United3dArtists Archive

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 23 Jan 2012, 21:47

This is another secondary character in progress. This time it's a bird.

I started off without much inspirational ideas, so made an "angry birds" like character. I was going to start a quicky tutorial for you guys, but then i had to change everything. The art director walked in and wanted something more disney like, so the final result is below. Biting my lip, I made the next dude a bit quicker and with a bit more resolve.... artist's frustration can be a good drive!

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 24 Jan 2012, 06:36

Nice start but I'm guessing it will need some subdividing

One thing I've been meaning to ask you is how did you change your workspace widget? I already have Clintonmans cage tool but your standard widget seems to be slightly different as well. I'd love to know how you changed it.

Steinie · Post by **Steinie** » 24 Jan 2012, 12:19

Looking better Draise!
I do like the wings better on your latest bird. The larger eyes makes sense since it will show character better. Keep us posted on your progress.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 24 Jan 2012, 15:21

@ Mikomdude
Thanks! yeah, it will be subdivided eventually. I usually try model without SS to keep the GPU low and frame rates high. I preview it when needed. Once happy, I go on my merry way!

Concerning the widget: hold down shift then LMB click on the widget to change it. If you have Clintons latest cage widget, you should have like 3 different versions, including one without the rotating widget (4).

@Steinie
I agree, the second bird is much cooler. Sometimes, as an artist, one has to swollow your pride and take a good dose of someone elses opinion to do better work!!

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 24 Jan 2012, 15:54

Draise wrote:Concerning the widget: hold down shift then LMB click on the widget to change it. If you have Clintons latest cage widget, you should have like 3 different versions, including one without the rotating widget (4).

Sweet thanks! Works like a charm

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 24 Jan 2012, 17:24

You're welcome =)

Now with Eyes, a closed wing (plan to film him flying then landing then with him on the ground. Seperate shots.)

Now with also a crest! And feet. I have some textures, but not yet. I plan to place the body into 3DCoat and try do some painting, either in Mudbox or in 3DCoat.

First UV's.

I have some feather textures already, but I am yet to test them out.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 24 Jan 2012, 17:49

That bird is starting to look good. But, judging by the camera in the scene, that is one giant bird. Wouldn't want one of those sitting on my balcony

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 24 Jan 2012, 18:51

lol! yes yes.. he is a GIANT bird. I build in a large scale cause I can put in more detail (more units to move around in). Kinda like HD modelling.

Don't worry, i have a shrink ray in my backyard to put him into his place.

Here is some feather texture previews (pulled and edited from real feathers, easier than painting new ones). I'm doing UV's right now. Mostly in 3Dcoat, I like it's UV features.

A lot. I will make some feather brushes or stamps and start painting on the 3D geometry. Will also possibly make a displacement map to make him look even more feathery.

MikomDude · Post by **MikomDude** » 24 Jan 2012, 19:04

The feathers are looking really great but dose it really fit with the style you're going for? From previous characters/scenes I've seen your project seems to have more of a comic-like style and realistic textures tend to stick out a bit. Off course it's your project, I'm not judging

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 24 Jan 2012, 19:24

Yes, you are right...!

I think... I will have to do a stand in with the other models, then with some crystalize and color limiters and other 2D filters, I will make the textures look more cartoony like I did for the flowers (also photographs turned into textures).

jeffroig · Post by **jeffroig** » 24 Jan 2012, 21:41

Will you be rigging the bird?
Will you be using morph target for the tail feathers or bones?
The work looks good.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 24 Jan 2012, 23:18

@jeffroig
Yes, I will be rigging the dude, with some elementary bones. I may have some of the feathers with qstretch, an algorithm or plugin that Softimage has that makes your stuff like jelly. Or maybe put in some ICE Syflex cloth to them. I think the cloth would work better along with a rig. (I'm still thinking about it) A morph target may come in handy, but I don't know how to do that in Softimage so well, I'd have to learn it. I love it's cloth features, especially Syflex, so I'm gonna possibly use that along with a rig. On the other hand, the beak will be animated with shapes/morphs, same with the eyes.

To be honest, none of my things have rigs yet. i am saving that for last, because I know it will be a pain in the arse. I have to learn a lot, so I'm just taking it easy with textures and models and UV's, but everything will be rigged before March.

So I made the textures in Photoshop, Paint.net (simpler, and I get the job done faster) and Mudbox. Mostly Mudbox. I love Mudbox. I want Mari, but it's expensive.. more so than Mudbox. I did texture previews and UV titivation in TS. I did the the hard UV's in 3Dcoat, an awesome program at an awesome price. The textures in there look powerful, moreso than mudbox.. but like Paint.net over Photoshop, sometimes simplicity is efficiency!

(GOD I'm talking too much!!!!)

And now the last thing. TS will reset the bridged textures on the WS if you import an obj from the LUUF obj import. Bummer. But if you do it with the bridge off, save the object in a library, then turn the bridge on, load the object... viola! You save the textures!!!!

So now, time for home. Dinner with family, it's my brothers birthday! I can't wait! Then we watch the muppets! =)

Morrow I will compare textures with the rest, and maybe dull down and pastelize these textures, like what I did with the flowers, to make it work.

Thanks for the imput guys!

jeffroig · Post by **jeffroig** » 25 Jan 2012, 18:15

Draise I have sent you a couple PM's, do you not receive PM's?
Let me know.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 25 Jan 2012, 19:25

jeffroig wrote:Draise I have sent you a couple PM's, do you not receive PM's?
Let me know.

YEAH! I get them, just haven't responded! How rude of me. You've got mail now! =)

froo · Post by **froo** » 25 Jan 2012, 19:30

Lookin good Draise!

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 25 Jan 2012, 21:32

Thanks!

Here is a render with an AO pass in Softimage. I blurred most of the textures down, also changed some of the bumps. It looks much better now! The bird is still a giant, but it's looking better than before!!

I played in TS for some realtime AO simulations. I made this rig of lights, and i'll post it elsewhere for all to use!

http://s3.amazonaws.com/data.tumblr.com ... vYG8UP4%3D

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 25 Jan 2012, 21:51

Oh crap, he has 4 wings, 2 open and 2 closed!!! oops.

jeffroig · Post by **jeffroig** » 25 Jan 2012, 22:21

Nice work Draise, you did a great job regardless of the extra wings.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 27 Jan 2012, 03:39

Thanks! Yeah.. I should rerender him, but I think I'd be doing that once I start rigging...
Ok! Next project, I am now officially behind schedule! I have yet 3 more characters to make! ARGH! And let alone rig!

So a new WIP, now a Goldfish!

froo · Post by **froo** » 28 Jan 2012, 00:37

heheh cute birdie!

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 18 Feb 2012, 00:31

Here is an update to my bird rig. It's super crazy nuts. This rig required a new tecnique I have never used before. For example, linking attributes from controls to parts of the rig, a roll in the foot, a claw null, a tail deform, automated feather poses, and really... learning how to realllly rig this baby!

Damn it has been a harrowing 3 days learning and experimenting how to do it! But great exercise. Reminds me of building a robot.

I'll try get some screen captures and a renderfarm animation test by the end of tonight. No parties! morrow... MORROW... a hardcore DNB rave. =)

jeffroig · Post by **jeffroig** » 20 Feb 2012, 21:02

The rigging looks very similar to Maya.
I use speed tree and it is a node based system which is really easy to understand.
Good work there Draise, keep it up.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 21 Feb 2012, 04:01

jeffroig wrote:The rigging looks very similar to Maya.
I use speed tree and it is a node based system which is really easy to understand.
Good work there Draise, keep it up.

Thanks! I'll try keep it up.. I just had my personal computer "die" then "resurrect" miraculously and been out of action for a bit.

I am about to start work again morrow. I did a quick animation of the bird, and it took most of the weekend to render on one computer. I'll post it soon!

And yes, the rigging in Softimage is similar to both Maya and 3Dmax. I have not tried cross bridging it yet, but that will be something to work with.

I too love the node based system of rigging everything, much more logical.

Till next time!

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 21 Feb 2012, 19:14

My latest render test! Took too long, but I wasn't using the "renderfarm" i have kinda set up. Have yet to fix scripts and texture references in the render setups.

This render has brought up some good issues, and I am resolving them. I also am fixing UV's and textures... also some color balancing. I am also working on dividing the animation passess from the actual background passess.

The scene is too heavy otherwise and takes forever to load into the RAM before render, also not practical for making new shots and having a scene hundreds of meg's large that takes forever to load.

So working on the passess again, making sure my animation passess work well with the background passess. Maybe it will cut time. I am also going to start thinking on how much motion blur i'm going to work with.. I don't want jittery animations.....

Enjoy!

Oh, and the animation is JUST A TEST! In my opnion it is a sucky animation...

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