A tropical fish

[Frank Dodd]

Very nice start on it, although i still think the geometry needs a measure of work, the front of the face the flanks and the eye sockets seam very flatterned and angular, they don't appear organically curved at the moment.

The fins look intresting, I assume they are created with some type of fade map, at the moment they appear a bit diffuse and need to simply be translucent with some thicker spines.

It does have a good general shape though, keep plugging I'm sure it will come together.

[shoey]

Are you going for the 'pixar look' of finding nemo, or will you be adding a different style to it?

[Waters]

I hope to eventually go for that 'finding nemo' look. My first thought was that in order to do a character like one of those, you should first be able to do the real fish some justice. If I can make this tropical fish look very much like the real thing, than in making the toonish 'pixarish' character from that I should end up with a greater end result, and a greater ability at achieving that style.

-Thanks for the comment and crit. The fins right now are just shaped planes, flat. I am not sure if I will stick with this approach, I dont know how well it works, but its simplicity is alluring. As far as the organic shape goes, I do think I know what you mean. I went from polygon to sub-d with this mesh, and the sub-d needs some work to give it a smoother flowing appearance over all, I also think the lighting is making the mesh look less smoothly curved than it actually is. I am not happy with the bump map approach I have right now for the scales. Anyone seen a good bumpmap for fish scales? Or have another idea for achieving the scales without modeling them individually?

[Waters]

..by the way, these fish should look something like this...

http://129.21.134.9/ClownTomato.jpg

[betelgeuse]

Looking good. I think a bump map should work fine for the scales - you just need to get the scallop shape right. Also, fade out the scale bump around the head.

Three other things:
The side of the fish is not completely flat like in your model; it's a very gentle and subtle curve.

The delineation of the mouth could use some more shaping to look like the photo - the one looking head on.

Lastly, don't these fish have gills? I believe I see them on the photo, but not on your model.

These would go well with my humpback whales:)

[Waters]

Here is an update on this project, please let me know what you think of it now.

http://129.21.134.9/fish02.jpg

[betelgeuse]

Well, I really don't see much difference except that you changed the bump map, and I can't see what it looks like from the angle of the picture.

[aor]

well.. it looks pretty good.. and i like the idea.. i think i too will try to model a tropical fish..

suggestions:

the fins.. more work.. don't look good:annoyed:

rough it up! even innocent little fish get in scraps, attempted-eatings, scrapes etc... it happens to the best of us (not that im a fish or anything. or AM i? :p ). if you look at the ref pic, that fish has def seen better days..

the color seems way off to me.. however, thats the only picture i've looked at.. looks like it needs more red.. just.. more vibrant..

i really do like it.. and i think i will go try my own!

keep us posted!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Waters]

-Thanks aor, I look forward to seeing your fish : ). Ill try out some of your suggestions, I dont want to spend too much time on this model, and my free time is limited as I am taking exams now, but I hope I can improve upon this idea

[Eman597]

Geometry looks pretty good, are those just standin textures or are you planning on using them? Cause I suggest you make them a whole lot brighter! Good Job :scream:

[Waters]

-Thanks Eman, I do think I can do ALOT more with the textures, but I'm more concerned with my modeling and binding right now.

Here is a little more like what it should look like, I have an animation test rendering right now, slow as it may be, I'll post it when I'm done.

http://129.21.134.9/fish03.jpg

[aor]

seems that the eyes should buldge out, no?

the big fish in the picture has huge eyes, maybe the small fish is just at a werid angle?


:bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[Waters]

thanks for the crit aor, Im not sure if this changes you mind, but the larger fish I believe is actually not one of these tomato clown fish, here is another picture, does this help?


http://129.21.134.9/ClownTomato2.jpg

[Waters]

...wish i could make a piece that looked like that in the end, right now I dont want to spend too much time on making a final composition, I'm just working on making the mesh, animation test is almost done.

[Waters]

..alright, here is a quick animation test, just to put the skinning into motion, let me know what you think.

http://129.21.134.9/tropicalfish.mov

[baby]

this is how I would see him :bounce:

I couldn't resist sorry :wip:


nice work !!! mooooore !!!

btw I think I prefere the first bump mapping...

[Waters]

haha, actually I dont mind at all, because thats basically what he will look like. This version I'm doing now is just the base, a try at getting the geometry to look about right for a real world fish. Once I finish that, and I think I'm more or less finished with that, then I will move on to making a more cartoony version of this fish, something pixarish. I like the eyes you drew a lot. Thanks for the comment.

[CGTalk Moderation]

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.