Character graphical changes are NOT in an acceptable state, please make it optional

[Scintilla]

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So the two main points are:
- Lip Shape
- 'Depression Line' running the length of the lips and extending slightly to the cheek, creating a dimpled appearance either side of the mouth.
- Shadows appearance around the mouth

First things to highlight is the obvious difference in lip choice between your own character and that of the example (fuller lips in your own character vs thinner option in the example) and the slightly different position of both characters (the example image and, to a lesser extent, your first image being rotated very slightly to the right. Your own benchmark image being more front-facing).



In the example image:
- The outer lip shape remains largely the same. The only slight difference perhaps is the curves to the lips have been soften slightly.

- The inner line though has been changed. It no longer flexes in the middle to mirror the cupids-bow, it now remains a straight line, perhaps with a marginal upward curve at the edges. Shadows on the top lip and beneath that line have been deepened slightly, giving that curved, depressed appearance, and it extends slightly beyond the lips creating a slight dimple at either side.

- Shadows around the lips are primarily beneath the bottom lip and either side around that extended depression line, creating the dimples.




In your image:
- The top lip appears the same, except the curves have been soften slightly and the colour has become a single block, rather than having smaller shadows within the lip around the cupids-bow (like the example). Perhaps that is the reason for the flatter appearance you say you see?
In regards to the bottom lip, I'm torn as to how much or how little it's changed. Upon first glance it appears a little more boxy, with the lower edge being less of a smooth curve. Though I can't decide whether this is the combined result of both the lower-lip shadow appearance and the lip colour itself being a little less defined in the benchmark or whether this actually is a structure change. The more I look at it, the more I'm leaning towards the former, but let's err on the side of caution and say it's the latter as you claim.

- Like the example image, the inner line is flattened, the top lip is darker (perhaps this is more obvious on your own character because that lip is bigger than in the example), and there is a slight shadow running beneath that line. The line runs beyond the lip edge, into the cheeks (like in the example)

- As for shadows around the lips: the shadows on your benchmark is in the same place as the example (beneath the lower lip and at either edge of the lips at the dimples) One thing I would say is that the shadows are deeper on your benchmark than on the examples, leading to a greater contrast at those dimpled areas making them appear very slightly more pronounced. But this is shadow - not structural. That could be any number of reasons: positioning? lighting? settings? an unfortunate consequence of your own choice of lip shape compared to that of the example?


Ultimately, I think the look is more to do with shadowing/shadow appearance. I know that isn't what you'll want to hear because a physical lip structure change is a far more straightforward reason suggesting a more straightforward solution. I don't doubt you'll strongly disagree with me too.

On a more lighthearted note, I don't think I have ever stared at a character's lips for so long!