CGTalk - Eon (3D Scene) Entry: James Heathcott

soapy

10-04-2006, 09:43 PM

Why do I feel like I am back in highschool about to do a book report on a book I have not read... Ok I have figured out the theme for this contest. It is: do an epic sci-fi image with spacemen and aliens and strange worlds. No problem!

At this point I would like to go ahead and make my apologies to Greg Bear. The following soapy insanity is in no way a reflection on the integrity, quality or anything else related to the novel Eon. The following imagery is purely the result of the soapdawg methodology and while it may somehow be related to the novel should not be held as a strict and serious commentary on your fine work.

Crin

10-04-2006, 10:22 PM

shakes

10-05-2006, 03:11 AM

hey Soapy! great to see you in . yipee!

Climax

10-05-2006, 04:38 AM

Welcome in my friend, good luck :)

Gunilla

10-05-2006, 07:53 AM

Ok I have figured out the theme for this contest. It is: do an epic sci-fi image with spacemen and aliens and strange worlds. No problem!

Haha, my thoughts exactly - glad I'm not the only one that may slide a bit on the topic. I'm so glad you're in - this will be lot's of fun!

daWinky

10-05-2006, 07:56 AM

Hey Jim!

Glad to discover your thread, I'm sure we've some real fun here:thumbsup: !

Best of luck for you!:)

-sabrina

mdavid

10-05-2006, 12:17 PM

Hey Soapy, it's great to see you in this. Don't worry about not having read the book. I read it and I can tell you all about it. Of course it was about 20 years ago and my memory's not so good...

soapy

10-05-2006, 06:09 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160071742_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160071742_large.jpg)

Hey Greg, I haven't read the book yet, I hope it has guns and ammo and such? Anyway my image needs bullets so here they are. Still working on the textures, metal is really hard to get just right. Any ideas folks?

TheSoracle

10-05-2006, 07:07 PM

Look good so far. Good luck. Just picked up book from library so I shall let you know :p

miketche

10-05-2006, 10:00 PM

You crack me up.

shakes

10-05-2006, 10:18 PM

nice bullets soap! you could try putting a HDRI image in the colour and environment channel, then play with the mix sliders.

Nothingness

10-05-2006, 10:24 PM

Hi there Soapy,

Loved your work last time round, I too feel the fear of not having read this book, it seems odd that this time you need prior knowledge of a topic other then your specific art but who are we to question the might CGS gods?

Good luck i'll be watching.

Well i guess it's more like an illustration contest. If someone designes a cover for it, he can't come buzzing up with blasters and lazers if the book doesn't have them, ... right?

Anyway, i read a big part of it, and it gives great insight on the atmoshpere.

Gunilla

10-06-2006, 06:11 AM

I see you're already flying wild... looks great and the text in the bottom of the bullets is a nice add on :thumbsup:
Any over all idea yet or just playing it as it comes?

soapy

10-06-2006, 02:26 PM

As a matter of fact Gunilla I do have a plan, believe it or not. LOL, its a miracle! The idea is a bit nebulous and of course top secret. But I will say that I have a to-do list with lots of things on it and a rough idea for a layout of the scene. Expect lots of twists and turns along the way, I change my mind a lot. More soon.

Nothingness I don't need no stinking guidelines and themes! ;-)

Thanks Shakes I will have to give that a shot. I am going to try and be more innovative with my textures this time around.

Mike glad you are enjoying the fun, more on the way.

Soracle and Mark, Nothingnes, Crin, keep me updated on interesting stuff from the novel.

Thanks everyone, expect an update next week we are gone for the weekend.

jddog

10-07-2006, 10:45 AM

yeah Soapy in tha party... !!! Good luck Jim ;)

jd

handlebar

10-07-2006, 11:28 AM

Good luck Soaps

TheSoracle

10-07-2006, 01:15 PM

Got the novel now soapy, but havent had time to read. In past 2 days wrote G1, swam for like 4 hours and had hmwk. Trying to read and post on forums now :p

soapy

10-08-2006, 05:56 AM

Hey thanks jddog and Handlebar.

Soracle go hard on that entry! There will be lots of time for the forums when you get a good start on your image. :-)

Crin

10-08-2006, 01:46 PM

You see? You've done it again! I have absolutly no idea what your up to! :p

My book should arrive this week but for now i'm just gonna toy around with the bits of my concept I want in there no matter what. I'll let you know when I've read it (meaning made my girlfriend read it, she reads VERY fast).

Remember... Crin is watching you! :eek:

soapy

10-10-2006, 03:11 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160493100_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160493100_large.jpg)

Hi Greg, here is a little syringe I made for the scene. They use drugs in space, no? Anyway it was hard to find a good high res pictures of a syringe. This is supposed to be like those disposable insulin syringes that junkies litter the alleys with.

Gunilla

10-10-2006, 04:42 PM

Mighty fine syringe you got there! So... we have bullets and a syringe... will there be aliens?
The suspense is killing me. What in space could you be up to this time? :)

soapy

10-10-2006, 08:11 PM

Mighty fine syringe you got there! So... we have bullets and a syringe... will there be aliens?
The suspense is killing me. What in space could you be up to this time? :)Oh hell yes there will be aliens, among other things; spacemen, starships, asteroids, explosions, singularities, mutants, time travel, lasers, bombs and grand vistas! All put together with suspense, intrigue, mystery and murder! But you know I am not exactly sure how it will all come together...

Did I mention babes in skin-tight space suits?

Zapan

10-10-2006, 08:43 PM

Agree with Gunie .... the suspense is off limit here ... but the modeling is great tho ...

Keep up the aceness Jim !

cheers ,

-Zapan

3Dspline

10-10-2006, 11:01 PM

LOL, bullets and Syringe's, perfect combination.

TheSoracle

10-11-2006, 01:05 AM

LOL, bullets and Syringe's, perfect combination.

Couldn't have put it better myself. This is madness soapy. :P Don't worry, its awesome too.

shakes

10-11-2006, 03:58 AM

You do these thing so well soapy..who would think a syringe could be instantly recognizable as one of yours!!

soapy

10-12-2006, 02:12 AM

You do these thing so well soapy..who would think a syringe could be instantly recognizable as one of yours!!Do you think it is the lighting and scene rig I use for quick renders or the modeling style? Curious...

Thanks everybody for the nice comments.

mdavid

10-12-2006, 02:20 AM

Oh hell yes there will be aliens, among other things; spacemen, starships, asteroids, explosions, singularities, mutants, time travel, lasers, bombs and grand vistas! All put together with suspense, intrigue, mystery and murder! But you know I am not exactly sure how it will all come together...

Did I mention babes in skin-tight space suits?
This sounds like soapy heaven. I'm subscribed!

soapy

10-12-2006, 02:22 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160619725_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160619725_large.jpg)

Greg look out, grenade! I imagine that a grenade would be pretty nasty in space, the particles would just zoom off at ballistic speed until they encountered gravity at some point. This grenade might turn out to be my hero prop for the animation. I was thinking of a grenade rolling past the scene, clanking and banging. Just procedural textures for now.

shakes

10-12-2006, 04:26 AM

Do you think it is the lighting and scene rig I use for quick renders or the modeling style? Curious...

maybe it is, but you also have a very individual way of doing it- realistic with comic humour. LOVE the grenades..nice modelling on those grip nodules!

Gunilla

10-12-2006, 05:38 AM

I agree with shakes, you have a very unique touch - this is probably the first time I see an image of hand grenades and start to giggle ... don't know why but I do - maybe it's because I know it's a wild ride ahead? :)

TheSoracle

10-12-2006, 11:19 AM

Agreeing with both above. Your style is awesome and detailed. Loving the different aspects of your seen.

HAve you gotten anywhere with the book? And is there any news about other parts of your concept?

Heh, I don't even know what a procedural texture is :p

-TheSoracle

mdavid

10-12-2006, 11:36 AM

Agreeing with all three above...

I will add that the choice of bullets, hand grenades and a syringe to open with does kind of single you out a bit too. And it's a good thing.

soapy

10-12-2006, 04:35 PM

Mark- thanks I guess it has just started out that way since I decided to just start out slow and model some easy stuff first off. My plan is to model one item at a time and texture it the best I can and release it complete. If the texture falls down later in lighting I will rework it then. When I get close to the end of the contest however many models are finished will be in the final image. I have a really long and ambitious 'to do' list. But the list is top secret. ;-)

The Soracle- who has time for reading? I don't need no stinkin book! Oh THAT book, right, hmmm, I guess I will read it after the contest and see how I did... or maybe Greg will pop in here and let me know how I am doing? But seriously I will be riffing off the book ideas and to some extent the other entries and all of sci-fi that has gone before. However, you are in Billys world now b-atch and Billy does whatever he wants...

Gunilla- I will try my best to provide a fully wild ride, in any case there will be lots of twists and turns and no warnings about what is coming next. Any sketches will be released the day of the completed model. Of course you can expect a very typical soapy still life image at the end. Not even I know what the final image will be, last time it was supposed to be a big battle scene and ended up a poker game. But I have a few ideas.

Shakes- thanks. I wish the realistic parts could be more deadpan, but one has to live in ones own skin I suppose.

iNcurSioN

10-12-2006, 06:54 PM

I have to say I'm surprised at how you've started, most would start with a concept just to put into pictures what theyre thinking about and for reference, but you started with some of the far smaller things in the piece.

Looking great so far and i'll definately be keeping an eye on ya :wise:

Henrikl

10-12-2006, 10:51 PM

Seriously... It´s a nice looking handgrenade, what´s it doing in space? I mean it looks great, but has nothing to do with the story... Take your skills and put it into some nice artwork.
I´ll ad you a nice gun tomorrow!
Peace/
vic

billyjoecool

10-12-2006, 11:06 PM

nice image
and i allso like your avatar :)

shakes

10-12-2006, 11:24 PM

I have to say I'm surprised at how you've started, most would start with a concept just to put into pictures what theyre thinking about and for reference, but you started with some of the far smaller things in the piece.

haha! welcome to a soapy thread! his are truly like no other!!

mdavid

10-13-2006, 05:46 AM

Seriously... It´s a nice looking handgrenade, what´s it doing in space?
Yeah, that's the coolest things about soapy's threads. It's why folks like me keep coming back for more: to find out what a hand grenade is doing in space! :)

This is already shaping up as some classic soapy-art. I love it

Crin

10-13-2006, 04:43 PM

Your an odd one Mr Soap, very odd indeed. Looking forward to seeing the next "random" object for your scene. :)

jddog

10-14-2006, 10:13 AM

I'm more and more curious... cool model until now :wip:

soapy

10-14-2006, 10:29 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160864981_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1160864981_large.jpg)

The Death

Hey Greg care to say a few words at the alter of infernal insanity. The plinthe got its start as a bas relief panel built up over a flame texture and then just organically morphed into a column. The flame texture that got it started didn't work so I chucked it and went for the creepy demon green. The whole deal is a loose interpretation or monument to 'The Death'.

iNcurSioN

10-14-2006, 11:31 PM

And the strange stuff keeps on coming! :D lol. Can definately see why you turned it into what you did though. I'm loving the significance of the money between the grenade and the altar, gives a certain perspective to it :wise::thumbsup:

shakes

10-14-2006, 11:50 PM

awesome work on the plinthe soapy..is that a texture with SPD?! Looks unreal

GonzaloGolpe

10-15-2006, 01:00 AM

Why do I feel like I am back in highschool about to do a book report on a book I have not read...

hahaha that´s right. I´ll be watching to your original work:scream: Good luck!!! and watch out with the grenades:twisted:

makaron

10-15-2006, 01:40 AM

and now Soapy is up to his usal stuff... no one have a clue where is gonna end, but everybody enjoys it :bounce: looking great.

like those demons, blood, money and war... all the evil stuff in one piece...

Scotti Leslie

10-15-2006, 01:55 AM

Hmmmm, The Demon Alter, Maybe I read the wrong book, oh darn!

mdavid

10-15-2006, 01:58 AM

That's a powerful image, soapy. And really well done too. The very slight crinkling and fold of the money is just right. I really like the brutal, basic look of the hand grenade over the evil expressions on the plinthe. And money/greed in the middle there like the meat in the war sandwich. The image stands up to a million interpretations, all relevant to war and the 'Death'.

Keep 'em coming

soapy

10-15-2006, 04:03 AM

Incursion-Things just sort of fell together. I knew I wanted to make a grenade and the money and the plinthe grew out of something else by accident. So I just decided to put them together in a totem.

Shakes- the demons are modeled. I started with this fire texture and got the idea to model faces into the flames. But the flames looked awful so I ditched those. But the modeling was a matter of taking a flat set of polys and cutting in the face features and then pulling and extruding to get the relief. It was orignally to be a flat panel but then I realized it might be cool as a column so I dropped a couple of copies into a bend deformer and then after making editable joined them.

Gonzalo- thanks.

Makaron- glad you are enjoying the thread, more craziness coming soon I promise.

Scotti- its like Picasso said "If I am drawing a goat and it looks like a woman, I am drawing a women." Likewise who am I to let a mere theme stand in the way of a good idea? I am here to make the best images I can, the contest theme is secondary. That said, I do believe that I will swing back around more closely to the topic at hand in the next little while.

Mark- hey thanks. Yeah sometimes things just come together like that for me. I could get a little critical and say that it is a bit on the obvious side, but it just came along so easily what the hell, eh?

This last image has probably set the tone for this project. There will be more of these little tableaus along the way, some just as heavy some lighter in mood. I am a bit surprised that this one went sideways after only a week. Watch your eyes, Billy is on a rampage it could get worse...

I came across the book so I picked it up and will give it a read over the course of the contest. However I can't really guarantee faithfully following the book. I gotta let my muse do its thing.

Gunilla

10-15-2006, 06:45 AM

Oh yes! I think you're on to something here... by having the different concepts from the book represented by icons like this you could both follow the challenge theme and stay true to Billys world. Good thinking!
The altar looks really good, the demons shape nicely and what's the material? That pale green is creepy, it could almost be made of soap (no joke intended) :scream:

soapy

10-16-2006, 03:20 AM

Thanks Gunilla, yep this one is going to be all Billy. The green column colour is just a simple procedural texture in cinema 4d. It has in the colour channel a 2 colour fine marble shader. Nothing special.

daWinky

10-16-2006, 04:55 AM

Hey there!:wavey: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)

Ah, that's....eyecatching:D ...!
In previous challenges I've learned not to ask you where you'll go with your pics, so I just don't ask now...sitting back comfortably and watching what's next:cool: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)

-sabrina

soapy

10-16-2006, 02:30 PM

Ah, that's....eyecatching:D ...! LOL, very diplomatic, thanks. Yep, I don't know where this one is going either, but now that I am reading the book I hope that doesn't spoil my working method... it would be a shame to crash the stream of conciousness lunacy.

iNcurSioN

10-16-2006, 03:18 PM

Haha! I'm sure with what seems to preceed you with your reputation you won't be swayed from madness :thumbsup:

soapy

10-16-2006, 03:38 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161013136_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161013136_large.jpg)

Just a little start on an embryo. I was thinking of it as partly human part reptilian or maybe a sort of genetic mutation experiment. It will of course go into a glass vitrine, don't all slimy mutant sci-fi creepies start life in a liquid filled glass case?

Crin

10-16-2006, 03:56 PM

I've said it before and I'll say it again, your an odd one Mr Soaps!

Can't wait to see how your going to crowbar this into the story ;)

iNcurSioN

10-16-2006, 04:19 PM

Awesome! You sooo have to stick a bright light below / behind it and add some SSS shader to it :D would look awesome with a veiny mask on the SSS top layer

shakes

10-16-2006, 09:38 PM

haha..awesome embyro soapy! you're powering mate.

TheSoracle

10-16-2006, 11:36 PM

Looks cool. I really like it. Just a little critique, the surface is WAY too shiny. The embryo looks kinda like plastic. As seen here, embryos are kinda translucent on the outside.

http://www.uthscsa.edu/mw/photogallery/Media/biomed/images/EMBRYO.jpg http://web2.airmail.net/uthman/graphics/embryo.jpg

Other than that, the modelling is great. Not sure if you are worrying about texturing, but that is what i needed to point out.

Gunilla

10-17-2006, 06:33 AM

Impressive! You really have nailed the semi-human shape in this. "liquid filled glass case" - absolutely! I could also well picture it in one of those plastic bubbles that you can open in the middle ... like the ones filled with cheap jewellry in a bubblegum automat :)

The madness continues, it's a good thing.

jddog

10-17-2006, 06:59 AM

excellent soapy... that's really an excellent enmbryone model !
jd

mdavid

10-17-2006, 11:26 AM

Excellent mix of realism, inventiveness and just plain creepy, Soapy. Really nice work

soapy

10-17-2006, 04:51 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161103869_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161103869_large.jpg)

Who knows what creepy aliens are into? But it is a universal that, there is nothing like a good cocktail after a day of target practice.

The martini glass will probably go. Is it a bit too offside? There is some history of weirdness in sci-fi. But look for a high-tech looking vitrine later on.

Crin

10-17-2006, 05:07 PM

Dude!! That is wrong on so many levels! LOVE IT! ;)

ChewyPixels

10-17-2006, 05:40 PM

AHH...WHAT THE HELL?!? Hehe. :D

Jonesisme

10-17-2006, 07:47 PM

That makes me want to go and have a few Martini's

iNcurSioN

10-17-2006, 08:11 PM

Mmmmm, full of faetal, olive, druggy and gunpowdery goodness.... :wise: rofl.

mdavid

10-17-2006, 11:35 PM

Amazing image, Soapy. I love the title too

gardogg

10-18-2006, 07:17 AM

I like everything you've done so far. Waiting to see the grand plan though.

HaroN

10-18-2006, 09:45 AM

Good picture :thumbsup:!But what happens with perspective of a glass?:argh: Or it is design of future? :)

Gunilla

10-18-2006, 05:23 PM

"Absolut Soapy"
hehe, love it of course! Excellent render too - you're really reaching new levels this time too. Creepy hyper realistic stuff.
... and I'm sure you can fit in a Martini somewhere in the story :thumbsup:

destruct007

10-18-2006, 06:04 PM

Soapy, yours is quickly turning into my favorite thread! Ha! At first I was like WTH is he doing? wait still doing???, now I can't wait to see what you make next! Keep it up!

jddog

10-19-2006, 08:25 AM

no martini, no party... heups... no soapy, no party ! :D
jdd

soapy

10-19-2006, 03:26 PM

Crin - there is going to be a whole lot of crowbarring going on in the next couple months..

Incursion - Yeah i will look at SSS ive played with it a bit so I should give it a shot. I am not sure how close this model will be to the camera yet so I don't know yet how much work I will throw at it. But you are right for sure.

Shakes - I was powering, now the last day or so I hit the wall again. So I am reading the book and noting ideas. Maybe tonight back to the treadmill.

Soracle - damn those pics are ugly! Shine reduced. But you know most all my models are plastic toys so capturing that look may not be such a bad thing. Texture saved...

Gunilla - that bubble toy idea is a good one. I have to use that somehow. Thanks.

JD - thanks man.

mdavid - thanks.

Crin - wrongness is what Billy is all about with a nugget of rightness at his core.

Jedi - hahah. :-)

Jones - remember Martunis and gunplay don't mix. ;-)

Incusion - heheh, glad you enjoyed it.

mdavid - I wish I was famous enough to be asked to do vodka ad, not that they would want me. But you gotta dream eh? :-)

gardogg - The grand plan will become apparant in early January. hahah. Last contest I started out with a grand plan to do the aftermath of an epic battle scene and ended up with a poker game scene.

Haron - I am not sure what you are asking , some info: I used a refractive index of 1.33 in the transparency channel of the liquid. In the glass I used 1.6. 1.6 might be a bit on the high side for regular glass but I don't think it will matter that much. The nasty banding and artifacts comes down partly to AA setting, but I didnt really feel like cranking them up to smooth that out and then wait on the render. Maybe in the final I will crank AA on the glass. You will notice caustics are also missing, I played around with that but couldn't make it work decently and in a reasonable amount of time. But I am going to look into a caustic solution that will work and be fast if possible.

Gunilla - Thanks. I just happened to read a part of the book where a character gets falling down drunk, so I was vindicated in using a martini. Well actually the guy in the novel drank scotch, but well, artistic license at work...

destruct - thanks, glad you are enjoying the ride. More to come.

JD - party, party, party!

daWinky

10-19-2006, 06:03 PM

:argh: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)...After seeing this I will never look at the olive in a martini glass the same way I did it before...not that I like martinis, and now I have a good reason for it:D ...
Keep it up!

-sabrina

soapy

10-20-2006, 05:02 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161363738_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161363738_large.jpg)

snoooze,

ah well I guess we have to go through this character building grind again. Bear with me while construct yet another body. I am basing this head on Adam Baldwin the guy who played Jane on Firefly. Firefly was a great series btw, check it out on DVD if you see it.

Gunilla

10-20-2006, 07:40 PM

soapy

10-20-2006, 08:24 PM

Adam Balwin, huh? Is he one of the brothers? Firefly haven't been on here so I've missed that one.
Good start for the face - maybe you need some more polys around the mouth? He has a heroic look already - or is he the bad guy?

Can't figure out what's next here :)Ok I will tell you what is next: neck, body, arms, legs, just kidding! Seriously though this will be the base mesh for a couple different heads. So I guess this mesh will be both good guys and bad guys eventually. I am going to build a whole set of characters in a semi realistic action toy style. I hope. I might even try building a new female head since my last one was terrible. I will get some more polys on the mouth tonight and fix it up, I tried an experiment on the mouth and it is a bit funky right now.

Like I said earlier there will be aliens, cosmonauts, spaceships the whole deal! Unless I run out of time or whatever.

I just looked it up and Adam Baldwin is not related to those other Baldwins.

destruct007

10-20-2006, 08:59 PM

snoooze, ah well I guess we have to go through this character building grind again.

Yeah there is something SO painful about starting a new character, once it gets momentum, it's kind of fun, but yeah the beginning, like you said it's a grind. I loved Firefly, a friend of mine was a guest star on it, pretty small part, Fess Higgins, but still kind of cool.

Good luck with the modeling.

mdavid

10-21-2006, 06:58 AM

It's really cool to see the development of a new soapy character. You're off to a great start with that mesh.

shakes

10-21-2006, 08:11 PM

hey soapy, I really like the action toy idea! good start to the face, and love the Martini glass BTW..more soapy sickness!

Zapan

10-21-2006, 10:27 PM

I am going to build a whole set of characters in a semi realistic action toy style.

And now ..... can't wait !!! great start with the head Jim !

cheers ,

-Zapan

soapy

10-22-2006, 05:41 AM

I loved Firefly, a friend of mine was a guest star on it, pretty small part, Fess Higgins, but still kind of cool. Yeah I looked it up that was a really good episode I liked it a lot. Tell your buddy nice job!

Oh thanks everybody for the kind words a new picture coming right up.

soapy

10-22-2006, 05:47 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161496022_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161496022_large.jpg)

Wow this head was a lot of work so far. Grrrrr. I suppose it needs wrinkles etc. I have the basic bones in for the eyes, jaw and lips, but I am at the end of my rope for the moment. So I will probably switch to some body parts for a while. Any suggestions for the mesh or links to facial rigging tuts are most welcome.

TheSoracle

10-22-2006, 01:28 PM

Wow, your modelling is awesome. Keep up awesome work soapy.

Just wondering, do you box model your heads? If so, got any good links/tutorials for a newby?

Thanks and great work.

-Steven

soapy

10-22-2006, 04:15 PM

Wow, your modelling is awesome. Keep up awesome work soapy.

Just wondering, do you box model your heads? If so, got any good links/tutorials for a newby? This one I did poly by poly just because I wanted to make a particular loop structure. But it isnt all that important to model that way, box modeling is a good way to go. I box model a lot of my stuff or I start with other primitives like cylinders. I use cinema 4d, you should go search the forum here with your program of choice and search box modeling. I am sure you will find something and also google up box modeling for your program.

Here is a nice link for topology studies:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=108412

Some of the meshes on that link have a lot of polys, I would build something lighter to start. A lower poly mesh is easier to handle and will still give a nice result in sub-d's. Then if you need more polys you can add them later. For the arms and legs you want about eight points around the circumference to get a nice smooth result. Power on!

ChewyPixels

10-22-2006, 08:07 PM

Good work on the head mesh. Ear looks a bit too round, but it could just be the perspective that it's at.

You mention head rigging. Do you mean for basic head posing? You should be fine with the joints that you already have. Don't see why you would need any more. Then go in afterwards and tweak the mesh with your usual modeling techniques.

Keep it up. :)

gardogg

10-22-2006, 10:30 PM

nice looking head model.

daWinky

10-23-2006, 06:18 AM

Wheee, already the first polys of Lanier:eek: !
Great start with your character, nice clean modeling, nothing to crit:thumbsup: ...

I'm very curious now to watch your progress with this model!

Have a nice day!:wavey: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)

-sabrina

Gunilla

10-23-2006, 07:01 AM

Wow! Cool update! He's got the perfect look for a hero toy doll, great work!
I am going to build a whole set of characters in a semi realistic action toy style.
Great idea - and now good luck with the body... lot's of muscles I expect?

Crin

10-24-2006, 10:26 AM

Looking good Mister Soaps! Character modelling can be a grind can't it? I'm struggling with mine a bit. Your making good progress though, keep it up!

soapy

10-24-2006, 04:33 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161707586_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161707586_large.jpg)

Here is an early look at the lightweight Russian EVA combat suit. Since these models are a lot harder to do than the previous ones I will submit a few more 'in progress' shots. But I will try not to bore you with incremental updates. I am going for a slightly bulky but still lightweight EVA suit here. Sort of a one size fits all type setup.

Gunilla

10-25-2006, 07:42 AM

Good start for the suit and body! Will the suit have some future tech details on it? Built-in computer devices, communication systems and such?
A small pocket with a fabric keyboard could be cool :)

mdavid

10-25-2006, 01:24 PM

You're powering along, soapy. The whole figure is coming along really well.

oceanbluesky

10-25-2006, 08:25 PM

Hey Soapy! Really like your wildly off-beat imagination! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with again. Great modeling thus far. Cheers!

soapy

10-25-2006, 08:48 PM

Jedi- ok I fixed the ear, it was pretty round. On the other hand I was watching that movie Domino last night and the woman who plays Domino has a really round ear...

Gardogg - thanks.

daWinky - thanks. Progress is coming along slowly, just finished a spacesuit glove.

Gunilla - probably not too many muscles but I guess you wont see them anyways. But as you can see I am doing things backwards as usual. But by the end I suspect I will be modeling the whole anatomy of this guys body. There will be various parts sticking out of the suit on different versions so I will probably need most of his body parts anyways.

Crin - yep characters are a total grind. Especially since everyone looks at people all day they have so much familiarity you can't get by too well with a half assed model.

Gunilla - The book was written in 1987? and takes place in the year 2000. So I suppose the gear should be what the author thought a spacesuit would be in the year 2000? But anyways I am going to go with a sort of cross between a pressure suit and a full EVA suit. Nothing too futuristic but I will be adding lots of gak hanging down etc. Definitely some keypads mini computer type stuff. I got reading about spacesuits and spacewalks and now know a thing or two about that, pretty interesting stuff. I am going to build a full pressure hard suit with mechanical arms and legs, etc. for one of the aliens.

Mark - thanks man. Yeah I have somehow managed to keep my energy going. I forced my way through the figure somehow, I was close to dropping it. It is a bit tiring making brand new figures from scratch every contest. But on the plus side one does improve ones technique and I end up adding new models of all sorts to the library.

Oceanbluesky - Hey thanks it is great to see you again. More craziness on the way after I get this figure out of the way. :-)

An update will be coming in a day or two. Just now I have finished off the glove for the suit and will start building the details onto the suit tonight.

targus

10-26-2006, 03:01 PM

Hey man, don't put your hands down, remember - "slowly but right".
Models are very well, clear and good looking, you have to do this..

And may the power be with you :)

shakes

10-26-2006, 07:54 PM

looking top soapy! that face is really well done, and the body is coming along well. still makes me laugh, no matter how real you try and make it!

handlebar

10-26-2006, 09:42 PM

Great progress soaps. Mighty fine topo on the head.

soapy

10-27-2006, 05:40 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161927628_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1161927628_large.jpg)

Well this bad boy is ready to throw down.

I got the gloves made and the rig setup, well sort of. There are a few things to be ironed out in the rig and lots of modeling to do yet on the mesh. Not to mention the lack of a t-shirt and space helmet. But I wanted to see how it would look and handle rigged up.

oceanbluesky

10-27-2006, 06:30 AM

REALLY like his hand gestures!! Very cool...stopped by for a smile and got a good laugh.

daWinky

10-27-2006, 08:03 AM

Wow, this is already amazing:eek: ! Great progress and I really like his expression and pose:thumbsup: ...Looking forward to see more details and of course to discover what part this guy will play in your concept;) !

-sabrina

Gunilla

10-27-2006, 09:55 AM

Dang! I'm so impressed of how you follow this through ... each update closer to some weird universe of yours. Very good! .. and just like shakes I still can't help but giggle. That's a good sign :)

10-27-2006, 03:24 PM

HE HE HE COOL POSE!:twisted:
and great model!
my compliments

madshooter

10-27-2006, 04:14 PM

Nice concept:) character looks cool:thumbsup: Well the folds on his clothes looks little sharper to me, Smoothing it down a bit will look cool, Also make them uneven. Just a suggestion.
All the best Dude and waiting for next update:thumbsup:

mdavid

10-28-2006, 12:14 AM

Wow! That looks soooo good. Very well done. You've managed to give him some real attitude.

GonzaloGolpe

10-29-2006, 04:01 PM

He looks really bad boy haha:thumbsup:

soapy

11-01-2006, 01:34 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1162348459_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1162348459_large.jpg)

Well since it is Halloween today I thought I better get something creepy posted, here is the Triclops. Maybe an alien or a genetic mutant? Not the best topology since it evolved from a slightly different design, oh well. It will be getting more work on the mesh and also the tail section will be like a crocodile.

Gunilla

11-01-2006, 06:28 AM

haha! Maybe more cute thank creepy, but indeed very "soapish" :)
Cool creature and happy Halloween to you!

mdavid

11-01-2006, 08:05 AM

Hah! This is the kind of image that keeps me coming back to this thread. Pure Soapy. I'm dying to see how all these elements come together.

GonzaloGolpe

11-01-2006, 02:26 PM

Only needs a hat,haha:D Cool!

shakes

11-01-2006, 10:30 PM

that is just brilliant soapy..your imagination..TOO MUCH!!
LOF@#**L

TheFirstAngel

11-02-2006, 04:22 AM

tried starring triclops still tripplegrins ^^ hahaha priceless:scream: tou just came to look what i missed that even topped "the demon god (http://youtube.com/watch?v=IACqyANNPEY)", that may give y a good laugh back ^^ keep on rockin mate and hold that pace! cheers
:buttrock::arteest::beer::

daWinky

11-02-2006, 06:00 AM

Pure Soapy. I'm dying to see how all these elements come together.

I agree with Mark, it's the same for me...but even if it almost kills me: I won't ask for the concept behind:banghead: (http://forums.cgsociety.org/misc.php?do=getsmilies&wysiwyg=1&forumid=0#)...
So just enjoying your Triclops and of course eagerly waiting to discover the tail-section:) ...

-sabrina

ChewyPixels

11-02-2006, 02:03 PM

Hehe...love the triclops. Really funny character. :D

11-08-2006, 12:50 PM

HU HU HU! great crazy stuff man!! you are Hipercreative!:bounce:

TheSoracle

11-09-2006, 12:20 AM

Hehe. The first thing the comes to mind is "What the hell?". Don't worry, it is still great. I love the astropunk. It still seems like your idea hasn't settled done into a whole scene :p

Any updates on the scene?

Koogle

11-10-2006, 11:44 AM

yep I think we've found our winner right here :thumbsup:

Gunilla

11-11-2006, 07:22 AM

I really hope the recent silence here is because you're cooking up something special for us?
The tension is killing me :)

soapy

11-13-2006, 06:06 AM

Sorry Gunilla, no such luck. I was busy working on another image for a fundraiser but now that has gone down the tubes. I have to go out of town so I won't be able to finish that one, the deadline will pass. It was to be an image about Lady Godiva, it will get finished later now after the cgtalk contest I guess. When I get back from this roadtrip I will resume working on this contest. I have one more little image to upoad here shortly but nothing too exciting. Once I read the book for some reason I lost all my inspiration and momentum. Maybe that will return after the trip.

Thanks everyone for your support I will check into your threads on my return or maybe sometime on my trip.

Koogle- hahah, you know they don't give prizes to jesters. ;-)

soapy

11-13-2006, 06:10 AM

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1163401819_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/15/11790/11790_1163401819_large.jpg)

Just the start of a colt 45 auto. More modeling work to come. I haven't decided if it will be a toy one or realistic.

daWinky

11-13-2006, 06:12 AM

Ahhhh, no! And we're all waiting for the continuation of your story:sad: ...But I really hope you're coming back from your trip with a lot of energy and inspiration!:bounce:

Hope to see you soon back!

-sabrina

TheFirstAngel

11-13-2006, 06:19 AM

hahaha soapy soap goes on, booom there's the gun - whats next :D looking nice, keep it coming :) rock on!::beer::buttrock::arteest:

Gunilla

11-13-2006, 06:29 AM

Ah, that's really bad news... hope your trip brings you some new inspiration. I can relate to the book reading thing, I started to read it but realised I wouldn't be able to continue what I started if I was to follow the book, so I dropped it.

Lady Godiva, huh? That's one I really like to see finished - hope you find the time later. Have a nice trip, we will miss you around here :)

TheFirstAngel

11-13-2006, 07:30 PM

:( haven't read you could miss the deadline :( how bout working mobile on a laptop, been doing this when i was in a project but also on a roadtrip... so you still could finish and submit? if rendering is the trouble, use an onlinerenderfarm.

well have a nice trip never the less, hope you'll find a way to go for this anyways.

cbernardo

11-14-2006, 12:21 AM

Hi, Soapy,

I think I read the wrong book, because I dont remember that scene with the baby at the martini glass. LOL! :scream: Great imagination!! Hehehe

[]s
carlos

mdavid

11-16-2006, 10:41 PM

Nice clean mesh on the gun. Yes, and now you've read the book I expect every scene in it to be represented by your final image ;) Nahhh... just go like you were doing before

Zapan

11-20-2006, 12:07 PM

Heya Jim

So much stuff happened here ... the character looks great and the triclops totally cracked me up :scream: ....
Sorry to hear about you aren't able to finish because of the trip (is it a fun one at least ?) ...

Hope to see some new funny stuff anyway ... you know , just for fun :)
Have a great time

cheers ,

-Zapan

Gunilla

11-28-2006, 12:48 PM

Still on htat roadtrip, Jim? Or can we hope for some action here - as an early chrsitmas gift to the needy ones? :)

TheSoracle

11-28-2006, 08:25 PM

Hey soapy. Its been a while. Great update but still the same old question. What are you doing with all of these models?

- Steven

soapy

11-28-2006, 09:19 PM

Hey guys I am back. I took some time off from the competition, I got burned out a bit and had a sore shoulder to boot. I am not sure what I am going to do with the competition yet. Last night I made a couple of sketches and have started in on some modeling. So an update will be coming sometime soon.

Thanks for the support.

soapy

12-02-2006, 02:05 AM

mdavid

12-02-2006, 02:26 AM

I'm glad the madness continues and I also understand your decision. After all, it ultimately has to be all about the art, right? You've got to do what makes the best art and for each person that's a personal decision. I hope you plan on dropping by our threads while the challenge continues though. Your insights are always welcome

soapy

12-02-2006, 02:33 AM

Thanks Mark. Yes I will keep hanging out here. I am just going to continue on normally as if the contest were still going and trade hits and comments with anyone here who visits me at the renderosity thread. I just can't follow the rules anymore. :-)

Gunilla

12-02-2006, 06:46 AM

Well I am throwing in the towel. I am just fed up with rules, tired of modeling everything from scratch.... blech. However I have not given up my project, the madness continues!

Click below to see visit my wip thread at renderosity:

http://market.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2674954

That's really sad... but I can't say I don't understand you - playing by the rules sometimes just isn't worth it.
Good luck with your continuation - and I will of course keep track of your progress in the new place :thumbsup:

soapy

12-02-2006, 03:43 PM

Well I don't think it is sad. :-) I am relieved. But why I did it is because I got tired of starting from scratch on the meshes. Why re-invent the wheel every contest? I got looking and realized I have several models that have never gotten used. A bunch from older contests, for instance a pretty good spaceman from the Grand Space Opera contest... doh.
So rather than cheat I decided to just pull out. But I do love these contests and how the threads work. I honestly believe a rule change is in order, both to make the contests more fun and to defuse the cheaters. Perhaps mix up the rules for one contest to see what comes out.

Maybe next contest I will be tired of my old meshes and want a new set. ;-)