RobertMayer
03-30-2006, 05:16 PM
Hullo all,
I'm going to try and post this without sounding too desperate or fishy, like last time. (sorry about that mr. moderator).
I am proposing, to the community at large, an Open-Source resource for Humanoid Models.
First before i get into depth, allow me to explain what inspired such an idea, which i hope will allow you to see what i am thinking.
BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION
Good Concept
I used to use poser. Poser, for those who do not know, is a humanoid Posing and Rendering program that is not too popular with the rest of the 3d Community. Poser had an okay concept, an easy-to-use humanoid posing/rendering program. A company, called Daz3d, created a set of "Unimesh" models that the community has grown around. These models are hugely adaptable, morphing into thousands of different possibilities. There are hundreds of sites dedicated to Content (free or to-be-bought) for these characters.
Flawed System
So, you are probably wondering what the problem is. Well, for those of you who are not familier with Poser and its figures, i shall explain: Poser's Rigging system sucks. Bending joints are spagetti-like and only bend at the seam and there is no way to get around it.
Furthermore, as a fix, i tried to bring the Daz3d figures into 3ds Max and rig them. The problem is that the Daz3d Figures are 500,000+ polygons, even the reduced resolution characters are insane. With this kind of polycount its nearly impossible to effectively Rig and Pose in Max.
THE PROPOSAL
So, with all this in mind, what do I want to do?
I would like to create an Open-Source set of Universal Humanoid Models for the 3d Community.
The Models
The models would be generic and flexible. - all the models would be based off of the same base-model, so as to keep vertex count (for morphs) and UVMapping universal and interchangable among them.
A polycount of around 15k at the most would allow for quick posing without eating up processing power, while keeping the polygons quad-based would allow a person to use Meshsmoothing on renders would keep quality way up.
Furthermore allowing the option of Meshsmoothing would allow a person to keep low-detail models in the background.
Rigging
The Characters would come with a basic rig allow for quick "out of the box" use. As people with more experience decide to contribute, perhaps more advanced rigs would come about.
Open Source?
Open source, in this case, is a gauruntee that all things related to this project would be free for use among the community. Furthermore its an invitiation For ANYONE ANYONE who wants to, to make something and put it up for download. Be that a set of morphs, or a set of clothing, or a texture map that they made, or a more advanced rig (like i mentioned before), or a set of props that are scaled to the models size, or perhaps a set for the model to move around in, or hair, who knows.
End Result
So whats this gonna end up like? To be honest, i am not sure. What i am hoping is that this project allows people of all sorts to be able to render out humans. I myself would not mind starting a web-comic off of it. Perhaps someone else wishes to start a Web series or a short movie, but lacks the modelling skills, who knows.
These models could be used as Architectural Visualization aids, without using cutouts.
Possibilities are endless.
Just imagine, up for download could be Uniforms for your favorite Sci-Fi series, or Fantasy armor, or a morph to change the model into your favorite actor, or the actor you want your character to be portrayed by.
Perhaps someone might put a morph of an Anodrian up for download along with Antennae props.
The biggest advantage of putting this out as open source is that the model is not limited by the skills of anyone on this project (because if it were, i know it wouldnt get very far with my modelling skills), but instead by communities skills and desire.
Obviously this has a Very Heavy 3dsMax spin. Perhaps it could be converted to other formats for ease-of-use amongst them too.
NEEDS
Okay, now this is where things get a little annoying. I've been trying my hand at modelling humanoids, and to be honest? i suck at it, lol, for example.
"the starter kit"
The starter Kit is what i feel the model should begin with in the first download.
- Male Model
- - Basic Textures
- - Basic Facial Rig
- - Basic Body Rig
- Female Model
- - Basic Textures
- - Basic Facial Rig
- - Basic Body Rig
Humanoid Modeller - This project is in need of a person who can model a generic but flexible humanoid under 15k polies with a structure suitble for Meshsmoothing or TurboSmoothing
Facial Rigger - I dont even know where to start to build a facial rig, and id rather someone with some experience have a go with it. Id hate to see the project come down due to a horrible facial rig by me ^_^, lol.
CLOSING THOGHTS
Many thanks to anyone who actually sat through this and read it. And I will pre-emptively apologize if this is "fishing". I am obviously a new-comer to This community, and i know that this is a rather bold request coming from a new guy. But I feel this is a worthy cause. Just think of how neat it would be to have everyone who felt like it something to add on to, even in the smallest way.
I'm going to try and post this without sounding too desperate or fishy, like last time. (sorry about that mr. moderator).
I am proposing, to the community at large, an Open-Source resource for Humanoid Models.
First before i get into depth, allow me to explain what inspired such an idea, which i hope will allow you to see what i am thinking.
BACKGROUND & INSPIRATION
Good Concept
I used to use poser. Poser, for those who do not know, is a humanoid Posing and Rendering program that is not too popular with the rest of the 3d Community. Poser had an okay concept, an easy-to-use humanoid posing/rendering program. A company, called Daz3d, created a set of "Unimesh" models that the community has grown around. These models are hugely adaptable, morphing into thousands of different possibilities. There are hundreds of sites dedicated to Content (free or to-be-bought) for these characters.
Flawed System
So, you are probably wondering what the problem is. Well, for those of you who are not familier with Poser and its figures, i shall explain: Poser's Rigging system sucks. Bending joints are spagetti-like and only bend at the seam and there is no way to get around it.
Furthermore, as a fix, i tried to bring the Daz3d figures into 3ds Max and rig them. The problem is that the Daz3d Figures are 500,000+ polygons, even the reduced resolution characters are insane. With this kind of polycount its nearly impossible to effectively Rig and Pose in Max.
THE PROPOSAL
So, with all this in mind, what do I want to do?
I would like to create an Open-Source set of Universal Humanoid Models for the 3d Community.
The Models
The models would be generic and flexible. - all the models would be based off of the same base-model, so as to keep vertex count (for morphs) and UVMapping universal and interchangable among them.
A polycount of around 15k at the most would allow for quick posing without eating up processing power, while keeping the polygons quad-based would allow a person to use Meshsmoothing on renders would keep quality way up.
Furthermore allowing the option of Meshsmoothing would allow a person to keep low-detail models in the background.
Rigging
The Characters would come with a basic rig allow for quick "out of the box" use. As people with more experience decide to contribute, perhaps more advanced rigs would come about.
Open Source?
Open source, in this case, is a gauruntee that all things related to this project would be free for use among the community. Furthermore its an invitiation For ANYONE ANYONE who wants to, to make something and put it up for download. Be that a set of morphs, or a set of clothing, or a texture map that they made, or a more advanced rig (like i mentioned before), or a set of props that are scaled to the models size, or perhaps a set for the model to move around in, or hair, who knows.
End Result
So whats this gonna end up like? To be honest, i am not sure. What i am hoping is that this project allows people of all sorts to be able to render out humans. I myself would not mind starting a web-comic off of it. Perhaps someone else wishes to start a Web series or a short movie, but lacks the modelling skills, who knows.
These models could be used as Architectural Visualization aids, without using cutouts.
Possibilities are endless.
Just imagine, up for download could be Uniforms for your favorite Sci-Fi series, or Fantasy armor, or a morph to change the model into your favorite actor, or the actor you want your character to be portrayed by.
Perhaps someone might put a morph of an Anodrian up for download along with Antennae props.
The biggest advantage of putting this out as open source is that the model is not limited by the skills of anyone on this project (because if it were, i know it wouldnt get very far with my modelling skills), but instead by communities skills and desire.
Obviously this has a Very Heavy 3dsMax spin. Perhaps it could be converted to other formats for ease-of-use amongst them too.
NEEDS
Okay, now this is where things get a little annoying. I've been trying my hand at modelling humanoids, and to be honest? i suck at it, lol, for example.
"the starter kit"
The starter Kit is what i feel the model should begin with in the first download.
- Male Model
- - Basic Textures
- - Basic Facial Rig
- - Basic Body Rig
- Female Model
- - Basic Textures
- - Basic Facial Rig
- - Basic Body Rig
Humanoid Modeller - This project is in need of a person who can model a generic but flexible humanoid under 15k polies with a structure suitble for Meshsmoothing or TurboSmoothing
Facial Rigger - I dont even know where to start to build a facial rig, and id rather someone with some experience have a go with it. Id hate to see the project come down due to a horrible facial rig by me ^_^, lol.
CLOSING THOGHTS
Many thanks to anyone who actually sat through this and read it. And I will pre-emptively apologize if this is "fishing". I am obviously a new-comer to This community, and i know that this is a rather bold request coming from a new guy. But I feel this is a worthy cause. Just think of how neat it would be to have everyone who felt like it something to add on to, even in the smallest way.