Races of middle earth - character - Pixolator

[mrmark]

werent they on the cover of nick skitz albums???

very nice work btw

[lildragon]

Great to see the man behind Zbrush at it again, welcome back Pixolator, can't WAIT to see what you come up with. :)

Show us what Zbrush is made of! :)

salud

[SheepFactory]

Awesome!

Glad to see you join the challenges. :D

:buttrock:

[Gandalf]

WOW Pixolator, I always admired your works!! :bowdown:
I can't wait to see what you'll do for the challenge!!

[Grub]

Hey Pixolator!
Hope you do find time for the challenge, I can't wait to see some new artwork from you.
:cool: :thumbsup:


Rob.

[Pixolator]

mrmark: Yes, the image was used on the album cover (with permission:) )
lildragon, Sheep Factory: Thanks for the warm welcome:) Was cool meeting you at Siggraph, maybe we'll get to talk again in the next one:cool:
Gandalf, Grub: Thank you, nice 'seeing' ZBC members in here :wavey: , I’ll try to post some test models soon.

[Pixolator]

Hi :)
Here is the first sketch... A clever & agile creature that is commonly employed as a fast/reliable messenger. Their main claim to fame is their unmatched speed (especially on snow/ice covered terrains ).

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042421954utl.jpg

Image 2 (http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042421977sxo.jpg)

Low poly-count image (http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042421992qit.jpg)

I plan to (time permitting) post several more sketchy concepts before advancing to the next stage.

-Pixolator

[leigh]

Good to see you in another challenge, Pixolator :thumbsup:
Your creature is looking cool, but just be wary that you do not make it look too much like Jar Jar :D
Looking forward to seeing where this one goes :bounce:
Best of luck!!

[ahrens]

Could you just pleeeeeze let me post an answer before you do say what I have in mind Leigh? :wip:

I thought exactly the same as Leigh did but just ignore me and this post since Leigh did the work already.
Anyway I loke it a lot, the second cutie in the challenge...

[pigwater]

pixolator, i know this is going to turn out amazing...(adding pressure to see if it affects the master)

thanks for the screenshots...it'll help me understand z-brush a little more

i will definitely be following

[Pixolator]

Leigh: Thanks:) You do have a point there, this creature will fit nicely in a StarWars universe:buttrock:
ahrens: This creature is ‘friendly’ , future creatures may not ;)
pigwater: I am not sure what I will end up with, time will tell :)

Here is an update to the first creature...This update includes modifed-proportions and the addition of rough mesh-details...

Image (http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042537006ndm.jpg)

Thanks :beer:
Pixolator

[erilaz]

That thing is so weird! Therefore, I like it.:D

[Gandalf]

Awesome, it's pleasure to see a zbrush master at work with zsphere!!!:thumbsup:

[Pixolator]

Thanks:)
A quick variation of the previous model...

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042549380oqk.jpg

[Pixolator]

Here the 2nd idea :)...


The “Hammer Tailhead”.

The Hammer Tailhead are forest-dwelling creatures with a hammer-like head and tail.
These creatures are highly territorials and spend most of the time marking their territory.

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042614687koy.jpg

To mark the territory, they walk in circles and pound:wip: their head into the ground by using a fast swing of the tail. See image below...

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042614709emd.jpg

When one territory-circle is completed; they begin a larger in diameter one.
It is believed to be bad luck to cross the Hammer Tailhead’s territory lines.

Their thinking component (brain) is located in their middle stomach, not in thier head.(otherwise, they would have been suffering from chronic headaches ).

There are two known varieties of Hammer Tailhead. The small garden-variety kind and a the large variety (“Big Hammer Tailhead” or “The Big Whacker” ) reaching heights of 60 feet or more. The Big Hammer Tailhead can flatten a vast territory in a short time, luckily they are quite rare.
Some are captured and used as a weapon of war - they can pound:wip: an army to the ground in no time. Most are in the service of lord Whackamole and they are commonly referred to by their popular (dwarven given) nickname - Boomboom.

:)
-Pixolator

[nadeemmar]

:eek: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

great Idea pixolator , love the new one

[foenix]

Good Idea !

[Faraguay]

Personnally it's the best idea I've read all around in this challenge so far... please don't change unless you have something better. I want to see this one textured...

Great work, master.

[pigwater]

that is sooooooooo coooooooooollll!!!:applause: :applause:

[Pixolator]

Thanks:) I’ll try to ‘find’ a picture of lord Whackamole’s stronghold;)

[Pixolator]

A recently found artifact of the Hammer Tailhead...

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1042677403xiv.jpg


:beer:
-Pixolator

[InnerVortex]

god dammit that texture is supreme!!

[Pixolator]

Thanks InnerVortex:)

I have not had time to post an update. I’ll be a ‘bit’ busy during the upcoming week but I will be back soon after. :wip:
Till next time:beer:
-Pixolator

[Joril]

What an original concept!!
It's nice to see some Z-Brush action too :)
So, I guess you'll be adding alot of insane detail in the coming weeks :D

[kokoro]

Pixolator - i enjoy your models very much. i am new to z-brush and tried to remodel just for exercise your Hammer Tailhead. and like to ask about it. how did you get with z-spheres, the flat ends of the hammer ? i assume you did adaptive skinning. is this right ?

[fleedawg]

WOW!! Amazing! :eek:

Makes me want to learn Z-Brush. Great, great stuffs. :applause:

[Stygian]

Man thats great I can just see one of those 60 ft. bad boys backing up to a castle wall and WHACK!!! instant door.
:eek:

[OZ]

YOHOOO! COOL! So original! What crazy idea! :applause: :applause:

[vertex]

Absolutely Fantastic, you face with the all the hair blew me away. Your work in ZBrush is sublime, but what am I saying you know this already :bounce:

Excellent stuff.

Vertex

[Mentat7]

Really great start Pix! I have finally thrown my hat into the ring... lol


Kokoro....yes that is an adaptive skin and the flat faces were created using Magnet Spheres. If you look at the smaller ZSphere image at the top you will see some small darker looking spheres on top of the larger ones. These have been turned into Magnet Spheres and moved closer to the face of the larger sphere. The result is that when skinned the Magnet Spheres will push in on the face of the large spheres and flatten them. You can experiment with this feature with the 1.55 Demo Version. :thumbsup:

[zued]

Ill hope the commercial version comes out before this challange ends... ;)



:beer:

[kokoro]

Mentat7 - thank you for the info. so thats not me being stupid - ;) -, but a feature not in the commenrcial version . anyway these z-spheres are just great modeling tool.

[jaymackey]

Great creatures, Pixolator! :thumbsup:

That second one could crack a mean nut!!

[Monkeyfarm]

Pixolator...

Man, if you're using super-secret features in unreleased versions of ZBrush... Welllll... :shame:

;)


Was this the race that invented asprin in Middle Earth? :)

[nibo]

Nice nut-cracker you got there!
I dig the simplicity of the model and the textures.
Great man! :airguitar

[Pixolator]

Thanks for kind feedback:beer:

I have not yet had the time to refine the HammerTail model::shrug: I will post some more (hopefully) soon.
Meanwhile here is another creature with a unique-tail theme...

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1044618522qub.jpg

Mentat7: Thank you for stepping in with the info:thumbsup:
Monkeyfarm: it’s v1.55:)

Thanks,
-Pixolator

[mtmckinley]

Excellent texturing! :D

[robo3687]

that looks great :beer: :buttrock:

[Ryu]

Great model :)
Could we see a wireframe of the model? especially the head plz...
ZBrush interests me a lot, and when i see what you do with it,
it's just more and more attractive...
Keep on posting stuff plz, it's just like a wonderland when i enter this thread... ;)
:wavey:

[Pixolator]

Thanks :beer:
Here is one more hybrid creature. The model is rough at this stage, I do plan to refine this model and texture it. (I will soon have to choose one of these creature to finalized;))

http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1044801026wkt.jpg

Ryu: I will add wireframes to my next post:)
-Pixolator

[azazel]

I'd say finalize all of them...:thumbsup:

[fellah]

all of them are very cool characters, although my personal fav is "the 2 tails".
I really hope I'll get a chance to try out ZBrush some day, from what I've seen so far it looks very powerful, and fun using.
hope to see more soon, looks very promising,
take care

[DimitrisLiatsos]

:bounce: JESUS !!! Pixolator ....the two tails creature is absolutely great. Great modeling and texturing. Z-Brush is on list!!!!:bounce: :bounce:

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[unLevel]

so, pixolator, you know you can enter only ONE model in this challenge....

Oh, well, maybe you can just make a few more and let me enter one of them in?

Just playin...

As always, I headbang humbly to your superiority:buttrock:

Well, with all these great zbrush models around in this challenge, maybe we need a "one zsphere to rule them all" movie?

EDIT: forgot to add, I'm guessing, with the speed of the zsphere, plus your amazing knowledge and use of zbrush, that these took you about three hours or less? I would love to know how long it took you to model that Two Tail thing...

BTW, you and glen southern are da men!!!!!!!!! I wish he would enter in this contest with one of his cyborg ideas!!:wip:

[Pixolator]

Thanks for kind feedback:beer:
Originally posted by unLevel
... "one zsphere to rule them all"...
I like that:D
...these took you about three hours or less?...
You are correct:) These models (and TwoTails) are very fast to model and texture.

Before creating a realistic for the above creature, It has taken a quick whimsical detour (http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1044917802tbj.jpg) .



Next stage will be a ‘realistic’ texture:)

[unLevel]

Hey, pixolator, check your private messages, I've sent you a question that I need the master of zsperes to answer please....

I'm telling you b/c I don't know if you have your inbox set to send you emails when you get pm's, otherwise you might not know when someone pm's you....

Thanks, and good luck, if you win first prize, you get zbrush, which would be kinda ironic, if you ask me....

[InnerVortex]

really weird this zsphere thing... but you make it look so great!

[chadlychoo]

They all look great Pixolator! ZBrush rules!! :buttrock: Keep up the great work. :thumbsup:


Madmaxs, that is something that should be said in a Private Message (http://www.cgtalk.com/private.php?s=&action=newmessage&userid=376).

[unLevel]

I agree with chad...

and Madmax, I don't think it was on purpose, and if it was on purpose, you deserved it...hehe....

Pixolator, and the community he has created around his product, are the epitome of professionals, and I would stand behind him and his company...

I really think it was a big mistake, and something that should be handled in a simple pm...

Just don't fret, and spend you're time away from his forum learning the program, that way, if and when you're unblocked, you'll have something to show...

[unLevel]

have you noticed how many species are "just because"?

Aww...Pixolator, I like your hammerhead thingy just the way it is, and I think a short animation with it demonstrating it's hammer head theory might be needed to qualm the tremors...

[Pixolator]

Thanks :beer:
One more (last?) wip creature...Bigfoot?
http://www.pixolator.com/ubb/uploaded_files/user_image-1046027476swl.jpg
I will have time for one more update before the end of this challenge. (I have not yet decided which of the wip creatures to finalize:buttrock: )

Thanks,
-Pixolator

[unLevel]

HEY PIXOLATOR!!!

THIS IS GREAT!!

I finally got the order of modeling down, thanks to labeling the pics....

time to try out these things, thanks pix!!!

[Ryu]

I love the all thread,
your creatures are highly creative...
I really like the way they are rendered,
i love the way the zpheres are put together...
I Love everything !!
Continue to post plz plz plz :love:
:wavey:

[Dreamwave]

cool creature, reminds me of Jabba the Hutt :buttrock:

[Hellwolve]

You've got about a week left, and you still haven't decided?

:eek:

Well, good luck :thumbsup:

:p

[lildragon]

Damn pixolator you have some different type of imagination there :thumbsup: I really dig this one. Which one will you enter? :D

salud

[Xaint]

Hi Pixolator!

I'm amazed by what you've done with Zbrush, and how fast you work. I use polygonal modelling, now in Wings3d wich is also a very intuitive modelling tool. But I'm gameing for anything efficient, even if it's new to me. I'd like to ask you for a timelapse video about how you work in Zbrush. I hope it's not too much to ask.
I respect your work. :applause:

[unLevel]

welcome, Xaint, prepare to be amazed!!

http://pixologic.com/home/showcase15/zsphere_sample1.html

And once you d/l the zbrush demo, found here: http://pixologic.com/download/bdownloadlo.html

Theres several zscript tutorials showing you how to model different things in zbrush....very interesting things, indeed..

Also, you might want to head over to the zbrush forum www.zbrushcentral.com there's lots of things always going on over there..

Well good luck...

Also, if you need anything, I'd be glad to help you out, if you've got msn, mine is htsmith_7@hotmail.com though I'm nowhere near the level that Pixolator is at, nor will I ever be..hehe...that doesn't keep me from trying, though...

[visualboo]

ah, I was just going to say that.

I downloaded the demo a while back and it really didn't click with me... and for some reason I feel it's that way with a lot of people. So my suggestion is, why don't you make some timelapse (or realtime) videos of a creature from start to finish (all the way through texturing because I love your textureing ;) ). I really feel that would give people a clearer picture of the package and workflow.

[edit] unLevel, I think the people need a more indepth video. Audio would be nice also.

[kokoro]

hello visualboo - such videos are included in the new demopack. there is headmodeling, texturing a rhino and many many more.... only there these are called zskripts.

i got zbrush in the beginning of january, and with these demos i learned zbrush very quickly and had a lot fun doing so.

[Grub]

Pixolator, I love ya latest creature.:love: You certainly come up with some wacky ideas, Z-man.:surprised

[Virtuoso]

Lots of excellent art here Pixolator.I have enjoyed your work from afar for quite sometime.
:thumbsup:

May I ask a question please: At what stage could one tranfer one of the forms you have just posted over to Max or 3DS?
At the adaptive skin or edited skin level?

I would be interested in adding Z-Brush to my arsenal if there was a possibility of getting to tranfer my Z-brush work at some point.i use Max,Maya, and now XSI.But Z-brush I can see is something that has grabbed my attention.

Thanks for any advice ahead of time. And keep up the very fine creations,they are quite unique and very well done.
:thumbsup: :beer:

[unLevel]

I do believe at the adaptive AND the edited skin level, the model can be saved as a tool, and then you can clear the work area, simple click the tool to drag out your model, then export as a .dxf or .obj

Not absolutely sure on that, but that's how I do it, I like saving my stuff as tools several times...

[unLevel]

Maybe we need to start a zbrush newb clan around here or something...

[Xaint]

I've got 2 main questions:

- Does Objects created with Zbrush capable of animation? Have I control over edge-loops? The heads I've seen are created from a sphere, thus leading to not having circular edge loops around the eye and mouth, etc... Pre-making a mesh with zspheres to sculpt then, doesn't seems to ba a good approach, the loops should have to be placed after sculpting. Is it possible?

-How does Zbrush work with tablets? How much does it matter if you use a tablet or not?

It's half off-topic, I know. A Zbrush Forum here at CG-Talk would be cool, 'cause I don't want to visit many communities, this already takes much time from me. :wip:

[ThirdEye]

One of the best skin shaders i've ever seen... :eek:

[unLevel]

well, we asked lildragon if there could be a zbrush forum here, but he didn't want to intrude, and possibly draw users away from zbrushcentral, pixologic's own group of forums...

Pix, what do you think about it?

[Monkeyfarm]

Originally posted by Xaint
I've got 2 main questions:

- Does Objects created with Zbrush capable of animation? Have I control over edge-loops? The heads I've seen are created from a sphere, thus leading to not having circular edge loops around the eye and mouth, etc... Pre-making a mesh with zspheres to sculpt then, doesn't seems to ba a good approach, the loops should have to be placed after sculpting. Is it possible?

-How does Zbrush work with tablets? How much does it matter if you use a tablet or not?

It's half off-topic, I know. A Zbrush Forum here at CG-Talk would be cool, 'cause I don't want to visit many communities, this already takes much time from me. :wip:

1) With the zSphere modeling that became available in 1.55 recently there are ways that you can create a base mesh that has a looped structure.

you can see it in a WIP in my entry post here:
1/3 of the way down the page (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=366322).

You can vertex edit the mesh and then do sub-divides, but you can not add polygons in a very tightly controlled manner.

If you are going to rig and animate a model there's two options:

1) create a basic mesh in another package like Wings that has the loop structure and bring it into ZB for sculpting

2) create and sculpt the model in ZBrush starting with a zsphere derived loop structure, export it as a quad obj and clean up loop problems in wings, etc.

However, ZBrush has absolutely amazing "sculpting" abilities, as well as amazing texture mapping capabilities. you can create very organic forms in ZB very quickly with a tablet. Essentially it's like a super powerful and intuitive magnet mode editing tool. A tablet is not mandatory, but it's a joy with one, and without one, it's like modeling with a chainsaw. :)

Between zBrush and a free program like Wings 3D, there's pretty much nothing you can't do modeling and texturing wise.

A thing to keep in mind is that if you are going to create a work from start to finish in ZBrush is that ZBrush is more of an illustrating package than a 3D modeling rendering package. Creating complex objects that have many discreet parts (clothes, accessories, etc.) is a bit difficult because objects don't remain as 3D models for the entire workflow. They get embedded into the workspace when you go to move to another object. There are tools that allow you to create complex 3D objects, but they are not like what you are prob. used to in a true 3D package.

Download the demo from their site and get a feel for it. Don't cost nothing! :)

[Monkeyfarm]

-------------------------
Mr. Pixolator:

It has come to our attention that you are using displacement mapping in your entry. Because of this we are demanding that bump mapping and displacement mapping be released immediately to make amends.

Signed,

Ravenous hordes of ZBrush users that are jealous of your toys!

-------------------------


:)

Looking good! Which concept is your official entry?

You have a very interesting anatomy outlook I gotta say.

BTW:

I spent the weekend texturing the body of my entry, and I gotta say that using the HighlighterII tool to create the texture detail like in your two-tail creature is really nice. Between that and the intensity brush it's scary how easy it is to create complex looking textures.

It's going to be sooo cool when displacement and bump mapping make it to us unwashed masses!

[Hellwolve]

Originally posted by Monkeyfarm
<SNIP>A tablet is not mandatory, but it's a joy with one, and without one, it's like modeling with a chainsaw. :)<SNIP>

Too bad. I was just starting to think that ZBrush would be the perfect free tool for me to start learning to model.

[OZ]

I love the two tailscreature!!!! :eek: Brilliant design and so well done!! That creature deserve a scene!!:applause:

[Monkeyfarm]

Originally posted by Hellwolve
Too bad. I was just starting to think that ZBrush would be the perfect free tool for me to start learning to model.

I think you took that the wrong way... What I'm saying is that with a tablet it's a great scuplting aid. With a mouse you have to model like you do in every other 3D package. So it's not a statement against ZB, it's a statement about pretty much every poly modeler that does not having something like amazing maget tools, etc.


Modeling with a mouse is one paradigm. Modleing in ZB with a tablet is like going from the stone age to the atomic age in one step.

Dude, just download it and try it. It's free. What have you got to lose? Other than hours and hours of free time because it's so addictive! :)

[Hellwolve]

Originally posted by Monkeyfarm
I think you took that the wrong way... What I'm saying is that with a tablet it's a great scuplting aid. With a mouse you have to model like you do in every other 3D package. So it's not a statement against ZB, it's a statement about pretty much every poly modeler that does not having something like amazing maget tools, etc.


Modeling with a mouse is one paradigm. Modleing in ZB with a tablet is like going from the stone age to the atomic age in one step.

Dude, just download it and try it. It's free. What have you got to lose? Other than hours and hours of free time because it's so addictive! :)

Ofcourse you're right. Will do :bounce:

I really hope it'll be the tool to get "The Images" out of my head. They are driving me insane! :scream:

;)

[Monkeyfarm]

Originally posted by Hellwolve
Ofcourse you're right. Will do :bounce:

I really hope it'll be the tool to get "The Images" out of my head. They are driving me insane! :scream:

;)

There's medication for that... :)

[Hellwolve]

Originally posted by Monkeyfarm
There's medication for that... :)

And that medication is ZBRush, right? Too bad I'm having problems with the demo. Damn ZIP file misses ZResources :annoyed:

[Monkeyfarm]

Originally posted by Hellwolve
And that medication is ZBRush, right? Too bad I'm having problems with the demo. Damn ZIP file misses ZResources :annoyed:

Shoot them an email. They are typically more than helpful.

[Raul-Reznek]

i just saw the resaults, man! i really think u deserved a LOT more for such a good display of form... weird

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