Farmers Head update

With Head.
Think he needs to be a bit more stumpy, still quite long and boring at the minute. I've run our of time this evening so will be building my computer at home, and the I will finally be able to perhaps work at home, all being well!

The Horrifying Rant!

So I know i said I'd write a blog about my internal project yesterday, but I actually was very productive in another project, my Research Project.
After spending a good time reading what is expected of me in the 3000-4000 words research paper, and what is necessary in such a paper, I've come to realise that there are not enough words for what I want to talk about. I thought it would be a in depth discussion, but apparently not the case. The extra section like 'background to research', 'research methodology' and 'description of proposed practice' can surely be merged into other areas. Why waste entire sections for this headings when it is a creative course, I'd understand more if it were a soical/science dissitations, as then it is obviously advantageous. But by giving entire sections away means having to write more than just a few sentences and writing something more substantial to justify having it as a section, right?
I don't know, maybe my lack of experience is showing, but there is not much logic behind it, yet others have done it in the past. Although with this is mind, after reading the example given to us as reference from someone last year, their discusson section was mostly pictures?!! They too didn't have enough to space to write. Maybe I'm being too optimistic in what I intend to write and will be glad to have so few words.
Anyway least I have a structure in place and a topic that interestes me. In fact I went to see 'Hotel Transylvania' yesterday. Good film, not great, but definitely would watch and enjoy it again.

In terms of animation I actually expected more extreme poses, it was great what they accomplished don't get me wrong, but it didnt have the wild takes I was expecting after reading some of the articles that Genndy Tartakovsky wanted it to be like the wild Warner Bros. and Tex Avery Cartoons.

They've done an awesome job at finally a new way to animate, rather then try and copy the kingpins Pixar. Its very much like Tex's work in the grand era of Walt Disney. Animation needs a fresh perspective, I know the picture above shows some extraggeration, but it wasnt like that all the way through the film, in fact some of the extreme emotions didnt really show till towards the end , which i dont understand as dracula had plenty bursts of rage since the beginning of the film. I would love to have seen it pushed more.

In fact that is what my finally year is all about, pushing the limits of animation. Tartakovsky's team had to re program and script how the rigs and models would morph so as to make it smooth and not crumpled or disfigured in a horrific mess. I'm not sure how I'm going to go about doing it, but I know they used Maya. so thats what I intend to learn today, wish me luck.

Test Renders of Hagatha

So here is a scene render, finally got all the props and the broom character, I don't know wether or not to add a a cat rig to the broom, so I might do that tomorrow. Anyway I can finally start really animating the story out tomorrow. Although it will be the altered shortened version. Anyway below is her walk cycle just a little longer:

I love shes sooo bouncy

Quick Update

Update 2 the basics:

I've just been playing round with materials, finding the best effect for my palm trees, thought I'd share. Anyway back to the more heavey stuff like trying to make nParticles into a shore line. Might be a bit a head of myself.

The nCloth Dynamic

Just a quick update on another Dynamic I now understand. Also understand how useful expressions are, been tweaking that too. Did look into other things but think they were getting to advance for me, so scaled it back and stuck with what I knew and created this:

I may have went overboard with the holes, but with the theme I'm going with it would be torn to shreds, I've also included the Black Spot, just to hail the great book and film Treasure Island. This is also the 1st time using materials, did a quick crash course just to get the basics down.

FINALLY

Well Hagatha is finally back in 3ds Max, taken weeks to figure out what was happening with the seams, anyway, after a lot of trial and plenty of error, this is officially the best outcome of all my hard work. There are elements of course I'd like to improve but for animation and progression purposes I am happy with this. It does do something weird when rendered though, but I think that is mainly to do with materials. I can sort that later. I no longer have the patience to faff around. I just want to move forward!

Facial Expressions

I've been watching these clips, trying to learn the range of facial expressions. I can't wait to kick Hagatha into action, well as soon as i get the modelling thing sorted. Really frustrating as she is not working the way I want her too, every time I model her and add a few more sub division layers to her in Mudbox, she goes weird when I export it. So annoying, but hopefully Andy can save whats left of my hair.



Anyway these little guys have definitely brightened up my day, some very funny quick sketcghes. Something I would really love to get into.

Hagatha has Colour

So here is Hagatha finally painted, she's not as detailed as I like..BUT I have to hold back as much as I can and keep her quite simple otherwise she'll look od in her surroundings. I do feel I might have over done the detail and lost that Looney Tune simplicity but she is my design and in my image, I don't want to copy.

Below is a close up of her face, warts and all I'm keeping her bald, witch's should be creepy.

Wile Coyote

I love how it still keeps in theme with the classic cartoons. It is a mordern version, fitting in with the times today, but seeing as my own piece is going to be very similar to Looney Tunes I had o show their own 3d work too. It brightens up my working day while working on this project

Had to share

Saw this image in the book Essential CG lighting techniques with 3ds max, thought it was amazing, such depth and detail, It is by Jason Kane. One day my skills and knowlegde will match masterpieces like this, I love the subtle colouring, texturing and the hint of reflection from the glasses. The mood is perfectly fitted.