Character creation ... starting point?

[wesware]

Most importantly, IMO, is to start on paper...
I have started way too many 3d projects without sketching them out first, especially for character modeling. Extruding and bridging polys is no way to sketch out your character.

Once you get the character where you want it... draw templates, front and side... perhaps even top view. Import them into Cinema mapped onto planes and use them as your blue-print.

Also... unless you already have advanced modeling skills... start SIMPLE!!! Are you going to eventually animate him? If so, try to make a well designed character out of simple shapes. Texture him (if you desire), bone and get to animating. It really depends on where you want to go with it. Really make yourself justify any additions to the model. Do they really have to be there to make the character who he is (or she). Remember... the higher the poly and point count... the more pushing and shoving you'll have to do to those points later on. Mocha can get a little slow on a heavy poly'd character. If it's for a non-animated character... model-way.

Good luck!

[Per-Anders]

i would advice starting out by sketching out the character you want to model. this is important even if your sketch isn't too hot just so that you can really work out how the shapes come together in your head, and so you have a constant reference. then as for modelling procedure try some of the tutorials on maxons site to start off with till you find a method that works for you. character modelling is one of the hardest things to do, so practice practice practice. good luck :) (oh and you might want to use the WIP section here at CGTalk if simply because there's a good chance that you will get guidance and help at each and every stage that you post if you do).

[fretshredder]

that is excellent advice wesware and mdme_sadie!! Thanks for giving it. Do you know of any resource I could check out so that I can bone up on the "simple"? Of course, I want to immediately jump into something more complex, but you're right I should probably do something simpler just to 1) see if I can do it and 2) nail down the basics.

Thanks
/gz

[pit]

my own character of some sort

The "some sort" is the first hurdle you´d have to take. If you don´t know your character, you won´t be able to model it or "bring it to life" (animate).
Apart from the technical difficulties you will encounter - being new to modeling - there are a lot of different things to consider, if you want to create a believable character. Answer some questions about the character before you start sketching: Size, age, weight, male/female, which enviroment, enviromental influence on the character like temperature/weather, where does she/he/it live (house, cave etc.), which food does the character prefer and how does it retrive it, what does the character like/dislike etc. etc. etc. To make it short: get to know your subject really well and draw a lot alongside! Collect reference pics if possible. On the modeling side there are a couple of choices you´d have to make too. Boxmodeling, poly/poly and so on.
Have a look at the tuts at 3dtotal.com They are max related but can be done in C4D as well. Search the web for anatomy related sites, go to the spiraloid.com forums to learn from some great modellers, read the topology thread here at cgtalk (modeling forum), do small sculpts in SuperSculpey to get to know your character and its form better, start with less complex models to keep yourself happy and from getting frustrated.
Last but not least: have fun!

See attachment for example of simple.

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