Machineflesh 3D Challenge Entry: Mario A. Montoya

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1082493255_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1082493255_large.jpg)

This is my idea for this challenge (not only mi first competition, but my first real try with 3d ever!).

The spider is special because is based in how this depredator can catch other "flesh" bugs&small animals, and still do a little harm to more big ones (like modified humans). The idea is based in the relation spider/web. This relation is still here, but a bio-web (the actual way) maybe is not the answer in this imaginary "bio-machine" world, so this spider must exibit modifications in the way how the web work and how the spider generated his web. I think in provide the spider&web with electricity power : can work against machine and bio parts in almost any "flesh" creature!

So, stay tuned for the modificactions! :thumbsup:

[mamcx]

I'm, really, a software developer (i use Delphi, VS.NET, Sql Server, bla bla) so why i'm here?

I like VERY much the 3D...when i see a movie or see some of the images in sites like this, i think: :drool: !

My dream is build a game, but because my job, i work fulltime with database-systems, web, services and things where you see all time only characters&code...not so cool for a non-coder!

And my experience? I build, draw & desing the GUI of my system...must be "serious" but anyway...

However, with my brother (you see the amazing idea of my brother? click in my signature!) work in 3d:reading stuff, learning how 3d software & 3d hardware work, etc... so i'm not complete ignorant about 3d...

I like SOOOO much Zbrush (but my brother dislike it: so much 3d studio, i think!:p ), specially the new version! So when i read in a spanish 3d forum about this challenge, and after play a little with Zbrush, i think: I have a oportunity!

Why be afraid match against talented, expert, great 3d artists, why a newbie not can "try"???? So, i try :beer: !

Obviously, the word "challenge" meaning all. My challenge, is render the idea on my brain (if only you can see it!) in a digital way. I like much the nature, and read a lot about it.

I think in insects because are perfect for this machineflesh challenge: Look good, are scary, feel natural but have a little of "robots". Machine&insect...feel rigth!

The, i chosee a spider because a) Is solitary: i don't have the skills for build a ants city! b)Good depredator, very adaptable, and have the necesary motor skills to be a succes. c)Look easy for a newvbie, but not so easy (specially, build a credible web)
d)The web provide a natural complement of the spider, and argument WHY the spider is like is....

[mamcx]

I'm playing now with the 3d model (Zbrush 2).

I build it with Zspheres, and look closely at the help&demos...However i have a bad time understanding why the mesh is build so bad: Best a picture:

http://www.solucionesvulcano.com/pruebas/cg/Modelo1.jpg

And

http://www.solucionesvulcano.com/pruebas/cg/Modelo2.jpg

For some reason, the zsphere is not correctly aligned...so when i transform (with move, zoom or rotate) the whole thing become bad...

Also, i don't see why, with a radial setup, the thing is not centered....some ideas???? I mean: For build the legs, i put zsphere radialcount at 8, and X symetry. I have a chain of zspheres (4) where the #2 is the center of this bug. I "expect" that when i put the mouse over zsphere 2, the cursor is at center. I start to add 4 times the zsphere and move it for have a big legs. When i try again, the 8 red points is not in perfect match where the original zspheres are...

[mamcx]

Investigating and with the help of the pixolator.com community i found a better way for model a spider. :bounce:

I based the old way in how a octupus is made, but, then when i look more closely, the body of a spider is not a single part and from that, grow 8 legs, but is a collection of 4 segments, each with 2 legs. So, i disable the radial count and only keep X symetry.

Also, i found how aling the zsphere, is simply press the "Alt" key when draging, and rotate the zsphere with the rotate button.:thumbsup:

I'm happy now, because i have progress and look like i can finish the model part soon! This is after 30 min. of working (not bad for a newbie!). Now, the mesh is build in more clean way!

http://www.solucionesvulcano.com/pruebas/cg/Modelado.jpg

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591585_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591585_large.jpg)

Unfortunaly my "serious work" put me out for a while... but i'm back!

After try the model in Zbrush, i decide do it in 3d Max 6 (i'm more familiar with it...and not can get the necesary time for play :( ) So, is really simply... But that is the idea...

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591699_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591699_large.jpg)

First, i render with videopost the spider...this add the electric effect in the legs... Thats let me something to work in Zbrush...

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591850_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087591850_large.jpg)

The videopost add a simply electric effect in the legs. The idea is that the spider transmit electric charges from that and the body simply recharg (using the waste energy in the web, and from the food)

The spider is the perfect depredator in the MachineFlesh world!

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597159_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597159_large.jpg)

How you can see, i use the normal textures in ZBrush. Really, texturing is more archievied with the interactive tools than the normal way. I simply paint over the model for put the final effects of electricity and put the tree where the spider are.

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597251_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597251_large.jpg)

The ligthing not was fancy... anyway i'm not a expert and less in this area. However i think that the light i setup is fine. Is sad that my work not let my study more :(

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597348_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597348_large.jpg)

Ups!

I'm messhing with the submit button!

This is the real texturing

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597446_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087597446_large.jpg)

Ups!

I'm messhing with the submit button!

This is the real ligth

[mamcx]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087598053_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/5/3383/3383_1087598053_large.jpg)

Amazing! Is possible??' Is a dream??

Not, i finish! I don't can believe... I submit this from work! (hey, i need vacations ;) ) but was nice play this challenge...no matter if i'm a newbie, is only with a dream where a person can grow!

So, i don't have time for put a best background, but the spirit is present. My spider is the perfect depredator in the machineflesh world because:

* Who not fear of spiders?
* Use electricity for cath victims. Electricity work equal well against the flesh or the mechanic part... Cool!
* The electricity come from the body of the spider. You can see how is produced in the back side of the body....like a electric generator...

But my spider is smart: Use a especial legs from the generator for try to catch the electricity from the web...if not do that really waste a lot of power, and maybe not cacth the victim...and permit conserv energy for a back attack!!!

* The body protect the spider for the harm: Is a combination of metal, plastic and flesh (but the flesh is inside, of course). So, using basic electric defense, the energy flow over the skin and not get inside...For a happy hunt!

I like much the ideas of animals, more than pseudo-humans because i think provide a good background and are more simply to get the idea.... is hard "improve" a human in a way that not cause him more damage than good, specially because the phiscology... But a insect is easy to "improve" and still feel good.

I hope that everybody have fun, and not get destroyed your brain thinking: "Is possible, I win???"

:)

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