settled-reach/docs/design/character-creation-screen-wireframe.md

---
title: "Character Creation Screen Wireframe"
description: "UI layout specification for the character creation screen — wireframe deliverable for ticket #685"
type: design
status: active
sprint: 28
ticket: 685
created: 2026-03-19
---

# Character Creation Screen Wireframe

**Ticket:** #685
**Designed by:** Jeroen (project lead)
**Tool:** Frame0
**Downstream:** #694 (client: character creation screen), #705 (character editor Godot tool)

---

## Wireframe Files

All source JSON and exported PNGs in `docs/design/wireframes/character-creation/`:

| File | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `main-layout.json/.png` | Body tab (default view on open) |
| `head-tab.json/.png` | Head template + eyebrows tab |
| `hair-tab.json/.png` | Hair style + facial hair tab |
| `clothing-tab.json/.png` | Clothing slot selector tab |
| `accessories-tab.json/.png` | Accessories slot selector tab |
| `color-picker.json/.png` | Color picker modal (opens on swatch click) |

---

## Screen Layout

### Preview pane (left, ~60% of screen)
- Live 3D compositor in SubViewport (D-149, D-146)
- Default camera: **frontal (-5°)** for editor (D-158), toggle to dramatic (-30°)
- Default facing: **South** (face-forward)
- **[Q] / [E]** rotate buttons — incremental cardinal rotation (D-155)
- Always LOD Tier 0, no degradation

### Tab panel (right, ~35% of screen)
5 tabs: **Body**, **Head**, **Hair**, **Clothing**, **Accessories**

Each tab follows the same layout pattern:
1. **Search bar** (top, fixed) — scoped to current tab contents
2. **Scrollable content grid** (middle) — item/option thumbnails
3. **Color dock** (bottom, fixed, non-scrolling) — context-sensitive color controls

### Footer (full width, bottom)
- **[ESC] Back** — return to main menu
- **[R] Randomise** — randomize all slots
- **[ENTER] Start** — confirm character and begin game

---

## Tab Contents

### Body
- **Skin tone dock** (bottom): 9 preset swatches (separate from the D-165 clothing palette)
- **Body type grid**: 11 options (D-159) organized as:
  - Female row: Thin, Average, Muscular, Heavy, Teen
  - Male row: Thin, Average, Muscular, Heavy, Teen
  - Child (unlabeled row — no gendered framing)

### Head
- **Head template grid**: Trellis-generated unique heads (D-163), scrollable. Starts with 4 Quaternius starters.
- **Skin tone dock** (bottom): same 9 swatches as Body tab (shared state)

### Hair
- **Hair style grid**: Short A, Short B, Medium A, Medium B, Long A, Bald (and more via scroll)
- **Facial hair selector**: None, Stubble, Beard, Moustache
- **Eyebrow selector**: Regular, Female, Teen, Thick (matches Source tier asset keys)
- **Hair color dock** (bottom): Hair primary + Hair highlight (auto) + Eyebrow tint (auto from hair, independent override) + Facial hair tint (auto from hair, independent override — single tint for both beard and moustache)

### Clothing
- **Slot selector** (fixed): Torso, Legs, Feet, Hands — click to filter the grid below
- **Item grid**: Shows items for the selected slot (Coveralls, Jacket, Shirt, etc.)
- **Item color dock** (bottom): Primary / Secondary / Accent swatches. Secondary and Accent auto-derive if unset.

### Accessories
- **Slot selector** (fixed): Hat, Goggles, Mask, Backpack, Belt, Wrist L, Wrist R, Earring L, Earring R, Necklace
- **Item grid**: Shows items for the selected slot
- **Item color dock** (bottom): Primary / Secondary swatches

---

## Color Picker Modal

Opens when any color swatch in a dock is clicked. Overlays the tab panel.

- **54-swatch palette** (6 rows × 9 columns, D-165):
  1. Reds (H=0° S=35%)
  2. Greens (H=150° S=28%)
  3. Blues (H=215° S=35%)
  4. Purples (H=275° S=28%)
  5. Browns (H=28° S=35%)
  6. Neutral grays (#000000 → #ffffff, even steps)
- **Hex input field** with Apply button for custom colors
- **Recent custom colors**: 9 slots, persisted at game (save) level
- **Cancel / OK** buttons

---

## Keyboard Navigation

Full keyboard/controller support required (existing `character_select.gd` is keyboard-friendly):

- **Tab / Shift+Tab**: cycle between tabs
- **Arrow keys**: navigate within grids
- **Enter**: select item / confirm
- **Q / E**: rotate character in preview
- **R**: randomize
- **ESC**: back to main menu

---

## Design Decisions Referenced

| Decision | Summary |
|----------|---------|
| D-146 | Tile-scale preview with heavy zoom (compatible with 3D via SubViewport) |
| D-149 | 3D characters rendered live |
| D-153 | Player not visually distinct from NPCs |
| D-155 | Cardinal rotation only in editor |
| D-157 | Game start = alarm clock / fade from black (editor is separate context) |
| D-158 | Frontal camera default for editor |
| D-159 | 11 body types (5 types × 2 genders + 1 child) |
| D-163 | Trellis-generated unique heads |
| D-160 | 18 body segments (clothing hides covered segments) |
| D-165 | Color picker palette (5×9 muted hues + 1×9 neutral gray — clothing colors only, not skin tones) |

---

## Notes for Implementation (#694)

- Held items (held_l, held_r) are **not** in the character creator — those are play-time decisions. Wrist slots replace them.
- The color picker modal should preview changes live on the 3D model before OK is pressed.
- Search filters items by name within the active tab only.
- The skin tone dock appears on both Body and Head tabs and shares state — changing it on one updates the other.
- **Compositor coverage:** Changing body type or clothing in the editor must update segment visibility on the `CharacterCompositor`. Clothing items hide the body segments they cover (e.g. torso clothing hides `seg_torso`). The preview must reflect this in real time — switching from a tank top to a jacket should hide the arm segments underneath.
- **Eyebrow tint** and **facial hair tint** are independent from hair color. Default: auto-derive from hair primary. Player can override to any color via the color picker.
- Earring L/R and Necklace are jewelry accessory slots — they use `accessory_primary` / `accessory_secondary` color regions like other accessories.