reworked squirrel

[unLevel]

those legs look awfully long to be on a squirrel, and the feet aren't like that...I tihnk...

[amsmf]

Can you post a shot of the mesh? That would help evaluate your problem areas.

Plus, I like him! He looks feral and troublesome.

[alfiebabes]

going to have a go at this character now with version 11.

thanks amsmf, he's meant to be exactly how you describe him.
unLevel - he's a bit of a caricature - but I will have a look at some reference photo's instead of taking such artistic licence!

[Tunames]

with those claws he kinda looks like a squirrelasauras:rolleyes:

[modernhorse]

Hey Alfie,
I got no problem with him as he is ... cuz he looks tough and he's a nice model. Plus I think he's recognizable as a squirrel.

However, the squirrels in my yard (and we got lots of them) have shorter arms than that. If you're going for a more caricature style tho ... who cares. I dig his look now.

[alfiebabes]

with those claws he kinda looks like a squirrelasauras
Haha! I did look at some reference images on the web and the claws can be pretty big. here's one example (http://pages.sssnet.com/glg/photo/squirrel.jpg)

If you're going for a more caricature style tho ... who cares. I dig his look now.
Now you say it Doug, maybe I could push the character a lot more before commiting to a model. The drawing board beckons I think!

squirrelasauras..................... too close to Ice-age??

[Tunames]

Squirrels also have big teeth like a rabbit or more like a rat really. in fact they're basicly tree rats.........really!

[Hutch]

Overall I like him. I think the claws give him great character. Something seems odd about his ears though. I think they need to be rotated forward but I am no squirrell expert.

[alfiebabes]

Ooh!

I have already gone back to the drawing-board.!

Maybe I'll post some of the drawing studies and get feedback BEFORE I start modelling. I had a play with the modelling tools and there's some fab new tweaks that really make the decision to upgrade from version 8.5 worthwhile.

For me, bigger steps (though small to some) than even the fur itself.

[alfiebabes]

have to confess I haven't had much time but having gone back to square 1 here's two alternatives.
http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew.gif
very fox-like to me so far...

and this one

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew001.gif

Still feel a million miles away for these two.

[pdaley]

Are you thinking of using v11 hair? Could be very neat...

Otherwise, I think he looks good. Some wireframes would help if you need help sorting out those problem areas you mentioned...

[modernhorse]

Nice drawings Alf. I must say though that I prefer the model concept. The model looks more Ice Age in tone(huh?) whereas the new sketch looks more ... Disney? He looks tougher and more sly in the model.

Now, disregard these thoughts if that is what you're looking for. Either way I really dig the sketches. Esp the second one.

[Kevin Sanderson]

I like the second sketch as well...looks like you're plotting the wireframe already. Good idea.

Kevin

http://ksanderson.com/amtips.html

[alfiebabes]

pdaley - yes, this character is designed to use the v11 hair features right form the start. However, I have a suspicion about using Shag as I'm still not sure Randy Crouchers comment on the AM Forum wasn't a tip....

ModernHorse - Ice Age was something I worried about but inspired the first model. I didn't want to try competing on Animation terms with the Ice Age Squirrel but by trying NOT to make him look like skrit, something reminds me too of him.
Does that make sense?
Tough and Sly is definitely something I was trying to capture!

Kevin Sanderson - I usually try drawing the wireframe into sketches but I never obey my own drawings.. If I'm trying to work properly and force myself to take the time, I'll make a plasticene model and draw the splines onto that. I usually obey those lines..

I tried more sketches and accidentaly produced a great design for a mouse which will be in a different WIP thread but here's the latest versions. I'm beginning to feel inspired to mould clay or plasticene very soon...

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew002.gif

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew003.gif

[modernhorse]

Jeepers these are great !!

[alfiebabes]

you should see the mouse design.

[modernhorse]

Yes ! I should. ;)

[alfiebabes]

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Mouse/Mouse001.gif

[zandoria]

Nice designs!:beer:

[modernhorse]

I dig the mouse, tho maybe the ears should be bigger in relation to the size of the head. Now the proportions appear a bit cat-like. But, thats me.

Now get modeling !

[alfiebabes]

Hi! :p

I've made a start on modelling and I may have to use Porcelain.mat in this model in one or two tiny areas.

I've never used Porcelain.mat before so any tips and hints would be great
- does it work on normal patches?
- does it work where I have 5 point patches (trying to keep them in flat areas but not always possible)
- does it work around 3 point patches?

I know the theory behind Porcelian.mat (so I know how to drop it onto a group or a model) but I've heard the new AM versions allow you to set percentages? Where and how?

I'm trying to stay in version 11 from now on if that helps anyone.

[alfiebabes]

have started modelling and here's the head so far. Lots of tweaking to do and a surprising amount of 5 point patches.

Hope the new fur works with 5 point patches...

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew004.gif

[alfiebabes]

well, I found something from having a play -

1 - create group
2 - drag porcelain over onto group
3 - expand the properties "+" tag for the shortcut to porcelain and you should find an attibute shortcut (much like the attributes you get when creating a material)
4 - expand the properties ">" tag for the attribute shortcut and you get a surface tag. expand the surface ">" drop-down and you get a list including diffuse, specular etc etc
5 - there, right at the bottom there will be one called "Normal Weight"

This allows you to set strength from 0 to 100%

Trouble was, I got a whole lot of black patches as soon as I dropped Porcelain.mat onto my model.!

[modernhorse]

Hey Alf -
You need to flip normals (f) on those groups and rerender. First select the patch group icon, select the problem patch(es), hit "f" and rerender. If it still looks funny, delete the applied porcelain, do the above procedure, save out the model, reapply porcelain and re-render. This has worked for me.

Hope this helps, mouse is looking cool !

[alfiebabes]

hello ModernHorse,
this ones the squirrel.... I'll start a separate thread off for the mouse. :scream:

Thanks for the tip though. I haven't decided if I'll bother with Porcelain yet as you shouldn't see minor imperfections under the fur. I felt the need to try another of the new features out you see!
I will save your Porcelain instructions for if I ever start Car Exterior or Interior Modelling again.

[alfiebabes]

screwed up the last mesh, trashed it and started all over again. I think this is much closer to the little sketches and there's just the tail to add in.

I'm haing problems adding to a group.. the "/" button normally adds cp's to a group colour but as you can see in the image, I have a different coloured area on my mesh..

Any suggestions?

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew005.jpg

[alfiebabes]

hello again!

the "problem" sorted itself out. close project and then re-load. Solved it as it was just an information update thing apparently.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew006.jpg

[modernhorse]

Mouse .... er, squirrel looks cool. I think what's confusing me is the ears. They look (to my eyes) like little mouse ears and not little squirrel ears.

Either way its a nice model.

[alfiebabes]

luckily the ears are not part of the same bodymesh so this was an easy fix..

I saw what you mean Modernhorse, those ears where more like Mickey Mouses but hopefully these work better..

should start furring up soon.

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew007.jpg

[modernhorse]

Hey Alf,

I just found a good pic of a squirrel that may help you shape those ears more to my liking. ;)

If you like the way they are now, please disregard.

Squirrel pic (http://www.greysquirrel.net/)

Beware cheesy midi tune!

[alfiebabes]

If you like the way they are now, please disregard.
Thanks Modernhorse! I'm going to stick with what I've got as this is a toon model and not meant to be over-realistic at all. The other problem with more realistic ears coming out of the existing mesh is what would happen to the headmesh geometry.

Come to think of it, I intended that the new fur did a lot of the work for me anyway.

That midi tune got REALLY irritating REALLY quickly!

[modernhorse]

this is a toon model and not meant to be over-realistic at all

Oh no, I dig. I'm certainly not trying to get you to change your vision of the character. I just wasn't seeing the ears as that of a squirrel, toon or not. I'm offering up my 'eyes' on your project, and hope I haven't confused the issue.

I can't wait to see how you hair up this guy. Cya.

[alfiebabes]

managed to get some time to update this. Don't think I have the hang of the new Hair System yet...

http://members.lycos.co.uk/aphil/Squirrel/SquirrNew008.jpg

Need more time! Slow Server.... aaargh!

[modernhorse]

Hey Alfies back ! How ya been?

Looks cool although a bit prickly maybe.

[DarkLimit]

Very cool model I like the way his hands and feet are done...

his fur looks painful tho :D

[alfiebabes]

thanks guys, I've been really struggling with this character and I finally plucked up the courage to show how horrible my attempts at fur have been.

I've tried version 11 fur and I made a mess, 10.5 fur was a step backward. I'm not blaming the software - it's me and I'm struggling. probably cos I haven't truly figured out what kind of fur I really want (except sort of like the sabre-tooths fur in ice-age)

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