The beginning section of my music

For the past few days I have been working on creating a little sound track to accompany my robot animation. I think it gives the futuristic feel, although it may be a little too creepy. I've tweaked it a little since but just wanted to keep updated. I think I like it, not sure yet. I also have a new found respect for musicians who can successfully make their own music, very hard. Been at this for ages on a good programme LMMS. So glad I have it.

The Button Update

Here is another 5 second section added on to the animation below, the switching on of the  UNBEATABLE computer. I really want to show a range of movement in this animation, fully use all the techniques I've never been able to do before. I think I've set it up nicely now that I can begin actually telling the story, the intro is over once the computer says "good evening".

1st time using a Free camera on a track

This is the 1st piece of animation for my robot piece, its all static as I just wanted to set the scene 1st. I might infact make the beginning reflection section longer and same with the ending, when its just looking at the board. I like how all the reflections have come up on the chess pieces, along with the subtle reflection on the chess board. Took an hour though which is worrying.

Update on Materials

So here is a quick render of my scene, I've applied a deep blue raytrace onto the black squares, and now have a wooden table rather than it all be black, which I'm still 50/50 on. It lifts the image a lot, but I'm not sure if it distracts away from it or not, or even takes away the futuristic feel. I might tweek the white pieces, and white checkers too.

Here is the same shot as the one above but the computer has buttons and speakers, also there is shadowing from the hands, making the lighting more realisttic from above. I changed the above omni light to a target light playing with the effects.

progress report:

Metallic Material

So I just wanted to show my metallic material, the above shot is a reflection off of the left shoulder, I might have to use that shot as an opening in my animation. I like that its all metallic, suits the theme of the robot, but I think I need to lessen the reflection on the pieces and even the board. Although the board only has a reflection off of the black squares, really I want the board to be more see through, yet I'm worried that the black surface below will make the white bits seem black too. Guess I will have to keep playing, anyway the pieces have been modelled, had help from Andy on the horse but its still my design and I've tweaked it since. I'm actually quite impressed with it, it does give off a futuristic feel, and it does keep in with my robot arms. I've yet to finish the computer just add some more buttons and make the mini animation "Checkmate" for it. Then I can actually begin the film. Sorry I haven't added my sketches and storyboard yet, need to get my hands either a camera with batteries or a scanner that for some reason needs ink to scan to computer (flaws in the Kodak all in one printer).

Above is my overall scene, and the set up, getting the hands right I think is going to be fiddly as I dont want them to clash with other pieces. What I love about it is that its just grown, piece by piece, section by section. I wasnt quite sure what my overall scene would look like, I am actually thinking a wooden table but worried it would lose the theme. A lot of it is just playing around, and so far my playing has paid off.

HAH!!!!!!

I win, took me hours but I win!! I have made two seperate (seperate being the key word) movable arms. They can be aniamted individually so yes animating may take longer but the overal story will be successful. I can believe how long it took me, I was stumped after fully completing my 1st arm, naively I thought I could clone and rotate it, but noooooo!!! That probably is possible and there might be a shortcut I need to learn to get round re building the hand and each of its fingers. BUT HAH.... I did it, now I can make my chess board and pieces, I'm thinking of designing my own just because everyone else seems to be copying tutorials online and they'll all look the same.
I could cry with relief. Tonight I will also discuss and show my initial designs for the hand. Anyway here they are:

I have not added any kind of material or lighting just because I've only just literally finished the modelling.

Update:

With one omni light and and chess board, plus few materials.  I just needed to get a feel for it so I can ponder about it over the weeked. Finally my vision is coming to life

YES to success

I'm in the middle of my robot arm picking up a ball and throwing it to the wall, (Andy's Tutorial) and I have hit success, look.....

I couldn't be happier with it, I am currently now able to animate a robot arm and have it pick something up, also added jitteriness so it looks more realistic. I'm actually very proud of it. Although I know that either today or tomorrow I will have to begin my own project and arm, but now I have the tools and Knowledge I'm actually very excited for it!

Mini Update:
Very near completion of this task, tomorrow I think I need to begin modelling my own hands and chess board. I've got the basics down and the story is just about complete, there is no excuse not to start. Anyway here is the progress report, I have completed him throwing it to the wall now just to catch it and sort out the speed of the ball.