Creating Flash Face Parts

File Formats
By far the easiest for me to work with is a Flash file. If you know Flash reasonably well, you can create files that are ready to go, and I will most likely drop them into the Face Builder the minute I get them. Please send the .FLA file so I can make proper adjustments before I save it as a .SWF file.

However, I can also work with vector graphics, like those created with Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, and possibly even Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia Fireworks. The file types need to saved in .EPS format. Vector graphics and graphics that can scale to any size without any loss in resolution. I can change these into Flash files, but there is work associated with it and it could take me a week or so to get to it.

Style
I am looking for nicely made graphics in a cartoon style. I have a few real-life parts, and would accept a few more if well done, but not many. And I reserve the right to refuse anything that is too similar to something already there, that is the wrong style, or that I simply dont like.

Size
The default size of the face area in the Flash Chats is approximately 208x212 pixels. Your images should keep this in mind. It shouldnt be difficult to scale anything that's in a vector file format. A head might be around 80 pixels wide and 120 pixels high, for example, but an eyebrow might be only around 30 pixels wide and 10 pixels high.

States
Some face parts have different states. For example, the mouth has several positions it can be in. When submitting a face part, please submit all the necessary states.


Parts of the Face
Below are listed the parts of the face that are needed, along with descriptions.

Head: A head without any of the features
Hair-Front: Hair in front of the head and body layer
Hair-Behind: Hair behind the head and body layer
Eye: Submit the left eye only. There are three mandatory parts, and one optional. 1) white of the eye. 2) above that, the iris (colorful part with black center), a symbol whose instance is called "soul". 3) above that, the lid, a symbol whose instance is called "lid". This has two frames. Frame one is open, frame two is closed. 4) an optional mask around the eye so that the iris isnt seen outside the lid. Center the image on the iris. Combine everything into a symbol called "eye".
Eyebrow: Submit the left eyebrow only.
Nose: The nose.
Mouth: The mouth needs several states. They are: normal (at rest), smile, frown, angry showing teeth, and open.
Ear: The ear lies in front of the head but behind the hair-front.
Bodies: This part is the shoulders, neck, and clothes. Center this one at the bottom and in the center.
Background: The format for this can be a .JPG, .GIF, or .SWF. 208x212 pixels (if that's the correct size..)
Extras: This is for various other features- beards, moustaches, goatees, glasses, horns, hats, etc.

I need some parts more than others:

Very Much Needed: eyes, mouths, bodies, extras
Not Needed: backgrounds


Guidelines for Flash Submissions
Below are guidelines specific to Flash submissions:

The Stage & Position: Each stage should be 1 pixel by 1 pixel, and the face part should be centered horizontally and verically on that point unless otherwise noted.

Tweening: This is all taken care of by Actionscript.

Colorable Areas: Each part should have a symbol whose instance is called ColorMe. That's the part which will be color-changeable in the face-builder.


Submitting Face Parts
When you are ready to submit the face parts, please email them to The Professor at benji@daystream.com. By doing so you agree that you have a legal right to submit these items and you agree to grant a non-exclusive unlimited license for The Personality Forge to use and offer this face part for all Flash Faces, unless you have previously agreed to pay the fee for exclusive use.