The Hapless Hero - Character - O.Martin

[O.Martin]

Update 01

A small animation test. Finished the legs and felt like doing some animation...

Test001.mov (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/testani002.mov)

here's some wires:
wire01 (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/wire01.jpg)
wire02 (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/wire02.jpg)
wire03 (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/wire03.jpg)

[pabbloz]

Oooh! :eek: Great! :thumbsup:

It seems like the legs work perfectly! bravo!
I will follow Latexman really close! :D

[O.Martin]

Update 02

Some tuning here and there...

Love your work pabbloz!

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/002.jpg

[O.Martin]

Animation script:
- Latexman posing in a dark back alley.
- Suddenly there's a screaming voice from a woman calling for Latexman.
- Latexman strikes a new pose and replies: "I'm coming!".
- At the very same moment he ejaculates bigtime in his latex suit.
- Latexman walks quietly, with a wide leg-set, out of the scene.
- The end.

I don't think I'll make a storyboard for this animation.

[mtmckinley]

lol, oh man, that's crazy!

Great modeling, though, I must say. :D

[O.Martin]

Update 03

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/003.jpg

[pabbloz]

My favourite so far! :eek: Just great style!

I'm agree with you... you don't need storyboard, really easy to understand the story! :D Hahaha! so funny! :thumbsup:

I want congratulation you for thoese legs! really well done! but, overall, thoese feet have an excelent shape and wrinkless! BRAVO!

Maybe it gets better if you make the low chest (stomach) more "cilynder" and less "box". And also you can follow a bit closer your sketch, so with an inverted "cone" (conic) shape. :wip:
It depends what software you're using... but in max with a modifier called "taper" you could fix that shape.

btw... I don't recognice it... what software are you using? :shrug:

[O.Martin]

Update 04

Bored with the body, so I started modelling the head.

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/head01.jpg

pabbloz: Thx. I'll look at your suggestions regarding the upper body.

mtmckinley: Thx. Yes, maybe too crazy...

BTW I use Maya

[ilasolomon]

S U P E R B !

[O.Martin]

Update 05

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/head02.jpg http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/head04.jpg

[Erik]

I like your modeling guy :beer:

[mtmckinley]

Your style reminds me of the puppets used in the "Thunderbirds." lol

Great job!

[pabbloz]

Yes yes! it's getting all in the right way! :wip: :thumbsup:

Critics on a more advanced stage! ;)

[azazel]

Great idea, great modelling ;):beer: waiting for more;)

[O.Martin]

Update 06

Thx for kind words! I've added some details to the upper body and placed the head. The back and the arms are not yet finished as you can see.

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/006.jpg http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/007.jpg

[Virtuoso]

Thunderbirds go go go................Yes Pabbloz is right.It reminds me too of that old series. :thumbsup:

Very clean.nice curves,smooth modeling.Well defined musculature.Looking very nice.Good job O.Martin. One to keep an eye out on from now on.:beer:

[littlebrother]

Will Super Latex Man have a symbol of any kind? Nothing chest-spanning mind you, but how about a relief logo on his left peck or forehead?

[sicean]

just look at the specularity beaming from that squeeky red latex! *squeek!* when you animate: make sure his suit squeaks audibly when he moves. maybe put some rubber golves on and rub your hands together in front of a microphone. i also see your character as having a type of 'zap brannigan' personality.

how does he get that suit on anyway?

[O.Martin]

Virtuoso/Pabbloz: Thunderbirds? U mean the scifi dolls? Yes, I see your point.

littlebrother: Good idea. I'll might put a label on his forehead.

sicean: *squeek!* off-course!

Updates later. I'm soon done with the back and the arms.

[O.Martin]

Stupid me!
I'm just like Latexman... a bit premature... Didn't read all the guidlines for the whoops challenge. We have to use the audio files provided! In that case I don't think I can do the planned animation. I have to think up something else...

[O.Martin]

Update 07

Done with the back and the arms. Hands still to come. Couldn't wait, so I made a test animation...
TEST MOVIE (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/muscletest02.mov)

[BlueCougar]

Great look to your modeling. It has a consistency that makes him very cohesive in appearance. Good Luck with the Challenge!

[Jonesy]

Love the modelling and the textures/materials used. The animation test are also looking very cool indeed!

Hope you don't have any problems coming up with a story that fits the guidlines. Of course after the contest is over you can always animate the story you had in mind in the first place for your demo tape :)

Keep up the good work.

[O.Martin]

Update 08

Thx again. I might do the orginal Latexman story later. Now I just focus on gettin the model done. Here's an update.

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/headtest01.jpg

[MikeRhone]

I absolutely love the body. I think he may have "Chicklet teeth" though. They are a little too blocky, square and white. I think he'll end up perfect if you really work on a good shader for his fleshy face. (Like adding bump spec and diffuse)

:thumbsup:

Mike R

[Mangled Poly]

please tell me how you did those killer eyes!

[mtmckinley]

Looking great! :D

[rockrat]

WOW! Very very impressive.

[O.Martin]

Rhonedog: I agree with the whiteness of the teeth. I want more "heroic" looking teeths than Captain Leprosy's ! LOL

Mangled Poly: The eyes are made from simple spheres. It's all in the tex. I came up with the method as early as 1996 using PowerAnimator. The tex is just a ramp/gradient going from red at the back, to white (U might want to put a marble tex here also) > black > fractal (two shades of blue) then black again for the pupill. On top of this a bump map simulating the lens. Add some reflections and finaly place a planar projected white highlight to complete it. This fake method is much easyer than modelling the eye the hard way, and it looks almost as good.

[O.Martin]

Update 09

Done with most of the modelling. Not much details on the back, but he will mostly be facing foreward.
I've also been doing some thinking about another consept than Latexman, and I came up with a more conventional idea. How about calling him Fireman, Pyromaniac, Pyroman or Combustionman (what name do you like the most)? Then give him the power to project intense heat. Anything he point at goes up in flames or melts. Only drawback is when he points at himself... Do you like it?

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/final01.jpg

[ilasolomon]

do you plan to join in animation challenge with this character?
cause I've noticed you've submited in 'animation challenge section' (in cgchallenge.com). just curious. btw, great model! it would be pleasure to watch it moving! ;)

[O.Martin]

Update 10

I'm doing the rig now, and I got a bit bored again and made a test animation.
Talking test movie (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/talkingtest.mov)

ila_solomon: Yes I plan to join the animation challenge.

Still I need some help in choosing the name of the character. Help people!
Fireman, Pyromaniac, Pyroman or Combustionman?

[Mangled Poly]

here i was thinking i had a chance at that challenge nice work!

how bout Flamer :)

[nibo]

Great character man!
His knees look a bit weak to me...
I really like that speedo he's wearing, hehe

:thumbsup:

[O.Martin]

Update 11

The rig ****ed up! I thought I had a good rig, but it didn't work right. I have to start over... :thumbsdow

Mangled Poly: Yes, Flamer is a good name!

nibo: The knees aren't weak. It's the rest of the body that's too stong... The speedo causes huge rigging problems.

Here's a cuple of images:
http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/disp.jpg
http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/latex11.jpg

[ilasolomon]

Verrry good musscle & bone structure, but the shoulder, You need to set up the shoulder bone again, correctly.
:) :thumbsup: good work man.

[O.Martin]

Thx. Agree. As I said, the rig didn't work as planned.

[Stephen Vyas]

Amazing work so far. It'll be a pleasure to see him in action.

[shoey]

Great work, i'm liking this entry alot:thumbsup:

[O.Martin]

Update 12

Been busy on other projects lately, but I finally got some time to dive in to some rigging. The speedo made me crazy, so off it went... Soon done with the rigging. Can hardly wait to start animating this dude.

I see "noktUp" has chosen a similar consept regarding the self combustion part. Cool!

My storyline is very simple: "Flamer" strikes a few poses, then he says his line and start pointing at different objects in the scene, making them blow up in flames. Satisfied with himself, he makes a stupid mistake and points at himself. Flamer goes up in flames looking stupid. The end

Now I'm not sure if he's a hero or villain. What do you think?

Here's some new images:

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/pose04.jpg http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/pose03.jpg
http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/pose02.jpg

[Jonesy]

He could easily be a hero or a villain, that's the beauty... maybe you sould just keep it ambigious.

But if you have to choose one I think heros tend to be more cocky and self centered, and more likely to strike poses pointing at themselves. But that's only my opinion :)

[pabbloz]

Wow! the rig looks really nice now! well done on those shoulders! really hard! :thumbsup:

I think he could be a hero, but so proud of his powers and so stupid-crazy he is really not useful! He just does mistakes and not helps anybody! :D

Waiting more! Post more poses! :bounce:

[pabbloz]

I got an idea! He could use a big match as a weapon and like a cane! Very smart! :applause:

[O.Martin]

Jonesy: I've never seen the word ambiguous before so I looked it up. U're right!

pabbloz: Yes, I think the rig is working better now. The secret was to add more bones. Look at the arms.

The match idea is beautiful! A pumped up Fred Astaire in tights! LOL :thumbsup:

[O.Martin]

Update 13

Done the changes suggested by pabbloz and then some. I think Flamer is beginning to look like something now. However I did some animation tests that revealed some limitations in the rig around the shoulders. Third time lucky? We'll see...

Large image (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/big01.jpg)

http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/pose05.jpg

[Jonesy]

Love the top hat and matchstick cane.

Don't know about while animating but the rig looks pretty good from the still.

Good luck rigging for the third time :)

-Don't be too much of a perfectionist or you won't have time to finish, and I definately want to see this guy animated.

[O.Martin]

Jonesy: thx, hope I can find the time to finish the project

BTW here's a nontex image
http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/notex.jpg

[pabbloz]

Ahahaha! :applause: That's exactly the image I had in mind! althoug I didn't suggest you the hat because I though it was a bit crazy! but I'm really happy you did it! I love crazy characters! :thumbsup:

Maybe the match's head could be in brown color,... maybe you want keep the red in the whole character but you can use a logo (or just the color) in the hat to keep the concordance! :)

Now waiting the classic circus dancing steps! :applause:
Then, a flame and a white rabbit appears! :beer: ;)

I hope see more soon!

P.S.: the shoulders look really nice... that's a pity you found some problems... :shrug:

P.S. II: have you added any bump? I see how really detailled it's on the non-textured render! :eek:

[O.Martin]

pabbloz: I'm glad U like him. Great idea U had there :thumbsup:
Brown sounds good on the stick.
I'm thinking of a simple flame logo on the hat.
The shoulders **** up when the arms are pointing foreward.
No bumpmaps yet. Only on the eyes.

[Magnusv]

Very good modeling,really very good.But too much red.Maybe you break up with another tone of color here and there? Anyway it's real nice work.:thumbsup:

[O.Martin]

Made a test animation of one of the objects Flamer is going to melt:

Quicktime test (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/garbage.mov)

Magnusv: Thought about some yellow stripes here and there.

BTW... if I don't manage to make this challenge on time, the reason might be I'm out driving my new Aston Martin Volante.....
http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/aml.jpg

Just kidding. It's not mine. One of my clients are going away for a couple of weeks, and he kindly gave me the keys for this HUGE car (twice as big as my Miata and tripple the horsepowers).
Two weeks of fun... :airguitar Is this cool or what?

[shoey]

That garbage is cool, how did you do it:applause:

[O.Martin]

The garbage animation is done by an animated 20 points lattice.

garbwire.mov (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/garbwire.mov)

[Redf]

Nice design,very good modeling.The devision in the muscles are very nice.I think another color or two would be a good idea as well.:thumbsup:

[WOTAN]

I liked Latexman, He could save people from VIH...and save posible pregnant girls...Or maybe sounds like a social kind spot.

The model is great, you can see THE POWER.











sorry if my english is weird

[Hamsterhead]

I think the name Flamer is great, but you should have it written somewhere on him, then, you could make the F, and the R a different colour, so you get

FLAMER

No subliminal messages there:)

[ilasolomon]

what an ugly car! :rolleyes: :p

[Virtuoso]

Very fine clean modeling.Well defined musculature. I think and this is just another opinion........................He should get some added details thrown on him.To break up what you already have. Possibly a utility belt,gadgets,weapons,cape,a speacial something that would really clarify what he is.

It's nice to see you added the extra bones,always vital.With some more tender loving care and in-depth textures I think you will have a real great model. Very well done thus far,keep going,he will be well worth it.:thumbsup: :beer:

[O.Martin]

Hi everyone and thx for the comments.
I haven't done any updates for a while now. Been working hard on other projects, and in the little free time left, I've been partying and out driving the AM. Wow is this a powerful car! And wow does it turn heads. For some strange reason nearly every good looking girl who passes stroke their hair when looking at the car (or is it me)? :surprised Maybe I'll study this strange female behavior sometime in the future. BTW this is excellent research on how the public would react to a superhero in tights, right?

WOTAN:I liked Latexman, He could save people from VIH...and save posible pregnant girls...Or maybe sounds like a social kind spot.
I don't think I get it...?

Hamsterhead: OK, Flamer is now his official name!

ila_solomon: :surprised :insane: :argh:

Virtuoso: Always very good comments. I'm not sure if I have time to add many more gadgets. I've spent too much time already on the rigging, and I'm still not done yet! Texturing will also be time consuming. If I only had the time...!

[Jokke]

ey really "cewl" work!!! :beer:

...i think WOTAN meant, that Latexman could save people from HIV... instead of VIH... ;)

[Kid-Mesh]

Amazing!... keep it up:thumbsup:

[rrobert]

Excelent work..:thumbsup:

Did you allready have an animation from the whole body of Latexman...? :shrug: if so.. didn't see it.

But, keep up the good work. I love creative minds! :buttrock: :cool:

[WOTAN]

Yes, you're right, i forgot. In spanish you say VIH instead HIV, sorry. but its OK , anyway you understand the point :rolleyes: :)

[O.Martin]

Thx for kind words and comments.

I'm sorry but I won't be able to find the time to finish the challenge. I'm too busy at work. So this is my final 3D callenge image:
Large final image (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/big01.jpg), and I dont have an animation at this time. OK I'll post this one:

Final facial animation:
Final Sorensen Quicktime (http://www.omartin-design.com/temp/latex/talkingtest.mov)

[ilasolomon]

DAMN ... time is a fast running bastard!

[Virtuoso]

Too bad for time constraints,it seems to plague most people unfortunatly.But still you were able to create quite a smooth and well defined character.True to the challenge topics guidelines.

More details would have been great.But perhaps you can get to those in the WIP section in the future?

None the less one of the contenders in this challenge...........................In my opinion. Fine work O.Martin.Just wanted to come in and give you a well deserved compliment.:thumbsup: :beer:

[O.Martin]

Thx! :beer: :)

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