how do you decide what custom to make

If you are making them to sell, then I think you may want to go with main stream characters that will get a lot of attention like Batman. You may also want to keep track of the custom figures that have been selling and what they've sold for. You can do a search under for custom figures and completed auctions. It's always a surprise to see some of the things that are sold and how much they go for.

I usually pick out who I wanna make into a figure and then search my loose figures or the store for a figure thats in the same image. I haven't quite perfected the torso and leg swap so I try to just head swaps or sculpting.

Sometimes I do have ideas just pop in there and try to find a good base, other times I see the base and know what I'm gonna make out of it, I always stick to things I like I.E starwars and tcats.

They just kinda pop into my head as I'm tinkering with pieces of figures.

I try to keep up with video game releases and feature films most of the time, or if some asks me to do one I'll give it a shot.

see I have like 3-4 that I just thought of to make but then I have a couple more that have started because lets say I just watched watchmen and I remeber I have a peice to a figure that I can make a figure with and then I want to do that as well

I usually decide who I want to make then make it. I try not to do customs that have been done many times before.