Uplift Universe - Image Entry: Niko Mäkelä

#21

Now she is modeled, rigged, posed and clothed(sculpted). The suit is not final in coloring… more like a base. Details and more incoming. Also missing some little accessories.

I still have lots and lots to do. Life stepped in, I missed weeks of productive time. Now reducing details, content and so on where I can, but still it is very likely I might not finish in time. Trying, trying.

C&C is always appriciated even though I don’t much time to fix things. Would love read comments anyway. Oh and best of luck to all who are struggling with the deadline!

#22

glad to see you continue your entry! and wish you finish it in time,
i suggest that maybe you lock down the camera and add some element in form of 2d work
maybe it can save time , from your latest WIP ,
i feel that deformation of elbow and leg need more work, but maybe its about
focal length of camera that make it look distort ,
I like your model and color , hope you can finish it
good luck !:buttrock:

#23

Hey Niko, really nice image. Like a lot the model design, cool!. The colors are great, put a very nice feeling on the image. Good luck mate! Cheers ! :beer:

#24

Fixed some issues, added things.

#25

Monsit, thank you again for your support and advice. Yes, I definitely have to do (a big) part of my work in 2D due to time constraints and even then I’m in trouble with the deadline. Indeed, I’m certain my model has some deformation issues. Tried fixing some but didn’t get them all, I’m sure. I’ll get on scrubbing those away if I find the time.

 Fernando, thanks mate!  I'm glad you like the colours.  Colour-play is something I enjoy.
#26

One of the two aliens in the scene. This is a docile beast, a pet.

#27

wyrm again

#28

second alien

#29

Manta of the jovian manta people. Next great rush of getting the scene together, modeling some little bits, painting most… little change of making it but will certainly try.

#30

Foreground elements are close being done, or as ready as I can do in a rush. FG-tuning and fixing continues, lots and lots of work left in mid and background. Uuuh…

#31

Jovian Host

Humanity is finally exploring deep space, traveling to other solar systems. One of such early voyages reveals a gas giant with relatively low gravitational pull and gaseous mix with oxygen, breathable even in many altitudes. This jovian planet harbors life a plenty and even intelligence. The dominant life-form, a highly telepathic manta-like avian race has no trouble understanding humans. They are lords of thousands of gas giants and an old race on galactic scale. Time, however, hasn’t numbed their playful attitude to clouds, winds, life and amusing stumbling little fledling races. The jovian host welcomes humans and offers a tour around in grand local style, on giant pet beasts.

  • Fear not young one, she’s bred to carry you safely and can project a weather shield. Yes, my pet she wants to dive. I promise you it will be, like you so aptly say, “a joyride”.

Ideas/inspiration found in “Rise of Endymion” by Dan Simmons (description of gas-world with oxygen and capacity to support life, some ideas about life-forms).
http://www.dansimmons.com/

Also some inspiration found in Iain Bank’s “Albegraist” - deals with a gas-giant world.
http://www.iain-banks.net/science-fiction/the-algebraist/

On lower gravity gas giants…
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/several_jupiter_sized/

#32

FINISHING COMMENTS

         The challenge was great deal of fun and a learning experience more than anything else.  I've never attempted anything like this, had not for example made a proper female character before (male form is the usual), but now I wonder what on earth was I waiting for.  So many things done for the first time with this entry.   Makes me so happy :D Learning alone made this a success for me.
         
         Certainly the image isn't what I had planned.  It was a mad rush job for most of the way and just 15 minutes until closing I was still drawing hair. So the image is not 'complete' but I am pleased regardless and   I hope you like it also :)
         
         Thank you few but dear people for the comments and feedback during the WIP process.  And thanks go to CGsociety for hosting this awesome competition.  I'm humbled by the works of so many talented artist here.  It was a pleasure taking part.
         
         
         PROCESS
         Most work was done in Modo, two character poses in Lightwave.  Funnily enough I had a days worth of trouble getting the image rendered out, even when building layer-style, to a proper size.

(edit: Trouble was that Modo kept running out of memory. A big detail render does it.)

Finally got it ought but either my image based sculpts(vector displacement) were on done with too small size an image(usually 2048x2048 each) or I optimized the render too much. It came out a with small geometry gone ‘blotchy’. So I did a cleaning/painting job to fix it and got this semi-painterly style… which I quite like :cool: Background, hair, final tweaks and such were the final bits in Photoshop. I had a lot more tweaks planned, like for instance colour work, towering clouds, glows from the tiny lights in the suit, details to the dropship… but ran out of time.

         Final render is 3115x4400.
         
         Now I really need some sleep.  Will add some detail shots from the full-res image later.  Anybody interested?  Good day(or night) to all.  And good luck, people!
#33

VERY VERY NICE ILLUSTRATION! i like a lot the style u put in it…very “soft paper” like. BRAVO’

#34

Thanks OZ, I am glad you like it :slight_smile: The style, I hope, is one of the little things that make it work. Thanks again, much appriciated.

#35

another cool entry ive missed along the way…
your alien looks similar to mine…lol

good stuff

#36

Thank you Simon, glad you like it. Yes, our aliens have some similarities. I’m just glad mine are alive :wink:

#37

Hey Niko, great image!! And awesome alien designs , simply love it! Great atmosphere on the image, with a cool “vertigo” feeling , like that sensation on your image, great achived! :smiley: Congratulations for this great artwork!! Best of luck And time for a well deserved cold beers and a lot of tequila shots!! Cheers mate! :beer:

#38

Hi Fernando,
and thank you. You make me blush :blush: Very happy to see you notice the things I was going for. I, on the other hand, seem to only see the problems and tons of things missing, those that didn’t make the deadline. Thanks and congratulations to you too! We finished in time :slight_smile:

#39

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.