The style your OC has can match their character trope. Different aesthetics have a different feel to them, and different tropes might work well with it better than other options! You’ll want to think of what kind of aesthetic your OC has, and what your audience might think about them based on that! While not always, sometimes certain aesthetics can give off a different impression than others. Some clothing choices might make you think of different character tropes as well. A varsity jacket might bring to mind the jock trope, while a pair of glasses might make you think of the nerdy trope. Using what you already have as part of their design can help you choose what they could be! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A villain trope who has a dark aesthetic - A comic relief trope who has a wild outfit style - A sassy trope who has a preppy aesthetic - A suave trope who has a put-together outfit style The aesthetic and style of your OC can be an easy way to help you choose a character trope for them! If your OC has a specific style or aesthetic, you can look at different character tropes to see what might fit them best! You can even look at your favorite tropes across your favorite stories, and see what all they have in common! What parts of their outfits do they share? Do they have a specific style to them? Can you tell what trope they are just by looking at their outfit? Maybe you’ll choose a trope that doesn’t seem to fit your OC’s aesthetic on purpose! Looks can be deceiving, and that can apply to characters too! An OC might have a certain style or aesthetic, and be a character trope that the audience wouldn’t expect. Depending on what your story is and who your character is, doing something different might work better than choosing a trope that matches the character’s aesthetic! A good example of using style for a character trope would be [Deathssons’](https://unvale.io/Deathssons?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Fredrick](https://unvale.io/character/05cf1348-bbd1-4745-931c-aabeb0b4a10e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Frederick is a jock character trope, and he has a jacket that matches well with that! Another good example of using style for a character trope would be [GMSoters’](https://unvale.io/gmsoters?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Snippet](https://unvale.io/character/b621d10e-ee7e-4569-88e0-e83236997dd5?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Snippet is a villain trope with a fancy red suit that matches his character well! ## What’s your OC’s motif? Another way you could go about picking a character trope is the motif your OC has, if they have one! Certain elements might make you think of certain character tropes, like a specific symbol! You can use this to your advantage for your characters, as your audience might get an idea about them based on the motif they have! Thinking about motifs and what they might say about your OC can be a great way to come up with the trope they might be! Symbols like skulls, moons, and bats might make you think of common villain tropes! (That being said…I’m not a villain! Trust me!) Other symbols such as flowers, the sun, or stars might make you think of heroes or supporting characters tropes. Here’s some ideas to help you brainstorm: - A villain trope with a skull motif - A hero trope with a sun motif - A inventor trope with an electric motif - A mystical being trope with a star motif There’s lots of options to choose from when it comes to motifs, and choosing a trope based on the theme your OC has can be a great way to tell the audience what kind of character your OC is! Different motifs can have a different feel to them, and you can use that to choose what you’ll do! You could even be misleading, and pick a trope that the audience wouldn’t expect from the character’s motif! Maybe the villain has a sun motif, and the hero has a moon one! It all depends on your story and what you want to do with it! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXd6qLFT_CTkyqKRXjQI-O8BXLr836DMs3MvAL2dOxJkPIGannB8Q9SoxxXfLqk3CcheFMcRL1nBEJnpU3QZuzoJRo07J91f7CBnn5qrTayHqf9PsGBSBxc_-0n-ttuOKzAqZzkJSw?key=ciQsY-zI-plA4C2y257OYw) Would you associate crows, skulls, and moons with a villain trope? What about suns, flowers, and stars? Would you associate those with hero tropes? ## What’s your OC’s hairstyle? Similar to aesthetics and motifs, one more thing you can think about your OC’s design when choosing a character trope for them is the hairstyle they wear! The hairstyle an OC wears can match the trope they might have! Even though it might seem simple, the hairdo a character has can tell the audience more than you’d think! The way a character wears their hair can say a lot about them, and can give off a certain impression! You can use that to help you narrow down the character tropes they might have, and go from there! Here’s some ideas for hairstyle and tropes to get your creativity flowing: - A mad scientist trope with wild, spiky hair - A wise older character trope with long grey hair - A teacher trope with a bun or ponytail - An elegant royal trope with a fancy hairdo There’s lots of different hairstyles that could show off different tropes! Sometimes, just a quick glance at a character’s hairstyle can give you an idea as to what kind of trope they are! Using this as a way to help choose your OC’s trope can be quick and easy! You could even do the opposite as well! Maybe a character expected to be one trope because of their hairstyle is actually a completely different trope altogether! Have you ever seen a character in media who is set up as if they’re a certain trope, but the actual trope walks in soon after? You could do something like that as well! There’s plenty of options to choose from, and it’s all up to you! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc8-BwHCTARbfUXf1qxoX4KCzkccAOdOuc5Iz6RpcNEiRi5KJMNZ6fuBECPrbzj9x0TeKq2iPktMvAAdrJosQ09KbgTH7pUtTEQdNjsQm27wiPmMKGi6MeuoRnUI7xXLXIJdX55?key=ciQsY-zI-plA4C2y257OYw) Maybe a mad scientist trope has spiky hair that looks like they’ve been shocked, while a princess trope wears an elegant, tidy bun! A good example of using hairstyle for choosing a character trope would be [Bread’s](https://unvale.io/LechePan1916?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sofia](https://unvale.io/character/4838260b-8c3b-48e8-92ac-1691d1cadcda?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sofia is a popstar singer trope with a fun and extravagant updo to match! Another good example of using hairstyle for a character trope would be [Solinkie’s](https://unvale.io/Solinkie?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Misha](https://unvale.io/character/0a8b1f44-c88d-41cd-8ea3-0cfe8f479006?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Misha is a cold mistrusting trope who has a half-shaved hairstyle that goes well with that! There’s lots of ways you can go about choosing a character trope for your OC based on their design! Thinking about your OC’s shape language, aesthetics, motifs, and hairstyles can all be a part of how you choose your character’s trope! It’s all up to you, and remember to have fun with it! ### Gijinka Design 101: Turning Objects Into Characters URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-gijinka/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T18:30:14.000Z One of the largest projects I've worked on for Unvale was designing over one hundred original gijinkas based on weapons from the gacha game *Genshin Impact*. It taught me a lot about what makes a gijinka design actually work, and what tends to make one fall flat. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What Is a Gijinka? Gijinkas overlap with furry design conventions, and *Pokémon* fans will recognize the concept from the many [gijinka interpretations](https://blog.unvale.io/the-gijinka-journey/) of different objects over the years. They also show up in games and media well beyond that, such as *Date Everything*, a dating simulators that let players romance a personified household object. ![Date Everything cover art – Sassy Chap Games](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/date-everything-1.png) Date Everything – **Sassy Chap Games* The most important rule when designing a gijinka is this: A gijinka must be recognizable next to its original. ## Recognizable vs. Faithful I say "next to its original" rather than "as its original" because recognizability and faithfulness aren't one and the same. If the aesthetic you're going for doesn't quite match the object, you'll need to take more artistic liberties. One of my own recurring challenges was designing around a [greatsword blade](https://unvale.io/world/baf9c23b-cfd3-499b-99ae-b831e7543b2c?image=3a14a890-35f1-4fa0-be6b-eb48429398fa&ref=blog.unvale.io), which often ended up as a panel in a dress pattern. That works fine if you're aiming for an elaborate dress silhouette, but otherwise it takes some rethinking and re-sketching to land on the right interpretation. That said, if you'd rather go further and create something only loosely inspired by the source object, that's valid too. It may not technically qualify as a gijinka, but it's still a strong design in its own right. ## Balancing Simple and Complex Sources Staying too close to the original can sometimes work against you, particularly when the source object is very simple or very complex. A design based on something as plain as a copper pipe with attached gauges will naturally lean minimal, since there's not much detail to draw from. In that case, it helps to think about which elements you can repeat or expand on to add visual interest. On the other end, a design based on something ornate or intricate can become over-designed, to the point that some of the costume elements lose clear function. For this scenario, it's worth stepping back and asking whether you're designing a gijinka or simply a costume. The best results usually strike a balance between the two: recognizable enough to connect to the source, but restrained enough to still function as an outfit. Take Microsoft Japan's Gijinka for Windows 7 – aptly named Nanami. Her blue hair and barrette with that classic color combo makes it pretty clear what she represents. ![Windows 7 Mascot Nanami ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/07/windows-7-nanami-1-1.jpg) ## My Process: Abstracting the Object This next part is more of a personal method than a hard rule for gijinka creation. I start by abstracting the object – looking at its individual components and imagining what role each one could play in an outfit. If a piece reminds you of a scarf, let it become a scarf for your character. A few examples of this kind of translation: - Use teeth from a creature or a chainsaw as a zipper - Turn tattoos or markings into fabric patterns - Use hanging beads or charms as earrings - Use woodgrain from wooden objects as texture for hair or clothing - Translate patterns on the object into embroidery or printed fabric - Carry elements of the object into the hair or other non-clothing parts of the design If you have access to a tablet, or even just a printer and scissors, it can help to physically arrange cutouts of the object on a character base. This kind of direct reference work is genuinely useful, not a shortcut to feel embarrassed about. ![Toaster to prince Gijinka](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Gjinka-Toaster.png) Some artists struggle to visualize transformations mentally, and working with a physical or digital collage makes it much easier to test ideas. A piece you expected to work as a sleeve might end up reading better as a shoe once you actually move it into place. ## Design What You Love Finally, it's worth designing gijinkas of things you genuinely care about – whether that's a plushie from childhood or a weapon from your favorite game. Designs tend to turn out strongest when the source material means something to you. And the more of your own perspective you bring to the piece, the more distinctive the result will be. Now that you have everything you need to get started, it's time to create your own gijinka and share it with the [Unvale](https://blog.unvale.io/tag/mobile-app/) community! ### How to Choose a Signature Makeup Look for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-signature-makeup-look-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:52:18.000Z Makeup! Want to highlight your features? Try makeup! Want to cosplay your favorite character? You can use makeup! Want to add to your favorite aesthetic look? Makeup can be used for that too! …But that’s not what we’re talking about today! Makeup doesn’t just apply to the real world, it can be used for your OCs too! So how do you choose a fitting makeup look for your OC? Let’s talk about it! And if you're looking for more ways to elevate your OC designs, try looking into [outfits](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/), [hairstyles](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/), and even [accessories](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/)! ## What’s your OC’s personality? The first thing you can consider when choosing a style of makeup for your OC is their personality! The personality of your character can determine what kind of look they could go for, or if they even wear makeup at all! A more outgoing OC might go for a more extravagant look, while a reserved character might have a more natural makeup style or wear a minimal amount! A person who likes to be popular might wear what’s trending, and a person who doesn’t might wear something wild and fun! The personality of your OC can be shown through their makeup, just like with other aspects of their design! This can be anywhere from how much makeup they wear, to the colors and style as well! It all depends on the type of character you have! Personality can help you figure out what your OC would be comfortable with wearing, and what they might shy away from. Here’s some questions to consider about your OC’s personality when deciding on makeup for them: - Are they more shy, or more outgoing? - Do they care more about what’s trending, or more about their personal preferences? - Do they care what people think of them and their look? - Are they a more heroic OC, or a more evil one? - Are they more sweet and friendly, or more grumpy and aloof? Questions like these can give you an idea as to the kinds of makeup your OC might wear! Do you have a friendly, bubbly OC? They might wear bright, pastel makeup! What about a mischievous and sly character? They could wear dark makeup with sharp details! How about a more quiet OC? They might stick to a light amount of natural makeup! There are plenty of things you can do with personality, and how it can affect the makeup your character might wear! You could even use the kind of makeup your OC wears to trick your audience with something unexpected! Makeup that gives off a certain impression can be used for a character that’s the complete opposite! Maybe a villainous OC wears makeup that makes them look cute and innocent, and is revealed to be the true villain later on! A shy but friendly OC could have more dark makeup, that makes people think that they’re mean, when in reality they’re not mean at all! It’s not set in stone as to what kinds of makeup go with certain personality traits, so do some experimenting and see what you like best for your character! A good example of using personality to decide on a makeup look would be [Odd’s](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Multiverse Mania](https://unvale.io/character/98b9deb1-98ed-44dc-93f2-962727dab784?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! They have extravagant makeup that matches their charismatic personality! ## What’s your OC’s aesthetic? Another big part in the kind of makeup your character might wear is the overall aesthetic of their design! Different styles of makeup can go really well with different aesthetics, and other styles might not fit as well! While your OC’s makeup doesn’t have to match perfectly, utilizing aesthetics can make it easier to decide what kind of makeup you’ll choose for your character! Just like with other aspects of character design, aesthetics can help you out! There’s plenty of aesthetics a character could have, and just as many styles of makeup that can match their aesthetic! An OC with a colorful cutesy design might wear sparkly baby blue eyeshadow and bubblegum pink lipstick, while a character with a more dark and spooky look might have smoky eyeshadow and a deep purple lipstick. If you need some ideas to help you imagine different kinds of makeup, try looking up makeup styles for different aesthetics! Here’s some concepts to get your creativity flowing: - A goth OC with skeleton-themed makeup - A cottagecore OC with flowery makeup - A pastel OC with candy-colored makeup - A cyberpunk OC with robot themed makeup Using aesthetics can be a fun way to choose or design the makeup of your OC! You can utilize the aesthetic of your character for the makeup as much, or as little, as you want! It could be as detailed as having designs and facepaint, or as simple as the makeup’s color palette. It’s all up to you how extravagant, or how simple, the makeup is! Along with aesthetics, you can also use motifs to help with the makeup look of your OC! You can add details that go along with the unique motif of your character! If an OC has a flower motif, you could give them flower themed eyeshadow! If a different character has a heart motif, you could make their lipstick have a heart shape! For more about motifs, check out this article about picking an outfit for your OC [here](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! A good example of using aesthetics for an OC’s makeup design would be [Kayybee’s](https://unvale.io/kayybee?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Kura](https://unvale.io/character/779afd42-9c26-48f6-b337-fcc0ebfe1a4e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Kura has a goth aesthetic, with dark makeup to match! Another good example of using a character’s aesthetic for their makeup design would be [Elibi’s](https://unvale.io/Elibigott?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Celia](https://unvale.io/character/074d7da8-31cc-4bc4-954a-fe798d7a5b16?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Celia has a pastel aesthetic, with colorful makeup that matches! ## What’s your OC’s role or occupation? The role your OC has in their story can play a part in the design of their makeup as well! Some jobs require a more “professional” look, and some jobs don’t! Different roles might be better for different makeup styles too! A friendly fairy princess and the boss of a shady insurance company probably won’t have the same kind of makeup. The kind of occupation your OC has can be helpful to deciding the kind of makeup your character wears! You can find inspiration from your favorite stories and such to help as well! What kind of makeup do the characters wear? Does it go along with their role? You can also look at the characters here on Unvale too! Here’s some ideas about for roles and makeup to get your creativity flowing: - A fairy OC with sparkly, floral makeup - A businessperson OC with natural, professional makeup - A wizard OC with magic symbols as part of their makeup - A clown OC with clownish makeup There’s lots of different ways you can show off an OC’s role through their makeup look! A magical character could have sparkly or shimmery makeup! What about a sci-fi cyborg OC? Maybe they have neon makeup! An internet influencer OC could have fun, crazy makeup! The opposite can be used as well! The makeup an OC wears doesn’t have to reflect the role they have, especially if it’s a part of their character! The makeup your OC wears can say a lot about them, without truly saying anything at all! Maybe a character in a private school purposely wears colorful makeup as a form of rebellion, or maybe a time traveler ended up in the wrong time period! A good example of using a role for an OC’s makeup look would be [SmartfoodPopcorn’s](https://unvale.io/SmartfoodPopcorn?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Philip](https://unvale.io/character/987fc660-8cf3-4619-91b0-7d3b96486409?view=Trivia&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Philip is a jester with circus makeup that matches! Another good example of using roles to choose an OC’s makeup look would be [Shelf’s](https://unvale.io/Mizshelf?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [T](https://unvale.io/character/a024280b-3a85-487c-a9fb-03fa4e404cce?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! T is a robot with sharp, angular makeup that matches! ## What’s the setting of the story your OC is in? Setting? What in the world does setting have to do with makeup?! Well, it has more to do with makeup than you’d think, actually! You won’t find the makeup trends of today in medieval times, and unless it’s for aesthetics you won’t find the opposite! Similarly, an OC in an office setting probably won’t be wearing mermaid makeup and an OC surviving a zombie apocalypse likely wouldn’t wear much makeup at all! You’ll want to consider the time period and place your story takes place! If you need ideas or inspiration, you can look through your favorite pieces of media! You could also look at current trends in makeup for a modern day story, or old pictures and paintings for a story in a different time period. Here’s some questions you can ask about your story’s setting to give you an idea as to where to start: - What time period does the story take place? - What kind of area does the story take place? - What genre is the story? - Is the story fantasy, realistic, or something else? The kind of makeup your OC can have is impacted by the setting just like any other part of their design! If you want your story to be more believable, you’ll definitely want to do some research on the kinds of makeup worn in that area or time period! You don’t have to be perfectly accurate though, and you could have a character with makeup that doesn’t fully match the setting too! Maybe your OC isn’t where they’re supposed to be, and they’re hiding in secret! Maybe a magic mermaid is hiding in secret on land, or maybe a robotic cyborg from the future wanted a chance to see the past! It may seem difficult at first, but there are plenty of ways you can choose a signature makeup look for your OC! Thinking about your character’s personality, aesthetic, role, and the world they’re in can all be ways to help you decide. And as always, don’t stress too much over it! Make sure you’re having fun, and choose what you want for your OC! ### Making a Fandom OC: A Self-Insert Starter Guide URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/ Last updated: 2026-09-01T16:14:18.000Z Ever thought to yourself, “gosh, other people’s fandom OCs are so cool, but I don’t know how to make one?” Or maybe you’ve got an idea in your head, but you’re used to making characters for your original world and the idea of making a [fandom OC](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=fandom&ref=blog.unvale.io) is fresh and new? Well, this article is for you! ## **What Is A Self Insert** OC**?** A ‘self insert’ is often a version of yourself, the author, that you’re creating to put into a story; basically a persona ([sona](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=sona&ref=blog.unvale.io)) of sorts. It’s you, but with powers or a backstory that fits the world you’re making the self insert for. My sona, Solar Sunrise, is a great example of a self-insert OC for the Nintendo series, *Splatoon*; I gave her my real-life hairstyle and dressed her how I would dress using clothes from the game. ![Solar Sunrise’s self-insert fandom OC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/IMG_7926.png) ## What Is A Fandom OC? A fandom OC is a character you make to insert into an existing work, and is actually usually the way the term ‘OC’ (original character) is used as most writers describe their characters in their original works as just ‘my characters’. They can be from book series, movies, or even [video games](https://blog.unvale.io/making-a-video-game-character-into-a-oc/). Below is art of a fandom OC of mine for *Path to Nowhere*, Beatrix. A fandom OC can interact with the canon characters of the work, exist in their own space in the world, or [cross-over with another series](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-creating-a-story-crossover/), whatever you’d like! You can also create fan OCs for collab worlds on Unvale. These are community created worlds open for others to join and create their own OCs and stories for, so keep an eye out for a collab world that might be perfect for you. ![Beatrix Cheng, Solar Sunrise’s Path to Nowhere fandom OC](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/IMG_3172.png) ## Seeking Inspiration For Fandom OCs You don’t need a deep understanding of a work to make a fan character for it, but personally I think the research is what makes it all the more fun! When you’re a big enough fan of something, you often start to note down interesting questions that you have about the world, and things that excite you about. Do you have any questions about how your favourite worlds work that you want answered? Other fans might have collected all the info you need on a wiki, or this could be a chance to completely create your own explanation! If you have a favourite group or species of characters, you’ve also got a great place to start creating a character from. Since they have established traits and a place in their world, you can take advantage of the template to create your own unique OC for that group; you can even easily connect your new fandom OC to other people’s OCs of the same group! Here are some fandoms you can make a specific type of character for: - A Gem from *Steven Universe* - A Pokémon or [Pokémon trainer](https://blog.unvale.io/designing-a-pokemon-team-for-your-ocs/) - A Hylian, Rito, Zora, Goron or Gerudo from *The Legend of Zelda* - [An Inkling or Octoling from *Splatoon* ](https://blog.unvale.io/designing-a-splatoon-oc/) - An OC for [*The Amazing Digital Circus*](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-tadc-fan-oc/) ![Solar’s Splatoon OC, Soda.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/IMG_8910.png) ## Conclusion: Why Make A Fandom OC? Whether you want to connect to other fans, delve deeper into a story and world, or just want to date your favourite character, there are tons of reasons to create a fandom OC. It’s a way to keep interacting with a work even after you’ve finished reading, watching or playing. You can insert yourself into the story or create a new character to adventure across the fantasy landscapes that sparks your creativity; fandom OCs are an expression of love for a piece of media, and are simply fun to make, so why not make one today? ![Solar’s Pokémon OC Nina, and her Whirlipede Pâro.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/09/IMG_8183.png) ## Community Fandom OCs The Unvale community has thousands of fandom OCs for you to discover, just by searching for your fandom on the site. Don’t be shy about leaving comments; you might just make a new friend for your OCs or even for yourself! Here are a few examples of fandom OCs in the community. - [Snapsho](https://unvale.io/character/a61e9ddf-e6f1-4713-81d0-2cd035ab2681?ref=blog.unvale.io)t by [EAries](https://unvale.io/EAries?ref=blog.unvale.io) (Transformers OC) - [Roran The Rabbit](https://unvale.io/character/b640e96f-3410-40e5-9a7e-586878b64d6e?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Odysseyre](https://unvale.io/Odysseyre?ref=blog.unvale.io) (Sonic the Hedgehog OC) - [BERRYSWIRL](https://unvale.io/character/6efc0cdd-a515-4518-acc3-74c5d705076e?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [KandiArtKit](https://unvale.io/KandiArtKit?ref=blog.unvale.io) (My Little Pony OC) - [Vijaya Sahdmadhi](https://unvale.io/character/1d71bef8-1f03-4d95-a941-ddd550342863?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [corpsemo](https://unvale.io/corpsemo?ref=blog.unvale.io) (Ace Attorney OC) - [cardboard box](https://unvale.io/character/ae37eeef-51c1-40e4-9fc5-004fa5263203?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [chlcken](https://unvale.io/chlcken?ref=blog.unvale.io) (The Amazing Digital Circus/TADC OC) [How to make an OC!The how-to guide for writing and creating OC concepts, from design, ideas, to naming. Character builders start here!![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--04c945a9-4913-40f5-8b13-855b8f1eca20.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial-Banners--12--07f504b3-815b-4c4d-a7de-1f5bebe81909.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) ### Tips for Writing a Fight Scene That Actually Lands URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-fight-scene-in-your-original-stories/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T18:58:43.000Z In a fight scene, you need three ‘C’s. This article will cover those, and then delve more into ways to make your original fight scenes exciting and interesting to your readers. Whether you want to use these tips for your own [original world](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/) or [for a RP](https://blog.unvale.io/roleplaying-etiquette/), hopefully you can brush up your skills and fight like a pro! Er, I mean, *write* like a pro. ### The Three ‘C’s When you write fight scenes, you need to be *clear, consistent,* and *concise*. **Clarity** is making sure things are understandable to your reader. Murkiness and uncertainty can be the death of a fight scene’s [**suspension of disbelief**](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WillingSuspensionOfDisbelief?ref=blog.unvale.io) (a term meaning the audience’s willingness to engage and believe in your world). For example, let’s say an assassin, Sei, is dual-wielding blades. Then, Sei pulls out a flash grenade from her tool belt! But wait. How does she do that when her hands are full? As the writer, I’d have to add something else to make it more clear, so my reader doesn't assume Sei grew a third arm. She can put her weapon away and use her teeth to pull the grenade pin, and maybe that’s what I meant to mention; but you, the reader, can't know what I haven't said. So, keeping actions clear is important. **Examples of what to keep clear include:** - Who’s holding what (remember how many hands or limbs they have and what items need one or more hands; a great sword or rifle needs two hands to use). - Who’s moving where. - Where the battle is taking place, and what is around them. - What injuries have been taken. Next is **consistency**, which follows up with the above. Consistency means keeping track of who’s fighting, what they have to use, where they are, and other elements that you can use to make your battle more exciting. Consistency is a great chance to make use of something writers call [**Chekhov's Gun**](https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChekhovsGun?ref=blog.unvale.io); a literary term that comes from the idea that “if a loaded gun is mentioned and shown in act one, then itust go off in act three”. You have the chance to use something you established earlier to make your fight scene more exciting. To use the example from above, if I mention Sei has a grenade in chapter one, and then bring it back in chapter seven, that’s both consistent and making use of things you established before; Chekhov's Gun. **Examples of important things to keep consistent include:** - The gear characters have on them before the fight must be consistent during the fight. - Injuries taken during the fight need to remain after the fight (a good chance to use injuries as disadvantages in your fight scene as well). Finally, fight scenes need to be **concise**. This might be the most difficult thing for newbie writers, especially if you want to create awesome and cool fight scenes; but you can't pause a fight midway for a mental monologue, or to explain another character’s powers unless there’s a pause in the battle itself. Think of a fight scene as a conversation; each action has a reaction, and if a conversation is interrupted, it’s hard to remember the topic. To be concise is to **summarize** in as few words as possible. Keep the dialogue of the battle quick, snappy, and easy to follow for your readers. Let them imagine the fight in their head. **How to be concise:** - Try to keep each action in its own sentence, and each set of actions in a paragraph. - Place actual dialogue in moments where the combatants are separated, or parrying; if they’re in a position where they can't stab each other at the moment, you can put dialogue there. ### Using Your Original Ideas in Fight Scenes My advice here won't be as solid because everyone has their own unique worlds. But, here are some quick tips! - Keep a profile of each of your character’s [abilities](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/) and [gear](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/), so you’ll know what they can use in a battle. - Make sure you keep track of what your character’s powers can and can’t do. This will keep things consistent and also make it easier to write fight scenes. - Take advantage of unique battlefields if you have the chance, like areas with low gravity, arenas with traps, or maybe even underwater! - Show off your character’s unique personality with how they fight; maybe they use dirty tricks they learned from the streets, or they fight honourably no matter what. - Take advantage of all 5 senses in fight scenes. The taste of blood, the smell of gunpowder, and the weight of a weapon… These are all things to consider in a fight, and add more texture and realism! Alright! I’m sure you had a few ideas while reading that you can't wait to implement. Next time you write a fight scene, remember to put [#fightscene](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags%3AFightscene&ref=blog.unvale.io) in your character’s hashtags so others can find it, and if you want to read other’s work, [you can always find other user’s writing in the explore tab](https://unvale.io/explore/writing?ref=blog.unvale.io)! *New to Unvale?* [*Find out more about us here*](https://help.unvale.io/en/collections/8201585-learn-more-about-unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io)*!* ### Small Details That Make a Big Difference in OC Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-28T22:19:07.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) *– the ultimate guide to character building.* Have you ever created a character, but felt like they needed something to really make their design stand out? Adding unique features to an OC can help create a design that’s both interesting and unique. ## Choose a Rich Setting First and foremost, try to consider the area the story takes place in. As cool as it would be, you probably won’t find someone with shining eyes or wings in a story that takes place in a realistic world. That doesn’t mean your character can’t have unique elements in their design though! They might just be more natural features that are seen in real life. The setting can help determine what kind of details you could add. An OC in a world that’s more magical could have details with a more mystical feel, while a more sci-fi style world could have characters with more tech-themed features. Some unique OC ideas for details based on story setting could be: - A robot arm for a sci-fi world - Glowing freckles for a fantasy world - A hook hand for a pirate-filled world If a world has multiple different species, the setting could determine what specific details each kind has. Maybe different fairies have different wing patterns, or maybe elves have different ear shapes. While you can use the worldbuilding to make your character’s details seem more natural to the world, another option is to give your OC something that wouldn’t be expected of the world. Maybe somebody has a robotic limb in ancient times because they’re a time traveler, or maybe one has sparkly freckles because they’re secretly a fairy. If you want some ideas on building the setting and other aspects of your story, there’s an awesome article on [genre-based worldbuilding](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/). ![Art depicts a character with pink hair and wings, who's wearing a green outfit.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/milanni-bsodas.png) [Milanni](https://unvale.io/character/540c793d-17b0-4649-acf6-7becaff01c80?ref=blog.unvale.io) by bsodas ## Use Personality to Choose OC Details Another thing to consider is the demeanor of your character. There’s plenty of ways to use personality to your advantage while creating an OC. Different design choices could show off certain aspects of a character's temperament. A loud and brash OC could have more flashy features, while a nervous and quiet OC might have subtle or less-noticeable details. Aspects like whether they're a hero or a villain could also be incorporated into the design. Maybe a hero has bright characteristics like shining markings or tattoos, while a villain has dark aspects like a black ombre on their fingers or shadow-like hair. You could use unique features that are opposite of the character’s traits too. Maybe an introvert can’t stay as hidden as they’d like because they have glowing antlers. An extrovert might have a secret they’re hiding, so they could have markings on their skin that they keep hidden. A villain could have brightly colored hair that makes them seem innocent, while a hero might have sharp horns that make them seem more dangerous than they are. If you need some unique OC ideas based around personality, you could try: - Bright wings for a more outgoing OC - Small arm patterns for a shy character - Extra limbs for a more extroverted OC Sometimes, writing lore can also help showcase an OCs personality. We have an article on [how to write compelling lore](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) if you want to do just that. ## Give Features Purpose It’s nice to add cool features just for fun. That being said, sometimes it’s good to have a reason behind a specific design choice too. Try to think of why a character has certain details as part of their design. When choosing special details for an OC, you’ll want to consider what makes it unique. You could incorporate backstory into the features or craft it into the current story. Maybe the OC doesn't start the story with cool physical characteristics, but they gain them as the story goes on and they grow. Making design choices go hand in hand with your character’s backstory can be fun and make your story and designs more coherent. Details can say a lot about them, without saying anything at all. They could hint at the future or hint at the past – or both! You’ll also want to decide what function their physical attributes have, if any. Here’s some ideas for incorporating an OC’s special features into a story: - They were born with mysterious powers that gave them fingers with a color gradient - They were enchanted by an evil wizard and now they have feathers instead of hair - They were granted power by a fairy and now they have flower markings on their arms - They were cursed during a magic battle and now they have dark scleras ![Art depicts a character with animal ears and a fluffy tail who's holding a guitar.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Feue-Clover-1.png) [Feue Clover](https://unvale.io/character/52b081a2-9675-47a5-8f48-1e0be8eed39f?ref=blog.unvale.io) by callingtheartangel It’s easy to think that more unique features will help a character stand out, and it might be tempting to add more. However, you don’t want to add too much to a design. Adding too much can confuse your audience – and yourself too! It’s easy to forget elements of a design when drawing a character that has a lot of little details. Check for too much visual clutter and make sure the OC doesn’t get frustrating to draw after a while, especially if you plan on drawing a comic or animating. Here’s some questions you can think of when making sure your OC’s design is balanced: - Does the detail provide hints about backstory? - Does it have some other kind of lore to it? - Is it useful to the character? - Will I remember to add in the detail while drawing the OC, or will I forget? - Does it make the design cluttered, or is it just enough? ## Design a Cohesive Group When choosing unique features for your OC, you’ll also want to think about what the characters around them look like. A character won’t seem as interesting if they look like everyone else in the story. You’ll also want to make sure they fit into the group, and don’t stick out too much where they don’t feel harmonious with the rest of the members. A character’s attributes should make it easy to identify them while around others. If everyone in the group has bioluminescent hair, it might be hard to tell who’s who. However, if each one’s hair glows a different color, it makes them easier to differentiate. You can make the group look coherent, while giving each member something that's special to their appearance. Some ideas for keeping design aspects harmonious with a group: - Each member has a different kind of animal feature - Each member has a different part of their design that's illuminated - Each member has a different motif to their design - Each member has a different pattern as part of their design ![Art depicts a character with dark hair and blonde highlights who also has feathers on her shoulders.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/aster-Lyon328.png) [Aster](https://unvale.io/character/6d1bb376-9e41-434d-9f5d-c9ab40fc81cc?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Lyon328 ## Share Your OC on Unvale There’s lots of different ways to go about choosing features that make an OC stand out. Thinking about the purpose it serves, your OC’s personality, and how they fit with their group are all ways you can use to try and decide on a character’s special attributes. The most important thing to remember though – is to have fun with it! It’s your character, and your story, so pick what will be fun for you. Once you’ve finished giving your OCs unique features, [share them with us](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=home&sort=newest&ref=blog.unvale.io) on Unvale. We’d love to see your awesome characters! ### How to Choose a Companion for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:00:22.000Z Companions…every character needs at least one! Well, they don’t need one…but it’s definitely a fun addition to your story! A companion could add to your supporting cast, or provide some comic relief. There’s all kinds of different companions you can choose from! But what kind of companion should your OC have? Let’s talk about it! ## What’s your OC’s personality? One thing you’ll want to consider is the personality of your OC! Different kinds of companions might be better fitting for different character personalities. The companion of your OC could have a creature who matches their personality! A shy character could have a chameleon since they’re always trying to blend in, and an outgoing character might have a golden retriever that matches their energetic personality! Sometimes, people might associate different animals with different character traits. You might associate snakes with slyness, or you might associate an owl with wisdom! Maybe you’ve seen extroverts being associated with dogs, and introverts being associated with cats! Are there any personality traits that remind you of different animals? You could use those to decide what kind of companion your OC might have! Here are some ideas: - A shy introvert with a cat - An eccentric character with an exotic animal - A cunning character with a snake - A wise character with an owl Using personality to come up with ideas can be a fun way to choose a buddy for your OC! You could always give your OC a companion that is the opposite of your character too! This could be to add some humor to the story, or to hint at a hidden trait of your character! If you need more inspiration, you could look up the different symbolisms of different animals, and see which might fit best for your OC! Different creatures have different kinds of symbolism and concepts they’re associated with! Depending on your OC, you could give them a companion with symbolism that will hint at their character or what will happen to them! Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - Butterflies can often symbolize transformation - Ravens are often associated with death - Beetles can symbolize strength All kinds of creatures have various types of symbolism, and many may have more than one! You’ll want to do careful research, since some creatures will even have a different symbolism depending on the culture. Giving your OC a companion that holds some kind of symbolism could be a fun way to tell your audience something about the character! Maybe an OC who will grow a lot throughout their story will have a butterfly companion. A necromancer or reaper might have a raven friend, and a strong and resilient OC could have a beetle companion! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdx7wjEJBCwSkElE5fv_f0syMz3l_Zk8Fo0vsgR3zjJ2xWoubvaXlw5J3C31ysqbbFM5Eigjm7lbpCfjt-4l4JsgAsEEjhHfbDjs9e1F29wAHeDMHo7RB1Psyr6BISB5SlDuLyw?key=i58NTZwOxk-MPwrB6SF_Rg) What kind of symbolism does your character’s companion have? ## Where does your story take place? The area and setting of your story will also play a big part in the kind of companion your OC could have! You probably won’t find a bat underwater, and it’s unlikely you’ll find a bug in a cold environment! (If you do…That’s an interesting bat and bug…) Depending on the area, you’ll also find different kinds of creatures that you wouldn’t find in another place! Some critters are only native to certain regions, and some only live in certain climates! Oftentimes, animals will have adapted to the area they live in or to the animals that live in that area. In colder climates, animals will often have thick fur to keep themselves warm. A prey animal might have some form of camouflage to keep themselves hidden from predators! Here’s some questions you can ask to get you thinking about what kinds of animals might live in your OC’s area: - Does my character live in a cold climate, or warm climate? - What’s the weather like? - Would the creature need adaptations to stay safe? Similarly, the time period would also play a part. Unless your OC is a genius inventor for their time period, you might not find a robot buddy in an ancient city! Depending on the time period your story takes place, some kinds of creatures might have gone extinct before then. Or, some creatures might be endangered and need some extra care to stay alive. Maybe your OC’s companion is the last creature of its kind, and your character has to make sure they stay safe! Here’s some more questions you can consider about the setting of your story: - What time period does the story take place? - What creatures were alive during that time? - Are there any extinct or endangered creatures? There’s plenty to consider about the area where your story takes place and choose a companion based on that! Do you have a character from prehistoric times? They could have a dinosaur friend! What about an OC who lives in the woods? Maybe their companion is a wolf or bird creature. What about a character from space? They could have a cute alien critter as their companion! A good example of using settings to decide on a companion would be [Vic’s](https://unvale.io/ScratchTheFlea?ref=blog.unvale.io) companion character [The Crow](https://unvale.io/character/e44635a7-d89c-406c-93fb-a5cbc25dfe20?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Crow lives in the Red Forest! Another good example of using settings for deciding on a companion would be [Nerd’s](https://unvale.io/JustAnotherDNDNerd?ref=blog.unvale.io) companion character [Fernando](https://unvale.io/character/7a1f62fd-a500-4a48-ad79-e9fbc3dffab7?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Fernando is a crab on a ship sailing the ocean! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXde-LAYMI76EP1Tv8VbauGFxKeNZdblVoC7yoQo3krbwKxVDlYjKhL1ZiL37hl44Bf2CHfNBgN6sbE_zLP2y-SUhMtX3Pms9Enn7dBLAyGDpv-EJECtuxbrT9bAymH-bQH3l9-_?key=i58NTZwOxk-MPwrB6SF_Rg) A character who lives in a cave might be friends with the local bats, and an OC who lives underwater might have a fish friend or two! ## What kind of companion would match your OC? Similar to the setting, you might want to try and give your OC a companion that matches them! A companion could match your OC’s theme or motif, and could also match the role they play! Some animals match different themes better, and some might be better suited for different roles as well. A character who dresses more elegantly could have a different companion than a goth character would have. A pirate OC might have a parrot companion, while a mermaid has a fish friend, and a vampire might have a bat buddy! If you need inspiration, you could try thinking of your favorite character companions in your favorite stories! What kinds of companions do you find? Does the companion match the character, and how so? You could also look at the characters and their companions here on Unvale for more inspiration! The companion your OC has doesn’t have to match them either! You could do the opposite to add a bit of comedy to your story, or to show off a different side of your character! The companion could be a representative of how the character really acts, or their true nature. Maybe a character dresses elegantly, but they have a wild side, or vice versa! Here’s some questions to get you thinking: - Does my OC have a theme or motif their companion could match? - What kind of species is my OC, and are there creatures that would go with that? - What kind of job or role does my OC have? Questions like the ones above can help you come up with ideas as to the kind of companion your OC might have! Do you have a sailor OC? They could have a fish friend! What about a royal character? Maybe they have a spoiled cat companion! Do you have a goth OC? Maybe they have a pet spider! There’s plenty of options to choose from! A good example of a character with a matching companion would be [ExaEnds’](https://unvale.io/ExaEnds?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Icarus](https://unvale.io/character/793603fd-614f-4fc6-a9e1-51214e0e8b21?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Icarus is a parrot humanoid with a parrot companion! Another good example of a companion that matches the character would be [Charli’s](https://unvale.io/ItsjustCharli?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Quinn](https://unvale.io/character/4459afc5-ab38-49b3-b88b-2b8818c955b8?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Quinn is a vampire with a bat companion! ## What’s the importance of your OC’s companion? One more thing you’ll want to consider is the importance the companion has to your character! Maybe they’re a special guide, or they protect your OC! You’ll want to consider the story of your character and how the companion will help them with their journey. Maybe they’re a special fairy guide sent by royalty to help your OC, or they’re a unique creature that only follows around people pure of heart! You can also think about whether the companion was important to them before the story began or not! Some companions might have been a friend to your OC for years. Maybe the companion is related to your OC, or they hold some kind of sentimental significance! A companion that has importance in the story can be a great way to add some extra interest to your story as well! Here are some things you can think about when it comes to your companion’s significance: - Why are they important to my OC? - Do they provide some kind of assistance or guidance? - Are they related to the character in some way? - Do they hold sentimental value? Thinking about why your OC has a companion to begin with will help you flesh out your story, and help the companion feel more relevant! You don’t want the companion to feel forced into the story, so giving them a reason to be a part will help your story feel more coherent! Here’s some ideas to help you brainstorm: - A guide companion sent by a wizard - A family pet - A shapeshifter relative - A protective family member There’s plenty of ways to give your OC’s companion some importance to your character and the story, and it’ll enhance your OC too! They could support your OC and motivate them to keep going, or give the character something to protect! It’s up to you! A good example of companions that are important to the character would be [Flames’](https://unvale.io/FlamesHope?ref=blog.unvale.io) companion characters the [Helpers](https://unvale.io/character/d4056f26-3bbc-4d4e-88c1-95b69e78af8e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Helpers are siblings to the character Bloodstrike! Another good example of a character with a companion that has significance would be [FancyFishSticks](https://unvale.io/FancyFishSticks?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Devani](https://unvale.io/character/69876d6e-11ac-4b08-8d49-51d609d6ddff?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Devani has raven companions, and her husband can shapeshift into a raven! There’s lots of different things you can think about when deciding on a companion for your OC! Considering personality, setting, and significance can all help you with your choice. While you can use all the ideas mentioned here, you don’t have to! Make sure to have fun with it, and don’t stress too much! ### How to Build a Magic System for Your OC's World URL: https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-add-magic-into-your-ocs-world/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:03:04.000Z Magic! From near-science to forces of nature, to unknown powers outside of our comprehension, magic in stories can take many forms. You might already know that you want magic in your OC’s world, but you’re not sure how to implement it. Not to worry! This article will help make the arcane into the mundane, and you’ll be slinging spells in no time! ### Let's think about the World Setting If you’ve already got a good idea of what sort of world you’re writing for, let’s start there. As time marches on, so does our understanding of natural forces. At one point, dangerous substances such as mercury, lead and asbestos were used for medicine, water piping and insulation respectively. Perhaps your world has evolved the same way over time; or has the potential to. Is your world modern? Magic might be understood so well that it’s just another branch of scientific research. Maybe spells are cast through apps instead of with wands and tomes, and creating new spells involves literally coding them into existence. Maybe magic is so deeply ingrained in your world that technology never evolved to replace it. The washing machine was a revolutionary tool for women in our world, but they wouldn’t need it if they could wave their hand and clean a week's worth of laundry in an instant, would they? Consider how deeply ingrained magic is in your world, and how **accessible** it is. If you need more help developing your world, [check out my article on world building](https://blog.unvale.io/worldbuilding-development-questions/)! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfAINPhoLJEwgZ6fh0zKaj2N5pf2rTKinVveNtctYWThpTOKFUrWgnw0LpAuum7GsE-TRzBrWWm4ygKRWTni4aoXUrtvSBRCQkdnIdlhQKwbxG36co00_hmZjI2BJGPhHDXdDz_?key=Q4D29PV5PMU6BVFkdZfyxw) **Viviane transforms into Raven Mask with the power of the mysterious Heart Engine!* ### Accessibility questions to ask yourself Consider these questions when adding magic to your world, and it will feel much more natural. So… what *is* ‘accessibility’ in terms of magic? - How easy is it to use magic? - How easy is it to get magic tools? - How common is magic in your world? - Is magic a privilege only reserved for the few or is it a common right held by the public? - Is it a science that requires refinement and study? To summarize and give a proper example, just like writing and written language is to us in this world, maybe magic is an integral part of interacting with others and the world around us, and is taught in schools. Maybe it’s instead something more complex than the average person can grasp. That’s what ‘accessibility’ is in this case. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeq-eoA9-qikC1b0bx-X0WXZKkBRH28aA2sPZwHqf_OruqsRfs6VxU3KNRkPAMn8z1mPzG56I11Gow9yHxTN4Y-C5gmdTcpt_y1XaAdR9iy1lqNGEt0QmAiMm1hvrD8l--d242aaA?key=Q4D29PV5PMU6BVFkdZfyxw) **Studying editing is like learning magical knowledge sometimes…* ### Examples for you to consider! Here are some world ideas! - A modern world where people code magic spells and cast them using apps. - A parallel modern world with magical technology (aka magitech) instead of electricity. - A world set at the beginning of an industrial age of magitech. - A medieval fantasy world where nature is magical, and humans harness nature to create potions and magical items. - A world where magic is like alchemy, privately practiced in sects of scholars and where all magic has a price. Remember to use [#uvfeatureme](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:uvfeatureme&ref=blog.unvale.io) if you create a world with any of these ideas. I know I’d love to see them, and so would the other staff! ### Inspiring Unvale Creators You Should Follow URL: https://blog.unvale.io/inspiring-unvale-creators-to-consider-following/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:02:23.000Z Just joined Unvale and hoping to find some cool creators to follow? Maybe you've been here for awhile but sometimes struggle with seeking out cool people? **Well, look no further!** ## Traditional Art Creators on Unvale: ### [Aoifawho](https://unvale.io/Aoifawho?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcBIMbpt9_Usf1a2LUVV4aIj-8_1Km6yw9l8ggZg6bzcNdnv0fInj7HvX_r6zKXsJlq_6ki1qemjxxpMNWkQVxEEs2UN1cKJftQbwzEOmjemtDwtOuN1ad4PGJws7EaTPMlGosi.png) Art of [Mulberry](https://unvale.io/character/1d171661-568a-4169-bc90-adf3df1dfe4d?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has long hair in a ponytail, a jacket and pants, a fancy mech glove and a traveler’s pack. The drawing is in grayscale. --- ### [Popirby](https://unvale.io/Popirby?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXemiKdKW3nG38VntDlnoz4Ajq5AnS_u4JRZ3we8lHVlSFou8oVou8q7Fp-7RzZteqYrzjRXmv7bV9-x04NaZEg62OaJqRGqXif8sVhLn4iHEvSAgQelL5UDVdcAOsliAhqCanUT.png) Art of [Popirby](https://unvale.io/character/81e0b59a-813a-4e36-a96d-48cdf1610984?ref=blog.unvale.io). It is an abstract drawing in grayscale of a creature holding a banana surrounded by unique forms and lines. --- ### [5sushi](https://unvale.io/5sushi?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcOSUojggHHsTOWbSLMPqq8bs3cL0MnwA91iXobn20reiQM__etOfCTCoRC6e6q5ZvttYGxB09zr_Mfhp2LJKWoTM8FKpMdGSESt47Gw1KZ2p3G0NUjd4kacC3tp1oNN_qSrqpI.png) Art from “[( traditional art ) idk](https://unvale.io/character/8c81c9ff-d661-45b9-981b-bf1cd4781a03?ref=blog.unvale.io)”. It depicts a character with wings in place of eyes and long, dark wavy hair cascading around their face. --- ### [SockMonkey](https://unvale.io/SockMonkey?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdlLjYsdBbULCyHQx7dvu03_j9I71I8atQmlc3vUNP19eQoz3dQRAdrNS1WGmEuFYAKIDLTIdsx2qwTnTzNB_vVneicucHNjiSWlrjfbDQDtcQuIkxUyuSVg74r4BI4Ava9qsiiAg.png) Art of [Dàinn](https://unvale.io/character/b74c4207-1cee-4902-bce6-0579bf0c5b50?ref=blog.unvale.io). He has brown hair that is graying, yellow eyes with skull-shaped pupils, tan skin, and sunglasses. He’s wearing a black suit with a white vest and a black cloak with yellow fabric on the underside. --- ## Writers you can find on Unvale: ### [Oboegirl85](https://unvale.io/Oboegirl85?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfL2zIwLyqPi_S2_XuZb9zcxdfx5zzRdV7hYMM3XNvi-eA7IvH1VdQWAKFElyYGSajk2TqTZc9jGYfB-OB-DALYKQvVVZ3qM1bUl3-ZY2w1Wtfa9K-gEgs_up1eQ2wZ3VRcXsMzxw.png) Profile pic of Oboegirl85\. It is a headshot of a pale person with elven ears, short pointy black hair, gray eyes, and goggles lifted to their forehead. --- ### [BeccaBunny215](https://unvale.io/BeccaBunny215?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcPP3WopKlaqYPo9QRnZUHOGxwFdl_NrHEUV15S_xjTwSdpWmkz7iJHCVNXkzs0glR6mIWNaIbttym6D3Il_DW5I7BuHpk7RvW-LabSdfhvd2M2ZM6wTyRlT0LI-9QbOF45PoszNQ.png) Profile pic of BeccaBunny215\. It is a headshot of a feminine person with pale skin, long brown hair in a bun, blue eyes, glasses, and a purple turtleneck with no sleeves. They have an Unvale Super Star frame and the background is the asexual pride flag. --- ### [LamoonTheCAT](https://unvale.io/LamoonTheCAT?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXf3e_TiHfAduXV33tPhEcaco-RMTRkEq23z9o87JixZYyX4gySSRyGflx9OMj7kGp3Mx8vqsHdMRRRe6HCM7Q4pFWCIlI_tJGLZCiiWKBkvz0CoL0clXRAmTa245Kdrxx3Anlj47g.png) Profile pic of LamoonTheCAT. It is two cartoon eyes in black and white, split through the middle and opposite colors on either side. The right eye has a teardrop in it. --- ### [solarsunrise](https://unvale.io/solarsunrise?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcYWaQV2lwF0pK-ijdUNbj1-Uz7qqs5ehYcv_4UB7GHDTxgzC08TC36W5rdtn6ASA_KVyHdHeiR_fLWbEdoqaPhU3yl0R4Oe59fSFfNC24xqS389mkADU2K3o2MiHYw4e01i29MVw.png) Profile pic of solarsunrise. It is a headshot of her persona, which has pale skin, purple eyes, orange and yellow splatoon-like squid hair, and a green hoodie. --- ### [Mephistophyles](https://unvale.io/Mephistophyles?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXerXIUdjlfc9y4iEuNaMZJdIH-7S44YqbhIQk04JTGezebes1pGCavVstQk2y0oqOIcp_bRyxc5in8KYb8k7O-BuoKwz0pEe61pLbdtmdblolj0Y_Q6-p-fmT2kGOGJ8UGKgVLmiw.png) Profile pic of mephistophyles. It is a headshot of their oc “Father Mikaela Crowe,” who has multi-layered hair of yellow and brown, a maniacal expression of laughter, and a blue and orange suit. --- ## Furry/Anthro Creators on Unvale: ### [JustSomeone](https://unvale.io/JustSomeone?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcxQg8u-qPI76AGlXrJVpU6jUHx5Ua2-cWAUH_nnGoxwJj7JW-wOBAWJcn6Wri9j6P-mHH4rgGaP-oAFfVsHO9boO23WZ-WgJbrzlSAh92oLA-wVVWb_tfZR6daRJ9IDzF0hgRujA.png) JustSomeone’s persona, “Zander.” He is a demon with white fur, red eyes, and a horn with a glowing stripe. He’s wearing a black hoodie with a white checker pattern and manipulating power with his lifted hand. --- ### [keegamonsters](https://unvale.io/keegamonsters?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdwdO_hBA-IJv_n4m2601HLLYdOF3xwHGwJqsRIXwhzH9PLHxiNK1winIxtcQ92-SZzqb022QArZxWYKVoYuXLBqT5YwiJx_ZH8s_hEjTobwYYR6hNbn_kIbTGeC3cmARm_gG_PZQ.png) Keegamonsters’ character “Spiral.” They are a nanocat with white-yellow fur, brown hair, a black hoodie, orange toe beans, and opaque glasses with yellow and brown swirls. --- ### [OpeningWithZugzwang](https://unvale.io/OpeningWithZugzwang?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdeW3nktCx-zCNoXQzwGtqnsZ8Fo7hywF5WWYgXa2TFbzqg1r8yVLN6xacbPSu2mkQWsOiycM38jIp-tcYXkON3TpGzfkhWGcdk7hMojYErJON6L_GtcIJDe50zha9JCyrmmTu6DA.png) OpeningWithZugzwang’s character “Calrix Solven.” They are a light gray wolf with darker patches in their hair, pastel red eyes, wings coming out of their temples, glasses, and piercings. --- ### [Odysseyre](https://unvale.io/Odysseyre?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXc8AIqLG34BxZI7RTYYsX7QtCMkrfloxls2gYtT4UGPmUzsAUOMLP5u0APpHbI4a12fV4rUo-Zt0Ym32EGkYLPpex5w21Y-cvVyCsRCV17lwM3MT65PQQT3a6Fa6hMVGwGU4bcC4Q.png) Odysseyre’s character “Nivii The Frog.” She is an anthropomorphic frog in a vest, pants, and bandaged feet. She’s wearing a flower crown and smiling wide. --- ### [meNylo](https://unvale.io/meNylo?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXd65f-EBWG8aukdJh55TB5TOF2r7B9KH0Yb7pKV39QIV2UKoaRyl3kDGX_VF-LkM1hS5wmOfjxOpLe9XORx2h-jp593S-k3rmwmzBtbaotf5dDcHANhp20H6djJE2H1NpL_SYAytg.png) meNylo’s character “MeeNylo.” She is a pink bunny with large blue eyes, a blue bow on her head, and a yellow hoodie. --- ## Sci-Fi Creators on Unvale: ### [HoneyBrownieArt](https://unvale.io/HoneyBrownieArt?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeFbq7Jrb7Vgjo9MWgqQRaWN6_myNQv9iyqaGwWaKJUP5O_AMkV0lBaUTBhkBXWfoUaspusiEN3X1YLRcjdW1uWyTYB6Wi1O9xtqVO_QqAYy7xaysP2L95wLKGzSdFuNMI0JziP.png) Art from [Children of the stars](https://unvale.io/character/bb9e16b5-31c2-4233-8985-39896f5efda7?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io). It includes several alien OCs of different color palettes, species, and outfits messing around on planets and moons. --- ### [KohakuDragon](https://unvale.io/KohakuDragon?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfREJh0sl-F2Ifu9lLu_mOcpr-1tKg4H9Gsvrd67L7YYLwsb4YbWYWS0RRxpnkV37BJXwPwIJJMhC-wA0u0AyhQTLnRSJcO-D92koxvZcUxuqEmSj61zdjjXeZBsP5lMsmRte6T.png) Art of [Gamma](https://unvale.io/character/8eee1f65-aa69-4bca-b709-58a00d05839c?ref=blog.unvale.io). He has red, orange and yellow hair; green eyes; and pale skin. He is sitting in a pond with fireflies surrounding him and there is a frog on his head. --- ### [Artgelic](https://unvale.io/Artgelic?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcRjUAXI8R_ZVeX_aC0LsfGii6C2V62Tvue2J011Hc5rM3Wz-BU9hbjH89A88TTZDKDfjNPmFJ7BS3b3O3kxxYziyWVA1ZfNkqf3BuFcdqOUHltoCiO5Qsme0V98xF0naExoLj8SA.png) Art of [Zasra Stargazer](https://unvale.io/character/8c2a3229-c528-4ca4-955d-9b31f30756f3?ref=blog.unvale.io). They have green skin, a short pink dress, pink go-go boots and pink hair. She’s winking at the camera and lifting her chin on the back of her hand. --- ### [Lyon328](https://unvale.io/Lyon328?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXckwcTUwuUPThBlsI6CjgO-TjDK9FWJ2j2SGWCP-_lfKjY9foOtqyA5GODJlhEhLn7vLWbY137JgD8X8J0pKTATtblkMZmejzmOW_9jHryHSPzuX0W-yEKUgukUKusTBcj8o_jV_g.png) Art of [Jude Reneke](https://unvale.io/character/bd717557-1af7-4ed0-a368-8e67272cfa9b?ref=blog.unvale.io). He has a fair complexion, dark brown eyes and hair, and a black long-sleeve shirt with brown pants. He is forming bright energy between his fingers and leaning away from it. --- ### [KrispieTacos](https://unvale.io/KrispieTacos?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeXr80oDxhnFEO8fEXnSdLXGop8M5234RlyG1iIHfsIOeYlGc0ceb-IvDM-ig_RMnAEjUwNdwjkSeCJEDMEeALTuG9ImpXJSqqSie_O2810awKvokBnCbnYqe_4CNuh7FMJiITl3Q.png) Art of [tina moore](https://unvale.io/character/43647a1f-c617-4c61-b41f-106027a01b78?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io). She is drawn in all purple hues, with long wavy hair, glasses, and a dark hoodie. Her face is one of concern or disdain. --- ## Gacha Creators on Unvale: ### [Teddie](https://unvale.io/Teddie?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfK31KayA9OQdD3_g0NeY9iQhoAHg-V-zGyiyNDwl4w8bz7IiXAVTeKMyp44gJI_p-OEj4A6BcHoUs9VZeQFu4tt1ozb08DKKBy9VzJA0isKX8s7Sp1fm0GTamImIquVeQILDCUYw.png) Art of [Star](https://unvale.io/character/23edffcd-6ab6-4d8d-87af-669a8460ea29?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has a white and baby blue dress, shoes, and a bonnet. She also has short blonde hair and a halo, as well as bright light emanating off of her. --- ### [Cl0ud1ee](https://unvale.io/Cl0ud1ee?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfQvWc8ec3stkNCucvRNQL85BaOmu30AdjfvwnqbZi8dTqI_WVgLTa6-O7QzmwsaK5Y6WMHKpx722fUyMK--7P6sO7wR4jYxhXLzJmmpuC78Myy5YVlbdrID1mG38eBZpYrpgUG.png) Art of Frostbite. She is wearing a blue superhero suit with white and blue coats, fuzzy boots, and a hood with bear ears. --- ### [PastaBucket](http://unvale.io/PastaBucket?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfm7Mx9ou3IGJ5cXk11dYCd0E8_8jA7H3Ql6SgTJe9-D_74oUi5DlxvXym2acsOMSlYA3wzubCiqvqQUBjJTDR1cHp_Gez30ZnWqAbt5L47TS3PzeiwB4Ci7fh_4ByrcuqGEmgO.png) Gacha version of [Hava](https://unvale.io/character/04b630a2-c4d3-4935-ab21-e5d0d9dd804b?ref=blog.unvale.io). They have blonde hair with blue streaks, yellow eyes, and blue and purple armor with a scarf, boots, and a spear. --- ### [craykayza17](https://unvale.io/craykayza17?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfJazP_2huC1pl0fTdPbCpQWk2FbNgh_f9M4JyXdLAfboIvkdU4-UdRb_fMA-uzx3IeY3szCsCEsIV4_k-LQPC6aFqYQkyr_MkXAOnDmvbBo7vzyDK8HtIiyO-PzuTfXPCCyxUbWA.png) Art of [Lilac](https://unvale.io/character/3280042a-0808-4fc1-ac82-01459ae47ebe?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has brown skin, purple and pink hair, purple eyes, and freckles. She is wearing a purple and white striped shirt, a white and violet cat ear beanie, and blue jeans. --- ## Dungeons and Dragons Creators on Unvale: ### [thestarfishface](https://unvale.io/thestarfishface?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcdon9HoOOCNaMQMsLw5TvUCZmD2ko6UgBpf-u_utJWc6lHc0KeujGzH7epvu2kUmgLITpk-7_PPB0v19WeSQ3BwwYr0-mmefMx5YVhUYRvSzJ3nEFwFzBWlZib6t1k2ZkvzxekUQ.png) Art of [Verity Noblesse](https://unvale.io/character/2f59302b-9e4b-4567-8353-3b0bddff7872?ref=blog.unvale.io). She is a tiefling with light violet skin, white hair, blue eyes, horns, and knight armor with a blue dress underneath. She has a kind, bashful expression. --- ### [Lacramioara](https://unvale.io/Lacramioara?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeJVl6JLdkFpkuWw5BrCJs1QmgZ_ZOHJbIu_aRsp1AQKA9wSiOKRWbFuDeNwbakizyjRQyq1uoonzft0umrK4m7Y2im7W3mIpxeHtEyoFKkp_CxVUWpbuvogOg_D-oIcK9AdrNhFw.png) Art of Aurette “Malagueña.” They are a fairy with pale skin and yellow exoskeleton limbs, yellow eyes, long light brown hair and yellow wings. They’re sitting in a martini glass and posing with their limbs held out. --- ### [Nephremir](https://unvale.io/Nephremir?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfthMeVOZcQyKpahSnJfewEQXoX6uI9XZNoaG9ozFyQoXacX0BV9Dl272Dz82Z-tIPQ1a-uCC48OGt0oJF0wkJ-7ioZG-PNoO5r_rc9oWhUL-voiRD2HT7yBIebfEVdn_s736LTbw.png) Art of [Nephremir Mormos](https://unvale.io/character/35825ff0-621d-4a98-ab48-85004c0e73bf?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Nephremir. He is a tiefling with orange skin, brown hair, fully brown eyes, pointed ears, horns, and a tail. He is wearing patched-together clothing and a crystal necklace. --- ## My Little Pony Creators: ### [Interstellarttz](https://unvale.io/Interstellarttz?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeuL6-mVa5Ip2XwQGszVRa8iSoZaGDjZDF02zHRrRpJcSepI290BGJ1ngIXSlPaAtOqtpAi5e7Voa7MT-4_Zr1OjjFlAyyhUtv9NrGP0f2Zn9JZiOBMbQXT2cbn_1Op_R_HE9OO.png) Art of [Puffball](https://unvale.io/character/a8cd2b03-0577-42b5-9f14-c4f297c2020f?ref=blog.unvale.io), a character by Interstellarttz. She has patches of longer fur and puffball mushrooms on their legs. Her mane is blonde and their eyes and hooves are violet. --- ### [Seasun](https://unvale.io/Seasun?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXd_QsB_BhQfW5McNrEXra_1XSOkW91TgFXv2m0mbTujkIYubdqeJJPEn_hX1c2tnYDjz7S6ac3i20BziU8nXy9tTnoK6w99VTvxWKh3Lr5bmH_RCnmMQNmWujhCUOMsuq4qm8yO.png) Art of [Silly Seed](https://unvale.io/character/d63b76c4-fd86-4d8e-b6b8-1971172bb6f9?image=4c5c9c2d-2842-466b-a36b-790e0e9e68d6&ref=blog.unvale.io). She is a unicorn with a coat that gradients yellow to red with a bright green mane, tail, and hooves. --- ### [FoxDoodles](https://unvale.io/Foxdoodles?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcj8NtENmzvNDUTJjuT-DxNCFW0L8rnmHc_F_82gbsFsOrIX2HCobU4vqEFJDaJy2i1p8rvvbdUaEIM-1PLOFIKdpcV_T0sYBtXwwqLQUVk6TGAq7-msR5sbhD06ik9fblMpVut.png) Art of [Solar Flare](https://unvale.io/character/02a33ef2-41db-4191-bd6f-448311ebd4a4?ref=blog.unvale.io). He is a pegasus with a pastel yellow coat and a red and orange mane. His cutie mark is a red and orange heart with a sun shining through it. --- ### [GhostlyCrow](https://unvale.io/GhostlyCrow?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdOmleFtrsBMDPMGNkCIujrCRwjJHyorLhUgJV_-duQzvJ4zAJ7KRBQhpfLz-cEKnXE__21PFTYOvIJKz3hC_lrREZPeQ-2sDvPUvbHeIM0Di1LRTlqjgnssXxf-cSxXEamEepT.png) Art of [Fluttermoth](https://unvale.io/character/272b6d14-84a9-4570-b0e9-fe349e9b28cc?ref=blog.unvale.io). He is a pegasus with a yellow coat, a red mane, red eyes, horns, a green cloak, and a red and yellow moth for a cutie mark. --- ## Spidersona Creators on Unvale: ### [inkshroOm](https://unvale.io/inkshroOm?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXc34GtWC0JR4UpeWOQvDmQm0893Xd0ByZUA37cV-GWp3SjSs0S8CrWJNwGMcBJmuPfbdH0ZHTxr4Wy1ofcvRRmsUkdpPy7O95Rsqs1AcomEz75dlD4znb0VCJbvF1I3NJomTKSsLw.png) Art of [Spink](https://unvale.io/character/626e3e68-4a6e-4f5a-9459-012b014a7c50?ref=blog.unvale.io). He is a pale adult with brown hair that had a blonde tuft, light facial hair, and alternative clothing and accessories. They are talking to a venom symbiote that is attached to them. --- ### [Lemonkitkat](https://unvale.io/Lemonkitkat?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfnkDSfRJqcnn-axz78dzMDs5nNvMOABT4zn-mG6qwAWD3J36jFO5CdUu6k_9hROlQKJIJarXczzS528R0wTxwZwLOVLkhzcxRlU76GULJvomy5136trU2jC3ajUgKH8dqJx5RX.png) Art of Mist. She has a blue spider-suit with light blue webs, yellow stars and dark blue lines going down her cheeks and across her torso. --- ### [BoxOfCereal](https://unvale.io/BoxOfCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdvUKykW-73zSFhj4Mm5rdI7YRuXhmVzoNPGxHKD5_O4Rv3nx4aNd5amVhtWQ5aHihLpd4kbdDt4nHtQAKW6Rbl3Vej4YuF5OcU-FutotWRfM_njj5fpspRpQwNPsB9FHb82bI_.png) Art of [Spider Mantis](https://unvale.io/character/03e9036f-c0d2-4384-98c3-f0009444cef7?ref=blog.unvale.io). They have a green spider-suit with red knees, boots, elbows, gloves and sides. Blonde and green hair is tied back on the outside of their mask. --- ### [Gimble](https://unvale.io/Gimble?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXcS7aw62TLcDpwG9178P4Mp0eykiU5svmyWEIOVG9olCk1ht-mA7gmQ45zFK_6TWieiFZFQCk2NLwR22q29dLLZMCX0m0XgqfMf4JtnYFgBLGdPTyFPiwnhz8R9JAkBcdnuD73Oug.png) Art from “[Finally! A Spidersona!](https://unvale.io/character/33850c44-29ed-4991-8070-5ca1537421fb?ref=blog.unvale.io)” Gimble’s spidersona has a black suit that fades into a light blue-gray, with purple web long sleeves that go over the arms of the suit. --- ### [oddoddity66](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeab_qAB_Eo8jNRyZeM-tFCGOAJ-EuhSkkURv1bogEOdqHW10aKKHTr28RdevGfeKqLpXDs4XYlQbn79S5l0dCMqRdvkaX2tI2y1-TawQ1wh9Ko2v97g2z0opZTvAU4xoiQgGmzFw.png) Art of [Pyro-Spider](https://unvale.io/character/c89f192d-bade-4b16-852a-440d19f2d8b2?ref=blog.unvale.io). Their spider suit is sleeveless red and orange, and they are wearing dark teal and bright turquoise sweatpants and shoes. Their brown hair comes out of the mask, tied half-up. --- ## Demon Slayer Creators on Unvale: ### [SomeRandomKiddo](https://unvale.io/SomeRandomKiddo?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdRX54_AoHbJLAP3zflr6Wr-pbNQ3rjclk6hdOFG8kJ0Co3UT8UtJMtQrmigaLCkwcyFKqSWXnTdsREy-6tWReYcSJJfzkj_0npEj2g4d-yQ-zr1vfp30Z1XRu9a9T5-xVjkDj_.png) Art of [Kagesaki Ritsu](https://unvale.io/character/4bcc5bad-b036-4db9-b115-3a169d1dd219?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has long white hair in twin braids, pale blue eyes, and pale skin. She’s wearing a blue robe over a demon slayer uniform top and skirt. --- ### [LilyChannn](https://unvale.io/LilyChannn?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfMvR6RrVFGhM546UJxZdq2Q-D6WRbw8wUBeflzOBXqEgwLFPRHQgjc05qvwrVGlYqi--o7acVmATy6VqQHlLxX3ZrrRl7U4xET0yKQdMuLWA9kvRQ6DxkPVIttRz-4bKKdWfVKLQ.png) Art of [Fuyuki Kazahana](https://unvale.io/character/035ef3b5-9164-4f70-a34e-11a6c5d3db6a?ref=blog.unvale.io). He has white hair and lashes, deep blue eyes, and a blue coat with a white fur collar over his uniform. --- ### [twistedpossum](https://unvale.io/twistedpossum?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXduGTDxJWLOAUwUMnhCQWulVepU9zu7eA4uURvSTHkLHtg6NnMYh9HiPEEmHOT9mVGMCJM5Rp2uouEyvUTTVj9ssaRLOBG41FBAL682s0_oi6AFSRlI8h5kf-j8xlPd0cgGYPn4.png) Art of [Emiri](https://unvale.io/character/85630388-a81f-4d1f-bc2d-40302307128b?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has neck-length black hair, green eyes with black dots under them, and a white robe over her uniform. She is accompanied by a white snake. --- ### [Anvivia](https://unvale.io/Anvivia?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdPSyn9-2eiL6OP4v27u9hrqft9icsEkyQP1tOFi2O-qzezBigTsUs74aVck9e90uZipm_32YYyoIpbw7c-dDen5huGl1HUds-4WZb1EkYzcq2jsiI653wpWi-KuG5AxYXWO4kFEg.png) Art of [Ayuki Chisaki](https://unvale.io/character/ebb9d5d3-d344-465a-85f8-a81d2da320e9?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has brown hair almost as long as she is tall, orange and green eyes, an orange bandana in her hair, and a cheerful demeanor. She is wearing a standard demon slayer uniform with a black skirt and long socks. --- ### [MirellaSandy](https://unvale.io/MirellaSandy?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfOxZXuXap0JV9PU921iTZJmKaZe-8H_tcB_l14JIsFV6-hvyjw_dZMjpVJUlIawIjU5BSoAWJOm2I-FsIqfnyXodoQ5rcAKBK3xtek7976HGKYSETmWT2YF-6tmvFt08RTpJWSFw.png) Art of [Yukina Shirayuki](https://unvale.io/character/3b694521-ffee-4c87-8dfe-e1a58e6391b6?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has white hair in a bun, ice blue eyes, a shoulder coat over her uniform and snow-patterned tights with brown ice skate boots. --- ## Sonic Creators on Unvale: ### [RaatBunnie](https://unvale.io/RaatBunnie?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXfgXTjB8LQ5JRp4GKc1Z6igQiaiqqJR4wPf6qyNYhMthLy_B0Z-Al8VXV2a8q-NWSO4NPiUvvk9sfrKzLfZEIE3DicgotFjcPh6i3ee-RcH9eO4Guy6Sg6QO0BnZyI0I-O7CWH9ew.png) Art of [Scamper](https://unvale.io/character/9c6a804e-2280-4a93-b0c5-32f03a0b0aea?ref=blog.unvale.io). He has brown fur and quills, yellow-orange eyes, gold fangs and red gloves. He’s smirking at the camera and holding his hands up in claws. --- ### [Estrellar Martinus](https://unvale.io/EstrellarMartinus?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXeqVq81AclvbKujULuFQAhtGzZvjDJZCdWpKJ3enagG4d1PVhXseFD-uj375_u2fiImwtHYkF6UXyG75bbm5GujAB_FXknc9J8HM4qawJCGh5ktak1gQP-LmxzGqZIEIEkGLdGXOg.png) Art of [Aster the Shapeshifter](https://unvale.io/character/ba69106e-def9-4823-8869-f454266b0639?ref=blog.unvale.io). They have white and peach fur, golden yellow eyes, and black gloves. He is looking off to the side and raising an arm. --- ### [LaziiLuna](https://unvale.io/LaziiLuna?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXektBKhRO6moPFA9qy7eSatoz93eSjBwYTjPxir-xYrHTcOtMKPrmEq9bj9jFFAb6YMNP4UHcVGzs2X8buWx2GwNGDI9YuQaQUEanTUYVFMq239-5D05Zr9S-z0YdgiGTLb0I-V1Q.png) Art of [Luna The Hybrid](https://unvale.io/character/18443821-eddc-4497-9e80-7afd1c94abec?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has blue and green fur, green eyes, and an orange and white jacket and boots. They are winking at the viewer and giving a peace-sign to the camera while balancing on one foot. --- ### [GONEBATTY](https://unvale.io/GONEBATTY?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXdDBDyAGjwo9nn_cEe9fn4zwVa-qDO6T5uGjoFp-Isd7bAZpyimp71xQ2OcbFehGBWFPyB70dmuxvYk2hvg5BDSOBWAkJOVTbof6iNmlH-bTCt5wdQ5717gBv-B2GY-vptNQhEV-w.png) Art of [Rouge the bat (AU vers)](https://unvale.io/character/f2048460-8b91-4b94-8edd-9143ad315366?ref=blog.unvale.io). She’s drawn in black marker– a humanoid bat with large fluffy bat ears, a heart-shaped patch of fur on her chest, and bat wings. --- ### [TheSanctumOfTheDevils](https://unvale.io/TheSanctumOfTheDevils?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/AD_4nXf4jyGPMypzEVxOMZStqyHs7ow4Cdv7vDhSafBPU94MpdXvWxZiLfPoMf7xgm-eh9k9N4U2rLhodEGC2a1uMXeLRe3Qpz8BBBSQMUpZtjdXhNPoVqtQ2aDtazBF_ADnSaSEzLzA.png) Art of [Nightmare The Hellfox](https://unvale.io/character/e376d02d-96ee-46ec-8a3c-3239ef9bb7fb?ref=blog.unvale.io). She has black and white fur white red and blue accents, red and blue heterochromia eyes, and black alternative clothing with red and blue details throughout. ### 10 Public Domain Characters for Your Next Story URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-famous-characters-you-can-use-in-your-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:05:21.000Z So much of modern storytelling is built around reusing and subverting known stories and tropes to create something unique or surprising. Isolating cliches allows us to avoid them or even turn them into something new to trick our audience, but can something similar be done with entire characters? Sometimes it’s hard to buy-in completely on a brand new character as a writer or as a reader. It can be helpful, or just more fun, to instead use someone well-known to instantly convey the power, importance, danger, etc. that an original character faces. Luckily, the public domain is not solely for people that want to make Winnie the Pooh or Mickey Mouse horror movies. It is a treasure trove of literary characters that are all available to be used in ANY story. ### Dorian Gray **Public Domain: *The Picture of Dorian Gray* originally published 1890** Right out the gate is a character that any horror writer should consider featuring or exploring in one of their stories. Dorian Gray, from *The Picture of Dorian Gray*, is a wealthy Victorian era Londoner who has cracked immortality. The only catch, a magic portrait of himself grows old in his attic in his place. Not only does the portrait age, but it also becomes more decrepit as Gray sins, becoming a twisted horrifying visage as he falls further into crime and depravity. If you want to attempt to modernize an old horror tale, you won’t find anything more apt than this, or if you need a solid villain for an original character to face, why not take down a supernatural narcissist. ### Cthulhu **Public Domain: *The Call of Cthulhu* originally published in 1928** This one might be pushing the definition of “character,” but isn’t that what makes the madness-inducing monster so interesting to begin with? One of the “old gods” in the universe crafted by H.P. Lovecraft, this underseen being lives in the depths of the sea and drives sailors and explorers mad if they travel close to his domain. It’s said in his story that even seeing him with your eyes will make you insane. That said, we’ve clearly all been looking, because Cthulhu is one of the most recognizable faces in horror media today. He is often used in any story that needs a massive abstract creature that can also morph the way reality is perceived. A great final boss for any story that wants to use dread-inducing lovecraftian horror, wants a beast underwater, or just wants to use a lot of tentacles. Great news, you can also use cherry-pick his lore and powers for things that bolster your story, or just use his name and come up with something wholly unique. ### Robin Hood **Folklore & Myth, Select stories in the public domain** The suave archer that steals from the rich and gives to the poor. Robin Hood’s tales go back hundreds of years, being first shared vocally as myths, ballads, poems, etc. Then, they were performed on the stage, before, finally, being written and recorded as published works. Luckily, the idea and folklore isn’t the only thing anyone can use, as the original written works are now in the public domain. Robin Hood and his merry band are all in the public domain, meaning the characters and even the original story are yours to twist or remix. Little John, The Sheriff of Nottingham, Maid Marion, and so many more are all part of the original work and therefore up for grabs. The character can be included as a cameo or side character in a story about an original character, or you can take a full swing at writing a new Robin Hood story of your own. You just have to make sure he’s as cool as the fox Robin Hood Disney came up with. ### Davy Jones **Folklore & Myth** Because of my age, film fandom, and overall interest in looking at Orlando Bloom, when I hear Davy Jones I picture the tentacle-faced pirate monster from the *Pirates of the Caribbean* films. I’m sure many other people immediately picture the version from *Spongebob*. Both of these properties are able to do their own spin on the same character because he’s a legend from Scottish folklore, and not someone’s copyrighted idea. There are a number of mythologies attached to Davy Jones in a ton of different stories, but at his simplest, he’s a pirate said to be immortal, that sails the seas collecting souls. He’s a perfect fit for an original story because his name carries so much weight, without there being too much lore to keep up with or try to match. ### Dracula **Public Domain: *Dracula* originally published in 1897** The lord of darkness, the king of vampires, and the main character of four *Hotel Transylvania* movies, Vlad Dracula is one of the most well-known and used characters in history. A vampire count that lives in a gothic castle, preys on townsfolk, and has a series of ultra-specific powers and weaknesses. Dracula is a fantastic add to practically any fantasy story or story that needs a powerful character to show up and instantly convey a tone or mood. He can make the stakes higher (no pun intended) or add a burst of levity with a clever subversion of his traditional traits. He’s the opposite of Davy Jones, in that he has so much convoluted lore that you can often get away with picking and choosing what works for your story and disregarding the rest, without any Dracula megafans being turned off by his portrayal. ### Frankenstein (And His Monster) **Public Domain: *Frankenstein originally published in 1818*** The idea of sewing a body together and bringing it to life can arguably be done without this specific character, but it’s nice that it doesn’t have to be. The mad scientist doctor Victor Frankenstein can show up in your story, or you can solely utilize the famous monster, made of body parts and brought to life via electricity. It’s worth noting, however, that while the original story of *Frankenstein* is public domain, the feature films aren’t, so certain aspects, such as Igor or the Bride, are not available to be used. It is the doctor and the monster up for grabs here. This is also the place where I want to note that the rest of the “classic Universal monsters” are based on public domain ideas as well. *The Invisible Man* is from a public domain novel, and *The Mummy* and *The Wolfman* are retellings of folklore, and there isn’t a copyright on mummies or werewolves. ### Hercules **Folklore & Myth, Select literary stories in the public domain** Another hero that goes back far enough to legend and folklore long before he was featured in books or films, Hercules is a demigod with one parent who is a god and one who is human. As long as you steer clear of stealing anything specifically from a novel or film, such as using “Phil” from the Disney movie, you can use all of Hercules’ wide-ranging stories to craft the lore that best fits your narrative. Plus, the entire pantheon of Greek gods and goddesses are copyright free, meaning they can be used in your Hercules fiction, or can show up as characters themselves. Zeus, Hades, Poseidon, etc. can all impact your fantasy story. ### King Arthur **Folklore & Myth, Select literary stories in the public domain** Keeping with the pattern of myths and legends, tales of King Arthur have been told for centuries. Even the literary stories go back as far as the 1400s, meaning they are free to use and recycle, and that there are more stories than you could ever need for reference. Arthur is brave and cunning, classically taking to the throne after pulling the magic sword excalibur from a stone or from a lake. King Arthur also has a round table that seats a fleet of 12 knights including Lancelot, Gaewain, Percival, and well, nine more. Each has their own personality and all can be used in your stories. He also often confides in the wizard Merlin, who has been depicted as evil, benevolent, and everything in between. Merlin is also free to use, meaning you could reimagine any of these characters in any way you need, creating compelling drama within this medieval England, or within your own fantasy world where they are just extra flavor. ### Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde **Public Domain: *Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde* originally published in 1886** This iconic duo has been in the public domain so long that horror comics publishers were using him for free in the 40’s and 50’s in comic books that are now, funnily enough, in the public domain themselves. Jekyll is a morally corrupt scientist that pushes one of his own experiments too far, giving himself the alter ego of Mr. Hyde. This change most often comes with a physical transformation as well, with Hyde being bigger, meaner, and more ogre-looking than Jekyll. This is a classic villain and can make for a great two-in-one character for an original story. You can play with the two sides, or maybe even hide on and use it later as a reveal. ### Sherlock Holmes **Public Domain: *The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes* originally published 1927** The world’s most famous, and maybe most successful, detective. Arthur Conan Doyle’s iconic works of mystery fiction have all fallen into the public domain, meaning that the genius eccentric private eye is now available to solve any original mystery you see fit. Along with his partner Watson, of course. It’s best here to either come up with purely original takes on the famed detective, or to strictly adhere to what Doyle laid out, as Sherlock Holmes has been rewritten or adapted more than anyone else on this list except likely Dracula. All of these new works are copyrighted, meaning you will want to avoid anything you’ve seen in the movies, and read up on what existed in the original stories. Or better yet, come up with something brand new and exciting and feature the detective in name only. --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! ### Choosing the Right Job or Role for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:53:37.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* There’s lots of things to think about when designing your character and figuring out their story, and something that plays a big part in that is the job or role they have! The job your OC has can set up their part in the story, and their role in the story will help you decide what they do! So how do you figure out the jobs they should have and the roles they should play? Let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What’s Your OC‘s Personality Type? One thing that will play a big part in your OC’s occupation or their role in the story is their personality! The personality of a character often affects the choices they make and what the OC might or might not do. ### Extroverted vs Introverted Certain jobs are better suited for different personalities than others. Some jobs may involve more talking to people and social skills, while others might have less interactions with people. A more extroverted character might be better suited for a career that involves talking to a lot of people! They might be better suited for jobs with lots of teamwork and engagement. Jobs such as: - Teacher - Salesperson - Event planner - Actor Jobs such as the ones above involve lots of interaction and talking! Communication would be more face-to-face, and involve plenty of conversating. While not for extroverts exclusively, someone with a more outgoing personality might gravitate towards jobs like those. Other jobs are better suited for introverts. Introverts might prefer something more quiet, and with less interaction. Introverts might not like as much talking to people as an introvert does, and that could lead them into choosing a job with less interaction. Jobs such as: - Accountant - Artist - Writer - Engineer Jobs like these require a lot less talking than other options. Most jobs will still require some form of communication, but ones such as the list above could have less, or the communication could be done online instead of face-to-face! These jobs aren’t just for introverts though! They might be more appealing to introverts, but they aren’t just for them! ### How Does Personality Affect Your OC’s Role? In terms of the role in the story your OC has, personality will affect that too! Different personalities might be better suited for different story roles! A more strategic and calculating character might be better suited for a more supportive role, while a more outgoing and commanding OC might be better as the leader of the group. You’ll want to consider the kind of person your OC is when choosing what role they play in the story, and use that to help you decide the kinds of things they might do in the story! A more helpful character might be the medic of the group, while a stronger character might be the same group’s defender! Depending on your story, you might want a character to have a role they’re not actually suited for! A shy and timid OC might be the hero of the story, despite not wanting to be! Them being the hero could help them grow and become more confident as a person. A more prideful and stubborn character might have ended up in a more supportive position, despite wanting to be the leader of the group. The character could learn humility and compassion from their role. Here’s some questions to think about when thinking about personality and your OC’s role: - Are they more introverted or extroverted? - Are they confident or timid? - Should they have a role that suits their personality? - Should they have a role that doesn’t suit them, but will help them grow? Questions like the ones above can help you decide the kind of role you can give your character! Thinking about the role your OC has and how it corresponds with their personality can help you figure out what to do! It all depends on the kind of story you want to tell, and the personality of your character! A good example of using personality to choose a job for your character would be [MacaRomy’s](https://unvale.io/MacaRomy?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Ari](https://unvale.io/character/b6a00ef1-5d08-42f3-ae8b-aab40b4899fd?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Ari is a musician, and he has a dramatic personality fitting for a performer! Another good example for choosing a role for your OC would be [Seren’s](https://unvale.io/Serenadezz?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Jester Seren](https://unvale.io/character/7797ca4c-ab33-4cb7-b460-0b602d26818d?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Seren is kind and loves to make others laugh, which is the perfect personality for a jester! ## What Are Your OC’s Skills and Interests? Another factor in the job or role your OC could have is their personal interests, or the skills they have! Skills and interests often go hand-in-hand, since usually people try to get better at the things they enjoy doing. Characters will hopefully have a job in something they enjoy and are skilled at! Different jobs and different roles require different skills that not everyone has! Not everyone wants to work at a zoo, and not everyone has the skills to be a math teacher. It often depends on skill level and preference! Some skills an OC could have are: - Writing - Working with people - Building - Art - Combat - Cooking There’s lots of different skills an OC can have, and lots of jobs to choose from based on that! It might be odd for a cook to be more skilled in fighting than cooking, and it might also be strange if the group’s defender is better at art than fighting. People have all kinds of different interests, and it’s nice to have a job you’re interested in! A character might try and find a job in a topic they enjoy, and that will make the job more fun for them! Some interests character might have could include: - Stars and planets - Animals - Food - Books and movies - Fashion - Plants Basing your OC’s job on their interests could be a fun way to show off what they like! An OC who likes stars might be an astronomer, while a character who likes animals might work in a zoo. A character who likes food might be a baker, and one who likes plants might start up a gardening business! There’s plenty of options to choose from when it comes to jobs based on interest! A character might have a job that doesn’t fit their interests too! You could use that to help plan your story as well! Maybe they wanted a job that pays higher than one that would’ve fit their interests, and now they’re miserable despite having a lot of money. They could’ve got hired by accident, or they’re just good at something they don’t really enjoy! ## What’s the Setting of the World? Another big part in the job or role your OC has is where the story takes place. You probably wouldn’t want a medieval knight in a story set in modern day, and you probably wouldn’t want a robot assassin in ancient times! Unless your OC is a time traveler, you probably want a job that’s fitting for the time period and setting! Some jobs existed earlier than others, and if your story’s set in the future, the job might not even exist in real life yet! The setting doesn’t have to be just the time period either! You probably won’t find a farmer in a city, or a taxi driver on a deserted island! Lots of places have a different variety of jobs, and they won’t all be the same. Here’s some questions you can think about for the setting of your story: - What time period does it take place? - Where does the story take place? - Would the job depend on the setting? - Is the story fantasy or realistic? Questions like the ones above can get you thinking about what kind of job your character could have. Do you have a fantasy character? Maybe they could be a monster hunter! What about a character in the city? They could be a lawyer! Do you have a character on an island in the 1700s? Maybe they could be a pirate! Once you figure out the setting, you can do research on the kinds of jobs that exist in that time period or place! If you have a more fantasy or sci-fi kind of story, you could take a look at some of your favorite stories for inspiration and ideas! If your story is set in modern day, you could even look at jobs in your area to get an idea what some of the options could be. You could even just look up lists of jobs to help inspire you! Here are some job ideas to get your creativity flowing: - A zoo keeper - A Potion maker - A computer scientist - A video game coder - An assassin - A spy - A wizard - A knight The jobs above are just a few options to choose from. There’s lot of unique jobs that exist in the world, and knowing the setting of your story can help you decide what kind of job to give your OC! The job your OC has doesn’t always have to be setting-accurate either. If you have a more humorous story, then an OC might have a job not fitting for the setting at all! It could be used as a running gag or for a comic relief character. Or if the story involves different universes or time travelers, that could be another reason a character might have a job that wouldn’t usually fit with the setting. A good example of using the setting for choosing a job for an OC would be [Pidge’s](https://unvale.io/PigeonFanclub?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Aspen](https://unvale.io/character/af17a797-ac57-47eb-a7a4-b3b630894c71?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Aspen is a skilled bounty hunter, which is perfect since he lives in a western town! There are plenty of ways to go about choosing the job your character has or the role they might have in the story! Thinking about your OCs personality, interests, and the setting of the story can all help you decide what kind of job they might have. They could even have multiple jobs! It’s all up to you. While you can use all this when deciding what you’ll do, you don’t have to! It’s your story, so try to have fun with it! ### 10 "Meet the Artist" Post Tips to Get You Started URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-tips-to-start-your-meet-the-artist-post/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:08:16.000Z A ‘meet the artist’ post or image is a common and fun way for artists to introduce themselves while showing off their creativity. Here are ten tips to get started and to make the best and easiest to read post! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Tip Number 1 : Prioritize Safety and Privacy It might be counter intuitive, but the first step to making a ‘meet the artist’ post is to consider what information you **don’t** want to share with other users. The internet is forever, and there’s always a chance that people you don’t want to share your personal information with might see your post, whether it be strangers, family, or school friends. Before considering what you do want to share, **make sure your safety comes first.** ### Tip Number 2 : Finalize a Layout First Before you start adding information, decide how you want the layout to look. Do you want a square shaped image that fits perfectly as an Unvale thumbnail? Or do you want a rectangular canvas? Do you want it to be text only, or with art on one half of the canvas? Maybe you want multiple pages to really get into introducing yourself. Try dividing up your canvas into parts before you add text, marking down what you want where. ### Tip Number 3 : Highlight Important Information Design your sheet in a way that draws the eye to what you want people to start with. Putting the most important information in the top left or right corner is generally the best idea, and usually the most important place to start is: your name. If your username is different from your preferred online nickname, make sure you make your preferred name extra visible. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXcAQgUggGJrM71uFNXJBgKop1dxEPTDcJdFMjWiN1oHhMqH7fuJseWfk9PEOMWi01YHPVqOMIYqJbVOWVCmIpIwhkxnNRQBIG_8ykrI_sXWXXPYiBz2mlsHxvGrGtsL93wo0JtrEg?key=HNGtQ5GjoZOEuL_42avnhQ) **Ah, WIPs… wait, no, don’t post this yet! It’s not done!!* ### Tip Number 4 : Keep Similar Info Together For instance, your preferred pronouns are best placed near your name, while something like your likes and dislikes should be organized in a list. It can be confusing for the reader if information is too scattered around the page. Pride flags can be neatly organized into a line, or maybe placed around your name like stickers! As long as similar information is nearby, anything goes. ### Tip Number 5 : Keep Info Neat and Readable If you know you have messy handwriting, or you have too much information to add so you make all the text tiny, that can be hard for people to read. If your program has the ability to add typed out text, take advantage of that to make sure you can get across everything you want to your readers. Some Unvale users use translation or text to speech apps to help read, so creating an extra text document in the writing section with all the information on your page will be a big hit with those users! ### Tip Number 6 : Pick Colours Carefully Like the above tip, be careful when picking out colours for text. One of the most difficult experiences I’ve had reading a document was cyan text on a white background, which was basically illegible. So, as a general rule of thumb; keep dark text on light backgrounds, and light text on dark backgrounds. Picking colours that aren’t too similar and don’t clash directly also majorly benefits the reader experience. To try out some new palettes, I’d suggest the site [Coolors](https://coolors.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Its basic functions are free to use. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc3MAZWcKGwvg9FP4_wrlAB5KE4DhYNootq7naw6XQJMrEKgzv2Ip4ZsvwBQGwGuOYX4h5STxqkvyqUFU3QBWwUJgjA6zwSTvNkzOvRSIHOb1LlGPmh5_hYxX6d5hovQ71k1OvYcA?key=HNGtQ5GjoZOEuL_42avnhQ) **It says… “Can you read this? What about this? Or this?”* ### Tip Number 7 : Pick a Fun Theme! Finally, we’re out of the boring tips. Thanks for sticking with it! It’s important to pick a theme for your meet the artist post. Whether it be a specific palette, themed around your sona, beach or autumn themed, anything goes as long as it all matches in a visually appealing and fun way! This is a great chance to show off your personality through what you decide to add. **Here are some suggestions for themes:** - Ocean themed 🌊 - Forest themed 🌲 - Candy themed 🍭 - Space themed 🌌 - Favourite OC themed ⭐ - Horror themed 👻 ### Tip Number 8 : Add Music to Your Page You may or may not be aware of the ability to add music to Unvale pages! Well, make sure to remember to add your favourite song or a song that represents you well to your post when you upload to Unvale. If you’re not sure how to do it, [follow the link here](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9358037-how-to-add-a-spotify-music-to-your-character-page?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Tip Number 9 : Use the Traits Section on Unvale For extra fun facts about you, use the traits section. Sure, not everything there in the templates can apply to us in real life, but it can be a handy way to figure out what you want to add to your meet the artist, or add extra information you couldn’t fit onto a single page. ### Number 10 : Add Links to Showcase Friends and Favourite Creators! Show off your favourite OCs or artists (or maybe even your favourite blog post writers) on the site with [clickable links](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10858781-clickable-links?ref=blog.unvale.io)! You can create a [hyperlink on text if you follow the instructions](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10858615-unvale-s-markdown-list?ref=blog.unvale.io) in the link I just… linked. I also recommend linking to your favourite art pieces on Unvale, or maybe your sona’s page or a world you’re proud of. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXc6-1MtMdB3xO1TqtIfkTpiQ8Cm6rhJJ5SfK5wdtncFZiAAG21DrJZampcSmw6NFkDe5q8diBLs-HwlprZZLGhgW-z7bods2b0fCz3FkFQWn8wf1JCC5Hc1Sg6Ex8SZv278OxxQGw?key=HNGtQ5GjoZOEuL_42avnhQ) **Solar Sunrise… colourized!* Remember, don’t compare your own work to others to the point of feeling down, but it’s great to look at other user’s own ‘meet the artist’ posts for inspiration! Check out [#MeetTheArtist](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:MeetTheArtist&ref=blog.unvale.io) on Unvale to get some inspiration and meet some new and cool artists\~! Hmm, looking at it now myself… here are a few cool and creative posts I saw! Let’s meet [ellielikestomakeOCs](https://unvale.io/character/73de1bd4-6815-4323-823f-1aea3cb08d22?ref=blog.unvale.io), who caught my eye with an info packed first page and simple but eye catching second, doll themed page; [mossydruid](https://unvale.io/character/fb6110d8-2dae-419d-b366-95f2a7d5b0de?ref=blog.unvale.io), showing off their cat- I mean, their gorgeous art of their sona in the left hand side of the page; and last but not least, [bunnymagika](https://unvale.io/character/c38ecfb6-0f6d-4a85-a23c-9c95331c07e1?ref=blog.unvale.io), showing off their OCs with a bubbly and adorable page that really suits their adorable sona! When you make your meet the artist post, make sure to use the hashtag so other artists can meet you, and you can share your own unique personality and art! --- ## Unvale's Meet the Artist Template! Want an easy way to make your own Meet the Artist? Try using one of our free templates below! ### How to use: - Download the template of your choice by saving the image to your device. Once you do so, fill the template however you'd like! You can change wording, move things around, or keep it as is using your go-to editing software. Once you’ve done that, save the image and upload on Unvale! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/UVCreator_2025_1.png) Template Option 1! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/06/UVCreator_2025_2.png) Template Option 2! ### Picrew and Gacha Life: Giving Your OC a Free Face URL: https://blog.unvale.io/picrew-and-gacha-life-giving-your-oc-a-free-face/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:09:06.000Z Not everyone is an artist, and not everyone has ample free time! Having dedicated images of your OCs made by yourself or other artists isn’t accessible to some users. That’s okay! Two ways to navigate around this issue are Picrew and Gacha Life. In this blog, we’re going to teach you how to access these resources and how to credit them properly. These are great alternatives to generative AI, which is **never** allowed on Unvale. Every OC deserves a face and with proper credit and linkage, every OC can! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## **How to Use Picrew:** Picrew is a website where artists can make character creators! This allows users of the site to make images of themselves or their characters, with each image creator having different “scope of use” rules and guidelines. Clear as mud? That’s okay, I’ll break it down for you! There are four different “scopes” for use: - **Personal**: Users may use the image within the scope of Non-Commercial and Personal Use (Without exceeding the scope of Non-Commercial Use) - *TLDR:* Can be used for profile pics, headers, personal websites/blogs, and OC pages on Unvale! - **Processing**: Users may process images by changing color, adding lines, etc... - TLDR: You can edit/draw on the finished image as much as you’d like! - **Commercial**: Users may use the image for commercial purposes, including websites and printed materials. However, the image shall not be used as the main image. - TLDR: Can be used for branding purposes / selling stuff but may not be your main OC image. - **Non-Commercial**: Users may use the image for Non-Commercial purposes, as well as for personal use. However, even if it is for Non-Commercial use, you may not use the image as the main image. - TLDR: Don’t use it to sell anything or as your main OC image. Oftentimes, artists will also put additional permissions in the description of the image creator. Make sure that you are using an image creator that will allow you to post on Unvale without breaching the artist’s terms. Picrews labelled as personal and processing **can** be used as main images on Unvale. Commercial / Non-Commercial may be used but **not as the main image.** **Each time you use a Picrew, a link to the image creator and/or credit to the artist that made it *must* be given or the image could be taken down.** After you finish an image on the site, you can scroll down to find a block of credit that you can copy. That works just fine! On Unvale you can find thousands of examples and Picrew credits on our [Explore Page](https://unvale.io/?searchMode=home&contentType=characters&sort=newest&search=picrew&ref=blog.unvale.io)! --- ## **How to Use Gacha Life:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/06/Gachalife.png) Gacha Life is a fairly well-known app where you can customize and dress-up characters! Super fans online will use the app as a starting point and draw on top of it or add rendering/details/additional accessories. It’s downloadable as an app on iOs, Android, and Google Play! I’m quite new to the program, but I will definitely be trying it out more and learning more of the niche things that users have discovered! Something that really impressed me were the options in terms of color, hair, accessories, etc. Plus, with the option to draw on top of this image and make it all my own, I’m sure there’s a lot more room for unique character design. If you upload an image to [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) that was made in Gacha Life, remember to put that in the description of your character, world, or writing! Alright my lovelies! Remember: there are alternatives to using AI to create art, which is slimy and nasty and gross. These are artist-made programs by real humans who want you to use them, just remember to give credit where it is due! Hopefully, for those of you without the time and resources to create art, you can take the amazing characters that you’ve thought of and written up and bring them to life! Read our guide for crediting at our help desk [here](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9718738-picrews-dollmakers-and-proper-crediting?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### How to Choose Weapons and Accessories for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-weapons-and-accessories-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:57:30.000Z Have you ever wanted to give your OC a signature item or weapon, but you weren’t sure what to pick? Maybe to add some pizzazz to a pose, or just to have something the character is known for having? Well look no further… because today we’re talking about just that! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What’s your OC’s background? The first thing you can consider when choosing a weapon or item for your character is their background! How your OC grew up and where they came from can be a big help in deciding on what kinds of items or weapons they use! A character who grew up as a rich noble might have taken up fencing for fun and be better with a Sabre than other weapons, while a character who’s grown up in the woods might be more handy with an axe than other items! You’ll want to take into consideration the character’s circumstances, and what’s available to them! It might not make as much sense for the common folk to have a laser gun or an expensive item than it would for a military official or government figure. The opposite is also true! Unless it’s part of their character or plays a part in the story, a rich OC likely wouldn’t be caught with something cheap. Choosing an item or weapon based on a character’s background could also tell the audience that sees them what’s important to the character! Some characters are more sentimental, and might have something from a close relative. Items of great value to a character might show up more in a story! Maybe it’s a weapon passed down through generations, or just a memorable gift the character received at one point from their favorite family member! If you have a character that’s not at all sentimental, the OC then carrying a seemingly useless trinket could tell the audience that the trinket actually has a very great importance, since the character doesn’t usually keep any kinds of items that don’t have use. Background can help set up important things about your OC, and weapons or items for them are no exception! The background of your character will tell the audience the why behind their weapons or tools of choice, and also explain why it’s important to them! It tells the audience the meaning, and will help the audience understand your OC’s choices better. Here are some questions about your character’s background to get your creativity flowing: - Where is my OC from? - Are they rich, or do they have less money? - Would they have a special gift from a family member? - Would they have a family heirloom that’s been passed down to them? Questions like the ones above will give you an idea as to what your character could have! Are they someone that lives in the forest? Maybe they have an axe or a large bag to carry things long distances. Maybe you have a rich knight OC. They could have a fancy sword, or an extravagant shield! What about a magic character? They could have a magic amulet that’s been passed down through their family. A good example of using a character’s background for choosing a weapon for them would be [Mal’s](https://unvale.io/Malachit3?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Somnum](https://unvale.io/character/35cd35df-ba95-460d-adba-e7b8454d6d74?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Somnum uses sickles as weapons that show his past life on a farm. ## Considering Personality! Another thing you can consider when choosing weapons or accessories is the personality of your OC! Depending on the personality of your character, they might be more likely to have one object or weapon over another kind. They might choose some kind of tool that suits their personality better, and avoid tools that don’t! A more timid character might go for a more supportive weapon or item, while a more attention-seeking OC might prefer something big and flashy. Personality can also help you decide whether your OC even uses a weapon or item to begin with! Not every character will use a weapon, and some might have other items or tools they use instead. A more pacifistic character might opt for useful tools instead of weapons, like potions or medical supplies, while a more ruthless OC might choose a more dangerous and powerful weapon to fight their battles. Some characters might prefer to be on the sidelines, while others could prefer being right in the center of the chaos, and that will determine what kinds of objects they use! It all comes down to the kind of person your OC is! Personality can help you decide what kind of weapon type your OC uses as well, if they do happen to use a weapon! A more quiet character might opt for hiding in the trees with a bow and arrow, while a more wild OC might opt for a giant blade. A more reckless character might use something with more risk, like explosives, while a more calculated character might strategically use poison to win their battles. It all depends on the character’s preferences and their personal skills! Just like with character backgrounds, personality can play a big part into the items your character uses! The weapons or accessories your OC uses can tell the audience something important about your character’s personality, without you having to tell them directly! Your audience can guess details about a character’s personality by the preferences of the character, and you can use that to your advantage! You can also use personality, and give your OC something opposite that to purposely confuse your audience! Here are some ideas to help you brainstorm: - A shy character that carries invisibility potions to use - A more eccentric character that carries their favorite instrument - A calculated and strategic character that uses traps - A more wild character that uses a rocket launcher Taking personality into consideration when picking out your character’s weapon or accessory of choice can be a great way to come up with ideas! Is your character a quiet introvert? Perhaps they stick to their books and educate their group instead of fighting. What about a more aggressive character? Maybe they use a large spear to fight. Do you have a more caring character? They could use healing potions! A more spontaneous character might use a combination of tools and weapons to succeed. ## What’s your OC’s role? One more thing you can consider when picking weapons or accessories is the job or role your OC has in the story! Different types of characters will use different items that would help them with whatever their job is. It might seem a little strange if a knight were to use a fishing rod to fight, or if a cartographer carried around a giant sword twice their size! Of course, you could always do something like this for comedic effect, but it might seem odd otherwise! Different jobs use different tools to get things done! Lots of jobs have to have certain items that are used, or the job wouldn’t be possible otherwise. An experienced archer would most likely have a bow they use, and a delivery person might have a satchel filled with letters that they carry around. If your OC has a certain job, you can use that to help decide the items they carry! The same goes for roles too! A group of characters might consist of a navigator, a medic, and a fighter. All of those characters would probably have different items they carry around! It’d be odd for the fighter to carry around a map, while the navigator has medical tools, and the medic carrying a sword! It’d probably make more sense for the medic to have a medkit, a navigator to have a compass, and the fighter to have a blade! If you’re unsure what things different jobs might use, you can always do some extra research to help you out! Or, you can look at the world around you. What kind of jobs would you find in your area, and what kinds of items or tools do they use? Are there items they use that are crucial to the job, and would the job be impossible without such items? Using the role of your character to choose accessories or weapons can really help you decide what will fit best for them! Taking the time to choose something that fits their job can really add to your story and to your OC! If you’re going for something more comedic, or want to demonstrate a character’s more goofy personality, you could give them something that doesn’t suit their job to show that! Here are some ideas that could help you think of different items for different jobs: - An explorer that has a map and compass - A messenger that has a satchel or bag - A knight that has a sword and shield - A wizard that has a staff and potions - A doctor that has medical tools and medicine - A journalist that has a notebook and pen The job or role your character has will play an important part in what they have! Do you have a pirate character? Maybe they have a gun and a sword! What about a business person? Perhaps they carry a briefcase with all their important paperwork! What about a chef character? They could have a spatula or whisk! A forager could carry around a basket and bag to collect berries and plants! A good example of using the job of a character for the object they carry would be [Wasp’s](https://unvale.io/WaspsAlt?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [The Geometry Wizard](https://unvale.io/character/e283c71d-c1e6-4117-83da-12e45e4bc8b2?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io)! The Geometry Wizard holds a staff, a perfect accessory for a wizard character! Choosing an accessory or weapon for your character to have might seem difficult at first, but it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of ways to go about it, and plenty of things to choose from! Using background, personality, and role can all help you decide, but those aren’t the only options either! Looking at the real world or doing some research on jobs and tools can also help you out! And as usual, remember to have fun with it, and choose what you want for your character! ### 10 Standout Bard OCs From the Unvale Community URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-bard-ocs-to-applaud-rf2/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T20:18:20.000Z Preserving stories, sharing music, and passing on tradition are key components of a lovely community; and fundamental traits of a great bard! That’s right, this time around we’re celebrating the musical and mystical whimsy of one of *Dungeons and Dragons’* most iconic character classes. Without further ado, here are ten of the top bard OCs on Unvale! You can browse this tag yourself here: [Bards on Unvale!](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=bard&ref=blog.unvale.io) Art of “Willow Amberlight” by thestarfishface. The character is pale with brown hair in twin braids, green eyes, and a pink dress with a maroon cape. They’re smiling with their arms happily in the air. [Willow Amberlight](https://unvale.io/character/44b16c57-688d-45c3-bc91-39c396bd5507?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [thestarfishface](https://unvale.io/thestarfishface?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Kri” by HeyItsVanilla. The character has the head of a bird with brown and cream feathers, glasses, and blue eyes. She has a humanoid body, claw-like hands and feet, and a long tail with feathers on the end. Their robe is blue with white sleeves and pants underneath. [Kri](https://unvale.io/character/dc8fb477-10b0-4a8c-811e-b6da3106fca8?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [HeyItsVanilla](https://unvale.io/HeyItsVanilla?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Tsavor” by Jest. The character has brown hair with white streaks, brown skin with vitiligo, a white tunic, and a green vest and pants. He is playing a flute next to a green bird and has many leaves and vines accessorizing his outfit. [Tsavor: Teller of Broken Promises](https://unvale.io/character/36adacb3-a298-4c52-9f9b-2c3e2c658f7c?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Jest](https://unvale.io/Jest?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Odysseus” by oddoddity66\. The character has pale skin with green horns, eyes, tail, pointed ears and freckles. They are smiling while playing a violin and wearing a white tunic under a garb with a sun motif. They have neck-length brown hair. [Odysseus the Bard](https://unvale.io/character/6b9005c8-f8eb-468c-95ba-712c52d8b8ce?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [oddoddity66](https://unvale.io/oddoddity66?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Zeynep Kahraman” by Lacramioara. The character has long dark brown hair, yellow-green eyes, and dark tan skin with shrapnel scars across her face and arm. She has red hands, lots of gold jewelry and piercings, and is wearing a multicolored skirt with a brown and white corset top. [Zeynep Kahraman](https://unvale.io/character/54bd9033-0f2c-42bd-a741-78e5805d0c54?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Lacramioara](https://unvale.io/Lacramioara?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Soley” by Turtlo. The character has tanned brown skin with moss growing on it. Their hair is a greenish brown, they have one brown eye and one eye is a yellow flower, and long pointed ears. They are looking shyly to the side. [Soley](https://unvale.io/character/132b0c6f-f6f9-4967-b599-48bb6afcf834?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Turtlo](https://unvale.io/Turtlo?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “harapuko” by eMwaY. The character is a gnome and has short platinum blonde hair, black eyes, and freckles. She is wearing a yellow tunic with a brown shash and gray tights. She is casting a lightning spell behind her as she plays a lute. [Harapuko](https://unvale.io/character/60a84c32-fbfa-43ff-9b8e-543c3333a26d?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [eMwaY](https://unvale.io/eMwaY?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Oliver Rose” by lizaster. The character has gray hair with pink roots, a green jacket over a red and white shirt, and a glowing necklace. His eyes glow pink and bright blue glowing light shines behind him, bursting out as he looks down at the viewer. [Oliver Rose](https://unvale.io/character/a8253b24-5232-4eca-b58e-b5edd03f56f4?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [lizaster](https://unvale.io/lizaster?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Chauncey” by marolyn. The character has brownish-red skin and horns, white hair with bangs and double pigtails, pointed ears and cyan eyes. She is wearing a white top and a cyan scarf and sitting while a small bird rests on her finger. [Chauncey](https://unvale.io/character/7ee3b1f5-6d7e-41b6-af06-bbafc9ebe5ff?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [marolyn](https://unvale.io/marolyn?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Art of “Luria” by Pong. The character has long turquoise hair, eyes, boots and outfit. He has white skin with horns and long pointy ears, as well as long black sleeves and small yellow accessories adorning the outfit. [Luria](https://unvale.io/character/f8197a37-37ce-4adf-a5c3-0183d8f5486d?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Pong](https://unvale.io/Pong?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Go give these users lots of love and support in their comments! Thank you to those who were and weren’t featured for sharing your talent and passion with the community– you all deserve to be highlighted more than I can ever say. If you want to browse the characters in this tag, [click here](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=bard&ref=blog.unvale.io)! For the next feature, we don’t want to hide it: We are highlighting queer characters! This month, we want to highlight your proud and unapologetically LGBTQIA+ OCs of all kinds. Please use the hashtag **#UVPride2025** on character pages you’d like to be potentially highlighted, and feel free to browse to look for other queer characters and creators! Trust me, they are in abundance on this site. HAPPY PRIDE UNVALE COMMUNITY! 🏳️‍🌈 ### How to Choose an Eye Design for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-01T19:13:53.000Z Some people say eyes are the window to the soul! And with character design, that doesn’t just have to be a saying! The eyes of your OC can tell the audience a lot about their personality, and what kind of character they might be! So what can eyes say about an OC? And how do you design eyes? Let’s talk about it! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Types of eye shapes! The first thing you can consider is the shape of your OC’s eyes! The shape of your OC’s eye might tell the audience the most about them. Some shapes will feel more lively and energetic, while others might seem more tired or grumpy. Just like with the rest of your character, shape language can play a big part in eye shapes too! Different eye shapes can say a lot about your OC, and it can work for both more realistic art styles and more stylized ones! You’ll want to consider things like your OC’s personality and character when deciding on an eye shape! Some eye shapes you can start thinking about are round eyes, droopy eyes, rectangular eyes, and sharp eyes! These aren’t all the eye shapes available to use, but these are definitely some eye shapes you can consider using for your OCs! These eye shapes alone can really add some personality to a character! So what are these different eye types? Let’s take a look at them! #### Round eyes Round eyes are eyes that are, well, round! They might be more circle or oval shaped. Big, round eyes will give your OC a youthful or energetic feel! Characters with rounder eyes are often more innocent or friendly. They might be lively and hyper! This could be used for more childish OCs, or characters who are more helpful and kind to the people around them! #### Droopy eyes Droopy eyes can often be similar to round eyes! While they are similar, they often have more of a downturn towards the outer corners of the eyes. Eyes that lean towards a droopy shape can have an extra tired or relaxed look to them. OC’s with droopy eyes might have a sad demeanor…or maybe they’re just sleep deprived! Droopy eyes could be used for OCs with a chill personality, or characters that have a more melancholy personality. #### Sharp eyes Sharp eyes are more angular! They often look more rhombus-shaped or something similar. Sharper eyes can often feel sly or annoyed! Characters with sharp eyes might be interpreted as mean or they might seem like they’re up to something. Sharp eyes could be used for OCs who are very easily irritated, or for more villainous OCs! (Sharp eyes are also my personal favorite to use! But shh…don’t tell anyone…) #### Rectangle eyes Rectangle eyes are similar to sharp eyes, but more square and rectangle-shaped than rhombus-shaped. Rectangle eyes can be closer to a balance between other eye shapes. Characters with rectangle eyes might be more neutral, or they might be more reliable! These are just a few different eye shapes, and they’re not hard and fast rules! The size of your OC’s eyes can also play a part in how they might be perceived. Big rectangle eyes might feel youthful like round eyes, and small droopy eyes might look even more tired! It’s all about experimenting, and finding what your personal preferences for design choices are! If you wanted to, you could even give a character an eye shape opposite to their personality, and use that to your advantage to trick your audience with it! A character with round eyes could be the twist villain of the story, or an OC with sharp eyes could actually be the most friendly and helpful in the group! It all depends on your character and the story you want to tell! Here are some questions to get you thinking about what eye shape your OC could have: - Is the OC more friendly, or more hostile? - Are they more lively or more unenthusiastic? - Are they a hero, or a villain? - Should they have a more misleading eye shape? Eye shapes are a fun way to add personality to your OCs design! But you’ll also want to consider your personal artstyle. Eye shapes can apply to both, but if your style leans more towards semi-realism, the eye shape differences might be more subtle and follow the guidelines of a more realistic eye shape. If your style is more cartoony, you could really exaggerate the shapes of your OCs eyes! More cartoony eyes can be less eye-shaped, and be closer to a shape than an eye! If you need more inspiration or references for different eye shapes, try looking at characters of your favorite pieces of media or your favorite artists! What kind of eye shapes do the characters have? Is the art style closer to realism, or more cartoony? How does that change how eye shapes are used? What does the characters’ eye shapes seem to say about them? Does it fit the characters, or is it more misleading? One good example of using eye shapes would be [Knick’s](https://unvale.io/knick?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Elowyn](https://unvale.io/character/2fbab641-078e-4490-8a07-de27b4f3ff28?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Elowyn has round eyes that gives her an energetic and lively look! Another good example of eye shapes would be [Mirkat’s](https://unvale.io/mirkat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Moth](https://unvale.io/character/8d8e06f1-749f-42ad-b069-56760eac807f?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Moth’s eyes are much sharper, and they give her a cold and mean look! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf5q3cB_DiG7NQeVkyfYVvD5BSdACyNMO74-V5n0bEE27MgudWLeILtk5CJZ8SeznyIhghMPQ5ICDc-EI1g44vnLC0OLTaotjyQE1pTm5o6ZvcJ3-wGDjLEIbvQPkX8naV4GewzkQ?key=zjqUUrqxG8KuEJjzGVvFGA) Try experimenting with different eye shapes! These are just a few, there’s plenty more to choose from! ## Experimenting with the iris! You can also play around with the shape of your OC’s irises! This can be fun if your style is more stylized, or if you have OCs that aren’t human! While a lot of people stick to a normal and more natural circle iris, you don’t have to! You can do just about any shape you want, and use it to tell the audience something important about your OC in a more obvious and noticeable way! The irises could show off your OC’s key personality traits, their favorite things, or maybe even a secret they might be hiding from the other characters in the story! You can mix and match as well, and an OC could have two different irises! It’s all up to you. Anything you want can be an iris shape if you really want it to be! The iris could be a normal shape like a square, but it could also be something more unique or strange like a spiral or lightning bolt! The iris shape could be something that’s associated with your OC, or hint at something about them! It could be an object related to their hobbies, or a shape related to one of their key personality traits. Maybe an OC doesn’t have an iris to begin with! No iris or pupil at all could come across more ghostly or mythical, and could add an eerie look to your OC! You can also combine iris shapes and eye shapes to tell the audience something about your OC! Something like round eyes with heart-shaped irises could make an OC look extra friendly, while sharp eyes and something like skull irises could make them seem extra dangerous! It’s all up to you on what you want to do. Here’s some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - An angel OC with heart irises - A ghost OC with skull shaped irises - An OC with mind-control powers that has spiral irises - An plant-lover OC with flower shaped irises Experimenting with iris shapes can be a fun way to add some extra pizzazz to your OC! Maybe you have a space OC hiding out on earth. You could give them a star-shaped iris that hints at that! What about a kind and loving OC? Maybe they have heart-shaped irises to show that personality trait about them. Or a cloud-loving character could have cloud shaped irises! A good example of unique iris shapes would be [Sun’s](https://unvale.io/SunStew?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Occasus](https://unvale.io/character/09beefcc-1f63-4f19-a961-c6faeea01b6a?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Occasus’ irises are rectangle-shaped, which adds to their mystical and powerful look! Another good example of unique iris shapes would be [Tonbokurosu’s](https://unvale.io/tonbokurosu?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Benji](https://unvale.io/character/38b4e886-efeb-4c85-b944-b4a865e4eeb4?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Benji has heart-shaped irises, that give him a compassionate and warm look! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXf7BaRLauv6ZdOLEJzqd_sjdYSmFKPZ5Os1lr0MnRnr9u3xp55a9N9ltoECdtzZPprD-EMqG4y-pkF5PHOvU_JV4Nt1K8APqA-91iQQq2aHGZzUmgn8zzdAgeLkIGo8wuOnK5dIKA?key=zjqUUrqxG8KuEJjzGVvFGA) Iris shapes can be anything from stars to clouds…The sky’s the limit! (Get it? ‘Cus both of those are sky related?…I’ll see myself out…) ## Highlights and extra details! Another way you can give your OC unique eyes is by the highlights and other small details in their eyes! If you want to say something about your character in a more subtle way, you could try different kinds of highlights instead of a different iris shape! Using highlights or other small details instead could be perfect for if an OC has a well-kept secret, or if you're hinting towards something in the future. Just like with irises, you can do any shapes you want for the highlights, whether it be normal shapes or something more unique. For example, if you wanted to hint at an OC having a secret crush, you could make the highlights heart shaped to subtly show that! Or you could have various different shapes of highlights too! How much highlights you use can say something about your character as well! Using more highlights will make your OC’s eyes look extra sparkly, and can make them seem more bright and cheerful. On the other hand, using less or even no highlights at all can make an OC feel more lifeless and cold. It’s up to you what you choose to do! Highlights aren’t the only details you can use for eyes! You can use other details as well. Eye makeup, glowing effects, and other small details can really add to your OC’s eyes and make them more interesting! Here are some ideas to think about: - Sharp eyeliner for a sassy OC - Glowing eyes for a powerful OC - Star-shaped highlights for a mythical OC - No highlights for an evil OC With using small details like highlights, you can create a really cool and unique look for your OC’s eyes! Do you have an OC with an extravagant personality? They could have crazy eyeliner or bright eyeshadow! What about an OC that can read minds? Maybe their eyes glow to reflect that. Or maybe you have an OC who’s lost their motivation to be heroic. You could give them eyes that don’t have any highlights at all! Try mixing and matching, and see what you come up with! Choosing an eye design for your OC can make your OC stand out and make them feel more unique! Experiment with eye shapes, irises, and other details to see what you can tell the audience about your OC through the eyes! ### Worldbuilding Questions to Ask Before You Write URL: https://blog.unvale.io/worldbuilding-development-questions/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:07:31.000Z This article is a follow up to last week’s article on [world building concepts](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/), so, I’m assuming you understand what world building is, how it works, and why it’s important; so if you haven’t read it yet, check it out! Now, let’s get into it… The older you get, and the more experience you have with writing, the easier certain ideas might come to you. What sorts of things you’re interested in will always impact your personal knowledge as well, so take a moment before we start the main article to think about your interests, and what you know a lot about. Maybe you know a lot about animals, plants, or fashion; or maybe you’re interested in economics, medicine, or architecture. **Take what you’re interested in the most and apply a special lens to building your world with that interest**. If you ask yourself questions and develop a bunch of answers based on your personal interests, you’ll easily have a good world to branch out from. Now… let’s start with the questions. They’ll be grouped roughly in categories, so if you find a specific set of questions unhelpful for your particular world, please skip them! ## The Greater World and Questions to Build On Let’s start these questions about your world building with, well, the world! If your world is set on our Earth or a parallel world to it, feel free to skip these questions. - How many continents are there? Where are they compared to the poles and equator, if your world has those? (This would mean it’s colder up north and to the south, and warmest in the middle of the planet.) - What colour is the sun? How many suns are there? (Check out [binary star systems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Binary%5Fstar?ref=blog.unvale.io) for some unique stellar silliness!) - How many moons are there? You can do a lot of fun things with lunar eclipses and other celestial phenomena, so consider that too! - Are there any landmarks on your world that are visible from space? Real life examples are the Great Barrier Reef or the Amazon River, but maybe your world has a giant tree, an eternal raging storm (like the red eye of Jupiter!) or maybe islands shaped like the sun and moon. ## Regional Questions To Think About These are the sort of questions I’d suggest drawing up a map for. Like I said in my last article, drawing a map while imagining what sort of things could exist in your world is really fun, and a great way to externalize your thoughts. - What sort of climates and ecology are in the major areas your story takes place? Are they regular ecosystems found in our world (Savannah, rainforests, deserts) or are they more unique? (Imagine massive cacti forests, glowing crystal caves, and lightning-struck glass deserts!) - If you’re making unique and fantastical locations, why do these mysterious places exist, and how? Is it magic or something more scientific? Are they natural or human-made? - Are the places in your stories kingdoms, empires, democracies, or something else? How do the core governmental systems in your world work (or, not work)? How long have they been in place, and are regular people satisfied with how things are? - Are there any places that people don’t know about yet, or can’t explore? A real life example would be the bottom of the sea, but maybe your world has underground cave systems, floating islands or mysterious otherworldly dungeons. ## Daily Life Questions To Think About We’re slowly getting more into the basics of what your characters will be experiencing every day. Consider these questions, and take a break to think; I know there’s a lot, but that’s because I know you guys are incredibly creative, and can handle this level of detail! **Magic** - Is there magic in your world, and if so, how does it work? - If it’s common, how has it affected the way technology has developed? - Have magic and technology combined into new tools and weapons? - How do people without magic manage in the world if it’s highly dependent on magic? **Medical Knowledge** - How developed is medical technology in your setting? - Does healing magic replace most medical procedures, and if it does, is there anything it *can’t* solve, such as tumours or naturally occurring birth defects such as a cleft palate? - A good thing to consider is common but potentially highly deadly; childbirth. How does your world handle that with what it has? **Technology** - For those with highly advanced technology settings, how accessible is technology to the poor or those who live in isolated places? - How safe is the technology to use? - How expensive is it to make, both in terms of money, and in terms of physical labour and the effect on the environment? **Disability Assistance and Mobilities Aids** - How ingrained is disability assistance in society? - Does your world have laws that require wheelchair ramps, elevators, or magical floating platforms in public spaces? - Or maybe, does it have braille or spells for reading written words aloud? - Inversely, are there spells to create written subtitles for people speaking or is sign language commonly used? - There’s always a fun chance to be creative with physical disability representation with high-technology prosthetics or maybe a magical service animal. Can you imagine anything that fits your world like that? Okay, phew! That’s a lot of questions, so let’s take a break. Can you think of any unique or creative worlds that tackle questions like the above? Maybe these mostly don’t apply to your own world, but if you can integrate at least one of these questions into your story, you’ll find that people will be complimenting the depth of your world building. **But never let yourself get bogged down by the details while you’re writing**. You can always add more information later on, and sometimes a year after you wrote something, you might realize a great way to explain it or connect it to something else. But if you spend too much time planning out the details instead of writing, you might end up creating something amazing! … but you won’t have any written story to show it off. Though, maybe that’s what you want if you’re running a roleplay! Alrighty! Now, here are some fantastic worlds by some [Unvale Superstars](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9876096-unvale-s-superstar-program?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - [Fragile Memory](https://unvale.io/world/1cf305ac-b055-4f7b-ad10-cafc106b82d8?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a long-term project by [Wasobs](https://unvale.io/Wasobs?ref=blog.unvale.io), an incredible artist and creative world designer. The setting is complex with deep worldbuilding in a unique original world. One of my favourite things I’ve seen them create is a city shaped like a fingerprint! - The world of [Norzelrin](https://unvale.io/world/57355610-25e8-4751-815e-699459d146b5?ref=blog.unvale.io), the fantasy setting of The Crimson Champion by [Lavak](https://unvale.io/LavakTheOneWingedAngel?ref=blog.unvale.io) is inspired by JRPGS and anime. The story is still in progress, and Lavak himself is an author with a lot of passion! - If you’re a dedicated Unvale user, you might recognize [Beaniest](https://unvale.io/beaniest?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s [The Quest To Save Everyone (Just Because)](https://unvale.io/world/be99a3f9-cf8b-4b3a-919d-f5e80e277f73?ref=blog.unvale.io); although [Lord Rust](https://unvale.io/character/12b57c40-e8e2-4e5b-a0f7-403fe3beeb57?ref=blog.unvale.io) is probably more iconic at this point. I know for sure that I can recognize the lil guy on sight. The world itself reminds me of an adventure game to defeat a big bad villain, complete with a battle system! ### How to Develop World Building Concepts URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:53:33.000Z ‘World building’… a common term you may or may not be familiar with. To put it in the frame of your OCs, world building is creating **the world that exists around and gives context to your character and their story**. Whether you’re looking to create a cool new collaborative world or give your OC a home, this article will tackle how to come up with world building concepts. ## Method One: Concepts Starting from OCs This method assumes you already have an OC made and ready to add to a world. - First, think about your OC’s backstory. Were they a knight’s squire, or maybe a space cadet? Consider the world they have to exist in for their backstory to make sense and be possible. - Next, take a look at your OC’s appearance; whether you have art of them, or just a moodboard, consider what you can tell about their world. Do they stand out compared to others in their world, or are they a special case? Are their clothes custom made, or easily available to others? - Finally, expand on the ideas you’ve come up with. If you’ve decided that your character is part of a greater organization or group, think about how it’s structured and what its purpose is. If your character is a rare and mysterious species, think about why they’re so rare. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ## Method Two: Creating a Setting from Nothing This method involves creating a setting from scratch. These are some tips to get your creativity flowing! - If you’ve been reading these blog posts for some time now, you might remember my article on [world building using genre](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/). Using a genre template to work off of is a great way to start creating a world everyone can understand quickly. Read the article for a deeper dive! - Draw from historical references and other cultures (and remember to be respectful! Certain things, for instance spiritual concepts from Native American/Indigenous cultures that still are in practice today, should not be taken lightly as set dressing for your story). - Draw a map and add all sorts of things you think are cool or unique, and slowly add more information over time. Working on creating a physical map while you think about the world is a fun exercise which I’ve done myself. If you want to see the result, check out [Sanctuary Stellaris](https://unvale.io/world/e94d7516-a2cb-437a-a16c-c67f2913b472?ref=blog.unvale.io). - A fun way to come up with a strange and unique world is to take something familiar, and give it a twist. - As an example of the above, one of my favourite manga is [Aria](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aria%5F%28manga%29?ref=blog.unvale.io). The familiar idea is that the characters are gondoliers in Venice, Italy; except, they’re on Mars! Neo-Venetsia (or ‘New Venice’) is a replica of the city of Venice at the beginning of the 24th century, and creator meshes the culture of Venice with the new culture of the era, and explores it in a slice of life story (‘*slice of life*’ being a genre of relaxing vignettes of character’s lives). Try putting a city underwater, in the sky, or on a giant tree. You could turn the sky into a vast ocean where people sail on sky-ships to other floating islands, or turn a forest into a sea with layers of depth and dangerous creatures inside. Maybe the world your characters live in is an artificial environment inside of a spaceship, with trees growing with artificial gravity! The possibilities really are endless; I’m sure as you’ve been reading this article, you can think of a few concepts to try out. If you’ve found yourself intrigued by one of the ideas I’ve used as an example here, please, use it! The concept is just the start of something even greater, and even if two people start with the same idea, they can go in wildly different directions with it. Keep watching the blog, because next week we’ll be diving into some world building questions to help develop your brand new world. Until then, check out these cool collaborative worlds! --- This collab-world by user [Odysseyre](https://unvale.io/Odysseyre?ref=blog.unvale.io) is called [The World at its End](https://unvale.io/character/1fa7e421-1bcd-4c74-8e11-4fe42c6e833f?view=Social&ref=blog.unvale.io), and the first few sentences sum up its setting in an intriguing package! It’s a great example of something familiar with a twist; a parallel world to ours, rotting at its very core. *“In a post-apocalyptic dystopia set in the near future of a parallel version of our Earth, the hierarchy of men has crumbled, and anarchy eats away at the roots of modern civilization. The world is ending as we know it, but for something to end, there must first be a beginning--It didn't start with the Reconvergence.* *This is the future we've built for ourselves. The result of our choices. But can we live through the consequences?”* --- Cowboys… in space?! Check out the space-western collab world [The Western Boundary](https://unvale.io/character/e5272247-797a-43fb-8321-a83ffab576da?ref=blog.unvale.io) by user [Mephistophyles](https://unvale.io/Mephistophyles?ref=blog.unvale.io). The classic American mythos of the Wild West fits snuggly into the cold, empty embrace of space. Reminds me of my bounty hunter days… *“*‘The Western Boundary’ *is an Unvale-original collaborative world that follows Captain Amadeo Rambeau and his ragtag team of bounty hunters on the starship Bravo in the year 3224 as they face off against crime syndicate Angel Trigger, narrowly avoid the clutches of the authoritarian Moon Corps, investigate the mysterious Cult of the Borderline, and inadvertently uncover more and more secrets pertaining to the legendary Western Boundary Project—secrets some would kill to have and others would die to hide…”* --- Now, this one’s a little more mysterious… check out [SEAR](https://unvale.io/character/92731ad9-b5a9-46b8-9aea-4f5e03c78621?ref=blog.unvale.io), the new collab world by user [DevilsAvokid](https://unvale.io/DevilsAdvokid?ref=blog.unvale.io). Desert-punk? Sci-fi? Survival-horror? … democracy? Find out by participating! *“You awaken in a small metal room, a bag next to you with supplies such as water and food rations, a blankets, and not much else. As you look around you see a few other people in the same predicament as you as well. Looking down you see your clothes have been changed, something more suited to a blistering hot desert... speaking of which you notice the room seems to be uncomfortably hot, likely what woke you up. A voice can be heard, a group of people in white labcoats, their faces obscured by mask. ‘Welcome to the SEAR trials’”* ### What Powers Fit Your OC? URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T21:45:36.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Powers! Whether it be a superhero story or a fantasy one, lots of characters have unique powers that help them drive the story forward! But what kind of powers should you give your OCs? Let’s talk about it! ## What’s the setting? One thing you can consider is where and when your story takes place. Some powers might be better suited for a futuristic city environment, while others might be better for a story in a tropical village! Laser vision might be cool…but might not be best for a story that takes place in an enchanted forest! Or, giving your OC an ability that doesn’t suit their environment could be a fun way to cause trouble for your OC! Maybe they were born with a certain power, while other characters in the story were born with a different kind of power! Or, maybe their ability does more harm than good in the environment your OC is in! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) The setting could be important too if powers aren’t normal for the world, or if the power has to be learned. Think of your favorite superhero story. Usually powers aren’t normal for people in a superhero universe, and that’s what makes the characters that do have powers unique! In a medieval fantasy story magic might be more common, but it might be something that has to be taught. Maybe your OC has to hide their power so they don’t scare people. Or, maybe the character is taught how to use their power by an ancient wizard! The setting is also important for how your OC receives their power! Depending on where and when your story takes place, your character might get their power in a different way. In a fantasy story they might be born with their power, while in a Sci-Fi story they might receive it from a crazy experiment gone wrong! Here’s some things to think about when considering your story’s setting: - What time period does the story take place? - Where does the story take place? - How would other OC’s react to the character’s power? - Would the character have to hide their power? Thinking about the setting of your story and the world that surrounds your character can be a great way to get started on thinking of a power for your OC! Does your story take place in the far future? Maybe your OC gets animal powers from being bitten by a creature that escaped from a lab! Does your OC live in an ancient village in an enchanted forest? They could have been taught nature magic from the elders of their village! A good example of using setting for powers would be [Lordie’s](https://unvale.io/LordieLordez?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Lucian](https://unvale.io/character/4300086d-a14a-430c-8890-7be8f0cc0185?view=Traits&ref=blog.unvale.io)! His world is filled with vampires, and as a vampire himself he has powers like turning into a bat! ## The power…of personality! The next thing you can consider is the personality and role of your OC! Your OC’s personality plays a big part in the story, and you can also use their unique abilities to reflect that! You can choose a power based on their personality, or based on things they like. Maybe an animal lover gains the ability to talk to animals, or a more shy character gains the power to turn invisible! Your OC’s ability could tell the audience what kind of character they are as well! A deceptive OC could have the ability to shape-shift, while a more trustworthy OC could sense when someone’s lying. Personality can also affect how your OC uses their ability. A more reckless character may do more harm than good with super strength, while a more cautious character might be better at controlling the same ability! Continuing with the example of super strength, a more gentle character might use that ability to lift or move heavy objects, while a more aggressive character might use it for fighting villains. You’ll want to think about how your OC will use their power, and how that’ll affect the story you’re telling! You can give them something that suits their personality…but you could also do the opposite and give them a power that doesn’t work well with their personality! A character might need to grow and learn to master their unique ability. This could create interesting scenarios as well! Their power could be more of a hindrance until they learn how to properly use it. Here are some ideas to get that creativity flowing: - A plant loving OC who can grow plants at will - A protective OC who has super strength - A daydreamer OC who can create things from their imagination - An energetic OC with super speed Thinking about your OC’s personality can be a fun way to choose a power for them! Do you have a hot-headed OC? Maybe they could have some kind of fire or explosive power. What about a more level-headed one? Perhaps mind-reading or telepathy. An energetic OC could have a power like electricity or super speed! The possibilities are endless! ## What’s your OC’s role? Similar to personality, you can also take into consideration your character’s role in the story when deciding on a power for them! Some powers might have more negative connotations with them, while others might seem more heroic! Some are also more suited for support characters, while others might be better for the main characters! Think powers like shadow manipulation or mind control, those might be better for a more antagonist OC! Other powers like healing or enhancing others’ abilities might be better suited for a side character. The character’s role could include their job as well! Maybe they gain a power that’ll help them in their field, or they chose their occupation because of their power! A firefighter could control water, while a chef could control fire! Or maybe a psychologist can read minds, and a zoologist could talk to animals! Thinking about your OC’s role in the story will help you determine what kind of powers they could have! You could also give them powers opposite of their role, like giving a hero character a power that would seem better for a villain. Maybe they have to convince others that they’re a hero, since they have a darker power, or maybe they’re feared because of their power! Here are some questions to get you thinking of your OC’s role: - Are they a hero, villain, or side character? - Do they have a specific job? - Would their power be helpful, or harmful to their role? - What would their power say about them? The role your character has in your story could be a great way to figure out what kind of powers your OC has! Is your character the main hero? Maybe they have strength or speed! What about a villain? They could have poison or toxic powers! A side character could talk to animals, or have healing magic. A good example for using roles to choose a power would be [Mephistophyles](https://unvale.io/Mephistophyles?ref=blog.unvale.io)’ OC [Mikaela](https://unvale.io/character/3817e07b-30de-4fd1-87ba-251e25609d3e?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Mikaela is a priest, and he has powers that reflect that such as soul reading! ## Different types of powers! There are lots of different kinds of powers to choose from, and the possibilities are endless! They can be as useful, or as pointless, as you want them to be! Powers can be anything from super speed to growing strawberry bushes at will. The type of power your OC has will determine what all they can do in the story! Some powers are better for things like fighting head on, while others might be better for forming certain strategies before a battle! So what kinds of powers are there? Here are a few you can think about! - Physical powers! Some powers enhance a character’s physical abilities or alter their body in some way! These powers would be ones like super strength or invisibility. Things like shape-shifting or turning into an animal could fit into this category too! - Manipulation powers! Other powers can manipulate the world around them! Abilities like growing plants at will, telekinesis, and water manipulation would all be a part of this category. - Mind powers! Some abilities might only work within the realm of the brain! Powers like mind-reading, dream manipulation, mind-control, and telepathy could be a part of this category! These aren’t all the powers that exist, but they can get you started on what you want your OC’s power to be! Powers can also be as broad, or as specific, as you want them to be. Maybe a character can control any kind of water, including the water inside a person! A different character could also control water…but only salt water. One character could teleport across different universes…but another could only teleport across the room! It all depends on what you want. An OC with a pretty broad power could make for a terrifying villain, while a different OC with an oddly specific power could be great comic relief! If you need inspiration, you could try looking at your favorite characters in your favorite show or book. What kinds of powers do they have? You could also look up lists of powers from across fiction, and choose from there! Or, you could look at the real world! What’s a power that would make your own life easier? Could your OC have a power like that? There are plenty of ways to think of different powers! In fact, we have another resource for [Adding Magic into Your OC's World](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-add-magic-into-your-ocs-world/)! Maybe that will spark an idea. ## Balancing it out! One more important thing to think about is how to balance out your OC’s power! While it’s fun to have a strong character, you don’t want them to be too overpowered! So, you’ll want to think of ways to keep them from being too strong! One way you can balance things out is by giving your OC’s power weaknesses. Maybe it’s something opposite of their ability! For example, an OC with fire powers could be stopped by water, or an OC with water powers could be stopped by ice. A certain material could keep a mind-reader’s powers at bay, and a different material could weaken a character! Another way to keep your OC from becoming too strong is to give their ability limits. This could be with time, or amount! A mind controlling OC could only control one person at a time, or a character with super speed can only use their speed for an hour before having to rest! Here are some ideas to add limitations to your OC’s powers: - Headaches or sleepiness caused by using mind powers - Manipulation powers that consume a character’s energy - Physical powers that only work for a few hours at a time Balancing out your OC’s powers is important for your story, and it’s also important when partaking in a collaborative story! If your OC is for a collaborative story, them being too overpowered could get frustrating or overwhelming for the other people you’re collaborating with. If it’s impossible to beat your OC, others might not want to even try. So try adding some kind of limit or weakness to your character to keep things fair! A good example of balancing out powers would be [Vin’s](https://unvale.io/DevilsAdvokid?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Sonnie](https://unvale.io/character/7437f5b5-8b8b-4cfb-97c4-7010baddbb67?view=Writing&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Sonnie can manipulate time, but it comes with some side effects such as severe motion sickness! Choosing a power, or multiple powers, for your OC can be a fun process! It all depends on what you want your story to be and what you want your OC to do. Try experimenting with different characters and powers, and see what works best for you! And as always, remember to have fun with it! Here are a few more resources for developing OCs! [Writing Lore for your Original CharactersUnvale is now an app! Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! Download for free →![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--55cb7f2e-5354-44d5-a8d3-b3959ee4783e.png)Unvalelumi![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/headline--12--8ba34319-3fdd-48bb-8c24-37e49654c55c.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) [Backstory Building Questions for Your OCsUnvale is now an app! Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! Download for free →![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--d365df14-4440-4bcd-a804-10c8d1654a3c.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial-Banners--3--c7145afa-f791-4997-a6e8-7282855361f2.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/) [Common Strengths and Weakness to Give your OCs!Unvale is now an app! Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! Download for free →![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--e8a28eec-053c-414d-880e-375f82437760.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial---Solar-Banners--13--16781e18-652c-4774-b271-38d9cd276e34.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/) ### Changelog: Community Page URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-community-page/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:04:39.000Z Hello, everyone! In our last staff update, I shared that a cool new feature was coming; one that would change the way we use the site, allow you to collaborate more easily, connect you with new followers, and a ton of other stuff. Well, folks, that new feature is HERE! Read on to learn more about Unvale’s new Community page! [https://unvale.io/community](https://unvale.io/community?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **New Community page** \- In our site’s main navigation, you’ll notice a new page called “Community.” Moving forward, this is where we’re going to put a ton of cool new community features for everyone. But we do have a couple features on there already I think you’ll enjoy! - **New Welcome feed** \- One of the best things about Unvale is how kind and welcoming our community members are, so we wanted to take this to a new level by letting y’all know about new users on the platform! Once a new user adds a profile picture, they’ll be added to our new Welcome Feed on the Community page. If you spot someone cool, don’t hesitate to leave a profile comment and welcome them to our site! - **Latest Comments** \- The Community page also includes a listing of the latest site comments, so you can see all the activity currently happening on Unvale. Not only is this a great way to jump into cool conversations on the site, but you’ll also be able to: - Introduce yourself to the community with a comment on your own profile - Make new connections by following folks directly from the Community page - Let folks know you’ve added new art or writing to an old OC page - Share that the next chapter of your world’s story is now live - Remind folks that your art contest ends in a few days - and so, so much more! To celebrate this release, we’re throwing a mini “Introduce your OC” party! Finally, there’s a way for us to see those OCs that faded from the main Explore page so long ago. To participate, just go find an old OC that you love, leave a comment on their page, and watch them appear on the new Community page! Don’t forget to favorite others’ OCs who are doing the same! As always, this is just “version 1” of the new page, but we are really excited for it. I can’t wait to see what cool stuff y’all come up with and how this new page changes our site. As always, we are forever open to feedback. Let me know your thoughts! ### How to Write an Effective Roleplay Opener URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-an-effective-roleplay-opener/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:57:20.000Z “Who wants to start the RP?” “Oh, you can!” “No, no, you can, please, I insist.” If you’ve found yourself in a situation like this, feeling unsure about your roleplay (RP) openers, then this article is for you! Heck, even if you are confident, maybe this article can even help you brush up on your skills. We’ll go over the 5Ws of setting a scene, and then discuss the concept of an RP ‘hook’. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## What are the 5 W's? You might recognize the ‘5Ws’ from grade school. They are who, what, when, where, and why. When writing a RP opener, try to consider and cycle through each of these thoughts, not necessarily in order of course. A good opener usually includes all 5Ws, if possible; but this doesn’t mean your opener needs to be incredibly long and detailed if you don’t want it to be! If you’re roleplaying on the Unvale site, I’d recommend keeping all starters to 500 characters (meaning letters and punctuation) or less due to comment sizes. - **Who?** Introduce your character here. Use this chance to tell your partner more about them, like what they’re wearing or look like. - **What?** What’s your OC up to? Maybe they’re cooking breakfast, or relaxing on a sofa. Tell your partner what their character is walking in on. - **When?** To put it simply, what time of day is it? When, chronologically, does this scene take place in the greater timeframe of your RPs? - **Where?** One of the bigger details. Knowing where you are and what you can interact with is important for your partner. - **Why?** Finally, the most important part of writing an effective opener! Also known as a ‘hook’, this question addresses *why* your partner’s character should interact with yours. --- “Um, but we’re roleplaying. Why *wouldn’t* they interact with my OC?” Well, that’s true, but consider this scenario… You’ve got (almost) all 5Ws in just a few sentences, and even a ‘hook’. A hook is something that draws in your partner and gives them something to interact with. A hook can be character dialogue, a notable object or scenery prop, or anything generally intriguing or interactable. However, this opener I wrote doesn’t quite work. For instance, maybe my partner’s OC is deathly afraid of octopi and thinks they’re gross; they wouldn’t talk to one just because it was next to them. Or maybe they’re just shy, and don’t want to interrupt my OC’s hard work on her blog post. One of the most important parts of any RP opener involving two OCs interacting is making sure the opening OC is approachable. Let’s try to rewrite my opener. It’s always easier to talk to a friend than a stranger, but keeping a generally open and friendly demeanor in casual RP is the best way to keep both sides comfortable. Plus, the OC in the starter directly addresses my partner’s OC and brings them into the scene without my partner having to do any work themselves. Of course, not every RP is going to be with friendly characters; but they need to have a reason to continue to interact in a scene even if they hate each other or else the whole RP falls apart. --- ### So, in summary… - Use the 5Ws to guide your opening post. - Make sure your character and scene setting is approachable, and that your partner has an easy reason why they’re interacting; you can also discuss this before you start to plan ahead! (For instance, a child character has no reason to enter a bar, or a timid character wouldn’t approach a mercenary without reason) These are super simple tips, but they can instantly improve the flow of your RP and get you and your partner off on the right foot! Next time you post an RP starter using these tips, make sure to use the hashtag [#OpenerTips](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:OpenerTips&ref=blog.unvale.io) to let myself and others find your post and see how fantastic your work is! ### Why Silhouette Matters for Your OC's Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-the-shapes-and-silhouette-of-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T19:50:33.000Z Shapes…they make up everything! Without shapes, there would be no art. But what if you could use shapes to your advantage? Well…You can! Shape language is an important part of character design. You can use shapes to subtly tell the audience something about your character! It’s also important for your OC’s overall silhouette. But what is shape language? And what’s a silhouette? Let’s talk about it! --- ## Figuring out character silhouettes! A silhouette is like a filled-in outline of an object or character! Think of a shadow. With a shadow, you can’t see any of the details of the object or figure, just the shape! That’s basically what a silhouette is. You might see a silhouette of a character in a darker room, or on your favorite piece of merch! So why is it important? The silhouette of your OC helps the audience distinguish them from the other characters in your story. If your OCs’ all have a similar silhouette, it could get confusing for your audience. So, you want your characters to have silhouettes that are clear and recognizable! Something that if your audience could only see your OC’s shadow, they’d still be able to tell which character it is! Silhouettes are especially important when you have multiple characters of the same species, whether that be animal characters, humans, or fairies! An important part of silhouette for characters is negative space! Negative space is like the “empty” area around your character. Think of an arm next to the body. The area that’s between the two is negative space! Negative space can be used to give the illusion of things, or create certain shapes! Without it, there wouldn’t be a silhouette! Using negative space is important for creating a unique silhouette. You can use different shapes to create more negative space, or minimize it too! It all depends on what you want your OC’s silhouette to look like. Silhouette can also be used to give your OC a shape that resembles something else! Maybe a wizard’s hat and outfit give them a star-like shape, and maybe another OC’s wings give them a bird-like silhouette! Or you could give two OC’s a similar silhouette, and use that to purposely trick your audience! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdLL8g21RZT0QC2STO2ppTd_IelwzHJQILMYKAtYGzmA8RpCsB46vIh1CzXrOYiZBivA4SKBE7o0E8YYmayOIIi-v6xToVsMPlATGd-FElXe0ZC-gqrVHG4VoLUUcHeE75csQbKUg?key=HLeZLif6L8j19RJmCp8CbQ) You can use things like horns and wings to create a unique silhouette! So how do you make sure your OC’s have unique silhouettes? There’s lots of ways you can do so! You can give your OCs clothes that have different shapes! Maybe one OC wears big, baggy clothing, while another wears form-fitting clothing. You can also give an OC unique features that separate them for the rest! One OC could have a tail that ends in fur, while another ends in a spike! Here are some ideas to get your creativity flowing: - Horns with a fun shape - An extravagant hairstyle - A tail that ends in a specific shape - Giant ears - A tall crown or hat - Large platform boots Giving your character a recognizable silhouette is a cool part of character design! A good way to figure out silhouettes better is to look at your favorite media. Since a lot of cartoons are more stylized, the characters have distinct silhouettes! You can try looking at your favorite characters from shows or games, and see how the characters differ from one another! Think about the design features your favorite characters are known for, and use those for inspiration! You can also take a look at the characters of UV! There are plenty of good examples that can help you understand silhouette better. A good example of giving OC’s unique silhouettes would be [Zero](https://unvale.io/zerothegreat?ref=blog.unvale.io)’s OC [Spark](https://unvale.io/character/0e576693-6708-4e89-8e9d-f2058c53b3e2?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Zero has a few different lizard characters, and so Zero uses the shape of Spark’s hair and tail to separate her from the others! Another good example would be [Lemon’s](https://unvale.io/Lemonkitkat?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Maverick](https://unvale.io/character/200d7ddf-6401-429b-a2b9-9d159bd4a3a4?ref=blog.unvale.io)! There’s a lot of OC’s with horns and tails, and Maverick’s have distinctive shapes that makes him easy to recognize amongst other characters that also have horns and tails! --- ## The meaning of shapes! Now that we’ve talked about silhouettes, let’s get into shapes! How can you use shapes to tell the audience about your OC? Well, there are three main types of shapes for designing a character! These include squares, circles, and triangles. So what does that mean? The different types of shapes can tell the audience what kind of character your OC is. Certain ones can make your character seem more friendly, and some can make your OC seem more dangerous! ### The Square Type Squares include boxy shapes, like rectangles and obviously, squares! Square shapes often have a strong or sturdy feel. A character with lots of squares in their design might be steadfast or stubborn. They stand their ground, and are usually someone you can rely on! So how can you include squares in your OC’s design? The key is lots of straight lines! You can change other shapes too to fit! Try changing parts of the design that would normally be round, and make them straight instead! Think of a dress! Instead of ending it in ruffles, you could end it in pleats. Here’s some things you can think about adding to give your OC more square shapes: - A straighter hairstyle with lots of flat lines - A boxy T-Shirt or blocky armor - A square face shape - A more rectangular body type Thinking about your OC and what you can add to their design will help you add more shape language! Do you have a strong knight character? You can give their armor an extra boxy look, with lots of rectangular pieces to it! Or maybe your character’s just a normal person. Trying giving them straight hair or a dress that has a straight hemline! Is your character a magician? Give them a square top hat! A good example of square shape language would be [Nerd’s](https://unvale.io/JustAnotherDNDNerd?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Finn](https://unvale.io/character/b23c4dd7-51d6-4416-8fa3-c17732f9b363?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Finn is built with lots of squares and rectangles, giving him a resilient and reliable look that also demonstrates his more robotic nature! ### The Circle Type What about circles? Circles include round shapes like ovals, and curves! Circle shapes often give characters a softer feel. A character with rounder shapes might be more friendly or innocent! They might be more merciful, and might be calmer than other OCs. So how can you include circles in your OC’s design? Think lots of curvy lines! You can take shapes that would normally end in a point, and make the end more curved instead of sharp! Here’s some things you can think of adding to create more circle shapes for your OC: - A space bun hairstyle - A blouse with puffy round sleeves - A round face shape - A body type with more curves There’s plenty of ways to add some circle shape language to your OC! Maybe you have a more childish character. You could give them a cute bun, or curly hair! Do you have a friendly fae character? Give them wings with a rounder shape to them! Or perhaps you have an animal character. You could give their animal features more curved edges! A good example for circle shape language would be [Bæst’s](https://unvale.io/Baest?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Telekia](https://unvale.io/character/91da039f-23a7-4fb0-a0b7-1fa0f6e303ac?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Telekia design has lots of curved lines, with even the more pointed shapes having rounded edges! This gives her a more friendly, innocent look. ### The Triangle Type The next main shapes are triangles. Triangles include sharper edges and pointy shapes! Triangles can give characters a more dynamic, active, or even dangerous feel! While not always, you’ll often see villain characters with more triangle shapes built into their design! Characters with lots of triangles often have a more active role. Triangles aren’t always reserved for only villain OCs, but having them on a character can definitely make them feel more powerful! So how can you add triangles to your OC’s design? The key here is lots of angles and sharp edges or points! To add more triangle shapes, You can take normally curved areas, and make them more pointed instead! Here are some ideas to add more triangle shape language to your OC: - Spiky hair - Long sleeves that end in a point - A face with a sharper chin - A build that creates a more triangle shape There are plenty of ways to create triangles in a design! Maybe you have a fantasy OC who often gets into fights! You could give them a cloak or cape that has a more triangular shape. Do you have a regal villain OC? Try giving them a crown of spikes instead of a normal crown! What about a more hot-headed character? You could give them spiky hair to show that off! A good example of triangle shape language would be [May’s](https://unvale.io/Mayhaps?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Simon](https://unvale.io/character/1af08472-4fcd-438b-a2b5-b8337e2e77b8?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Simon has lots of sharp shapes in his design, like his ragged cloak and sharp claws! It helps give him a dangerous and more brave look! ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdP7XvoCTN7WrND131pVwFaoPK7JRZIK15ZIdYceWAgdmginjL7yHX4u2r-cJC5UXUdJjysjkOnteSz5nnTpVea5B5P8nbJ8vSZUCeyz1jVCGcMJ2VW6e_kBawzqLAD1bY1aljG?key=HLeZLif6L8j19RJmCp8CbQ) Take a look at these lil characters! Does their shape language tell you anything about them? OCs aren’t limited to one shape either! You can use various shapes to show off the different aspects of your OC’s personality! Characters usually have multiple shapes, with a little more of one type. A character might have both triangles and circles in their design to show that they’re friendly, but that they can be deadly if they needed to be. Using more circles could show they’re only dangerous when absolutely necessary. On the other hand, using more triangles could give the impression that they’re usually mean, but that they can be nice sometimes. You can also use shape language to give the audience an idea about your OC, when really it’s the opposite! Maybe a character has lots of triangles in their design, but really they’re the nicest person in the group! Or maybe an OC with lots of circles is the twist villain of the story, that nobody saw coming! Play around with the shape language of your OCs, and see what best suits your story! Utilizing shape language and silhouette is a fun part of character design, that can help make your OC more memorable! It can tell the audience a lot about your OC, and you can use it as much or as little as you want! Experiment, play around, and see what fun design features you come up with! ### How to Swap POV Between Your OCs Without Confusing Readers URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-swap-between-narrating-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T19:53:21.000Z Have you ever found yourself reading something where the narration suddenly shifts to a different character entirely, and it takes you a good minute to figure out what happened? Or maybe you’ve seen a character’s name as the transition sign in the middle of a chapter and it throws you off, bringing you out of immersion? Well, this article aims to help you avoid that in your own writing. We’ll be covering some more complex writing subjects, but don’t worry! It’s easier than it might seem. Skip past the lessons to the end if you just want the advice and aren’t here for a quick lesson in writing narration! In the English language, there are three main ‘points of view’ that we write in. They are **first-person**, **second-person**, and **third-person**. They’re surprisingly easy to remember with my secret trick, so let’s explain them first. ### First-Person Narration You might be familiar with the video game term ‘FPS’ or first-person shooter, a style of combat game where you, the player, see out of the character’s eyes. First-person narration style is the same; the reader is in the role of the narrating character. *“I kicked the ball. I walked the dog. I saw her from across the room.”* ### Third-Person Narration Third-person perspective is the perspective when you watch a play, TV, or play certain games like Mario. You are watching the character from an outside perspective. It’s commonly used in all sorts of written media. *“Solar kicked the ball. She walked the dog. Solar saw her from across the room.”* ### Second-Person Narration Points to you if you know this one! It’s rarely used in writing or media, but when it *is* used, it tends to be to great effect. Second-person refers to ‘you’. Yes you. The one reading the article right now. You’re reading these words right now on a screen! Are you shocked that your actions are being narrated through second-person? *“You kicked the ball. You walked the dog. You saw her from across the room.”* Now, the trick for easily remembering which is which. **“I was the first person in the room. You are the second. They entered third.”** If I’m alone, then I’m the first person. If you’re here, you’re the second person. And the third person over there, is them. Hopefully this trick works for you! “Eugh, more tenses?” Yes, more tenses. But these ones are just as important, and much simpler too. Like first and third-person narration, past and present tense are the most commonly used in written media. Future tense is rarely used in narration, much like second-person narration (meaning if you really want to flex your writing skills, try writing in second-person future tense. ‘You will find it helps you explore new writing styles’, perhaps! And yes, that was an example of the narration style). As a quick summary, past tense uses language that refers to past actions. All the examples from the prior section were in past tense. If I was to write them in present tense though, aka currently happening… *“I’m kicking the ball. I’m walking the dog. I can see her from across the room.”* Similarly, future tense refers to things that **will** happen in the future. The quickest, easiest way to make swapping between OC narration is through **omniscient narration**. It’s almost always done in third-person, making swapping between characters a breeze. The narrator knows what’s happening in each character’s head, or what’s happening in other places and scenes. They are not usually a part of the story themselves, acting as a ‘narrative device’; just another tool for the author to use. When writing in first-person though, you’re usually firmly in your character’s head. Your character doesn’t know that the evil witch of nightmares, Phobos, is plotting to unleash a monster made out of what you fished up from your shower drain the other day. They don’t know that the big bad villain is secretly their long lost father. But maybe the audience does, if you write your story in a way that allows them to guess without giving your **point of view (POV) character** the actual answer. This is called **limited narration**. Suddenly swapping to another kind of POV is jarring, and can lead your reader to wonder how the narrator learned something they shouldn’t know. So, how do we fix that? **Lesson’s Over! How to Swap POV Between Narrating OCs** (I’ll be using terms from above freely, so remember to reference if you get confused!) Now, I’ll recommend specific methods you can use here for simplicity’s sake. **Option 1:** Say you have two main narrating characters. Is there one that’s more of the focus than the other? In that case, you can use **first-person limited** for our protagonist, and **third-person limited** for our deuteragonist (a fancy term for secondary protagonist). The tense you use here doesn’t matter exactly, but it’s good for them to match unless you want to communicate that one narration is happening in the past, and the other in the future. That’s an interesting concept to play with though! **Option 1.5:** Maybe you have a protagonist and numerous supporting characters who get their own time in the spotlight. In that case, you can always try swapping from **first-person limited** to **third-person omniscient** (or limited) when needed. It becomes obviously clear that you’ve swapped perspectives since you’re not using “I” anymore. This works for things such as flashbacks, especially if you swap from present to past tense like I mentioned above. **Option 2:** **Third-person omniscient narration** never goes wrong. However, you have to start each section by properly introducing the character or location that the narrator’s following now. It’s not really a difficult task, but it’s good to make sure you clearly show who’s thinking or saying what to avoid confusion. Stating that a character doesn’t know something is never a bad thing, but you can always show it as well! **Option 3:** Meanwhile, **third-person limited** is much like above, but the knowledge shared to the reader is limited to what the POV character can sense and know. Swapping to another POV character is simpler here. ## **Closing Tips** - If you can separate POV swaps into different chapters, it’s good to do so. This clearly marks any POV shifts and creates a chance for your reader to adjust to a new narrator. - Using a specific style of speech or specific thought patterns can make your narrating characters seriously standout. For instance, my character [Lilia](https://unvale.io/character/c6d6306f-0801-47e8-8a2d-242a003136ef?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a photographer, so her narration would notice photography opportunities and her interest in medicine would have her noticing medicinal plants in the area. Meanwhile, a character like [Bea](https://unvale.io/character/bbc542d4-165e-4b19-9ae5-042e89103827?ref=blog.unvale.io) has a disability that affects how she perceives the world; being half-deaf changes the way she reacts to her environment. Think about what makes your characters unique in how they perceive the world. - Remember, when writing for fun, **don’t take anything here too seriously**! Not everything needs to be perfectly polished to share, and you don’t need to be a writer with lots of experience to be worthy of reading. [Take a look and compliment the works of other writers on Unvale next chance you get](https://unvale.io/explore/writing?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Here’s a fun tip to make swapping POVs easier without needing to sweat the hard stuff. Use three emojis at the start of each transition to represent who’s POV it is, and list the POVs in the writing piece’s description. (Why three? It’s a reference to a method of communicating scene breaks in writing. Wow! That’s a lot of writing, and a lot of reading. Maybe you’ve learned something, or maybe this’ something you already knew; a refresher never hurts! Great work reading through either way! Now, get to writing! If you have any questions about writing or how to do certain things, never feel shy about asking other writers; myself included! And who knows, maybe you’ll get more writing advice like this in the future\~! ### Hair Says a Lot: Choosing Your OC's Hairstyle URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T19:58:00.000Z Bad hair days. We’ve all had them…But your OC doesn’t have to! Choosing a hairstyle for your OC can be difficult, and it can be easy to stick to something basic when you don’t know what else to do. But fret not! We’re gonna look at some ways to make things easier! So get your brushes and scissors ready! Or, uh…Your pens and pencils? Maybe bring the scissors anyways. Just in case. ## Choosing a hair length! One thing to consider is how long you want your OC’s hair to be! Different hair lengths can give a different feel to your character. Shorter hairstyles might make your character seem more active or energetic. Such styles are also helpful for characters who have to interact with lots of mechanical parts! It’s easy for hair to get caught in moving parts, so characters might keep their hair short to avoid that. Or, an OC might keep their hair short so they don’t have to worry about keeping up with hair care as much! Longer hairstyles might give your OC a more elegant or graceful feel. It can say your character might care a little more about their appearance, since long hair usually takes more effort to care for than short hair! Long hair also opens more possibilities for different looks, since there is a lot of variety to long hairstyles. Mid-length hairstyles can be a nice balance between the two! They can have both an active feel, or an elegant feel depending on how it is handled. A more mid-length hairstyle can be short enough that it doesn’t get in the way of activities, but long enough that it still feels chic. Or, similar to the shorter hairstyles, it can be easier to take care of than with long hair! Here’s some things to think about when choosing a hair length! - Is my character more athletic or have a more active role? - Would long hair be more of a hazard for them because of their job? - Are they more energetic or outgoing? - Are they more elegant and classy? - Are they a bit of both? Thinking about the overall length of your OC’s hairstyle and how it might be affected by their character or their role can be a great way to start brainstorming other aspects of their hairdo! Some hairstyles won’t be possible with one hair length, but would be possible with another. Is your character a mechanic working with lots of dangerous mechanical parts! They might have a shorter haircut, so that their hair doesn’t get caught! Are they a part of an elegant royal family? They could have longer hair that leaves room for plenty of extravagant hairstyles! Are they a dangerous assassin who likes a more sophisticated look? Maybe their hair is midlength, short enough that it doesn’t get in the way, but long enough that it feels refined! Questions like the ones above can give you more of an idea on what to do with your OC’s hair length! That’s not the only thing to consider though, since it's not a hard and fast rule! Some long hairstyles might have a more active look, and some shorter hairstyles can have a more elegant look! A good example of using hair length would be [Lyon’s](https://unvale.io/Lyon328?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Azavael](https://unvale.io/character/aed65f90-4065-4527-9214-6b270ec401f1?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Azavael is an angel, and he has long, flowing hair that makes him look ethereal, powerful, and angelic! ## Drawing attention to the face! Wait wait wait! You may be thinking, “why are we talking about faces?! I thought we were talking about hair!” Well, just hear me out for a moment! When considering what hairstyle you should give your OC, you should consider what parts of the face you’re drawing attention to with different hairstyles! So what do hairstyles have to do with face shape? Well, different styles look different with different face shapes! Hair can almost serve as a frame for the face, and so it guides the audience to certain areas of the face, or takes attention away from certain areas! For example, an OC with a rounder face shape wearing their hair out of their face or pulled back might make their face look more round. Or, the same character having bangs along the side of their face can make their face seem less round and give their face a little more balance. Think about how some colors look different next to other colors! A bright color may look even brighter next to a duller color. Face shape and hairstyle can work together in a similar way! There are lots of different hairstyles, but there are lots of different face shapes too. Some face shapes can include round, oval, square, diamond, and heart-shaped! Professional hairstylists are even taught how styles will look with certain face shapes, so why not use that knowledge for character design too? You can always try looking up some videos on what hairstyles look best with different face shapes if you’re at a loss on what to do! Using face shape to consider what your OC’s haircut might be fun to create different kinds of looks! It can help give each character a unique style that’ll help the audience differentiate the characters from one another! Sometimes it’s easy to give characters similar looks, but considering what you want to emphasize about an OC might help add some variety! You can use a combination of different face shapes and hairstyles to create a diverse cast of characters, and make it easy for your audience to tell who is who. So, with choosing a hairstyle, you should think about where you want your audience’s focus to go, or what you want people to notice about your OC! Here’s some things you can think about when considering your OC’s face shape when choosing a hairstyle! - Does my OC have a rounder, or more angular face? - Do they have a more prominent forehead or chin? - Do I want to emphasize their features, or try balancing them out? Thinking about what you want your audience to notice or guess about your OC can be a fun thing to consider when choosing a hairdo! Do you have a kind and sweet OC? You could give them a rounder face and a short round bob to give them a friendly look! Maybe you have a tall, intimidating villain. You could give them a long face and long hair to give the illusion of more length! What about a popular character who’s an expert in appearances? You could give them a hairstyle that balances out their face instead of emphasizing certain features, that subtly shows their knowledge in style! Questions like the ones above can help you decide how you want to go about an OC’s hairstyle! If you want to emphasize the roundness of an OC’s face, you can give them short hair on the sides of their face with a rounded edge to the strands. This will give your OC the illusion of having an even rounder face! The same thing will work with more square faces by giving them a short, straight hairstyle! Long hair along the sides of a longer face can give the illusion of even more length to the face. On the other hand, breaking up the symmetry with a side part can balance it out! For inspiration, you can read our article on [Piccrew and Gacha Life: Giving Your OC a Free Face!](https://blog.unvale.io/picrew-and-gacha-life-giving-your-oc-a-free-face/) ## Styled, or left alone? Another thing you should consider is whether your OC should have their hair styled, or down and left alone! Just like with hair length, whether your character wears their hair styled or just leaves it alone can say a lot about them. Maybe they like their hair long, but can’t have it get in the way of their day to day tasks! They might put their hair in a ponytail or bun. Or maybe they leave their hair down, because they’re too tired to try and style it. Different hairstyles might have a more professional and sleek look, and some might feel more playful, fun, or sporty! You’ll definitely want to consider your OC’s personality too! Personality can play a huge part in how your OC will wear their hair, just like with outfits! When I was little, I was pretty shy, and I used to use my long hair as almost a shield so I didn’t have to look at people. An OC might do the same if they’re also shy or not very confident! On the other hand, a confident character might wear their hair up in an extravagant hairdo that draws more attention to them. - Are they a more serious or professional character? Serious characters often want a more refined look. Impressions are important, so a more serious character that knows this might make sure they always look their best. Or, they might have an important job that requires people to trust them. A royal with disheveled, messy hair probably wouldn’t be as trusted as one with a dignified hairdo. - A more serious character might be sure their hair looks nice and tidy, with no loose strands poking out. They might have a refined hairstyle, that’s dignified but not too excessive. If they keep their hair down, they’ll likely make sure it’s brushed and neat. - Are they more fun-loving or wild? A carefree character might take their hairstyle a bit less seriously. Or, they might be completely serious about being unserious! If they’re more fun-loving, they might have a silly or overly-crazy hairdo that represents that. They might not care as much as to what people think, and they’ll style their hair however they want without worry as to how they’ll be perceived! - A more carefree and fun OC might have more messy or unkempt hair since they’re always on the go! Some character’s might not even bother brushing their hair…They’ve got better things to do! If they style their hair, they could have wild, crazy hairstyles that show off their goofy personality! - Are they more shy? A more shy OC might use their hair as a subconscious defense mechanism. They might style their hair in a way that makes them go unnoticed, or hides their face from view. A shy OC would probably want as little attention on them as possible, and their hair might reflect that! - A shy OC might leave their hair down so it’s easier for them to hide their face. If they wear their hair up, they probably won’t wear something elaborate! Something elaborate would draw attention to themselves, and your OC likely won’t want that! They might stick to a more simple hairdo, that would go unnoticed by the people around them! - Are they hiding something? Some OC’s might have something to hide, or something they just don’t want other people to see. Maybe they have a scar that they don’t like people to notice. Or maybe they don’t have human eyes, and instead have eyes that look more monsterish. They might use their hair to hide it, or just make it less noticeable! - A character who’s hiding something might have long bangs that hides their face. Or, they might have side swept bangs that just hides one side of their face. A secretive OC might wear their hair long and down, so it’s easier to keep whatever they're trying to make sure stays a secret out of view. You can also consider whether they enjoy styling their hair, or if they even know how! Some people don’t care as much about hairstyles, so they just leave their hair be! Others might not style their hair because they have trouble doing so. The hairstyle your OC wears, or whether they style their hair at all, can give the audience a subconscious impression about them! The above ideas are just some things you can think about, and they might be interpreted in different ways. You can even use common ideas to surprise your audience! Using certain ideas in a way that’s unexpected can be a fun way to confuse your audience. Maybe an OC’s hairstyle hides their face in a way that makes them seem like they're hiding something…But really they’re just a nice and normal person. Your OC’s hairstyle can be as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be! You could do something more realistic that you’d see day to day, or something crazy like you’d see in an anime! If you have a more realistic world, you can look and see what kinds of hairstyles you see around you. If your world is more fantasy and fictional, you can observe different movies or shows of the same genre and see what kinds of hairstyles the characters wear! Here are some hairstyles ideas to get the creativity flowing! - Braids - Buns - Ponytails - Half up, half down - Side Swept - Midpart Taking the time to put some thought into the hairstyle your OC wears can be rewarding and fun! Do you have a business character who’s story is set in the real world? Maybe they have a neat, slicked-back hairstyle or a tidy bun. Maybe your OC is a magical pop star! They could have long, twirling pigtails that would be impossible for a regular human! Are they royalty? Maybe they wear their hair in a grand, expensive hairstyle that the common folk wouldn’t be able to afford. Different versions of an individual hairstyle can have a different feel as well! A long braid down the back can have an elegant feel, while two side braids might have a more childish or playful feel! A high ponytail off to the side might feel more youthful too, while a centered ponytail can feel more graceful! The same applies to how messy or well-kept a hairstyle is. An OC might have a hairstyle that normally would seem more elegant, but if there’s lots of stray hairs poking out it can feel more messy! A good example for using hairstyles to give off a certain impression would be [Becca’s](https://unvale.io/BeccaBunny215?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Chrystie](https://unvale.io/character/7b5b5151-2f86-478f-9b4c-2ed105d097ba?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Chrystie wears her bangs in her face in a way that makes her seem mysterious and strange! When styling hair, you may want help [Choosing An Outfit for your OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/)! - We have an article for that too! ## What’s their hair’s shape or type? One more thing you could think about is the type of hair your OC has! Some hair types can include straight, wavy, curly, and coily. The type of hair your OC has or the shape it gives off can be a fun way of thinking about how different hairstyles will look as well! Sometimes, an OC can have more than one type too. For example, an OC might have hair that starts out straight, and ends wavy toward the bottom. Another example may be an OC curling their bangs, but leaving the rest of their hair alone! Just like with the actual style itself, a character’s hair type or shapes can be another way to show off their personality or character! Long, straight, sharp angles can give a character a more serious or dangerous look, while curves, soft, and fluffy shapes can make a character seem more friendly or lively. These aren’t hard and fast rules either, so you can mix and match and see what works best for your own OCs! Here are some things you can think about when considering the hair shape of your OC! - Should my OC have sharp angles as part of their hairstyle? - Should they have more rounded curves as a part of their style? - Should they have a bit of both? Thinking about the type of hair your OC has can be a great way to figure out the rest of their hairstyle! You can use their hair type to determine the overall shape of their hair, and decide what hairstyles will achieve the effect you want for them! A good example of using shape and type for choosing a hairstyle would be [Seaweed’s](https://unvale.io/BoxOfCereal?ref=blog.unvale.io) OC [Malphas](https://unvale.io/character/4231ab7e-eccc-4ef2-b3a1-49ea79bcc074?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Malphas has straight, sharp hair that gives her a dangerous, unpredictable look! If you want to make your OC stand out even more, read more from [Choosing Unique Details for Your OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/) It's a good one too! Choosing a hairstyle for your OC can be pretty fun! You can put as much thought, or as little, as you want to it. And at the end of the day, don’t stress too much about it! Experiment, mix and match, and just have fun! And as a next step, you can start thinking about their Aesthetics :) ### How to Create an OC: A Step-by-Step Guide URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-17T22:55:46.000Z Welcome to Unvale, home for your OCs! Whether you're dreaming up a reimagined character from a favorite video game, a mythical fae from another world, or even a potted plant come to life, there's a place for it here. From your first spark of an idea to a full backstory and world to live in, this guide walks you through how to make your own original character from scratch – or add a little more personality to one you already have. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Step 1: Brainstorm OC Concept Ideas I always say the best way to drum up new OC concepts is to draw from as much as possible, and a wide variety of it. Read books, watch movies, notice which animals you gravitate toward, and think about your own hobbies and interests. Inspiration doesn't only come from fandoms; it can come from anywhere that genuinely excites you. While exploring, you might find [characters and fandoms](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/) you like and want to incorporate into your own work. You might also notice a favorite animal's traits sneaking into a character's personality, or a film genre you love shaping a character's backstory or world. Follow what inspires you, wherever it comes from, and don't be afraid to borrow and expand on the ideas that stick. ![Space pirate crew posing for a photo in orbit](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/KohakuDragon.png) The [Aquila Space Pirate Crew](https://unvale.io/world/1b070474-1140-4179-af85-7dbfa40904fd?ref=blog.unvale.io) by KohakuDragon At this stage, don't worry about locking anything in. Maybe a [unique name](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-come-up-with-names-for-your-oc/) popped into your head, a mood board captured a vibe you love, or a single line of backstory just clicked ("She used to be royalty, but nobody knows."). No matter what it is, it's a perfectly good place to start. Everything can change once the character begins to take shape. ## Step 2: Design Your Character When it comes to creating your first OC, it never hurts to start with a design concept and build off from there; you can always update their outfit or design as needed as you set up their personality and backstory later. If you’re not an artist or you struggle with designing the perfect character, you can check out [our favorite – and free – character creators](https://blog.unvale.io/25-free-character-maker-apps-games-and-websites/). Designing an OC can be tough, but with our guides, you're never starting from scratch: - [Tips for Simplifying an OC Design](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-simplifying-an-oc-design/) - [How to Avoid Same Face Syndrome When Designing an OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-avoid-same-face-syndrome-when-designing-your-ocs/) - [How to Use Things in Your Daily Life for OC Inspiration](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-things-in-your-daily-life-for-oc-inspiration/) When designing a character, you can show a lot about their personality through your design decisions such as their [color palette](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/), [outfit](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/), [hairstyle](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/), [eye design](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-eye-design-for-your-oc/) and other [unique details](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-unique-details-for-your-oc/). If you need help to pick a specific aesthetic for a design, we have [a guide for that too](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-picking-an-aesthetic-for-your-ocs-design/). ![Design for OC with color palette and character notes](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Celeste-Nocturna-Moonbeam-1.png) [Celeste Nocturna Moonbeam](https://unvale.io/character/1d06ee7c-c64e-4efb-b522-5ac730c0eaa7?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera A great design is only half the story, though. It's worth thinking a bit more about things that don't show up in their look, but shape who they are – their [job or role in a group](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-jobs-and-roles-for-your-oc/), a [companion creature](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-companion-for-your-oc/), or a [superpower](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-power-for-your-ocs/), to name a few. I’d personally recommend [giving your OC some strengths and weaknesses](https://blog.unvale.io/common-strengths-and-weakness-to-give-your-ocs/) to balance them out. Even without a full backstory, details like these bring a character to life. A few questions to help you get there: - What makes your OC unique in their family, friend group, or society? - What do they do for work, or what would they like to do? - What's important to them, and what do they prioritize in life? ## Step 3: Write a Backstory Giving your character a backstory is entirely optional, but it can open the door to more OCs for them to interact with, more looks to try, and more scenes to draw. A backstory can grow from a simple description to a full blown novel-in-the-making. Backstories bind your character to their world and give them purpose. And if the backstory is flexible enough, it can be adapted to fit another world or story. If you'd rather skip the writing, [just give your OC a goal to work toward](https://blog.unvale.io/why-you-should-give-your-ocs-goals/). ![Character sheet for Tobi, outlining his most important traits](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/tobi-2.png) [Tobi](https://unvale.io/character/9163d6b8-e0e2-49f7-83d5-188f5db9bf89?ref=124f0a1c-983d-45d7-9e0b-71f23d75a5af) by Lenyeehaw If you need help with character [backstory building](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/) or [development](https://blog.unvale.io/5-big-questions-to-help-develop-your-ocs/), check out Unvale’s [Question of the Day](https://unvale.io/qotd?ref=blog.unvale.io) to discover something new about your OCs every day. And if you ever get stuck on [plot holes](https://blog.unvale.io/filling-plotholes-in-oc-stories/), [using fear in your backstories](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-use-fear-in-your-oc-backstories/), or even [writing scary scenes](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-scary-scene-in-your-stories/), come find me in the [Unvale community for writing advice](https://unvale.io/community/writing-advice?ref=blog.unvale.io). It's full of other Unvalers happy to help. ## Step 4: Build Their World Building a world for your character is optional but incredibly fun. [Coming up with concepts](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/) and [developing a whole new world](https://blog.unvale.io/worldbuilding-development-questions/) can be difficult, so don't rush it. Revise and edit as you go; new ideas will pop up along the way. Even if you finish a character and their backstory, a world can continue to expand with more OCs and more stories to tell. Build a rich, lively world with these helpful resources: - [World Building Using Genres](https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/) - [Ways to Add Magic into Your OC’s World](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-add-magic-into-your-ocs-world/) - [Making Traditions for Your OCs and Their Worlds](https://blog.unvale.io/making-traditions-for-your-ocs-and-their-worlds/) - [Tips for Using Mythology in Your OC Stories](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-using-mythology-in-your-oc-stories/) ![Crystal world concept art for worldbuilding](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Wasobs-worldbuilding-design-1.jpg) Crystal World by [Wasobs](https://unvale.io/character/b531a5da-f949-47ab-a0cc-a2f9ea9b82f3?image=2e329817-98b8-4c1d-af4b-739214cf1910&ref=blog.unvale.io) ## **Time to Bring Your OC to Life** Now that you know how to make an OC, from first concept to a fully fleshed-out world, it's time to bring yours to life. Unvale has everything you need to create, organize, and build the lore of your original character. [Find the perfect home for your OC](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## Our Top OC Creation Guides Looking for a specific style for your next OC? Explore our most popular OC design tutorials to get inspired: - [How to Design a TADC Fan OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-tadc-fan-oc/) - [How to Design an Appealing Villain OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/) - [How to Design a Splatoon OC](https://blog.unvale.io/designing-a-splatoon-oc/) - [Gijinka Design 101: Turning Objects Into Characters](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-gijinka/) - [Designing Your Own Alien OC](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/) - [Making a Fandom OC: A Self-Insert Starter Guide](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-self-insert-fandom-oc/) ### OC Outfit Ideas: Examples & Inspiration for Character Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-an-outfit-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-19T21:34:25.000Z An outfit is one of the most important parts of OC design. What your character wears is often the first thing people notice about them. It can hint at their personality, occupation, and the world they live in. All before you've written a single line of backstory. Instead of starting with a blank canvas, here's real outfit inspiration from the [Unvale community](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io), broken down by genre. Whether your OC lives in a fantasy land or a cyberpunk city, there's something for you! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Fantasy Outfit Ideas Fantasy is one of the most flexible genres to design for, as you can create anyone from a humble human baker to a hulking orc mercenary. - **The Knight or Warrior** – Battle-worn plate armor with a house sigil on the breastplate, or leather chainmail tarnished from years on the road. - [**The Mage or Sorcerer**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-wizard-or-witch-oc/) – Flowing capes layered with pouches of herbs and a worn satchel filled with tomes. - [**The Royal**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-royal-oc/) – Heavily embroidered coats and structured silhouettes, often finished with a crown, circlet, or regal house colors. - **The Forest Dweller** – Nature-inspired fabrics that blend into the landscape, with accessories and markings tied to their connection with the earth. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Oliver.png) [Oliver](https://unvale.io/character/0852dfeb-7eba-4525-bfbd-398768b17e12?ref=blog.unvale.io) by ThatsTheAddax ## Sci-Fi Outfit Ideas Sci-fi outfits get to play with materials, structure, and tech. In many worlds, these designs are more than just fashion. They're also used to interact with the world –∂ like a communicator wrist cuff or glasses with a built-in interface. - **The Space Explorer** – A fitted flight suit with mission patches, a utility belt, and headgear built for zero gravity environments. - **The Cyberpunk Rebel** – Classic streetwear layered with futuristic tech. Think exposed wiring, neon accessories, and lots of sharp edges. - **The Android or AI** – Sleek, minimal silhouettes with visible seams or panel lines that hint at what's underneath the "skin." - [**The Alien Diplomat or Royalty**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-an-alien-oc/) – Otherworldly fabrics and elegant draping, with aesthetic touches that hail from their home planet. ![Sci-fi OC with wearable tech headphones and wrist cuff](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Fenrir-Haro-2-1-1.png) [Fenrir Haro](https://unvale.io/character/57bc07e5-efe9-4595-8e8d-4610f416c771?ref=blog.unvale.io) by KohakuDragon ## Hero & Villain Outfit Ideas Hero and villain outfits are all about the instant read. Your audience should be able to tell which side they're fighting for with a single glance. - [**The Classic Hero**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-hero-oc/)– Bold, saturated colors and a clean silhouette, often with a cape or emblem that is instantly recognizable. - **The Anti-Hero** – A muted, practical palette with worn edges, like they dressed for a fight and never planned on being a symbol of heroism. - [**The Classic Villain**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-villain-oc/)– Sharp, dramatic lines in dark colors, with exaggerated details. long coats, high collars, and gloves — all designed to intimidate. - **The Sympathetic Villain** – Soften color choices or a single, sentimental accessory that teases there's more going on beneath the menacing glare. ![Flying hero OC wearing bright red gloves and pilot helmet paired with jeans and a crop top](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Dove-2-1-1.png) [Dove](https://unvale.io/character/01911710-435d-4f29-b700-e0bad12fc876?ref=blog.unvale.io) by saxsays ## Creature Outfit Ideas Creature OCs get to blend human fashion with something a little, or a lot, inhuman. - [**Vampires**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/) – Victorian or gothic styles crafted with dark velvets, lace, and high collars that nod to old-world formalities. - **Zombies** – Tattered, decaying versions of an everyday outfit with torn fabric and dulled colors that speak to their undead lifestyle. - [**Werewolves**](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-werewolf-oc/)– Rugged, practical clothing built to survive a transformation. Often involves loose layers and ripped denim. - **Ghosts** – Pale, translucent fabrics or an outfit preserved from the era they died, sometimes with tattered or unfinished edges. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Chenyu-4-1.png) [Chenyu](https://unvale.io/character/0742e46d-eb19-4777-b836-6a31cbec2996?ref=blog.unvale.io) by SuperSoftCorgi ## A Few More Things to Consider No matter which genre your OC falls into, the goal is the same: an outfit that feels like them. Start with one of these archetypes and twist it until it fits your character's [personality](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-choose-your-ocs-personality/), [backstory](https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/), and [world](https://blog.unvale.io/tag/worldbuilding/). That's when you really start to see it all coming together. Once their outfit is settled, [choosing a hairstyle](https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-hairstyle-for-your-ocs/) is the next natural step in rounding out their look. ### Choosing Meaningful Names for Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-name-your-characters-with-meaning/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T20:26:41.000Z You have a new cool original character that is a surefire hit. She’s got skill, an insanely complex backstory, and a sword the size of a front door. You know, everything you need to write a dozen bestselling novels. The only problem is that you don’t have a name, and based on the fact that you’re now somehow contractually obligated to write those twelve books, you’re going to be seeing the name you pick A LOT. The good news is, despite what I just said, we are already overthinking it. Most writers don’t dwell too long on their characters’ names, and even low effort names can often find a second meaning or end up compelling. Take the “American Baseball player” names that the Japanese developers of Fighting Baseball for the NES came up with, for example: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/01/image-17.png) That said, it’s still not a bad idea to give a little extra thought to the names of characters in your story to see if you can’t give some of the main players that extra layer of detail. # Try to Avoid Multiple Characters with the Same Starting Letter I’ve seen this given as advice and also had a screenwriting professor straight up tell me not to worry about it, so take this tip with a grain of salt. I leaned towards the “it’s not a big deal” side for awhile, until I wrote a script on commission and had a character named Mark and a character named Mike. I didn’t think about it while writing, but boy oh boy did the first draft notes include a lot of questions about how one character was seemingly always in two places at once. Draft two started with smashing Ctrl-F and replacing “Mike” with the super cool and thematic name “Dave.” I obviously kept “Mark” in because that’s my uncle’s name. So it isn’t some hard and fast rule, but a nice rule of thumb. Avoid having multiple characters with names that start the same. If you’ve got a “Jake” or a “Jack,” you don’t get a “John.” # Consider the Phonetic Rhythm A hidden definition that somehow relates to the character’s identity is great and all, but sometimes you just want something that sounds nice. Before we dig into looking for deeper meanings, I want to point out that the syllables, alliteration, and overall cadence of a name can be just as important. I’m going to say something I’ve been trying to cut back on saying. Let’s think about Spider-Man. Honestly, we can think about most of Marvel’s iconic heroes. Peter Parker, Reed Richards, Bruce Banner, Matt Murdoc, Rocket Raccoon… I’m stopping there. Once You hit animals you gotta stop. I’m not the first person to point out Marvel loves alliteration, but also look at the structure. All of the last names use two syllables. There’s a similar convention in songs about names, like *Layla*, *Roxanne*, *Jolene*, etc. I’m not well-versed in prosody enough to explain why the syllables of names matter, but I don’t think any of us necessarily need to be. This entire tip is just to remind you to say your characters’ names out loud. If it sounds off, it probably is. # A Nickname or Title can Carry More Meaning than a Name If you know you want a name that evokes emotion, but aren’t trying to do something too fantastical, consider going the opposite direction. A simple nickname or “known as” can carry a real power in your story. In Stephen King’s *Dark Tower* books, the main character is called The Gunslinger, and he chases the Man in Black. Both of these characters have names and the reader eventually learns them, but it can’t be overstated how evocative these original titles are. There’s a level of intrigue immediately conveyed by learning of them as these vague descriptors. Think about your characters’ jobs, appearances, or actions, then think about what a complete stranger in the universe might call them. # Use Defunct or Fictional Language to Do the Last Tip, Literally Fantasy novels are covered in this. A series such as *Lord of the Rings* can get away with it easiest as they have their own fictional languages. I’m not smart enough to figure out how myself, but the elf archer Legolas, for example, has a name that translates through the book’s elvish language to roughly translate to “a collection of leaves.” Meanwhile, Gimli the dwarf has a name derived from the norse words “gimm” and “hle.” The first meaning fire and the second meaning protect. There is some building required, but its clear that the name of the dwarf from fiery mines was intentionally crafted to translate to protection from fire. If you’re working in the fantastical, or just want to really find a deeper connection, think about the character you are writing. What elements, emotions, or themes define them? Then look for ancient words relating to these things and add your own twist, like Tolkien did. Here is an example, just for fun. If I was writing a character who is a skillful thief, but has a heart of gold, I might search for old gods, constellations, or even just defunct words relating to thievery. Completely at random, I searched for Roman gods relating to thieving, and learned that both Laverna were often tied to thieves. So, for my thief I could use a name like Verna. I intentionally did this as fast as possible for the sake of example. My thief also doesn’t have a last name, like Cher or Zendaya. You can take this idea further, by considering geography. Your thief grew up in the desert? Don’t use the Romans, use the Egyptians. I can’t stress this enough but once you go down this path, the possibilities are endless. Which is why I stated at the top that you and I are overthinking it. Here’s something I know about my new cool fully trademarked thief character that everyone is buzzing about. Not a lot of people are going to know I named them after a Roman god. It’s not going to make or break my story. At the same time, I now know, and I feel a slightly stronger connection to the character by knowing, so there is a level of worth to it. # Use Your Friends and Family I selfishly tried to hit that last note about connecting to your characters yourself hard as I needed it for this next pitch. We love transitions around here. Most of my writing takes place in a fictionalized version of our world. My personal trick has become simply thinking about people in my life and using their first names. Now, you’re thinking “but that doesn’t offer any meaning to the audience!” To your very astute point, I would simply retort that my headline of this article doesn’t say anything about the audience, now does it? I would pitch that naming a character after my uncle Mark does the same job naming my thief Verna does. It gives me an extra hook into the character. It gives me something I can use to think of them one level deeper than I would if I used the name Dave (I don’t know any Daves). Finding meaning in a character’s name doesn’t have to be for anyone other than you. You’re the audience too, In fact, you’ll read the story more time than most people. You’ll have plenty of chances to prove how genius your writing is to the rest of the world, but first you have to connect to the material enough to want to keep writing it. Now that you have a name, start working on [Writing Lore for your Original Characters](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) with this helpful guide. --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! More naming help below! [How to name your OC!Coming up with names can be hard! So we wrote this guide to help you brainstorm the perfect name for your OC while character-building.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--774b2107-b674-468c-b053-00d81f948de0.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial-Banners--4--db08f83c-2969-49c3-a74a-45366c92f833.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-come-up-with-names-for-your-oc/) ### OC Story Plot Holes: How to Spot and Fix Them URL: https://blog.unvale.io/filling-plotholes-in-oc-stories/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T20:27:56.000Z “A guide to filling… potholes?” Nope! *Plotholes*. A pothole is a hole in the road or pavement that can cause bumps while driving, and even damage a car’s wheels. Think of a plothole as something similar. A plothole is a noticeable ‘bump’ in your reader’s journey through your story, which can stick in their mind as a lingering question in an otherwise great story, or be so catastrophic that it halts the reader entirely. Depending on how you handle the plothole, you can make the issue disappear seamlessly or create an iconic moment for your story. Here’s a famous example you might recognize. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s famous fantasy series, *The Lord of the Rings*, the main goal of the story is to destroy a cursed ring that corrupts those who hold it by throwing it in a volcano (I know, I know, an oversimplification!). The whole story revolves around the journey of a group on foot; but wait! Doesn’t the wizard in the group have connections with giant eagles? Can’t they just fly the ring to the volcano, making the whole story pointless? To fill in this plothole, the ring’s corruptive power of greed works as a valid reason as to why the eagles can’t solve the story’s problem. While it might be a bit frustrating, it doesn’t impact the story since the story would be instantly resolved if this method was used. --- Now that you’ve got a handle on what a plothole is, let’s figure out what plotholes exist in your story. Sometimes what seems like a plothole is actually something you plan to explain later, or something you have an explanation for but forgot to include. A plothole is something that makes you or your reader go “hey, wait a second…” when they think about it. So, can you think of anything like that in your story? If you’ve got something in mind, let’s try something out. ![](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXfPhw5jUVI80BFn-Ymc-GoxH0fzLf7Wr-YZo2VqZJwRQ0Qv3NoloLjIb2F5ew_GHnepIJ0lRTveG7Qkgd77IlOmVM1LIKoLy-TQVs0OFNDv_d36aYTyBJvwaGOuulekXVm9mlJ86w?key=wU1VCBeVVa_s7eghemlqeXCo) **What you’ll need for this exercise:** - Paper - Scissors - A pencil or marker - Optional: Colourful pencils or markers, stickers, washi tape, or anything to make this more fun! If you don’t have any of the materials above right now you can use a drawing program to create the cards digitally on each layer so that you can move them around, or you can draw a mind map on paper to get a similar process. - Cut out some cards from the sheet of paper and pick one to write your plothole on. This is **the problem you need to solve**. - Next, take two more cards and write out what happens after the event your plothole is in, aka **what you need to happen**. A story is a chain; if you could just cut out the plothole entirely, it’d be great, but if you need it to make what you want to happen, happen… well, that’s where the issue lies. - The last of the three cards is **the event that triggers the plothole event**. Basically, the thing you need to happen, to make the event you need to happen, happen, so you can- okay, this is getting silly. Let’s think of it another way. **The events are past, present, and future, so line them up in that order.** - Next, try to think of everything you can that **makes your story move**. These can be groups, like Tolkien’s eagles, magical items, characters, or events. Add marks to show what kind of cards they are at glance, if you want! - Now, try moving these cards around! Can you add a character into the section between the past and present to fill the plothole? Can you replace the plothole event entirely using a group or item? Try different combinations of cards in sequence to make everything make sense and flow smoothly. That’s ultimately your goal here; to **make everything make sense**. It’s always perfectly okay if you can’t find any solutions from what you have on hand. You can create a new card from just moving things around, or fusing them together. Like, maybe two side characters can become one new character to solve the issue at hand, or events can be moved into a new sequence so the issue is solved because it occurs before or after another scene or event. Even if this exercise doesn’t help you, you’ve still got a better grasp of what your problem is, and what potential solutions you already have. So, get writing! You can find writing by other amazing Unvale creators [here](https://unvale.io/explore/writing?ref=blog.unvale.io). It never hurts to ask other writers for tips, so comment away! ### 10 Things to Do Before Writing a Story URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-do-before-writing-a-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T20:28:42.000Z There’s no perfect guide to writing a story, which means there aren’t universal steps to preparing to write a story either. Every writer is different and the goal should be to find the structure that works for you, or if that’s still too grandiose, the one that is the most fun for you, regardless of the result. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) If you prefer to have a plan and a firm base before building your actual story, or if you feel stuck trying to get an idea story-ready then these prewriting exercises and ideologies might help. In theory, you could use all of them, or any combination. It’s necessary to have everything figured out before writing chapter one. What’s important is that you take the time to learn something new about your idea, feel more motivated and excited about writing it, and get closer to seeing it realized. ### 1 - Write a Scene or Just Start Writing From the Beginning Prewriting and planning can sometimes be a trap. I know I’ve had projects where I was focusing too much on the planning just to procrastinate writing. That’s why I wanted to cover the bases here and just note that there’s no “right” way to approach a new story, and sometimes you just have to start writing. If you feel like you’ve been outlining endlessly, or if you know deep down you are only reading this list to avoid finally writing the thing you’ve been mulling over, then it’s time to write… something. Pick a scene you’re excited about, or start from the beginning and do a vomit draft where you just put as much onto the page as you can before getting lost or running out of material. This may lead to some new problems, such as revising a messy draft, or figuring out what to do with one big scene out of context, but both of those are better problems to have than “I haven’t started it yet.” Check out our resource on [Ways to Start a Story](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-start-a-story/) for more! ### 2 - Strengthen or Expand Your “Main” Idea If you’re preparing to write a story, you likely have an idea you’re excited about. Maybe it’s a massive world, a specific character, or just a bizarre situation that you want to explore and share. If your project stems from a core idea you think is golden, the first thing you need to do is strengthen it. This doesn’t necessarily mean your “idea” needs work or rewording. What it means is that it likely needs depth. If your idea is built around a character, take some time to think about what setting, antagonist, or mission would be the most interesting for them. If your idea is situational, figure out what character(s) you need for that adventure. A good story isn’t one idea. It’s a handful of ideas being combined. Taking the time to come up with some extra pieces before proceeding will keep you from running through your core idea too quickly or flatly. ### 3 - Read Similar Work I’ve known writers that disagree with this wholeheartedly and actively avoid similar stories while writing out of fear of overexposing themselves or stealing too many ideas, but I think it can be helpful in moderation. When I have a story idea, I tend to immediately seek out movies that had similar ideas. I love watching them and thinking about what is working and what isn’t. When I think the story is going one place and it doesn’t, fantastic, that other direction is my idea now. The book *Steal Like an Artist* is all about absorbing inspiration from practically everything creative without feeling guilt and I can’t recommend it enough. Oh, and notice I never said seek out “good” stories. You’re looking for things that explore similar settings, plots, or themes to your story and the worse a final product you find, the better. Figure out what went wrong while also being extra inspired by the challenge of doing better. ### 4 - Consider Your Genre You don’t have to fit an idea into one or even a few genres, but the tropes are there for a reason. If you want to hone in on what aspects of an idea excite you the most, try thinking about your idea if it was made in every genre. What does your heist thriller look like as a horror movie or a comedy? What parts of it change fundamentally, and, more importantly, what parts are almost the same? Those may be the heart of your story. Now, when you considered the genres, was there an obvious fit or mashup that shined more the others? Are there specific gimmicks or cliches that would actually be really fun for this project, or that you know you don’t want anywhere near your story? These types of general “rules” for yourself can be helpful to keep in the back of your mind while writing. ### 5 - World Build “World Building” can be as general or specific as a writer wants. Most fantasy projects have an extensive amount of this, setting up the regions, governments, creatures, and a ton more so that the writer has an instant reference manual as they write their actual story. That all said, I think world building can be an unbelievably useful tool regardless of scope or genre. I’ve used world building tools to create tabletop rpg campaigns, but I’ve also used the same ones when writing smaller scale stories that have a layer of realism. What is your protagonist’s office like? What kind of people live in this town? What are the “dangers?” They may be goblins, or they may be awkward social interactions with hot dog vendors. Regardless of the type of story you want to tell, running your ideas through a world building template of some kind will almost certainly offer you new insights. ### 6 - Pick a Medium or Format Okay, this may seem obvious and I understand that most writers probably have a project type in mind with their idea, but as a person that generates way too many ideas I’m precious about, this step has helped me lock in on more than one occasion. If you have an idea you love, or a handful of ideas you like, try considering different mediums. Ask yourself if that would be a great book or if it’s actually just a short story. Consider left field options or things you haven’t tried yet. Maybe it would work better as a screenplay, audio drama, or a visual novel? There are guides and softwares for writing and then producing practically anything. You can learn the literal steps as long as you have the story pieces. There have been a number of times the excitement of taking on a new type of project and learning that process along with writing my story has given me the extra interest and motivation to actually sit down and work. ### 7 - Create an Outline or Beat Sheet The most obvious of the list and arguably the most essential. If you craft a tight enough outline, then, in theory, writing the story should be easy… Okay, it should be “easier.” The beautiful problem with suggesting how to outline is that there are dozens if not hundreds of proven templates and/or methods. There’s not a lot of helpful advice other than to look around until something speaks to you or seemingly fits your story or goal. Another angle is to try something that is more specifically structured, like a film script beat sheet. Something like the Blake Snyder beat sheet will seem too simple at first look, but that doesn’t make it any less effective. If you have a story you want to tell and no idea at all how to start, I would suggest looking up a beat sheet or outline for a story that shares a similar structure, theme, or genre and then rebuilding it with your story details. ### 8 - Make a Writing Plan or Schedule This tip is only for those of you who know how to actually follow your brain’s orders, and those of you that don’t already beat yourself up about your “productivity.” If you, like me unfortunately, get mad at yourself far too often about your writing output or time commitment, then just skip this one. I’m not here to offer you more reason to be hard on yourself. This is supposed to be fun! Go back to my world building tip or something. Remember how fun that was! For those of you pseudo professionals who have cracked the ability to set a routine and follow it, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to make a full plan and set a schedule for your writing. This can be a certain amount of words a day or certain chapters finished by certain dates. Anything that constantly tells you where you should be and how to get there. This trick is also helpful for avoiding writer’s block on longer projects. Stuck on chapter 6 because you can’t nail the big reveal? Too bad, chapter 6 is due tomorrow and then we are moving on. You can always fix chapter 6 later on a revision, but you can’t finish the book if you sit on chapter 6 for two months. ### 9 - Find a Writing Challenge or Community Goal I didn’t really understand NaNoWriMo when I first heard about it. Then, I had one friend do it, and for some reason that made me want to do it more than anything. I already mentioned I’m not good at setting schedules for myself. I never have been. I sometimes need external pressure. It’s not ideal, but I’d rather be up front about it and offer some advice on how I’ve used it to my advantage. I’ve done a number of film writing jams and competitions where I had to form a script out of story elements given to me before a certain date. I’ve done an online “writer’s sprint” where I had to send in a new batch of article ideas as well as one finished piece every week for two months. I’ve written way more freelance work that I pitched to websites before starting than I have published pieces that I finished beforehand. All of this for free I should clarify. There’s something that just can’t be overstated about knowing you have a deadline and knowing someone else will know you missed it. If you have trouble making yourself hit goals or schedules, then search around and find something that will help hold you just the smallest bit more accountable. There are a lot of places where you can bring in your own story idea without having to retrofit it to match some kind of qualifications. Oh, and just to make sure I include this. Neither my friend or I finished our books during that NaNoWrimo. We had a ton of fun, read each others work, and wrote A LOT. I was able to recycle most of mine into smaller pieces. Books are long! ### 10 - Think About an Ending No advice used to make me madder than this one, but it is, unfortunately, great advice. If you write like me, you probably have a gimmick idea or a few scene ideas that make you so excited you want to make the whole project just to see them realized. The problem is you then have to come up with an ending for your story and, if you’re me, you want it to be good. For anything longform I write, I now come up with an ending before I start, or at least before I get too deep in. It doesn’t have to be Earth shatteringly good or have some massive final twist, but it should convey to you where this is going and why. Think about your favorite part of your story. The romance? A quirky fight scene? A cool side character you love? Whatever part is your favorite, take it and figure out the ending that connects to it the best. Have that in your head as you start, so no matter how stuck you ever get, you know what path to work back towards. The best part of this advice is that you don’t even have to use the ending you come up with. If you figure out the perfect climax on page 76, that’s great, ditch that bad ending I forced you to write down and slot in the new one. I won’t tell anyone. --- Other resources for creative writing: [Writing Lore for your Original CharactersLearn how to craft lore for your OCs, including backstories, worldbuilding, naming, and more! Develop your characters into something deeper with this guide.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--3e8992c4-bb3d-43ec-a8b2-5ae163c086db.png)Unvalelumi![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/headline--12--9fecb91e-f9f5-4f60-bdab-38de4d7f7388.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) [How to Write an Effective Roleplay OpenerUnvale is now an app! Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! Download for free →![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--8ce602d7-e018-48b6-9e15-df046065f954.png)UnvaleSolar![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/Editorial-Banners--17--b609aa10-7e50-4e01-af39-e23dcd2b617a.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-an-effective-roleplay-opener/) Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Color Theory Basics for OC Design URL: https://blog.unvale.io/choosing-a-color-palette-for-your-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T20:31:32.000Z If you know me, you know I love a good color palette; and so does the rest of the Unvale team! In this article, we’ll be covering some suggestions for picking the perfect partner palette for your pocket pals - er, your OCs! There are lots of different methods, so choose whatever sparks inspiration. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### **Color Symbolism** There are many different meanings to colors based on different cultures; for instance, some places use black for mourning, while others wear white, and some places wear white for weddings, while others wear red. Here’s a short list of what colours are usually associated with what. You might get different results if you ask different people or look up what colours mean, and I encourage you to do so! - Red: Fire, warmth, danger, and good fortune. Red-coded characters are often energetic and bold. - Orange: The sun, brightness, autumn, and sunsets. Orange-coded characters might be the friendly one in the group. - Yellow: Caution, fear, happiness, and joy. Yellow-coded characters are often the sunniest of the bunch. - Green: Nature, envy, nurturing, and stability. Green-coded characters are often grounded and wise. - Blue: Water, calmness, cold, and knowledge. Blue-coded characters usually balance out their red counterparts with a more sensible viewpoint. - Purple: Royalty, mystery, obscurity, and darkness. Purple-coded characters are usually the most mysterious and aloof of the bunch. Do any of these concepts match your characters? Or maybe your character breaks these ideas entirely! Either way, if you want a quick shortcut to let people know your character’s vibe, color symbolism is highly effective! ### **Color Picking** Color picking refers to a common digital art program feature that copies a color from an image into a color hex or onto a color wheel. You can do this with traditional art too, of course, though not as accurately. Here’s a list of a few things you could color pick for an OC’s palette! - A favorite piece of art (remember to credit the reference you used!). - A photograph, like of a sunset or a garden. - An online moodboard (be careful not to use anything AI generated). - An animal like a bird or a fish. - A weapon or item from your favorite video game. - The colors of your current outfit. ### **Saturation and Tint** Even if two OCs both wear a red t-shirt, the actual color of each shirt likely won’t be exactly the same. This is due to saturation and tint. Saturation refers to how ‘bright’ the color is. For example, children’s shows have a high saturation level to catch the interest of their audience, and black and white media can be said to have zero saturation. Highly saturated colors are often associated with bright and cheery characters, or generally heroic ones, while less saturated colours are usually associated with more dark and gloomy, potentially villainous characters. However, pastel colours are low-saturation as well, so what gives? Well, a color’s tint can also affect how it’s seen. Tint refers to the black or white value of a color. Go too far in either tint direction, and a color will become black or white. Pastel colors as mentioned before, are white-tinted with lower saturation. Navy blue or camo green would be the opposite, with a dark tint and high saturation. Think about how you can mix tints and saturations in a design. For example, maybe your OC dresses in mostly black and has bright red eyes to stand out against the outfit. A solid black outfit can be difficult to pick out, so I’d recommend using a low-saturation black-tinted blue in place of black in some places to break up the outfit as well. You can also pull more red into the outfit to break it up, using the same red as the character’s eyes. And voila! A more complex and layered outfit. An otherwise dark outfit with splashes of bright color can give a character a toxic look, like a poison dart frog or monarch butterfly, so don’t be afraid to throw in a little dash of color. ### **Bonus! How Solar Chooses Colours** I’ve been drawing for years now, and one of the things people tell me most often is that they love the colors I use. Here are some tips for coloring similarly to me. - Never use pure black unless it’s in line art. If there’s nothing darker than it, it’s basically impossible to shade correctly! Using a dark grey or a low-saturation dark blue can often replace black. “But what if I want my character to be stealthy?” That’s a great question! Pure black stands out in shadow, since it’s darker than the shadows themselves. Shadows are also slightly tinted by ambient light, such as from the sky or candle light. So in terms of actual stealthiness, what I suggested would work better than just pure black. After all, if there’s no light at all anyways, it doesn’t matter what you wear to sneak around! - Pick a color theme for each OC in a group. It can be a few colours, a specific palette, or one specific color. Having that colour set in stone to design around can help a ton! For instance in my personal work Heart Engine, Cardinal and Raven Mask both have black as a major part of their palette, but each has their own ‘theme color’. Cardinal’s is red and Raven Mask’s is purple. Both have their own accent color as well that breaks up their designs; gold and blue respectively. So keeping these main colors in mind when designing in the future, these are the colors I want to be the most prominent and consistent. Theme colors can help your character be more recognizable and iconic, but they’re never a necessity! - Use colors as a functional feature in clothing. Would the colors of your OC’s outfit be useful for what you want them to do? Do they tell the story you want them to? To use the characters I mentioned before as an example, let me go into the reasons I chose the colors for each. - **Cardinal**, as her name implies, is themed after the bird of the same name, and red is a color of good fortune in her native Chinese culture. Another aspect to her design and color story is the western mythology of the Phoenix, a bird with the power of resurrection from fire. So with all these combined, a fire red design with mystical gold detailing is appropriate for her. Can you guess what her superpower is from that, or if she’s a heroine or a villain from her color saturation? - Next is **Raven Mask**, named after another bird. Her outfit features lots of low saturation purples and darker colors. While her white hair keeps her from being properly sneaky, I wanted to give her the appearance of a mastermind behind the scenes with an elegant and powerful vibe. Purple is often associated with royalty, while adding a splash of bright blue to her pupils gives her a supernatural air and a somewhat mysterious appearance. I added blue roses to the latest version of her design; using flower symbolism, blue roses represent a miracle. So, what sort of vibe does Raven Mask give off? If her colors changed to yellow, would she still have the same effect? ## **Online Resources** If you just want to randomize a nice, cohesive palette, I’d recommend the site [Coolors](https://coolors.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io). While some features are blocked behind a paywall, the basics of the site are free! The site creates randomized palettes with hex codes for artist usage, which can be very helpful for exploring potential palettes and getting your creative juices flowing. Show off your colorful OCs with [this template](https://unvale.io/world/2c4c13e6-ae77-476b-9b87-e2042325318a?image=5b9db2b7-4374-420f-ac5f-547dfefe6133&ref=blog.unvale.io) made by the Unvale staff! Use #UVOCrainbow if you want to show off what you’ve created with the template. We’re excited to see what sort of colorful creations you’ve got to share! ### How to Find the Right Name for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-come-up-with-names-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-15T21:01:30.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* Some consider naming characters the boss fight of character creation, but don’t worry; it can be easier than it seems. Whether it’s picking a name carefully based on culture and the time your OC was born, using a theme for your character’s name, or picking based on a perfect meaning, there are lots of ways to find something that suits your tastes. Let’s go over a few inspiration sources. ## OC Names Based on Culture The best way to start narrowing down name options is by looking at your character’s cultural background, meaning where they were born and what culture they were raised in. If your character comes from a specific culture and you’d like to make that an important piece of their character, using their name to represent that is always a great choice. If your character’s parents are from two different cultures, I’d suggest a name that has roots in both but has different meanings in each culture could fit your character. Picking a name that matches the culture your OC grew up in (rather than was born in) is also a wonderful idea. Kids can be mean, and being picked on for your name is a common experience, so if your character’s parents wanted them to fit into their culture and not stand out with a unique or odd name, that might be worth considering; although, it’s not worth overthinking ultimately. Always pick the name that makes you happy and fits your character the best. ## OC Names Based on Time Period If you want to go even deeper into realism, I’d suggest looking up what names were in use or popular when your character was born. Some names come back into use again after many years because parents choose to name their child after a late family member, or because the name was used in popular media. This is true across the world, and you can make a character feel more realistic by referencing these trends. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Casimir.png) [Casimir](https://unvale.io/character/5249134a-82da-47a6-8d51-c2232c5bbf9c?ref=blog.unvale.io) by ThatsTheAddax Picking a name that sounds nice but is actually an equivalent to an old-fashioned name like Edwina or Bernice is always a hazard in picking names outside of your own culture, so it’s good to be careful if you want to avoid that! Of course though, this is all assuming that your character is from a world like ours and is from the current day. If you have an immortal character like a [vampire](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-vampire-oc/), choosing an older name is a great way to foreshadow their real age. ## **OC Names Based on Fantasy Themes** If your character is from a fantasy world, I’d recommend using **naming themes** for your characters. Naming themes can break real life cultural consistency while still keeping a form of internal consistency that works in a fantastic world. For instance, the names Sumire, Garofano, and Coquelic all match because they’re all related to [plants](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%5Fof%5Fplants%5Fwith%5Fsymbolism?ref=blog.unvale.io) – even if they're in different languages. A couple categories to get you inspired: - Gemstones: Ruby, Opal, Amber - Clouds: Cirrus, Stratus, Nimbus - Stars: Polaris, Antares, Vega - Nature: Arden, Briar, Oakenhart ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Metir.png) [Metir](https://unvale.io/character/b6e78e17-e8f8-4d00-aded-aa72ae6dc00c?ref=blog.unvale.io) by Orkanera There are so many more categories of themes out there. They can give you a list to pick from, and potential hidden meanings behind the character’s name. Having a naming theme can show which characters come from the same family, country, or culture. You could even use naming themes to help you foreshadow a relationship between two OCs. ## OC Names Based on Meaning Most names have **meanings** behind them, and sometimes the meaning can vary based on how the name is written, such as with Japanese kanji. As an example, the name [Alexander](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander?ref=blog.unvale.io) originates from Ancient Greek Ἀλέξανδρος, and means “defender of man”. If you’ve got an OC who’s a protector of others, but Alexander is too masculine, there are many variations like Alexandria, Alexa, Alex, Sandra, and more (as a general tip, a good name often has nickname potential). You can also put a meaning into practice without being too obvious; I have a character named [Rana](https://unvale.io/character/b58dceeb-cfb2-4fcf-be36-e4caf6766cc2?ref=blog.unvale.io) who’s named after the first part of the Latin name for the buttercup flower. You might not guess the connection at first reading, but when you learn that the buttercup symbolizes sarcasm, ingratitude, childishness, riches and memories of childhood, you might find that it suits her perfectly when you read her backstory. ![A doodle of Solar’s OC Rana, with the writing “Why we can’t have nice things” with an arrow pointing to Rana.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6043.png) Rana by solarsunrise ### **When a Name's Meaning Doesn't Fit** Sometimes the name you chose **has a meaning that doesn’t fit your character at all**; this is actually a great chance to show off that irony! Maybe your OC was expected to turn out a certain way, but ended up being the opposite. Maybe your character or their parents just liked how the name sounded. Don’t worry about the deeper meanings of your character’s name if you’ve found a name you truly adore. ## **OC Names Based on Rhythm** Not all names have meanings, and some of the best names just sound good to say. Names have a natural rhythm to them based on syllables and sounds, like ‘Peter Parker’; it’s an alliteration with two syllables per name. When you’ve finally settled on some potential names, try saying them aloud. You might find that some work better than others when put with a potential last name. ![Solar holds up the Unvale name randomizer, which can be found on Unvale’s character pages in the character name section.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/IMG_6039.png) ## **Finding OC Names With Unvale** Finding the right name for your OC comes down to a mix of research and instinct. Leaning into a character's cultural background can highlight their heritage, while pulling from popular names of a specific era can speak to their origins. If you're building out a fantasy world, a themed naming scheme can tie your characters together and reinforce that they belong to the same story. And once you've got some options on the table, digging into name meanings and sounding out different first-and-last-name pairings can help you land on the combination that actually fits. Speaking of names, Unvale has a built-in [name generator](https://blog.unvale.io/chagelog-oc-name-generator/) you can access through the [New Character](https://unvale.io/character/new?edit=true&ref=blog.unvale.io) page. No matter your process, at the end of the day, the perfect name can come from anywhere. Sometimes, you just have to wait for it to arrive. ### Backstory Building Questions for Your OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/backstory-building-questions/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T21:23:56.000Z *This is part of our design series on* [*How to make an OC!*](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/)*–the ultimate guide to character building.* ## **Questions to help develop your OC’s backstory** Backstory isn’t always a crucial part of an OC, but it’s part of what makes your OC interesting and exciting for others. Sure, cool art is one thing, but learning that your OC has a cool scar because of a specific event in her childhood? That adds a whole new layer to your design choices! This article will ask some questions about your OCs that you can think about, along with some custom Solar-made randomizers that you can use to spark ideas with a six-sided die. I’ve organized everything in specific, easy to find sections. Let’s go! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### **Relationships** Here are some questions about your character’s friends and family. If you’re feeling extra artistic today, I’d recommend drawing a relationship chart or web for your OC’s family and friends. Drawing cute little versions of your character’s family might give you more inspiration to develop them too! - How is your OC’s family structured? (For example, a nuclear family of two parents, divorced parents and a blended family, etc.) - What about your OC’s extended family? (Uncles, aunts, cousins, and grandparents) - Or instead, if your character has found family, which character fills what family role for your OC? - How many friends did your character have in their childhood? - Did your OC have a best friend? - What about childhood pets? Developing these relationships might create a whole new OC with their own personality and relationships, or help explain why your OC acts a certain way. The possibilities are endless, especially with found family and adopted family! ### **Home** Your OC’s childhood bedroom can say a lot about them. Look around your own bedroom for inspiration. Do you have any old toys or items that bring to mind important memories? Keep those memories in mind when you consider these questions. - What does your character’s childhood bedroom look like? - Does your OC have a favourite childhood toy? Have they kept it until today? - Has your character moved around a lot, or have they stayed in one home? - If your character lived in multiple homes, what are the differences between each home? What made them unique? - Are there marks on the home that bring back memories? (Pencil height markings on a door frame, melted metal on a microwave from a candle placed there during a blackout, burn marks on the ceiling from a cooking experiment gone wrong, the possibilities are endless!) Your environment can shape you as a child or young adult. If your OC grew up poor, maybe it drives them to seek a more comfortable life. Or the opposite, if your OC grew up wealthy, maybe it makes them uncomfortable to be in conditions they’ve never been in before. Try to connect the answers and little details you came up with to your character’s personality, or turn them into anecdotes to help show off your character's personality. ### **Connecting Design to Story** Maybe you’re an artist first and a writer second, or you just got a cool new design from a trade and you want to come up with a backstory as cool as they are. These questions aren’t as direct as the others, but they should help you consider why your OC looks the way they do! - Why does your OC keep their hair the way they do? (Short because it’s easier to manage, long because it makes them feel feminine, braided to keep it under control, there are lots of possible reasons) - Why does your OC dress how they do, and would they dress differently if they were able to? - If your OC has any scars or tattoos, what are the stories behind them, if any? - Are any of your OC’s accessories or clothing pieces sentimental, with a story attached? - Is there an accessory your character is never seen without? Why is that? - Where does your character get their clothing? People always wear clothes for specific reasons, and your OC is no exception. Even if your OC wears something because you thought it’d be cool, there are lots of potential opportunities to add more character facts through little design decisions. Give it a try! ### **How Did They Get Here?** Whether your OC is casual or in a dramatic story, these questions are broad enough to fit both! What path did your character take, intentionally or not, to get to this point? It could be the start of your story, or just where they are now in terms of what backstory you want for them. - Did your character want to do what they do now as a child? Could they even have imagined where they are now? - Did they have to go to school for it, or did it just happen? If they needed an education for their current job or status, what sort of education was it? - Did your character miss out on other opportunities because of their current life? Maybe love, a job, or other things important to them. - Does your character miss their childhood? - Would your character have chosen a different path if they had the chance? Maybe these questions don’t fully cover your OC’s potential story, so if they don’t, try coming up with your own list of questions! What do you want to learn about your character? These are just a few ideas to get your creativity flowing. Hopefully these questions helped you come up with a few ideas. If you didn’t see a question you think would be important to ask to develop a good backstory, make your own list of questions and post them under [#backstory](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:Backstory&ref=blog.unvale.io)! At the end of the day, every character’s backstory is personal to them, just like our own histories and stories as writers and creators. Think about your own life and your own backstory as a creator, and use that as inspiration! ## **Solar’s Backstory Randomizer** Coming up with a backstory from scratch can be tough. So, I’ve made a little randomizer for you all! It’s 100% Solar made, and something you can do anywhere. Even if you don’t have a 6-sided-die, you can use an online dice roller; or, you can just pick whatever idea excites you! (I won’t judge) ### **Family** 1. Your OC has two parents. 2. Your OC was raised by a single parent. 3. Your OC was raised by a parent’s sibling (and their spouse, if you’d like). 4. Your OC was raised by their grandparents. 5. Your OC was adopted by a group of people and raised communally. 6. Your OC was raised in a blended family with divorced and remarried parents. ### **Home** 1. Your OC was born in their childhood home and has lived there ever since. 2. Your OC moved into their childhood home shortly after they were born. 3. Your OC moved into a family member’s home at some point in their childhood. 4. Your OC moved around a lot, and has lived in multiple homes. 5. Your OC’s home was destroyed at some point, and the family moved into a new home. 6. Your OC’s home is their family, and wherever they travel is home. ### **Story in Design** 1. Your OC has a cool scar from a misadventure as a youth. 2. Your OC has an special piece of jewelry gifted by an important person. 3. Your OC has multiple sets of the same outfit. 4. Your OC loves a certain kind of accessory, and collects them. 5. Your OC wears their hair the way they do to honour an important person. 6. Your OC makes their own clothing. ### **How Did They Get Here?** 1. Your OC was chosen by someone, causing their current life. 2. Your OC chose to be where they are, meticulously planning every detail. 3. Your OC accidentally stumbled their way into their current situation. 4. Your OC has always had good/bad luck, and their current situation is obviously a manifestation of that. 5. Your OC followed a childhood dream to get where they are now. 6. Your OC fought against their current situation, and hasn’t managed to avoid it. ### 5 Story Twists That Actually Work (and Why) URL: https://blog.unvale.io/5-examples-of-effective-story-twists/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T21:50:49.000Z Twists can elevate or wreck your story. Twists are trying to surprise the audience, and the audience likes to feel smart. Readers like to feel a step ahead, so if you are you to try to pull one over on them, it has to be clever and fun and not feel like it came out of nowhere just to keep them on their toes. So, is the risk worth the payoff? It was for these stories. \*Fairly obvious warning here, but I am going to spoil the twists of these stories. If you haven’t seen or read them, consider doing so! ### The Sixth Sense by M. Night Shymalan (1999 Film) The definitive twist movie. This movie’s twist was so groundbreaking that it has became a joke and reference point for over twenty years. It led to Shymalan feeling like he had to have a twist in his movies for a decade, but why did it work so well? In the film, a young boy can see the dead. The film’s climax then reveals that his therapist has been dead the entire time, and didn’t know it. The reason this reveal wowed audiences is because the entire movie is secretly choreographing it. It was the movie you had to see twice, just to see how it was possible that it didn’t lie or break it’s own rules. Upon rewatch, you’ll find that not only does no other character see the ghost throughout the film, but everything else about the character still makes sense, some aspects even moreso. A good twist holds up on a rewatch or reread. A great one makes it necessary and fun to revisit the story. ### Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane (2003 Novel) *Shutter Island* is, in my opinion, the perfect companion piece to the *Sixth Sense*. In the novel (and also in the 2010 film adaptation), a detective comes to an island of mental patients to investigate a missing persons case. In the end, it is revealed he himself is a patient, and the entire thing was an elaborate fantasy created by the island’s staff to try to find a breakthrough. On rewatch of *The Sixth Sense*, it becomes clear that no character talks to the man revealed later to be a ghost. Revisiting *Shutter Island* reveals that the twist is hidden in the way that nearly every character does talk to the main character. All of his interactions gain a completely new lens. It’s much easier to spot that the other patients aren’t as unwell as he initially believes and the staff aren’t evil or malicious, they all just know him and know he’s dangerous. This twist is great because it recontextualizes every character’s personality, mood, and morals, all by changing the motives of only a few characters. There was a large problem on the island that you are watching them attempt to solve, only it wasn’t the one you were led to believe. ### Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (2012 Novel) This subversive crime thriller spends its first third posing as a semi typical murder-mystery story. One of the book’s two central characters finds out his wife is missing, presumed murdered, and he is a prime suspect. It seems as if it might be a story about him solving the murder himself, or getting caught. Then, the novel reveals that the wife character staged the entire thing herself, and has an extensive multilayered plan that is still ongoing. The book shift’s to her perspective and then becomes a dual narrative until the two are able to reunite in the climax. What makes this simple sounding twist work, is that it isn’t a grandiose final reveal like so many “they were the killer all along” twists try to be. Instead, this one comes right when the book has found its footing and the reader thinks they know what they are in for. It’s proof that a twist can be placed early in a story and be used to even reveal what the story is truly about after a clean build-up misleads the reader. ### Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card (1985 Novel) In this sci-fi novel, a young boy is in training to battle against an alien race at war with Earth. He participates in numerous, highly detailed, training exercises. The story builds to one particular training simulation where he commands numerous human vessels against the alien ships, losing a ton of lives, but wiping out the aliens. After the simulation, it is revealed that the entire thing was real. Real people died, but they won the battle and the war is won. This twist is effective and smart for a handful of reasons. The main character is tricked, just like the reader. We experience the twist together, connecting us even more to him and his strife. It also invokes a classic subversion technique of making the “good” ending feel hollow or morally grey. The Earth won. That’s good, right? Well, then why does it feel so “off.” If the book simply had Ender finish his training and lead the battle, we’d feel bad about the loss, but understand their perspective. Instead, we are hit the choice like a sledgehammer, and forced to question it. If it was the right thing to do, why lie? ### I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (1954 Novel) In this post-apocalyptic story, one lone human survivor keeps himself alive in a world overtaken by a disease that has turned everyone else into zombie/vampire “monsters.” Our lone hero fights these beings, hunting them during the day and avoiding them at night. The twist comes in the finale, when he learns that they aren’t mindless creatures. They are intelligent, communicate with one another, and even have a budding society that is directly interfering with. This new information creates a new idea of what he is. He is the actual “monster.” Even though we relate to him, and don’t have the context to make it possible to relate to the creatures, we are able to understand the framework of a singular, horrible threat. This twist is excellent because it doesn’t change anything about the narrative. Instead, it uses our own knowledge of stories and their baselines to change the ideology of this one. We understand at our core that if you have a majority attempt harmonious life, but there is one other being that looks completely different and won’t stop terrorizes the population, then that thing is a monster. He is their nightmare. He is an alien force that they don’t understand. This twist asks us to accept that even though we feel that the human should be hero in a story about zombie vampires, he is actually the villain. ### BONUS: The Saw Franchise Let’s do a weird one and talk for a second about the ultra-violent horror franchise that spent two decades making movies with twist endings. These movies almost always use the same set-up. Multiple people are locked in an insane deathreap they have to try to get out of, while the police try to find them, rescue, them, and catch the killer responsible. These movies are pulpy fun, but they constantly prove that having a mastermind character allows you to play with the information your other characters and therefore readers have. SAW: The killer was a dead body in the room the whole time. The movie is not set-up in a way that there are clues to solve this one. It is mostly shock for shock’s sake, but it’s a fun use of a “it was there the whole time” twist. SAW II: The police try the whole movie to catch the killer before the timer runs out. It’s revealed the livestream they’re watching was pretaped and they never could have gotten there while it was happening. The killer also opens the film by telling them if they just watch and do nothing it will be okay. When the timer ends the captive boy they want to save is released, proving the killer didn’t lie SAW V: The group of eight captives immediately assume one person has to die to each trap, only to reach the last room and learn that they could have solved them all together, and, in fact, need eight people to solve the last puzzle safely. It’s a great example of being able to look back and see two completely different stories that could have happened, without the logic breaking. JIGSAW: The film follows two groups experiencing traps, cutting between the two groups. The finale reveals they weren’t actually doing this at the same time. One of the group’s did this a decade before, and you’ve been watching something that happened in the past, and something that is happening in the present. This reveal comes with a second reveal that they were all in the same location, and the group from the past made choices that will ultimately endanger the group in the present. It’s an excellent use of a twist that brings two narratives together and reveals how they intertwine. --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! ### How to Write Monsters That Are More Than Just Scary URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-write-a-compelling-monster/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T21:57:14.000Z Let’s get this out of the way. Big opinion incoming: Monsters rock. There’s probably no genre I like more than creature features. I feel confident saying I probably watch more monster movies and read more monster fiction than most people, which is exactly why I also feel confident making this grandiose statement… the majority of this genre is bad. Just looking at movies for a second, there are so many great monster movies. *Jaws*, *Gremlins*, *Godzilla*, *King Kong*, *Alien*, and so many more are all incredible “monster movies” despite all of them being completely different in style and tone. Movies like those lead to people thinking “okay, I just need a big or weird thing and it needs to eat/claw/laser some people and I’m all good,” which then leads to a surplus of bad 80’s movies that I am honestly tired of defending. So how do you write a great monster story and not discount schlock? I’m literally trying to figure that out right now. ### What kind of monster story are you telling? Remember how all those movies I used as examples were different genres and tones? When approaching a monster story, you want to know how you want your monster to make people feel. Many classic monsters, like *The Wolfman* or *Frankenstein,* want to show the thin line between humanity and horrific creature, so they play up the human elements. Frankenstein may take an extra second to play with a child, or a werewolf may hesitate when he goes to bit a person he loves in human form. These monsters are designed to be scary while still being relatable. The writers want you to identify with them enough that you see the tragedy of their situation. There’s a reason so many of these movies end with somber music playing after the monster is killed. They are trying to make you feel *for* the creature. Meanwhile, there’s a creature like the shark in *Jaws*, or the xenomorph from *Alien*. These are portrayed as overpowered instinctual killing machines. The writers don’t want you to see any humanity in these animalistic creatures. In fact, they want you to see them so one-dimensionally as killer beasts, that you end up wondering if they could have even been evil inside somehow, despite just being a force of nature. Then there’s the massive range of creature that falls in-between. The Gremlins seem to understand human behavior and even pop-culture, which makes them relatable, but then they use that knowledge to scratch, bite, shoot, flash, and explode people (and each other), which means they are objectively nefarious. The writers here want to make a monster that’s entertaining and has elements the audience can digest, without making them any less threatening to the main characters. One final example I want to briefly touch on is humanoid monsters, like Dracula. These are monsters that are so close to human you’ll need to think through how their monstrous side comes out, instead of the opposite. If you can find the right powers or actions to make a reader think of someone humanoid as a monster, you’ll have be able to scare or entertain them much easier. More on the abilities thing later. There’s no right or wrong way to go about it, but your monster’s personality or lack of one will speak volumes in the short bursts we see them. ### Monster as a metaphor One of the horror genre’s most used concepts is a supernatural being or creature that is an allegory for something very real. The inescapable terror of *The Babadook* is designed to mirror the feelings of battling depression. The female teen werewolves of *Ginger Snaps* are replicating the awkward transformation of puberty and becoming a young adult. The most famous example of this is *Godzilla*, who was a giant walking warning of the dangers of atomic weapons. Finding an attachment to the real world that you want to use satirically can be a great in for a monster story. Think about what terrifies, angers, or makes you laugh in our world then think through what the pulpiest fictional version of that is. ### Less is more Earlier I made a comment about seeing your monster in bursts. That was a big assumption, but the more your monster is highlighted, the less mysterious it will be. You want your audience to either dread thing thing, or be so curious they can’t wait to learn more. If the first time a monster shows up it shows itself enough for a full description, or a character overexplains what it is, you’ve instantly lost a free element of suspense. Even in overly simple monster stories, slowly revealing it over time will almost always keep a reader interested. Then, when it is fully revealed, they’ve hopefully been primed enough to feel satisfied and invested, versus having a feeling “oh, that's it.” ### Scale and impact If a monster is entering your story, the story is going to change. There has to be an impact. If you are using a creature you would call a monster to world-build or add more depth to lore, then I beg you consider this line of thinking. Even simply seeing something beyond what is known would change a character on some level. Your character might not be scarred for life or anything, but just seeing a dragon, giant bug, weird figure made of shadows, etc. in the distance changes the information they were working with thirty seconds ago. They may never encounter it directly, but knowing something *is* out there is chilling. If you can enforce that your character now has to keep this in the back of their mind, it will be easier to get it stuck into a reader’s mind. Sure, your character may exist in a universe of goblins, werewolves, and demons and maybe they’ve seen all these creatures a hundred times over. In that case, you should ask yourself if these creatures are even “monsters.” If they are normal, what would a genuine *monster* look like for this character. This idea of changing the way someone thinks goes double if your story is about the monster. If you think about *Jaws,* the characters behave differently once they know there’s a shark, but where they truly show change is when they learn what kind of shark they are dealing with. We see Sheriff Brody go from scared and put out, to almost desensitised, almost as if he’s unable to fully process something this big and evil lives in his world. Meanwhile, Quint, the fisherman hired to kill the shark, can’t help but feel excited and crazed. Their personalities don’t completely change, but as they gather more information on what they’re dealing with, they fall further into their tendencies. ### The monster’s origin Where did your monster come from? Did it fall from space, come from the sea, manifest out of a dream? You’d be surprised by how much having even a simple idea of where this thing could be from will make writing in details on it later. The obvious thing to add here is that whatever you come up with can go into your story, but doesn’t have to. Sometimes not knowing anything about a monster is the scariest thing, and unnecessary information will only break suspense. ### Think about your monster using the iceberg theory. You know those youtube thumbnails that always say “iceberg explained!” Sure you do. The iceberg is a way of saying that a story or character has a lot more under the surface of what is shown. It’s an oversimplification, but apply that to your monster. On the surface it has scales and red eyes, and that may be all the characters ever learn about it, but you should think about it further. Why is is physically built like that? What kind of environment would lead to scales of that type? Does it have claws because it burrows? Even if none of it ever comes out in your story, you can dig into all the below surface elements of your monster, then use these ideas the second you get stuck or don’t know how it should be behaving. This line of thinking will help you ground an animalistic creature or maybe even help you make a more abstract monster more surreal as you come up with even more ways it doesn’t follow our logic. Sprinkle these elements into your writing but never feel like you have to put it all out there. You should hope your readers will want to theorize and wonder on their own. ### Strengths and Weaknesses If you comb through all the other info you’ve been building for your monster, you likely already have an idea of its strengths. What I would consider, is now making sure it also has unique weaknesses. Werewolves are fast and powerful, but hate silver. Dracula can do a million weird evil things with his mind, but also has a wide array of mystical weaknesses. This creative approach to combating a monster only makes it even more interesting. Consider adding convoluted ways to stop your monster, then digging into why those weaknesses exist and exploring how your characters can exploit them. Also keep in mind those tropes I used as example are there for a reason. Silver, crucifixes, and other classical horror defenses are great jumping off points if you aren’t sure where to go for your weaknesses. ### So… Uh… What is this thing? Okay, the most obvious part. What actually is the monster? What does it look like? What does it do? What does it want? Well, I can’t tell you that. All I can do is hope coming up with this part sounds fun to you and that you have a better idea of how to present these ideas. I’m sure it won’t be stressful or difficult at all. And if you want more, check out our [Tips for Designing a Monster OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-a-monster-oc/) --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! ### Chagelog: OC Name Generator URL: https://blog.unvale.io/chagelog-oc-name-generator/ Last updated: 2025-04-07T21:22:49.000Z Have you ever wanted to create a new OC, but you lacked the inspiration? Have you had an amazing design for an OC, but you couldn't think of a name? This release is for you! We're bringing you a random, *human-powered* OC name generator! That's right, while other platforms are going all-in on AI, we're sticking to our human brains for this randomizer. Our community team came up with hundreds of potential names for your little guys, and our development team combined them into over 50,000 unique combinations! Hank Hawkeye? Regina Rizz? It's more likely than you think. You can see the new OC name generator on the [New Character page](https://unvale.io/character/new?edit=true&ref=blog.unvale.io). Definitely let us know if you have any issues or feedback! We always love to hear from you. ### How to Write an Ending That Actually Lands URL: https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-end-a-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:14:31.000Z Concocting a good ending can seem like a daunting task. It’s the final beat, image, or idea a reader will get from your story. An ending is so important that many, including me in our article on things to do before writing a story, would suggest having it in mind before you even begin writing. With all that said, we can’t let the worries of not sticking the landing stop us from finishing, or sometimes even starting, our stories. Before you start (your ending) be sure to check out these resources too: - [10 Things to do Before Writing a Story](https://blog.unvale.io/10-things-to-do-before-writing-a-story/) - [Writing Lore for your Original Characters](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) - [Tips on Creating a Story Crossover!](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-creating-a-story-crossover/) Lets get to it! Here are some classic story-ending ideas that can hopefully help you figure out what your story needs to leave a lasting impression that has readers wanting more. ### Close a Circle One of the most satisfying types of endings is one that feels like it was right in front of the reader the whole time, but they didn’t see it coming in a way that feels boring. When thinking of your ending, think back to your beginning, or even your middle. Have the climax or final pages payoff something that was setup or maybe just mentioned unceremoniously at the start of the novel or somewhere in the middle. This will make it feel thematically circular, like there was a clear throughline or vision. You can even do this backwards. Once you know how your story ends, consider what elements, locations, items, characters, etc. play a pivotal role in the ending. Then consider, is there a way to highlight one or multiple of these elements in your story’s start, or in a random section of the story? Ideally the reader doesn’t even realize your planting a seed. It’s also important, if you got this route, to do the set-up early enough that it doesn’t feel forced. You don’t want to introduce the vital artifact or location in chapter 11, only to pay it off in chapter 12\. You want your reader to have just barely forgotten it, so that the call back hits them as hard as possible. ### Fully Resolve the Main Story If you’re truly stuck and maybe even overthinking how to end your story, consider writing the most closed up neat and tidy ending possible. Even if you don’t like it as an actual ending, this is an unbelievably helpful exercise in finding your actual more subversive ending. It can’t be stated enough that twists, open ended stories, and cliffhangers are all great, unless they come off forced and included just to attempt to make a story more interesting. Shoehorning some kind of overly vague or gimmicked ending in will always come across worse than just a simple effective attempt at wrapping up all the plot threads. Look at your core cast, and maybe even side characters. Give them all a clear ending that feels finite. Solve your mysteries and cut off hanging threads. Then see if it feels *off* and try to figure out why. It might even feel satisfying and conclusive. Worth noting that resolving a story does not mean your characters succeed or find their happy ending. The closure can be dark or live somewhere in between success or failure. ### Leaving Your Story Unresolved It’s only fair to follow the resolved tips with unresolved. Often a more artistic approach to story endings, this is where the reader is left pondering *something* about the world where this story took place. A detective hasn’t solved the murder, or two rivals never squashed their beef. Unresolved endings are one of the riskier moves in narrative storytelling, as they can be unbelievably frustrating to a reader if they aren’t done well. It’s important that not resolving your plot is somehow thematically relevant to it. Your should be sending a message or trying to convey a bigger point via not wrapping up loose ends. It shouldn’t feel like you just ran out of story. A core idea here is to put enough into the bulk of the story that your reader knows the story elements well enough to come up with their own fun guesses at what would happen next. There is a difference between trying to imagine what the next steps are for our heroes, and having no idea what happened or what happens next. ### Ambiguity Different from unresolved story, ambiguity can allow you to wrap up a story, but still leave room to let your audience come up with their own fun ideas about what happens next. In the first *John Wick*, our character is bleeding and it is unclear if he will bleed out. In *The Thing,* the last two characters left are out in the cold and it’s unknown if they will survive or if they even killed the monster that has been terrorizing them. These endings are fun because we can speculate about what’s “next” without feeling that what we just saw is unfinished. John Wick killed every villain he was after, and the entire crew from *The Thing* are dead. The stories we came for are complete, even resolved despite the main characters’ fates remaining unknown. Having ambiguity exist despite finishing the main plot of your story is a fantastic way to live between resolved and unresolved. Who knows, maybe you even leave a touch of space for a sequel down the line. ### Twist Endings Remember when I said unresolved endings are the riskiest? Okay, well here’s your second riskiest. A good twist ending can payout like a slot machine to a reader, but a forced one will make them groan so loud you’ll somehow hear it wherever you are in that moment. A twist basically means finding a big unexpected change or reveal of information that completely overhauls the story. The narrator was lying, or the main character was actually the killer even though he’s been trying to solve the murder! Anything that recontextualizes the story and changes the way the reader feels about it in one fell swoop. It’s impossible to just say do a twist or don’t, as many great narratives are built on or strengthened by one. There are some elements that make a twist more effective. It’s important that a twist reframes the narrative as it currently exists, instead of rewriting it. A great twist means that a reader could reread and the story would still work, and be even more satisfying to work through with the new information. A bad twist is one that feels completely counterintuitive to the story we just read, or one that if you were to reread, creates a ton of plot holes or logic issues. If you do come up with a great twist, consider planting seeds, or just going back through and making sure the previous work all makes sense even with the twist information. You want to shock the audience, but trust me, it’s better that some readers see it coming than if no readers see how it could even be possible. If you need help, we have [5 Examples of Effective Story Twists here!](https://blog.unvale.io/5-examples-of-effective-story-twists/) ### Epilogues The final type of ending to discuss is epilogues. These are addendums to the end of stories that often jump ahead in time, switch to a new perspective, or take place in a new location. Imagine it as a DLC for your story. An opportunity to jump ahead and show the future of your characters, or a chance to jump laterally and show how your main story has affected this world. Stephen King often uses these in his works. For example, in *The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon,* a young girl lost in the woods evades a demonic monster, only to find out later that it was a bear, and the monstrous appearance was her imagination. The story is told first person to allow you to be in her head and experience the terror. Then, the epilogue switches to a new character’s perspective for the first time in the story. It retells the ending from this new character’s mind, revealing that he also saw the horrible monster. Another example, *Salem’s Lot* has one that shows what the main character’s life is like years after his run-in with vampires. It offers a brief but fascinating look at how these traumatic events changed him. It also ties back in to the first section of the book, revealing that you were already reading the thoughts of this new version of the character, but you didn’t know it because he’s changed his name since the story took place. That’s right, it uses its epilogue to close the circle. Just like I am doing on this article. --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! ### The Do's and Don'ts of Roleplay Etiquette URL: https://blog.unvale.io/roleplaying-etiquette/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:15:59.000Z Maybe you’re new to roleplay or you just want to brush up on your skills. Either way, give this a read if you want to know the do's and don’ts of roleplay! (Roleplay is often shortened to ‘RP’, which you’ll see in this article.) 1. **Always ask before you start to roleplay!** If you’ve seen some posts by users asking to RP, you might know that there are lots of folks excited to RP with you! But most of the time, users don't have anything on their profile or character pages that say whether they’re open to RP or not. So, what to do? Just ask! The worst they can say is no, after all. Some people don't have time to RP, or aren't comfortable with it, so don't worry if you get turned down. If you’re nervous, here are some ways you can ask! - “Hello, I love your characters, and I would love to roleplay with you! Would you be interested?” - “I have a character that I think would get along great with yours! Could we RP them meeting some time?” - “I love your writing, could we RP together?” ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-7.png) Two character's discussing their ground rules before roleplaying. 1. **Establish ground rules** I like to set rules up with my partner so we know what’s okay and what’s not when we RP. If you aren't comfortable with a character flirting with yours, make sure you say that immediately! Or if you’re uncomfortable with blood or gore, or if fighting in RP makes you anxious, make sure your partner knows not to go there. If you want to stop, it’s always okay to. You can tell your partner that you’re uncomfortable, and if they don't listen or are rude in reply, always [contact staff](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9735574-get-in-contact-with-us?ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you’re shy or nervous, you could even send them a stop-sign emoji in reply. Here are some examples of ground rules and ways to set them: - “I’m not comfortable with people flirting with my character in or out of character, so please avoid that.” - “Don’t kill or permanently injure my character in this fight scene. I want to keep using them.” - “Please don’t describe how my character reacts to what your character does, I’m not comfortable with that.” 1. **Try to be engaged!** Some people who are new to RP give short, one sentence replies, or don't interact with their partner’s “hooks” (suggestions for where the RP could go embedded into their RP post), and that makes the RP harder and easier to get stuck. RP is a conversation (literally!), which means there’s a push and pull between both sides. If your partner doesn't give you anything to work with, it makes replying nearly impossible. You can also always ask for a bit of a longer post to reply to if you can't get any ideas, or talk it out and plan your next move with your partner. Here’s some ways to ask! - “Hey, I’m sorry but I’m having trouble coming up with ideas on where to go now. Can we discuss it together?” - “Can you add a sentence or two more to your post? I think my reply will be too short, and I want to make it longer for you.” - “I really want to go in this direction, actually. My character has been hinting it through their actions and words up until now. I think it’d be a fun thing to RP!” 1. **Keep things neat and stay in character!** If you want to talk to your partner in the middle of RP, it can be confusing if you suddenly start talking to them when describing what your character is saying or doing. Your partner might think what you’ve said happened in the RP! So, it might be best to keep Out Of Character (OOC for short) conversations in a different area. Maybe if you’re RPing in the comment section for a writing or art post, you could keep OOC conversation to the page’s main comment section, or if you’re RPing on Discord, you could make a second channel for talking about what to do next. Keeping everything clear and easy to understand for your partner is something expert roleplayers do! Bonus: You can always collect RP screenshots and put them on your character’s page (with permission from your partner, of course!) or in a world page as a neat little way to see all your past RPs, and so people who want to get to know your character can read them too! 5\. **Have fun!** Roleplaying is ultimately all about having fun. If having to reply stresses you out, or if interacting with certain characters makes you anxious, stop and think “why am I doing this?” If RP becomes a chore you need to do every day just to make someone else happy, then you should pause and take a breather. You’re not an RP machine, after all! Working on your own projects and keeping up with life obligations is just as important. So, if you’re busy with exams or struggling with classes, it’s perfectly okay to pause RPs for a bit. Your mood affects the mood of your RP, and if you’re angry or upset, that might come across in your posts. But remember, let your partner know you’re taking a break, or ending the RP early. Don’t leave them hanging! Last thing from me! If you’ve read this article and you have a cool roleplay world that you want to show off, use [#rpworld](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:RPWorld&ref=blog.unvale.io) and tell everyone what your world’s etiquette rules are! Maybe you have a certain way you want people to organize RP posts, or you want to write up some ground rules to follow to keep everyone safe and comfortable. UnVale’s the home for everyone’s OCs, so make sure to give those posts some love! ### Genre-Based Worldbuilding: Where to Start URL: https://blog.unvale.io/world-building-using-genres/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:31:45.000Z “Okay, I know what world building is, but what do genres have to do with anything?” Well, let’s start by defining what a genre is! If you listen to music or read a lot of novels, you’ll probably already know that songs and books are categorized by genre. Genres of music include jazz, pop, and EDM, while genres of books start with fiction and nonfiction, branching out from there. Imagine you’re looking for a new song, and you find something labeled under your favourite genre. What are you expecting from that song? What does your favourite genre of music have as defining features? Books, and stories, work the same way. When you look for books to read, you might search through your favourite genre with expectations for what you’ll find inside. That’s the core of what a story genre is - the **expectations** of your reader. Okay, so how does that help you create a world? If you use a genre to help decide what you want to do with your story, you have two paths you can take any time you want to add something. You can go along with what’s *expected*, or you can do something *unexpected*. First, let’s dive into ‘going along with what people might expect’. When a fantasy story has dragons, what do you imagine? If you have a clear image in your mind, then that’s using expectations to your advantage. Elves, spaceships, even high school, are all things that are in popular culture and so, we have expectations when the ideas pop up in stories. It means you don't have to explain everything to your readers, and it adds a sense of familiarity and comfort to your story. If you’re writing a fantasy story, people might expect magical creatures or things beyond their daily life. If you’re writing a romance story, people might expect a romantic rival or misunderstanding plotlines. And if you’re writing sci-fi, people might expect high-tech spaceships and aliens. Adding what people might expect and using that familiarity to add more depth to your world can be super useful. It means a bit less work for you, since there’s already lots of stories out there to draw inspiration from! But you can also **subvert expectations**. Maybe people expect the fairies in your world to be sweet and kind, when they’re actually vicious little monsters. Or maybe, instead of spaceships, people get around inside the bellies of giant space whales! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-6.png) When someone expects you to do something they’re familiar with, it can add a bit of excitement and spice to do the opposite. Ask yourself, “what have I never seen done before in a story like this?” For example, Romeo and Juliet’s ending subverts the usual romantic genre plotline by having the two lovers die at the end. That’s something you almost never see in romance stories, and it gives the story a different tone than the usual love story. **So, to sum up what we’ve learned:** - Genres are a way to categorize stories by their reader’s expectations. - You can use those expectations to easily communicate ideas, or to fill in your story with common features of your chosen genre. - You can also instead subvert what people expect and surprise them, which can make your story more unique and different from other stories in the same genre. **Here are some examples of popular collab worlds and their genres:** [Sci-fi](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:Sci-fi&ref=blog.unvale.io) worlds include Protocol: Ex ([Protex](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:PROTEX&ref=blog.unvale.io)), [Genetic Uprising](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:GeneticUprising&ref=blog.unvale.io), and [Red World](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:RedWorld&ref=blog.unvale.io) [Fantasy](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:Fantasy&ref=blog.unvale.io) worlds include [Raging Waters](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:RagingWaters&ref=blog.unvale.io), [BlackOpal](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:BlackOpal&ref=blog.unvale.io), and [Stardust](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags:StardustCollabWorld&ref=blog.unvale.io) What genres are your characters and stories in? Mystery, horror, romance, sci-fi, fantasy… There are so many more genres out there, and there’s lots to explore and create, so try searching tags to find OCs in your favourite genres! ### How to Write an Opening Line That Hooks Readers URL: https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-start-a-story/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:35:05.000Z I know I’m guilty of overthinking the beginning of a story to the point of full writer’s block. Your starting lines or first chapter is your way of welcoming the reader to the story, and hopefully selling them on it in far too brief a moment. Luckily, there are tried and true methods for starting a story that have been used in a number of famous narratives and yet still remain malleable enough that they can be reworked time and time again. When starting your next story, consider experimenting with one or multiple of these to see if they can help you create a hook so good that anyone who gives your first page a glance has to keep reading. ## Starting Lines Before we dig into starting methods that cover an entire chapter, let’s take a look at some single starting line methods that will help give your story the shortest possible hook, without sacrificing any of the punch needed to get a reader’s attention. ### Use an Absurdist Line You’d be surprised by how much good will one solid line can buy you. If your line is specific and/or weird enough, then you can breathe a little after it as you write a more traditional opening chapter. One method is to make your first line so unusual or outrageous that a reader can’t help but want to know more. **Example: *Altered Carbon*** “Coming back from the dead can be rough.” **Example: *The Crow Road*** “It was the day my grandmother exploded.” These lines don’t follow traditional logic and are wild on the surface, but what really makes them great is that somehow they seem to make sense at the same time. You can tell that within the context of the story, they will make sense. It makes the reader want to go further so they can see how these lines will possibly be recontextualized into something logical. ### Ask a Question An absurdist line is creating questions in the reader’s head. An arguably simpler way to get to a similar place is to just cut out the middle man and ask a question. It can be integrally tied to a character or the world, or maybe it’s a genuine thematic quandary that you want a reader to wrestle with as they read the story. Example: ***Poor George*** “Who listens?” Example: ***Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close*** “What about a teakettle? What if the spout opened and closed when the steam came out, so it would become a mouth, and it could whistle pretty melodies, or do Shakespeare, or just crack up with me?” These examples, one succinct and one expansive, both directly ask the reader their question. It’s unclear who is asking and why. Is this the author, a character, a narrator? The use of a question mark completely changes the intent of a first line and demands immediate action from the reader. ### Tell us About Your Main Character In a first-person narrative, or in a story with a key figure driving the plot, the first line can often just introduce us to him or her in a creative or simplistic way. **Example: *The Lovely Bones*** “My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973.” We don’t only get the hook of the murder and the fact that we are being talked to by a ghost, but we get this tiny little piece of information from the Salmon line. We know Susie maybe tenders to add too many details, burying the lead, or that maybe she’s had to make this comparison before. But what if there isn’t something as unique as being, you know, dead? Then we can explore what makes them unique in the slightest of ways too. What do they love or hate? How do they feel about something we all have a frame of reference for? **Made Up Example:** “I’ve always hated summer. I never understood why it made this town so happy. I would never admit it, but some part of me was happy that everyone’s summer was ruined that year.” Just a fast example of how sharing the character’s opinion can also work double for dropping in a sense of story mystery. What about something we don’t have the frame of reference for, but now we want it. **Made Up Example:** “I never thought I’d have to arm-wrestle Chuck “The Stuff” Biffly, but there was a lot of weird stuff going on that day.” We don’t know who Chuck “The Stuff” Biffly is. That doesn’t matter, because whoever this character is apparently does. Once again we got an opinion and plot hook. This time the hook being some arm-wrestling match shared through the lens that this character is apparently having a weird day. The hook becomes both “who is that?” as well as “wait, what else had to happen alongside this moment to call the whole day weird?” ## Story Openings Let’s look at some methodologies for crafting an efficient first chapter when you want to avoid opening with an information dump or describing your protagonist. ### Sell Your Setting While solely describing the setting in detail to start your story is ill-advised, there are ways to go about it without falling into the trap of doing a lengthy exposition drop. If you feel like your setting is what makes your story special, or it is just vital to understanding the start of the plot, then it might be okay to devote your opening to it. It will need to be extremely important or grabbing. It should tell us something, or maybe even warn us. If you go this route, smaller/vaguer can often be better. If your story takes place in a cyberpunk world or alternate history, try starting with the description of one building in detail. Hit the stranger features first. This will offer a much easier “in” than a big sweeping opening that attempts to catch us all the way up to speed on the state of affairs in a brand new universe. **Example: *1984*** “It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen.” This could probably also fall under my absurd first lines section. The imagery that clocks are different here immediately creates a sense of something being off, while offering a direct view into a detail of the world. ### Set Up a Much Later Payoff It seems illogical to not start your story with your main character, or a piece of your central plot, but an easy way to instantly create a layer mystery is to open with a chapter about, well, anything else. Consider a chapter about your villain, a side character, a setting, an important object, or truly anything that won’t play a part until much later in the story. It could be a quick glimpse at how things are run in a city, a display of a person’s abilities or artifact’s power, or just an innocuous slice of life. The hook is that the chapter is short and the second chapter functions as a second beginning, starting the story in a more traditional way. Hopefully, the opening chapter sticks in your reader’s head, making them question why it was important without dwelling on it so hard they’re distracted. Plus, at any point that you feel your story needs a jolt of energy, you can pay off the stuff from your opening. ### Start in the Middle One of the most common story starts is to open in somewhere in the middle of the story. Highlight a piece of action or dramatic story beat. A fight, a death, a trap, or an emotional turmoil that is to come. Something that the reader dreads but needs to see come to fruition. Anything like this allows you to basically cheat and start your story with an exciting sequence when you normally would need to build towards it. Plus, you can easily speak vaguely or leave out character names so that it doesn’t spoil anything major. Let the reader know that *someone* is going to be buried alive, but then leave them guessing who it could be as you slowly lead them all the way back to that moment. ### Do a “Cold Open” More often in film, or maybe best known as the technique used for comedy television shows like *The Office* or *Brooklyn 99*, a cold open is a semi self-contained story that serves almost as an example of what the reader can expect from the story if they decide to stick with it. When you craft a cold open, you want to make it feel finished and comprehensible, even though it likely references characters or even story beats that the reader hasn’t gotten to yet. It’s different from the start in the middle tip, as the cold open doesn’t seek to set up anything for later in the story. Instead, the cold open should be as close as possible to a condensed down version of the whole story’s vibe or energy. It can include the main cast of characters doing something plain, or wrapping up a side adventure or plot, or maybe it’s a scene that takes place in the gaps of the story that’s about to be told. It should be funny or interesting, and offer a speedrun look at who these characters are and how they will interact in the main story. Bonus points if the reader can go back to this open after reading further in and enjoy it even more now that they have the required context. While none of these tips are the “right” way to start your story, thinking about what you would do if using them is great practice, as it will only strengthen your knowledge of your narrative and highlight what pieces of it are most important to you. The most important thing to keep in mind is that while you could use one of these, none of these, or mix them all, as long as you are starting your story, you’re on the right track. And once you've reached the end, we have a handy guide for [Ways to End a Story](https://blog.unvale.io/ways-to-end-a-story/) too! --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! More resources: [Writing Lore for your Original CharactersLearn how to craft lore for your OCs, including backstories, worldbuilding, naming, and more! Develop your characters into something deeper with this guide.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/Logo-icon---no-padding--1--aac48ac5-863e-4115-8fa3-117956b9feaf.png)Unvalelumi![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/headline--12--728ec549-712f-4061-91d1-3ab1a7c29db1.png)](https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/) ### Changelog: Unvale Clickable Links and Markdown Support URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-unvale-clickable-links-and-markdown-support/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:35:33.000Z Hello, everyone! I am super excited to share this release with you, because it's a fun one with a lot of new functionality! Read on to see what's new. - **Unvale links now clickable on-site**: You can now click on links to other areas of Unvale, meaning you can better promote your collaborative worlds, highlight your BFFs in your profile bio, show your friend a cool OC you found, and more! - **Markdown support**: You can now *italicize*, **bold**, ~~strike through~~, and link to stuff in your profile bio, OC/world descriptions, and comments! See our full markdown guide [on the help portal here](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10858615-unvale-s-markdown-list?ref=blog.unvale.io). - **Comment bug fix**: Comment text now wraps correctly instead of breaking up the middle of a word. More bug fixes to come! - **New featured OCs, worlds, and quotes:** We have some new featured creations for you to check out; don't forget to congratulate folks on being highlighted! All of this is LIVE NOW on [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! To celebrate this super cool release, we want you to share all your favorite Unvale creations and users using now-clickable links and the #UVFavorites hashtag! Who is your favorite all-time Unvale user? Who is your favorite NEW user? Which collab world is the most fun? We have a full list of questions for you to answer below, but feel free to include your own questions, too! If you decide to participate, don't forget to use the #UVFavorites hashtag! Oh, and don't forget, you can use our new markdown support for prettier links! \[ text\]( url) --no spaces needed. ### #UVFavorites question ideas: - Favorite Unvale user: - Favorite NEW Unvale user: - Silliest Unvale user: - User with most unique art style: - Most unique OC: - Favorite Unvale user from your favorite fandom: - Underated Unvale user: - Sweetest Unvale user: - Favorite Unvale character: - Favorite Unvale world: - Favorite Unvale collab world: - First Unvale OC you favorited: - First collab world you participated in: - Unvale user with a ton of OCs: - Unvale user that inspires you: - Add your own! Alright, that's all for now! As always, we love to hear your feedback, so don't hesitate to share! See you on the platform! ### Give Every Scene a Job: 8 Scene Goals URL: https://blog.unvale.io/8-goals-to-assign-to-your-scenes/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T22:37:45.000Z If you write like me, you probably have some scene ideas that make you laugh or excite you so much that you might have to write an entire story just to get the scenes out. Also, if you write like me, you probably end up shoe-horning that cool scene you can’t stop thinking about into whatever you write next, only to find out it is funny or exciting, but has no thematic relevance to the story. Well, first off, stop stealing my worst writing habits. Second off, we can fix this! When you craft a scene for your story, be it because you have a great character idea, scene idea, or literally just need a bridge scene to keep writing, you can create a simple list of goals that will guarantee you don’t technically “waste” a single scene. These are oversimplified concepts that have been used as a gauge for if a story is moving or not, and can be extremely helpful when rewriting as they are one of the only things it’s typically okay to “force” into a story. This list is not designed to be the definitive hack to story structure, as much as it operates as a simple list you can refer back to any time you hit a wall writing and want something to focus your next scene on. ### Main Character’s Goal What does your main character want? Even before the full scope of the plot is revealed or they’ve received their grand call to adventure, your character either wants something, or is built around the fact that they don’t. Anytime your main character is in a scene, you can ask yourself “does anything happen in this scene that gets my character closer or further to their current goal.” If the answer is no, then it might be worth revisiting and finding an angle be it major or minor, that moves them closer or further to what they want. ### Main Antagonist’s Goal Take the last paragraph and apply it to your main antagonist as well. Plus, keep in mind that these two’s scenes can directly affect one another even if they aren’t sharing a scene. Does your antagonist get closer or further from what they’re after? Do their actions somehow move the main character closer or further? ### Motivate Slightly different from the characters’ goals are their motivations. Every character in a cursed kingdom probably wants to stop the evil sorcerer, but it’s our hero that is going to. Why? Just as important to establish as a protagonist's goal and an antagonist’s plan are their reasons for doing so. A simple yet effective scene goal can be to give your reader more context as to why these goals must be pursued. It can be something from the past, or you can craft a scene that motivates them in the moment. This is equally as important for side characters, as they will likely play a part in our hero’s journey, but they will get less time to learn and grow. Highlighting believable reasons they would jump in will make them much more acceptable to your reader. ### Does this Scene Advance the Plot? Let’s take the ideas I just presented and apply them to the story as a whole, and even to you as a storyteller. What is this story’s goal? What is your goal as its writer? Does this scene move the story closer or further from whatever the esoteric answer to that question is? Your story has limited space. It’s never a bad idea to stop and see the last time you tried to utilize the central theme or convey your message. ### Create or Expand Conflict Stories are built on conflict be it large or miniscule. If there is no conflict in a scene, internal or external, then you may be wasting vital time or missing a golden opportunity to make a character more multidimensional. When writing a scene, consider if there are new conflicts that could stem from any of the decisions in it, or consider if there is room to make a current conflict grow, change, or even resolve. ### Reveal Your Setting If you need a break from character, or just need to establish important context, consider also telling us something about the world this story takes place in. What kind of creatures inhabit it, or just what is this part of town like? You’ll want to find something we don’t know. There’s no use in having a scene to establish that we’re in a fantasy world we’ve never heard of, or in New York City, but it might be worth explaining that we are in the part of this land ruled by a specific king or in a neighborhood of New York that has a quirk or vibe. ### Reveal a Secret All scenes are, in theory, offering new information, but is that information interesting or pertinent? If you feel that a scene needs a jolt or doesn’t move the plot enough, consider offering the reader a secret. Think of something you know about this story. Something you find exciting, and then share it. If you are excited about it, the hope is the reader will be too. The magic of this goal is that it can mean a character reveals a secret, but it doesn’t have to. There is nothing to stop you from revealing something happening in your writing and letting it stay a secret in the narrative. Suddenly you have given your reader a piece of suspense. ### Plant a Seed This goal is quite possibly the easiest to retrofit into a previously written scene. Readers love a callback or payoff, especially if they don’t see it coming, but remember the set-up once the reveal happens. A goal for a scene can be to lay some groundwork for a later story beat. Sneak in a small or large piece of the puzzle that won’t come back into play until much later. Turn a fun hangout scene that isn’t pushing any of these other goals into a sneaky foreshadowing moment by adding a spy watching from nearby, or hinting at a specific spell or item that the group doesn’t even have yet. --- Love spending time browsing cool art, characters, and other original creations? [Check out Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Over 150,000 creatives have chosen [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as their home for character creation, worldbuilding, and fun art activities. It's free to join, anti-AI, and one of the warmest, kindest communities on the internet! ### CharoLyn's Design Challenge: An Unvale Partnership Event URL: https://blog.unvale.io/charolyn-event/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:47:42.000Z A new event has hit Unvale and it's hosted by our awesome partner, [Charo Lyn](https://unvale.io/charolyn?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Design an OC through their challenge and you may be spotlighted in a Charo Lyn short on YouTube. Take a look at what's in store, find out how to join, and learn more about Charo below. --- ## [#CharoLynAlien](https://unvale.io/character/cd569924-6795-461a-a701-b70adc8ea619?ref=blog.unvale.io) 🛸 💫 Put on your best space gear and hop on your spaceships to join CharoLyn's Alien OC design challenge! [Join the Charo Lyn Art Challenge! on UnvaleI’m so glad you are telling this story with us! If you haven’t se![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-31.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/97949fb8-a471-4327-9fab-9117c3551838.awebp)](https://unvale.io/character/cd569924-6795-461a-a701-b70adc8ea619?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### How To Join 👽 - Use their "[Create Your Own Character: Alien Edition](https://youtube.com/shorts/Vu4l5aoaHuM?si=A4%5FOXkGy-%5F-ibJgN&ref=blog.unvale.io)" YouTube Short to draw or write about your own Alien - Post about your alien with #CharoLynAlien (*remember it has to be a character page for it to be seen!*) - Check out the [Rules](https://unvale.io/character/cd569924-6795-461a-a701-b70adc8ea619?view=Writing&writing=ac1d688f-2cf6-4415-a286-69bb12094433&ref=blog.unvale.io) for how to get more involved! Event ends on ***April 19th, 2025!*** ## Planets to Explore This challenge consists of 4 planets that your Alien can be part of or interact with. For more information, check out [Charo's Event World](https://unvale.io/world/d9f6de52-8c61-4859-b633-3f2c9fdaaa87?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### 1\. Zharis [Zharis on UnvaleOn the edge of the habitable zone, farthest from the sun among it![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-34.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/dcc0cfad-53b5-43fe-b780-a8b0d5f79c10-2.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/12b03206-85fd-4e8a-94a6-f970129c8485?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### 2.) Xom-475f [XOM-475f on UnvaleTo be honest, the knowledge of how or when life began on XOM-475f![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-35.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/cbd74c40-1467-4e40-ba4c-9f410a10e193.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/97f08a8c-8676-4f94-8cca-8fb017be6426?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### 3.) Ybeyiá [Ybeyiá on UnvaleThe concept of paradise is often subject to various interpretatio![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-36.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/97c00b46-faee-4484-9919-b34a228ecd50.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/78c8271c-a14e-4701-9adb-e36c7227b7b7?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### 4.) Nalu'Ina [Nalu’Ina on UnvaleThe ocean planet of Nalu’Ina is almost completely covered by the![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-37.png)Unvale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/thumbnail/578d163c-1033-42e5-b37a-8d17ad48593e.webp)](https://unvale.io/character/6e9a6193-9017-4c28-a839-8b5a216327d2?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ## About Our Partner: Charo Lyn ![Portrait illustration of CharoLyn's Sona](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/channels4_profile.jpg) [Charo Lyn](https://www.youtube.com/@charolyn?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a Brazilian artist and writer known for her videos about character creation. Her content is focused on providing daily ideas and prompts, extending from character design elements, to relationship dynamics, and many other aspects of the creation process. Charo knew from a very young age that she wanted to work with art, her passion for drawing being present since her early childhood. Getting inspired by her older brother, Nicolas, who taught himself how to draw, Charo decided to follow in his footsteps and also started experimenting with art. At the age of 14, she dabbled with the world of digital art, and realized that that was it, that’s what she wanted to do with her life. Another passion of hers is creating stories. Differently from drawing, Charo says she didn’t get to choose to pursue story creation, it was an inevitability. Starting off with what others assumed were “imaginary friends”, then evolving to more tangible narratives and characters when she learned how to draw (precariously). Charo has many plans for the future, which were all facilitated by the growth of her channel. In the realm of content creation, she’s planning to diversify her content, also producing long-form videos and livestreams. But the part that she’s the most excited, are her writing/art projects. She says it’s too early to give details, but that she has a game and a comic in the works, and that she can’t wait to share them with the community. --- **Interested in starting your own event?** **Check out our article on how to do just that:** [**Creating Your Own Event**](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9971881-creating-your-own-event?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### The Best YouTube Channels for Digital Artists Right Now URL: https://blog.unvale.io/top-9-youtube-channels-for-digital-artists/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T17:38:48.000Z One of the best reasons people get into art in the first place is the sense of community that comes with it. Sharing your work and connecting with others is probably why you're on [Unvale](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-for-designing-your-own-persona/) to begin with. So it's no surprise that a lot of talented artists have built followings on YouTube, where they share their process, offer advice, or just talk shop while they create. Whether you're looking to learn a new technique, get inspired, or have some company while you work, these YouTube channels for digital artists have you covered. ## LavenderTowne [LavenderTowne](https://www.youtube.com/lavendertowne?ref=blog.unvale.io) isn't necessarily the channel to watch if you want to learn how to draw – but digital artists are exactly the audience she creates for. Haley makes comedic video essays about life, media, and art in a cute, cartoon style. Her channel is a great place to fish for inspiration on how to use your own characters or art creatively. For more on building characters people remember, check out our guide to [giving your OC a personality](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-choose-your-ocs-personality/). ## SonaDrawzStuffYT [Sona](https://www.youtube.com/@SonaDrawzStuffYT?ref=blog.unvale.io) casts a wide net over pop culture. Alongside speedpainting, she creates cartoon-style drawings based on whatever's trending online. Her more recent videos lean into gaming and art challenges, but the OC and speedpainting work that made her popular is still there if you dig for it. The way she crafts characters and remixes existing media into original creations makes her a solid watch for anyone hoping to hone their own OC design instincts – or to [design a sona](https://blog.unvale.io/whats-a-sona-a-quick-guide/) of their own. ## Marco Bucci Another teaching-centric channel, [Marco](https://www.youtube.com/marcobucci?ref=blog.unvale.io) offers a fantastic catalogue for anyone looking to learn or hone digital art skills. He has playlists covering extremely specific topics such as making 3D backgrounds for 2D art, or genre-specific character design. He also runs an essential basics series where he shares a handful of videos on the industry and his art philosophy. With a background painting concept art for video games and film, this channel is a great place to start if you're curious about how a career in art works than about learning specific pen techniques. ## Drawing Wiff Waffles [Drawing Wiff Waffles](https://www.youtube.com/drawingwiffwaffles?ref=blog.unvale.io), AKA Rin, has a playlist collecting all her digital art videos, and it's over 200 videos long. Her exercises and tips for drawing and coloring on paper might also make a welcome distraction when you need to unplug for a bit without fully stepping away from creating. Rin makes a ton of videos with pens or markers in sketchbooks, but she also posts digital art content, and it's interesting to see how her style translates across both mediums. She also has a lengthy, highly recommended video about testing different styles to find your own. ## Drawfee [Drawfee](https://www.youtube.com/drawfee?ref=blog.unvale.io) isn’t the go-to channel to learn how to illustrate hands, but it is maybe the best place for pure art-centric comedy. The gang behind the channel take on wild challenges like drawing classic kids media characters as creepy monsters or adding a second panel continuing the story of famous drawings. It’s a tonal mismatch of varying styles all in the purpose of making funny videos, but it shouldn’t be written off. The talent needed for a team to make most of these videos is astronomical. This is an excellent channel to watch when you need a break or a reminder that art is supposed to be fun. ## Sinix Design With 20 years of videos under his belt, [Sinix](https://www.youtube.com/@sinixdesign?ref=blog.unvale.io) is easily one of the most qualified people on YouTube to talk digital art, which also means there isn't much he hasn't covered. Need a video breaking down a specific muscle or body part? He's got it. Want an art theory essay on AI, photorealism versus abstract style, or what colors mean? He's got it. Want to watch someone paint Princess Peach in hyper-detail? Of course he's done that too. Sinix has a unique style that has evolved several times over the years. It's rare to have an entire library at your disposal where you can go back and watch how someone has grown and changed as an artist and person. ## Find Your People on YouTube Whether you're looking for new things to draw or need help with a technical problem, these are the channels that make you want to open your own tablet when the video ends. Check them out and be sure to join [our communities](https://unvale.io/communities?ref=blog.unvale.io) to connect with fellow artists who are just as obsessed with watching this stuff as you are. ### Say Hello to Our New Mascot URL: https://blog.unvale.io/name-reveal/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:56:52.000Z Recently we revealed a brand new look for unvale and with it a new friend who YOU got to help us name. After getting over 500+ name suggestions, going through them all to figure out the top 6, and then having you all vote between them, and at the end counting over 1,000 votes...we finally have a winner! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/Heading--1-.gif) ## **Welcome to Unvale... LUMI!** Taking over 30% of the votes, we're happy to announce our new friend's name is Lumi!! We want to give a big thank you to [starkorg](https://unvale.io/starkorg?ref=blog.unvale.io), [MagicalGirlHotline](https://unvale.io/MagicalGirlHotline?ref=blog.unvale.io), [SilverFantasy](https://unvale.io/SilverFantasy?ref=blog.unvale.io), Rynio-Official, [JKPokemon18](https://unvale.io/JKPokemon18?ref=blog.unvale.io), and [muupsies](https://unvale.io/muupsies?ref=blog.unvale.io) for suggesting the name and a HUGE thank you to all of you for voting! ## [#UVPERSONIFIED](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=tags%3AUVPERSONIFIED&ref=blog.unvale.io) Event! Huge shoutout to [mixubug](https://unvale.io/mixubug?ref=blog.unvale.io) for hosting such a cool event surrounding the launch of our new design! It's been so wonderful seeing everyone's individual takes on how you all see our new friend and we hope that with this name you'll continue to be inspired to have a lot more fun creations. ✨ Here are a few that you can find in the tag! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image.png) Created by [DoUgHnUtBoMb](https://unvale.io/DoUgHnUtBoMb?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-1.png) Created by [Baest](https://unvale.io/Baest?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-2.png) Created by [BobaMilk](https://unvale.io/BobaMilk?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-3.png) Created by [KairiKeyz](https://unvale.io/KairiKeyz?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2025/03/image-5.png) Created by [blalabl](https://unvale.io/blalabl?ref=blog.unvale.io) Thanks for joining in on the fun! We'll see you all next time for our next event happenings! ### Changelog: A New Logo Appears URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-a-new-logo-appears/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:01:07.000Z Hello, folks! It's been awhile since you've heard from us. We are working on behind-the-scenes improvements that are going to make it *so* much easier for us to deliver new site features, fix bugs, and address long-standing user requests. We've added new team members, made big plans, and now we're working hard to make Unvale even MORE amazing. But first... we're changing our look. Late last year, we decided that we wanted a logo that matched our community's fun, silliness, and warmth. So, we started working on a rebrand! I'm happy to share that, as of RIGHT NOW, the new logo is live on the Unvale platform ([https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)), and we're working on updating it across all our social media and other spots on the internet! The old V logo will forever live in our hearts, but this new logo is, we feel, a much better representation of our community and our platform. To CELEBRATE this fun change, we've got a few additional surprises! - **Unvale merch store!** That's right, there is now a place on the internet where you can buy an Unvale shirt, hoodie, water bottle, or even a baby onesie. We've had so many people ask for a way to rep Unvale in the real world, so I hope this shop does the trick! We have some cool ideas for partnering with our community for future merch options, so keep your eyes peeled! You can check out the merch store here: [https://www.redbubble.com/people/unvale/shop](https://www.redbubble.com/people/unvale/shop?asc=u&ref=blog.unvale.io) - **Name our logo!** Look into the captivating, oval eyes of our new four-pointed star friend and ask yourself... "who *are* you?" – then, take that name and submit it into our name submission form! We are partnering with our community to give our new logo a name to remember! Y'all will submit name ideas, the Unvale team will choose our top 5 (and give credit to those who submitted the chosen names), then we will ALL vote on the winning name! I can't wait to see what ideas y'all come up with! Submit names here: [https://forms.gle/XJXAgMp5Fr5SFtS98](https://forms.gle/XJXAgMp5Fr5SFtS98?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **Some small site changes!** OK, this actually has nothing to do with our rebrand, but I know many of y'all will be happy to hear about these. First off, if you haven't already noticed, we have extended the character limit for profile bios, so now you can write WAY more about yourself or your friends or your creations. Secondly, we have FINALLY fixed the bug where you can't update an OC page description if you initially save it with no text. Hooray! Alright, everyone, that's all I have for now. I can't wait to hear what you think of the new logo, and I'm looking forward to your feedback on our merch store. Thanks for reading, thanks for being a part of our community, and thanks for being awesome. I can't wait to show you all the cool stuff coming this year! Special note: if you're not seeing the updated logo on the site, try clearing your cache! ### 5 Simple Tricks to Boost Your Community and Creativity URL: https://blog.unvale.io/these-5-simple-tricks-can-boost-your-community-and-creativity/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:34:33.000Z **Hey you! Yes, you!** You got here by either exploring the UnVale blog or you got here from one of our neat little pop up banners. Meaning...you must be interested in **learning how to start up one of your own events or collab worlds**! You've definitely come to the right spot. With these 5 easy steps you'll be on your way to making something so cool that the community will love and you'll likely get hit with a burst of inspiration and creativity! If you make it all the way to the end, we'll tell you how you could get featured! ## **(1) What's it about?** First you'll need to figure out what it is you'd like to do. **So it's time to think of some of the following:** - Is it a collaborative world or is it a limited time event? - What's the theme? - If it's a limited time event, how long will it run for? - Is there any sort of lore? There's so much you can do and the skies the limit! Get really creative and maybe even explore some themes/topics that you've never done before. ## **(2) Creating the rules** Every event or world has its own set of rules. Having a set list of Do's and Don'ts are always really appreciated so everyone understands how exactly they can participate. You'll want to make sure your rules are simple and easy to follow, along with being open for any questions people may have! **There are a few ways you can go about sharing your rules:** - Creating an OC page that shows visual examples of what can and can't be done - Making a written guide - Putting it in the comments of your World Of course there are many other ways to go about this, but these are a few suggestions! When creating your rules, be sure to also review UnVale's Community and Creation Guidelines to make sure all of your rules align with our own. ## **(3) Coming up with a name!** Picking names for what you're creating can be fun, yet tricky! **Here's a few tips when thinking of names for an event or collab world:** - Keep it related to the theme - Make it stand out! - If possible, keep it short! The goal of a name is usually to make it memorable and not too similar to other names that are already out there. Another fun way to go about it is putting a few names up for a vote to get community input! ## **(4) Making a designated hashtag** You're going to want to find a way to easily see all the people engaging with your event or collaborative World. A good way to do that is by creating a hashtag or two that people can use on their OC pages! You'll want your hashtag to be related to the name you came up with in some way, it could even be just the name itself! **When creating a hashtag here are something to keep note of:** - Keep it short - Don't use emojis/emoticons - Keep it relevant ## **(5) Making an announcement post!** Finally, you get to announce the event! Let people know what's happening, when it's starting, and how they can participate. **When making your announcement you'll want to include some of these things:** - What the theme is - Sharing any lore, if there's any - Explaining the rules - What the hashtag is to participate - If there's an end date, when it ends Try to be as detailed as possible so that everything is really easy to understand/follow and leave room for people to ask you questions! ## **Chance to get featured by UnVale (BONUS!!!)** We love seeing community made events/collab worlds and want to do our best supporting and uplifting them. If you create a collaborative world on UnVale and would like a highlight from the team, use the hashtag [#UVFeatureMe](https://unvale.io/explore/characters?search=UVFeatureMe&ref=blog.unvale.io)\* or [contact us](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9735574-get-in-contact-with-us?ref=blog.unvale.io)! We'd love to share it and bring more attention to it! *(\*Note: The tag will only work on OC pages at this time! The tag does not apply to individual images, writings, or worlds!)* Be sure to check out these other guides from our help desk to go into more detail to how to create your own events and worlds! - [Collab World Article](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/10034862-creating-your-own-collaborative-world?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Community Made Collab World Guide](https://unvale.io/character/1078bda5-e089-4765-8482-554cff3f3c7b?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Events Article](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/9971881-creating-your-own-event?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Changelog: Art Explore, Worlds Redesign, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-art-explore-worlds-redesign-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:02:13.000Z Hello, everyone! It's time for another UnVale release, and we're bringing you the last of our Explore page improvements (at least for now). Let's dive into everything! - **New Art Explore page** \- Want folks to see when you add new art to an existing OC page or world? You've got it! The new Art Explore page will show recently uploaded art, giving you even more ways to discover cool, new creations. - **New Worlds design** \- To address some usability concerns and prepare for future feature releases, we've redesigned UnVale World pages! In addition to some layout changes, you can now filter world content by art, writing, or OCs! - **Notifications marked read on click** \- You now don't have to worry about the "mark all as read" command so often! By clicking on an on-site notification, it'll be automatically marked as read. - **New featured OCs and worlds** \- Go check out the new OCs and worlds that made it on the home page and give some congrats to the creators! We had so many awesome creations to choose from! - **Bug fixes** \- We've fixed a few small bugs around the site, including spots where comment count was incorrectly displaying 0 comments, hashtags wouldn't display properly on written content, and editing your profile sometimes wouldn't save. Head on over to [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) now to see all these changes! Alongside all these additions, we have also decided to remove some functionality that we've been sadly neglecting for a long time. Please read on for more information, and feel free to drop any questions or concerns in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). - **Saying goodbye to shops** \- when UnVale first started, we had hoped to be an amazing art commission platform for all types of creative content. We've evolved so much in recent years, and– while amazing art is still a big part of our platform– we no longer have the resources to build or maintain a commissioning platform ourselves. While our shops have been closed for awhile, we are officially making the decision to remove them from the site and back away from them for the foreseeable future. While I know this will be a disappointing decision for some, please know that stepping away from this functionality will allow us to focus on other improvements to our vibrant, growing platform. As of now, you'll no longer see shops on user profiles, and you will no longer have the option to customize your shop. We are currently in the process of closing all UnVale Stripe accounts. These are a lot of changes, phew! As always, let our team know if you have any feedback on this release. Next up, we are working on something that's very, very long overdue: a better place for social posts on the site. Stay tuned! ### Changelog: Explore Writing on UnVale URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-explore-writing-on-unvale/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:03:30.000Z Hello, everyone! In our last release, we added the ability to explore worlds. Now, we're making it so discovering new writing is easier than ever! - **New Writing Explore page** \- You can now view newly uploaded writing on the Explore page! Do you have a piece of lore you've been putting off writing? It might be the time to pick it back up since it'll be way more discoverable now! Check out the writing explore page here: [https://unvale.io/explore/writing](https://unvale.io/explore/writing?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **New featured OCs and worlds** \- We know everyone loves to see new characters and creations featured on the UnVale home page, so we've added some new ones for you to check out! Congrats to those who were chosen to be featured! We still have one more content type to add to the new Explore page... art uploads! We'll let you know as soon as this is live on the site! For now, head on over to [the UnVale Discord](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you have any feedback on this release. Thanks, everyone! ### UnVale Weekly Challenges September 23rd - September 29th 2024 URL: https://blog.unvale.io/uv-weeklies-20/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:03:27.000Z *Here are this week's weekly challenges! Don't see something you're interested in? Come back next week for the new round of weekly challenges! You might just see something that catches your eye\~* ## **UnVale Weekly Challenges September 23rd - September 29th 2024** ### ***Emoji Challenge*** ![Emoji challenge: an ocean wave of a starry sky with sparkles.](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdtdHk5M2xjuixHCTYmQbnfd5y5WhFF5VHQs_qEgwAuyMCIFkypdzVrTxbv-zY4ne1IAcV-lYC2AmOVHWp2R_-X_9xgC0ONCcq-lbloClKdWiPxzv-YaGRVQfHSvtyZIeW4A2EVNk9n8iTLzdi7r9q-lhY?key=mFU7v1hfP5gBII1qwp3j1w) *NEW: We’re testing out emojis without a facial expression - let us know what you think! As always, you can draw or write about any OC(s) with the emoji above! You can participate multiple times!* *Remember to use the hashtag #EmojiChallenge on your entry! Must be on the OC page to show up on the Explore page!* ### ***Color Palette Challenge*** ![Color palette challenge: a cool color palette. From left to right there's a magenta, blue violet, a darker periwinkle, light blue and ice blue.](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXdGhZdxyAUU3cTGQ78HpIFYctFXQRPk4LL2cI7SW1iEiQSH3uzNzgnF928aKtZ2jzH6q5z36xiF0UNwCC2HA-LZsARvQcud5F8MBMRAoLKHTy2LljiRJX6q3ZL1G7BGBZKPz7D4nDvWZnta4v0MUDnoqrKS?key=mFU7v1hfP5gBII1qwp3j1w) *You can use these colors as you please for a creative, colorful challenge. It can be used to design new clothes, change their hair, etc! Your palette is the only limit here!* *Be sure to use the hashtag #PaletteChallenge on your entry! Must be on the OC page to show up on the Explore page!* ### ***Word Prompt Weekly*** ![Word prompt challenge: "Dream"](https://lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com/docsz/AD_4nXeeXj4BzhmFFZXlJh8N2kfUbxxFETJLYVuzZR_CKSEft2p0QBAmhGDJQkqJ9VhQIwMTL7QfRRcwszM3o7IlPiP0yxaMMqMy9PZ_4z8QtBo63CN1OWO4xl7_O_Zeh5FClBlbBDfmym6wqe2AjteLN4_hP46D?key=mFU7v1hfP5gBII1qwp3j1w) **(Did you catch the rhyme? Teehee.)* *Take this one word and do with it as you will! Write a short story, make a quick 4 panel comic, draw something! Whatever you do, just include the prompted word! Use the tag #WPWeekly on your entry. Must be on the OC page to show up on the Explore page!* ### Changelog: Explore Worlds on UnVale URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-explore-worlds-on-unvale/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:03:47.000Z Hello, everyone! I know it's only been a couple of weeks since our last release, but i'm excited to share with you another cool addition to UnVale. Read on for more! - **New Worlds Explore page** \- We've redesigned UnVale's Explore page to show more than just newly uploaded characters. Now, you can also browse new worlds! *Finally* worlds are getting some eyes on them! Check it out here: [https://unvale.io/explore/worlds](https://unvale.io/explore/worlds?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **Swapping to "Load More" button on Explore** \- We know how much time y'all spend on the Explore page, so we're making it easier to browse by swapping to a "Load More" button when you need more OCs or worlds to consume! This should make the site way faster for you! - **New Explore page design** \- Our new Explore page design (which includes a new menu for mobile and a new sidebar for desktop) will allow us to add all types of new creations to the Explore page– which is EXACTLY what we're doing next! **Be on the lookout for Image Explore and Writing Explore in the near future!** We are doing our best to make all your creations on UnVale as discoverable as possible, so you can get as much support and eyeballs from other community members as possible. After this, we plan on spending some time **creating a dedicated social space for the UnVale community on-site**, since we know y'all have been relying on the Explore page for that! More info on that soon. # Worlds Mini-Challenge: Get Featured on UnVale Socials! With the release of the new Worlds Explore page, we want to highlight some of the amazing Worlds on the UnVale platform! Whether it's an existing world or a new world, a world for your adoptables or a world for your grand story, we want to see them all! Please share your worlds with us through the following form: [https://forms.gle/nBC4ZZqrdSWRDEXJ9](https://forms.gle/nBC4ZZqrdSWRDEXJ9?ref=blog.unvale.io). At the end of the month, we'll choose a handful of worlds to highlight on UnVale's official social media channels! Be sure to check our accounts in a couple of weeks to see which lucky creatives were chosen! If you have any feedback on this release, we love hearing from you on [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). Now, go explore the new worlds page at: [https://unvale.io/explore/worlds](https://unvale.io/explore/worlds?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Changelog: Comments EVERYWHERE URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-comments-everywhere/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:03:03.000Z Hello, everyone! It's time for another UnVale feature release, and I think you're really going to love this one! We're giving y'all even more places to chat on the platform. Here's what all is new! - **Comments on profiles** \- Want to welcome someone to the platform? Just want to say hi to a friend? Comments on profiles are live! - **Comments on worlds** \- You no longer have to just stare at your favorite UnVale worlds; There are now COMMENTS! Finally, a way to show worlds some love! - **Comments on art** \- Sure, commenting on an OC page is great, but if there's a specific piece of art that catches your eye, you can leave a comment! - **Comments on writing** \- Want to thank an author for their latest chapter? writing comments are live! There are a *ton* of unique ways to use these new comment sections. I can't wait to see what y'all do! As always, if you have any thoughts on this release, feel free to chime in over on [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). Head on over to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) now to see this new release! ## **MINI-CHALLENGE! CHAOTIC COMPLIMENTING** To celebrate this exciting release, we're doing a fun mini-challenge that you're welcome to take part in! Here are the details: - **Leave as many kind, complimentary comments as you can in the next 24 hours** \- They can be on OC pages, writing, art, profiles, worlds– anywhere you can leave comments on the site! - **Comments must be genuine and more than one word** \- No, you can't just spam "nice" on 100 profiles. Let's really try to make some folks smile! - **The user with the most comments given by Thursday, August 29, 2024 2:00 PM CT will receive a free commission on us!** (Commission up to $50 and the content must follow UnVale's guidelines) We'll announce the winner tomorrow! If you have any questions on this mini-challenge, feel free to reach out to the UnVale team! I can't wait to read all your comments. *Edit: Congrats to our winners StarKorg, Linette, and Baest on coming in first, second, and third respectively in our mini-challenge! We'll be reaching out to the winners shortly!* ### Changelog: Report Button URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-report-button/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:02:40.000Z Hello, everyone! I wanted to share with you a new feature that's live RIGHT NOW on the UnVale platform. We've added a new **report button** to help keep our site safe and our community AI-free! Read on to learn more. - **There's a new report button on OC pages and written content** \- Logged-in users will find this button listed right below the favorite button on OC pages and at the top of written content pages! This button will allow you to report content that doesn't meet our site guidelines. Whether it's NSFW, AI art, or just something unpleasant, you can submit a report. - **After a certain amount of reports, the creation will be flagged and hidden from certain areas of the site** \- Our team will receive a summary of what creation was reported, who reported it, why it was reported, and go from there! If we agree the creation doesn't fit our site guidelines, we'll fully remove it from the site and alert the creator! - **As always, you can still speak directly to UnVale staff if you have concerns** \- While the report button will make it easier to keep our site safe, there may still be some issues that you'd rather have a back-and-forth conversation on. If that's the case, feel free to submit a ticket on Discord or chat with our team using the support button on our site! We are *always* OK with providing support to our awesome users. That's it for now! you can go see the report button on [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) right now! And, if you need to freshen up on our content guidelines, you can do so here: [https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927102-unvale-s-content-guidelines](https://help.unvale.io/en/articles/8927102-unvale-s-content-guidelines?ref=blog.unvale.io). Thanks for reading! we'll have another awesome release heading your way soon. ### Celebrating Disability Pride Month URL: https://blog.unvale.io/celebrating-disability-pride-month/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T17:52:34.000Z July is Disability Pride Month! What’s Disability Pride Month you might be wondering? This is a month of celebrating those with disabilities both physical and mental, educating ourselves on how we can be better allies and creating more accessibility in our environment. At UnVale we have many folks from different walks of life and different capabilities. From physical to mental disabilities we all work together to create the best working environment possible for our team and work hard to reflect that back to all of you! Look below to see how we're celebrating this month! ## Introducing the UnVale Accessibility Committee(UAC)! The Accessibility Committee will be a volunteer group of community members that are willing to provide feedback on UnVale’s accessibility. They’ll be able to speak directly with staff on how we can better improve or even suggest ideas for future ideas to make our platform a much easier place to navigate for all! Does this sound like something that would interest you? [Apply here!](https://forms.gle/RBSaBS5oUxC64m1P7?ref=blog.unvale.io) [Read More about this Committee here!](https://blog.unvale.io/introducing-the-uac/) ## Featuring Creators and their OCs! During the remainder of this month, every Friday we’ll be featuring 5 OCs on our socials straight from our [#Disabled](https://unvale.io/explore?search=disabled&page=1&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag where we’ll be showing appreciation to those creating OCs with all different sorts of capabilities! If you want a chance for your Disabled OCs to be featured, make sure you OC page is tagged correctly by putting the [#Disabled](https://unvale.io/explore?search=disabled&page=1&ref=blog.unvale.io) tag on your OC page. All OCs will be credited with the creator's UnVale page! ## Another gift for you: Profile Banner and Frames! Finally, we would like to give our community a banner and icon frame that they can proudly display on their profiles either as someone who’s disabled or a supportive ally! Frames and banner created by [Secxen](https://unvale.io/secxen?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## Banner! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Smaller-Font---No-OCs.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Smaller-Font---with-OCs.png) ## **How to Use Banner** - Choose a banner from the UnVale blog post. - Next, download the banner of your choice by saving the image to your device. Once you’ve done that upload the banner to your profile! ## Frames! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Draft-1-with-bubbles---logo-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Draft-1-with-bubbles.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Draft-2-w-logo-no-bubbles.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/07/Draft-2-w_out-bubbles---logo.png) ## **How to Use Frames** - Choose a frame from the UnVale blog post. - Next, download the frame of your choice by saving the image to your device. Once you do so, place/overlay the frame on top of your desired profile picture using your go-to editing software. Once you’ve done that, save the image and upload your new profile picture! We hope that this month you’ll be able to embrace yourself for who you are, learn more about Disability Pride, and move forward with making awesome creations full of characters of different abilities! ### Introducing the UnVale Accessibility Committee URL: https://blog.unvale.io/introducing-the-uac/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T17:59:37.000Z Hello, everyone! In honor of Disability Pride Month, we wanted to kick off a project we’ve been thinking about for awhile. Read on for more information! ### What is the UnVale Accessibility Committee (UAC)? The UAC is a group of UnVale users that provide our team with feedback, concerns, and suggestions for how we can improve accessibility on the site. Making sure our site is functional for all types of creatives is incredibly important to our small team, and– though we have limited resources– we’d like to start finding ways to make the site more user-friendly! ### What will the UAC actually do? Being a part of the committee is entirely voluntary and would require no more than a couple hours of effort a month (if that)! Essentially, the UnVale team will occasionally reach out for feedback or ideas on how to improve accessibility, and you’d have a chance to share all of your thoughts directly with our team! You’ll also receive a direct line of communication to our team for expressing concerns or giving spur-of-the-moment feedback. ### Who can apply for the UAC? Given the nature of this committee, we will be prioritizing folks with disabilities who regularly seek out accessibility features on the web. If you have experience with accessibility tools of software, like screen readers, that’s a big plus! However, we are opening applications to everyone who thinks they may be a fit. ### I’m interested! How can I apply? Please check out the form here: [APPLICATION FORM](https://forms.gle/SoabgHCwSzoeYmvf9?ref=blog.unvale.io) . We will be closing the form on July 26th and will choose UAC participants shortly after. If you’ve been chosen, we will reach out to you via your preferred contact method. We know we have many improvements to make when it comes to accessibility, so we’re really excited to work with our community to improve UnVale together. Thanks for reading! ✨ ### UnVale Pride Ball Showcase URL: https://blog.unvale.io/pride-ball-showcase/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:59:18.000Z ### Join us today to watch the #UVPrideBall Showcase! We're celebrating the final days of Pride with a celebratory video of all of the entries that came in by June 20th for our event [#UVPrideBall](https://unvale.io/explore?search=uvprideball&ref=blog.unvale.io) *(Please note: There were HUNDREDS of entries and one of our biggest events to date! There is a chance that folks may have potentially been missed or not properly credited. While we do our best to double, even triple, check mistakes are still bound to happen!)* Come watch the premier with us and enjoy the colorful, upbeat vibes! ### There's also a bonus gift! Templates for your OCs! We've seen that so many of you enjoy using fun templates with your OCs, so we decided to make some that you're FREE to use on your UnVale page and other socials! [**Check out this world that's full of them!**](https://unvale.io/world/2c4c13e6-ae77-476b-9b87-e2042325318a?ref=blog.unvale.io) In order to use them just click copy image and paste them in your art application of choice! If they're well received, we'll make more! We hope you have fun with them and hope to see you at the #UVPrideBall premier! ### Changelog: Question of the Day URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:02:30.000Z Hi, everyone! I'm excited to share a feature that's now live on the UnVale platform: Question of the Day! Read on for more: - **Answer daily questions about your OC** \- QOTD gives you an easy way to develop your character's backstory and share more about them in bite-sized pieces. Some questions are fun while others are more serious, but they'll all give you the opportunity to get to know your characters better! - **See other answers from the community** \- One of the best things about UnVale is our amazing community, so we wanted to give everyone a place to see all the answers together! This is a new way to discover not only cool characters, but also other cool creatives! - **View your answers on your OC's Trivia tab** \- Every time you answer a question, the answer will be added to your character's OC page in the new Trivia tab! It'll become your go-to place to see all your answers for a particular character, and a great way for your followers to learn a ton of fun facts! You can answer the FIRST EVER Question of the Day RIGHT NOW on [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \-- and just a note: we'll be releasing the ability to delete/resubmit answers in our next release! As always, we are super appreciative of feedback, ideas, concerns, and questions. Don't hesitate to reach out to us in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) to share what you think about this new feature! As for what's next: our team is still working on stability improvements for the site, but we hope to have a big win here soon. We're also going to spend some time on site safety in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for another update! ### #UVPrideBall URL: https://blog.unvale.io/uvprideball/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:58:42.000Z # You and your OCs are invited to UnVale's first ever Pride Ball! Join us for another fun collaborative event where you not only have a chance to be in another of our collaborative images, but also have a potential chance to collaborate with each other! ## Here's how you can join in on this grand gala! (Please read very carefully!) - Create an illustrated piece of your OC(s) dressed for a Pride month themed ball. - **Don't want to give them Pride theming?** That's ok! Still dress 'em up super fancy! - If you want to be a part of the collaborative image make sure to upload a TRANSPARENT version of the piece! All images without transparent backgrounds will not be included. - Once completed be sure to add the hashtag #UVPrideBall to your OC page! - **Remember it won’t work if you only put the tag on individual images!** **Entries for the collaborative piece will close on June 20th!** Any submissions posted after will unfortunately not be included but are still free to participate and post for in the event! But wait... there's MORE to this event! ## Found another community member's OC that looks great and want to dance with them? We have just the thing for you! - Put your dressed for a ball OCs up to dance with the hashtag #ShallWeDance directly on the OC page. - Once you've drawn or written both your and the other's OCs dancing, upload it to your OC page or a separate OC page with the hashtag #DancedTogether. - When using another person's OC you MUST credit them somewhere on the page. Please do not use OCs of others not in the #ShallWeDance tag! This would be considered using others' OCs without their permission. And that's all you have to do! Ready for a fun, festive, and prideful time? We can't wait to be loud and proud with you! 🏳️‍🌈💃🕺🏳️‍🌈 This event will end with the final collab being presented on June 27th! [And don't forget to get yourself one of our Pride Icon Frames for your profile picture! They're free to use and here forever!](https://blog.unvale.io/pride-2024/) ### Happy Pride From UnVale to You URL: https://blog.unvale.io/pride-2024/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:57:56.000Z In honor of Pride, we have a ton of exciting events, activities, and product releases coming your way! First up, we’ve worked with the very talented [Secxen](https://unvale.io/secxen?ref=blog.unvale.io) to create different variations of Pride-themed frames for you to use on your profile picture here on UnVale or anywhere else! Think of it as some extra customization for your UnVale page too. 😉 Here at UnVale we strongly believe in having a diverse work culture and that includes, but is not limited to, those of the LGBTQIA+ community. Being inclusive of people of all types of demographics opens us up to new perspectives and new opportunities! From those on our community team to those on our engineering team, you’ll find someone under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella. ❣️ Pride to us is a time of celebration. It’s being proud of who you are, who you love, and who you choose to be without restrictions. And while we know not everyone may be in the right conditions to be that version of themselves they desire to be, know that our community here sees you and supports you! We hope with these custom frames you’ll feel more prideful and happy with who you are. Have a great Pride 2024!!! 🏳️‍🌈 We’ll be sharing more information on our upcoming Pride-themed community event and new product releases (did someone say PASTELS?!) soon! ## **How to Use Frames** - Choose a frame from the UnVale Pride blog post. - Next, download the frame of your choice by saving the image to your device. Once you do so, place/overlay the frame on top of your desired profile picture using your go-to editing software. Once you’ve done that, save the image and upload your new profile picture! ## Inclusive Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/Inclusive-Frame.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/Inclusive-Frame_NoLogo.png) ## Lesbian Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Lesbian-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Lesbian-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Gay Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Gay-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Gay-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Bisexual Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Bisexual-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Bisexual-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Transgender Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Trans-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Trans-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Intersex Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Intersex-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Intersex-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Asexual Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Asexual-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Asexual-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Nonbinary Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Nonbinary-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Nonbinary-Flag_NoLogo.png) ## Pansexual Flag ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Pan-Flag.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/06/-V1--Pan-Flag_NoLogo.png) ### UVPicnic Collaborative Image Reveal URL: https://blog.unvale.io/uvpicnic-collab-image/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:59:50.000Z ### Thank you to everyone who participated in [#UVPicnic](https://unvale.io/explore?search=uvpicnic&ref=blog.unvale.io)! This event had such an amazing turnout with so many OCs coming to enjoy some Spring vibes together. We reached a brand new milestone with having over 200+ participants from new and returning users. Everyone did amazing! If you participated, feel free to show off where you are in the image and tag us on [Twitter](https://twitter.com/unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io), [Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/unvale-io?ref=blog.unvale.io), or [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! See you in the next event! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2024/05/UVPicnic-Collab-Image--Wider-Image----1--1.png) ### Changelog: Add Music to Your Character Pages URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-add-music-to-your-character-pages/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:02:18.000Z Hello there! It's time for another exciting UnVale platform release that includes both new features and bug fixes. Read on to see what's new! - **Add Music to Your OC Pages** \- You can now add a song, playlist, or album to your OC pages using Spotify! Simply grab the music's share link, go to edit your OC page, and find the Spotify section in our new "Options" tab! I can wait to hear the songs you pick for your characters! - **We've Renamed Some Things** \- As mentioned above, we've consolidated a few different sections of the OC edit page into a new "Options" tab. Additionally, we've renamed the "My Content" page to be "My Creations." (Thanks for that last one, Ponyo!) - **Bug Fixes** \- This release includes a variety of bug fixes, including: - The "Favorited By" section on OC pages now actually shows who favorited your character - Character cards on /random, your Transfers tab, and worlds now all show the correct number of images - When editing pronouns and your display name, you should now be able to save more easily - Profile pictures with transparent backgrounds now have Dark Mode applied correctly - Pagination has been added to Following/Followers modals on profiles to ensure the site loads properly That's all for now! Head to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to see all this new stuff yourself! As always, feel free to reach out to our team via [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you have any feedback you'd like to share with us. We love hearing from you! ### Join Us for the UVPicnic URL: https://blog.unvale.io/uvpicnic/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:07:37.000Z April showers bring May flowers. And the warm weather means chilling outside together…for a picnic!! # Grab those OCs because it’s time to go to our next event, the [#UVPicnic](https://unvale.io/explore?search=uvpicnic&ref=blog.unvale.io)! We’re doing another big collaborative art piece like event and this time it’s for Spring!! Bring your OCs down to the big UnVale Picnic where they can smell some flowers, hangout on a blanket, and relax with other OCs in the community! ## Here’s how to join in! - Create an illustrated piece of your OC(s) ready for spring/a picnic. - They could be wearing a spring-like outfit, sitting on a blanket, eating a snack, cooking at a grill, and more! - **Images must have transparent backgrounds to be included in the collaborative image!** - If you have an old piece that fits this event theme you can also use it here as well. - **After uploading your piece to UnVale put the hashtag #UVPicnic on the OC page!** - Remember that it won’t work if you just do it on the individual image! Put it directly on the OC page so it shows up when you search the hashtag! The deadline to submit your work is **May 27th, 2024!** Then there will be a grand reveal with the big final collaborative piece revealed on **May 31st, 2024!** So excited to share a fun, digital, day out with all of your OCs! It’s gonna be a fun, maybe a little chaotic, time! 🌷🧺🌼 And if your OC has seasonal allergies…please send them with their medications 😅 ### Changelog: Dark Mode URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-dark-mode/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:02:08.000Z A new UnVale platform release is here! We are excited to be releasing dark mode to all site users starting.... *right now*! Go see it at: [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Here's a full recap of what all we're releasing today: - **Dark Mode** \- You no longer have to deal with tears streaming from your eyes while using UnVale! Dark mode is here! We've done our best to keep the site accessible, dark, and still full of that UnVale aesthetic. If you find anything hard to read or navigate, please share it in our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). *Note: Dark Mode does not currently impact the themes you've selected for your OC pages.* - **Stability Improvements** \- We're still working on making the site more and more stable, especially as we get close to 100,000 users! You won't notice anything on your end, but hopefully you'll be able to appreciate how sturdy the site has been lately! *(Knock on wood.)* - **Bug Fixes** \- We've fixed a bug that was oddly backspacing when you were editing traits or writing. Let us know if you're still having issues there! That's all for now! We're hoping to increase the number of platform releases in the coming months now that the site is more stable, so keep your eyes peeled for more cool stuff from UnVale! Thanks for being a part of our community and for sharing your wonderful creations with the us. As always, if you have feedback on this release, please don't hesitate to share it in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### Changelog: New Themes, My Content Page, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-new-themes-my-content-page-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:01:58.000Z It's been a few weeks since we released Worlds, and now we're back with another awesome update that I think you're really going to enjoy! Let's dive in. **Five new OC page themes** \- We know y'all LOVE customizing your OC pages, so what better way to do that than with more themes?! These themes are all gradients, so they really stand out compared to the original 10 we released previously. Shout out to our designer for such an amazing job! **New My Content page** \- Tired of 2304364579875 clicks to get to your favorite OC? We've added a new "My Content" page in the navigation of the site (for logged in users) that makes it SUPER easy to get to your OCs and worlds. Those few seconds saved really add up! **New Quick Add button in nav** \- We're in our \~ convenience era \~ right now, which means we're also making it easier to add new OCs and worlds right from the site's navigation! What are you going to do with all this newly reclaimed time?! (We both know the answer: more OC content.) **MANY bug fixes** \- I am excited to share that a very impactful, very longstanding bug has been finally squashed. You can now successfully order your images and written content on your OC pages! Special shoutout to our back-end developer for solving this massive headache. Additional fixes include: - World links shared in places like Discord or social media now have a preview image - We fixed an issue with written content loading infinitely if you had too much writing (this one's for you, salvo) - Worlds written content now displays the description text properly - Worlds no longer load infinitely if left open in a tab that you're not viewing - OC cards on a World's edit page no longer incorrectly say your OC has zero comments - World edit page OC counter should now correctly list the number of OCs in the world - OCs that fall below the "Load More" cut off on a World edit page are now displayed properly on the "Add Characters" modal That's everything for now! Go check it out on [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! In our last release, I know I mentioned working on Worlds discovery and other improvements. Due to some of the downtime issues we experienced with our last release, we've had to table those projects for now. Additionally, I know some of you may notice the absence of the "Shops" page in our navigation. Our longstanding answer for "When will Shops reopen?" has been honest and consistent: we don't know. To help eliminate some of the confusion about our Shops functionality, we've removed it from the navigation so it's not so prominent. It's still something we want to do in the future, but we have no idea when that will be. I know both of these updates may not be what you want to hear, and I'm happy to talk more about them on Discord if you want more in-depth discussion. On a brighter note, we're working on something you all are really going to love for our next release! It's a daily activity that's really going to help you get to know your OCs better.... so stay tuned! As always, if you have any feedback, we would LOVE to hear from you in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). Our community plays a HUGE role in what we work on, so hearing from you (even if you dislike something) is much appreciated. Thanks! ### Changelog: Worlds URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-worlds/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:01:42.000Z Hello there! I'm excited to share with you one of our biggest feature releases yet, especially since this is something our community has been asking about *for quite awhile*. We're excited to introduce Worlds, a new way to organize your OCs, art, and writing. Read on to learn more! **Organize your OCs into Worlds** \- Worlds are a way to group together OCs on UnVale. Are all of your OCs a part of the same story? Put them in a world! Do you have a lot of characters from your favorite fandom? Put them in a world! Just want to organize your adopts? Put them in a world! **Add images and writing directly to Worlds** \- Worlds are MORE than just an OC folder. You can also add writing and images DIRECTLY to a world to display alongside your OCs. Share maps, lore about your world, and even stories involving multiple OCs. **Share your World with others** \- There's a new worlds section on your profile, and you can easily share your worlds with others via direct link. Soon, you'll be able to discover worlds (along with writing and art) on our redesigned Explore page. Keep your eyes peeled! **You can check out Worlds RIGHT NOW on** [**https://unvale.io/**](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) This release is a *huge* milestone for UnVale. Over the last 8 months, we've been focusing on creating the best OC platform out there, and more than 35,000 OC creators have joined UnVale! As we've grown and spent more time with our awesome community (aka you), we've realized that UnVale can be MORE than just a home for OCs. We want UnVale to be your go-to place for all types of orginal creations, and Worlds is our first step towards that. We have a lot of exciting plans in store, and this feature release is only the beginning of a lot of cool stuff to come! As always, if you have any feedback on this release, please share in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! for now, head on over to [https://unvale.io/](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and get to worldbuilding! ### Known Worlds Bugs - You have to load all of OCs on the world edit page for them to be properly displayed in the "Add Characters" modal - You can see the watermarks on your own OC primary images in a world - Transfers tab on profile is hidden behind Shop image - OC you transfer to someone else stays in your world (you can't edit them or mess with them at all, you can only remove them) - Writing previews in worlds pull the body text instead of the description text ### Changelog: OC Traits URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-oc-traits/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:01:32.000Z Hello, all! I know we had a release just a couple of weeks ago, but I'm excited to share that we're BACK with another new feature! Read on to learn all about traits. ✨ **Add Traits to your OCs** \- There's a new "traits" tab on OC pages, and it allows you to list out age, birthday, eye color, orientation, and a ton of other information about your character in a really organized, beautiful way. You can order them how you'd like, too! ✨ **Use our pre-set traits... or create your own!** \- If you want a jumping off point, we start the traits section with a list of pre-set traits to get you started. Alternatively, you can add custom traits to highlight what's truly special about your OCs. As with written content, the traits tab won't appear until you've added some to your OC via the edit page. If you experience any bugs or have any feedback on this feature, please pass it over to our team in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! ### Changelog: Written Content for OCs, GIFs, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-written-content-for-ocs-gifs-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:01:21.000Z Hello, everyone! It's been a few weeks since our last release, which means it's time for another awesome batch of features from UnVale. Read on to see what's new! **Add written content to OC pages!** \- Calling all writers, roleplayers, and poets! You now have WAY more than 2,000 characters for OC writing. You can upload individual pieces of writing to OC pages, complete with a title, author crediting, and a full-page reading experience! I am SO excited to read all your OCs' lore! Your followers will get an email when you upload new written content so they can start reading ASAP. **Upload GIFs of your OC!** \- You can now upload GIFs to OC pages! You can upload GIFs up to 20 MB and 100 frames, which we're hoping gives you plenty of space to be creative with animations. If you set your OC's primary images to a GIF, you'll be able to see a special surprise on the background of your OC page! There's A LOT of potential here for some really amazing creations, and I can't wait to see yours! (Please note: our new watermarking features does not currently work with GIFs.) **Small improvements** \- We've also made some small improvements to the site that we hope you'll find handy. For example, clicking on a social link in someone's UnVale profile will now open in a new tab. Additionally, we've adjusted the layout of our OC edit page to accommodate all the new features we're adding! Head to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to check everything out, since it's live on the site RIGHT NOW! As always, if you have any feedback for our team, feel free to share that in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We always appreciate hearing from you! ### Changelog: OC Page Themes, Watermarks, Increased File Size, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-oc-page-themes-watermarks-increased-file-size-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:01:08.000Z Another feature release is upon us! The team at UnVale is excited to share with you that we've just added several new features to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io), and they're live on the site RIGHT NOW to check out! Read on to see what's new. **OC Page Color Themes** \- You now have the ability to set the color of your OC's page to 1 of 10 different themes. These themes allow users some much-anticipated customization on OC pages while still preserving accessibility on the site. We have a lot of customization ideas for the future, so this is only the beginning. **Watermarks** \- You can now toggle on and off an UnVale watermark on your OC images. This watermark ensures that your art will be safe on UnVale while still allowing you to share it with the world! We've put this feature through rigorous testing with both our team and outside users, but please let us know if you spot any issues or have any concerns. We want everyone to feel confident uploading their creations! You can[ read more about watermarks on our Help Center](https://unvale.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/18713960122395?ref=blog.unvale.io). **Upload 20 MB images** \- That's right! You no longer have to go resize all your art to upload it to UnVale. We've increased the file size limit by 4x to make uploading easier. **Quality of life improvements** \- We've added some small improvements to the site, including making the primary image on OC pages clickable and adding a "copy link" option for when you're using a URL to credit an off-site OC creator. **New languages** \- American Sign Language (ASL) and Latin American Spanish have been added as language options on your UnVale profile. That's the big stuff, so go to [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) right now to check it out yourself! As always, if you have any feedback, questions, or concerns, don't hesitate to speak up in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We love to hear from you! ### Changelog: On-Site Notifications, Trending Filter, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-on-site-notifications-trending-filter-and-more/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:00:56.000Z I'm excited to share that one of our biggest releases ever is happening today on the UnVale platform! We've listened to user feedback and added a much-needed feature that's going to make keeping up with site activity so much easier: on-site notifications! Read on to see everything that's new. - **On-site notifications** \- You'll now be able to use the bell icon in the upper-right corner of the site to keep up with comments, favorites, follows, and transfers! - **Email notification management** \- Prefer to get your UnVale pings on-site now? No problem! You can adjust your email notification preferences in our new "Account Settings" page in the upper-right dropdown. - **New "Trending" sorting option** \- On the Following, Explore, and Market pages, you can now sort OCs by "Trending" to see the most popular OCs from the last day, week, month, and all time! Don't worry, our default sorting option is still "Recent," so all OC creators can still get some time in the spotlight. - **New social links for your profile** \- You can now add Twitch, ArtFight, YouTube, and Tumblr social links to your profile! - **Bug fixes** \- We addressed a variety of bug fixes this release, including: primary OC image no longer randomly swaps, Market icons now turn off/on correctly, navigation displays correctly on all screen sizes, and display names no longer need to be unique. - **Improvements for our team** \- We made some improvements to our moderation tools to our Support Manager, Natalla. We won't get into details here, but just know she's pretty pleased! This will enable her to better moderate the site and help address support tickets more easily. - **Other small improvements** \- We did some code clean-up for our engineers, added a welcome email for new users, added a link to our Content Guidelines on our OC upload/edit page, made some wording changes on our homepage, and swapped out our featured OCs for our recent Barbie event. So much amazing stuff! Thanks a bunch to the UnVale team for working so hard on this exciting release. We're happy to share that we have more highly requested features coming your way in September, so stay tuned! As always, if you have feedback on this release, feel free to let us know in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! ### Barbie World Meets UnVale URL: https://blog.unvale.io/barbie-world-meets-unvale/ Last updated: 2024-02-26T21:00:36.000Z Hi Barbie! Hi Ken! 💅 Hi, Barbie lovers! We’re so excited to announce the launch of our next on-site event, Barbie World Meets UnVale (not an official collaboration)! In this event we want to see YOUR OCs drawn as if they’re a part of Barbie land! Is your Barbie a chef? Is your Ken’s job computer? Maybe an astrologist? Maybe even space? The sky’s the limit! Here’s how you can join in on the fun! 📖Pick any of your OC(s)over on UnVale and draw them in their new job! 💅Add the hashtag #UVBarbie on your OC page when uploading your Barbie-fied art to UnVale! 📝Share some of their new job with us in your bio! 👀Check out all the other OCs participating in the event [by searching #UVBarbie on UnVale](https://unvale.io/explore?search=tags:UVBarbie&ref=blog.unvale.io) 👛 Don’t be afraid of the color pink! 😉 Select OCs that participate in the event will be shown on our home page under the featured OCs section, with the first batch of Barbie-fied OCs being featured next week! Excited to see your OCs over in Barbieland! ☀️🕶️👛 ### Changelog: Site Speed Improvements and Small Fixes URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-site-speed-improvements-and-small-fixes/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:00:44.000Z Hello there! We have another impactful release for you this week, and it should make the website a lot snappier. Read on to see what's new: - We have changed the way we handles images on the site. This means images should load faster, making the entire site easier to navigate. - You will no longer receive an email notification for your own comments. Sorry about that! - We've updated our featured OCs on our home page! [Go check them out!](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) - We've added more suggested tags to help you browse some of the coolest OCs on the site. You can see them [on the Explore page now](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - Unlisted and archived characters will no longer appear on the Market. - We've made some text changes around the site to give better instructions for how certain features or pages work. - Our development team has been cleaning up some loose ends. While you won't see this on the site itself, just know our developers are now happier and working more efficiently! As always, if you have any questions about a release or want to give our team feedback, please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). Thanks! ### Changelog: Following and OC Market URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-following-and-oc-market/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:13:30.000Z Have you ever wanted an easy way to keep up with the new OCs your friends create? Do you want a better way to sell and trade OCs on the platform? This is the release for you! Read on to see what's new. - **Following**: You can now follow folks on [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) (and be followed yourself) with the new "Follow" button on everyone's profiles! We also have a new "Following" page that's 100% dedicated to the OCs of people you've followed. We plan to add more types of content to this page in the future, so stay tuned. - **OC Market**: Now, when editing your OCs, you have the option to select if that OC is "For Sale," "For Trade," or "For Free." If you select one of these options, an icon will appear on the OC's preview image and character page to let folks know they're up for grabs. Even better, all OCs with one of these options selected will appear on the new "OC Market" page, making it easy to buy, sell, gift, and trade OCs. As a reminder, we do not have built-in payments for OC trading right now, but you are welcome to use an off-platform payment method while we work towards this future. You can check out the Market page at: [https://unvale.io/market](https://unvale.io/market?ref=blog.unvale.io) - **Tags Fixed for Android Users**: Android users should now be able to add tags to images and OC pages. Thanks to everyone that reported this issue! As always, if you have feedback on this release, feel free to share it with us on [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io); staff is very active here, and we're happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have. Thanks for reading! ### Changelog: Badges URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-badges/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T19:00:05.000Z What's cooler than being an active member on [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io), the newest OC management platform around? Getting badges for it! Read on to see what all is included in this awesome update: - We've added three badges to the site, and we have plans for many more! To earn the three new badges, you'll need to have completed your profile (which includes adding a profile image, a profile banner, three featured profile images, and a profile description), created one OC page, and favorited 10 OCs on UnVale. If you have any ideas for future badges, please share them in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io)! - We no longer show archived accounts in the user dropdowns on the site (for example, the dropdown for selecting the creator of an OC). - We fixed a bug that prevented the +Tags search functionality to work properly, so you can now search for OCs that include multiple tags. - You can now see how many comments are on an OC page from the character preview, including the preview on the Explore page or your profile page. That's all for now! As always, join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) to give feedback on this release or share your thoughts on UnVale. ### Changelog: Comments and "Favorited By" Now on UnVale URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-comments-and-favorited-by-now-on-unvale/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:13:35.000Z We are rounding out the month of June with one of our most exciting releases yet! The platform is about to get much more social, and I can't wait to start complimenting all your OCs! Here's what you can check out right now on [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io): - **Comments** \- You can now comment on folks' OC pages on UnVale! Give compliments, request trades, make new friends, go wild! We'll send you an email when you get a new comment on one of your OCs pages, too. - **See Who Favorited Your OCs** \- The mystery is over! Right next to the new comments section on the "Social" tab of your OC pages, you can now see a list of who has favorited your OC. Go see who your fans are! Our team is already working on more exciting features to add to the site, so stay tuned for more updates in the coming month! As always, your feedback is incredibly valuable to us, so please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) to connect with the team, share thoughts, or ask questions. We'd love to hear from you! ### Terms of Service Update URL: https://blog.unvale.io/june-2023-terms-of-service-update/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:02:45.000Z Hello there! We've updated our Terms of Service. These new terms take effect today, **June 22nd, 2023**. Read on to see a summary of the changes. - We changed the age restrictions on our platform to allow users 13-years-old and up. This was previously set at 18-years-old and up. - We removed a line in our Terms of Service that said you needed to use your full name on your profile, and we've replaced it with: You will not misrepresent yourself or anyone else. You may view the full text of the updated terms on our [Terms of Service page](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io). If you are an UnVale user, you do not have to do anything to accept these terms. If you do not wish to accept these terms, please submit a ticket on our Help Desk to have your account deactivated. **UNVALE TERMS OF SERVICE** **Last update: June 21, 2023** The following terms and conditions, together with any documents they expressly incorporate by reference (together, the **"Terms of Service"**), represent a legally binding agreement between you and UnVale (**“UnVale” or “us”**) and govern your access to and use of services available on [www.UnVale.io](http://www.unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) (the **“Site”**), including any content, functionality and services offered, whether as a guest or registered user. If you do not agree to all of the Terms of Service, you may not use the Site. [**1\. Acceptance of Terms of Service**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#acceptance) Please read these Terms of Service carefully before using the Site and using the services available on and off the Site provided and managed by UnVale. By using Site, you accept and agree, and agree on behalf of any entity which you represent, to be legally bound and abide by these Terms of Service and our [Privacy Policy](https://unvale.io/privacy-policy?ref=blog.unvale.io), the Payments and Refunds Policy, and Acceptable Use Policy, or other policies we may adopt from time to time, all of which are incorporated herein by reference. PLEASE NOTE: SECTIONS 13-14 BELOW SPECIFY HOW USERS AND UNVALE RESOLVE DISPUTES AND CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT APPLICABLE TO U.S. AND CANADIAN USERS. THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTION, REQUIRES YOU TO SUBMIT DISPUTES AND CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST UNVALE TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION RATHER THAN IN COURT AND ON AN INDIVIDUAL (NON-COLLECTIVE) BASIS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY AS IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING, IF APPLICABLE, YOUR RIGHT TO OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOING SO. IT ALSO INCLUDES A LIMITATION ON YOUR RIGHT TO BRING CLAIMS AGAINST US MORE THAN 1 YEAR AFTER THE RELEVANT EVENTS OCCURRED, WHICH IMPACTS YOUR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS IF ANY DISPUTE ARISES. IF YOU USE A PAID FEATURE OF THE SERVICES, YOU MUST AGREE TO THE PAID SERVICE TERMS IN SECTION 21 OF THIS AGREEMENT. BY ACKNOWLEDGING THE TERMS OF SERVICE AND/OR USING THE UNVALE SITE, YOU EXPRESSLY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTAND AND AGREE, WITHOUT LIMITATION OR QUALIFICATION, TO BE BOUND BY THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING, AS APPLICABLE FOR U.S AND CANADIAN USERS, THE DISPUTE RESOLUTION AND ARBITRATION AGREEMENT) AND YOU ACCEPT ALL OF ITS TERMS. This Site is managed and hosted in the United States. If you are using the Site while located in another country, you expressly agree to the use of your information as permitted and restricted by U.S. law. If you do not consent to this, then you must not use the Site. [**1) Eligibility to use the Site**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#eligibility) The Site is controlled and offered by UnVale only in the United States of America, to site visitors and registered users who are at least 13 years of age. If you are accessing or using Site from other jurisdictions, you do so at your own risk and you are responsible for compliance with local law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Site may contain or provide links to content hosted on websites located outside of the United States of America. To access the Site or the resources it offers, you may be asked to provide certain registration details or other information. It is a condition of your use of Site that all information you provide is correct, current, and complete. You agree that all information you provide to register with the UnVale is governed by our Privacy Policy and by visiting this Site you hereby consent to all actions we take with respect to your information consistent with our Privacy Policy. If you use any paid features of the Site you agree to terms contained in Section 21, below. [**2) Changes and Modifications**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#changes-and-modifications) UnVale reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms of Service by posting updated terms on our website. Your continued use of the Site after any such changes constitutes your acceptance of the new Terms of Service. Please review these Terms of Service periodically for changes. If you do not agree to any or all posted changes, please do not continue to access or use Site. [**3) The UnVale Site Connects Artists and Fans**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#the-unvale-site) The Site is an app-based two-sided marketplace which enables connections between Fans and Artists. **“Fans”** are individuals and/or businesses seeking to obtain artistic products (**“Projects”**) from Artists and are therefore clients of Artists, and **“Artists”** are businesses (individual artists or groups) seeking to perform Projects for Fans. Fans and Artists together are hereinafter referred to as **“Users.”** If you agree on the terms of a Project with another User, you and such other User form a Service Agreement directly between the two of you as set forth in more detail in Section 6 below. ARTISTS ARE INDEPENDENT BUSINESS OWNERS AND ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OF CLIENTS AND NOT EMPLOYEES, PARTNERS, REPRESENTATIVES, AGENTS, JOINT VENTURERS, INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS OR FRANCHISEES OF UNVALE. UNVALE DOES NOT PERFORM PROJECTS AND DOES NOT EMPLOY OR ENGAGE INDIVIDUALS TO PERFORM PROJECTS. BY CONNECTING PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES SEEKING SERVICES WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS, UNVALE OPERATES AS AN ONLINE MARKETPLACE THAT CONNECTS CLIENTS WITH SERVICE PROVIDERS (ARTISTS) WHO WISH TO PERFORM A VARIETY OF PROJECTS. USERS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE THAT UNVALE DOES NOT SUPERVISE, SCOPE, DIRECT, CONTROL OR MONITOR AN ARTIST’S WORK AND EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS (TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW) ANY RESPONSIBILITY AND LIABILITY FOR THE WORK PERFORMED AND THE PROJECTS IN ANY MANNER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO A WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF GOOD AND WORKMANLIKE SERVICES, WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF QUALITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY LAW, STATUTE, ORDINANCE, REGULATION, OR CODE. UnVale is not responsible for the performance or communications of Users, nor does it have control over the quality, timing, legality, failure to provide, or any other aspect whatsoever of Projects, Artists, or Fans, nor of the integrity, responsibility, competence, qualifications, or any of the actions or omissions whatsoever of any Users, or of any ratings or reviews provided by Users with respect to each other. UnVale makes no warranties or representations about the suitability, reliability, timeliness, or accuracy of the Projects requested or services provided by, or the communications of or between, Users on or through the Site, whether in public or private, via on- or off-line interactions, or otherwise. When interacting with other Users, you should exercise caution and common sense to protect your personal safety, data, and property, just as you would when interacting with other persons whom you don’t know. UnVale will not be liable for any false or misleading statements made by Users of the Site. The Site is not an employment agency service or business and UnVale is not an employer of any User. Artists acknowledge and confirm that they are responsible for exercising their own business judgment in entering into Service Agreements and performing Projects and that, depending on how they exercise such business judgment, there is a chance for individual profit or loss. NEITHER UNVALE, NOR ITS PARENTS, AFFILIATES OR LICENSORS, INCLUDING THEIR RESPECTIVE DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, SHAREHOLDERS, AGENTS, INVESTORS, SUBSIDIARIES, ATTORNEYS, REPRESENTATIVES, INSURERS, EMPLOYEES, SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS (COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS “AFFILIATES”) IS RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR THE CONDUCT, ACTS, OR OMISSIONS, WHETHER ONLINE OR OFFLINE, OF ANY USER OF THE UNVALE SITE AND, TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, YOU HEREBY RELEASE UNVALE AND AFFILIATES FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY, CLAIMS, DEMANDS, OR DAMAGES OF EVERY KIND AND NATURE, KNOWN AND UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED AND UNSUSPECTED, DISCLOSED AND UNDISCLOSED, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE UNVALE SITE. [**4) User Representations And Warranties; Limitations on Use**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#user-representations) - You are at least of the legally required age, and are otherwise capable of entering into binding contracts; - You have the right, authority and capacity to enter into this Agreement and to abide by the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and that you will so abide; - You have read, understand, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service, the [Privacy Policy](https://unvale.io/privacy-policy?ref=blog.unvale.io), the Payments and Refunds Policy, and the Acceptable Use Policy; - You will respect the privacy (including without limitation private, family and home life), property, and data protection rights of Users and will not record (whether video or audio or otherwise) any Project or any interaction by or with any User and/or Artist in connection with the Site without the prior written consent of UnVale and/or the relevant User, as applicable; - You will fulfill the commitments you make to other Users, communicate clearly and promptly through the chat thread, be present and/or available at the time you agree upon with your Artist or Fan as the case may be, and only utilize the third party payment service provider specified or approved by UnVale to make or receive payment for services provided through the UnVale Site. You also agree to all consumer-facing terms of our payment processor, available [here](https://stripe.com/legal/payment-terms?ref=blog.unvale.io). - You will act professionally and responsibly in your interactions with other Users; - You will not misrepresent yourself as anyone else on your profile; - When using or accessing the UnVale Site, you will act in accordance with all applicable local, state, provincial, national, or international law or custom and in good faith; - You will not use the UnVale Site for the purchase or delivery of alcohol, or any other controlled or illegal substances or services. - Where you enter into this Agreement on behalf of a company or other organization, you represent and warrant that you have authority to act on behalf of that entity and to bind that entity to this Agreement - Other than as fully and promptly disclosed in writing to UnVale, you do not have any motivation, status, or interest that UnVale may reasonably wish to know about in connection with the UnVale Site, including without limitation, if you are using or will or intend to use the UnVale Site for any journalistic, academic, investigative, or unlawful purpose. **Additionally**, if you create or provide User Content, you hereby represent and warrant to UnVale that your User Content (a) will not be false, inaccurate, incomplete or misleading; (b) will not be fraudulent or involve the transfer or sale of illegal, counterfeit or stolen items; (c) will not infringe on any third party’s privacy, or copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret or other proprietary right or rights of publicity or personality (to the extent recognized by law in the country where the Project is performed); (d) will not violate any law, statute, ordinance, code, or regulation (including without limitation those governing export control, consumer protection, unfair competition, anti-discrimination, incitement of hatred or false or misleading advertising, anti-spam or privacy); (e) will not be defamatory, libelous, malicious, threatening, or harassing; (f) will not be obscene or contain pornography (including but not limited to child pornography) or be harmful to minors; (g) will not contain any viruses, scripts such as Trojan Horses, SQL injections, worms, time bombs, corrupt files, cancelbots or other computer programming routines that are intended to damage, detrimentally interfere with, surreptitiously intercept or expropriate any system, data or personal information; (h) will not claim or suggest in any way that you are employed or directly engaged by or affiliated with UnVale or otherwise purport to act as a representative or agent of UnVale; and (i) will not create liability for UnVale or cause UnVale to lose (in whole or in part) the services of its Internet Service Providers (**“ISPs”**) or other partners or suppliers. [**5) Additional Representations and Warranties By Artists**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#additional-representations) If you are an Artist registered on the Site, you represent, warrant, and promise that: - When using the UnVale Site as an Artist and accepting compensation for Projects, you are operating as a sole proprietor, partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, corporation or other business entity; - You are customarily engaged in an independently established business of the same nature as the services performed for Fans through the Site, and maintain an independent clientele; - You have the unrestricted right to work in the jurisdiction in which you will be performing Projects; - If the Project is performed in a jurisdiction that requires you to have a business license or business tax registration, you have the required business license or business tax registration; - You will not misrepresent yourself as anyone else on your profile; - You have any and all insurance required to operate your business and provide your services; - You will honor your commitments to other Users on the Site, including by responding to invitations promptly; performing the Project(s) as agreed upon with your Fan; and providing timely, high-quality services to your Fan [**6) Service Agreement between Fans and Artists**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#service-agreement) You acknowledge and agree, and thereby enter, a legally binding contract with another User (the **“Service Agreement”**) when you and that User agree on the terms of a Project and you receive an Order Confirmation. The terms of the Service Agreement are as set forth in this Section, the engagement terms proposed and accepted on the UnVale Site, and any other contractual terms accepted by both the Artist and their Fan to the extent such terms are legally enforceable and do not conflict with the terms in this Agreement, including this Section, and do not expand UnVale’s obligations or restrict UnVale’s rights under this Agreement. UnVale is not a party to any Service Agreement and the formation of a Service Agreement will not, under any circumstances, create an employment or other service relationship between UnVale and the Artist, nor will it create an employment relationship between the Fan and the Artist, or any service provider relationship between the Fan and UnVale. Users do not have authority to enter into written or oral — whether implied or express — contracts on behalf of UnVale. In exchange for the agreed-upon Project Fee, the Artist shall convey to the Fan that set of rights to the works of original authorship delivered in connection with the Project (**“Project Deliverables”**) as determined by the Artist at the time of Checkout. Such rights will be as set forth in the “Intellectual Property Rights” section of these Terms of Service. [**7) UNVALE IP RIGHTS OPTIONS**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#ip-rights) Once the Artist delivers all Project Deliverables to the Fan and the Fan has made payment in full, the Artist conveys intellectual property rights (“IP Rights”) as set forth below unless otherwise specified in writing agreed to by Artist and Fan. (ii) Artist waives any and all moral rights in the Project Deliverables. The IP Rights available on the Site are as follows: **Personal Use License** Artist grants Fan (and only the Fan) a non-exclusive license to use the Project Deliverables for personal, non-commercial use. The Artist may still make and sell copies or derivative versions to anyone. Artist and Fan agree that all rights granted or transferred are perpetual (unlimited in duration) and worldwide, in each case. Where approved in advance by the Fan, the Artist is not obligated to personally perform the Project. Artists may engage assistants, helpers, subcontractors or other personnel (collectively “Artist Assistants”). For safety reasons, such Artist Assistants shall have been registered through the UnVale Site. An Artist’s failure to comply with this provision shall be a violation of these Terms of Service and could lead to removal from the UnVale Site. The Artist assumes full and sole responsibility for the acts and omissions of such Artist Assistants and is fully responsible for the lawful payment of all compensation, benefits and expenses of Artist Assistants, if any, and for all required and applicable tax withholdings as to such Artist Assistants. Fans are responsible for confirming with their Artist that any Artist Assistants are registered Artists on the UnVale Site. Fans agree that if someone other than them books the Project on their behalf, they are appointing that person as their agent (“**Fan’s Agent**“) and the Artist may take and follow direction from the Fan’s Agent as if such direction was given from the Fan him- or herself. If you are a Fan’s Agent and accessing and using the UnVale Site on behalf of a Fan, you represent that you have the authority to act as their agent and to bind that person as the principal to all provisions of the Terms of Service. Fan’s Agent may authorize any applicable waiver of the Fan’s scoping, direction, or instruction of the Artist’s work or performance of the Project in the Fan’s stead. Fan agrees that such direction and/or waiver is valid against Fan and Fan’s Agent, and Fan shall be responsible and liable for all such direction and/or waiver as if made by Fan him or herself. Fan assumes full and sole responsibility for the acts and omissions of Fan’s Agents. The Fan shall pay their Artist(s) in full for all Project services via the PAYMENT PROCESSOR as indicated on the UnVale Site, at the rates agreed to by the parties in the Service Agreement and/or on the Order Confirmation Page. Each User agrees to comply with the Service Agreement and this Agreement during the engagement, performance, and completion of a Project. Artists alone are responsible for identifying and obtaining any required licenses, permits, or registrations before offering services and undertaking Projects. Indeed, certain types of Projects and services may be prohibited altogether, and it is the responsibility of Artists to avoid such prohibited Projects and services. Penalties may include fines or other law enforcement. If you have questions about how national/ state/ provincial/ territorial and local laws apply to your Projects and services on the UnVale Site, you should first seek appropriate legal guidance. [**8) Our Copyrights, Trademarks, and Service Marks**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#copyrights) The Site and its original content, features and functionality are owned by UnVale and are protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws. None of the content may be downloaded, copied, reproduced, transmitted, stored, sold, or distributed by any person for any reason without the prior written consent of UnVale. UnVale respects the intellectual property of others and expects Users to do the same. If you believe, in good faith, that any materials provided on or in connection with the Site infringe upon your copyright or other intellectual property right, please send the following information to the UnVale Copyright Agent at UnVale, 1461 30th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80205 or [support@unvale.io.](mailto:%20support@unvale.io) Please include the following: - A description of the copyrighted work that you claim has been infringed, including the URL (Internet address) or other specific location on the UnVale Site where the material you claim is infringed is visible. Include enough information to allow UnVale to locate the material, and explain why you think an infringement has taken place; - A description of the location where the original or an authorized copy of the copyrighted work exists -- for example, the URL (Internet address) where it is posted or the name of the book in which it has been published; - Your name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address; - A statement by you that you have a good faith belief that the disputed use is not authorized by the copyright owner, its agent, or the law; - A statement by you, made under penalty of perjury, that the information in your notice is accurate, and that you are the copyright owner or authorized to act on the copyright owner’s behalf; and - Your electronic or physical signature as the owner of the copyright or the person authorized to act on behalf of the owner of the copyright interest. [**9) User Content**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#user-content) **“User Content”** means any information and materials you provide to UnVale, its agents, Affiliates, and corporate partners, or other Users in connection with your registration for and use of the Site and participation in UnVale promotional and/or Social Media campaigns, including without limitation the information and materials posted or transmitted for use in Public Areas. User Content includes general and specific descriptions about artists, works, Projects, and sample work products. Such information may be unverified data submitted by Users voluntarily and does not constitute and will not be construed as an introduction, endorsement, or recommendation by UnVale; we provide such information solely for the convenience of Users. User-Generated Content is posted on or through the Site or provide UnVale with User Content, you understand and acknowledge that you are solely responsible for such User Content. Further, you agree to only post or provide User content that does not violate the law or anyone’s rights (including intellectual property rights). You also represent that you have the right, power, and authority to grant the licenses specified in the Service Agreement between yourself and any other User. You acknowledge and agree that you, as the author or source of User Content, and not UnVale, is responsible for any User Content including any harms caused to anyone by such User Content. You will indemnify, defend, and hold harmless UnVale, our Affiliates, and our respective directors, officers, employees, representatives, and agents (each an**“Indemnified Party”**) from any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings, damages, liabilities, costs, losses, and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) relating to or arising out of any User Content you post. If a User believes, in good faith, that any User Content provided on or in connection with the UnVale Site is objectionable or infringes any of its rights or the rights of others (e.g. counterfeiting, insult, invasion of privacy), the User is encouraged to notify UnVale. If a User discovers that User Content promotes crimes against humanity, incites hatred and/or violence, or concerns child pornography, the User must notify UnVale. Such notification can be made at [support@unvale.io](mailto:%20support@unvale.io) You acknowledge and agree that User Content benefits the UnVale marketplace, all Users, and the efficiency of the Site and you specifically request that UnVale post composite or compiled feedback about Users, including yourself, on User Profiles and elsewhere on the Site. You acknowledge and agree that your sample content, feedback results for you and other User Content by and about you may be published and prominently displayed by UnVale on the Site or on other Services not owned or controlled by UnVale. You further acknowledge and agree that UnVale will make such User Content available to other Users and to the public generally via the Site and you grant UnVale a license in and to such User Content for such purposes, and that such license may not be revoked without the written consent of UnVale. You acknowledge and agree that UnVale has no obligation to monitor or review User Content, but reserves the right to limit or remove User Content if it is not compliant with the terms of this Agreement. [**10) Our Intellectual Property Rights**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#intellectual-property) All text, graphics, editorial content, data, formatting, graphs, designs, HTML, look and feel, photographs, music, sounds, images, software, videos, typefaces and other content, including UnVale designs, trademarks, and logos (collectively **“Proprietary Material”**) that Users see or read through the UnVale Site is owned by UnVale, excluding User Content, which Users hereby grant UnVale a license to use for its internal and external marketing purposes, is protected in all forms, media and technologies now known or hereinafter developed. UnVale owns all Proprietary Material, as well as the coordination, selection, arrangement, and enhancement of such Proprietary Materials. The Proprietary Material is protected by domestic and international laws governing copyright, patents, and other proprietary rights. Users may not copy, download, use, redesign, reconfigure, or retransmit anything from the UnVale Site without UnVale’s express prior written consent and, if applicable, the consent of the holder of the rights to the User Content. Any use of such Proprietary Material other than as permitted herein is expressly prohibited. The service marks and trademarks of UnVale, including without limitation UnVale, UnVale for Good, and associated logos, are service marks owned by UnVale. Any other trademarks, service marks, logos and/or trade names appearing via the UnVale Site are the property of their respective owners. UnVale’s proprietary marks and logos are not available for use by Artists. You may not copy or use any of these marks, logos or trade names without the express prior written consent of the owner. You may from time to time submit suggestions for product improvement to UnVale (**“Product Feedback”**), and you hereby and thereby assign all right, title, and interest to such submissions for all purposes and agree that UnVale may use Product Feedback to improve our Site or for any other purpose without attribution or compensation to you. **11) Acceptable Use Policy** Without limitation, the UnVale Site may not be used for any of the following purposes: - To defame, abuse, harass, stalk, threaten, intimidate, misrepresent, mislead or otherwise violate the rights (such as, but not limited to, rights of privacy, confidentiality, reputation, and publicity) of others, including Users and UnVale staff; - To publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any profane, defamatory, infringing, obscene or unlawful language, material or information; - To upload files that contain software or other material that violates the intellectual property rights (or rights of privacy or publicity) of any User, third party, or UnVale; - To upload files or scripts such as Trojan horses, corrupt files, SQL injections, worms, timebombs, cancelbots or any other files or software that may damage UnVale or its Users’ computers; - To advertise or offer to sell any goods or services for any commercial purpose through the UnVale Site which are not relevant to the Project services; - To conduct or forward surveys, contests, pyramid schemes, or chain letters; - To impersonate another person or a User or allow any other person or entity to use your user profile to post or view comments (except as may be permitted under the Terms of Service when acting as Fan’s Agent). While using the UnVale Site, you may not: - Use the UnVale Site for any unauthorized or illegal purpose, including but not limited to posting or performing a Project in violation of local, state, provincial, national, or international law; - Post, upload, or market any content which you have not obtained the necessary rights and permissions to use; - Imply or state that any statements you make (whether on or off the UnVale Site) are endorsed by UnVale, without the prior written consent of UnVale; - Use a robot, spider, manual, meta tag, “hidden text,” agent, robot, script, and/or automatic processes or devices to data-mine, data-crawl, scrape, collect, mine, republish, redistribute, transmit, sell, license, download, manage, or index the UnVale Site, or the electronic addresses or personal information of others, in any manner; - Frame or use framing techniques to enclose the UnVale Site or any portion thereof; - Hack or interfere with the UnVale Site, its servers or any connected networks; - Adapt, alter, license, sublicense or translate the UnVale Site for your own personal or commercial use; - Remove, alter, or misuse, visually or otherwise, any copyrights, trademarks or proprietary marks or rights owned by UnVale and Affiliates; - Upload content to the UnVale Site that is offensive and/or harmful, including, but not limited to, content that advocates, endorses, condones or promotes racism, bigotry, hatred or physical harm of any kind against any individual or group of individuals; - Upload content that provides materials or access to materials that exploit people in an abusive, violent or sexual manner; - Solicit for any other business, website or service, or otherwise contact Users for employment, contracting or any purpose not related to use of the UnVale Site as set forth herein; - Collect usernames, email addresses, or other personal information of Users by electronic or other means; - Use the UnVale Site in violation of this Agreement; - Use the UnVale Site in a manner that is false or misleading (directly or by omission or failure to update information), or for the purpose of accessing or otherwise obtaining UnVale’s trade secret information for public disclosure or other purposes; - Attempt to circumvent the payments system or service charge or Service Fee in any way including, but not limited to, making or processing payments outside of the UnVale Site, providing inaccurate information on invoices, or otherwise invoicing in a fraudulent manner; - Register under different usernames or identities after your account has been suspended or terminated, or register under multiple usernames or false identities, or register using a false or disposable email or phone number; - Cause any third party to engage in the restricted activities above; or - Use tools with the goal of masking your IP address (like the TOR network). - You understand that all submissions made to the Site may be public and that you may be publicly identified by your name or login identification information (i.e. handle) when communicating on the Site. UnVale is not responsible for the action of any Users with respect to any information or materials posted by Users on the Site. [**12) Payments And Refunds Policy**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#payments-and-refunds) Users of the Site contract for Projects directly with other Users. UnVale will not be a party to any contracts for Projects or services. Fan, and not UnVale, is responsible for payment for all Project services through the UnVale Site. Such payment must be made via any payment service provider (**“PAYMENT PROCESSOR”**) chosen by UnVale. UnVale is not obligated to compensate Artist for Fan’s failure to pay for services. In support of the foregoing relationship: UnVale partners with payment processor for purposes of collecting payments from Buyers, transferring such payments from Buyers to Artists, and holding funds in connection with UnVale Balances. All payments services in connection with the withdrawal of funds on the UnVale Site are performed by UnVale’s payment processor. Fan Responsibilities. Fans must pay all amounts invoiced through the PAYMENT PROCESSOR. Fans must provide their payment method details to UnVale and the PAYMENT PROCESSOR to process payments for Projects. Fans will be responsible for paying the invoice(s) for each Project (the “Invoice(s)”), which will include (a) the pricing terms of the Project provided by the Artist and agreed upon by the parties, including any commission (“Project Payment”), (b) processing fees assessed by our payment processor(\*) (c) any Service Fees assessed by UnVale for our provision of customer support and maintaining the integrity of the Site, and (d) cancellation charges, if applicable. Submission of authorization for an Invoice is Fan’s authorization for UnVale and our payment processor to charge Fan’s payment method for all charges in accordance with this policy. \*To the extent permissible by the payment card networks and merchant processing rules, Fans may also be charged credit card processing fees equal to 3% of the aggregate invoice amount. Artist Responsibilities. Artists must set up an account with the PAYMENT PROCESSOR, which may require any or all of the following: registration with the PAYMENT PROCESSOR, consent to the terms of service of the PAYMENT PROCESSOR, and completion of a vetting process and/or account validation at the request of the PAYMENT PROCESSOR. By accepting these Terms of Service, each Artist agrees that they have downloaded or printed, and reviewed and agreed to, the PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement (the “PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement”). Please note that UnVale is not a party to the PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement and that only you, the PAYMENT PROCESSOR and any other parties listed in the PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement are the parties to the PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement and that UnVale has no obligations, responsibility or liability to any Artist or other party under the PAYMENT PROCESSOR Services Agreement. \*To the extent permissible by the payment card networks and merchant processing rules, Artists may also be charged credit card processing fees equal to 3% of the aggregate invoice amount. Appointment as Limited Payment Collection Agent Each Artist hereby appoints UnVale as Artist’s limited authorized payment collection agent solely for the purpose of accepting payments (via its Payment processor, when applicable) from Fans, and remitting those payments to Artist. Artist agrees that payment from Buyer to UnVale shall be considered the same as a made directly to Artist. Buyer’s payment obligation to Artist will be satisfied upon receipt of payment by UnVale (or its Payment processor, as applicable), and UnVale (via its Payment processor, as applicable) is responsible for remitting the funds to the Artist in the manner described in these Payment Terms. Invoicing Artists are responsible for accurately invoicing their Fans within 24 hours of the work being performed, even if the Project is not completed in its entirety or is designated as “ongoing.” If milestones are designated in the Order, then Artists must communicate with Fan at each milestone. Promotions From time to time we may offer you promo codes for purchasing Projects and/or other services offered on the Site, on special discounts. Promo Codes are valid only for purchases on UnVale and are subject to different time limitations and will expire after their predefined term. To exercise your promo code, simply enter the code on the checkout page. If you fail to do so, your purchase will not be eligible for the discount. Promo codes are limited to one use per user and may not be used or combined with any other promotion. For orders that are composed of one or more milestones, the promo code will apply to the first milestone only. Promo Codes do not apply to UnVale Credits. Promo codes may be subject to additional conditions and restrictions as will be disclosed to you upon receipt of the promo codes. Promo codes may be voided in the event of fraud, misuse, or violation of the Terms of Service. UnVale reserves the right to modify or cancel promo codes at any time. Other requirements; Tax Reporting To help prevent fraud and safeguard User information from the risk of unauthorized access, UnVale and/or the PAYMENT PROCESSOR may validate an account before activation and prior to each booking. As part of the validation process, temporary charges may be placed on the account associated with the User and then refunded within 1-10 business days. This temporary charge may vary depending on the estimated value of the Project and expenses. When Fan receives confirmation through the UnVale Site or via email that a Project has been commenced, Fan automatically authorizes the PAYMENT PROCESSOR to process the Invoice(s). UnVale reserves the right (but not the obligation) upon request from Fan or Artist, or upon notice of any potential fraud, unauthorized charges or other misuse of the UnVale Site, to place on hold any Project payment, or refund or provide credits, or arrange for the PAYMENT PROCESSOR to do so. Users of the UnVale Site may be liable for any taxes or similar charges required to be collected and/or paid on the Projects and/or fees provided under the Agreement. In certain jurisdictions, applicable rules may require that we collect or report tax and/or revenue information about Users. Users agree that UnVale may issue on your behalf receipts or similar documentation to facilitate accurate tax reporting. **a. Disputes** We encourage our Buyers and Artists to try and settle conflicts amongst themselves. If for any reason this fails after using the Resolution Center or if you encounter non-permitted usage on the Site, users can contact UnVale's Customer Support department for assistance [here](mailto:%20support@unvale.io). The Support Team takes order disputes seriously, and will investigate if our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy, or order terms were violated. Projects performed on UnVale are custom and in general cannot be cancelled or refunded. However, in general and unless in our discretion we determine that another resolution is more equitable to both Artists and Fans, our approach to resolving disputed Orders is as follows: - Orders that violate our policies may be subject to partial or full refunds, or partial or full payouts, depending on the facts of each order. The Support Team will evaluate progress on an order, and possible violations of UnVale policies, but not subjective artistic quality. - If an Artist completes less than 50% of an order, as demonstrated with works in progress files, screen captures, or other methods, UnVale will process a full refund for the Fan. - If an Artist completes 50% or more of the order, as demonstrated with works in progress files, screen captures, or other methods, UnVale will process at least a 50% payout to the artist. - If an Artist completes 90% or more of an order, as demonstrated with works in progress files, screen captures, or other methods, UnVale will process the full order price and payout to the Artists. - Artists need only show a good faith effort to create the order as described by the Fan; the Support Team will not at any time evaluate the artistic quality of an order Filing a transaction dispute or reversing a payment through your payment provider or your bank is a violation of these Payment Terms. Doing so may get your account temporarily or permanently disabled. Note: Once you have filed a dispute with your payment provider, the funds will be ineligible for a refund due to our obligations towards the payment provider. UnVale, through its payment processor, reserves the right to cancel orders or place funds on hold for any suspected fraudulent transactions made on the Site. All transfer and assignment of intellectual property to the Buyer shall be subject to full payment and the delivery may not be used if payment is canceled for any reason. If an order is canceled (for any reason), the funds paid by Fan will be returned to the Fan. Revisions to deliveries can be performed by Artists based on the Artist’s Project. Artists may determine the amount of revisions they wish to offer, including no revisions.Requesting to gain more services from Artists beyond the agreed requirements by using the Request Revisions button is not allowed. **b. Order Cancellations** UnVale encourages Buyers and Artists to resolve service disputes mutually using the Resolution Center. Eligibility for requests to UnVale to cancel an order will be assessed by our Customer Support team based on a number of factors, including violations of our Terms of Service and/or our Community Standards, general misconduct, and improper usage of the UnVale delivery system. See below for Order specific eligibility. Completed orders (or, where applicable, completed milestones) may be canceled, upon review of our Customer Support team, up to 14 days after the Project is marked as complete. Please be advised that orders cannot be partially canceled (i.e. we can only cancel the entire Project when it is justified). In rare circumstances where we find it appropriate, our Customer Support team may cancel a completed order even after 14 days have passed from its completion. In such cases, the amounts paid for the canceled order will be returned to the Fan or payment method and will be set off or deducted from the Artist’s payment, as permitted by the payment processor rules. Orders are not eligible to be canceled based on the quality of service/materials delivered by the Artist if the service was rendered as described in the Project Page. You may rate your experience with the Artist, including the overall level of service quality received. You must use UnVale Resolution Center to address your concerns and desired resolution related to the service provided by their Artist prior to contacting Customer Support. Customer Support will not take any action against Orders where the applicable has failed to inform their Artist of issues related to the Artist’s service and will allow Artists to provide a resolution first. This does not include non-permitted usage of UnVale. Any non-permitted usage of UnVale encountered during an Order, after being reviewed by our Customer Support team, may result in the order being canceled. This includes, but not limited to; harassment, unlawful behavior, or other violations of UnVale’s Terms of Service. UnVale Customer Support may cancel orders for reasons that include but are not limited to the following: - Users are abusive towards the other party through threats of low ratings or leveraging order materials (such as logins, personal information) against each other. - Users supplied or included copyright/trademark infringing materials as part of their requirements or the Artist’s delivery. - The user is no longer an active UnVale user due to Terms of Service violations or closure of their account. - The Artist uses the Delivery system to extend the delivery due date to complete the requested service without providing the final delivered service. Note: Multiple reported offenses may result in permanent suspension of your account. - The Artist delivers no files and/or proof of work related to the agreed upon order requirements, or is late and unresponsive for an unreasonable amount of time - The Artist requests additional payments, on or off the UnVale Site, by withholding the final delivery of services directly related to the agreed requirements. - The Artist is withholding the final delivery of services for improved ratings. - Users who abuse the Resolution process to gain more services from Artists beyond the agreed requirements. - Users who threaten to leave a damaging review to gain more services from the Artist not related to the agreed requirements. - Completed Projects (after the order is marked as complete and before the 14-day limitation) - Users who have been reported and deemed to use copyright/trademark infringing materials. - Users who did not purchase commercial use rights and are reported to have used the materials commercially. **c. Chargebacks and Refunds** UnVale reviews cases of payment provider chargebacks and disputes on behalf of Artists. Although results vary per case due to each chargeback reason, we work hard on resolving disputes equitably between the Artist and Fan to the extent we have any control over the outcome. If the chargeback case allows, UnVale (or one of UnVale’s payment processors) will return parts or full revenue back to Artists, otherwise the chargeback amount will be borne by the Artist. Our Customer Support team will review all requests for refunds and escalate as appropriate. [**13) DISPUTES AND ARBITRATION**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#arbitration) To expedite resolution and reduce the cost of any dispute, controversy or claim related to, arising from or regarding your use of the Site, your relationship with UnVale, Projects, or this Agreement (including previous versions of these Terms of Service) (**“Dispute”**), you and UnVale agree to first attempt to negotiate any Dispute informally for at least 30 days before initiating any non-court process (such as mediation or arbitration) or court proceeding (except as may be set forth in Section 14 of these Terms of Service). Such informal negotiations will commence upon written notice. Your address for such notices is the one associated with your account, with an email copy to the email address you have provided to UnVale. UnVale’s address for such notice is: Attention: Legal Department. UnVale, 1461 30th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80205. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement that cannot be resolved through informal negotiations shall be resolved by JAMS under its Managed Arbitration Process Rules. There shall be one arbitrator and the arbitration shall take place in Denver, Colorado, in the English language, and the arbitral decision may be enforced to the fullest extent permitted by law. This Section 12 may be referred to as the **“Arbitration Provision”** You may opt out of the Arbitration Provision contained in this Section 13 by notifying UnVale in writing within 30 days of the date you first registered for the Site. To opt out, you must send a written notification to UnVale at 1461 30th Street, Denver, Colorado, 80205 and includes (a) your account username, (b) your name, (c) your address, (d) your telephone number, (e) your email address, and (f) a statement indicating that you wish to opt out of the Arbitration Provision. Alternatively, you may send this written notification to [support@unvale.io](mailto:%20support@unvale.io). Opting out of this Arbitration Provision will not affect any other terms of this Agreement. If you do not opt out as provided in this Section 13, continuing your relationship with UnVale constitutes mutual acceptance of the terms of this Arbitration Provision by you and UnVale. You have the right to consult with counsel of your choice concerning this Agreement and the Arbitration Provision. [**14) CLASS ACTION WAIVER**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#class-action-waiver) Private attorney general representative actions under the California Labor Code are not arbitrable, not within the scope of the Arbitration Provision and may be maintained in a court of law. However, the Arbitration Provision affects your ability to participate in class or collective actions. Both you and UnVale agree to bring any dispute in arbitration on an individual basis only, and not on a class or collective basis on behalf of others. There will be no right or authority for any dispute to be brought, heard or arbitrated as a class or collective action, or as a member in any such class or collective proceeding (**“Class Action Waiver”**). Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement or the JAMS rules, disputes regarding the enforceability, revocability, scope, or validity or breach of the Class Action Waiver may be resolved only by a civil court of competent jurisdiction and not by an arbitrator. In any case in which (1) the dispute is filed as a class or collective action and (2) there is a final judicial determination that all or part of the Class Action Waiver is unenforceable, the class or collective action to that extent must be litigated in a civil court of competent jurisdiction, but the portion of the Class Action Waiver that is enforceable shall be enforced in arbitration. You and UnVale agree that you will not be retaliated against, disciplined or threatened with discipline as a result of your filing or participating in a class or collective action in any forum. However, UnVale may lawfully seek enforcement of this Arbitration Provision and the Class Action Waiver under the Federal Arbitration Act and seek dismissal of such class or collective actions or claims. [**15) Governing Law, Jurisdiction and Venue**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#governing-law) All matters relating to the Site and these Terms of Service and any dispute or claim arising therefrom or related thereto (in each case, including non-contractual disputes or claims), shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Colorado in the United States of America, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule. [**16) Indemnification**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#indemnification) You agree to indemnify and hold harmless UnVale from and against any and all losses, expenses, damages, and costs, including without limitation reasonable attorneys’ fees, resulting, whether directly or indirectly, from your use of the Site, your violation of law in connection with the Site or your infringement of the rights of any User, person, or third party (including with respect to User Content), or your violation of the Terms of Service. You also agree to indemnify and hold harmless the UnVale from and against any and all claims brought against UnVale by third parties arising out of or relating to your use of Site, including claims of copyright or other intellectual property infringement. You will not, in any event, settle any claim or matter without the prior written consent of UnVale. [**17) Warranties**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#warranties) THE COMPANY HEREBY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND WITH RESPECT TO THE TECHNOLOGY OR THE CONTENT ON THE SITE OR LINKED TO THE SITE, WHETHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, STATUTORY OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NON-INFRINGEMENT AND FITNESS FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE TECHNOLOGY OF THE UNVALE SITE IS PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” BASIS AND ASSUMES NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY IN CONTRACT, WARRANTY OR IN TORT FOR ANY (I) ERRORS, MISTAKES, OR INACCURACIES OF CONTENT, (II) PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE, OF ANY NATURE WHATSOEVER, RESULTING FROM YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE UNVALE SITE, (III) ANY ACCESS TO OR USE OF OUR SECURE SERVERS AND/OR ANY AND ALL PERSONAL INFORMATION AND/OR FINANCIAL INFORMATION STORED THEREIN; AND (IV) EVENTS BEYOND OUR REASONABLE CONTROL. THE FOREGOING DOES NOT AFFECT ANY WARRANTIES WHICH CANNOT BE EXCLUDED OR LIMITED UNDER APPLICABLE LAW As with the purchase of a product or service through any medium or in any environment, you should use your best judgment and exercise caution where appropriate. Without limiting the foregoing, UnVale and Affiliates do not warrant that access to the UnVale Site will be uninterrupted or that the UnVale Site will be error-free; nor do they make any warranty as to the results that may be obtained from the use of the UnVale Site, or as to the timeliness, accuracy, reliability, completeness or content of any Project, service, information or materials provided through or in connection with the use of the UnVale Site. UnVale and Affiliates are not responsible for the conduct, whether online or offline, of any User. [**18) Limitation of Liability**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#limitation-of-liability) Except to the extent required by applicable law and then only to that extent, in no event will UnVale, its employees, contractors, officers, directors, affiliates or agents, be liable to you on any legal theory for any incidental, direct, indirect, punitive, actual, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages including without limitation, loss of revenue or income, lost profits, pain and suffering, emotional distress, cost of substitute goods or services, or similar damages suffered or incurred by you or any third party that arise in connection with Site (or the termination thereof for any reason), even if foreseeable or if any form of notice has been provided. UNVALE AND AFFILIATES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIM ANY LIABILITY THAT MAY ARISE OUT OF AN INTERACTION BETWEEN USERS OF THE UNVALE SITE. UNVALE AND AFFILIATES ALSO DO NOT ACCEPT ANY LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO THE QUALITY OR FITNESS OF ANY WORK PERFORMED VIA THE UNVALE SITE. IF, DESPITE THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS, THE COMPANY BECOMES LIABLE TO YOU IN RESPECT OF THE SITE, THE SITE CONTENT, THE SERVICE, OR A COMBINATION OF THE FOREGOING, THAT LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE LESSER OF (A) $500 OR (B) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF PROJECT PAYMENTS PAID TO YOU BY CLIENTS (IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST) OR BY YOU TO UNVALE (IF YOU ARE A CLIENT) OVER THE PRIOR THREE MONTHS. The Site may contain links to or integrations with other sites and resources provided by third parties. These links are provided for your convenience only and include links contained in advertisements, including banner advertisements and sponsored links. We have no control over the contents of those sites or resources, and accept no responsibility for them or for any loss or damage that may arise from your use of them. If you decide to access any of the third-party websites linked to Site, you do so entirely at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use for such websites. [**19) Violation of this Agreement**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#violation-of-agreement) Any user who violates this agreement may be blocked from future access from using Site. We may terminate your access to Site without cause or notice, which may result in the forfeiture and destruction of all information associated with you. All provisions of these Terms of Service shall by their nature survive termination, including, without limitation, ownership provisions, warranty disclaimers, indemnity, and limitations of liability. [**20) Notices; Consent to Receive Notices Electronically and to Transact Electronically**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#notices) You consent to receive any agreements, notices, disclosures and other communications (collectively, **“Notices”**) to which this Agreement refers electronically, including without limitation by email or by posting Notices on the Sites. You agree that all Notices that we provide to you electronically satisfy any legal requirement that such communications be in writing. Unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, all Notices under this Agreement will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when received, if personally delivered or sent by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; when receipt is electronically confirmed, if transmitted by facsimile or email; or the day it is shown as delivered by the overnight delivery service’s tracking information, if sent for next day delivery by a recognized overnight delivery service. By using the UnVale Site, you agree to transact electronically through the UnVale Site. You also agree to the following: (i) your electronic signature is the legal equivalent of your manual signature and has the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a paper-based signature; (ii) your use of a keypad, mouse or other device to select an item, button, icon or similar act/action, constitutes your signature as if actually signed by you in writing; and (iii) no certification authority or other third party verification is necessary to validate your electronic signature, and the lack of such certification or third party verification will not in any way affect the enforceability of your electronic signature. **21) PAID SERVICE TERMS** If you access any feature or aspect of the Site that involve the payment of a fee, you are accessing a “**Paid Service**” and the terms of this Section apply to you. To the extent that you sign up for and/or use a Paid Service, your use of the Paid Services and any corresponding transactions are subject to this Section in addition to all other applicable sections of the Terms of Service. SECTIONS 13-15 OF THESE TERMS OF SERVICE, ABOVE, SPECIFIES HOW USERS AND UNVALE RESOLVE DISPUTES AND CONTAINS AN ARBITRATION AGREEMENT APPLICABLE TO U.S. AND CANADIAN USERS. THIS ARBITRATION AGREEMENT, WITH LIMITED EXCEPTION, REQUIRES YOU TO SUBMIT DISPUTES AND CLAIMS YOU HAVE AGAINST UNVALE TO BINDING AND FINAL ARBITRATION RATHER THAN IN COURT AND ON AN INDIVIDUAL (NON-COLLECTIVE) BASIS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY AS IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING, IF APPLICABLE, YOUR RIGHT TO OPT OUT OF ARBITRATION AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR DOING SO. By using or accessing a Paid Service(s) from us, submitting payment thereunder and/or clicking on a button to make a purchase, you agree to be bound by the Terms. If you do not understand the Terms, or do not accept any part of them, then you may not use or access any Paid Services. If you are accepting these Paid Services or using the Paid Services on behalf of a company, organization, government, or other legal entity, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to do so and have the authority to bind such entity to this Section 21. To purchase and use a Paid Service you must: (i) be at least 18 years old or the age of majority as determined by the laws of the jurisdiction in which you live or (ii) have the express consent of your parent or guardian to purchase and use that Paid Service. If you are a parent or legal guardian and you allow your child (or a child that you are a guardian of) to purchase or use a Paid Service, you agree that the Terms apply to you, that you will abide by the Terms, and that you are responsible for the child’s activity on the Paid Services and for ensuring that the child also abides by all the Terms of Service. [**22) Contacting Us**](https://unvale.io/terms-of-service?ref=blog.unvale.io#contacting-us) For questions regarding these Terms of Service or about the Site, please contact us at [support@unvale.io](mailto:%20support@unvale.io). ### Changelog: OC Trading and Redesigned OC Pages URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-oc-trading-and-redesigned-oc-pages/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:13:12.000Z Today marks a new chapter for [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as we finally release our highly requested OC transferring feature on the platform! We are also releasing our newly-designed OC pages, which will pave the way for some exciting additions further down the road. Read on for more information! - **OC Trading** \- You can now go to an OC page of any character you own and choose to transfer them to another UnVale user using the "Manage" button in the top-right of the page. The entire OC page will be transferred to the new user, allowing them to add additional art, adjust the description, and more! If you want to use an off-site payment tool for selling characters, that's OK with us! We do plan to release on-site payments and OC ownership history in the future. - **New Transfer Page** \- To help you keep track of all your new OC transfers, we've added a shiny new Transfer page to your UnVale profile! Here, you can see all the OCs you've ever traded, how long an ongoing trade has been open, and you even have the ability to cancel trades you've initiated that haven't yet been accepted. This is also where you'll go to accept incoming transfer requests! - **Redesigned OC Pages** \- To accommodate trading and pave the way for many of our upcoming features, we've redesigned our OC pages! The page is now much more spacious and colorful, which is really going to come in handy with some of the cool stuff we have planned for the future... - We've fixed a small bug that prevented users from opening a page in a new tab when right-clicking page numbers at the bottom of the Explore page. You can check out this release now at [https://unvale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io). If you have feedback or questions on this release, we'd love to have you in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Changelog: Bug Fixes for Signup and Moderation URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-bug-fixes-for-signup-and-moderation/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:59:26.000Z We've just hit over 4,000 site members, which means more folks are finding bugs on the site! This small release addresses a few of the issues users have spotted in the last week. Read on for more! - **Correct error message for unfit password**: When trying to choose a password for the site that doesn't meet our requirements, you'll now receive a correct error message informing you of what needs to change. Sorry for that confusion! - **Account archiving**: Our development team has corrected an issue that prevented our moderation team from properly archiving certain accounts on the site. - **Better site monitoring**: We've added more monitoring to the site to better understand the error messages people are receiving, how often they're seeing them, and what we need to fix. You won't notice any of these changes! If you have any questions about this release, please reach out to us on [Discord](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! ### Changelog: Unlisted OCs and Email Notifications URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-email-notifications-and-un/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:59:15.000Z We want to make sure you're fully aware of all the love your OCs are getting, so we're bringing in email notifications for favoriting. On top of that, we've got a new moderation tool that's also going to come in handy for folks looking for a bit of discretion! Read on to learn more. - **Unlisted OCs**: We created a tool for our moderation team that will allow them to hide OCs! If your OC is unlisted by our team, you will still be able to view them on your profile. However, other users will not be able to see them on your profile, the OC will not appear in search results, and the OC will not appear on the Explore or Random page. Other users will still be able to access the OC via direct link. While this tool is primarily for moderation, you're free to take advantage of it, too! If you'd like one of your OCs to be unlisted, please [submit a support ticket](https://unvale.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ref=blog.unvale.io) with our moderation team. You can tell if an OC of yours is unlisted by logging out and seeing if the character appears on your profile. - **Email Notifications**: We want to make sure you're kept up-to-date on all the cool stuff happening on UnVale, especially when it comes to your OCs. We are doing some work on our email notifications, and we're starting with favoriting. From here on out, you'll receive an email when one of your OCs receives a little sparkle! *Note: We won't spam you, so we've limited how many emails you'll receive at once. Just in case you have a really big fan.* That's all for now! If you'd like more information on this release, or if you have feedback, please head over to [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io)! We'd love to chat with you. ### Changelog: New Random Discovery Page URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-new-random-discovery-page/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:58:48.000Z At UnVale, we want up-and-coming artists to receive as much visibility and chances to succeed as established creators. That's why we've created a Random Discovery page as a new way to discover OCs! - Visit the [Explore page](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) on UnVale and click the "Random" button to be taken to our [Random Discovery page](https://unvale.io/random?ref=blog.unvale.io). - The Random Discovery page contains eight magical cards. Upon selecting a card, a random OC from the site will be revealed. - You can reveal all OCs at once by clicking the "Reveal All" button. - You can reset the cards and get a new set of eight random OCs by clicking the "Shuffle" button. - This page is totally random! New OCs will get as much visibility as an OC with a hundred favorites. To learn more about UnVale's team, our values, and why we prioritize features like this, check out [our About page](https://unvale.io/about?ref=blog.unvale.io). To give feedback on this feature or talk to the UnVale team directly, please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! ### Changelog: Search Improvements, Suggested Tags, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-search-improvements-and-suggested-tags/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:58:37.000Z Hello, everyone! We're bringing you more ways to explore OCs on UnVale, in addition to some convenient fixes for image browsing for both our users and moderation team. Read on for more info! - When clicking the search bar on UnVale, you'll now see instructions for how to best utilize our search feature. Try it out by searching for an OC that fits multiple tags! - In our search bar and on our [Explore page](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io), you'll now see suggested tags. These will help you discover new OCs that fit a genre or art style you may be interested in. Check them out or search for your own tag! - When viewing character images on an OC page, you can now use on-screen arrows or your keyboard arrows to navigate back and forth through images. No more having to exit out of every image individually. Check it out on [Mystia's beautiful OC page](https://unvale.io/character/87cd5edb-ffdd-463f-a8df-e7d2dcf4322a?ref=blog.unvale.io) that has 18 character images! - We made a slight improvement to our moderation tools that make it easier for our team to ensure UnVale content fits our community guidelines. Woo! That's all for now! If you have feedback on this release, please head on over to the [UnVale Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We'd love to hear from you! ### Changelog: Hashtag and character searching, improved look, and Shop search URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-hashtag-and-character-searching-improved-look-and-shop-search/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:58:10.000Z We have an exciting new release! You can now search and explore characters using hashtags and character names, including clicking on a character page hashtag. We also cleaned up the look of navigation, relocated website features for clarity, and made shop page search much more beautiful. Read on to see what's new! - Characters pages now display tags to look like hashtags for clarity - Users can now **explore characters by clicking the hashtags on a profile** and search character names on Explore! Discovering and exploring UnVale for amazing OCs and their creators is now much easier. - Shop page search (now located under "shops" instead of "artists") has a **beautiful new look!** Soon commission searching will be that much more enjoyable. - We moved the favorite and share buttons to the top of a profile so they don't get lost on a character page below the fold. - We changed the top nav bar to include only the features folks can use now: "Explore" and our newly designed "Shops." - Other minor fixes to search so it now behaves as expected, even when searching for character names. We included a null results page as well. That's all for now! Head to [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to check out this update, and, as always, please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) to give feedback, ask questions, or share concerns with our team. Thanks! ### Changelog: Profile Improvements and Bug Fixes URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-profile-improvements-and-bug-fixes/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:54:58.000Z In this small release, we're saving you a few clicks, adding some more organization to your OCs, and addressing a pesky bug. Read on to see what's new! - There is now an **"Add Character" button** when viewing your profile out of edit mode. This change was in response to user feedback that they wanted a quicker way to add more OCs to UnVale! - You can make sure your favorite OCs are always displayed first on your profile with **a new "Send to front" option**! Simply enter edit mode from your profile, click the three dots on your character preview, and select "Send to front." - If you don't include an image title or tags on a character image, the text will no longer display "Untitled" or "No tags" on the preview. How streamlined! - Our favorite designer caught some issues happening in Safari that have now been addressed, including some design elements being hidden and character images being hidden in our "Featured OC" section. That's all for now! Head to [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to check out this update, and, as always, please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) to give feedback, ask questions, or share concerns with our team. Thanks! ### Changelog: New Featured OCs, About Page, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-new-featured-ocs-about-page/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:57:43.000Z It's been less than a month since our new OC functionality launched, and we've seen hundreds of new characters and OC creators on the platform. With all these new faces, we decided it was about time to reintroduce ourselves with [a new About page](https://unvale.io/about?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Read on to learn about everything included in this release. - We've redesigned our [About page](https://artist-dev.unvale.io/about?ref=blog.unvale.io) on UnVale, which now includes our platform's story, information about our culture, our values, and our team. Take a peek if you're curious about the creators behind our platform! - We've added new Featured OCs to [our homepage](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io)! These OCs were winners in an OC creation contest that took place on our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) the first week after our new site was released. Congrats to the new featured creators! - We made sure Featured OCs on our homepage were displaying the correct number of Favorites. - Character pages will now properly display more than 12 character images. Images will load as you scroll down the page. - We've adjusted the textbox so that it no longer covers up what you're typing! - Clicking on a profile picture from the [Explore page](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) will now drop you directly on a user's profile. - Character images now appear "clickable" on a character page thanks to the appropriate cursor appearing on hover. - Our Discord social media field should now work correctly. As always, please join [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) for feedback about this release. We take community feedback very seriously, and we appreciate hearing your thoughts! ### Changelog: Favorites Improvements URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-favorites-improvements/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:57:31.000Z Earlier this week, [we released the ability to Favorite OCs](https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-gift-ocs-some-sparkle-with-favorites/) on UnVale, allowing both you and other creators to be celebrated on the platform. Now, we're making some improvements to what we've released, and we're taking user feedback into consideration every step of the way. Read on to see what's changed. - You can now see your favorited OCs in the new "Favorites" tab on your profile page! This is a great way to keep track of the characters you love on the platform. - Users that aren't logged in will now be prompted to do so when attempting to favorite an OC. - Unrelated to favorites, you now no longer need to include an image title when uploading OC images. This change is based on user feedback we've received this month. Head to [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) right now to check out your own Favorites tab, and be sure to give us feedback in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### Changelog: Gift OCs Some Sparkle with Favorites URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-gift-ocs-some-sparkle-with-favorites/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:57:18.000Z Being an OC creator is more than designing and sharing amazing characters. It's also about connecting with other creators, celebrating their talents, and lifting up those around you. The team at UnVale is excited to share a new way you can gift a little sparkle to your favorite OCs from other creators: favorites! - You can now "favorite" any character (other than your own) by clicking the four-pointed star on a character's page, a character's preview on the Explore page, or even a character's preview from a creator's profile - Right now, this feature is just a cool way to give some recognition and appreciation to other OC creators (or receive some cool sparkle yourself) - We are working on a way to display your favorite OCs on your user profile– stay tuned! Head to [UnVale's Explore page](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) right now to spread a bit of sparkle to other OC creators. To ask questions or give feedback on this release, please visit[ our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### Changelog: Blocking AI Bots and Fixing Bugs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-blocking-ai-and-bug-fixes/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:57:08.000Z UnVale has openly committed to being Anti-AI Art, and we've recently made some changes to our site to uphold that promise. We've also addressed some bugs reported by users in the recent weeks. Read on to see what's changed! - **ChatGPT blocked from UnVale**: [ChatGPT-User](https://platform.openai.com/docs/plugins/bot?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a plugin used by ChatGPT that takes direct actions on behalf of ChatGPT users. As of this release, ChatGPT-User can no longer access UnVale. - **Common Crawl blocked from UnVale**: [Common Crawl](https://commoncrawl.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is an open repository of web crawl data that was used to help train GPT-3\. As of this release, Common Crawl can no longer crawl UnVale. - Artist credit properly appears on character images - You can now credit off-site artists on character images - The "Back" button on character pages now functions properly - Social sharing should now look better when sharing the UnVale home page To discuss this release or ask our team questions about the platform, please join [UnVale's Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### Changelog: Bug squashing URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-bug-squashing/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:56:56.000Z With so many new OC creators on the site, we've been identifying and fixing tons of bugs! Check out the list of bug fixes below, and–if you know of a bug that hasn't been addressed yet– please share it on [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). - Featured OCs on the home page will now display the correct amount of images - Sorting functionality with OCs on a profile will now work properly - If you have more than 10 OCs, they will now all show up on your profile - Images that have been archived will now no longer display on the Explore page - We've updated the language of our International Artist FAQ to make it more clear that our OC features are available to everyone - Character descriptions now maintain their formatting, no matter if they're expanded or not - You can now properly credit off-site OC creators *(note: we are still working on a fix for properly crediting off-site artists on individual art pieces)* Hats off to our development team for another awesome release! Stay tuned, as we're working on an exciting new feature that we think will be a sure *favorite* with our community. ### Changelog: A New Way to Explore OCs URL: https://blog.unvale.io/changelog-a-new-way-to-explore-ocs/ Last updated: 2026-06-30T18:56:44.000Z We know it's been less than week since we shared our new OC features with you, but we have even MORE to talk about! Thank you to everyone that has sent feedback, reported bugs, and shared their UnVale profiles so far. Here's what new on the platform: - ****Explore characters!** Check out [https://unvale.io/explore](https://unvale.io/explore?ref=blog.unvale.io) to browse some of the recent OCs that have been added to the site! After you add a new OC, you'll be able to see them included here. Discover new creators and gain a little bit of character inspiration by reading awesome backstories and perusing new art. - ****Improved social sharing!** Social media sites will now correctly preview UnVale links you share, so you can properly entice your followers to visit your OC page with image previews and a snippet of the character description. Give it a try by sharing your UnVale links with the world! - ****Expanded character description limit!** After user feedback, we've slightly expanded the maximum length of character descriptions to 2,000 characters. Now you'll have extra room to share likes, dislikes, personality traits, and more. - ****A variety of other improvements and bug fixes!** When you don't include an OC creator on an OC page, that field will now be hidden. Links to artist profiles on the "Artists" page will now go directly to the shop tab. After creating a character, you'll now land on the correct URL so you can immediately share your OC with others. That's all for now! As always, your feedback is SUPER valuable to us right now, so please don't hesitate to share your thoughts in [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). Special thanks to our development team for absolutely CRUSHING this release! We have more cool stuff on the way, so stay tuned! ### Changelog: New OC Features are Here URL: https://blog.unvale.io/big-unvale-changes-new-oc-features-are-here/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T20:13:24.000Z Have you been waiting on a website to create, manage, and share your original characters? [The new Home for your OCs is finally live!](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) This reimagining of the UnVale platform includes the following new features: - New user profiles with plenty of space to express yourself (banner, featured images, expanded about section) - Easy-to-use character pages for sharing your OCs, from their backstories to all their amazing art - Redesigned shops for OC artists looking to take commissions (*note: you can currently set up your shop, but we'll be keeping them all closed for now while we allow everyone to set up their new profiles; don't worry, they'll be back!*) I know this release has been a long time coming. If you have any feedback or questions about these new features, please share them in our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io). We care deeply about your perspective, and we want to get this release right! Let us know your thoughts! Want some examples of cool character pages before diving in? Check out these characters from our community: - [Doughnut](https://unvale.io/character/39b74368-1f39-4b53-a87f-ed3f1ccea7b9?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Nellie Cytheria](https://unvale.io/character/98231888-7cf4-4227-bc92-b73f6e620da2?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Kayden (Robert) Dean](https://unvale.io/character/62d711fa-5fdc-41cc-b9f3-0596b8a42e97?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Bride Zero](https://unvale.io/character/e1367b66-bfa7-46f5-afbb-2e00ba29abaf?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Iliana Langit](https://unvale.io/character/63210e5d-e0bd-4f47-9220-ecf3e014ba38?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Etti](https://unvale.io/character/4db78f2b-bd66-46a4-b786-3bc62a59c9da?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Vertigo](https://unvale.io/character/e0d0299e-683e-4402-8c63-a5bde6edea04?ref=blog.unvale.io) - [Toil](https://unvale.io/character/fe875657-4107-4b89-a667-14e9b7a75660?ref=blog.unvale.io) Now, go ahead and head over to [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to create your first character! We're excited for your feedback! ### How to Protect Your Art From AI Scraping URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-protect-your-art-from-ai-scraping/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:54:20.000Z At UnVale, we are proudly and loudly anti-AI art, but were always looking for more ways to help artists protect their work. [![A blue and purple button with the word "Glaze" in big letters. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/03/glaze-logo256.png)](https://glaze.cs.uchicago.edu/?ref=blog.unvale.io) Free AI protection tool, Glaze! We recently came across a tool called **Glaze**, created by University of Chicago computer science PhD students and professors. **Glaze** adds small changes, imperceptible to the average viewer, that tricks AI processing into thinking your art is a radically different style, preventing scraping and replication. From the Glaze website: > **“**We are not motivated by profit or any political agenda, and our only goal is to explore how ethical security techniques can be utilized to develop practical solutions and (hopefully) help real users." --- ![The image features various steps, with the first step showing an artist's original artwork without Glaze. The next step sends the artwork through Glaze, with the output being a "cloaked" piece of art that is identical to the original art depicted in the first step. The next step shows AI attempting to mimic the cloaked art, which results in an output of odd colors, shapes, and distortions. ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/03/Glaze-image.png) Your artwork will appear as a completely different style to AI scraping. AIs that are “trained” with an image that's been cloaked with Glaze will not be able to recreate your work, hopefully shielding artists from folks being able to “do it in *your* style” using tools like Stable Diffusion and Midjourney. This is a big step forward towards protecting artists from copyright infringement and art theft using ethically–and publicly funded–technological tools. - [Download Glaze here](https://glaze.cs.uchicago.edu/download.html?ref=blog.unvale.io), which can be used with Mac or Windows - Read their [research paper](https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.04222?ref=blog.unvale.io) for more info - Or [Get in touch](mailto:glaze-uchicago@googlegroups.com) with them and tell them how much you appreciate their work ![Niall, an anthro wolfhound from space, stands grimacing across from Aerora, a celestial being with three eyes, purple hair, and the ability to float above the ground. Between them are swirls of air, as if Niall is attempting to blow Aerora away.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/03/niall-and-aerora_honaki.png) Join our Discord to stay in the loop! While these AI companies continue to [battle in the courts](https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/16/23557098/generative-ai-art-copyright-legal-lawsuit-stable-diffusion-midjourney-deviantart?ref=blog.unvale.io) to see if their art theft is legal, we can continue to use the available tools to try and protect ourselves moving forward. Additionally, using watermarks for public, full res images is a successful measure to protect against AI scraping. Please let us know in our [Discord](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) if this is a feature you would love to have on UnVale. We will keep posting resources that protect artists and creators. Be sure to follow us on social to be kept in the loop! Much love, Casey Cofounder of UnVale ### Drawing Textures Made Simple: Water and Beyond URL: https://blog.unvale.io/hack-your-brain-draw-water-and-other-textures-easily-with-these-steps/ Last updated: 2026-08-03T23:47:59.000Z One great part of experiencing art is finding out the process behind doing something and learning how to do it yourself! Making backgrounds can be super scary so I created this tutorial for drawing and painting water. The steps of this process can be easily repeated to create backgrounds with different colors and patterns in the future. --- ### First Steps We begin with the first steps of creating our piece: laying down the base color. We then move on to the initial shading to plan the rest of the work. If you want to look at a reference photo for further inspiration, this is a great time to do so. You can use sites like [Pixabay](https://pixabay.com/images/search/ocean/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to find royalty-free images for studying. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/water-slide--.png) TUTORIAL PAGE ONE, [HONAKI](https://twitter.com/honakino?ref=blog.unvale.io) 1. Select a **base color** for your water (in this case, blue) 2. Create a **solid shape** (We used the rectangle fill tool) 3. Create a **new layer** (CTRL + SHIFT + N) 4. Select '**clipping mask**' on the top layer (On the Layer Properties in Clip Studio) 5. Using a more **saturated color**, draw some **round shapes and lines** 6. You can use the **airbrush tool** to fill in sections of shadow. --- ### Next Steps Once you have your basic shadows, it's time to move onto shading and highlights. This section is where your drawing will really start to come alive. If this was the sea floor, what would be causing the light to move and reflect like that? The dark and light colors work together to tell that story. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/image-20.png) WATER PAGE TWO [HONAKI](https://twitter.com/honakino?ref=blog.unvale.io) 7\. Pick a **lighter color** than your base (we went with light yellow) 8\. Pick a **darker color** than your shading (we went with a dark purple) 9\. Create the **shadow of the 'waves**' by using the darker color to shade ovals and grooves (can use a ref photo) 10\. Usethe **lighter color** for the reflection of the waves and lighting 11\. Using the **light yellow or off-white**, draw light reflections around and through your circles 12\. Using the **darkest color**, darken the outlines of your shadows --- Final Steps Now we are on to the final touch-ups before our background is finished! In order to soften the colors we use a blur tool to blend them on the same layer. Next, we can decide if we want to add additional highlights to make things pop. I like to use add glow, but you can also adjust your tone settings or add extra layer effects as you wish. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/water-tutorial-page-two.png) 13\. Use a **'blur' tool** to blend the colors and create depth in your illustration (optional step) create an **'add glow' layer** and draw across the picture with highlights to polish --- ### And here is our finished background! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/bakground-blue.png) Finished water piece, honaki ### YOU CAN THEN USE THE BACKGROUND YOU CREATED FOR YOUR OWN PROJECTS AS WELL! IT COULD BE USED FOR: - STREAM OVERLAYS - OC ARTWORK - VISUAL NOVELS - ILLUSTRATION BACKGROUNDS - TINY POOLS OR OTHER BODIES OF WATER - anything you imagine! --- This tutorial on drawing water texture was partly inspired by this post from artist [JarofRubies](https://twitter.com/JarofRubiesArt?ref=blog.unvale.io). In the following tutorial, Zenith uses similar techniques to create a holographic effect. This tutorial is really simple and easy to follow with well written instructions. The techniques Zenith uses are very similar to the ones used for the water picture, and by trying out both tutorials you can begin to apply these skills to other types of patterns and effects. > 🌈 Simple Holographic Effect Tutorial 🌈 > > Iridescence is very hard to get right, but luckily, you don't need a tablet to do this and can just use a mouse on whatever art program you have! > > Likes/RTs appreciated! Let me know if this tutorial helped you! > > 🔻 Text tutorial below 🔻 [pic.twitter.com/MtYRbOMCZI](https://t.co/MtYRbOMCZI?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Zenith ぜんちゃん 🦋🌸 pokemon brainrot (@JarofRubiesArt) [January 9, 2023](https://twitter.com/JarofRubiesArt/status/1612368443357134854?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Did you have fun trying out our tutorial? Have you thought of a different pattern you could make by following this process? If so, feel free to reach out to us at [UnVale](https://twitter.com/unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io) on our Twitter and let us know! --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### VRoid Tutorials to Level Up Your Model URL: https://blog.unvale.io/become-a-vroid-master-with-these-fab-tutorials/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:53:42.000Z Anyone can use VRoid to follow their vtubing dreams! Level up your skills in the free modeling program [VRoid Studio](https://vroid.com/en/studio?ref=blog.unvale.io) to create your own free 3D avatar! --- **VRoid Studio** is a free program that allows anyone to easily create a 3D model! Here is a featured video below from the team at [VRoid Project](https://youtu.be/2gfEpSW-pvw?ref=blog.unvale.io) which features some models from the program in action. This software is fun to use and pretty easy to learn as long as you follow along with tutorials. You can start with a basic model and continue to customize it from there. There are even places where you can download resources created by other artists for use with your model, like the popular Japanese site [BOOTH](https://www.google.com/search?q=booth&rlz=1C1FHFK%5FenUS979US979&oq=booth&aqs=chrome..69i57j46i131i199i433i465j46i199i465i512j46i131i199i433i465j46i131i433j0i512j46i131i433j0i131i433j0i131i433i512j0i271.1901j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&ref=blog.unvale.io). To get an idea of what you can learn to create in VRoid with enough practice you should watch this process demonstration by [39studio](https://www.youtube.com/@sakurai39?ref=blog.unvale.io). This video shows the process of making their character Blue Mallow in VRoid from start to finish. Wow, you mean you can create an entire hand painted and detailed model for free in VRoid if you spend time developing the skills? Yep, that's exactly the case! You can learn to create VRoid models in your own unique art style with enough practice. --- ## But How Do I Improve at Using VRoid? One of the best ways is by following along with tutorials created by other artists! Videos are a perfect example as you can listen to detailed instructions as you follow along step by step in the program. Here are some tutorials we found that were really helpful for modeling in VRoid. --- ### Getting Started Watching an overview video or tutorial series is a great place to start when learning VRoid. You can jump right in and start working on a simple model while learning all the basics. An essential resource for getting started would be this tutorial by [The Virtual Reality Show](https://www.youtube.com/@TheVirtualRealityShow?ref=blog.unvale.io). In this video the artist walks us through creating a VRoid model, and then proceeds to provide tips for adding extra levels of stylization. Following this tutorial will make it easier to create your original characters and designs as 3D models. These videos will help you learn to create models in any style you choose. It can be difficult to find resources when wanting to create a more masculine looking model. Often it is hard to find resources for more masculine styles and this tutorial featured below by BK is extremely helpful in bridging that gap. --- ## Creating Hair in VRoid We thought it would be helpful to include some advice specifically for creating hair in VRoid. Getting better at creating custom hair is a key step in mastering VRoid studio. The following tutorial features a simple guide to begin creating hair in VRoid. This video will allow you to build a solid foundation and understanding of sculpting hair in the program. The VTuber providing the tutorial, [VTanjo3D](https://www.youtube.com/@VTanjo3D?ref=blog.unvale.io), does a wonderful job of laying out their process step by step. Use this video to begin grasping some of the more difficult concepts in VRoid. Next we suggest following along with this entire in-depth series created by [The Virtual Reality Show](https://www.youtube.com/@TheVirtualRealityShow?ref=blog.unvale.io). In this series we learn the ins and outs of every tool used to create detailed hair. The artist uses demonstrations of their own work to show us what kind of hair styles can be achieved through use of the programs functions. --- ## Fine-tuning Your VRoid Model Studying to improve the shading of your assets is another aspect of using VRoid that will allow you to maximize your creativity and make uniquely stylized avatars. Learning about the specifics of [cel shading](https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-advice-anime-style-cel-shading-tutorial/) and how to do it easily in VRoid lets you embrace a slightly more simplistic style that can still lead to very detailed results. The video below by bk will break down cel shading in VRoid so that it's easier to understand. The artist provides key advice for achieving that signature cel shaded style through the use of the programs different tools. The video below by beloved vtuber Syafire goes into more detail on creating custom clothing. You can edit pre built clothes in the program and also add your own unique images as textures. Syafire has really educational videos and walks us through the entire process of creating a vtuber in many styles over on her [Youtube channel](https://www.youtube.com/@Syafire?ref=blog.unvale.io). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/image-7.png) Syafire's Banner Making hair accessories is also possible in VRoid, as we discover thanks to our framiliar friend BK. The video below shows their process for using the hair feature in VRoid to create fun accessories for their character. Using this techinque the artist is able to create things like hair pins, stickers, and even an eye patch! --- ## Using your VRoid Your VRoid model can be used for so many things! You can use it in VR, as a stream avatar, or even import it into games or programs like Blender to continue editing further. Below are some resources for when you are ready to start thinking about what to do next with your new vtuber. This video will teach you how to export your file from VRoid into a vrm file that can eventually be used in other programs like Unity and VR chat. [Bellfire Little](https://www.youtube.com/@bellfirelittle6034?ref=blog.unvale.io) does an awesome job at explaining how to do this important step in the vtubing process. The following series will move you from beginner to pro as you begin posing your model! In these videos [xCrossBite](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXxS1GJgTUFTSIiY62G6FjA?ref=blog.unvale.io) explains how to use the built in camera function as well as how to export our model from VRoid. As mentioned before you can use these exported files for all kinds of things, including exporting them to Unity or Blender! Twitter user [Suvidriel](https://twitter.com/Suvidriel?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1462499805452775424%7Ctwgr%5E155a99533c80e468fa36bfea77540ae759a08687%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F2dab4c7b-df01-4f00-b672-aa3cd0e36459%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) created a helpful tutorial linked below for doing just this. This guide will help you use the updated VRoid to get your model working in Blender and Unity as well. > Hewwo [#vtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/vtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ENVtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENVtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) 💕 Many of you have been asking how to get the new VRoid working with Blender. > > In today's tutorial I'll show an updated workflow on how to take your model from the new Stable VRoid to Blender for editing and then back to Unity.[https://t.co/RwGuIHygfz](https://t.co/RwGuIHygfz?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/DRl2h5t3RM](https://t.co/DRl2h5t3RM?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Suvidriel 🌸 VTuber Tutorial Lady (@Suvidriel) [November 21, 2021](https://twitter.com/Suvidriel/status/1462499805452775424?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Luxi and Brecoms Talk Original Characters, the Dangers of AI, and More URL: https://blog.unvale.io/interview-with-brecoms/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:52:50.000Z Take a look at some awesome snippets from Luxi's draw along Q&A session with artist Brecoms! If you like what you see, consider commissioning [Bre](https://unvale.io/brecoms?ref=blog.unvale.io) or keeping up with our [Twitch Channel ](https://www.twitch.tv/unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io)for more content like this! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/bre-coms-1.jpeg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/bre-coms.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/bre-coms-2.jpeg) Art by Brecoms on UnVale ### Q: Bre, how did you get started with making art? **A:** *So one time I got caught doodling on my homework and I didn't want to get in trouble. I realized because of this that I had started drawing! I wouldn't have considered myself an artist then (around 5th or 6th grade).* ### Q : So around 6th or 7th grade is when you first started? **A:** *That's when I started putting more effort into it.* ### Q: When did you realize you *really* want to pursue art? **A:** *one day I was running low on paper and realized...I NEED more, I need to keep on drawing. I need to draw.* --- Bre and Luxi go on to talk further about art as a process and what that journey can be like. They draw together as Bre gives Luxi tips before moving on to the next few questions. --- ### Q: How would you describe your art style? **A:** *I would say that it's definitely anime influenced just because of the fact, that, it is. I mainly picked up a lot of different stuff from seeing* [*Jojo's Bizzarre Adventure*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JoJo%27s%5FBizarre%5FAdventure?ref=blog.unvale.io) *and things like that; also, if you've ever heard of an artist on Youtube called* [*Neytirix*](https://www.deviantart.com/neytirix?ref=blog.unvale.io)*, I've been obsessed with her work for years!* ### Q: What drawing program do you use and how did you get started using it? **A:** *Procreate. A year after I started my first job I decided to get an iPad because I heard many good things about it.* ### Q: How did you get started {making} original characters? **A:** *It started with me thinking things like 'oh that hair looks cool, I think I can attach it to a cool character.' I know growing up for a few months I had just kept pumping out OCs for a long time and after a while I realized it was a lot of work...* ### Q: How many OCs do you think you have? **A:** *I would say at least three. I don't know exactly which three, but I know it's three.* ### Q: What do you mean by which three? **A:** *I pumped out a lot of characters growing up...but then they got lost. Nine times out of ten (these ideas) are written into a particular sketchbook and that gets lost.* --- Bre coms continues on to tell Luxi that there is one OC in particular that has always stuck with them; their red-haired character named Tanner. --- ### Q: What makes your OC Tanner your favorite? A: *It's that he's always been there. He's chilling in the back of my mind every time I'm looking for a character like "hey, don't forget me!"* ### Q: What are some struggles that you (or your community) have faced when it comes to your art content? A: *I think something that's gotten on my nerves recently is AI Art. I believe that there is a such thing as healthy competition in terms of selling art. When people come to me for commissions and they say they can find it cheaper else where I'm like 'they can't do what I do, but if they do something that makes you happy then more power to you.' But the people that have bought art from me know that I spend a lot of time making sure that I get every detail right; everything to fit the specs of what the customer wants every single time. So the fact that (an AI) can punch in my name and steal my work and art style basically bar for bar, that's unfortunate. Frankly that's not something I would wish on any other artist.* --- Bre's nuanced take particularly resonates with us at UnVale as we are firmly against AI art and how it effects artists. Luxi and Bri continue to chat and draw together, learning how to draw things like swords and eyes. Bre also spoke a bit about the state of art today when referencing problems they face with their community. --- ### Here's some more of what Bre had to say on stream: > > "*Something I see in my daily life at this point: lot of people treat art in one of two ways: it is either completely dismissed and seen as a sort of frivolous thing, or you see a lot of artists working and being basically sweatshop adjacent so they can keep people entertained and make a living anyway.* > *I get that art in itself is a very volatile thing, different levels, different styles and skills, everything; but it's still a craft nonetheless and I feel there should be at least a little bit more respect behind it.*" > "art is a process, you've got to trust the process" -brecoms --- We really appreciate that Bri was able to take the time to draw with Luxi and share their story. If you want to follow more of Luxi's adventures definitely check out our Twitch Channel! She regularly hosts draw-alongs, interviews, and a ton of other fun content. For the full interview with Bre, check out this video on our [Youtube!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyWTTmS9sqs&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### 10 Free Brushes for Clip Studio Paint URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-free-brushes-for-clip-studio-paint/ Last updated: 2026-08-06T19:44:25.000Z Try out these awesome free brushes for [Clip Studio Paint](https://www.clipstudio.net/en/?gclid=Cj0KCQiA%5FP6dBhD1ARIsAAGI7HD6-wKj3AFHzClivUISqnN7SbxEa6cu%5FqrR9zO9ixXcoi3YsCN2BAIaAsmcEALw%5FwcB&ref=blog.unvale.io)! Whether you are looking for an essential set of inking brushes or helpful tools for drawing fur this list is the place for you. With these brushes you can experiment with new art styles and continue to take your skills to new heights. ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) --- - [**BASIC BRUSH PACK**](https://lonelyshootingstar.gumroad.com/l/ymroc?%5Fgl=1%2A9j1niv%2A%5Fga%2AMjAxNjU5MjE4LjE2NDQwODIwNTM.%2A%5Fga%5F6LJN6D94N6%2AMTY3Mjg2NjMwMy4xMy4xLjE2NzI4NjY3MzkuMC4wLjA&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Lonelyshootingstar](https://lonelyshootingstar.gumroad.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- this brush pack is the perfect set for anyone just starting out in Clip Studio Paint. This essential set provides all the tools needed for easy sketching and bold line art. There is also another brush included specifically for detail work. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/lonely.png) Basic Brush Pack, Lonelyshootingstar --- - [**Wiggle brush**](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1921094&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [spriggiestuff](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/21q2uca85-0s?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This wiggly brush adds some extra character to each line drawn. This could be used for anything from animations to comics. When you feel like being a little silly or adding a softer touch to your work consider giving this brush a try! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/wiggle.png) Wiggle Brush, spriggiestuff --- - [Mameo Pen (Mameoペン)](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1710580&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Mameo](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1710580&ref=blog.unvale.io#author) \- a rough ink pen perfect for drawing line art and making manga illustrations. This brush has a nice sense of weight to it that allows for more expressive strokes. This brush can also be great for sketching out ideas. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/mameo.png) Mameo Pen, Mameo --- - [Natural Hair Mini Pack](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1975567&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Zoruhatuum](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1975567&ref=blog.unvale.io#author) \- For artists looking to draw natural hair types this mini pack is a great resource. There are three variations of natural hair brushes in this set. We recommend trying it out and, if you feel so inclined, trying to create a natural hair brush of your own! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/natural-hair-mini.PNG) Natural Hair Mini Pack, Zoruhatuum --- - [Curly Hair Pen](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1791872&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [number11train](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/465mmxo-0s?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Another tool created for drawing hair easily is this curly hair pen. This brush allows you to draw natural looking curly hair in just a few motions. You can then add a layer border to your ink layer to create simple line art. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/curly-hair-exx.png) Curly Hair Pen - Number11train --- - [Juwa/Zara Watercolor Brush Set](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1724250&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [27pt](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/3akwnmm-0c?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This brush set contains two stunning watercolor brushes. You can use these brushes to digitally replicate the look and feel of traditional water color art. Each brush has a different look to it so definitely try them both out and see what you think! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/juwa-zara.PNG) Juwa / Zara Watercolor Brush - 27pt --- - [Fur Brush Set (ファーブラシセット)](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1732775&ref=blog.unvale.io) \- by [gumama ](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/iypnhio-4w?ref=blog.unvale.io)\- A brush pack like this is so helpful for artists wanting to draw fur and fluff. Some potential uses for this brush include drawing animal fur and creating furry trim on clothing. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/fur-brush-set.png) Fur Brush Set, gumama --- - [Kalany's Minoan terracotta brushes](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1975970&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Kalany](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/1lp0c9z3b-wo?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Patterns are often easier to do if you use specific brushes for them. This brush by Kalany is really unique because it is based on "the decorations on a Middle Minoan (1900–1600 BCE) terracotta pot from the Met Museum collection." You could possibly use this brush to create your own pottery and clothing designs. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/terracotta-2-1.jpg) --- - [Wisteria Pack (wisteria) (藤の花(등나무꽃))](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1730816&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [RMMM](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/2jgoxzn-kc?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- There are many wonderful brushes available for drawing foliage and flowers like this one from RMMM. This brush lets you create detailed and beautiful wisteria plants with ease. You could use this brush to create fantastical garden scenes and detailed backgrounds. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/wistera.png) --- 10.) [Northern Lights Brush Pack](https://tamberella.gumroad.com/l/XMFZS?ref=blog.unvale.io) by [Devin Elle Kurtz](https://www.devinellekurtz.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This gorgeous brush set is perfect for creating a Northern Lights effect in your illustrations. This pack will help you use a glowy airbrush to mimic the shining light of the auroras. Kurtz has tons of other helpful brushes available [on their profile](https://tamberella.gumroad.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) so definitely check out their work! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/northern-lights-pack.webp) Northern Lights Brush Pack- Kurtz and a bonus brush set just for fun! 1. [Symmetry Move Brush](https://assets.clip-studio.com/en-us/detail?id=1974271&ref=blog.unvale.io) by [pharan](https://profile.clip-studio.com/en-us/profile/21q2uca85-0s?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This is a fun and helpful little tool created for use with the symmetry ruler. When you draw a symmetrical drawing sometimes you want to be able to move things on both sides; this brush does just that with ease. This is useful for all kinds of symmetry rulers. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2023/01/cat-gif-pharan-1.gif) symmetry move brush - pharan --- Join UnVale THE NEW HOME FOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Looking for a new place to create, share, trade, and explore original characters? [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is free to join, and we have hundreds of OC creators joining every week. Sign-up now to grab your username! Explore UnVale ### Top 5 Anime About Art URL: https://blog.unvale.io/10-inspiring-anime-for-artists-and-art-lovers-alike/ Last updated: 2026-08-21T00:09:37.000Z Some of the best creative motivation doesn't come from a productivity hack or a new set of pens – it comes from watching someone else fall in love with making things. These 5 anime follow visual artists, designers, and musicians as they chase their dreams. Follow along for our favorite stories to inspire any creator. ## **1\.** Look Back Based on Tatsuki Fujimoto's award-winning one-shot manga, *Look Back* follows an unlikely pair, Fujino and Kyomoto, who are brought together by their shared love of drawing. As they grow from childhood rivals to creative partners, the film explores the dedication, vulnerability, and highs and lows of pursuing art – both as a hobby and a career. **Why Artists Love It:** Beautifully animated and deeply moving, *Look Back* captures the struggle of chasing recognition without losing the love of the craft. If you're in that stage of your own [character work](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/), that's exactly the mindset worth holding onto. ## **2\. Love Through a Prism** Set in early-1900s London, *Love Through a Prism* is about Lili Ichijoin, a Japanese painter who enrolls at the renowned Saint Thomas Art Academy to chase her dream of becoming a professional artist. Needing to prove herself in just six months, she competes with the academy's top student, Kit Church, to be recognized as the #1 artist at the academy. **Why Artists Love It:** This series is a love letter to traditional painting and artistic dedication. Every assignment the students take on reinforces that great art comes from observation, experimentation, and perseverance. Whichever your chosen medium may be, it's a reminder that pursuing your craft matters as much as the finished piece – the same instinct behind building out a [reference sheet](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-reference-sheet-for-your-oc/) for a character you're still figuring out. ## 3\. Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken! A small group of unlikely friends work together to create their own original anime in *Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken!* This fun, creatively inventive series has unique visual effects and character interactions that double as an accessible explainer of how animation actually gets made. **Why Artists Love It:** The show pulls back the curtain on how anime is made as the characters work through their school project together, and it successfully depicts how art can often be a team sport. It makes the process of animation feel approachable – similarly to putting a [world come together piece by piece](https://blog.unvale.io/tag/worldbuilding/) when you're building one from scratch. ## 4\. My Dress-Up Darling *My Dress-Up Darling* is about passionate fans bringing beloved and celebrated characters to life. The series follows Wakana Gojo, an aspiring Hina doll artisan, as he teams up with cosplayer Marin Kitagawa to create increasingly elaborate costumes. **Why Artists Love It:** Viewers get a behind-the-scenes look at the artistry in cosplay – sewing, prop making, makeup, photography, character design. Though it can be raunchy and silly at times, it's a reminder that every creative hobby deserves to be taken seriously, and that sharing your work with others can be just as rewarding as making it. ## 5\. The Colors Within *The Colors Within* follows three teenagers who form a band, each using the outlet to express feelings they struggle to put into words. Directed by Naoko Yamada, the film pairs its story with striking colors, lighting, and composition, so that every scene feels like a work of art in its own right. **Why Artists Love It:** While music drives the plot, the film is really about the creative process itself. It's a gentle reminder that creativity is one of the most meaningful ways we connect with ourselves and each other. ## Which Creative Anime Will Inspire You Next? Every artist finds inspiration in their own way. Some of these stories celebrate the discipline of mastering a craft, while others remind you why you fell in love with art in the first place. From sketching original characters to building fantasy worlds, these anime make the case that creativity is worth the pursuit. Feeling inspired? Put it into action! [Create your own original character](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/), [explore new worlds](https://blog.unvale.io/tag/worldbuilding/), or share your latest artwork on Unvale. Sometimes, all it takes is one good story to spark the next one. ### Year of the Rabbit: Art Showcase URL: https://blog.unvale.io/year-of-the-rabbit-art-showcase/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:52:09.000Z The [Lunar New Year](https://chinesenewyear.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) takes place on January 22nd and according to the Chinese zodiac 2023 is the year of the rabbit. This new year has already had an exciting start as many skilled artists are taking the opportunity to celebrate with rabbit themed artwork. Let's take a look at some of these beautiful creations to welcome in the new year. This wonderful rabbit stamp below by artist [madebymalin](https://twitter.com/madebymaIin?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1608647557970030592%7Ctwgr%5E62e637cd43b8a15ff946cf6f6493d7834559acd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is a bright and warm-toned shout out to the new year. The artist uses warm colors and a lineless art style to paint the rabbit and surrounding plants. This picture conveys a sense of joy and purpose as we all move forward into the year of the rabbit together. > year of the rabbit 🧡 [pic.twitter.com/0GBUvXAZ9i](https://t.co/0GBUvXAZ9i?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — malin (@madebymaIin) [December 30, 2022](https://twitter.com/madebymaIin/status/1608647557970030592?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Speaking of good tidings going into the new year, artist [foxinajacket](https://twitter.com/foxinajacket?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1609399139644706822%7Ctwgr%5E62e637cd43b8a15ff946cf6f6493d7834559acd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) has posted this gorgeous rabbit art to wish us all peace and success moving into 2023\. The artist uses symbols in their work to represent the Water Rabbit and shares more insight into the meaning of the rabbit for the new year in their tweet. > 🐇 According to Chinese calendar, New Year 2023 is a Year of a Water Rabbit. > In Chinese Astrology, the Rabbit symbolizes patience and luck, which would mean that the Year of the Rabbit 2023 may bring what we have lacked in 2022: peace and success <3 > > 🎆🎊HAPPY NEW YEAR🎊🎆 [pic.twitter.com/5DSsKxsxlB](https://t.co/5DSsKxsxlB?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🧡 Full-time Fox 🦊 (@foxinajacket) [January 1, 2023](https://twitter.com/foxinajacket/status/1609399139644706822?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Many artists are drawing rabbits for their first pieces to start the year and sharing them online. Drawing a celebratory drawing is a great way to have some fun and rabbits are a really versatile theme. The artwork below by artist [s\_slowie](https://twitter.com/s%5Fslowie?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1611092009955241985%7Ctwgr%5E62e637cd43b8a15ff946cf6f6493d7834559acd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is their first art of the year and features a super cute bunny character with lots of special balloons. The character has a joyful expression and the overall piece provides a feeling of great excitement for 2023\. > HAPPY NEW YEAR ! > first art of the year ♡ [pic.twitter.com/zEy83hMvL6](https://t.co/zEy83hMvL6?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Slowizx 💫 ⋆ ˚ Commission open !! ♡ (@s\_slowie) [January 5, 2023](https://twitter.com/s%5Fslowie/status/1611092009955241985?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Watching time-lapse videos is a helpful way to learn some new skills and understand more about your favorite artists. This video below by [katriadoodles](https://www.youtube.com/@katriadoodles?ref=blog.unvale.io) features a lovely illustration of a rabbit in winter. During the video the artist provides some thoughts on composition while breaking down their own unique process. We also have to point out the cute cardinal in the bottom left corner and the way the colors of the piece tie everything together perfectly. Drawing rabbit themed fan art is another fun way to celebrate the New Year through illustration. This post below showcases some cute rabbit fan art by [Ms. Ice Cream](https://twitter.com/Ms%5FIce%5FCream?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1610322597421400067%7Ctwgr%5E62e637cd43b8a15ff946cf6f6493d7834559acd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). The pieces feature popular rabbit characters like Oswald or My Melody hanging out with the fantastic pink blob Kirby! The artist has a really colorful artstyle that highlights the shape and personality of each character. > Kirby celebrates this year with a few rabbits...! 🐰[#RABBIT2023](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RABBIT2023?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#YearOfTheRabbit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/YearOfTheRabbit?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#MsIceCream](https://twitter.com/hashtag/MsIceCream?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/GPlTlyw0DZ](https://t.co/GPlTlyw0DZ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Ms. Ice Cream (@Ms\_Ice\_Cream) [January 3, 2023](https://twitter.com/Ms%5FIce%5FCream/status/1610322597421400067?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) The start of the New Year is the perfect time to break out some traditional art supplies and start painting. The piece below by artist [Triskelion](https://twitter.com/Triskelion7332?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1611041478847123457%7Ctwgr%5E62e637cd43b8a15ff946cf6f6493d7834559acd7%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is an inspiring work of art called Bunny's Dream. This art features surrealist shapes and pastel colors that all work together to tell a story. The artist is skilled at making simpler shapes feel extra meaningful. > Bunny's dream [#RABBIT2023](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RABBIT2023?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#BUNNYYEAR](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BUNNYYEAR?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/YhKXWEpGtp](https://t.co/YhKXWEpGtp?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Triskelion (@Triskelion7332) [January 5, 2023](https://twitter.com/Triskelion7332/status/1611041478847123457?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This cute character design by [karutanarts](https://twitter.com/karutanarts?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1609203967656861699%7Ctwgr%5E8b50197f6d1681ffb7ccbf6c051bbecd3b527ad3%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fyear-of-the-rabbit-art-showcase%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) featured below reminds us all to give bunnies a lot of love as we begin 2023\. Their character has a creative design that looks cute and has a nice balance of colors. This is the perfect time to try creating a bunny rabbit themed [character of your own](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/) for the New Year. You could also consider designing a rabbit themed outfit for one of your existing characters, or commissioning someone to do it for you! > Remember its year of the rabbit 2023 give all your bunnies kisses and love♡ [pic.twitter.com/mel4XbMAQ2](https://t.co/mel4XbMAQ2?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🐰💊IchiUshi💊Demon bunny Nurse🐰 (@ichitanarts) [December 31, 2022](https://twitter.com/ichitanarts/status/1609203967656861699?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Finally, this super cute and bouncy rabbit animation from [RickaZemira](https://twitter.com/RickaZemira?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1610537928815673346%7Ctwgr%5E0beb63f6c9491ac44b84c3c0a1bc76104d9812ef%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F1a985768-5710-4e24-af2f-5627f6de8090%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) will leave you jumping for joy. This animation was made in [Krita](https://krita.org/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io), a free digital painting program, and the artist did a fantastic job at using the tools and colors to make the illustration come alive. This is such a great way to start out the year. > It's the year of the rabbit soooo have this cute bouncy bunbun > > I've been practicing bouncing animations like days[#YearOfTheRabbit](https://twitter.com/hashtag/YearOfTheRabbit?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#yearoftherabbit2023](https://twitter.com/hashtag/yearoftherabbit2023?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#digitalanimation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/digitalanimation?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#digitalart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/digitalart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#2danimation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/2danimation?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Krita](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Krita?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Animations](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Animations?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#animation2d](https://twitter.com/hashtag/animation2d?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artistsontwitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artistsontwitter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#RABBIT2023](https://twitter.com/hashtag/RABBIT2023?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/ZlbIKkMDTY](https://t.co/ZlbIKkMDTY?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🕊️💙\~Ricka Zemira\~💙🕊️ (@RickaZemira) [January 4, 2023](https://twitter.com/RickaZemira/status/1610537928815673346?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Colorful Art Showcase URL: https://blog.unvale.io/colorful-art-showcase/ Last updated: 2026-08-05T22:50:38.000Z Skilled artists use their knowledge of color to create unique and impactful artwork. Creating colorful art is a [skill you can develop](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/) by following tutorials and observing your favorite artists. Let's showcase some recent colorful art from awesome artists to learn more about using color effectively in your work. This wonderful video posted below by artist [Xelafina](https://twitter.com/Xelafina?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1601804707009552384%7Ctwgr%5Ec18ddc6a1448206cab425e04630f59737994535a%7Ctwcon%5Es2%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) features a time-lapse of the painting process for a colorful [music video](https://soundcloud.com/xelafina/palette-cover?ref=blog.unvale.io) illustration. This video shows some of the techniques Xelafina used to achieve the colorful background and blend that with the vivid style used in the character artwork. Watching this will show how strong color choices can add emotion and feeling to an illustration. > PALETTE Cover Illust/MV TIMELAPSE 🎨🌈✨[#xelatelier](https://twitter.com/hashtag/xelatelier?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#vtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/vtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#envtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/envtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#phvtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/phvtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VTuberUprising](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VTuberUprising?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/MnoKDPM3Wn](https://t.co/MnoKDPM3Wn?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — XELA 🦋 ｢ PALETTE COVER OUT NOW! 」✦ COSMATSU (@Xelafina) [December 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/Xelafina/status/1601804707009552384?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Next we have this excerpt of a comic created by [turndecassette](https://twitter.com/turndecassette?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1598728340747087872%7Ctwgr%5Ec18ddc6a1448206cab425e04630f59737994535a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). The post featured below highlights the artist's skillful use of a green, blue, and yellow color palette to convey the setting and tone of the story. The artist provides a satisfying contrast of color in each panel that creates an immersive visual effect. The plants depicted feature intricate line work and powerful color choices. > new chapter is up, mostly done, readable [pic.twitter.com/DxAzC5isNx](https://t.co/DxAzC5isNx?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Linnea Sterte (@turndecassette) [December 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/turndecassette/status/1598728340747087872?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io)  Color can be used in so many ways to tell a story. This set of colorful illustrations by [andthegrunlings](https://twitter.com/andthegrunlings?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1600139875637829632%7Ctwgr%5Ec18ddc6a1448206cab425e04630f59737994535a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) highlights their unique view of the world as a #humanartist in a way that is truly enchanting. These fantastic character designs feel alive as they explore the colorful worlds depicted. Each layer of color adds a sense of depth to the habitats shown. > [#HumanArtists](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HumanArtists?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) our artistic journey and view on this colorful world is meaningful and can not be replaced by [#AI](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AI?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) 🌱[#art](https://twitter.com/hashtag/art?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#illustration](https://twitter.com/hashtag/illustration?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#digitalart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/digitalart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/oXucmb8wrJ](https://t.co/oXucmb8wrJ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Johanna Forster (@andthegrunlings) [December 6, 2022](https://twitter.com/andthegrunlings/status/1600139875637829632?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) You can use color to paint with experimental techinques, even when creating something like [pixel art](https://blog.unvale.io/pixel-art-showcase/). This post of colorful art below by artist [kianamosser](https://twitter.com/kianamosser?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1527289322562473986%7Ctwgr%5Ec18ddc6a1448206cab425e04630f59737994535a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows an example of art created using non-traditional methods. The artist says that their process embraces the use of many colors and encourages us to approach creating art in a way that is fun and expressive without worrying too much about following any one set of rules. The joyful and imaginative nature of this pixel art is definitely a great place to draw inspiration. > Pixel art tutorials often start by telling you to eliminate jagged outlines, noise, and color count.. these pieces of mine embrace them instead. > > There are lots of ways to approach making art. Don't let “rules” discourage you from creating, just have fun and express yourself. [pic.twitter.com/PdVGMpP9Qv](https://t.co/PdVGMpP9Qv?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Kiana Mosser 🐇 (@kianamosser) [May 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/kianamosser/status/1527289322562473986?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) You can also consider finding tutorials from your favorite artists to continue developing your skills with color. This post by [cave\_comics](https://twitter.com/cave%5Fcomics?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1601043647390064640%7Ctwgr%5Ec6eb30e57f0c3b9cfe4f05c0420d9cba82ecc9c2%7Ctwcon%5Es2%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) links to one of their popular tutorials for using gradient maps. This video is a quick and helpful guide for navigating a useful feature in your digital paint program. Using these techniques will help you save time when creating colorful digital artwork. > Check out the tutorial on how to use gradient maps, SAVE them and REUSE them! [https://t.co/5ZaP6k0LNb](https://t.co/5ZaP6k0LNb?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Heather Auxier (Celestial Chronicle Shion) (@cave\_comics) [December 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/cave%5Fcomics/status/1601043647390064640?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This helpful tutorial below by artist [konekomina](https://twitter.com/konekomina?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1335275186497720321%7Ctwgr%5Ec6eb30e57f0c3b9cfe4f05c0420d9cba82ecc9c2%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F459ab78f-37ec-41df-a6cd-ccce7a63feef%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is another great [resource for digital artists](https://blog.unvale.io/free-resources-that-new-digital-artists-should-know-about/). This tip explains how to take advantage of clipping layers in a digital paint program to adjust line art. Using this technique would allow you to easily adjust [line art on your art](https://blog.unvale.io/learning-line-art-how-to-improve-your-line-art-skills/) to add special effects. Using lighter colors in line art can add a softening effect and it can also be helpful for creating cartoony styles. > a friend of mine wanted a tutorial, I make them a tutorial! > This is just about how to color line art on FireAlpaca and on Medibang (I don't know how clipping works on SAI, CSP, etc so I'm sorry D:) I hope this helps in any way! [pic.twitter.com/OkkPIpFIaF](https://t.co/OkkPIpFIaF?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — ꒰ა♡ mina ♡໒꒱ (@konekomina) [December 5, 2020](https://twitter.com/konekomina/status/1335275186497720321?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Drawing Hands: Tips and Resources URL: https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-hands-tips-and-resources/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:43:32.000Z Drawing hands is something every artist struggles with at some point. Through lots of practice and experimentation most artists end up creating their own synthesized method of drawing hands for their work. Using tips and resources like the ones provided below by magnificent artists you too can develop your skills and create fantastic, dynamic hands for your illustrations. --- ## Here are some tips and resources to keep in mind as you learn to draw hands We'll start with a **beginner friendly tutorial** from the educational artist [Marc Brunet](https://www.youtube.com/@YTartschool?ref=blog.unvale.io). Marc teaches us how to easily draw hands in a simple style for things like cartoons and then explains another method for constructing more complicated hand shapes as your skills continue to grow. This tutorial is the perfect place to begin because each aspect of the guide will help you understand where to place your [lines](https://blog.unvale.io/learning-line-art-how-to-improve-your-line-art-skills/) and how to start drawing hands more confidently. As you continue drawing these **quick anatomy tips** from the artist [Sinix Design](https://www.youtube.com/@sinixdesign?ref=blog.unvale.io) will help you "fall in love" with the process of drawing hands. This video tutorial provides essential tips for breaking down the structure of the hand and translating the anatomy into different shapes. Through each segment you will pick up helpful advice that will make it much easier to draw dynamic and anatomically accurate hands. **The last three fingers can be thought of as a single form** as we discover from this guide created by [qinniart](https://twitter.com/QinniArt?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1599428157274218497%7Ctwgr%5Eced4b957803a475390fb6b615628af02e9be36a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F0f7a64c0-a377-4d91-9607-2a48022c25f2%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) and posted by the [Etherington Brothers](https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1599428157274218497%7Ctwgr%5Eced4b957803a475390fb6b615628af02e9be36a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F0f7a64c0-a377-4d91-9607-2a48022c25f2%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). Keeping this tip in mind as demonstrated in the examples below will make it much easier to sketch hands in different [poses](https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-advice-pushing-poses/) for your illustrations. You can then use the natural shading of the hand forms you draw to render depth and shadow. > Our feature tutorial/artist for today is an awesome set of HAND REFS and DRAWING TIPS by the talented [@qinniart](https://twitter.com/QinniArt?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io). Note how those last three fingers in each pose work together as a SINGLE FORM. [#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#gamedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gamedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ART](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ART?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#manga](https://twitter.com/hashtag/manga?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#drawing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/drawing?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#illustration](https://twitter.com/hashtag/illustration?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#anime](https://twitter.com/hashtag/anime?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#comics](https://twitter.com/hashtag/comics?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#DRAWING](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DRAWING?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/hnYec94JM4](https://t.co/hnYec94JM4?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — EtheringtonBrothers (@EtheringtonBros) [December 4, 2022](https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros/status/1599428157274218497?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Use references to understand the shapes of the hand**. This example by artist [mobiusluverr3000](https://twitter.com/mobiusluvrr3000?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1600869461677916160%7Ctwgr%5Eced4b957803a475390fb6b615628af02e9be36a0%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F0f7a64c0-a377-4d91-9607-2a48022c25f2%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) highlights the importance of using references and gives us some tips for how to break down shapes and hand anatomy. In their response to a follower's question the artist explains that they observed a lot about hands and how they move in order to develop these tips. These tips are also really helpful when blocking out hands in your sketches. > Can you do hands tutorial plz… You draw them so seggsy meanwhile I draw them like toothpicks — > > i can only offer tips bc there are many hand tutorials out there ^\_\_\_^ though i learned more on observing how hands move & work... [https://t.co/uYKr4KS7UI](https://t.co/uYKr4KS7UI?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/AiBwePwYoD](https://t.co/AiBwePwYoD?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — rondo (@mobiusluvrr3000) [December 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/mobiusluvrr3000/status/1600869461677916160?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Using anatomy knowledge you can experiment with hand poses to add more character to an illustration**. This example in the tutorial thread below by artist [Dreamkeepers](https://twitter.com/Dreamkeepers?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1598355062396534785%7Ctwgr%5Eced4b957803a475390fb6b615628af02e9be36a0%7Ctwcon%5Es2%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F0f7a64c0-a377-4d91-9607-2a48022c25f2%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) demonstrates how to show personality and character through a variety of hand poses. In the second slide of the last tweet the artist shows examples of variation in style when drawing hands. This skill is essential for trying out a mixture of animated art styles. > Some refs / notes on drawing hands from our "Drawing Fundamentals" online course. [pic.twitter.com/0263m3tso8](https://t.co/0263m3tso8?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Vivid Publishing (@Dreamkeepers) [December 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/Dreamkeepers/status/1598355062396534785?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **A strong sense of anatomy will also allow you to stylize your hands for cartoons and comics**. This video by [Proko](https://www.youtube.com/@ProkoTV?ref=blog.unvale.io) breaks down some popular styles of hands in cartoons and shows us how to use our sense of anatomy and form to draw them. Proko does a great job of explaining important details, like the reason why Mickey has only four fingers, and then demonstrates how to think the same way when creating your own cartoon art. The artist also applies this logic to comic book art styles toward the end of the video. Finally take a look at this fantastic tutorial video from [Rapidfireart](https://www.youtube.com/@RapidFireArt?ref=blog.unvale.io). This video will walk you through the process of **creating a hand from scratch**. The artist easily explains how to construct hands and gives tips like using a pencil and your finger to measure the segments of the hand while encouraging anyone following along to pause and practice doing so at each step. The video then explains how to draw and **shade different styles of hands in great detail.** --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Drawing Resources: Clothing and Folds URL: https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-resources-clothing-and-folds/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:43:07.000Z Take a look at these resources for learning how to improve at drawing clothing and folds. Studying these guides can help you develop a better understanding of the human figure and the logic behind the clothes we all wear every day. These observations and exercises will help you continue to improve your art work for years to come. --- ## Drawing Clothing and Folds When looking to understand the form and function of clothing this video tutorial by [Draw Like a Sir](https://www.youtube.com/@DrawlikeaSir?ref=blog.unvale.io) is the **perfect place to begin**. In this guide the artist explains the characteristics of wrinkles and folds that are present while looking at the volume of a figure. The artist also provides a demonstration of these skills in real-time. Following along with this artist will help you begin to understand how to construct the clothes you want to draw. These tips can be applied to realistic clothes as well as anime ones. In this video tutorial below artist [Kooleen](https://www.youtube.com/@Kooleen?ref=blog.unvale.io) explains how to visualize the **volume of clothing** on a body. The artist then provides tips to help us understand how gravity and triangles can help you learn to draw different types of clothing in a variety of poses. This tutorial is helpful and easy to follow along with no matter your skill level. Sometimes a subtle example is all it takes to understand more about the **folds** of clothing. This tweet below by [miyuliart](https://twitter.com/miyuliart?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1597242240530845696%7Ctwgr%5Ee8b0f8b5d2e131756b74cc0b97fe2ef2ef163639%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F12f94375-b6cd-4702-9e9a-b581521ea63b%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) featured by the [EtheringtonBros](https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1597242240530845696%7Ctwgr%5Ee8b0f8b5d2e131756b74cc0b97fe2ef2ef163639%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F12f94375-b6cd-4702-9e9a-b581521ea63b%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows clear advice for depicting anatomical twists beneath the clothing. The artist uses subtle fabric pulls and creases to show that the character's arm is clearly twisted even beneath a very loose sweater. > Our feature artist/tutorial for today is this piece by the talented [@miyuliart](https://twitter.com/miyuliart?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) on the subtle use of FABRIC PULLS and CREASES to show anatomical TWISTS beneath the clothing - even when the clothing itself is LOOSE FITTING, as in the example here. [#gamedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gamedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#manga](https://twitter.com/hashtag/manga?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/QU8FnZYFIX](https://t.co/QU8FnZYFIX?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — EtheringtonBrothers (@EtheringtonBros) [November 28, 2022](https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros/status/1597242240530845696?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) When you're ready to dive even deeper into drawing clothing and folds consider checking out this extremely **educational video** by [moderndayjames](https://www.youtube.com/@ModernDayJames?ref=blog.unvale.io). The tutorial walks through a variety of clothing folds in great detail while providing tips on techniques for artists to practice. There are examples for accessories as well as different types of armor and how to depict it when worn on the body. There are also explanations for how to bunch fabric at different parts of the body with live demonstrations and extra notes included throughout. --- ## Rendering Clothing and Folds You can use an understanding of color, shape, and form when painting along with your drawing skills to help you render clothing of all types. These artists have developed educational tutorials to help you learn to paint detailed clothes. Learn how to **easily color clothes** in **Clip Studio Paint** with this quick speedpaint tutorial by [Naraka Artist](https://www.youtube.com/@naokaartist3619?ref=blog.unvale.io). In this video Naraka shows us three different outfits and demonstrates how to paint the clothing details using limited color palettes. This tutorial below by Inma R. is also made for [Clip Studio Paint](https://www.youtube.com/@CLIPSTUDIOPAINTchannel/featured?ref=blog.unvale.io). This video is a guide for **5 different features of Clip Studio** that can be used to render clothes more easily. These techniques are especially helpful for people who want to draw clothes in an anime or manga style. You can also utilize layer effects like **gradient maps** found in digital painting programs to help draw unique styles of clothing. Holographic fabric is a great example and using this tutorial below from artist [Sinix Design](https://www.youtube.com/@sinixdesign?ref=blog.unvale.io) you can learn how to develop skills in a digital painting program to achieve the holographic look. The artist teaches us how to create our own gradient map and walks us through the process of using it to add depth to the holographic fabrics. There is another wonderful tutorial for creating **holographic clothing** which was developed by the artist [UpasanaS](https://www.youtube.com/@UpasanaS?ref=blog.unvale.io). Inspired by the previous artists' tutorial, UpasanaS decided to develop their own tutorial video made for users of the free painting program [Ibis Paint](https://ibispaint.com/?lang=en-US&ref=blog.unvale.io). This video demonstrates accessible techniques for painting holographic textures and highlights the importance of drawing from reference for your illustrations. If you are interested in learning how to draw more types of fabric consider checking out other videos from UpsanaS like this tutorial on painting metal armor. The artist shows their process for painting **shiny metal armor** in Ibis Paint and explains their thinking when shaping each layer of color. Following along with this tutorial will help you get better at painting armor for your own illustrations. --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Character Design Showcase URL: https://blog.unvale.io/character-design-showcase/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:42:36.000Z Creating compelling character designs is an impressive skill. Character designs are essential for telling stories and creating illustrations. Let us take a look at some amazing character designs featured in art work recently posted by skillful artists. Appreciating these works can also help us gain insight on further developing our own character design skills. There are all kinds of reasons for artists to create their own character designs. ## Some amazing examples of character design include: Designs for Dungeons and Dragons like this one created by [KarouselART](https://twitter.com/KarouselART?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1596757887660851201%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) on Twitter. This character design shows an amazing attention to detail for the clothing and accessories of the character. The feeling of the character is really unique and you can feel the love of the artist through the design. > I see [#dungeonsanddragons](https://twitter.com/hashtag/dungeonsanddragons?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) AND [#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) is trending! Reposting my beloved Theydrin's design here again hehe [pic.twitter.com/nIV15WVLV3](https://t.co/nIV15WVLV3?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🦋 𝗞𝗔𝗥𝗢 🦋 (@KarouselART) [November 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/KarouselART/status/1596757887660851201?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This set of characters developed by artist [kicdoc](https://twitter.com/kicdoc?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1542130766582349824%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). This art features three character designs that tell a cohesive story. Each character has a unique shape and personality even though they all share similar color palettes. > PEPPER, MILK(GLUTTONY) and MEAT [#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/qbm0a63iHD](https://t.co/qbm0a63iHD?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 菊/KICDOC (@kicdoc) [June 29, 2022](https://twitter.com/kicdoc/status/1542130766582349824?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Fun gijinka designs like this fabulous Sprigatito gijinka by artist [yuniiho](https://twitter.com/yuniiho?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595782587708223488%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). The artist chose to use elements of the original Pokémon's design as alterations to the character's uniform and appearance. All of these elements create a cute and compelling original gijinka design. (Take a look at [this article](https://blog.unvale.io/the-gijinka-journey/) if you'd like to learn more about gijinka!) > Sprigatito Gijinka sketch 🌱[#PokemonScarletViolet](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PokemonScarletViolet?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/icc8CU2XbU](https://t.co/icc8CU2XbU?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 𝐘𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐢 ✦ 𝐕𝐘𝐔𝐆𝐄𝐍 (@yuniiho) [November 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/yuniiho/status/1595782587708223488?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Character designs that have been drawn in new styles like this drawing of Unico by artist [CUPIDCRY](https://twitter.com/CUPlDCRY?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1394836930446065666%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). This art shows the classic character Unico in a stunning painting style as opposed to the traditionally animated look. The artist does an amazing job at translating the character design into their own style through this piece and creating a compelling design for Unico. > Unico [pic.twitter.com/6zxPVHkSFd](https://t.co/6zxPVHkSFd?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 💌cupidcry || do not qrt (@CUPlDCRY) [May 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/CUPlDCRY/status/1394836930446065666?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) A meet the artist post like this one by [fr0gs3](https://twitter.com/fr0gs3?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595092244322582528%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io)! You can draw yourself or your persona as a character design and create a meet the artist sheet like this one! In this post the artist uses a consistent and beautiful color scheme to portray the feeling of the character. The artist also makes sure to include extra doodles and an example of inventory items that would go along with the character design. > meet the artist? <3 [#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ドット絵](https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%89%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E7%B5%B5?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/ngRzwh5UpZ](https://t.co/ngRzwh5UpZ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — kael 🌱 (@fr0gs3) [November 22, 2022](https://twitter.com/fr0gs3/status/1595092244322582528?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This skillful layout practice by [blueiris\_099](https://twitter.com/blueiris%5F099?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1598261272482811904%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) featuring a showcase of their character design. The character design is very detailed and uses the color palette of blues, whites, and purples to create a gorgeously tranquil vibe for the overall design. > Layouting practice for character design showcase [pic.twitter.com/3imJzyrndf](https://t.co/3imJzyrndf?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Blue Iris 💙⚜️ (blue snail) (@blueiris\_099) [December 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/blueiris%5F099/status/1598261272482811904?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) There's also this fantastic character turnaround created by [Gorfit0](https://twitter.com/Gorfit0?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1596217153614532608%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). You could try creating a character turnaround for your own portfolio too. In this work the artist shows their design from five different angles. They have done a wonderful job of drawing complex armor and keeping it consistent from multiple perspectives. > Little guy I designed for my portfolio! [#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artistontwitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artistontwitter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/Dsxiz4y77c](https://t.co/Dsxiz4y77c?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Marty (@Gorfit0) [November 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/Gorfit0/status/1596217153614532608?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This [adoptable](https://blog.unvale.io/all-about-adoptable-characters/) by artist [KDrawheart](https://twitter.com/KDrakeheart?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1597347660544909313%7Ctwgr%5E1be6db84e5539a152089406e5cd527c997aca052%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F7de0e64e-6a44-4c59-af56-471a809e76a1%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). You could consider [selling one of your own](https://blog.unvale.io/create-and-sell-your-own-adoptable-characters/) character designs as an adoptable as well! This little dragon featured below is a great example. The design uses vivid colors and organic shapes to explain the anatomy of the dragon. The work on the pattern also gives a creative magma look to the overall design. > Made this little dragon ad0pt! You get full rights to the character, my only rule is don't claim the original design/art as your own. I don't care what you do otherwise. [pic.twitter.com/biAGMtNRPo](https://t.co/biAGMtNRPo?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Fire-Topaz (@KDrakeheart) [November 28, 2022](https://twitter.com/KDrakeheart/status/1597347660544909313?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Pixel Art Showcase URL: https://blog.unvale.io/pixel-art-showcase/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:40:15.000Z Pixel art is a diverse medium that has inspired artists for decades. Let us take a look at recent pixel artwork from some of our favorite artists! This beautiful piece below by [curemoto\_dot](https://twitter.com/curemoto%5Fdot?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595230271175290880%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) features an adorable sheep character with a pink background. This piece shows a great understanding of working with a limited color palette to create detailed shading for the character. The eyes of the character are colored with a dark shadow that really helps them stand out as a focal point for the piece. > 🐏 [#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/cxDOzbBEFC](https://t.co/cxDOzbBEFC?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — キュアもと (@curemoto\_dot) [November 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/curemoto%5Fdot/status/1595230271175290880?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) The following post by [ElenaNazaire](https://twitter.com/ElenaNazaire?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595874974153195520%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows us an example of a stunning pixel art background scene! Nazaire uses color gradients and a perspective angle to create the enchanting feeling of a winding path through the mushroom forest. > shroom forest[#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/ZJDKmh6Axb](https://t.co/ZJDKmh6Axb?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Nazaire (@ElenaNazaire) [November 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/ElenaNazaire/status/1595874974153195520?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Speaking of lovely scenes, this next piece below by [butterymilky](https://twitter.com/butterymilky?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1594032607372591105%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) features stunning pink foliage and cute cow characters! The characters seem to be in "a little perfect place" as they nestle in a serene meadow surrounded by trees and flowers. The lighting of this piece skillfully sets the mood of the scene along with the warm color palette. Butter also has a [free pack](https://butterymilk.itch.io/tiny-wonder-forest?ref=blog.unvale.io) of their pixel assets available for use with credit. > 🌷A little perfect place[#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#screenshotsaturday](https://twitter.com/hashtag/screenshotsaturday?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#IndieGameDev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/IndieGameDev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/EepYwIGWTa](https://t.co/EepYwIGWTa?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Butter Milk🌻 (@butterymilky) [November 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/butterymilky/status/1594032607372591105?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Pixel art can also be used for creating paintings! You can think about traditional painting techniques and try to translate them into your digital painting process with pixel art. The example below shows some detailed pixel paintings from the fantastic artist [ilta222](https://twitter.com/ilta222?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595831405795487744%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). ILTA uses the pixel colors in a way that seems to mimic brush work in real life. These featured pieces have a sort of post-impressionism feeling to them thanks to the skillful rendering of color and composition. > just some pixel paintings 🎨 [#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ドット絵](https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%89%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E7%B5%B5?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/i1Kua0gqyr](https://t.co/i1Kua0gqyr?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — ILTA🫀 (@ilta222) [November 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/ilta222/status/1595831405795487744?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This post below by artist [Aurumek\_](https://twitter.com/Aurumek%5F?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1595415501685022720%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows an example of painting with pixel art in a more realistic style. This piece of a sea side town shows a unique perspective that feels immersive for the viewer. The colors feel natural to the scene and each little detail– like the cat resting by the stairs or the beautiful stained glass door – serves to add a sense of warm realness to the overall piece. > Sea town > .[#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/SiFL7Wg5YZ](https://t.co/SiFL7Wg5YZ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Aurumek (@Aurumek\_) [November 23, 2022](https://twitter.com/Aurumek%5F/status/1595415501685022720?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) If you would like to experiment more with pixel art you could even try joining in on a DTIYS using a pixel art style as practice. This example below from [its\_HiroHi](https://twitter.com/its%5FHiroHi?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1596263237200535552%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows a detailed DTIYS entry in pixel art form. The piece has amazing use of shape to construct the characters and additional details while the vivid colors and shading bring everything together. Drawing other peoples' OCs for a challenge can be a great opportunity to practice skills like pixel art and continue developing your style. > DTIYS entry for [@Ampraeh](https://twitter.com/Ampraeh?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) !! I'm pretty happy with how this came out >:3 [#AmprehDTIYS](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AmprehDTIYS?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artist](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artist?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/TE3lVylEPR](https://t.co/TE3lVylEPR?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — HiroHi | DTIYS PIN (@its\_HiroHi) [November 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/its%5FHiroHi/status/1596263237200535552?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Hirohi also has their own DTIYS contest currently running to celebrate hitting 3000 followers and that could be the perfect opportunity to join and practice your skills! > HERE IT IS! MY 3K DTIYS AAA > Rules: > ✧Any medium welcome > ✧You can change her outfit/pose but keep Kai's villain vibe 😘 > ✧Tag me in entry!!! > Prizes: > ✧Base - big portrait in my style! > ✧5+ entries - full body sprite > ✧10+ entries - another FB sprite! > > DEADLINE: 20/12/2022 [pic.twitter.com/eQ6SoLDpgn](https://t.co/eQ6SoLDpgn?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — HiroHi | DTIYS PIN (@its\_HiroHi) [October 18, 2022](https://twitter.com/its%5FHiroHi/status/1582480007170904065?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) If you enjoy pixel art then it is a great idea to practice creating and keep [developing your skills](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/)! If you keep drawing and practicing eventually you will be able to draw in many styles with ease. Artists often like to look back at these practices over time to see how much their art has changed. This post below by artist [Xeleph\_](https://twitter.com/Xeleph%5F?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1596917415912226817%7Ctwgr%5Edde9e272e4003dd5bee9a342b8a9373b6d92e07d%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa195e129-62b1-4136-9bc7-28a67d3749e9%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows a timeline of pixel art trees they have created over the last few years. With this chart it is easy to see what changes the artist made over time and how they were able to grow. You could consider setting up something for yourself to draw, or even draw trees like Xeleph so you can chart your progress as you journey forward. > My trees over the years [#pixelart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pixelart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) > > Show me yours! [pic.twitter.com/gEa9DkqQcn](https://t.co/gEa9DkqQcn?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Xeleph 🍂 | Commissions open (@Xeleph\_) [November 27, 2022](https://twitter.com/Xeleph%5F/status/1596917415912226817?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### How to Write OC Lore: A Character & World-Building Guide URL: https://blog.unvale.io/writing-lore-for-your-original-character/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T21:23:46.000Z Learning how to write OC lore is one of the most impactful ways to grow as a writer. [A strong backstory](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-start-writing-your-oc-story/) gives your character depth and brings their world to life. Lore is essentially the story your character would tell about themselves within the world you've built — and writing it out is how you turn a character concept into something that feels real. Approaching character lore this way leads to deeper fulfillment in your writing and stronger connections with your audience. ## Unvale Is *Now an App!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android. [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Develop Your Character's Backstory Backstory is the foundation of good OC lore. Start by thinking about who your character is and what they've been through. (If this is your first time creating an OC, check out our [step-by-step guide](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/).) What you want to say with your OC is entirely up to you. Experiment until you find what feels right. Try filling out a basic list of traits, thoughts, and experiences, almost like a detailed [character sheet](https://www.wikihow.com/Fill-Out-a-Character-Sheet-for-Dungeons-and-Dragons-3.5?ref=blog.unvale.io). Include things like:Their name, pronouns, nicknames, and other aspects of how your OC identifies. ![Tobi by Lenyeehaw - character sheet with likes and basic info](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/tobi-2-1.png) [Tobi](https://unvale.io/character/9163d6b8-e0e2-49f7-83d5-188f5db9bf89?ref=124f0a1c-983d-45d7-9e0b-71f23d75a5af) by Lenyeehaw - Their habits, hobbies, and favorite activities - Likes, dislikes, and any obsessions or interests - Relationships in their life and how your OC feels about them - Major character [strengths and weaknesses](https://blog.unvale.io/why-you-should-give-your-ocs-goals/) - Their favorite memories ## Explore Your Character's World [Worldbuilding](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-develop-world-building-concepts/) is the other half of writing OC lore. The world your OC lives in shapes their story, so mapping it out will help you develop your character further. Think about the world, the people in it, and how it has all shaped your character's life. Maybe your OC grew up on a near empty planet only to leave for a larger colony, making them with nostalgic memories of another time. Maybe they don't know where they come from at all, and that mystery becomes central to their lore. ![Wasob's backgrounds for their world showing different terrain and settlements](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/Wasobs.jpg) [Fragile Memory](https://unvale.io/world/1cf305ac-b055-4f7b-ad10-cafc106b82d8?image=ecf5088f-a1d7-4972-8dff-e72635a85d57&ref=blog.unvale.io) by Wasobs Here are some questions to guide your worldbuilding: - Where is my OC from? - Who lives in this world? - Who does your OC already know, and who do they meet along the way? - Are there landmarks or important monuments in this world? - Are there countries, governments, schools, or other social groups your OC belongs to? - What natural weather, terrain, etc. shape the area your OC is from? - What is my OC's motivation in this world? ## Oc Lore Writing: Practice and Prompts Now it's time to put it all together. Write a short piece of lore for your OC, whether that's just a paragraph from their perspective or a detailed tale about a moment in their life. Use the character and worldbuilding work you've already done as your foundation, and keep building as you go. Writing lore sharpens your skills as a writer and deepens your own connection to your OC. ![Merfolk OC on the beach](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2026/08/SuperSoftCorgi--1--1.png) [Mars](https://unvale.io/character/6f24aa32-668e-4f3d-a745-0d103b276f36?ref=blog.unvale.io) by SuperSoftCorgi Not sure where to start? Try one of these prompts: - A conflict your character faces [because of their own flaws](https://blog.unvale.io/tips-on-writing-a-redemption-arc/) - A conflict they face because of the world around them - A story from a specific point in their life, like childhood - The culture of the society your character lives in, and how they do (or don't) fit into it - A regular day in your character's life, following their routine or point of view - Your character seen through someone else's eyes Once you've written your OC lore, add it to their [Character page](https://unvale.io/my-creations?ref=blog.unvale.io) for safe keeping. With everything in one place, it's easy to continue their story. ### Beginner's Guide to Live 2D URL: https://blog.unvale.io/beginners-guide-to-live-2d/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:24:51.000Z Are you interested in learning how to use Live2D but don't even know where to start? Then this is definitely the right place for you! We've compiled tons of helpful resources and tutorials so you can follow your very own 2D vtubing dreams. Whether you plan to create your own model or want to work with an artist this guide will help you learn the ins and outs of working with Live 2D. ## What is Live 2D? [Live 2D Cubism](https://www.live2d.com/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a software developed by Live2D Co., Ltd. This software uses the principal of "stereoscopic image expression" to bring illustration to life– which basically means that it employs a process of animation that works directly off of one original image. This form of animating is different than most traditional 2D and 3D animation techniques. Here's an example of movement and animation in Live 2D from artist [nonon yuno](https://twitter.com/nonon%5Fyuno?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1591925781726629889%7Ctwgr%5E335edf1a0729e6f7c7174d9feefac1640290ea5a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F83634ed3-416b-450b-b665-9d0283a42d88%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) so you can see what the program looks like in action. > Live2D earrings, bubbles and light > I made them like this.✨[#Live2D](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2D?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Live2DWIP](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2DWIP?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#龍野乙](https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%BE%8D%E9%87%8E%E4%B9%99?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/SkQMdqZWp5](https://t.co/SkQMdqZWp5?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — ののん。nonon. ＠Live2Dモデラー (@nonon\_yuno) [November 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/nonon%5Fyuno/status/1591925781726629889?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) The process of learning Live 2D can feel intimidating at first so it can be beneficial to break it down into smaller steps. You can learn how to do different parts of the process at your own pace and improve over time. If you still need help coming up with a concept idea [check out this article](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/) on creating original characters. Here are some of the most important elements to consider when creating a model with Live 2D. - **Drawing your model art** - **Cutting, cleaning, and organizing your layers** - **Rigging your artwork in Live 2D** - **Animating your model** You can choose to develop your skills during each step of this process as you create your own model, or work closely with another artist for their expertise. You can commission someone to cut and rig your own artwork, for example, or even commission someone to create the entire thing! There are also lot's of free assets out there created by wonderful artists. ## Resources for Drawing your Model If you would like to draw your own model for use in Live 2D it will be really helpful to watch some video tutorials and look up references. When drawing for Live 2D you must eventually have separate parts for each piece of the character that will be rigged and animated. Some artists draw each piece on a new layer, some draw everything on one layer and separate it later, and some artists do a mixture of both. Here is a link to the [sample Live 2D models](https://www.live2d.com/en/download/sample-data/?ref=blog.unvale.io) that you can play around with before you begin. This video by [Nyxxity Art](https://www.youtube.com/@NyxxityArt?ref=blog.unvale.io) on how to draw your first vtuber model provides essential advice that is clear and easy to understand. This video will show you how to draw your model art work and teach you to plan ahead for the next steps. This following Tweet by artist [adrhaze](https://twitter.com/adrhaze?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1392847660315516929%7Ctwgr%5E329e47535ff7c032c9bf5daf25bacdfaf1ee48af%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F83634ed3-416b-450b-b665-9d0283a42d88%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) breaks down the construction method used for a more defined face. This example is very well thought out and provides a helpful legend so that you can order your layers in the same way as the artist. Using this draw order and visual guide makes a somewhat difficult process much easier to understand. > Some insight into how I set up Cimrai's face and how to approach a more defined facial structure in terms of draw order and parts setup in Live2D![#live2D](https://twitter.com/hashtag/live2D?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/vcNlhVT7Et](https://t.co/vcNlhVT7Et?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Aïda // ADR (@adrhaze) [May 13, 2021](https://twitter.com/adrhaze/status/1392847660315516929?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Tips on Separating Art Work This video series by [Kira Omori](https://www.youtube.com/@KiraOmori?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a beginner-friendly guide for anyone wanting to get into Vtubing or making vtuber models. The video below provides in-depth insight into the process and theory of separating each piece of a model's artwork. Each video in the artist's series is informative and easy to follow along with, so we definitely recommend checking them out. Rigging the Model In order for your artwork to move properly it will have to be rigged in Live2D Cubism. Rigging the model in Live 2D is a separate process from creating the art and can seem a bit confusing if you have never tried it before. Watching tutorials and looking at references will help you understand the tools of the program and the general workflow. This video by [Kappako Channel](https://www.youtube.com/@KappakoChannel?ref=blog.unvale.io) will walk you through the basic steps of rigging your Vtuber. Kappako does a wonderful job of explaining the tools of the program and their functions throughout the course of their series. Meshes and deformations are a huge part of the rigging process in Live 2D. This beginner guide to fast meshes featured below was created by the artist [YoshinoArt](https://www.youtube.com/@YoshinoArt?ref=blog.unvale.io). This helpful tutorial will allow you to better understand the concept of meshes and how to use them for fluid animation. ## Other Resources Learning how to use Live 2D is a long and continous process. This is a relatively new medium and artists are innovating new ideas with the software all the time. Here are just a few extra resources for learning Live 2D that will hopefully help guide you through the next phases of your journey. Here's a quick tutorial from [mochimochibubu](https://twitter.com/mochimochibubu?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1589818489522753536%7Ctwgr%5E335edf1a0729e6f7c7174d9feefac1640290ea5a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F83634ed3-416b-450b-b665-9d0283a42d88%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) which explains how to use the deformation feature in Live2D to create alternate hairstyles for your Vtuber! > //Live2d tutorial > > 🎀Quick Live2D Tips🎀： > How to make hair deformation[#Live2D](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2D?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Live2dCommissions](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2dCommissions?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Live2DWIP](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2DWIP?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Vtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Live2DTutorial](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Live2DTutorial?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/13ceqFcRTO](https://t.co/13ceqFcRTO?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — もちもちぷ 💜 Live2D COMMS CLOSED (@mochimochibubu) [November 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/mochimochibubu/status/1589818489522753536?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Here is a huge repository full of tons of [free vtubing resources](https://vtresources.carrd.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io) created by Faf. This website has software guides as well as links to free resources that get regularly updated. This is a great way to stay up to date on the current software for vtubers. Finally, here are some free assets put together in a Twitter thread by user [tadakimana](https://twitter.com/tadakimana?ref=blog.unvale.io). The thread contains links to posts for free background music, free tutorials, free stream overlays, and tons more! ### Learning How to Draw Animal Characters URL: https://blog.unvale.io/learning-how-to-draw-animal-characters/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:30:02.000Z If you are looking to further [develop your artistic skills](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/) this resource guide for drawing animals is a wonderful place to start. Whether you want to draw realistic animal portraits or anthropomorphic [original characters](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/), learning more about animal anatomy will greatly help you in your journey. Studying from guides created by other artists and learning from your own observations over time is a fantastic way to get better at this kind of art. ## Study Guides for Animal Art Here are some extremely helpful guides for drawing different animals and their anatomy. Each artist has their own unique way of doing things so you can learn a lot by studying the techniques of your favorite artists and adapting them to your own style. Fur is often one of the most intimidating parts of drawing a realistic animal portrait. Artist [Austin Natale](https://twitter.com/austinatale?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1237449428891385856%7Ctwgr%5E6e1601948a40a373a275ac7a82a62a959f957821%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fbc151333-1475-46ba-8eb6-e14cf7db3f47%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows us their steps for rendering animal hair in this mind-blowing clip below! Using colors in a very deliberate way, the artist is able to make the fur look realistic and striking from all angles. > Color pencil drawing of a PUG, showing the steps approaching animal hair [#dog](https://twitter.com/hashtag/dog?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#art](https://twitter.com/hashtag/art?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#tutorial](https://twitter.com/hashtag/tutorial?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/Kqny7HTTb3](https://t.co/Kqny7HTTb3?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Austin Natale (@austinatale) [March 10, 2020](https://twitter.com/austinatale/status/1237449428891385856?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) For drawing predator animals, like a cat or a lion, it can be really helpful to zoom in on places like the mouth or eyes and study them one at a time. In the tweet below artist [Owlspark](https://twitter.com/Owl%5Fspark%5F?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1591509081185030146%7Ctwgr%5E6e1601948a40a373a275ac7a82a62a959f957821%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fbc151333-1475-46ba-8eb6-e14cf7db3f47%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows us detailed advice for drawing cat anatomy through a series of guides. These guides show us how to interpret a cat face at different angles and also have really helpful sections on drawing the muzzle and paws of the animal. > Here are all the drawing guide I’ve made all together! If there’re any guides people want me to make then please leave a suggestion in the comments! [pic.twitter.com/aufWNrFjoa](https://t.co/aufWNrFjoa?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Owlspark (@Owl\_spark\_) [November 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/Owl%5Fspark%5F/status/1591509081185030146?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) An animal that should probably get drawn more often is the rat! This style guide for drawing rats made by [RoSphix](https://twitter.com/RoSphix?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1477842279343607809%7Ctwgr%5E6e1601948a40a373a275ac7a82a62a959f957821%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fbc151333-1475-46ba-8eb6-e14cf7db3f47%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows us how to capture the thoughtful essence of the animal with care. It is really helpful to get an up close observation of an animal that we don't all often get to experience in that way. > A style guide, not meant as a technical tutorial, intended to suggest ways of drawing Rats to artists who don't do so often. > > I by no means suggest this is the "correct" way to draw rats, It's just how I do it with care to capture the essence of the animal. > > Hope it helps! [pic.twitter.com/4XeKSe9UJa](https://t.co/4XeKSe9UJa?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Ro, the little clown guy (@RoSphix) [January 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/RoSphix/status/1477842279343607809?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This next set of guides contains a wealth of information; the artist [franzanth](https://twitter.com/franzanth?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1493147348679401472%7Ctwgr%5E6e1601948a40a373a275ac7a82a62a959f957821%7Ctwcon%5Es2%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fbc151333-1475-46ba-8eb6-e14cf7db3f47%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) has published a master thread highlighting a detailed series on how to draw crabs, cephalopods, trilobites, and other sea creatures! Continue in the thread to find so many helpful and detailed charts. > 1\. Crab series [pic.twitter.com/MahSBSoSly](https://t.co/MahSBSoSly?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — franz, avoiding SV spoilers (@franzanth) [February 14, 2022](https://twitter.com/franzanth/status/1493147348679401472?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) If you find yourself with time to sit down and study for a longer session, you could consider drawing along to this video tutorial by the Youtube creator [R.M.Broadwell Atelier](https://www.youtube.com/@PrairieMoonAtelier?ref=blog.unvale.io). This video contains an artist's advice on capturing the structure and form of many different animals. There are also tips on how to translate these forms into unique poses. On their channel there are even more videos including a series for drawing [mythical creatures](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJRGeAyZ7FA&ref=blog.unvale.io)! ## Practice your Skills Along with reading through guides and watching tutorials, the best thing to do to improve is to practice at your own pace. Continue practicing your skills through exercises, fun drawings, and real world observation! **Study from Animals in Real Life!** The picture below shows an example from a series of drawing guides created by Mark Simmons. These drawings were made by studying animals at the San Francisco Zoo! Feel free to check out the rest of the [series on his website](http://www.ultimatemark.com/education/?ref=blog.unvale.io) for further examples of his studies. If you want to continue to improve your skills you could also consider finding a habitat for wildlife in your area and studying from observation. You can even find things to study right in your own home! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/11/bearcountry_02_grizzly1.jpg) *2020 • Animal drawing tips for San Francisco Zoo workshop by Mark Simmons* **Embrace your Stylization!** Studying anatomy is really helpful, because then you will be able to make both realistic and stylized artworks. Everything you draw doesn't have to be completely accurate as long it expresses something or you enjoyed making it! This video below of a cute fox by [Ali Lebaschi](https://twitter.com/LebaschiAli/status/1499953762013696001?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a heart warming and adorable example of stylizing an animal in a cute way. **Keep doing what makes you happy, and have fun while drawing animals!** Even simple drawings can be really impactful and fun. We share the Earth with so many interesting creatures. Get out and enjoy nature if you are able to! Whether it be a park, a forest, or even your pet frog living in the window, you can study from the animals in the world around you and have tons of fun while doing it! Finally, here's **a truly insightful video** by [Proko](https://www.youtube.com/c/ProkoTV?ref=blog.unvale.io) and featuring the artist [Aaron Blaise](https://www.youtube.com/@AaronBlaiseArt?ref=blog.unvale.io). Aaron Blaise has done character design for many of Disney's popular animated films including [*Brother Bear*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brother%5FBear?ref=blog.unvale.io). During the video he shows off his sketchbooks and shares memories of the times spent in the wilderness studying bears and other animals. We hope it leaves you with a sense of inspiration to find beauty in the world around you as you continue on in your artistic journey! --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Celebrating November: Fall Art and Community Fun URL: https://blog.unvale.io/november-festivity-fall-and-fun/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:04:04.000Z November is the perfect time for sharing colorful fall art, creating fan art, flexing your baking skills, and participating in tons of other fun creative activities! November is still nice and spooky since it is right after Halloween but also opens us up to warm fall colors and holiday feels! Let's take a look at some of the colorful art artists have been posting this month. > Here's Faina, basking in a warm light of an autumn forest[#miragenoir](https://twitter.com/hashtag/miragenoir?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#visualnovel](https://twitter.com/hashtag/visualnovel?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#gamedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gamedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#indiedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#vn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/vn?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#indiegamedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/indiegamedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#manga](https://twitter.com/hashtag/manga?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#anime](https://twitter.com/hashtag/anime?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#mangaart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/mangaart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#animeart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/animeart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#fantasy](https://twitter.com/hashtag/fantasy?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#art](https://twitter.com/hashtag/art?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artistontwitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artistontwitter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#medieval](https://twitter.com/hashtag/medieval?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#oc](https://twitter.com/hashtag/oc?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#originalcharacter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/originalcharacter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#drawing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/drawing?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#autumn](https://twitter.com/hashtag/autumn?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#fall](https://twitter.com/hashtag/fall?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/6HVCh1zOGI](https://t.co/6HVCh1zOGI?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Monedula (@MonedulaStudio) [November 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/MonedulaStudio/status/1587529509569499138?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) The warm light of this autumn forest created by [MonedulaStudio](https://twitter.com/MonedulaStudio?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1587529509569499138%7Ctwgr%5E776f5e30d4ca87e6050652788c7388456de50284%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F9ffa49f1-2e18-4b32-b658-4738497da996%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) in the image above is the perfect start to this November. The character Faina has a welcoming and hopeful expression. The lighting and textures of the painting are rendered beautifully. > Leafeon enjoying fall with butterfree. \[pokemon\] [pic.twitter.com/1VGWQjqTUX](https://t.co/1VGWQjqTUX?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — ʕ •ᴥ•ʔ (@MJoyArt) [November 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/MJoyArt/status/1588214422379511808?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This fantastic leafeon from artist [MJoyArt](https://twitter.com/MJoyArt?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1588214422379511808%7Ctwgr%5E776f5e30d4ca87e6050652788c7388456de50284%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F9ffa49f1-2e18-4b32-b658-4738497da996%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) features the use of a stunning fall color palette as well. This work beautifully portrays the feeling of enjoying the fall scenery with a friend through the use of **color** and **composition**. With [the new Pokemon game about to release](https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-us/news/?utm%5Fsource=tilebouncer&utm%5Fmedium=pcom&utm%5Fcampaign=sv&utm%5Fterm=), it is the perfect time tocreate some fall Pokémon fan art of your own! ## **Creative Fun in November!** There are tons of creative events, resources, and activities taking place in November! Vtubers and their fans are excited for the holidays. Artists are preparing their commissions options and sharing free fall themed resources! Others are participating in fun events for writing or creating art and connecting with others! Here are some fun and creative activities that you could consider taking part in. **Participate in National Novel Writing Month** \- [NaNoWriMo](https://nanowrimo.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io) takes place every November as people around the world each attempt to write a 50,000 word novel while encouraging each other to last until the end of the month. The point of this event is to have fun and connect with other writers while developing the habit of consistently writing a little bit every day. Though there is no obligation to actually finish your novel, this event has also led to the creation of some very popular books like *Water for Elephants* by Sara Gruen. Be sure to check your local library for ways to participate in NaNoWriMo in person! **Find Fall Themed Resources for Vtubers** \- If you are a vtuber or want to join the vtubing community, fall is the perfect time to look for some free and paid resources created by hard working artists. Many artists share these creations online using combinations of hashtags like #vtuberassets #vtuberuprising and #artistsontwitter. Here's a set of cute fall blankets from [nerdsidestories](https://twitter.com/nerdsidestories?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1591121300407619586%7Ctwgr%5E776f5e30d4ca87e6050652788c7388456de50284%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F9ffa49f1-2e18-4b32-b658-4738497da996%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) as a nice example. > 🍁 \[VTUBER ASSET\] 🍁 > > These cozy fall blankets are now available on my ko-fi and my etsy shop! > > You can get them in a set of three or each on it’s own![https://t.co/vaDHlpWGsQ](https://t.co/vaDHlpWGsQ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > (retweets are very appreciated! ♡) [#VtuberUprsing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VtuberUprsing?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VTuberAssets](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VTuberAssets?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artistsontwitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artistsontwitter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#AutumnVibes](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AutumnVibes?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/rcLrcF0EP0](https://t.co/rcLrcF0EP0?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Leen | COMMISSIONS OPEN (@nerdsidestories) [November 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/nerdsidestories/status/1591121300407619586?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) If you're spending a lot of your time on Twitter lately and feeling kind of sus about some [recent news](https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-launches-8-monthly-subscription-with-blue-checkmark-2022-11-05/?ref=blog.unvale.io), we have found a hilarious free asset to help express that particular fall feeling! Artist [kvxart](https://twitter.com/kvxart?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1590546254941257728%7Ctwgr%5E776f5e30d4ca87e6050652788c7388456de50284%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F9ffa49f1-2e18-4b32-b658-4738497da996%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) has created this Sus Checkmark to add to your Vtuber, and made the download available for free on gumroad. > Sus Vtuber Asset Release! - This is what a Sus Checkmark does to your body, Can you tell the difference?🥶☑️ > Free download:[https://t.co/pRUEe0hnoz](https://t.co/pRUEe0hnoz?ref=blog.unvale.io)[#Verified](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Verified?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VTuberAssets](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VTuberAssets?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#Vtubers](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vtubers?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/J52lfosZ5S](https://t.co/J52lfosZ5S?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — KevinX Live2D I Art x Rig (@kvxart) [November 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/kvxart/status/1590546254941257728?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Try participating in or hosting a DTIYS!** "Draw this in your style" events are when an artist invites other artists to recreate a specfic drawing in their own style! Sometimes, artists choose to offer a chance to win a prize if you particpate. Here's a lovely example of a DTIYS currently being hosted by [artbyvalo](https://blog.unvale.io/welcome-in-the-spooky-season-with-art-and-community/) featuring their alien character Andromeda. You could participate in this awesome DTIYS during November and even try hosting one of your own! > here is your reminder to enter my DTIYS for a chance to win a free (small) commission! ☺️ [https://t.co/MUOurNPuX7](https://t.co/MUOurNPuX7?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🦇V₳ⱠØ🦇(they/them)🔪çømmś OPEN🎃DTIYS event👻 (@artbyvalo) [November 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/artbyvalo/status/1590723352531849216?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### How to Create a Reference Sheet for Your OC URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-a-reference-sheet-for-your-oc/ Last updated: 2026-08-07T02:31:44.000Z One of the many benefits of [creating your own character](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/) is connecting with others through art and stories. Having a reference sheet for your OC is a great way to communicate elements of their personality and design to others. This reference sheet can then be used in a variety of ways! Other people can use the image you share to draw your character in fan art or for commissions. A reference sheet can add an extra level of immersion to your D&D games. You'll also have more consistency and control over how your character looks when people draw them! If you are an artist yourself, having a reference sheet for your OC will save you time when you draw them again and make it [easier to practice other techniques](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/)! ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ## But really though, what is a reference sheet? Here's an example of a very detailed and well-thought-out character reference sheet from the Vtuber [Finana Ryugu](https://twitter.com/FinanaRyugu?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1440511317664620555%7Ctwgr%5Ee1875d5d86bc971e9ac0f6f78d502f4469a6c8ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5433a25-e118-4b2e-a3f7-b620b3138287%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) and the artist [Gilse1024](https://twitter.com/Gilse1024?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1440511317664620555%7Ctwgr%5Ee1875d5d86bc971e9ac0f6f78d502f4469a6c8ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5433a25-e118-4b2e-a3f7-b620b3138287%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). This sheet is a great example to reference because the artist depicted so many details of the character and their costume in great detail. As Finana states in their Tweet, the artist even drew a bald version so people can have a clear view of the OCs ears! > You don't have to suffer any more artists. The reference sheet is finally here! I'll attach this to my weekly schedules starting next week for references! [#Finanart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Finanart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) > > Thank you mama [@Gilse1024](https://twitter.com/Gilse1024?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) for drawing me so beautifully 😭😭🙏💜💜 I love that my mama drew me bald too LOL 🤣 [pic.twitter.com/TmhimyDV9p](https://t.co/TmhimyDV9p?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Finana Ryugu 🐠 NIJISANJI EN (@FinanaRyugu) [September 22, 2021](https://twitter.com/FinanaRyugu/status/1440511317664620555?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) While a sheet like this is wonderful, it can also be intimidating if you don't know where to start! Reference sheets can also be very simply designed and don't have to follow any one specific format. Making sure your reference sheet is **clear** and communicates your design **easily** is the most important thing to keep in mind. This can be done by working with an experienced artist to have them help you bring your concept to life, or by following tutorials like this one and learning how to create a sheet on your own! No matter your skill level, thinking through the reference sheet process will help you get a great idea of how to flesh out your OC and communicate their story to others. ## How to create your own reference sheet There's no one correct way to create a reference sheet, but there are some helpful elements that could be great to include. Using examples below, think about how you can flesh out your character design and story by adding simple things to their reference sheet. **Include a color palette for your character.** A visible color palette is essential for ensuring that your character has a consistent design when others see or draw them. You can add the palette with a few swatches of paint, make some nice shapes, or even include them in another segment. Artist [ViSkiss](https://twitter.com/Violeta60268561?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1590690977228161026%7Ctwgr%5Ee1875d5d86bc971e9ac0f6f78d502f4469a6c8ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5433a25-e118-4b2e-a3f7-b620b3138287%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) posted this Tweet below featuring color palettes for their OC Kagarin. The artist did a perfect job of showing the colors for the OCs hair and outfit! For help in generating color palettes you can check out the free site [coolors](https://coolors.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io). > A quickly drawn reference to my main character and mascot Kagarin[#characterdesign](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characterdesign?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#artistsontwitter](https://twitter.com/hashtag/artistsontwitter?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#OC](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OC?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/EmYXoGusPo](https://t.co/EmYXoGusPo?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — ViSkiSS (@Violeta60268561) [November 10, 2022](https://twitter.com/Violeta60268561/status/1590690977228161026?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Showcase different expressions for your OC**. The expressions a character makes reveal a lot about their personality. If you have a very stylized way of drawing this can be especially fun! The reference sheet below by artist [Janjauwu](https://twitter.com/Janjauwu?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1590029239968968704%7Ctwgr%5Ee1875d5d86bc971e9ac0f6f78d502f4469a6c8ea%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5433a25-e118-4b2e-a3f7-b620b3138287%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is a wonderful example of a cartoon styled reference sheet. This reference sheet consists of two poses and six expressions. From this picture the personality of the character comes across really well to the viewer! > Reference sheet i did fof [@scratiboi](https://twitter.com/scratiboi?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/bJl0H8P4CJ](https://t.co/bJl0H8P4CJ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Janja hyena☕ (@Janjauwu) [November 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/Janjauwu/status/1590029239968968704?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Try adding in alternate outfits or an inventory!** You can show a lot about your oc through what they wear and the gear they carry with them! Maybe they have another form or a secret identity in their story. This reference sheet created by [FreneticWolf](https://twitter.com/FreneticWolf?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1588205764937912320%7Ctwgr%5E4e8dbf2acc1101741ac99e2a0ba2345d8b04572c%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5433a25-e118-4b2e-a3f7-b620b3138287%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) uses alternate outfits and an inventory to tell the story of The Fallen World. The main character Darwin is depicted in alternate outfits to represent different parts of the book series. > It's almost my birthday and the 2nd anniversary of my first book so I finally made a reference sheet for the main character Darwin from my book series The Fallen World. I hope you like it 🐺🍃 [pic.twitter.com/aAwXOFRmqP](https://t.co/aAwXOFRmqP?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Frencore (@FreneticWolf) [November 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/FreneticWolf/status/1588205764937912320?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) ## Need help with creating your character art? If you aren't keen on drawing your own reference sheet there is no need to fear! You can utilize free resources like the popular character site [picrew](https://picrew.me/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as long as you have the artist permission and credit them appropriately! You can also work closely with a skilled artist to have them help you visualize your design. Many creators enjoy working with others to help bring their vision to life. You can host collabs, join OC communities, and also learn how to commission artists! ### Cel Shading Tips for Anime Artists URL: https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-advice-anime-style-cel-shading-tutorial/ Last updated: 2026-06-18T18:13:17.000Z Cel shading is a style of shading used in many types of animation, and often associated with anime art. It usually features bold colors with strong and clear lines. The effect of this style can also be used on 3D artwork and for paper drawing. This style known as cel shading was originally pioneered by traditional animators who painted on plastic 'cel' sheets. The style's sharp shapes and forms usually consist of multiple layers of paint: the base colors, the shadows, and the highlights. This process is mostly the same when cel shading for digital art. This quick video by [Micah Buzan Animation](https://www.youtube.com/user/MicahBuzan?ref=blog.unvale.io) breaks down the color theory behind cel shading and its purposes so that anyone can try. In the video, there are lots of examples of colorful cel shaded animations and artwork shown as it explains how this differs from a more soft shading style. ## Examples of Anime Style Cel Shading There are a wide range of art styles that like to use cel shading. Anime art is often drawn with this technique. Most art drawn in this style uses layered canvases and special tools in order to achieve bold and dynamic color language. Looking at different examples of this shading style will broaden our understanding of the color theory and its application. In this image below, the horror Vtuber [Noctalon](https://twitter.com/Noct%5FtalonVT?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1586562971731386371%7Ctwgr%5E7f9156162009d978d1bafb82c2ce9655aeea6d2c%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5f34aaf-1716-404b-866a-97314457be86%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows us a work in progress of their pngtuber character. They show off some of the cel shading techniques they are using on the avatar art. The use of these bold colors and lines makes the drawing look powerful and really stand out. They put a lighter color for edges of bones and feathers, and darker colors where the shadow would be strongest. > i attempted to do some cel shading for this spooky [#pngtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pngtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) model.. i think that it,s coming along pretty nicely what do you guys think..? ^^ they will be more to come tomorrow sweet dreams everyone!😉 [#Artists](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Artists?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VtubersEN](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VtubersEN?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/q7GvDm5idc](https://t.co/q7GvDm5idc?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Noctalon | Horror Vtuber 🎃 Horrorcon arc 🎃 (@Noct\_talonVT) [October 30, 2022](https://twitter.com/Noct%5FtalonVT/status/1586562971731386371?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This stunning piece by [Chan Chau](https://twitter.com/Aluhnim?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1588026889415069696%7Ctwgr%5E7f9156162009d978d1bafb82c2ce9655aeea6d2c%7Ctwcon%5Es2%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5f34aaf-1716-404b-866a-97314457be86%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is another perfect example of skillful cel shading. They mention in the caption how hard they have worked to develop this special style that features "hard lines and stippling." > For years I've been pushing to make my cel shading feel simple but complex, hard but still soft... and I finally feel like I'm hitting some nice breakthroughs where I can expand further and further in cool directions. No gradients. No soft brushes. Only hard lines and stippling. [pic.twitter.com/oUX1NKy5yJ](https://t.co/oUX1NKy5yJ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Chan Chau (@Aluhnim) [November 3, 2022](https://twitter.com/Aluhnim/status/1588026889415069696?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [OpenToonz](https://opentoonz.github.io/e/index.html?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a free and open-source software for the production of 2D animation. This software has been used for many anime films that replicate a hand drawn cel shading animation in digital form. Studio Chizu's "[Belle](https://ryu-to-sobakasu-no-hime.jp/?ref=blog.unvale.io)" in 2021 was created by animators that used OpenToonz for their pencil tests and remote work on the film. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/11/image.png) BELLE ©2021 Studio Chizu This movie blends 2D anime and other art aesthetics with modern day concepts of technology and highlights the emotional impact this type of art can have. If you watch the movie, or even look at some clips of its animation, you can see the creative ways the art uses color and cel shading. ## Practice Makes Perfect! Now that we've learned a lot more about cel shading and how to do it, it's time to practice these skills! There are a ton of imaginative ways you can use this knowledge as you continue to develop your cel shading skills. This video by [Manu Mercurial](https://www.youtube.com/c/ManuMercurial?ref=blog.unvale.io) will give you the secrets to easily testing out different lighting techinques to push your cel shading to the next level. The tutorial explains in depth about how to think when coloring your work for animations and making comics! The best thing you can do to improve your skills is to have fun and keep practicing! This is a technique that can translate into many art styles. Cel shading can be a fun and impactful way to experiment with new techniques while developing a strong understanding of color theory. This picture by [GianmarcoLizzi](https://twitter.com/GianmarcoLizzio?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1412312766136860676%7Ctwgr%5E7f9156162009d978d1bafb82c2ce9655aeea6d2c%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2Fa5f34aaf-1716-404b-866a-97314457be86%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io)o shows their experiment in cel shading style after watching a tutorial video. The artwork is full of energy and the shading truly captures that anime style! > Experiment for cel shading style after watching a video tutorial. [pic.twitter.com/2BphTkBHOr](https://t.co/2BphTkBHOr?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Ewder -Commissions: Open - (@GianmarcoLizzio) [July 6, 2021](https://twitter.com/GianmarcoLizzio/status/1412312766136860676?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Check out these other resources too! [The Beginners Guide to Live 2D](https://blog.unvale.io/beginners-guide-to-live-2d/) \- A perfect place to start for Live 2D [Become a VRoid Master with These Fab Tutorials](https://blog.unvale.io/become-a-vroid-master-with-these-fab-tutorials/) \- More tutorials for VRoid If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### The Gijinka Journey: From Trend to Art Form URL: https://blog.unvale.io/the-gijinka-journey/ Last updated: 2026-08-18T18:28:01.000Z Have you ever heard of a [gijinka](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moe%5Fanthropomorphism?ref=blog.unvale.io)? Though there is some speculation on the exact origin of the term "gijinka" use of the word has definitely caught on in recent years. The fun of creating these cute anthropomorphic characters has been a popular trend among online artists and fans for decades. In todays time people are still creating all types of awesome gijinka and neat [original characters](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/)! ## What Is a Gijinka? The word gijinka can loosely be translated as the [Japanese romaji](https://www.busuu.com/en/japanese/romaji?ref=blog.unvale.io) for humanization. This term is often used in online communities to describe the practice of depicting non-human objects and animals in a humanoid form. People also refer to this phenomena as moe anthropomorphism to describe the cute features often found in anime inspired artwork. If you're interested in making your own, [we have a guide](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-a-gijinka/) for that. ## Gajinka Through Time ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/11/imac-blue-by-toy-2.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/11/windows-7-nanami.jpg) iMac girl by Toy, 1998; Windows 7 Mascot Nanami Many sources site the [iMac girl by Toy](http://www.toyboxarts.com/gallery/extra/mbabes-iCandy1/mbabes.html?ref=blog.unvale.io) as one of the first examples of an iconic gijinka. Netizens since that time have created online communities entirely centered around these moe mascots and their fan art. From big brand created characters like Japanese Microsoft's [Madobe Nanami](https://legendsofthemultiuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Nanami%5FMadobe?ref=blog.unvale.io) to the designs of independent creators, the love for gijinka art definitely runs deep. The furry community and the wonderful [fans of the Pokemon series](https://pokemonfanon.fandom.com/wiki/Gijinka?ref=blog.unvale.io) are some of the largest fandoms associated with making gijinka stick, although the inspiration for a gijinka can come from just about anywhere! ## Gijinkas From Pokémon and More Creating gijinka is a really fun and thriving part of many online communities, especially for the fans of the ever popular Pokémon series! The Pokémon fandom is a large part of why gijinkas are still so popular. We can look at awesome gijinka from the Pokémon fandom and beyond to get a better understanding of why these characters resonate so well. These characters are all connected by their basic lore as Pokémon, but still remain entirely unique to their original creators. This fosters a sense of community while still being special and custom. It's not just Pokémon, either! Artists make gijinka of their favorite animals and objects as well as characters from other video games. Here's a pretty and colorful gijinka by the artist [lumiutopia](https://twitter.com/lumiutopia?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1586812782556901376%7Ctwgr%5E2392cb5e52214a59e86a5c2c1e1b97b46fc0b41a%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F60ae9a88-8d3e-4d91-871a-f9242fdc55ae%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) of Muffy from Animal Crossing! It highlights the original animal characters gothic aesthetic and has a unique color swatch. This character ends up having a visually compelling design thanks to these elements. > muffy gijinka [#animalcrossing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/animalcrossing?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/UMOWwFCUhS](https://t.co/UMOWwFCUhS?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — lumi ♡ (@lumiutopia) [October 30, 2022](https://twitter.com/lumiutopia/status/1586812782556901376?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Other independent artists like the wonderful [Miss\_LynArt](https://twitter.com/Miss%5FLynArt?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1587645849923997697%7Ctwgr%5E510cc0280e05e5068a211bb4f7d6eb8d54015993%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F60ae9a88-8d3e-4d91-871a-f9242fdc55ae%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) have also created new versions of gijinka based on technology, like this one below of their own Wacom tablet! What a creative character design! > Experimenting with animation character in After Effects. Im happy with the results im having 😃! > Hope you like it! > [#chibiart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/chibiart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#chibi](https://twitter.com/hashtag/chibi?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#digitalart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/digitalart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#animation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/animation?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#characteranimation](https://twitter.com/hashtag/characteranimation?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#gijinka](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gijinka?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/glBVrKKerh](https://t.co/glBVrKKerh?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — リン Lyn (@Miss\_LynArt) [November 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/Miss%5FLynArt/status/1587645849923997697?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) ## How are Gijinka Still Used Today? The popularity of gijinka has continued to trend in recent years! As more artists start to develop their skills and the presence of modern gijinka type characters like vtubers rises the love of designing anthropomorphized characters will only continue to grow. These are some ways that artists today are still using their gijinka characters and growing in their communities. **Creating unique original character designs:** Many artists have a ton of fun just by reimagining different concepts into gajinka. [Rainbrony's](https://twitter.com/bbpnz213?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577857803112382464%7Ctwgr%5E510cc0280e05e5068a211bb4f7d6eb8d54015993%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F60ae9a88-8d3e-4d91-871a-f9242fdc55ae%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) character Earth-chan is such an imaginative example. Just look at that skillfull use of the Earth's color scheme in their OCs hair design. The NASA shirt is a wonderful touch. > Earth-chan[#blacktober2022](https://twitter.com/hashtag/blacktober2022?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#earthchan](https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthchan?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#blacktober](https://twitter.com/hashtag/blacktober?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/pSCUHG9u3Q](https://t.co/pSCUHG9u3Q?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — rainbrony (@bbpnz213) [October 6, 2022](https://twitter.com/bbpnz213/status/1577857803112382464?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Cosplaying as different gajinka:** Cosplay is loved by people of all ages and experiences. Many cosplay costumes could technically be considered types of gajinka! There are thriving communities full of cosplayers out there for just about any fandom. **Creating gajinka-themed adopts:** [Creating adopts](https://blog.unvale.io/create-and-sell-your-own-adoptable-characters/) is both fun and can be a great source of income. Once you've thought of a gajinka design or two you could selling them them as adoptables. These adopt sales are unique and functional ways to share your character design skills with others. **Create a gajinka themed vtuber:** There are tons of awesome vtubers that are technically gijinka too! You may be interested in creating your own design or finding some new vtubers to follow after taking a look at some of these creations. [Tsunari](https://twitter.com/Venariiii?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1587066859551133699%7Ctwgr%5E510cc0280e05e5068a211bb4f7d6eb8d54015993%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F60ae9a88-8d3e-4d91-871a-f9242fdc55ae%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) the super cute gijinka shark lifeguard featured in the Tweet below is a wonderful example of vtuber gijinka design! Feel free to let us know some of your favorite gijinka, and show off your own wonderful creations in our community. If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io). ### Your Guide to Making and Selling Adoptables URL: https://blog.unvale.io/create-and-sell-your-own-adoptable-characters/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:14:55.000Z If you are at all familiar with [adoptable characters](https://blog.unvale.io/all-about-adoptable-characters/), you may be inspired to create some of your own awesome adoptable designs! This process begins with **designing and planning your adoptable.** You can then sell your adopts online and build a community around their designs**.** ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Designing your Adopt The first step of coming up with a design is finding inspiration. Maybe you want to create an adoptable from a popular fandom like Pokemon or [Steven Universe](https://gemsonaresources.tumblr.com/post/141990153425/so-you-wanna-make-a-gemsona?ref=blog.unvale.io). You can also try combining different themes or elements, like animals and foods, into something new. There are an infinite number of ways to find inspiration for characters, from everyday objects to randomly generated prompts from sites like [ARTPROMPTS](https://artprompts.org/character/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Here's an example of some adoptables inspired by the world of Steven Universe made by Twitter artist [TH3DIC3BAB3](https://twitter.com/TH3DIC3BAB3?ref=blog.unvale.io). > Whoop, gem adopts available. > Whoop, come get em[#su](https://twitter.com/hashtag/su?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#stevenuniverse](https://twitter.com/hashtag/stevenuniverse?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#gem](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gem?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#gemsona](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gemsona?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#adopts](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adopts?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#adoptables](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adoptables?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#adopt](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adopt?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#adoptable](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adoptable?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#seasons](https://twitter.com/hashtag/seasons?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#pairs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pairs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/AH3UlWdezv](https://t.co/AH3UlWdezv?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓚𝓲𝓷𝓰’𝓼 𝓦𝓲𝓯𝓮 (@TH3DIC3BAB3) [January 19, 2021](https://twitter.com/TH3DIC3BAB3/status/1351348418304749571?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This artist created their own character designs based on the show by mixing multiple gems together, and also developed a clear pricing structure which highlights the different traits that make up each character. Combining unrelated elements together in general is a wonderful way to come up with simple adopt ideas. It can be great to use a combination of two or three strong themes to make a cohesive and unique design! **The Three Emoji Challenge** is something many artists participate in on social media as a way of practicing character design, and can lead to some interesting adopts! Here's an [awesome prompt generator](https://elleemdee.github.io/emojiprompts/?ref=blog.unvale.io) you can use to play around with the emoji challenge, or you can even reach out to your friends and followers online for random emoji combinations! You can also try to find a **character base** to use for designing your adopts. Many artists offer free or pay-to-use bases for others to use, and also sell designs made on their own bases. This base is a template file you can then draw on and edit to turn into a new design. Here's a really great free base from the artist [Maddox](https://twitter.com/DarkkDemonic?ref=blog.unvale.io) to try out! > Made a free to use sonic base! Just make sure you credit me if you use it! > > Can use it for customs/adopts/personal refs, edit it however you want, I don’t mind! [pic.twitter.com/mKAcCFOJux](https://t.co/mKAcCFOJux?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Maddox (@DarkkDemonic) [October 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/DarkkDemonic/status/1579895520692408321?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) 💡 If you plan to sell your adopt, be sure to check that you have permission for using a certain base in your design and that you credit it accordingly. --- ## Decide What to Do with Your New Adopt Once you have your adopt design ready, you'll probably want to show it off! You can choose to sell your adopt or keep it to interact as part of a larger community. If you choose to sell it, there are a few ways people commonly structure their sales that may be good to try! It's important to find what works for you, and allows you to value yourself and the work that you put into the piece. --- ### Selling Your Adopt **Auction** \- Many artists, like the character artist Pippo, host an auction with specific rules to sell their adopts. In this Tweet below, Pippo has even created a custom graphic with their terms and conditions for a character sale. > SB: $160 > Min increment: $5 > AB: $360 > > Auction ends 24hrs after the last bid or if Ab’d. > > Terms of Service[https://t.co/tevRBHvlz7](https://t.co/tevRBHvlz7?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/Vmu7w9HZbi](https://t.co/Vmu7w9HZbi?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Pippo 🐰 Comms OPEN (@BabyPippo) [October 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/BabyPippo/status/1579822120473100298?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) When hosting an auction, people generally include these tiers for customers: SB - Starting Bid AB - Auto Buy / Asking Bid MI - Minimum Bid Increase **Offer or Bio to Adopt** \- When someone puts a character up for offer, but not necessarily auction. Usually the person listing the adopt will say what they will and won't accept, like USD or a custom art piece, and lists what they want in order of priority. Check out this example of a Halloween canine adopt from the artist [Wreckham](https://twitter.com/beckwreckham?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1581745974166200320%7Ctwgr%5E9ca943f9952c15863a43336eff238e4ce5b51824%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F0b7d0da1-7f16-4479-a77b-61146b01530b%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) below! They list out rules and everything that comes with the purchase clearly. > [#OTA](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OTA?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io)/[#OFFERTOADOPT](https://twitter.com/hashtag/OFFERTOADOPT?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io): [#GHOSTCORE](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GHOSTCORE?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#DOG](https://twitter.com/hashtag/DOG?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) > LF offers of at least $12, else offer whatevs. Paypal only. Only rules: credit me for the design and artwork > Purchase gets you unwatermarked, fullres, HQ image + all ownership rights to design[#adopt](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adopt?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#adoptable](https://twitter.com/hashtag/adoptable?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#canine](https://twitter.com/hashtag/canine?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#halloween](https://twitter.com/hashtag/halloween?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#aesthetic](https://twitter.com/hashtag/aesthetic?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/ZDJSqQrEju](https://t.co/ZDJSqQrEju?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Wreckham (@beckwreckham) [October 16, 2022](https://twitter.com/beckwreckham/status/1581745974166200320?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Big Batch Sale** \- This is when an artist sells a giant batch of adoptables at once, usually all drawn on the same base. This allows an artist to create a variety of designs while still maintaining a consistent look. The adopt artist [GolddTeethh\_](https://twitter.com/GolddTeethh%5F?ref=blog.unvale.io) has an example of a big batch sale featured below. Each character is numbered for their Gacha Mystery sale, and they provide a Google form for keeping track of each adopt! Be sure to check out their Twitter thread for more info on their amazing sale and the designs they have created! > Gacha Mystery Adopts {2.0}! ❇️✨ > > $35 = 1 Roll (Randomly Generated) > +$10 = Re-Roll > $50 = Specifcally choose a capsule > > USD/Paypal (invoice) > DM/Comment to purchase 💖 > > Check the Google form to see which adopts are available ! : [https://t.co/HreY7A1C7r](https://t.co/HreY7A1C7r?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > (More info in 🧵!) [pic.twitter.com/NmTSl713EN](https://t.co/NmTSl713EN?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🎃 AUTUMN 🎃 (CHECK PINNED) (@GolddTeethh\_) [October 24, 2022](https://twitter.com/GolddTeethh%5F/status/1584546769873952768?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- Join UnVale THE NEW HOME FOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS Looking for a new place to create, share, trade, and explore original characters? [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is free to join, and we have hundreds of OC creators joining every week. Sign-up now to grab your username! Explore UnVale ### Hiring: Community Manager URL: https://blog.unvale.io/hiring-community-manager/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:14:25.000Z UnVale is looking for a new **Community Manager**! We could use someone on our team that's deeply familiar with artists, OCs, and online communities to help keep our community members engaged, informed, and excited. Please review the information below, and if you're interested in throwing your hat into the ring, please send your resume (or an equivalent summary of your experience) to **jobs@unvale.io**. You can also send any questions you may have to that email, too! ## Job Specifics Title: Community Manager Compensation: $40,000 - $50,000 Type: Full-time Location: Anywhere/Remote (but strong overlap with CT or PT timezones preferred) ## Job Responsibilities - Keep UnVale users engaged across a variety of channels, including Discord and social media (Twitter and Instagram). - Maintain positive relationships with many of the most engaged users on our platform (our Ambassadors), making sure they are heard, their needs are being met, and we’re mutually benefitting one another. - Greet new users when they join our community, letting newcomers know they’re welcome on our platform. - Lead user support through Zendesk, answering questions about UnVale, the commission process, profile setup, and more. - Create helpful guide content on Zendesk, giving users a grab-and-go way to answer their top UnVale questions quickly and easily. - Pass along user feedback to our internal teams, making sure we’re addressing top user complaints or concerns in a timely manner. - Write and maintain strong Community Guidelines to keep our community inclusive and safe. - Lead a team of Discord moderators to help keep our community safe and welcoming. - Assist with platform testing and trying out newly developed features. ## Who We're Looking For - Someone who knows the ins and outs of the art/OC communities and has spent a good amount of time in them. - A person that’s comfortable navigating online communities like Discord, social media, or even small community forums. (Bonus points if you’ve had a leadership role in any communities.) - A context-swapping master! Being a Community Manager requires you to oversee a variety of UnVale channels every single day; being able to manage context shifts will be important. (Don't worry, we take work-life balance very seriously here.) - Someone that’s known as a strong, kind communicator, as you’ll be the first hello for many of our new community members and constantly conversing on Discord, Zendesk, social media, and more. - Someone comfortable with analytics. While you don't need to be a numbers expert, we are an outcome-focused team. This means you'll need to measure the effectiveness of your work to make sure your time is spent working on the things most important to users and UnVale as a whole. ## About UnVale UnVale is the new home for your OCs! We're building an inclusive, safe platform for OC creators, owners, and digital artists. Our platform is currently in beta, and it is full of functionality for digital artists to display their portfolio, create an in-depth commission order form, receive payment for their work, and track the final delivery of their character art. We have big plans when it comes to OC functionality, so the best is yet to come! We are committed to being Never-NFT. Additional information about UnVale: - UnVale is a small, 100% remote team that often works asynchronously and encourages flexible working hours. Having strong discipline to drive forward your own work and communicate proactively is very important! - While working at an early-stage startup can be highly rewarding, it’s also risky and ever-changing. To thrive here, you will need to be able to adapt to change well. - We have a minimum vacation policy (must take at least 3 weeks of vacation per year), a Creative Outlets stipend, a Convention stipend, and we offer help with early childcare costs. - Diversity and inclusion is very important at UnVale. Underrepresented folks in tech are strongly encouraged to apply. - If you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications, but you’re still very interested, please reach out anyway! If you want to learn more about our Community, [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/unvale?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a great place to start. Becoming familiar with [the UnVale platform](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) would be helpful, too. To apply for this position, please send a resume (or an equivalent summary of your experience and why you're a good fit for this position) to **jobs@unvale.io**. ### All About Adoptable Characters URL: https://blog.unvale.io/all-about-adoptable-characters/ Last updated: 2026-06-19T14:54:46.000Z ### What is an Adoptable? An *adoptable character* is basically an [original character](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/) (OC) made by an artist or other creative, usually with the intention to sell or trade the rights to the design. Adoptables, often shortened to 'adopts,' are generally pre-designed by an artist and have certain rules or specifics attached to them. They can be a fan character from an existing work like [My Hero Academia](https://www.deviantart.com/hero-academia/gallery/69297456/adoptables?ref=blog.unvale.io) or [Pokémon](https://www.pokemon.com/us/?ref=blog.unvale.io), or they can be a completely original creation. They can look like any thing and be any combination of themes or species. There are even online worlds and communities dedicated entirely to these types of adoptable characters! --- ## Adoptables and Artists Selling adopts can be an awesome source of independent income for an artist, and creating them is a ton of fun. Maybe an artist is swamped with commissions for a month, but have an old design they don't mind selling for a bit extra on the side. Some artists enjoy character designing so much that they decide to focus on that aspect of it and generate consistently loyal followers who cherish their designs. Whatever you would like to do with your characters, it can be helpful to look at some of your favorite artists that are experienced in selling adopts and learn from them. This recent adopt from [Fiyunae](https://twitter.com/FIYUNAE?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a wonderful example. Fiyu is a popular character artist and often designs intricate, unique OCs. She has developed a well laid-out rule structure for auctioning her character designs that communicates everything to potential bidders with clarity. > 𝐑𝐮𝐥𝐞𝐬- > 🌸Must agree to my TOS: [https://t.co/ywNmz877L9](https://t.co/ywNmz877L9?ref=blog.unvale.io) > 🌸Payment plans ok upon discussion! > 🌸Closes 24hr after last bid or AB. > 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨- > 🌸Reply to the BID HERE comment or DM. > 🌸Reply to the latest bidder. > 🌸Payment made by invoice via Paypal. > > — 🌙 (@FIYUNAE) [September 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/FIYUNAE/status/1569819063186247686?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Another really successful character artist to learn from is the skillful [Babypippo](https://twitter.com/BabyPippo?ref=blog.unvale.io). Pippo's character design auctions are hosted on multiple platforms, and have garnered a lot of online support throughout the years. Many of Pippo's designs have cohesive themes, such as a 'Yeti' design, or the Black Widow character featured below. > 🕷️Black Widow🕷️ > > Auction below 👇 [pic.twitter.com/1lVbqB90TL](https://t.co/1lVbqB90TL?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Pippo 🐰 Comms OPEN (@BabyPippo) [October 12, 2022](https://twitter.com/BabyPippo/status/1580174835006996480?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Pippo's designs are so unique and detailed that people often recognize who designed them just from art style alone. Pippo likely uses a symmetry tool for some of the basic shapes of the character and draws special details for each one on top. Some artists also like to use a base for their artwork and create a large series of designs to sell at once. This is a great way to save time as an artist but still provide plenty of variation for your customers. This adopt sale from [Sleepy Time Studios](https://twitter.com/Sleepytimestud1?ref=blog.unvale.io) features designs drawn on a couple different bases, all credited appropriately and with unique designs! > ✏️ Unsold Adopt Sale! 📒 > > I’ve had a bunch of different adopts sitting around so it’s time for a price drop! The first 8 were made on dynavera’s base! The rest were made on bases by me or off base drawings I’ve done! > > 🌟RTs, Likes, and Comments Appreciated!🌟 [pic.twitter.com/J6yrI2vqC0](https://t.co/J6yrI2vqC0?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — SleepyTimeStudios (@Sleepytimestud1) [October 9, 2022](https://twitter.com/Sleepytimestud1/status/1579227095628382209?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ## Adoptable Communities Getting involved in adopt-focused communities will help you network with others and grow. You can garner more support for your own adopt designs, and also find lots of interesting characters that were made by other artists. [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a great place to start! Just search #adoptables and you'll find thousands! Some adoptable communities are focused on **original species**. These communities can be found on places like [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/world.of.allash/?ref=blog.unvale.io) or Discord, when a user creates an entire species and sets up a list of traits that other characters of the same species would have. Usually, there are two types of original species groups: open and closed. An **open species** means that the creator has said that anyone can create an OC from the species and be a part of the community as long as they follow certain guidelines. This tweet from [KilluKaela](https://twitter.com/KilluKaela?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1579876709645844481%7Ctwgr%5Eace66e5fa25426e3fe4cd3514f333b1fc4741a99%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F999bff7f-4bca-4d31-8852-0fe1db6d91e5%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) shows an example of this as they invite people to explore their original species Vappiers. > Guess who made a basic guide!! > These are open, so feel free to check it out and make ur own :3 > > You can find it here, as well as all current designs I've made based on this funky little alien species;[https://t.co/0iGWugjvts](https://t.co/0iGWugjvts?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/jCvoB4ErsI](https://t.co/jCvoB4ErsI?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — » ＭＩＬＥＳ «『 Splatoon Brainrot 』 (@KilluKaela) [October 11, 2022](https://twitter.com/KilluKaela/status/1579876709645844481?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) A **closed species** means that people can only create an adopt in that community if the creator gives them explicit permission to do so. This is really up to the creator of the species to decide. This is fun to do if you want to be involved in a more tightly knit community or really love a specific species someone made! Often designs have to be approved in a closed species, like this one below from [LiuPhrog](https://twitter.com/LiuPhrog?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1580442422794149888%7Ctwgr%5Ecf52a2c71a0ffa028cc4dfd51bcbd270137433e9%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F999bff7f-4bca-4d31-8852-0fe1db6d91e5%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). > I got a starsnare common MYO (closed species) so I made uhh Ocean Witch hele as one. I hope my design gets approved [pic.twitter.com/TUdXN7Xzqv](https://t.co/TUdXN7Xzqv?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🌿🪷Liu Phroggy🪷🌿 (@LiuPhrog) [October 13, 2022](https://twitter.com/LiuPhrog/status/1580442422794149888?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) If you're an artist, there can be extra benefits to joining a community with a closed species. Sometimes, there will be opportunities to become a guest artist and sell featured designs within that specific community! This allows for extra visibility among a niche market. People also just like to sell their adopts on their own time or in their own network! You could post about it online or join [Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and post your adopts for sale while searching for adopts made by others. We even have a marketplace in the explore characters section! --- ## Unvale is *now an app!* Never miss a favorite, comment, or follow again. The Unvale app is now available for iOS and Android! [Download for free → ](https://unvale.io/app-store?ref=blog.unvale.io) ### Drawing Advice: Pushing Poses URL: https://blog.unvale.io/drawing-advice-pushing-poses/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:59:07.000Z How someone is posed says a lot about an image. Learning to understand the nuance of this body language is essential to developing as an artist. A figure's pose has the ability to greatly shape the [meaning, mood, or intention of a work](https://artuk.org/discover/stories/strike-a-pose-a-brief-history-of-posture-in-art?ref=blog.unvale.io). Learn how to better express your ideas by pushing your poses even further through these tips and resources. ## The Importance of Dynamic Poses Artists can use the body language of a character to visually communicate important ideas. Creating compelling poses is an essential part of drawing characters, be they human or otherwise. A good pose can take a character from being stiff and boring to feeling lifelike. > I've uploaded a tutorial on how to draw dynamic poses 😋✍ [pic.twitter.com/SQ16z9YcrZ](https://t.co/SQ16z9YcrZ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Marcel (DlaS) (@DrawinglikeaSir) [October 8, 2022](https://twitter.com/DrawinglikeaSir/status/1578807313489600513?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This tutorial by Marcel at [Drawlikeasir](https://www.youtube.com/c/DrawlikeaSir?ref=blog.unvale.io) highlights how slightly altering the pose of a figure can add so much energy and life to it. In the tweet, you can instantly see the difference made when Marcel adjusts the pose to be more dynamic, and his attached tutorial video discusses in depth theory on creating poses and what mastering it can do for your drawings. ## Gesture and Drawing When wanting to push your poses, it will help to learn more about gesture drawing. These 'gesture drawings'– simple, fluid sketches based on movement and feeling– are easy to do and will ultimately add life to a figure. Simple gesture drawings will help you get better at creating more fluidity and movement in your artwork. [Koizu](https://www.youtube.com/c/koizu?ref=blog.unvale.io) has created a really wonderful tutorial that walks us through some gesture exercises. Koizu talks about drawing from life and capturing the overall feeling of a drawing through gestures. You can follow along with them through the video or even practice by using some photos of your own. When gesture drawing, there are quite a few things to keep in mind: **Line of action** \- Figure out the line of action for the pose you are using in your work. This is the main curve that the figure will bend to from head to toe. You can do this when using a reference image as well as when drawing from imagination. If you feel your line may be too stiff, you can adjust the line of action to be more extreme and end up with a more fluid and exaggerated pose later on. **Pay attention to curves** \- After your line of action, pay attention to the curves of your figure. If the reference image has curves in certain places, add loose gesture of those curves to your line of action. Think of the natural volume of your figure and how the curves would move throughout the body as you begin to solidify its form. **Weight of the figure** \- Pay attention to how your character would distribute their weight in the pose they are in. Does one leg have more weight on it than another? Are the hips shifted to the left, or right? If a character has a tail, you can even think about how they would move with the weight of their tail in relation to the line of action. ## Using References ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/10/dual-revolver-cowboy.jpg) Dual Reviver Cowboy Hat Gunslinger by [AdorkaStock](https://www.deviantart.com/adorkastock/art/Dual-Revolver-Cowboy-Hat-Gunslinger-923474783?ref=blog.unvale.io) Using references is extremely important for artists of all skill levels. You can choose to use specific references or none at all, but for most poses it will be helpful to combine aspects of different references and synthesis what you like most. **Use Stock images or photos** \- As seen in some of the tutorials above, stock images can be extremely helpful for artists that want to draw unique poses. There is a huge repository of stock images created by [Adorkastock](https://www.deviantart.com/adorkastock?ref=blog.unvale.io) that has been insanely helpful to many artists, and it features fantasy-specific poses. They created the Cowboy Gunslinger featured above that you can use for free, with credit. You can also take fun pictures of yourself or your friends to use in much the same way! **Draw from life** \- Most artists recommend that you study and draw from life often. This can be anything from sketching passerby on a stroll, to drawing your own hands, to taking a figure drawing course. Drawing from life will give you the most opportunity to practice and build up your fundamental skills when drawing figures. **3D models or mannequins** \- Mannequins have long been a way for artists to practice drawing better poses. You can still buy a poseable wooden mannequin or even download the [Manikin](https://manikin.app/?ref=blog.unvale.io) app for your phone which gives you a digital one. Nowadays, we can use 3D models to simulate poses very easily and [Clip Studio](https://www.clipstudio.net/en/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7p6aBhBiEiwA83fGugbkmDlU16SNWS3Td3DFzD6ShQ3DP5YAK5sSw4Rqx8Q8TeRuESKu0BoC4%5FYQAvD%5FBwE&ref=blog.unvale.io) even has a 3D model editor built right into it. Using this method you can preselect a posed humanoid figure and then adjust its joints to a pose of your liking. You can then can set the model layer to transparent and sketch directly on top! ## Practice Makes Perfect Practice drawing all kinds of different poses for your characters and each one will help you get better! Even if you only have small amounts of time to practice, there are lots of awesome things you can do to continue advancing your skills and have fun doing it. [AdorkaSketch](https://www.adorkastock.com/sketch/?ref=blog.unvale.io) has an awesome website that gives you a thirty second challenge to sketch a random pose. You can set filters to whatever you want, and then use the site for a low-pressure and engaging practice session. Set up a simple routine of warm-up exercises to help you practice these concepts. Tiny warm-ups will stay with you and help you build on more complex drawings in later works! This video by [Jess Karp](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgpzW4py32WW-Bbkxs8iTVA?ref=blog.unvale.io) showcases 12 helpful warm up exercises that will help you improve your drawings and poses. She also talks about maintaining a proper hand and body posture when drawing. Just like your characters' pose has purpose in a work, the pose you use when drawing will greatly affect your output! Practice warming up your brain and drawing in a pose that helps your hands last longer. If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Spooky Season Is Here: Art Ideas and Community Fun URL: https://blog.unvale.io/welcome-in-the-spooky-season-with-art-and-community/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:13:36.000Z Fall is here and it is time for pumpkins, costumes, and wonderfully spooky creations of all kinds! This is the perfect time of year to find some new creative inspiration. There are so many ways to celebrate the season, from creating holiday baked goods to drawing some of your favorite characters in their Halloween costumes. Many artists like to enjoy their favorite scary games and shows and then draw some artwork inspired by them during the holidays. Welcome in the spooky season by enjoying some of this art, creating your own, and connecting with others in different communities! ## Welcome October, Welcome Spooky Fan Art! It's clear that the art community is super excited for this years' spooky season! All over social media amazing artists are sharing their creepy and cute creations. > Welcome October, welcome spooky times! 🎃🎃 [pic.twitter.com/LUj9dU3xEu](https://t.co/LUj9dU3xEu?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Sugar🍓🍓 (@Sugahri) [October 2, 2022](https://twitter.com/Sugahri/status/1576642420099334144?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This lovely picture of two Pokemon trick-or-treating drawn by [Sugahri](https://twitter.com/Sugahri?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1576642420099334144%7Ctwgr%5Ed6d0b8a595a397748202f172c0951a20da0b2aa3%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) portrays the feeling of the season beautifully! Speaking of Pokémon, the artist [Valo](https://twitter.com/artbyvalo?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577696336899719168%7Ctwgr%5E43780af40b06180a69d4de801baf8ec12c532f58%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is doing an entire spooky series this month featuring Pokémon that they love. Take a look at this adorable drawing of Phantump, and then check out some more of their works for even more spooky characters! > man, I love Phantump and it’s weird little face 👻 🌳 [#pokemonart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pokemonart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#poketober](https://twitter.com/hashtag/poketober?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#procreate](https://twitter.com/hashtag/procreate?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#valo2022](https://twitter.com/hashtag/valo2022?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/qRCfTBMvij](https://t.co/qRCfTBMvij?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🦇✟V₳ⱠØ✟🦇(they/them)🏳️‍⚧️🔪çømmś OPEN🎃👻 (@artbyvalo) [October 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/artbyvalo/status/1577696336899719168?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Pokémon are a perfect inspiration for drawing during the spooky season! Most of the characters have complex designs that utilize **simple shapes** and **bold colors**, so they are really fun to draw. With [the new game coming out soon](https://scarletviolet.pokemon.com/en-us/news/?utm%5Fsource=tilebouncer&utm%5Fmedium=pcom&utm%5Fcampaign=sv&utm%5Fterm=), it's the perfect time to flex those muscles! Along with awesome Pokémon pictures, artists are also creating Halloween fanarts from some of their other favorite games and anime! This Witchy Shantae below by [BacunNG](https://twitter.com/BacunNG?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577926356301541376%7Ctwgr%5E8032e32c3c7307c56e3f56e8d5b6a497f0ecbda8%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) is a great example and the colors give the image a very nostalgic flair. > Witch Shantae beware you're in for a scare!!💀 [pic.twitter.com/mPKHfqWAe1](https://t.co/mPKHfqWAe1?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Bacun🆖 (@BacunNG) [October 6, 2022](https://twitter.com/BacunNG/status/1577926356301541376?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ## Fun Fall Activities for Vtubers Vtubers and their fans are also getting into the spooky spirit! There are popular vtubers debuting Halloween costumes, people creating fanart, and even artists offering custom commissions and free assets for people to use! > Try to follow Iofi's [#holoctober](https://twitter.com/hashtag/holoctober?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) prompt. > > Day 06 - Flight Attendant > > "Ladies and gentlemen, I’d like to direct your attention to the television monitors. We wi- . . Wait that's wrong. I’d like to direct your attention to me because I'm perfect" -Kronii probably-[#kronillust](https://twitter.com/hashtag/kronillust?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/kVqfzlC4QS](https://t.co/kVqfzlC4QS?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Iqbal Fauzi | Commission: Closed (@coretanuzi) [October 6, 2022](https://twitter.com/coretanuzi/status/1578067666887376896?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Some artists like the one above are participating in #holotober and drawing the members of vtuber group [Hololive](https://en.hololive.tv/?ref=blog.unvale.io) with various costume prompts! Even if you aren't a vtuber, there are lots of ways you can enjoy other kinds of Halloween themed anime art and get involved with these types of communities! You also can find tons of free resources created by artists for dressing up your vtuber online– like this Halloween blankie from [Crytoko](https://twitter.com/crytoko?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577788221236432896%7Ctwgr%5Ea374dc3bf0d410a6574305743483a93796969b60%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io)! > 🎃♡ Rts appreciated ♡🎃 > To celebrate the spooky season, I made a couple of free Halloween blankie assets available on my Ko-fi\~! 🎃💕💖💞🎃[#Vtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VTuberAssets](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VTuberAssets?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ENVtubers](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ENVtubers?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [https://t.co/jAKjCrzeCm](https://t.co/jAKjCrzeCm?ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/JJs0inxNsd](https://t.co/JJs0inxNsd?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🌸Cry🌸 (@crytoko) [October 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/crytoko/status/1577788221236432896?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Here's another asset, this time a really adorable pumpkin and ghost hood from [KlahomaVT](https://twitter.com/KlahomaVT?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577677687820357635%7Ctwgr%5E2c72feb9d86e815f2d79c73b09527fc9e04b2598%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io). Many vtube artists distribute free and donation based assets like these for the community to use on their own avatars. Doing this gives a sense of community but also reminds us that it is important to support the dedicated creators that share their hard work and creativity! > \[🎃 FREE ASSETS 🎃\] > > Hello ! New assets for Halloween in my Ko-fi ! 🎃 > > DL : [https://t.co/sCOSXTBc9X](https://t.co/sCOSXTBc9X?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > Please credit me \~ ♥[#Vtuber](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Vtuber?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#vtuberfr](https://twitter.com/hashtag/vtuberfr?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VtubersEN](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VtubersEN?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#VTuberAssets](https://twitter.com/hashtag/VTuberAssets?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/rgVw0DVEgU](https://t.co/rgVw0DVEgU?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🎃Klahoma |『MNY』🎃 (@KlahomaVT) [October 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/KlahomaVT/status/1577677687820357635?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) It is well worth browsing the free assets tag online and looking through some of the assets these artists have created. You might find your next Halloween look, and your new favorite artist! --- ## Enjoy the Season Through Your Own Art and Communities :) If you are looking for some inspiration for what to draw, blending your favorite characters with your favorite spooky themes is just too much fun. After taking a look at some of the seasonal creations above, you will likely be inspired to create some of your own! You can also participate in events with other artists, and it's a great time to socialize and meet some new people with similar interests! During this season, you can easily hold and participate in themed group events, like collabs, raffles, or gaming sessions. Sometimes artists will put out a call for other people to collaborate with them on an idea for Halloween, like everyone drawing a team of characters in a group costume or making a collage. Other people will host events like giveaways or raffles, and if you have some spare time and energy you could consider doing the same! Here's an example of a cute raffle for custom art from the artist [Raii](https://twitter.com/rraiire?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1577896916473741312%7Ctwgr%5E2c72feb9d86e815f2d79c73b09527fc9e04b2598%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F061072c6-1957-44c0-b6a7-09fa2287d908%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) on Twitter that you could join and also use as inspiration for hosting one! > ⌜Halloween YCH Raffle⌟🎃 > > — Rules. > ✤ Follow + RT (no qrts) > ✤ Opt. Drop your ref in the comment > > — Prize. > ✤ 1 Single/Couple YCH Halloween set of oc of your choice! (will received the art before Halloween) > > Ends on 15th Oct. [pic.twitter.com/55tMI6THhR](https://t.co/55tMI6THhR?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — raii 🌼🌱 waitlist open (@rraiire) [October 6, 2022](https://twitter.com/rraiire/status/1577896916473741312?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) That's a lot of fun! This could be an opportunity to meet another cool artist with interesting OCs. Hosting a raffle could allow you to add the image into your portfolio while gaining some visibility online! You could also try finding some fun games online to play with by yourself or in an online gaming session with your friends. You could dive into a solo horror adventure or even stream somebody else playing instead. --- If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Learning Line Art: How to Improve Your Skills URL: https://blog.unvale.io/learning-line-art-how-to-improve-your-line-art-skills/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:03:16.000Z \\Let's get better at creating line art for our artwork! These tips and tutorials will help you improve your line art skills as you [continue pursuing your artistic journey](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/). By practicing these tips, you can learn to easily create impactful line art in either medium, be it traditional or digital. ## Knowing Your Medium Deciding which medium you would like to create your linework in is the first step. Traditional line art varies greatly depending on the materials you choose, while digital works vary depending on software and hardware. Research the best materials to use depending on the kind of art you want to make. ### Digital Line Art When lining digital art, it is important to find a work-flow that aligns with how you like to draw things. It can be extremely helpful to look for tips on the specific programs you use and find tutorials from artists you admire that use the same programs. For Clip Studio Paint users, you can access a ton of awesome tutorials on their [official website](https://tips.clip-studio.com/en-us/official?ref=blog.unvale.io) including many resources with unique tips for creating line art in their program. Many of the tips in these tutorials can apply to free painting programs as well. For example, this video and [corresponding tutorial](https://tips.clip-studio.com/en-us/articles/1255?ref=blog.unvale.io) demonstrate how easy it is to adjust line art when you use the Vector Layer function. [Custom brushes](https://twitter.com/art%5Fryuu/status/1577096991032889344?s=20&t=O3u0wNKF5gVltiZTZO9Jrw&ref=blog.unvale.io) and brush settings are another easy way to improve your line art, especially for users of Apple's [Procreate](https://procreate.art/?ref=blog.unvale.io). No matter what program you use, you can usually find a **Stabilization Tool** to automatically stabilize your brushstrokes. You can then find and download a custom brush to use with these settings, like this one from the artist Nicole > If you’ve been looking for a new textured brush to use in Procreate, my custom thick pencil brush is still available for download! 💖 Use for textured line art and coloring alike! 🔗 below! [pic.twitter.com/MJAckTZ56P](https://t.co/MJAckTZ56P?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Nicole 🌱 (@fossilforager) [December 4, 2021](https://twitter.com/fossilforager/status/1466941888192073730?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) --- ### Traditional Line Art ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/10/Pigma_micron1.jpg) Pigma Micron Product Image, Ben Hucke For traditional works, you can use anything from a ball-point pen to a calligraphy brush. Many artists tend to either use a **fine liner pen** or **ink and a pen nib** when doing linework, although you can easily experiment and use whatever method you like the most. **Fine Liner Pen**: Many artists like to use dedicated liner pens for line art, like the popular [Pigma Sakura Micron Pens](https://www.sakuraofamerica.com/product/pigma-micron/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Manga artists like to use these pens to line their works, and the ink is archival quality so the pens can even be used to sign legal documents. This stationary reviewer, Inky Memo, has created a [YouTube video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yT3GiYV2Nvs&feature=youtu.be&ref=blog.unvale.io) testing out the Microns and heavily recommends them as a must have. > The Pigma Microns have rightly earned the reputation of being one of the best art, doodling & lettering fineliners in the world. Available in waterproof ink in various tip sizes and colours - the Pigma Micron is a must-have [#stationery](https://twitter.com/hashtag/stationery?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) object in your collection. 2/2 [#sakurapens](https://twitter.com/hashtag/sakurapens?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/VVPXOvVFFS](https://t.co/VVPXOvVFFS?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Minjal Kadakia (@MinjalKadakia) [October 5, 2022](https://twitter.com/MinjalKadakia/status/1577643069905985538?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Ink and Pen Nib:** The pointed tip of an ink pen is called a 'nib' and it is what distributes the ink across paper. There are many different shapes of nibs you can use in tandem with a pot of ink, and even some pens that come with a nib and ink cartridge built-in to one unit. Many manga artists like to use a standard G Pen Nib with [Deleter Ink](https://deleter-usa.com/collections/inks?ref=blog.unvale.io). The wonderful artist [Megan Usoi](https://www.deviantart.com/megan-uosiu?ref=blog.unvale.io) showcases the differences of some popular Pen Nib sizes in the awesome tweet below for easy reference: > I was testing out the new nibs from Japan I got today. : D Nikko and Zebra are my favourite brands. What is your favourite nib for drawing comics? :3[#nib](https://twitter.com/hashtag/nib?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ink](https://twitter.com/hashtag/ink?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#pen](https://twitter.com/hashtag/pen?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#drawing](https://twitter.com/hashtag/drawing?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#comic](https://twitter.com/hashtag/comic?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#manga](https://twitter.com/hashtag/manga?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#日光](https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%97%A5%E5%85%89?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#ゼブラ](https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%BC%E3%83%96%E3%83%A9?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/an5Sw5SI1r](https://t.co/an5Sw5SI1r?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — メガン・ヲシュ (@MeganUosiu) [November 6, 2018](https://twitter.com/MeganUosiu/status/1059927860947902464?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) You can also easily use tools like color pencils to add a softening effect or to compliment watercolor illustrations. --- ## Techniques to Study for Further Improvement **Vary Your Line Weight:** 'Line weight' refers to the thickness of lines in the line art. By varying the weight of your lines in specific spots you can add visual interest to your artwork. This is helpful for a variety of reasons, including adding an extra sense of movement or emotion. It is best to use heavy lines on places where you want a lot of emphasis, like the outline of the drawing or parts of the face, and smaller lines for minor details. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/10/me-light-lines.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/10/me-heavy-lines.png) Aerora's Profile by Honaki Here's an example that I created to illustrate line weight. This line variation can be done manually like I did, or with the help of [built-in tools](https://twitter.com/clipstudiopaint/status/1576935294984769536?s=20&t=cwh%5FcAumhr3L53Sf1m7-UA&ref=blog.unvale.io) from an art program! **Make Things Pop with Negative Space:** Using negative space correctly can help your line art really stand out. This means using large sections of a dark color to contrast with a lighter color and create special effects. You can purposely obscure details with this technique and in doing so provide a greater emphasis to the focal points of the image. > Worked on an abstract today. Im having to work with negative space again. I’m trying manipulate the composition without an abundance of colours to help block things in. [pic.twitter.com/SuH9WAvTII](https://t.co/SuH9WAvTII?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Maccphil 🥞😺🐰 🍄 🌳 🌟 🇨🇦 🇮🇪 (@Maccphil\_) [October 1, 2022](https://twitter.com/Maccphil%5F/status/1576310124091580416?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) **Include Softer Colors in Your Line Art:** Many artists use other tools like color pencils to create softer line art in different colors. This can be especially helpful for watercolor illustrations. In digital art, artists can replicate the feeling of these traditional works with certain brushes or add softness by changing the color of their lines. Using softer lines in your illustrations can create a variety of effects, from the eerie feeling of a forbidden forest to the joyful feeling of a warmly-lit café scene. > Interesting challenge! Same character, different styles [#4styles](https://twitter.com/hashtag/4styles?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#fourstyles](https://twitter.com/hashtag/fourstyles?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) > > 1) Traditional (markers + color pencils) > 2) Digital (black line art) > 3) Digital (CG painting, no line art) > 4 ) Traditional (watercolor + color pencils) [pic.twitter.com/wjU6I7Kt0X](https://t.co/wjU6I7Kt0X?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🐱P.m VonApple🐱 (@PetiteMadame) [September 11, 2019](https://twitter.com/PetiteMadame/status/1171714767553216513?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This artist does a wonderful job of highlighting the variations in different line art techniques! They show in the bottom-right image how watercolor and color pencils can be used to add a warm and intimate feeling to your art. ## Practice Makes Perfect Be sure to keep practicing often, and before you know it you will be able to create smooth line art with ease! There are some helpful things you can do to easily practice what we have learned, including: - Set a timer for a quick session and practice drawing some pictures using only simple lines. This can be traditional ink or a digital pen. Draw freely and focus on creating smooth lines that convey a clear idea very quickly. - Look at references and find inspiration for the line art you want to make. Practice by trying to imitate these styles with your own techniques. Be sure to credit the artist if you decide to post your inspiration! - Participate in daily or weekly art challenges like the popular Inktober with simple line art focused illustrations. This can be a great way to build up muscle memory. If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### How to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month Through Your Art URL: https://blog.unvale.io/celebrate-latin-and-hispanic-heritage-month-through-art/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T17:10:59.000Z September 15th to October 15th is [National Hispanic Heritage Month](https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/?ref=blog.unvale.io) in the United States! This month is dedicated to celebrating the cultures, histories, and contributions of people of Hispanic or Latino ethnicity. Throughout the celebration organizations in the United States like the [National Gallery of Art](https://www.nga.gov/?ref=blog.unvale.io) or the [Smithsonian Museum](https://www.si.edu/?ref=blog.unvale.io) hold events and showcase some of the numerous contributions of Hispanic and Latino creators and their ancestors. We wanted to showcase some important artists to learn about during Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month and also highlight some wonderful artists in our community online to check out! ## Important Facts - Hispanic Heritage month was enacted into law on August 17, 1988\. It starts on September 15th because that day is the anniversary of independence for the Latin American countries of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua [(source)](https://www.dodea.edu/dodeacelebrates/hispanic-heritage-month.cfm?ref=blog.unvale.io) - Mexico celebrates independence on September 16th, and Chile celebrates their independence two days later on the 18th. - Instead of celebrating Columbus Day, many Spanish-speaking communities celebrate ["Dia de La Raza"](https://imagine-mexico.com/dia-de-la-raza/?ref=blog.unvale.io), or "The Day of the Race" on October 12th at the end of Hispanic Heritage Month. This day is one of recognition to the people, histories, and cultures that were displaced and destroyed due to Western colonization. In some communities this is also celebrated as Indigenous People's day, and [in 2021 President Biden](https://www.npr.org/2021/10/11/1044823626/indigenous-peoples-day-native-americans-columbus?ref=blog.unvale.io) officially recognized this day as a US holiday in order to honor Native Americans! ### Influential Classical Artists There are many magnificent artists with Hispanic Heritage who have significantly contributed to global culture. These are just a few notable creators to appreciate for their work and the impact they continue to have on us all in the modern day. ![Self-Portrait, 1984 © The Estate of Jean-Michel Basquiat](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/self-portrait-b.jpg) **Jean-Michel Basquiat** was an artist born of Puerto Rican and Haitian descent that started off as a graffiti artist and whose works today still play a huge role in discussing class struggle and dismantling the systems of racism in modern society. The impact of his work has been discussed in length and exhibitions of his pieces have gained notoriety beyond compare. His works are extremely influential and you can learn more about him and works through exploring his [estate online](https://www.basquiat.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io). **Salvador Dalí** was a Spanish artist focusing on surrealism and who created his own expressive fantasy worlds. He created well known works like "The Persistence of Memory" as well as tons of other surrealist pieces that continue to inspire artists to this day. There [is even a museum in St. Petersburg, Florida](https://thedali.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io) dedicated entirely to Dalí's works! They have an interactive VR exhibit that lets you journey through the mind of Dalí and explore his creations first-hand. ![A “Prismas” sculpture by Teresa Burga. GDA via AP Images](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/prismas.webp) **María Teresa Burga Ruiz** [was a multi-media concept artist](https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/teresa-burga-dead-1234583686/?ref=blog.unvale.io) from Peru whose influential works mark her as a precursor for much of the technologically based art styles of the modern day. Her works in the 60s spoke on the roles of women in society, especially in her native Peru, and her overall output eventually led her to become one of the most influential concept artists in Latin America. ## Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month in Online Art Communities Today There are so many ways amazing artists are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month these days, from creating personal works to participating in online art events! Hispanic and Latin artists in the modern day are creating fun, exciting, and impactful works and continuing to change the world. Their works can inspire us to continue learning and growing as individuals and as artists. The following piece is a lovely work from the artist [**Pastel\_teeth**](https://twitter.com/Pastel%5Fteeth?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1572698208178176003%7Ctwgr%5Ec34ca59d9ce02a64f57d22fe99d9bd4898daefbf%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.unvale.io%2Fp%2F9107ae13-21f0-4131-9af6-dbe7d3790f6b%2F&ref=blog.unvale.io) that was done as a personal work for Hispanic Heritage Month. It features their original dragon character on a vibrant background that adds joy to the entire feel of the work! > Personal art for [#HispanicHeritageMonth](https://twitter.com/hashtag/HispanicHeritageMonth?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) 🐲💕 [pic.twitter.com/6K3Qmnsw6H](https://t.co/6K3Qmnsw6H?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 🏵️Pastel 🏵️ (@Pastel\_teeth) [September 21, 2022](https://twitter.com/Pastel%5Fteeth/status/1572698208178176003?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Speaking of heart-warming colors; [**Rigelwave**](https://www.rigelwave.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is an inspirational Vaporwave artist from Chile that has worked with us at UnVale on developing their character Crystal Star. ![Crystal Star, by Rigelwave](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/Rigelwave-pose-1-w-background.png) Crystal Star, by [Rigelwave](https://www.rigelwave.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) Rigel's work pushes the boundaries of anime and incorporates unique colors and futuristic themes to create something new. Their work ranges from character pieces to web icons and they even develop original animations. This character above is their UnVale OC and is artwork that is featured on the banner of [our website's homepage](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io). [**Haizara**](https://unvale.io/ArchitectHaizara?ref=blog.unvale.io)is a skilled artist from Mexico that creates amazing and detailed furry artwork that is truly one-of-a-kind! Their characters are dynamic and expressive, and they always treat their commission requests with tons of care. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/barrywinkle--Illustration--Balcony-Bear--by-arkitecthaizara.png) Papa Bear by [****Haizara**](https://unvale.io/ArchitectHaizara?ref=blog.unvale.io) This piece was commissioned by us from Haizara! They create detailed character portraits as well as awesome backgrounds! Check out their portfolio below to learn more about them and what kind of works they like to create the most. There are so many awesome artists from all over the world online today and we love having the opportunity to share their work with everyone! Each one brings their own unique blend of experience and skill to the world. Inspirational original art and characters are being created every single day. Thanks for celebrating these artists with us and taking the time to look at their works! ### Finally, here's a list of online art events that you can attend this month for free from various institutions: - [Calendar of Events for National Gallery of Art](https://www.nga.gov/calendar.html?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This includes digital sketch sessions and articles inspired by María Berrío as well as lectures on Rembrandt. - [Heritage and History Month Events at the Smithsonian](https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- There are many fun events being held here including [a series](https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D155016432&ref=blog.unvale.io) on portraiture to introduce children to important historical figures, as well as a [Día de los Muertos Virtual Family Celebration](https://www.si.edu/events/heritagemonth?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D154688935&ref=blog.unvale.io). We hope you enjoy these resources, and you can also take a look at [this series on NPR](https://www.npr.org/series/1037126227/hispanic-heritage-month?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you want to continue learning more about Hispanic Heritage month! If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### How to Create Your First Original Character URL: https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-create-your-first-original-character/ Last updated: 2026-09-16T01:00:02.000Z Creating your first original character is an extremely personal and powerful experience. It can be a ton of fun while letting you learn a lot about yourself and what sparks your creativity. You can then open the door to exploring character art, roleplay, and other fun interactions with your OCs! Creating a story for your character and gathering reference images that help convey your vision will allow you to develop an authentic connection and truly express yourself in the real world and online. Understanding more about who your character is and how they can become an extension of yourself will allow you to create any kind of character you could possibly imagine! This guide is part of a master series about [How To Make an OC](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/), so be sure to check that out too! ## How to Conceptualize your Character Creating original characters is an amazingly fun aspect of the art community that opens us up to new opportunities. There are endless options for what counts as an original character as well as their customization. Come up with a basic concept for your character and have fun trying out the process of coming up with ideas. Thinking of an alternate version of yourself is often a great place to start when conceptualizing your thoughts. Experiment with different concepts, like what you would look like in another world or with fantastical features, to find what resonates with you. This is a fun and fluid process that many people use when first creating a character. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/max-cyber-by-valoarts-1.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/valo-wip.jpg) "Max" in Alien Outfit and a WIP, by [Valo Art on UnVale](https://unvale.io/valo?ref=blog.unvale.io) In the online world, people can use their favorite characters to represent themselves in different forms; much like how the character above, a deer named Max, represents the artist [Valo](https://www.instagram.com/artbyvalo/?ref=blog.unvale.io) on [Unvale](https://unvale.io/valo?ref=blog.unvale.io). Using their love of creepy-cute fashion and some reference material, [Valo](https://unvale.io/valo?ref=blog.unvale.io) designed their own unique interpretation of themselves in the universe of UnVale. When designing Max, Valo thought about the personality they wanted their OC to have and incorporated it with their love of fashion and nature. They chose a white deer, typically very gentle and docile, and contrasted it with the bold colors of harajuku fashion. Characters like this one are engaging and an essential part of telling stories while still very personal to their creator. There are many things to think about when conceptualizing your character and writing down some things from this list will help you solidify your vision. #### Conceptualizing your OC These are a few things to write down and think about when initially conceptualizing your OC: - What is this OC for? (ex. an animation, a story, just for fun, or a Vtuber design) - List their name and any nicknames they may have as well as their pronouns - What is my character's personality like? How do they act towards themselves and others? - What are their basic physical characteristics? (species, general height, age, eye color and a basic description) - What shapes may make up their design? - Are there any key inspirations for this character? (ex. an animal, another character design, color palettes, stories) - Are there any traits that my character shares with me? - How might my character differ from me? - Does my character have a theme or motif behind their design? - Is my character flawed, and what might those flaws be? - Do they have any notable traits, quirks, or powers? Now you are gathering a solid framework for your first character. This info can be used to start developing a story or artwork and other visuals. You can start concept sketching like Valo if you are an artist or continue exploring concepts further. To dive deeper into developing and creating characters like this one, we can also utilize some reference tips from other artists, like this video linked below. This video is a deeper look into how the artist [Ross Draws](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLEVrhumRsK67JkP3G4w5cQ?ref=blog.unvale.io) develops and designs their own original characters! Showcasing a variety of different design styles, Ross discusses in-depth lore behind his own original series of characters and what led to the decisions that helped create them. We encourage you to experiment with some of these thoughts as you begin brainstorming ideas for your OC and their backstory. We can communicate meaningful thoughts about ourselves and our experiences through our OCs. Using your own original characters you can tell stories and create magnificent works of art; you can connect to artists and their works online, get commissions of your OC, and even use the characters for marketing or in DnD campaigns! Many popular artists have created original characters that are frequently drawn and beloved by their communities! ## Developing a Story Developing a story for your OC can help you finalize their design and add depth to their world. We are all built in part by the stories we choose to share and develop. Your character can learn and grow based on your own experiences or experience hardship and strife in their own time. As you learn, you can change your character and dive deeper into their motivations, background, and other elements of their world. It can be helpful to start simple and write down a few aspects of your character's short story. Think of it like creating a sheet for a DnD character, but it can be in any universe you like and as detailed or short as you choose. List off their attributes, traits, and any quirks they may have. Organizing your thoughts will help solidify your OC and make it easier to communicate about them to others. ### Writing Your Story Thinking about and answering these questions will help you develop your character's story. Thoughts like these can become a springboard for finalizing your character design and using them in further content: - Where does my character come from? What is their "world" like? - Where does my character live? - What motivates my OC? - What are their short and long term goals (if any)? - Does my character have a job, skill, or profession? - What is my character's role in their world and how do they feel about it? - Does my character have any connections or close relationships in their life at the beginning of their story? - How does my character react in everyday situations? - Has my character faced any specific challenges in their life already? - What challenges might my character face in the future as they continue to grow? - Are any of my character's traits, physical or otherwise, inspired directly by their story? These thought-provoking questions will help you solidify your character's basic story and motivations. If you haven't decided on visuals yet, you can use this to communicate more about your OCs personality and find inspiration to finalize their design. You could also easily translate all of this into something like a DnD campaign and play a oneshot with your character. This creates a basis for further exploring interactions between your character and other people's OCs. You can also create characters with lore like this that are entirely inspired by specific media like your favorite anime, or develop a world entirely from scratch for the character to inhabit through this process. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination and your drive for creating stories. Here's a really helpful Wiki-How article titled "[**How to Create a Fictional Character from Scratch**](https://www.wikihow.com/Create-a-Fictional-Character-from-Scratch?ref=blog.unvale.io)**"** which easily highlights 13 steps to use for further developing and embracing your character. The article walks you through the process of defining the unique character and its traits. They say it is vital to "feel your character, and put yourself in his/her/its shoes. Sometimes the best characters are created from your own ideals, character, flaws or strengths, and those of family members and friends/foes." In doing this, your character starts to become an extension of yourself and you can further embrace and develop them as a creative outlet. This video above, also from the wonderful Ross Draws, gives 5 tips for character design that also provide some really helpful insights on developing story. Your character doesn't have to be YOU, but you can use many aspects of your likes, interests, or characteristics to influence its lore. You could pick something specific like a fruit, or a unicorn, and make that the basis of your whole character's story and world! It can be an extension of yourself or nothing like yourself! By thinking this way you can really focus on finding the elements of your character that resonate the most with you; combining unique colors or references to something personal to solve a problem or express something specific will also result in compelling characters! ## Finding Visual Reference ![Mini Figure Kusakabe Mei from My Neighbor Totoro the Movie](https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1631582053308-40f482e7ace5?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=MnwxMTc3M3wwfDF8c2VhcmNofDExNnx8YW5pbWV8ZW58MHx8fHwxNjYzODg1OTI5&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&q=80&w=2000) Photo by [Afif Kusuma](https://unsplash.com/es/@javaistan?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) / [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/?utm%5Fsource=ghost&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcampaign=api-credit) Visual references are an essential part of developing and designing characters. Whether you are drawing your own character from scratch or commissioning an artist for help, having visuals ready will ease the process and ensure the design conveys what you really want it to. Even if you are just getting started there are a lot of simple things you can do to gather visual references for developing your OCs. #### Defining your Character Visually Define these visual aspects of your character as you continue to gather reference material: - Does my character use a specific color palette? - What cosmetic traits does my character have based on their backstory or other lore (if any)? - How does my character style their hair and makeup, if they do at all? - What are my characters hair and eye color? - Is the design of my character inspired by any specific movements in fashion or art? - What kind of outfits would my character usually wear? What would they never be caught dead in? - Does my character draw inspiration from any historical periods and if so, which ones and why? - Do any aspects of their overall design serve a specific function? This framework will help you while you are gathering references. This can be a go-to for you to create your OC and can also be shared with artists so they can interpret your character. As you try out new concepts, think about everything we've learned so far and what you really want your OC to look like. To find color palettes you can use a neat tool called [coolors](https://coolors.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io). Coolors generates color palettes that you can easily use to begin creating your character. You can also upload a picture that you like and it will pull the colors out of the photo for you to use as a palette! Once you have your colors and reference materials it can be extremely helpful to create a collection of all the images you have gathered. Something like Pinterest would work as well as a moodboard or a customized Google document to which you can always return. Everything that makes you think of the character and its aesthetics can be stored here. You can save examples of their outfits and flesh out each of the different elements of their visual appearance. Here you can save credited designs from other artists and any other visual elements that stand out to you. ![Harumi's inspiration Google folder](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/oc-inspiration.PNG) Harumi's inspiration, UnVale This is an example of the Google Drive and the visuals used to create one of our team member's own OCs, the lovely Harumi. Harumi is a fairylike creature who runs the Marketing team at UnVale and loves the Bee Movie. Together we walked through the process of creating a character based on her answers to her story questions and these visual references. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/himaru-wip1-honaki-2022.png) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/Harumi-Tanya-oc--character-by-honaki--1.png) Harumi Concept to Completion, by Honaki Focusing on developing story and visuals that inspired Harumi's owner allowed the character to blossom. The end result has an authentic touch which makes Harumi's character feel alive and exciting! ![Harumi an UnVale Crew OC drawn by Honaki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/pfp-tanya.png) Harumi an UnVale Crew OC drawn by Honaki This character is truly unique and blends visuals selected by our teammate with the things that inspire them. Harumi's design encapsulate elements of nature, fairytales, and cartoons. You can create your own character very easily following a similar process! ![Harumi Bee movie quote, Honaki](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/harumi-profile-9by-honaki--1.png) Harumi Bee movie quote, Honaki ## Putting it all together Owning and creating artwork of your original character is one of the most amazing feelings. Characters that you love and designed will be fun to draw for yourself, and you'll also be able to commission tons of wonderful artists for artwork! There are many ways you can put everything together and have fun with your new OC! You can continue to write original stories involving your OCs and make fanart of them. You could use them to play games like DnD or Pathfinder. You can also draw tons of art involving your OCs and what makes you happy. They can interact with other peoples' characters, too. Joining roleplay groups is a wonderful way to develop your OCs! Many artists use social platforms like Discord or even Instagram to find these groups. This branches out into other niche communities like custom adoptable characters and species that are created by other artists. DnD is another form of roleplaying you can do with your OC but with a bit more structure upfront. As we mentioned in the story section, these characters you create would easily work in a DnD campaign with your friends and lead to many adventures. These works could become assets for a DnD campaign or the debut outfit for your Vtuber. Working with an artist and providing them some visuals and story can help you create a unique character with lots of heart and a unique style. You can turn your character into a Vtuber and commission artists to help design covers for videos or custom stream overlays. Your character could be on the cover of a comic, or even made into pixel art for a game by one of these wonderful artists. You could also try [learning how to draw](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/) your own characters and have a ton of fun doing so! Then they can be in your own style and you can change them as much as you want very easily. You can also continue to implement the skills you learn into their design as you grow. ![The Unvale team's OCs hanging out](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/darra--reir--winter--space-for-all-group-asset--by-honaki.png) Here's a piece I drew of some of our UnVale team's OCs hanging out and having a picnic! Fun OC interactions are a great way to motivate yourself to draw more. On [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io), you can join in on the UnVale community and talk about your new OC! It's a great way to network with other artists and develop real connections for you and your character. You can probably even find other ways to become involved and get new inspiration for character ideas! ![Honkai's OC Aerora](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/aeh-emote-honaki.png) My OC Aerora, Honaki Here's my own OC Aerora and my representation here at UnVale. Developing an original character is a fun way to authentically express different parts of who you are. All the things that inspire you and how you choose to interact with the world can help to inform the creation of your character and their story. We would love to see what kind of characters you create next! [Explore Unvale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and see the over 4 million creations and counting. ### How Y2K Nostalgia Is Shaping OC Design Today URL: https://blog.unvale.io/y2k-is-here-to-stay/ Last updated: 2026-08-04T18:11:26.000Z Let's face it; We live in chaotic times. To deal with the overwhelming stress of our modern world, people often look to the past for inspiration and comfort. There is no better evidence of this than the recent resurgence of the bubbly Y2K aesthetic and its nostalgic culture. Trading cards are selling out before hitting shelves, anime is huge, and familiar fads like[ Tamagotchi's](https://tamagotchi.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) are commonplace again in this neo-Y2K reality. ***We continually revisit recent trends because they keep reminding us that the world can be different, be better.*** To create a hopeful vision of the future against the backdrop of uncertainty, artists are turning to the nostalgic trends of the Y2K era**—**building positive associations with the past that are uniquely their own. ## What is Y2K and the Y2K aesthetic? Exactly what "Y2K" is, seems to be a bit hard to nail down. One of the best sources we could find on the topic was the [Y2K Aesthetic Institute](https://twitter.com/y2k%5Faesthetic?ref=blog.unvale.io), a team dedicated to "curating late 90s-2003 futurism" who regularly posts scans of graphics featuring the style online. > Please keep Terrell Davis [@terrellllllll](https://twitter.com/terrellllllll?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) in your memory. He is the OG neo-Y2K artist and we wouldn’t be here without him. He was an admin of the Facebook groups, and an early CARI member. He was an incredibly humble person. > > He will forever be a legend. > > Rest in Power, 1998-2020 [pic.twitter.com/Rcgnr0UNjx](https://t.co/Rcgnr0UNjx?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Y2K Aesthetic Institute 💽 BLM (@y2k\_aesthetic) [January 2, 2021](https://twitter.com/y2k%5Faesthetic/status/1345484595102289920?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) They showcase important elements of the Y2K Aesthetic on their account and work hard to source Y2K materials from all around the world. The Y2K aesthetic involves creatively experimenting with technology and taking science fantasy to new heights. It features bold colors and organic shapes, and strong themes of futurism and self-expression. > 💙❤️[#Huion](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Huion?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/Re45KKKj8L](https://t.co/Re45KKKj8L?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — 돌만🚀 (@dolman4878) [August 25, 2022](https://twitter.com/dolman4878/status/1562741706608775168?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Artists can use nature-inspired vectors, translucent effects, and lots of color to highlight how they feel about their world. The futuristic themes of newer technologies, like that drawing tablet in the image above, mix with nostalgic colors and kawaii creatures to create an inviting and familiar scene. The name of Y2K, specifically, can be traced back to a particular period of fear of the future known as the "Y2K bug" scare. Nearing NYE, December of 1999, people really believed that every computer in the world would crash causing societal collapse [as soon as the clocks ticked over to the year 2000.](https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/Y2K-bug?ref=blog.unvale.io) What a way to enter a new millennium (°ロ°) ! ## The Meaning of Y2K for Us Now In the aftermath of the Millennium Bug scare, Y2K ironically became an era that embraced trends from the past, overcame national crises, and excitedly looked toward a brighter future. The people growing up in this time have experienced multiple once-in-a-lifetime world events as children and now as young adults; from 9/11 and the recession to the pandemic and impending climate catastrophe. The uncertainty and fear that marked the beginning of the 2000's definitely played a role in solidifying everyone's lasting obsession with the contrasting *escapism* of the virtual worlds and bright colors Y2K aesthetics represented. Maybe in a way, this explains why we find the wholesome nostalgia of the culture to resonate so well. People of all ages had to deal with the reality of the chaos of the times, and our favorite bits of Y2K culture have stayed with us as a comforting memory. Parallels can be made with early 2000s Japanese culture and the obsessive collectibles market. Those who grew up influenced by early 90s Japan, a period remembered as [The Lost Decades](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost%5FDecades?ref=blog.unvale.io), became the collectible and anime-obsessed young adults of the 2010s. The bright colors and cute themes of anime and the surreal worlds it presented inspired so much of the Y2K aesthetic. Its human nature to turn to art and cultural expressions as a form of resilience and catharsis in an uncertain world. ## Why is Y2K Back as an Aesthetic? The Y2K culture initially gained popularity as a response to the turbulent times of the late 90s and early 2000s and now in the future, as we are all dealing with bigger existential problems, like the ongoing global pandemic, the bubbly aesthetic is making a major resurgence. A combination of authenticity and ease of expression resonates a lot with creators, which parallels the feeling Y2K had in the past. People seek comfort in the bold Y2K culture of the past and use elements of it to interpret the chaotic world we live in now. You may actually think of Y2K and remember [the baggy cargo pants and sequins of Destiny’s Child](https://www.34st.com/article/2021/03/y2k-2000s-fashion-black-culture-destinys-child-juicy-couture-missy-elliot?ref=blog.unvale.io) or the hyper-futuristic, colorful, and simplistic designs of music videos and [advertisements](https://youtu.be/5t-9Dw58jMA?ref=blog.unvale.io) of the time. These memories are usually thought of with fondness and positivity as there was a certain utopian and childlike wonder associated with those bold, vivid colors and stylized graphics. This wonder carried over as we all began to play video games, enter virtual worlds, and learned to make digital art. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/bratz-jimmy-paul-4.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/Destiny-s-Child--last.fm-1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/lil-nas-x-by-rachel-1.jpg) Many people are responding to the current times by connecting back to the roots of their Y2K culture. We lean into nostalgia for comfort as well as inspiration. Creatives are seeking ways to make experimental, fun designs that brighten up the present day and push the boundaries of modern designs. The motifs of the Y2K movement pop up again and again as we search for the language that helps us evolve to express our authentic selves. Tired of the uniformity and choreographed nature of social media and the web today, artists are also especially drawn to the [old-web culture](https://www.dazeddigital.com/science-tech/article/55404/1/why-are-we-all-so-obsessed-with-web-1-nostalgia?ref=blog.unvale.io) and the elements of Y2K aesthetic that helped to create it. To express themselves more authentically, creatives have been revisiting things they loved about the Y2K era and remixing them to form a new movement. The fashion statements and web graphics of Y2K sent the message to us all back then, the same way that they do now– a focus on self-expression and creativity is prioritized above all else. It's okay or even encouraged, to be different. As new technologies challenged our preconceptions, we would adapt to them, use them and continue to dream up new ideas. No matter what disasters we all collectively faced, the future would still be unknown, and that was ok. ## How are the Nostalgic Trends of Y2K Inspiring Us Now, and What Does That Mean for the Future? It's no wonder that in the present time we are still able to[ find inspiration from Y2K aesthetics](https://depositphotos.com/trends2022.html?ref=blog.unvale.io) and unlock a whole new level of self-expression. Y2K is coming back with a fierceness, and evolving into something new. Creatives are collaborating with iconic brands from the past, and artists are making fanart of shows that are 20+ years old and renewing interest in them with a younger audience. The Y2K aesthetic is resurging in the modern day and with it comes a whole host of creative ideas. We are finding comfort in familiar past themes and old technology, using them to help interpret the chaos of our world in a new way. The turbulence we now face mirrors the past, and embracing and incorporating Y2K elements into our works helps us look forward without fear. We have been here before. ## A Future With No Limits As the internet allows us to share information from the past, the universal nostalgia of previous generations continues to permeate our culture and open up the inspiration for new ideas and creative outlets. Y2K aesthetics will be popular for a really long time, and it will be so interesting to watch how it continues to develop as creatives keep becoming inspired by trends of the past. We are excited to see the endless possibilities this future has in store. Maybe we will be writing about 20s aesthetics come 2040 :) If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message, consider creating a profile over at[ UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! (≧▽≦)/ ### Free Resources that New Digital Artists Should Know About URL: https://blog.unvale.io/free-resources-that-new-digital-artists-should-know-about/ Last updated: 2026-08-26T16:59:26.000Z This is a list of the most essential free resources available for new digital artists! Feel free to save this list for the future, and if you think of any other resources we should showcase feel free to reach out to us [on Twitter](https://twitter.com/unvale%5Fio?ref=blog.unvale.io)! Though this list is meant to be especially helpful to new artists, they can be useful resources for creatives of all skill levels. ## Getting Started [8 Fundamentals ](https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/)to Master as a Developing Artist - Start here to learn what fundamentals to master as you continue on in your journey. The article features tips and tricks from seasoned creators, as well as some drawing exercises to practice the skills. [Digital Painting 101](https://www.ctrlpaint.com/getting-started?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- 8 free videos introducing the basic concepts of digital painting from [CTRL + PAINT](https://www.ctrlpaint.com/library/?ref=blog.unvale.io). This set of videos is a great place to start if you are still learning the basics of working with digital painting software. These videos provide a basic intro into how to use a painting program and links to a free library of further learning materials. [Digital Painting](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtG4P3lq8RHHBiU%5FVqcY%5FL9T2iFDeCUJH&ref=blog.unvale.io) Fundamentals (YouTube Playlist) - Proko has a ton of informative videos on YouTube. This playlist in particular is dedicated to the fundamentals of digital painting. The video above starts the series with a really thorough explanation of digital painting that can be useful to artists of all skill levels. There are even some health tips and hand stretches demonstrated in the video alongside practical advise from an industry professional. The rest of the videos in their series continue to explore different fundamentals of digital art and offer further learning exercises. --- ## Art Creation Tools ### Digital Art Software and Collaborative Painting Programs ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Untitled-design--4--1.png) JS.PAINT by Aerora ### Digital Art Painting Programs [JS PAINT](https://jspaint.app/?ref=blog.unvale.io#local:2654dd7c6da658) \- A browser-based painting program similar to MS Paint that is made in JavaScript! Very easy to pick up and use, this program is fun and has all the basic tools you'll need to get started. [Piskel](https://www.piskelapp.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Create free pixel art right in your browser! This is an approachable, online editor for making pixel art and animated sprites. It is open source, and there is also a downloadable version. Piskel allows you to export your creations to gif, png, and other popular formats. [Medibang Paint](https://medibangpaint.com/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- A free, downloadable painting program with layers, custom brushes, and comic-making features. They also have a dedicated app, and there are many types of tutorials available on [their website](https://medibangpaint.com/en/use/?ref=blog.unvale.io). [Krita](https://krita.org/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- "A professional free and open source painting program" which features a custom brush engine and 2D animation tools. Krita has been in development for over 10 years, and, since it is open source, the community is always encouraged to continue improving it. Krita offers many built-in painting brushes, as well as the option to create your own. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/krita-ui-40.png) Krita UI, krita.org ### Collaborative Painting [Hellopaint.io](https://hellopaint.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Hellopaint is a browser-based collaboration tool for digital artists. This platform allows you to paint with random people online by giving each user their own mini-canvas. You can browse popular group pieces being created in real-time and add to the drawing. It is currently in early beta, but you can still try it out on their site and also check out their [Discord](https://discord.gg/vUu2ttbzVa?ref=blog.unvale.io) if you want to get in touch with their team or find out more about its development. [Drawpile](https://drawpile.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Draw together with your friends or followers on your own server! You may have to check your computer's compatibility, but this downloadable program offers the ability to create custom canvases with a passcode as well as to explore a handful of public drawing rooms. [Aggie.io](https://aggie.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- A collaborative painting software that allows you to paint in real-time with your friends in your browser. Creating a canvas gives you a custom link to share with other artists. You can use it as a sketchpad to brainstorm ideas or even to create full digital paintings. They feature lovely brushes and other helpful art tools. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/aggieio.PNG) Aggie.io ### Video Veed.io - Veed is a free, browser-based video editor. The free version allows you to edit video and add different audio sources, including a text-to-speech tool. It's helpful for creating things like short promotional videos or musical intros. [Capcut ](https://www.capcut.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io)\- Capcut is a digital video editor with unique transition effects and an approachable interface. It can be used on the web and also has a dedicated app. Many popular artists use Capcut for filming TikTok and Instagram videos, as well as for other video projects. --- ## Organization ### Resources for Organizing Your Creative Life ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/page-3-pitch-deck-panel-3-honaki-1.png) Search Bar by Honaki [Trello](https://trello.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- A kanban-style board that is great for organization. You can customize it and even add automation to many features. This can be used for whatever you imagine. Some artists use boards dedicated to brainstorming or developing ideas for stories and paintings, and others use it to keep track of commission status or project progress. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/trellotemp.PNG) Trello Kanban Template, Trello Aug 29 2022 [Miro](https://miro.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Miro is a collaborative, digital whiteboard. It's perfect for people of any artistic skill level, and comes with plenty of templates and tutorials. You can use this as a tool to brainstorm ideas and organize your digital workspace. This is also a great tool for sharing creative ideas collaboratively. The platform easily allows for things like walking someone through a storyboard or adding critiques and notes of simple changes to a piece of digital art. [UnVale.io](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- UnVale is an artist-focused commissioning platform built with inclusivity in mind. UnVale has a streamlined commissions process that helps artists decide on pricing structure and timeline, and it also easily facilitates communication between artists and clients. Using a platform like this can help you build up consistent client work, save time and energy, and keep your e-commerce options for your artwork organized. Utilizing resources like these ones can give you the space to focus on other aspects of creating and minimize time spent in frustration. --- ## Promotion and Networking ### Resources for promoting yourself online and networking with other artists ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/p4p1.png) Social UnVale by honaki ### Social [Fundamentals of digital marketing](https://learndigital.withgoogle.com/digitalgarage/course/digital-marketing?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This is a free Google course on digital marketing. It features self-paced tutorials and video content to help you learn the basics of digital marketing and e-commerce. Completing the course will result in a certificate that you can take with you for future applications. ["Always Up-to-Date Guide to Social Media Video Specs"](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-video-specs-guide/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This article by Alex York is exactly what the title states; a resource you can go to and always get up-to-date info on what video specs will work best for your desired platform. ["Always up-to-date guide to social media image sizes"](https://sproutsocial.com/insights/social-media-image-sizes-guide/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- This article by Elizabeth Arens from the same site linked above provides resources for all the image specs for each social media platform. [Ducky\_VT](https://twitter.com/Ducky%5FVT?ref=blog.unvale.io) also created this amazing Twitter thread, linked below, explaining image ratios with an easy to use template example. > An extremely important thing to make sure your tweets get SEEN are your 💛 image ratios 💛 > > Twitter is no good at auto-cropping preview images and nobody expands EVERY picture > > USE THESE RATIOS [pic.twitter.com/AMDLDoCPUJ](https://t.co/AMDLDoCPUJ?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Ducky🐤✨ VTUBER (@Ducky\_VT) [February 5, 2021](https://twitter.com/Ducky%5FVT/status/1357578626556952576?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) Canva - A tool for creating videos, images, collages, and animations with thousands of free images and really useful features. Canva is great for creating short gifs and videos for all kinds of promotion on social media. You can also use it to brainstorm or create things for organizing your thoughts. Here's an example of some graphics made with features in Canva: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/art-focused-.gif) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/Untitled-design--5-.png) [Kaomoji](http://kaomoji.ru/en/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Kaomoji is a library of cute Japanese emoticons--or Kaomoji! Kaomoji are artistically expressive keystrokes you can use in place of emoji for an extra flair. The website has a ton of great kaomoji organized by category and also explains a bit about the history of how kaomoji first became popular. They also have an app for android [here](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ru.kaomoji.kaomojiapp&ref=blog.unvale.io). (⌒▽⌒)☆ ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/09/kaomoji.PNG) [UnVale Discord](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- We've talked a bit about our community before, but our Discord server is a great place to join for resources and networking with other artists. Here, you can get advice, post about commissions, and connect with an inclusive community through events or conversation prompts. [Vtuber Resources](https://vtresources.carrd.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- run by the creator Faf, this site has tons of helpful resources for anyone wanting to get into vtubing online. Here you can find links from other creators talking about all aspects of vtubing, from character creation to helpful resources for setting up your streams. There are even links to some wonderful vtubers who regularly provide tutorial content. ### Online Art Events [Artfight.net](https://artfight.net/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Art Fight is an annual art trading game that starts on July 1st and lasts the whole month. Thousands of artists sign up every year to draw each others' characters in a themed, online art battle. If you missed the window this year, it isn't too late to sign up and prepare for the event to come back again next year. [Game Jams](https://itch.io/jams/upcoming?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Game jams are fun, community-held events where people come together to create and (sometimes finish) their game projects. At all times of the year there are game jams being held with themes featuring all genres and game types. Usually there is no pressure to finish a project, and people can link up together for the duration of the jam. Being involved in an event like this can be a great way to build up your portfolio. You could work as a volunteer or possibly find a paid position on a small team doing artwork for a game jam and use that in your future portfolio. You can also find the opportunity to connect with other artists and creative individuals in that industry with similar interests. #Portfolioday - This is an event that primarily takes place on Twitter; portfolio day happens multiple times a year and gives creatives an extra chance to boost their work. Read the toggle below to see an excerpt from the official site hosting portfolio day for info on how to participate. The calendar found on the site indicates when the next portfolio day will be. #### "How do I participate in Portfolio Day?" "If you are an artist looking for work around the time of the current #PortfolioDay, compose a tweet that includes the following: - A short intro. - The kind of work you’re looking for. - Relevant experience. - A link to your portfolio. - A way to contact you. - Add the #PortfolioDay hashtag! Very important! - And attach 4 of your strongest works!" \-an excerpt from portfolioday.art on how to participate ### Making a Website [W3 Schools ](https://www.w3schools.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io)\- This is an online resource for free tutorials to learn all the fundamentals of being a web developer. Learn HTML, JavaScript, Python, and so much more. They even have a game and many exercises to try out. [neocities.org](https://neocities.org/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Create your own website in HTML with zero ads! There are a ton of example sites made by artists and other creatives to browse if you need inspiration. This can be a great introduction into creating your own website. [carrd](https://carrd.co/?ref=blog.unvale.io) \- Carrd is a simple repository for making free and responsive one-page sites. Many artists like to use carrd to host links to their works on other sites, like a link to their commissions on UnVale followed by a link to their YouTube tutorials after. --- We hope you enjoyed this list of free resources for digital artists. If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message and want to support our content, consider creating a profile over at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) and checking out our [Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### Finding Inspiration in Some of the Cutest Indie Games of 2022 URL: https://blog.unvale.io/taking-inspiration-from-the-cutest-games/ Last updated: 2026-08-09T21:34:05.000Z As an artist, knowing how to stylize your work can be really difficult to master. Simplified cute characters with bold color choices have been very popular lately, but not everyone is familiar with creating those types of works. Indie games in particular often feature a wholesome and otherworldly aesthetic of which we can't get enough. Taking a deeper look at the art of these heartwarmingly cute games is a great way to study and improve at creating stylized art. Join us at [UnVale](https://unvale.io/?ref=blog.unvale.io) as we showcase and study some of the art behind the cutest indie games so far this year. Studying the super cute works of these games can also help us to explore new aspects of our own art styles. We can study from the stylized art in recent games like [Bear and Breakfast](https://www.bear.game/?ref=blog.unvale.io), Ooblets, [Cat Cafe Manger](https://catcafemanager.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io), or [ Slime Rancher 2](http://slimerancher.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) to understand different aspects and techniques of creating such works. Through the skillful use of elements like simplified character designs, specific color schemes, and detailed environment art, these games highlight different aspects of cute art; they show that by studying and learning these techniques, you too can create masterfully stylized art. --- ## [Bear and Breakfast](https://www.bear.game/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-heder.webp) Bear and Breakfast, GummyCat [Bear and Breakfast](https://www.bear.game/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a laidback adventure management game where you play as an adorable bear named Hank trying to run a successful B+B in the woods. This game is a story-rich exploration game featuring vivid artwork of cute anthropomorphic characters. This game makes amazing use of stylized character art to give a really personal and warm feeling to the overall world. The characters are anthropomorphic animals, which makes them feel a bit surreal, but also very relatable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-character-1.webp) Hank Inventory Screen, B&B Take this image of the main character screen. Hank is drawn with very simple and distinct shapes in mind. He has an easy-to-draw shape--largely made up of simple circles and cylinders-- that manages to be charming with only a handful of lines. He wears any number of adorable outfits and accessories which add depth to the character. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-characters-1.webp) Hank and Gus talk This opossum, Gus, is another wonderful example of stylized character design in Bear and Breakfast. They too have only a few shapes making up their face, and the pieces are arranged to give so much personality to the character. The spiky teeth and carefree expression lead us to think "who is this silly little critter? where do they live?". Seeing the suit and tie on the opossum is also an adorable little detail! A balanced use of color is present in the character designs of Bear and Breakfast and that understanding of color can also be found throughout its beautiful environment artwork and backgrounds. It's definitely worth taking a look at some of the stunning backgrounds found in the game. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-environment-1.webp) Hank by the sea This scene of Hank all dressed up looking out to the water stands out for having such a beautiful use of color and contrast. The colors are well balanced, forming a split-complementary color scheme. The blue dominates the scene as the primary color, with the orange of the trees and ground and the green pines forming the adjacent complementary colors. Another way to think of it is as a ratio of [60-30-10](https://www.saralynnbrennan.com/blog/the-60-30-10-design-rule?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=What%20is%20the%2060%2D30,10%25%20should%20be%20an%20accent.) with blue, orange, green in that order. Here are a few more examples of the detailed background art in Bear and Breakfast: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-cave.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-grass.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-interiror.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/bear-snow.webp) Bear and Breakfast environment art Each of these examples shows another aspect of the art. If you want to study more about creating simplified interiors for things like pixel art or illustrations this is a great source of inspiration. You can study the furniture in the bottom right image, for example, and practice the shapes and shading of simplified designs. (Don't forget to credit the creator if you use it as a reference, of course!) There are purple caves that can show you how the contrast of black and lighter colors can create the feeling of mysterious environments. Even the way the lighting hits the grass can be a wonderful source to study for painting and creating cute art with bold lighting choices. --- ## [Ooblets](https://ooblets.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/ooblets-key-art-w-logo.png) Ooblets key art [Ooblets](https://ooblets.com/faq/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is a creature collecting farm-management game with a funky flair that releases September 1st. This game has a cute and unique artstyle that makes its world feel so alive. Captivating use of color paired with the cute character styles of the Ooblets makes you want to keep exploring their wonderful world almost endlessly. Official Ooblets 1.0 Trailer The colors in Ooblets are so vivid and really make the atmosphere feel inviting. Each environment seems to have its own special lighting and effects. Specific Ooblets or plants use different colors to show what categories into which they may fit. The colors are generally bright, bold, and overall very fun. You can study the use of color in the world of Ooblets and think about how you may be able to implement similar techniques into your own works. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/oob-ffarm.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/vvf.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/oob-farm-succs-1.jpg) Ooblets screen cap, Ooblets presskit Ooblets environment art in the examples above use different green tones for the plants in the farm. The plant shapes are simplified and rely on color and negative space to help show detail. The pink leaves on the top left are a wonderful example of this, as the boldness of the pink really stands out against the dirt and grass. Imagine painting a few turnips, radishes, or cacti using the images above as a mental reference point. You can experiment using a bold color like pink or green to create the shapes of leaves, and a lighter color for the body. You could then arrange them in a pattern or even use them on another larger illustration! The art in Ooblets is colorful, bold, and fun. The character designs of the Ooblets are really skillfully done as well. They show a great understanding of using simplified shapes to make unique characters that stand out. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/oob-design.jpg) Three Cute Ooblets Ooblets character art is deceptively simple, as creating these kinds of iconic characters can be extremely difficult to master. The simple faces are easily replicable and immediately feel friendly. Many of the Ooblets are grown on the farm, and the strawberry Ooblet in the example above has very simple notes like the leaves on it's head that hint it could come from a plant. You could try breaking your favorite Ooblets designs down into simple shapes and practice drawing them. Then, you can think about how objects or animals you've seen could be simplified into shapes for creating characters of your own. From observing Ooblets, you can see that everyday objects can be a source of inspiration. You can push your use of stylization by playing around with familiar concepts in new ways. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/ooblets-cheer-squad-1-1.jpg) Potion Ooblets These Ooblets above are little potion bottles with faces. They have a few colors which highlight the important aspect of the character design. Even a simple potion bottle looks like a really cute and collectable character after adding a little bit of creativity! ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/oob-person.jpg) From the Ooblets Presskit The art in Ooblets is colorful and wholesome. Through specific color schemes and masterfully stylized characters, the creators of Ooblets are able to deliver a wonderful experience full of love. There is definitely more to learn from studying the world of Ooblets, so feel free to check it out! --- ## [Cat Cafe Manager](https://catcafemanager.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/cat-cafe-manager.png) Cat Cafe Manager, key art We always love a game about cats; [Cat Cafe Manager](https://catcafemanager.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) is that and *so* much more! From Roost Games, Cat Cafe Manager is a really cute game where you run (and design) your own cat cafe. This game allows you to adopt cats and manage employees in a lushly painted environment. It features a wonderful use of color design in its background paintings, as well as stylized and effective character art. Studying the art of this adorable game would easily give you another perspective on creating cute, stylized art. Showcase video The artwork of Cat Cafe Manager is wholesome and bright. Their use of stylization adds to the overall atmosphere and feeling of the game world. This beautiful illustration features the map of the area where the game takes place: ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/catcafe-map.png) Cat Cafe Manager map The art is both simple yet defined because it is so well stylized. The houses are detailed enough that you can tell what each one would be used for, but are still simplified almost to flat colors. The water running across the map is painted with such care; it looks serene and beautiful as it leads the player's eye. This picture shows how simple painting styles can create the illusion of depth in a piece. There's a little bit of texture adding warmth to the piece, but most of the effect is achieved by how the artist uses their colors and layout to highlight the different regions of the map. The interior spaces of Cat Cafe Manager are also very detailed, yet stylized. Through flat colors and strong linework, the elements that make up the actual cafe are still really immersive and detailed. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/catcafe-detail.png) Screencap, Cafe Things like the little cutting board and knife or the cat sign on the bathroom show an attention to detail that stands out. In your own works, you could think about how focusing on small details throughout a larger piece helps to add depth and character to the image. The character designs of both the humans and the cats in this game are another example which really highlight the excellent use of color and detail. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/cat-cafe-gif.gif) Cat Cafe Gif The people and the cats above are simplified versions of what a realistic one would look like; however, they are still very detailed and each convey something different. Each person has a totally unique outfit and hairstyle. Just like in the key art, the characters here have bold colors that make them feel authentic and one-of-a-kind. The cats stand out and definitely encourage the player to collect them and see what kinds of different designs there may be. By using color effectively and knowing where to add details, you can use similar techniques in your works. Consider creating specific color schemes for your characters that would work in a detailed painting or when drawing them in a more simplified form. --- ## [Slime Rancher/ Slime Rancher 2](http://slimerancher.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/SR_site_logo_SR2-1.png) Slime Rancher 2 Logo [Slime Rancher 2](http://slimerancher.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) releases sometime in September, and it's set in the all new location of Rainbow Island. Slime Rancher is a game where you play as a young scientist who farms and collects slimes as you explore. This is another really cute game that can teach a lot about stylization and use of color. The world of Slime Rancher is artfully created with bold, vivid colors that are alien and altogether picturesque. The environment art is unique and uses contrasting colors to put the player into an immersive scene. The characters, especially the slimes, are designed to be cute lovable and collectable. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/slime-house.jpg) Slime Rancher We've all seen slimes as enemies in video games, but this time the slimes are your friends, and the stylization of their faces and overall shape supports this. The character art is colorful and bold. The eyes of the slimes are either simple lines or dots, and they usually have adorable bean-shaped mouths. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/screen18.jpg) Slime Rancher screencap, press kit ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/slime-bugs.jpg) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/slime-face-close-up.jpg) Slime Rancher examples Through adding a few different characteristics to the basic slime form, the game is able to show the player what a slime in another environment may be like. You can look at the difference in the pink spiky slime compared to the blue insect-like one on the left. The designer added antennae and wings and changed the color; these changes are small, but still completely alter the design into a whole new character. When making your own cute characters, you could experiment with quick variations of some of your simple designs. Sketch a few circles, make something like a bunny. What would that bunny look like with wings instead of ears? What if it closed its eyes? These kinds of thoughts are great for exploring character art. You can also apply similar thinking when looking at the environments and background art of Slime Rancher. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/slime-water.jpg) Water environment In this image above, the lighting creates the effect of water on a very sunny day. The bright white of the light is a stark contrast to the shadows of the rocks. The rocks are drawn with only a few colors, using the darkest to outline the shapes of the rocks. Using the colors in this way and adding perspective with the slimes makes this scene feel three dimensional and lively. Focusing on crafting these artistic environments and using color in this way allows the artist to more accurately convey information. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/slime-cave.jpg) cave slime, Slime Rancher This adorable slime in a cave shows everything we've learned so far in one example. The details of the stone mix with the neon lighting to show the nature of this cave the player is in. The slime is still really simple and adorable, but it seems to be almost glowing. The light green against the dark shows us that this slime likely originates in the green cave, and it could possibly be radioactive or magical in some way. Thinking about what color choices say allows you to make the most of the colors you use in your work. Stylized character design can both save time and create an iconic, memorable look throughout your content. --- These wonderful indie games are super cute and can help you improve at creating stylized art. Through simplified characters, specific color schemes, and detailed background art these games use the cute aesthetic to authentically express their ideas. Looking at games like these with an artistic lens can allow us to level up as artists and further develop our own skills. We were so excited to showcase some of the cutest games; if you like what you read or thought of some more cute art ideas, feel free to [share them with us on Twitter](https://twitter.com/unvale%5Fio?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor&ref=blog.unvale.io)! If you believe in supporting small teams with an authentic message, consider creating a profile over at UnVale and checking out [our Discord server](https://discord.gg/STCn5tDe?ref=blog.unvale.io)! ### 8 Fundamental Skills for Developing Artists URL: https://blog.unvale.io/8-fundamentals-to-master-as-a-developing-artist/ Last updated: 2026-08-10T21:39:03.000Z How can mastering them help me grow as an artist? Focusing on the fundamentals means making sure to learn the building blocks of different art concepts and techniques in order to grow your skills over time. This is the same advice [you may have heard a million times](https://conceptartempire.com/why-fundamentals-first/?ref=blog.unvale.io), but in a way it applies to everyone no matter where they are in their artistic journey. There are many things considered as fundamental to learning art, and you can pick and choose which ones will help you most on your journey. These are 8 fundamentals you can learn to master that will help you develop as an artist. Imagine looking at the world around you and being able to translate the details of what you see into art on a page. The shapes, lines and colors that make up the solitary oak tree you saw on your morning walk could become the detailed background art for your latest comics. You can apply your knowledge gained through studies and observations from everyday life to your works and broaden your skills and artistic horizons. When you learn to master the fundamentals you can become a more versatile and well-rounded artist. This process can be accomplished no matter your skill level or budget. Utilizing free resources and connecting with your peers for more information can allow you to master the fundamentals, too! If you want to learn alongside other artists, consider joining [the UnVale Discord](https://discord.gg/jN3uppbp?ref=blog.unvale.io). ## **1\. Shapes** What key shapes make up the objects in life, and how do we identify them? Can mastering shapes really improve my skills as an artist? The idea of shape sounds a bit confusing at first, but just like when you want to paint a big picture, you have to break it down into approachable steps. Shapes are found in all things. Biomorphic shapes in things like nature exist as well as geometric shapes found in things like architecture or machinery. This YouTube video from the team over at [Winged Canvas](https://www.wingedcanvas.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io) breaks down the concept of shape in 7 minutes and explains how learning about shape is one of the building blocks of getting into art. It talks about starting out with basic geometric shapes and learning how to incorporate them into more complicated shapes and designs as you get more comfortable. This is a great way to think about shape, and sets you up to take this knowledge with you moving forward. Feel free to check out [their website ](https://www.wingedcanvas.com/?ref=blog.unvale.io)for more helpful tutorials. Some more resources for mastering shape can be found in this [FREE guide from the EtheringtonBros](http://theetheringtonbrothers.blogspot.com/p/every-how-to-think-when-you-draw.html?ref=blog.unvale.io) with nearly 300 tips on how to think about drawing. This tweet below shows a snippet from their guide which discusses body shapes and how you can use them to support your design vision for creating characters. > BODY SHAPES Pt 1 from the [#howtoTHINKwhenyouDRAW](https://twitter.com/hashtag/howtoTHINKwhenyouDRAW?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) encyclopedia - the world’s ONLY encyclopedia of drawing tutorials, posted up FREE for EVERYONE, FOREVER, with NEW and CLASSIC tutorials coming up EVERY DAY right here only on our twitter :)[#gamedev](https://twitter.com/hashtag/gamedev?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#manga](https://twitter.com/hashtag/manga?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#conceptart](https://twitter.com/hashtag/conceptart?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [#illustration](https://twitter.com/hashtag/illustration?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) [pic.twitter.com/30z8onGtop](https://t.co/30z8onGtop?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — EtheringtonBrothers (@EtheringtonBros) [August 19, 2022](https://twitter.com/EtheringtonBros/status/1560508414878441479?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) And there's also a host of independent artists out there creating personalized tutorials explaining how they use shape to achieve their works. [This lovely reference](https://www.deviantart.com/hyan-doodles/art/Hair-stuff-624637872?ref=blog.unvale.io) sheet by [hyanna-natsu ](https://www.deviantart.com/hyanna-natsu?ref=blog.unvale.io)is a great example explaining different ways they approach drawing hair. The artist uses their understanding of shapes to create different hairstyles. Each hairstyle has a different feeling and process used to achieve it. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/hana-shape-of-hair.png) The artist reinforces that being patient and using references is vital to the process. You can look at a reference for the shapes found in a bun hairstyle and see what the artist shows here, that the basic shapes are two circles atop the characters' head. Adding detailed lines gives depth to the hair and overall character as the shapes change. We can apply our knowledge of shape to realistic illustrations as well as stylized ones. Breaking things down into shapes can help you create hairstyles, horses, sidewalks, and anything else you can imagine while you learn to master the skill. ## 2\. Anatomy What is anatomy? Why is it important? How is anatomy used in art? "Anatomy in art is important **for the correct representation of human figures**. Artists, therefore, study the structure and range of motion of the human body. The same goes for depicting animals." - Why is Anatomy Important in Art, Deborah Anatomical knowledge allows you to more realistically depict humans and animals in your artwork. Understanding the logic behind the movement of the human body, as well as the forms that make it up, will allow you to advance in your work. Along with realistic art, this knowledge can then be applied to artforms such as animation, comics, film making, 3D modeling, and more. If you're looking for a resource for improving your anatomy skills, check out this amazing photo by the artists at [CGCCookie](https://www.deviantart.com/cgcookie?ref=blog.unvale.io)! They host all sorts of helpful tutorials for anatomy that can help you improve your skills in concept design, sculpting, illustration, and so much more. This photo highlights how using knowledge of both shape, as seen in step 4, and anatomy, as see in steps 1-3, simplifies the process of drawing knees. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/anatomy_reference__the_knee_by_cgcookie_d8aeabm.jpg) [Anatomy Reference: The Knee](https://www.deviantart.com/cgcookie/art/Anatomy-Reference-The-Knee-501192130?ref=blog.unvale.io) You can also find helpful resources from your favorite artists collected in books and online boards, like this set below from Jack Hamm posted on reddit by [u/DeDePlane](https://www.reddit.com/user/DeDePlane/?ref=blog.unvale.io). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/face1.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/face2.webp) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/face3.webp) Jack Hamm, **Drawing the Head and Figure (Source:* [u/DeDePlane](https://www.reddit.com/user/DeDePlane/?ref=blog.unvale.io) ) Though this proportions may not apply to everyone and this uses gendered language, this is still an extremely valuable resource on how to identify traits on a face and provides logic and reasoning on how these parts on the face work and move. ## **3\. Perspective** What is perspective? Can mastering perspective allow me to further develop as an artist? Perspective determines so much about the composition and feel of an image. This video from Art of Wei is a great introduction into perspective drawing. Once you have a more nuanced understanding of perspective, you can then begin to see how this knowledge can be used in tandem with other fundamental skills. You can do simple practices, like drawing a head from many different angles, or creating a cityscape from boxes. In the following tutorial, the artist [Robert Marzullo](https://www.deviantart.com/robertmarzullo?ref=blog.unvale.io) shows how using a mixture of anatomic studies and perspective guidelines can help you in drawing one of the most notoriously hard-to-draw objects: Hands. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/how_to_draw_hands___reference_sheet_by_robertmarzullo_dfbk1hx-fullview.jpg) "How to Draw Hands - Reference Sheet" by Robert Marzullo Here, they break down how to study the anatomy of the hand, and understand the logic of how it moves. Then, this knowledge is used when translating the hands into different viewpoints. When you move your hand closer to the face, it looks completely different then when you look at it from the side or farther away! You can try experimenting drawing hands in different angles and think about what those shapes would look like. If you need some more help figuring out how to practice perspective, the artist [ccRask](https://www.deviantart.com/ccrask?ref=blog.unvale.io) has created this awesome worksheet for their online class and posted it online for free. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/illusion_of_space__perspective_by_ccrask_d4rbklr-fullview.jpg) Illusion of Space: Perspective by ccRask This worksheet is a quick exercise in 1 and 2 point perspective, and filling it out will give you an easy reference on hand to always come back to! Make sure to check out some of their other tutorials as well, such as the one about... --- ## 4\. Values Values are another fundamental aspect of art. Working with values gives the artist a deeper understanding of light and shadow. Values help you improve at both black and white work, and give more depth to your color illustrations. You can create realistic renders, defined shapes, detailed backgrounds, stunning faces, and so much more by mastering values. A fantastic resource to help you start your journey is posted below, created by the artist [Tim Von Rueden](https://www.deviantart.com/users/outgoing?https://www.facebook.com/vonn.art&ref=blog.unvale.io) at [CGCookie](https://www.deviantart.com/cgcookie?ref=blog.unvale.io) . They have created a wonderful and helpful exercise sheet on values. This sheet is so amazing at showing how much depth and texture can be added to an object over time with an understanding of values. Showcasing their step-by-step process exploring the basics of shading, Tim also provides a detailed explanation which is quoted in the toggle box below. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/exercise_29__back_to_basics_step_by_step_by_cgcookie_d7za8vs-fullview.jpg) Exercise 29: Back to Basics Step by Step by CGCookie #### "EXERCISE: Taking a look at refining the basics of adding values doing simple exercises" by [CGCookie](https://www.deviantart.com/cgcookie?ref=blog.unvale.io) "Below is a step by step on how I created each of the value studies from the exercise practice sheet. I broke it down into each significant step on what was included or added: 1. ****Outline** \- Begin with the overall shaping of the object you are going to shade. 2. ****Solid Base** \- Try working with a darker base color to act as your foundation for you to work on top of. 3. ****Initial Detail Pass** \- Before laying down another color, focus on where you want your light source and stay consistent throughout! Really look at if the surface is curved or flat: That makes a HUGE difference. 4. ****Remove Outlines and Refine** \- This will give the gem a solid foundation from here to detail further! Subtle gradients will add that extra touch of realism. 5. ****Surface, Highlights, and Shadows** – This is the hardest step. Really focus on the lighting on how it interacts with each object. 6. ****Bounce Lighting and Cast Shadow** \- For the final polish pass work on the environment around your object so in this case bounce lighting would be received on the bottom side of the object as well as casting a shadow on the ground beside it based on where the lighting is coming from." "Exercise 29: Back To Basics Step By Step By Cgcookie On Deviantart". **Deviantart.Com*, 2022, https://www.deviantart.com/cgcookie/art/Exercise-29-Back-to-Basics-Step-by-Step-482527864. Deep diving into exercises like that one above will reinforce what you learn as you continue seeking out tutorials and developing your shading skills. Feel free to follow along with Tim, and if you do, reach out to them to let you know how much it helped you! As you continue learning about values, you'll want to experiment with different tools and techniques to gain a deeper understanding. This tutorial from Mark Crilley is a great example of 3 different ways you can use pencil shading techniques to experiment with values. He breaks things down in a way that is easy to understand and replicate. Mark's channel has so many amazing video resources, including a few more videos on shading techniques for different art styles. It is definitely worth checking out! Watching his videos are how a lot of artists first got into drawing, and you'll pick up terms and tips that will stick with you through your journey mastering the fundamentals. And finally, to continue practicing what you've learned so far on values and combine it with other fundamental skills, here is another worksheet from the amazing [ccRask](https://www.deviantart.com/ccrask?ref=blog.unvale.io), but this time focusing on shading with values! This exercise is a very simple resource you can reference to explain what values are and the first steps of shading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/illusion_of_space__shading_by_ccrask_d4odeso-fullview.jpg) The Illusion of Space: Shading by ccRask In their notes, ccRask writes the answers to each question for easy referencing. Shape and form are elements that go hand in hand with learning values, and you can see how using them in combination with the value scale provided allows you to create dynamic and interesting illustrations. ## **5\. Color** How can understanding color help me develop as an artist? What all is there to learn? There is a plethora of knowledge to learn on color, so this will definitely be a topic that gets revisited. A fundamental skill, how an artist chooses to use color has so much nuance and meaning. Some artists use bold, bright and vivid neon colors to send a message, while others use darker tones or full black and white, while still others use unique mixtures of different palettes to create shocking effects! Since the concept of color has so much depth by nature and it can be quite overwhelming at times, it's important to remember that you don't have to learn it all at once. You can apply knowledge that you pick up from multiple sources as you progress in your career! It all starts with the [color wheel](https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/color-basics.html?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=Understanding%20the%20Color%20Wheel&text=Three%20Primary%20Colors%20%28Ps%29%3A,a%20primary%20with%20a%20secondary). ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Capture.PNG) "Understanding the Color Wheel" - usability.gov, 2022 The website [usability.gov](https://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/methods/color-basics.html?ref=blog.unvale.io#:~:text=Understanding%20the%20Color%20Wheel&text=Three%20Primary%20Colors%20%28Ps%29%3A,a%20primary%20with%20a%20secondary) breaks down the concept of color, going in depth on the different different categories of use for artists. The way people interpret color is a fascinating area of study and will greatly aid you in deciding colors in your work. The site mentions the Color Wheel, Neutrals, Color Models (CMYK vs. RGB), and even touches briefly on the importance of hex-codes. This makes this resource valuable for traditional artists as well as digital ones, as you can use hexcodes to easily create color palettes based on your work or apply these color concepts to traditional paintings. Once you start to understand the basics of color, the next part of mastering color is learning more about color *theory.* This is a [masterpost](https://artres.xyz/post/wonderful-resources-to-master-color-theory/?ref=blog.unvale.io) with a whole list breaking down color theory and showing examples of further learning. Below is an example from one of the linked tutorials,[ Basic Color Theory](https://www.colormatters.com/color-and-design/basic-color-theory?ref=blog.unvale.io) from designmatters.com, where the author explains the difference between analogous and complementary colors. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/harmony-colors.PNG) Some Formulas for Color Harmony, designmatters.com, 2021 These examples are some basic formulas that result in color harmony, and the article goes on to discuss some more principles of color, like evaluating color in context of other colors. Mastering color will take time, but having that the knowledge of that tool at your disposal will allow you to create masterful, vivid works full of color! ## **6\. Composition** Composition refers to what objects and aspects an image consists of, and how an artist chooses to place them. This is an element of art that many struggle with, but gaining a mastery of it can allow you to take your works to new heights. You can create dramatically different feelings in a painting, for example, depending on how you approach the composition. This video from [Mark Crilley](https://www.youtube.com/user/markcrilley?ref=blog.unvale.io) provides a thorough breakdown of composition that is easy to follow along with as Mark walks us through some common composition options and their explanations. Through the use of simple paper and pencil images, mark is able to make this concept very approachable. He also mentions some pencil practices you can do to play with these concepts. His pencil cutouts are very similar to using layers on a digital paint program, and so this tutorial can easily be used by digital artists as well as traditional! To continue your learning, you can check out further videos like this one from [Jazza](https://www.youtube.com/c/Jazza?ref=blog.unvale.io) where he explains some more composition ideas in depth as he illustrates some examples in multiple frames. Jazza mentions using elements of different fundamentals, such as perspective, in his compositions to create works that better show his ideas. Thinking about layout and composition can allow you to better highlight the focal point of your image, and also create a sense of balance and harmony (or lack thereof). This video does an amazing job of breaking down the different elements of a picture, including the background, midground, foreground, and horizon and how you can use them to complement each other. Focal points and contrast also start to play a big part in composition, and Jazza breaks this down wonderfully. They also have a series talking about some other fundamentals that they encourage us to follow along with [here](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNP4PCikbeM&t=0s&ref=blog.unvale.io). These videos should give you a foundation for understanding and exploring different compositions in your work. ## **7\. Brushwork** Brushwork is something that both digital and traditional artists can master, and although the techniques for each may be a bit different they can both learn from the same core concepts! Mastering brush techniques allows you to creature special textures in your art, and also save a ton of time in creating certain elements of your illustrations. To start with, one of the masters of teaching brush work is a guy that everyone knows and loves: the one and only [Bob Ross.](https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bob-Ross?ref=blog.unvale.io) Following along with his famous series "The Joy of Painting" will teach you so much about the fundamentals of art, especially brushwork and how he uses those brush techniques to create depth with ease. [Full seasons of the show](https://www.youtube.com/c/BobRossIncVideos/playlists?view=50&sort=dd&shelf%5Fid=3&ref=blog.unvale.io) can be watched for FREE on YouTube, like this episode where he paints a Cactus at Sunset: So much of Bob's technique involves his fluid use of brushwork. Right away in this video, he uses a fan brush with bright yellow and crimson tones and specific movements to create the illusion of light coming from the Sun. Bob lists out his materials so that you can follow along with ease, and he fans and blots with his hands in a way that you can replicate with brushes in real life. He uses a palette knife to scrape parts away, and uses his brush techniques in combination with his knowledge of values to make the image come alive. The cool thing is, as well as following along with traditional mediums in real life, you could take the techniques he's teaching and apply it in digital paint programs to make your art. Using a paint program like [Clip Studio](https://www.clipstudio.net/en/?gclid=CjwKCAjw6fyXBhBgEiwAhhiZsiUY8y8UBrHf5ZNVdG-FLE2CU-yK9RSyDrU60djsWyxOkmPIyJkyExoCR64QAvD%5FBwE&ref=blog.unvale.io) or [Procreate](https://procreate.art/?ref=blog.unvale.io), you could find (or create) a fan-shaped brush and paint a sunset in a similar fashion. Creating and downloading custom brushes and knowing how to use them are actually a vital aspect of mastering the fundamentals of brushwork for digital artists! One of the most helpful and popular brushsets we've seen online is this one from Devin Elle Kurtz. > 🌃Cityscape Brushset for Photoshop, Procreate, and Clip Studio Paint 🌃 > > \-114 responsive brushes + multiple demo videos > \-Free with optional donation > \-Royalty-free for all personal and commercial work > > Download link threaded below! [pic.twitter.com/u3zGqEJB6t](https://t.co/u3zGqEJB6t?ref=blog.unvale.io) > > — Devin Elle Kurtz (@DevinElleKurtz) [March 4, 2021](https://twitter.com/DevinElleKurtz/status/1367534734985752576?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=blog.unvale.io) This brushset is available for download with suggested donation, and can allow you to create beautiful cityscapes with ease! Take this picture we commissioned from the artist [**Kravuus**](https://twitter.com/Kravuus?ref=blog.unvale.io), featuring the character Niall from UnVale. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/9e/77/9e77eff6-9e9e-48a2-812e-412acf50b1c8/content/images/2022/08/Artist---Kravuus-FINISHED-CHeckin.jpg) Niall Overlooks the City, by Kravuus 2021 In this wonderful illustration, Kravuus creates an idyllic, futuristic city-scape utilizing the brushset by Devin Elle Kurtz. You can see that the brushes likely saved the artist a ton of time during the piece, and allowed them to add more detail and life to the scene overlooking the city at night. By focusing on mastering brushwork and learning from other artists' techniques, you can start to implement helpful techniques into your process and easily create really neat effects on your illustrations! ## **8\. Fun** The last, and arguably the most important, fundamental of art to master is having fun. Why bother to make art if it isn't fun for you? This doesn't mean that you have to be having a ton of fun every time that you draw, but is an important fundamental to master in order to move forward in your work. Whether you use art as a source of income, or as an emotional release, or somewhere in between, reminding yourself to have fun with your work and exploring ideas that resonate with you will help you move forward and continue growing your skills. Mastering fun, while it may sound counterintuitive, really just means being able to embrace the loose and expressive nature of art by drawing what you want to and having fun with it. This comes from understanding what influences you and being aware of your needs as a creative. It can be really easy to become caught up in the stress of trying to grow as an artist or succeed financially with your art. This may cause you to lose sight of why you enjoy drawing in the first place and lead to feelings of burnout or the ever-so-dreaded art-block. Opening up about dealing with burnout and a lack of motivation in the following video, artist [Brushes and Bunnies](https://youtu.be/SVNHLGmSnZA?ref=blog.unvale.io) provides some tips and thoughts on how to have fun with your art and fall back in love with drawing again after hitting that point of burnout. They talk about what it's like to put in crazy hours for something you are passionate about, and the kind of toll it can take when you focus so hard on a goal without allowing yourself the space to live and enjoy that work. For them, being able to take time away from art was really helpful in resetting, as well as sketching some lower pressure pictures in a sketchbook. Sometimes stepping away and finding other things that you enjoy can help you be even more motivated to take on new challenges when you return! There are other ways to master fun and embrace it as a fundamental skill. If you can't take time away from art, or aren't necessarily experiencing burnout but are still having a hard time finding fun in your work, it can be beneficial to reach out to other artists or try something new, like a new art technique or an entirely different skill! Consider[ joining the UnVale Discord ](https://discord.gg/jN3uppbp?ref=blog.unvale.io)if you are looking for an inclusive place to have fun and connect with your peers! We often host fun[ events](https://twitter.com/unvale%5Fio/status/1555267331655360513?s=20&t=PPQMLWA%5FIVgeOaiR1cs5nA&ref=blog.unvale.io) and giveaways, and it can be really nice to step away from the solitary aspects of art for a while and chat more in depth with other creatives. Your peers will be able to offer more specific advice and tips and have a deeper understanding of what you may be going through! Sometimes we can feel shame or disappointment in not being able to keep up with a certain pace, or set really unrealistic expectations for ourselves as artists. Having a safe and fun space for your creativity and social side helps you remember to keep having fun with your work and stay motivated to grow your skills. Thinking about fun as one of the fundamental elements of developing as an artist helps you remember to enjoy the process of creating your works, and also reminds you that it's alright to take breaks or not be completely focused on creating all of the time. Have fun with it and you'll find you'll be able to enjoy working on the other fundamentals a lot more, too! ## Additional Resources - [How to Make an OC!](https://blog.unvale.io/how-to-make-an-oc/) \- The best guide to creating Original Characters. - [Top 9 YouTube Channels for Digital Artists ](https://blog.unvale.io/top-9-youtube-channels-for-digital-artists/)\- Learn from the best on YouTube! And level up over time with this list of top Digital Artist channels. - [The Essential Resource List for New Artists](https://blog.unvale.io/free-resources-that-new-digital-artists-should-know-about/) \- Your one stop shop for artist resources here! ### Conclusion Those are 8 fundamentals for developing artists to master and some resources and tips for doing so. Thank you so much for adding us as a part of your journey, and don't hesitate to reach out if you have any thoughts on the art fundamentals mentioned here, or suggestions of fundamentals that you find important! Also, check out the Unvale communities around creative support - [Unvale Tips and Advice Communities](https://unvale.io/communities/explore?category=Tips+and+Advice&sort=trending&trendingFilter=week&ref=blog.unvale.io)