4sure Mike- come on aboard. I just finished a simple 3D Layout and an animated fly through (very basic so don’t chastize) and I’ll post some images (probably as attachments cause I don’t want to upload them into my gallery yet) and as for the video it’s Full 1024 in Targa files I was thinking of either using Windows Media PLayer (Movie Maker), Nero, or Quicktime to build the image sequence but then I’m not sure how to post it so you guys can see- should I zip it (compress) or something? Think that’d work? Worst case scenerio I can upload it into Youtube of the sort but the image quality will worsen and the size will decrease dramatically. So if you have a suggestion then please let me know- I would setup an FTP but it’s been a while and I’m not sure I want to tinker with all that because the little bit of time I get to myself on my PC I’d rather be creating stuff. Or I could send the individual images and you could use Media or Quicktime (image sequence) to view the footage? They’re targa files right now but I can easily change that.
Collabarative Learning Project
Oh yeah and guys, (Mike) feel free to start modeling a house as pictured above and make a few variations (change it up a bit) so we can create the neighborhood- ignore modeling the inside and keep it simple then we can tell you adjustments to make.
Oh yeah and guys, (Mike) feel free to start modeling a house as pictured above and make a few variations (change it up a bit) so we can create the neighborhood- ignore modeling the inside and keep it simple then we can tell you adjustments to make.
DUH- I use it all the time, what was I thinking- 
I’ll check it out after work this evening. PS. keep meshs quads.
Here, I’ll just go ahead and post some screen shots because there’s really no point in fooling with the fly through animation since this is just a layout= besides, I mostly did it just to remember a few things about motion path and key framing.
so this is the start from inside the house= kitchen but I’m thinking bedroom now.
This is the neighborhood
This is the main street area leading up to the main downtown area. Notice the hill leading to the strip= we’ll be adding many elements…
I know. it’s cheese but maybe you can get the picture…
Main Downtown area… skyscrapers
End of downtown area and begining of park
just a generic park but we’ll be adding skate elements…
some crappy trees and basketball hopes LOL
I’ll do another video flyby if I have time because the one I have is much too large so I’d have to lower the settings because it wouldn’t even fit on Rapid compressed= Forgot how quickly frames pile up. Plus I had my Mental Ray settings high since this is a very basic model.
Umm- that’s odd, I’ve been able to see them from the work pc and home on this link? they’re just links to my Kodakgalleries location so you could copy the link but they should be loading- don’t get your hopes up though cuz they’re just a basic concept then we’ll replace them with some high quality stuff- RIGHT!
So I went ahead and bought my buddy’s copy of Adobe After Effects and installed it- It looks like martian to me right now but I’m a pretty fast learner. I watched a few quick tutorials on the sight on you can do some really cool stuff on the fly with it so that’s why I went ahead and bought it- Here’s a guy I’ve been working on along with some other environmental things…
I’ve added a tshirt to BB and some skin texture but need to tweak both and add a texture to the shirt- jeans coming- shoes, whatever- redoing hair too because I didn’t like previous. and then I’ll rig and convert to another character. Anybody wanna share some stuff too?
I enjoy returning to this thread to see the progress being made…
I wish I could contribute but I am at a level 0 out of 5… i dont even have the software so I’ll sit on the sidelines this time…
but, to get the correct gear for the playing field, so to speak, which program would you guys say helped the most as a beginner?
I was thinking of trying to get adobe after effects but im not sure if thats the best way to go…
Adobe After FX= Post preduction special FX, digital compositing, and timeline alteration (some of the things I’ve very recently messed with)-
Autodesk Maya, Autodesk 3DS MAX, Softimage XSI, or others= 3D package for creation of characters to animating them, lighting and scene creation etc- multi-purpose.
Adobe Photoshop CS3= very important to have (I’d get this first and foremost as I have done)- you can use this for very very many things.
Sculpting Package such as ZBrush or Mudbox= (good to get after a 3D package and after learning basics of that 3d package).
And a lot of various plugins and scripts that you come across or develope along the way.
Well, let us know if you end up picking up some software and we shall see if you can contribute in some way- We’re gonna need some audio eventually but there are definately ways to contribute.
indeed. thanks for the response.
i never even thought about the audio but if you needed some original music or even sampled music to play in the background, i think i could contribute in the aspect…
as you see in my sig, i am a musician and part of the reason why i joined this site is because i wanted to learn new things to enhance my music videos on youtube…
but yeah, audio - non vocal - i can get done sooner than audio with vocal but im guessing the former is most likely whats needed…
im not sure about original sound effects but i do have a few sound effects cds - yup
Audio’s always a good thing- We’ll be a while though til we get 2 that point- I’m not sure what everyone elses’ progress is like at this point but here’s mine- I did some nCloth tests and created pants for my first character.
Well, I’m nearing the completion of my first personallized rig for this character: once I’m through with the controls I am going to model another character. As anyone created anymore elements or props (skateboards, etc?) Kind of feel like I’m stranded on an island.
I wasn’t able to do much this week, but from tomorrow I should be free again for a day or two 
I’ll try the skateboard then.
Kudos
Very cool Mike- don’t worry too too much about being perfect, just do your best and then we’ll go from there.
Guess I’m the last man standing here- oh well- here’s an update- Hair, and rigging almost complete.
im still here
lol
im making a skatepark right now.
I was wondering if you can model a quarterpipe for the park.
i cant seem to get it right.
P.S. Good work on the character!