Uplift Universe - Image Entry: Vikram Mulligan

#41

I’ve not posted in a while, but I’m certainly not out of the contest! Here’s the finished human hand model, with the textures partway done. I’m lifting textures from the photos I took of my hand.

#42

I’ve finished the textures on the hand, now.

#43

I’ve finished all the modelling and posing, now. I tried to get the human hand into the right pose in ZBrush, but ended up tweaking it a bit with Softimage XSI. The alien hand was posed in Softimage, but only with bend modifiers and lattice deforms (I couldn’t be bothered to rig it with a full skeleton). The hair isn’t right, right now. It’s too mossy.

#44

Here’s my final entry for the Uplift Universe CGSociety contest. While not necessarily depicting any specific event from David Brin’s novel, I think the image is consistent with the spirit of the book. With the placement of the two hands, I tried to create a sense that the human being was helping to raise up the alien. I also wanted to depict an optimistic vision of human-alien interactions. While the alien hand is, well, alien, it is not hideous or monstrous, and there is no implication of malevolence.

Technical information: I used Apophysis 2.07 for the background, Wings3D for initial modelling, ZBrush 3.1 for sculpting and texturing, Maya 7.0 for the hairs on the human hand, Softimage XSI 6.5 for final image composition, mental ray for rendering, and Adobe Photoshop CS for compositing and retouching. As it turned out, the combination of hair, subsurface scattering shaders, ray-traced area lights, and 32-bit displacement maps was too much for the renderer. I ended up having to use shadow mapping for the lights and bump maps instead of displacement maps. Next time, I’ll go back to trusty old Aqsis :slight_smile: .

#45

I’ve uploaded a somewhat higher-resolution version to my deviantART page, now.

#46

Good colour choices Vikram. The “pose” of the human hand is excellent, showing compassion and good will. Congratulations on making such a powerful image with so few elements! Very impressive.

#47

i’m with Gerardo! :eek: your texture work is so very real! what 3d software and renderer have you used? totally amazing! plus, add to it all … the composition! pretty dramatic!
congratulations dude! :thumbsup: i wish you good luck!

#48

Thanks, Gerardo. Given the limited time available and my other commitments, there was a limit to the number of elements I could include, so I decided to try and keep it simple. I’m glad you like the colours. I fiddled with them for quite a while in Photoshop, but couldn’t get them exactly the way I wanted them. Oh, well. I guess no one ever puts down on paper exactly what’s in his or her mind’s eye.

   Hey, Neville.  Thanks for the kind words.  This was my first time using extensive photographic reference for the textures.  For the most part, the texturing was done with ZBrush 3.1 and Photoshop CS.  I colour-corrected photos of my hand (after first painting out hairs), tried to position the 3D hand model similarly, and used Zapplink to paint the photographic textures onto the hand.  Then I'd rotate the hand a little bit and go on to the next little patch of skin.  It took me a couple of evenings to do the hand texture.

   Most of the rest was done in Softimage XSI (the free version provided for the contest).  I also did a little bit in Wings 3D (initial modelling), Apophysis (the fractal flame background), and Maya (the hairs on the human hand).  I like to use a wide range of programs, relying on the strengths of each one to make up for the weaknesses.
#49

Hey Vikram, great image! Like a lot your approach to the concept!! :thumbsup: The image is powerful, cool! Great textures on your models and cool lighting!! Congratulations for this cool artwork! Good luck !! Cheers mate!! :beer:

#50

Thanks, Fernando! All the best.

#51

I might as well ask this question here, as well. Once we’ve submitted an entry that (presumably) qualifies for judging, how do we go about getting the permanent licence for Softimage XSI? I think this question was already answered somewhere, but I can’t find the answer anywhere.

#52

Ah, my question was answered here.

#53

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