What a great name, "character appreciation ref"! Makes total sense now that I think about it ^.=.^

2nd one looks like what I can draw because my art skills are mostly refrigerator drawings

There are people, who literally redraw their reference like every other month, and there are people, like me, who never make even a single cohesive reference for their character XDD

There's this novel concept called "being happy with a character's design".

The last time I changed my sona's design was literally last year.

Prior to that, he had been the same since 2011.

If you change your character, do you suddenly hate all those old commissions you got that are obsolete now?

if you make consistent character designs that dont need to be changed so often its not a problem

If they're not helpful for you, then just don't use them lol But obviously there are people who do find them helpful. It's up to preference.

I wonder which one my references fall under xD

This makes creating a ref for my fursona seem achievable. Currently I've just been using the two original commissions from the artist who created the design (I asked them to) slapped into one image with added relevant information not present.

I remember yours being really easy to work with because everything I needed was within the viewable space XD
I have three monitors and sometimes I still struggle to parse refs into quickly viewable parts...
I notice it more because I'm working on a timer, I'm sure. If I was vegging out with a commission it wouldn't matter one way or the other. I'm also good at missing details, which is way more likely with the top option unless the client bullet points the easily missed things.

I'm glad to hear it was easy to work with!

I'd may add the exact colors the character has, but only bc I'm super picky on that xd

A colour swatch is super-handy to have on the ref.

My eyes zoomed in on "dick shot that's blurred out" and never zoomed back out. I'm an adult I promise

That one had my sides in orbit because MAN if that ain't the truth LMAO

Ah very true. Gotta choose between a useful ref and a pretty ref... Or just have a ton of money x3

I feel like I'm somewhere in the middle for when I make ref sheets

I still need to get myself a proper Ref sheet someday. When i have the money.

The top one is handy for a species because you're promoting your species and giving some nice info and poses with which to inspire character ideas at the same time.

Totally! The top one is definitely a vibes/eye candy option.

The good commission reference is what I have done for my own OC Grandiose. X3

Bonus addition for the top one: "Soft shaded/rendered"

I mostly do the second one since I constantly draw so many characters lol but I do admire people with those big wordy refs. Definitely character appreciation. But when it comes to commissions, I like when people give me unshaded refs.

Dang a blurred out dick is what I've been missing this whole time.

LOL
yours are the best and the originals

Saving this for later as it looks and sounds very useful! 👍⭐