Texture/Light/Render - Character - Mike Pauza

[DigitalSkorpyon]

I realize that this if for texturing critiques this month, but you may want to tweek his bicep a bit. It seems a bit out of proportion. Other than that I think it's a really good model. Looking forward to seeing some color. Keep us posted!

-Grant

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[ycf98]

yeap the bicep needs rework and also try addingmore details to the rib cage :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: damn i just love these bouncing icons :P

My entry this month (http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=5902)

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks guys.

The ribs/abs will be in shadow so more detail would not really show up. He's in a "cavity" pose as well, which tends to hide detail a bit down there. Yes, I know I need to reshape the bicepts, tris, forearms, and legs. I was modeling him to look good from one angle only...but then I changed the angle and exposed some of his problems.

Any ideas on how hairy a fantasy warrior should be? Should he be as smooth as a baby's bottom, or should he look like a Yeti?

-Mike

[Meaty]

lookin good, i love your work from the lightwave forum...

about the bicep... i am not sure it goes up too high, but it looks like it doesnt bow out of the arm enough on the inside of the muscle... have you ever seen arnolds arms when he was Mr. Olympia... they were HUUUUGE!!!

one other suggestion and comment... i LOVE the striations in the chest... very good looking... but another part of the body which tends to have even more prolific abundace of them is the deltoid (shoulder)

really fantastic stuff... i am definatly a fan!

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks for the feedback Meaty.

I'll try and make him more like Arnold (see ref pics below). As far as being a fan, if your thinking about the Raptor WIP on the NewTek site...that's my brothers doing.

-Mike

[Mike Pauza]

Here's his face with a stash. I was thinking of giving him a heavy goatee and facial stubble. Yea or Nea?

[Gilgamesh]

Hey there. The model looks good.
The 'stash is great, I think you just forget the goatee and just add the heavy stubble along with it.

[OZ]

SSSSTRONG!

[Mike Pauza]

Gilgamesh:
Thanks for that stubble idea. It'll save me some time and probably look better!

OZ:
Thanks texture man!


Hopefully I can get some stubble done tonight.

[Mike Pauza]

Here's the beginnings of some peach fuzz...no eyebrows or smooth hair transitions yet.

He looks kind of funny to me. Anybody got any suggestions?

[leigh]

Awesome model, Mike :D:D
I just had to answer your question about body hair - I personally loooooooooooooove men with LOADS of chest hair :drool: but unfortunately for me, I think most fantasy heros have gladiator/WWF-styled oiled up bodies.... So you would probably be better off with that sort of look.
The facial hair is great though (mmmmm :drool: :drool: , another preference of mine ;)) Are you using Sasquatch? You should make the density of the stubble higher though.
I think he's looking really cool :p so far. :applause:
Come on!! Post an update!!

[Mike Pauza]

Leigh, as far as body texture did you mean something like this:

[Mike Pauza]

I like that look (Scorpion King) a lot. What about everyone else?



PS Yes Leigh I'm using Sasquatch

[Gilgamesh]

Yeah! I'd say higher density of stubble, and if at all possible, vary the lengths just a little bit. I don't know Sasquatch, but it is possible to ramp it at all so that there isn't such a hard line where the hair stops? It looks great.
Also, I think you should go with chest hair, IMO. I think that would lend to a very unique look.

[Mike Pauza]

Here's another:

[Gilgamesh]

Yeah! That's the ticket! :D

[leigh]

Mike - ABSOLUTELY!! That is the ultimate battle hero kinda guy. All oiled up and dumb looking! :D
Although, I must say, Gilgamesh has an interesting point - making him look a little different from the stereotypical barbarian might also not be such a bad idea!
Hmmmm.....

[Mike Pauza]

Why choose between being smooth or hairy...what about just doing body stubble? What do you kind folks think?

Here's another pic with some color and more surfacing, without zooming in on the face.

[leigh]

Hmmmm....
In my opinion, I would go for one OR the either, Body stubble isn't a bad idea, but because he is an extreme barbarian, perhaps his attribute should be in the extreme too - either very hairy ( :drool: ) , or very smooth.
If you are going to make him smooth, by the way, then you need to up your gloss amount and bring it closer to your spec amount to make your highlights smaller and tighter :)
More updates, please :)

[leigh]

Wow!! You and Rob Pauza are brothers!! Sorry, I just made the connection now, my brains a bit slow because I've been at work for 2 solid days now, and everything is a bit fuzzy....
You 2 certainly come from a very talented family! :D
I'm watching both of your threads closely for updates :p

[OZ]

It is a TITANIC like man!yes.....u may call it THE HUGE DUDE !Very good work.:applause:

[Mike Pauza]

Here's some more texture, new lighting, and a painted background:

[Mike Pauza]

Leigh and OZ...thanks for the encouragement. And yes Leigh, Rob and I are brothers.

What do people think about the above pic???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[DocBoom]

model is looking great, but i think the environment doesn´t fit the lighting of your character. It somewhat looks like a photo with too low exposure.

[leigh]

Yeah, very cool background - but the lighting doesn't match :(
Make your light's much stronger to get the glare that would be there if he was in that environment :D:D

[Mike Pauza]

Leigh & DocBoom...Yeah your right! Thanks.

I'll try to update the lighting tonight and maybe test out another painted background as well.

BTW, does anybody have a problem with the pose?:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[Mike Pauza]

Hi folks.

I plan to paint a totally new background that works better with my guy...the top of a rocky hilltop overlooking a vast forrested kingdom, at sunset. I'll post it when it's done.

Bye for a few days.

[leigh]

Btw, the pose is cool :thumbsup:

A forested kingdom, hey? Looking forward to seeing it :bounce:

[Mike Pauza]

Hello Again.

Still painting, but here's the sky. Comments?

[leigh]

Looking great, Mike! I love the mood :p I definitely think this suits your hero better... I can just see him in one of those fantasy calendars you get....
Keep up the excellent work :thumbsup:

[ZrO-1]

Mike: first let me say I really like your barberian (sp? :shrug: )

I think this is the first model I have seen where the main hero character has had facial hair. Very original :thumbsup: . I also like the way you modeled the body. So often CGers give their characters the bodies of professional body builders with super-ripped muscles and 2% body fat. I like how yours is more realistic. I think it more closely resembles a warrior who is strong yet still drinks a pint of meade at every meal :beer: .

I would like to suggest a couple things with the background and lighting (since your model + textures are perfect ;) ). Personally I like the first background better than your second. I think it looks off only because of your lighting not because of the b.g. itself. In your first pic it looks like you either have the lighting directly overhead and very low, or you have the model backlit. I would suggest brining a bright-white light forward to the same depth as your character, and at 90 degrees (to his right), and raised to just over the hight of his head. Make sure it is pretty intense to match the style of the snowy, mid-day, moutians lighting. Also I'd add in a white-blue ambiant light opposite the main light (infront of, and under his sheild). That should better match the lighting of the enviroment. Remember, on a bright day in the snow-capped mountians your lighting is about as intense as it can get in nature :cool: . Just trying to help :)

Really cool stuff so far though. :grin:

[ycf98]

heyas there mike . nice muscular guy n but it does seem a little odd for him not to show some big huge veins on the body . ya know like those wrestlers from wcw haha :) well thats my 2 cents . btw wut did u paint that sky of urs with ? share some tips ?

[Mike Pauza]

Here's a new background...simpler, but better???



Leigh:
Thanks for encouraging me about the suitability of this type of background...It helped me realize that my execution was off and not my idea.


ZrO-1:
I was hoping to use hair to give my guy some extra detail...glad you think it's working. About the BG, I do like the snow pic much better by itself, but I didn't like the concept as much. Hopefully the new one works and looks better. What do you think? I do hope to light him better... thanks for pointing out. I don't like muscel striations either (probably cause I don't have them myself).


ycf98
Glad you like veins...I hope to spend a good chunk of my remaining time painting him some veins. Was it you that ordered an Intuos graphics tablet? I just got mine and I feel like I'm working a mouse with my foot...anyway I'm getting the hang of it. BTW, I paint with Photoshop. No time for a tutorial now, all I can say is: the stamp tool and the feathering option are the top two things in Photoshop IMO. If your interested in painting, check out Chauvin's various "how to" articles, check out his incredible work too at www.blackpoolstudios.com.



So is this one better???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[henry]

nice stuff man! keep it up.

bye from henry
:wavey:

[mrmark]

:insane:
very cool stuff mike
:applause:
just a couple of comments from me

the iris,cornea and pupil section of the eye (does it have a name?) seems a bit too big too me

and he has no nipples lol

but other than that
awesome!

[Mike Pauza]

Here's my second try at a background & lighting. What do you guys think???

[ZrO-1]

Hey Mike, much better with the lighting. I think you have the overall levels just about there. Try changing the blueish ambient to an orangy-red color. That might tie your character into the background more. Much better though. The character's detail is brought out more, and he seems more a part of the whole scene.:applause:

[ZrO-1]

I just noticed that your new background's color and light values are simular to the background in that pic of The Rock as The Scorpion King. Try lighting your character in a simular manner to him in that pic. That should do it.

[Mike Pauza]

ZrO-1
I had wanted him dark to make my poor texturing skills look better, but I might just try the "Scorpion King Lighting"...let me think about that.

Thanks.

[leigh]

:applause: :applause:

Much better, Mike!!! That blueish light needs to go, but otherwise :thumbsup:
I think this environment is perfect for him :):):)

[bibi5000]

Your model is VERY GOOD, but your camera view is doesn't match your average score. :applause:
Please watch "Conan, the babarian" for inspirations. This film is very well photographed. Experiment with lightning (good source: http://www.3dlight.com/ ) and zoom out of the scene: Remember, you're not showing a good model, you're showing a good scene.

Sorry for bad english. :argh:

[Mike Pauza]

Here's an update. It's got problems, but it's comming.

Gimme some feedback to help me finish this thing!!!

[leigh]

Wow the lighting is great!!! I love that bright bloom on his side :bounce:
Ummm.... the only problem with the new light is that it shows up some stuff on your character - for instance, that weird line along his right bicep. What is that?
Speaking of lines - you know what he is *really* missing? VEINS!!! Give him some cool veins along his arms and legs. You know, those big fat veins that body builders get??
That furry loincloth thing looks fabulous btw. Great colours (I couldn't really see them before)
The shield's texture needs some work. It's a bit too dull. Or is it not metal?
And I have to ask: does he have a left arm at all? I mean, did you model one behind that shield???

[Mike Pauza]

Leigh...you know all.

[Mike Pauza]

Didn't fix anything yet, but started playing around with compositing...better???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[hypercube]

Hi, been following along, just caught up and figured I'd add..cool stuff!

Whatever you did between the new version and the last, seems to have messed up the fur edges..the alpha channel change, transfer mode, something? The fur is rocking otherwise. Lighting and colors are really working well, too. So, overall to the thread, :thumbsup: but the very last change, :shrug:

Everyone's already pointed out stuff, (and as you said, leigh knows all :) ), so just to add what I noticed..

It's kind of hard to get a sense of what or where the ground is..which only matters due to the stance, he's knelt down on the ground, right? It makes it seem kind of like he's floating, if you kind of extrapolate where the feet are, etc. Maybe either extend his legs out so he's standing up? I like the idea dramatically of him fighting back from being knocked down though, so maybe working the ground in would be cooler.

Keep it rolling! :wip:

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks Hyper. IMO the single biggest problem I had was his balance.

Here's an update...better??? thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[Mike Pauza]

What about tatoos??? :thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[Mike Pauza]

What about a lot of vein bumpmap but with lower intensity???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[Gilgamesh]

Those veins look great. I don't know about the tattoos.....the shader you had looks great. Tattoos are what you use in poser because you can't get the skin to look interesting any other way.

[R32]

cool veins :) - love the specular bloom type lighting in the orangy image :thumbsup:

[leigh]

I love the veins :thumbsup: excellent!!
I have to agree with Gilgamesh about the tattoos though, lose them... All too often they just do end up looking like they are covering something up :curious:
But keep those awesome veins!!!!! Now lets see it in colour!!!!!!!!

[hypercube]

Woo! Veins = kickass, New comp = badass! Love the bloom/haze/etc. and the composition tweak works well. :thumbsup:

I'll second or third the comment, no tats, just big bald veiny guy..er, that doesn't sound right :)

Anyway, great stuff.. I'll give you a hand, like this :applause: so please give HIM one to hold the sword! :D

[Mike Pauza]

Hand, Left Arm, Veins...Thanks Guys!

Now what about this lighting???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[Mike Pauza]

Or This???:thumbsup: :thumbsdow

[urgaffel]

The first image, but try it with a more blueish tone lighting up the front of the char. At least a cold colour to counterbalance the warm background. Might work :)

[Mike Pauza]

Thanks urgaffel.

I'm about punchy from staring at this :annoyed: thing and need the input.

[OZ]

MIKE U ARE GREAT!!! incredible image!very nice model and awesome lights! :applause: :applause: :applause: cant wait to see it complete! GO MAN HU HU HU HU !!!(monkyrulez):p

[Mike Pauza]

WOO-HOO I got stars!

Thanks for the compliment OZ, your too kind.

[leigh]

Hey Mike, looking cool :thumbsup: The one thing that bothers me about your lighting, is the amount of ambient light you have, which results in that burned out grey which you have in all your renders.
You should go to your Global Illumination panel, and set the ambient intensity to 0. I just think that ambient light kinda ruins your renders, as it detracts from the cool contrast you have in other areas of the images.

[Putois_Blagueur]

The veins are great !!!!!

You should also add tits to your gladiator......cause he might have some....no ? You should also make the muscles (especialy the pectorals) less rounded, and more grooved.

Well, i think the light is too bright. But his hairy shorts are cool !!!!!!

have a look here :
http://www.dennis-james.com/images/indexpic1.jpg
http://musclegallery.com/MG-KevinLevrone1.JPG

their muscles are really working....but your model doesn't seem to make an effort.

Continue, i love it

[Mike Pauza]

Here's my final image...I'll have a higher quality link up later today.:bounce:

[OZ]

:buttrock: YOOOO!!!HEY BIG MYKE!amazing final!!!haaa Sh**tty red compression......i will be here to look at the link to the uncompressed image!:thumbsup: still amazed!

[Mike Pauza]

I appreciate the compliment OZ...I'll try and get a higher quality link up today.

[l_farley13_l]

Very nice job! Love the lighting etc. could you tweek the right leg a bit in PS so it does not look like it's been squeezed in a mincer :)

Waiting for the uncompressed too :)

Farley13

[Mike Pauza]

***HERE'S THE HIGH QUALITY LINK:

http://users.chartertn.net/robpauza/challenge/mike/dslayer.jpg

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