Simple Question. What Clay is used for CG modeling?

#1

Hello, this is my first post. I recently wrote and copyrighted a comic book series, and
2 companies have shown interest. I was told by an expert in the field to make clay models of the characters to show to potential sponsors.
> They said a sales pitch of a potential comic book may be
> supplemented if there are clay models of the characters,
> to potentially render/visualize video game graphix. (I had never heard of this)
>While attending Toorcon, a computer programming seminar, one attendee showed a slideshow
> from a Videogame production company displaying a technique that no one else seems to know about.
> The slideshow showed designers taking digital pics
> of what looks like a large light pink clay model, against a green background, but I
> am unsure if this model was made from
> unbaked sculpy or something different. It looks like they were posing it for a
> claymation style of video game rendering, with little lights to simulate
> lighting environments.
>
> Can anyone from this forum refer a potential clay, (is combination of promat/sculpy
> appropriate?) or provide a resource for this process. It seems that the clay
> would remain unbaked/flexable so it could be repositioned at different
> angles, poses. Can this be done with super sculpy, with the color, texture
> rendered in later with adobe photoshop? Also curious to how big (scale- 10
> inch?, 24 inch?) one would make these models.
>
>Any help or piece of advice would be greatly appreciated.
> Thanks.:slight_smile:
>
> David Draize

myspace “draize”
dd367@hotmail.com

#2

I believe what you’re referring to are called maquettes.

Scale in this pic is common.

It seems that the clay would remain unbaked/flexable so it could be repositioned at different
angles, poses.

I’m not a pro sculpture or a maquette maker but I think this would be impractical. Because, depending of the level of detail of your sculpt (if it’s not baked), any-reposing could mar or break the sculpt’s surface. Think of the fingerprints on unbaked sculpy…eechhh.

Maquettes are basically just a 3d reference item, I suspect, for non-artists who can’t really visualize designs on paper (they’re used for scanning purposes to). But as far as I know, for marketing or promotional reasons, they’re usually in a neutral pose and acts essentially like a statue. You want poseability then you’re getting into the action figure domain. Doable for sure, but it all depends on your resources (You’ll have to figure out a flexible rig or joints, for example.)

Just as a suggestion if you don’t have much sculpting experience, you’ll be better off commissioning a competent freelance sculptor to do your presentation maquettes.

#3

[b]

What Clay is used for CG modeling?

[/b] My maya uses an ancient clay difficult to model with but it doesnt need baking =B ^^
**sorry, coudnt resist ^^

Yes, they are referred to as maquettes. Ive heard most of these are made in gray Super Sculpey, and before the gray super sculpey came out they mixed super sculpey with gray or colored premo.

Dont know about the flexible sculptures you talk about though… but it might be possible they used latex with either a strong wire or amature inside, or, they used plasticine which doesnt needs baking but are really delicate to handle (aardman studios uses plasticine for theyr movies).

Its really odd that a publisher asks some clay models. first time i hear about it. and i dont get why a comic book needs models… for a game??? isnt it supposed to be just a comic book? or did you specify a game somewhere in your presentation?.

#4

Hi. Thank you for the reply. I’m not quite sure why they had asked for the maquettes, but I invested in about 76 dollars worth of super sculpy and started my project a few days ago. I saw on the first reply of my info request a pure pink super sculpy model, so I did not mix in any grey, or promat. I’m guessing the grey/ promat makes it stiffer, because I found, as is, it is a bit droopy.

I used pieces of an old erector set to make a ten inch, battle stance skeleton, then I wrapped it with six inch segments of chicken wire, to bulk out the muscles. I then tapped into a 6 mile supply of electric motor magnet wire to wrap around the chicken wire, and bulge out the frame a bit more. Then I layed the clay over it. It took a good 1.7 pounds. Out of the tail bone I extended a piece of erector set and hoped I could use this to prop it up on a stand. With all the clay, its a tad too heavy, so I plan to stick the extension into a a piece of 1 cm copper pipe, which is a bit sturdier and right angle it into a piece of wood.

When you bake it, is the whole contraption, base, and support bar stuck into the oven as a whole? Also, the costume has something like a helmit/disk on top, and I’m not sure how to achieve this precise disk with sculpy, without it drooping. Is it common to add certain costume accessories in later, for instance, the disk I could make from a disk shaped earing, put on its head, after baking, and then blend/ jb weld in later, and paint to match. I also thought adding some metal wrist cuffs on later would give it a unique look, Is this cheating?

I will take some pictures when I finish, and start the next character.

In regards to the presentation, its hard to explain. I think the game/ cg media potential was their idea.

Thanks again

#5

Is this cheating?

Hell no, though i also had this concept when i did my first scultures.

For example sculptors use metal balls to make the eyes, metal tubes for parts of a gun…etc, Ive seen blades made out of real metal.

Here are some examples (I dont know who model them though)

About the armature you built… i trully have no idea what you where talking about O_o’.
Some advise i would give you… NEVER sculpt too big, sculp in a size that can easilly fit into a home oven. Also make a somewhat easy to access pose (either for painting or molding, too intricate and itll be a total pain) If you have wings or extensions, try making them in a way you can detach them from the body.
And if you are able, do a mold of your figure and then cast it in resin.

Some links of interest about modeling, here:
http://www.danperezstudios.com/workshop.htm

Check these guys out:
http://www.shiflettbrothers.com/forum/index.cfm

and this: ( at the very end of this link there are shots of the initial armature.)
http://davidmackguide.com/productionnotes/kabuki/statues/

#6

Hi ya you might want to check out this place www.conceptart.org and go to the 3D Forum there you will find a couple of very good Tutorials buy a member called Smellybug.

You will also find more info here on how to do you maquette http://theclubhouse1.net/ the only thing though you have to register to become a member before you can view the posts.

These will probably give you a better understanding of how to do your maquette I used to use Super Sculpey but it is probably easier to show you with pictures ie the Smellybug tutorial than explain what to do.

Hope this helps

Cheers,

Clair

#7

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