CGTalk - How do you create very detailed fins?

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Scott Ayers

11-28-2007, 04:44 AM

Hi,

I'm looking for advice about how to properly model high detailed fins on creatures spines. Like fish fins, only a little bit more complicated than that with pointy barbs and lots variations.

I already have a pretty good grasp at general modeling. But I need to know the method the pro's use for this specific task.
I model in low res and use Displacement maps for the details. And i'm guessing that's how they do it as well. But things like fins are very, very mesh heavy. And it doesn't fit in with my low polygon method for the body.

So the only other way I can think of doing it is to extrude a smooth raised loop down the spine, and then sculpt it with MudBox. But since the fins have sharp tipped spines. I'm finding it hard to get that using sculpting.

And I'm not sure if I should be sculpting the barbs up in add mode.
Or culpting down in between sections with subtraction mode.

I hope that all makes sense. If you model creatures a lot it should be clear.
If there are any professional creature creators reading this. I'd really love to hear what your method is for tackeling this specific modeling problem.
I need professional results where the fins blend with the body. So plopping a fin mesh on top of the body mesh won't cut it.

Here is a small gallery of my work to show what level i'm at:
My Gallery (http://scottayersmedia.googlepages.com/gallery)

Thanks in advance.
-ScottA

Leionaaad

11-29-2007, 10:57 AM

what app do you use? you can use hair for the fins, if you don't want mapped planes. Every hair package supports instanced geometry for the hairstrands.

I have limits on the internet connections, I can't see the image you showing...I am just guessing here

Scott Ayers

11-29-2007, 05:25 PM

I'm using Cinema4D.
I've used hair on other projects. But it doesn't seem like that is going to produce the results I'm looking for.

Here's a couple of images of a specific project that shows the problem.
The wireframe is my low res model. And the fins example image is the kind of complicated and detailed fins I want to add to it.

I have no problems sculpting the muscles with Displacement maps for it.
But to create the spine fins i'm stumped.
There arent enough edge loops to model them in. And I'm not getting good results trying sculpt them in.
I'm finding it very hard to sculpt sharp edges in either Z-Brush or MudBox.

So I was wondering how the professional people attack this specific type of modeling problem?

Scott Ayers

12-03-2007, 06:19 PM

I guess there aren't any industry model makers here.:shrug:

I ended up modeling in the fins using some iffy topology techniques. And then used a displacment map on them to make the little ribs between the barbs.

It turned out pretty good.
But it sure would be nice to be able to talk to a pro once in a while about certain things. Instead of just blindly stumbleing through things like this.
For all I know. I could have made a thousand mistakes.

phix314

12-03-2007, 07:30 PM

I'm surprised no one has suggested ZBrush yet.... or mudbox....

Those are the apps used to create high res detail like this.

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