The Interdimensional Traveler: A Full Body Character Design - ZBrush Creature Design: Creating Dynamic Concept Imagery for Film and Games - page 108

Figure 3-4: This image shows a heroic male figure divided into eight head measures. This is the eight-head
proportional canon.

The eight-head canon helps you measure the figure by breaking it into eight equal head measurements.
By knowing where each body landmark falls at each head measure, you can quickly and accurately construct
a figure in a convincing proportion. The eight-head canon is popular because it is a very heroic proportion
that results in a large body and long legs. There is a degree of elegance to the figure, and you often find this
measurement used in comic book art.
Table 3-1 shows how to break a figure down into the eight-head canon and where the major landmarks
fall in Figure 3-4. We will be using these measurements as a basis to depart from the form of the human
body to create a more alien figure. For example, when we lengthen the arms, we will use the canonical rule
that the body length equals the arm-span width to help us create an accurate-looking arm span. Figure 3-5
shows how the total head measure of the body also applies to the normal arm span of a human. By breaking
rules like this, you can subtly or more drastically affect the manner in which a character is perceived.

Table 3-1: Eight-head Canon for Figure Breakdown
Landmark Head Measure

Chin Head 1

Nipples Head 2

Navel Head 3

Pubic bone Head 4 (midpoint of figure)