Design Guide

Please refer to the Table of Contents to the right for specific links to relevant sections.

Types of Starter Designs
Characters in Starlight Commons start with a full design. These characters require Chromaroons to undergo significant changes.

These premade characters can be bought or won from PalletEclipse.

What are Astral Cores?
Astral Cores are the inner star cores of all Stellaborn, and can vary in color depending on the core. This color is present throughout their body, but most notably on the neck, chest, feet, and hands, depending on the species.

Color Variations in Traditional Media and Digital Brushes
We don't expect perfect color matching with traditional media and textured brushes. Just do your best to mimic the markings using what's available to you. If a solid marking is changed to a gradient, it can still be approved as long as the shape and placement remain the same.

Stellaborn Body Types
When creating Stellaborn, users are encouraged to explore the wide variety of available body types and are not required to adhere strictly to the provided examples. We understand that body types are an essential part of artistic freedom. Feel free to customize your character's body as you wish.

Accessories and Outfits
Accessories and edits to them are always free. Users are encouraged to design as many outfits as they like.

Using Scars and/or Missing Limbs
Scars and missing limbs are always free to add and do not require approval or Anomalies. For example, while the Electrical Anomaly Robotic Enhancements may look similar, it is not necessary if users want to give a character a prosthetic. If the missing limb is visible, add scarring to show that no Anomaly is being used clearly.

Adding Freckles
Freckles can be added or removed at any time without approval. They must clearly appear as small freckles; if they resemble bigger spots or markings, Design Approval may be required.

Freckles should appear slightly darker than the base color beneath them.

Hair, Eyelashes, and Facial Hair Edits
Hair edits are always free. This includes head hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, and facial hair. Body fur is not included, and is a Soma Anomaly called Thick Coat.

Makeup and Face & Body Paint
Since makeup can be difficult for the team to separate from design edits, all changes to facial markings require Design Approval. Exceptions may be made for temporary face paint that is clearly tied to celebrations, such as event flags or symbolic decorations.

Acceptable Design Variations
Hair, nails, and accessories can be freely changed. Slight inconsistencies are fine, but significant design changes require Design Approval.

What is Free Color?
Some Stellaborn have anatomy and Natural Anomalies that allow color edits without Design Approval. These edits are referred to as “Free Color” changes.

Examples include nails, horns, hair, and specific Anomalies. Check the Anomalies Guide and Stellaborn subspecies sections; each page highlights areas that can be freely changed.

What are Astral Cores and how do they work?
Astral Cores alters a Stellaborn's Astral Core color and Attributes. They also come with specific perks listed in the guide below. These colors or combinations of them can be unlocked using Chronovelour.

Astral Core Colors
Astral Light Core +5 Agility	Astral Burning Core +5 Strength	Astral Radiation Core +5 Defense
Astral Energy Core +1 to ALL Attributes	Astral Grim Core +5 Intelligence	Astral Brilliance Core +5 Charisma

Switching Between Approved Designs
The Chromaroon is a single-use cosmetic that allows full or partial color changes to a Stellaborn's body. These changes always require Design Approval, but there are no limits on the number of colors that can be used in a single application. To make further edits later, a new Chromaroon must be applied. Once approved, users can freely switch between any registered designs.

Changing, Simplifying, or Removing Markings
Any added, altered, or removed markings require Design Approval. This includes turning a design into a solid color.

Eyes and Astral Core Colors
Eye and Astral Core colors cannot be changed with a Chromaroon, even during Design Approval.

Eye Color is an Electrical Anomaly called Optic Variation, and must be unlocked to be changed.

Astral Core Colors (chest, neck, hands, feet) require changing the Stellaborn's Astral Core with a Chronovelour.

How Anomalies Affect the Design
Anomalies add unique features to your Stellaborn. Some must match the existing design, while others allow free color changes.

For more examples, see the Anomaly Guide.

Forms and Design Changes
Forms unlock new ways to present your Stellaborn. Some must match the main design exactly, while others allow free color edits. The form must be unlocked before it can be used in Tasks.

For details and examples, see the Forms Guide.