Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Proko's Skelly App

Stan Prokopenko and his team have just released a new app called "Skelly." 

It's named after the virtual skeleton character from Prokopenko's anatomy instruction videos on YouTube

The Skelly app lets you put the human skeleton into any pose and to see it from any angle. Tapping on a joint brings up a spherical overlay with directional arrows that let you drag the joint in the desired plane of movement.

It’s a useful tool for art students or professionals wondering what the skeleton is really doing beneath a life pose or for anyone wanting to visualize a pose from scratch. 


The interface is intuitive and easy to use without sacrificing any of the nuances of the human body’s complex range of movement. 

I tried it on my iPad, which is big enough to really see all the small bones, but it will also work on other mobile devices.

A control in the lower left of the screen lets you switch between a detailed skeleton model and a more simplified blocky skeleton, which Proko calls "RoboSkelly." Two other controls change the background and the light source.


Proko made this promo trailer with his characteristic wit and sense of fun.

I recommend the Skelly app for animators, storyboarders, comic artists, illustrators, and figure painters.
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21 comments:

Tom Hart said...

Fantastic concept and product (from what I see). Thanks for bringing it to our attention, James. I'll get it, eventually. But I don't think I'll bother immediately since I'd be relgating it to my phone, which wouldn't be very practical for me. Yet another reason to (eventually) spring for an iPad!

Eugene Arenhaus said...

Nice. Maybe they could also add a ball-and-cylinder simplified figure, that would be useful.

I also use this ecorche app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/lecorche/id515026024 . Two versions of Houdon ecorche, classical and corrected, a simplified one, and a skeleton, with optional muscle reference.

Tom Hart said...

Eugene, that app you site looks very useful too. It appears that the image is static, and not pose-able though. Is that correct?

Unknown said...

Is the Skelly App available for my Win 8.1 desktop pc?

Unknown said...

James, thanks for posting this!

@Marian, It's only available for iOS and Android mobile or tablet right now. If we get enough requests we might make a Mac and PC version.

Unknown said...

Here's hoping, Stan!

Christian Schlierkamp said...

Hoping as well for a Win 8.1 version, Stan. :-D

Awesome project!

K_tigress said...

Very nice find. Thanks for sharing. :)

hena said...

You want requests for a desktop version? Count me in! I have Win7 though.

Janet Oliver said...

Add my name to the list of those who would appreciate a desktop version!

David Still said...

Yes please for a desktop version!

Carlos said...

Great find James. There are two other useful apps I've been trying. One of them is called "L'ecorché" and the other one is "Handy". The first one is based on Houdon's sculpture (not poseable but great for anatomy) and the second one is full of 3D Hands, heads and feet. Cheers.

Christian Malan said...

It would be great if this app was available on Windows 7 for PCs. I love all of the 3d rotatable models of bones that you have included in the "Anatomy of the Human Body for Artists" course. I use them often to check the block in work I do on drawings. I work on PC with a Cintiq tablet/monitor, and I use all of my reference materials on my second monitor. Unfortunately my cell phone is just too small of a screen for me to find it very useful for viewing reference material.

I hope you guys will make this amazing app available for PC! Thanks for all of the wonderful anatomy reference materials and lessons!!

Unknown said...

I agree with Christian Malan. I wish they had it for the pc as it's the tool that I use.My cell phone is way too small for it to work for this purpose.

Unknown said...

I would really appreciate a PC version (I have Windows 7).
Thank you!

Raker said...

A desktop version would be great! How many people do we need on our list/petition Stan? Great app. Have it for my iPad but would love it on my laptop or desktop.

Unknown said...

(caveat: blatant self promotion) A free poseable 3d human skeleton for desktop is available at www.kineman.com. You can identify bones and manipulate major joints in a biomechanically realistic manner. Upgrading to the Pro version gives you articulated hands & feet, plus options such as transparent backgrounds, saving/restoring poses, unlimited range of motion, and much more. Let us know what else you’d like to see!
[FWIW: I recently purchased a copy of Skelly for Android, and I’m very impressed with its capabilities. I’m also looking forward to someday signing up for one of Proko’s drawing classes! So, please regard this post as co-operative rather than competitive!]

Unknown said...

(caveat: blatant self promotion) A free poseable 3d human skeleton for desktop is available at www.kineman.com. You can identify bones and manipulate major joints in a biomechanically realistic manner. Upgrading to the Pro version gives you articulated hands & feet, plus options such as transparent backgrounds, saving/restoring poses, unlimited range of motion, and much more. Let us know what else you’d like to see!
[FWIW: I recently purchased a copy of Skelly for Android, and I’m very impressed with its capabilities. I’m also looking forward to someday signing up for one of Proko’s drawing classes! So, please regard this post as co-operative rather than competitive!]

Unknown said...

skelly for pc would be great!

Unknown said...

Hello Stan, I downloaded the app but the finger and toe joins don't seem to be movable as the pictures appeared in the trailor show. This really disappointed me because I came for the gun shooting gesture. Is there any solution or will there be an update soon? Thanks!

Unknown said...

Yo, Stan, will they be female version?