Draw a character digitally by @1nfinity
Design and color a character digitally inspired by @1nfinity using a tablet or drawing app; sketch, refine lines, pick colors, and export your image.
Step-by-step guide to design and color a digital character inspired by @1nfinity
Step 1
Open your drawing app and create a new canvas with a size that feels good for drawing.
Step 2
Look at a few pictures by @1nfinity to notice fun shapes colors and styles for inspiration.
Step 3
Make three tiny thumbnail sketches using simple shapes to try different character ideas.
Step 4
Pick the thumbnail you like best to develop into a full character.
Step 5
On a new layer sketch the full character using basic shapes to map the pose and proportions.
Step 6
Add a cleaner line art layer and trace over the sketch to create neat final lines.
Step 7
Hide or erase the rough sketch layer so only the clean line art is visible.
Step 8
Choose a color palette of 3 to 6 colors that match the vibe you want for your character.
Step 9
On layers beneath the line art fill in the flat base colors for each part of the character.
Step 10
Add shading and highlights on separate layers to give your character depth and shine.
Step 11
Paint small details and patterns that make your character unique like marks clothes or accessories.
Step 12
Save and export your picture as a PNG or JPEG so it looks great when shared.
Step 13
Upload and share your finished character on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
I don’t have a paid drawing app or tablet—what can I use instead to follow these steps?
Draw your three tiny thumbnail sketches and the full sketch on paper with pencil, then photograph or scan them and import the image into a free app like Krita or MediBang to use layers, trace line art, and export as PNG/JPEG.
My line art looks messy and the colors don’t stay inside the lines—how can I fix that?
Make a clean line art layer above your sketch and trace slowly (use a stabilizer if available), then fill flat colors on layers beneath the line art and use selection or clipping masks for shading and highlights so colors stay inside the lines before hiding the rough sketch layer.
How can I adapt this activity for different ages or skill levels?
For younger kids, simplify to one thumbnail, a basic full sketch, and two flat colors on two layers, while older kids can make three thumbnails, use 3–6 color palettes, multiple shading/highlight layers, and detailed patterns or accessories.
What are simple ways to personalize or extend my finished character after exporting it?
Add unique marks, clothes, or accessories during the 'paint small details and patterns' step, create color variants on extra layers, place the character on a background, or make stickers and upload the PNG/JPEG to DIY.org to share your variations.
Watch videos on how to design and color a digital character inspired by @1nfinity
Digital Art ESSENTIALS For Beginners! (tutorial)
4 Videos
Digital Art ESSENTIALS For Beginners! (tutorial)
START HERE with Digital Art | Step by step Tutorial
Free Character Design Course for Beginners (Digital Art Tutorial)
How to Start Drawing Digitally | DrawlikeaSir
Facts about digital character design for kids
🎨 Many digital artists use layers to keep sketches, lineart, and colors separate so they can tweak each part without starting over.
✏️ Graphics tablets sense pressure and tilt, so a single stylus stroke can change from thin to thick just like a real brush or pencil.
🖼️ Designers often start with a strong silhouette — if a character reads clearly as a dark shape, it’s usually instantly recognizable.
🌈 Using color theory tricks like complementary colors and saturation contrasts can make characters pop and feel more alive.
📁 Most drawing apps let you export PNG, JPG, or PSD files so your artwork is easy to share, print, or continue editing elsewhere.
