Robot Model - Beta-i7

AnotherGuyNamedEvan

I'm working on a model of a robot, as part of a course I'm taking. Currently at around 20 000 polys, really neccesary, but I'll show what it looks like before and after using mentalrays smooth preview.

I'm going to unwrap it, paint textures, all that, but I want some tips as to how low I should aim as far as poly count goes, but still retain the quality. Any tips would be nice, I don't want to keep it at 20 000, as it'll need to be animatable, I'll be rigging it in the coming weeks.

Modeled in Maya 2010, btw. Haven't been able to get a hold of a working copy of 2013.

http://evanhiltz3d.blogspot.ca/2012/11/robot-model-beta-i7-wip-stills.html

nedwork

Did you have any concepts or references? I really love to see more interesting shapes, less boxes and cylinders.

AnotherGuyNamedEvan

I was going for an industrial look, almost the way Wall-e has that sort of boxxy look. 90s machines.

http://evanhiltz3d.blogspot.ca/2012/10/robot-concept-beta-i7.html

Sorry, I'm bad at the whole linking images thing.

I'm not sure how I can, I was going for something that'd be found in a steel mill, like this:

With thick pipe fittings, something that'd have that heavy edgy look, but I still wanted it to appear somewhat nimble. Not really going for sleek, if you get the kind of picture I'm painting here.

Port-Seven

Personally I like to see those hydraulic cables and stuff intigrated into anything mechanical or robotic. Not only does it add interest to the model it also gives a realistic idea of how the robot would move. Also, I would look at strengthening the joints of your robot. The ball-in-socket look makes me think there wouldn't be much support in the legs for something so top heavy.

How close up is your model going to be seen? That will really affect the poly count. If you know you won't be zooming in on the fingers you won't need so much geometry in that area. Posting the wireframe of your model would also let other help spot areas where you can reduce your poly count.

AnotherGuyNamedEvan

Well, I'm going to make a low-poly version right now, take EVERYTHING that is uneccesary off, and show the two wireframes, and renders of the two models. I just want to keep some nice smooth curves, and the rounded edges, but at the same time, not have any geometry that really doesn't need to be there. I'll post the beauty and wireframe shots as well as poly counts when I can.

AnotherGuyNamedEvan

AnotherGuyNamedEvan