How do you choose the right features to emphasize in a caricature without crossing the line into distortion?

I focus on the most defining features—like a unique smile, prominent nose, or expressive eyes—while keeping the overall likeness intact. The goal is to enhance, not distort, ensuring the caricature remains fun yet recognizable.

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To create a caricature without going overboard, focus on the person’s key features—like a distinct nose, eyes, or smile—and slightly exaggerate them. Keep it playful, not mocking. Balance is key: a big nose should still fit the face, not dominate it. The goal is to highlight personality, not distort reality. Keep it fun, but always flattering.

To choose the right features for a caricature without overstepping into distortion:

Focus on Distinctive Traits: Identify features that stand out naturally—like a prominent nose, big smile, or unique hairstyle—and make those the focal points of exaggeration.

Preserve the Essence: Ensure the overall proportions of the face remain recognizable by balancing exaggerated features with less-altered elements.

Emphasize Expressions: Highlight expressions that reflect the subject’s personality, such as a mischievous grin or raised eyebrows, to enhance humor without altering their identity.

Maintain Respect: Avoid over-exaggerating features in a way that could come across as unflattering or offensive, especially when working with sensitive subjects.

Adapt to the Purpose: Tailor the level of exaggeration to suit the context—go bolder for humorous settings and more restrained for sentimental or professional purposes.

By emphasizing what makes the subject unique while keeping their character intact, you strike a balance between humor and respect.

Striking the Perfect Balance in Caricature Design

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Observing the Essence:
The key to a great caricature is identifying the features that define a person’s personality, such as a prominent smile, expressive eyes, or a unique hairstyle. Highlighting these traits keeps the caricature recognizable.

Balancing Exaggeration and Respect:
While exaggeration is essential for humor, maintaining respect for the subject is equally important. Avoid overemphasizing features in a way that might come across as unflattering or offensive.

Adapting to Context:
Consider the purpose of the caricature. A playful party sketch might lean into humor, while a professional piece may require a more subtle approach.

Testing the Limits:
Sketch multiple versions with varying levels of exaggeration. This helps you find the sweet spot between humor and likeness without crossing into distortion.

Pro Tip:
Focus on capturing the spirit of the person—their energy and expression often matter more than the precise proportions.

Lorenzo | Casios Visual Studio

Creating anime portraits is a lot like working on caricatures—it's all about finding the perfect balance between capturing the person's essence and adding a unique, stylized touch.

I focus on highlighting the features that make them stand out, like big expressive eyes or a signature hairstyle, while still keeping those recognizable traits. The trick is to exaggerate in a way that’s playful and true to the anime style, without losing the character's overall likeness. It’s about emphasizing what makes them special, but in a way that feels vibrant and authentic to the anime aesthetic.

I tend to ask my clients exactly what they need or want and it also helps if they provide references for what they ultimately want as a result. In terms of the right features to emphasize, it sort of comes with experience and solid fundamentals before stylization. It's also better to show your progress to the clients and see if they like it. 
Basically sort out your basic fundamentals, especially the face which connects to clients the best and move onto the form factors and body anatomy. 
Make sure to always have references to guide your process so you don't cross that distortion line or uncanniness that may result from over stylization or not enough detailing.