Sketchbook: Timothy

HardBaller

So, yeah, how to start. Whoever read some of my first post knows that i'm starting to learn 3D atm and hopefull get a job working in the Games Industry. Just got my sub at Digital Tutors started and i'm starting there tomorrow. I've posted some stuff before that i did "as is" without prior learning just to see what i had to deal with and/or start at. These where all made in 3ds max. Right now i'm leaning towards working with maya but we'll see. Won't know what tool i'll be preferring until i've tried them all out of course.

Got Maya, 3Ds Max, Zbrush and Mudbox to use right now with a Intuos 4m. Main goal of this sketchbook at least right now, will be in the form of a diary. This is on one side to force me to keep learning and improving, and on the other side a way to keep track of my work from the start till the end. Of course all feedback and critique is very welcome of course.

So right now here is a bit of a re-post of what i've already did (as described earlier) and starting tomorrow i'm going to keep it up daily (as much as possible at least). As i feel that i'm starting to ramble and i never really know how to start these things i'm going to leave it at this for now. Enjoy




Didn't figure out how to get shading in the render yet in the first image hehe:

HardBaller

So being sick as a dog since the weekend i kinda dropped to being in bed instead of learning as i was supposed to. But feeling a bit better now i didn't want to stay still and went over the introduction to maya 2013 on DT. When it came to the actual modeling part they actually have all the scene's linked to the lessons so you can do in your program as they do on the screen but i wanted to jump into the deep and just left that and worked along with the lessons starting at the reference images until a couple lessons in. Stopped at this point and going to start the actual introduction to modeling in maya today.

Oh btw. i'm also going to enroll into the DT February contest. We have a make a robo-pet for that so expect some stuff for that in the future here and in the P&P thread. Don't know what i'm going to make exactly but got a couple days to think of something original. After that i'm going to use lessons/training that helps for the contest (texturing, modeling robots etc.). As always critique, tips and advise is always welcome.

HardBaller

So i didn't exactly do what i was set to do because i got really sick soon after but now i'm all better and started to learn again. I also entered the feb. contest as Digital Tutors set a small goal for myself to accomplish at the end of the month.

So first thing i went and did was going over what little i had learned for maya and put that to practice. So on that note i went and made a simple little model where i had to use polygons and nurbs combined with the curve tool and nurb circle to make the opbjects. (you'll know what's what when you see it). I did do the simple render is max because i don't know how to render in maya yet.

The simple idea was an anchor tattoo. Pretty classic and simple idea but you need all the "basics" to make it.
example image:

model:


Ok so on to the contest. The theme is robot compantion/pet so the first thing that came to my mind was the Torii from Gundam SEED. It's a robotic bird companion and i based my concept of of that. My concept sketch is extremely raw and basic but it's get's the idea across which was my point. Anyway here is the concept:


And so far i'm at this early stage with the actual model:




I know that i have to either adjust the neck portion or make him into a running pose. I went a little bit overboard with the nurb circles before i added loft and didn't notice it until it was to late. So yeah that's the update for today.

Any C&C is always welcome

HardBaller

So been doing some lessons lately. Going to post some of those models soon as well. Lately i've been in a star trek mood so i figured i'd try to do something in that theme and figured a phaser would fit that really well. And thus i've tried my hand as a phaser type-2. I know my topo is still really bad but i'm going to work on that soon. All i know right now is how to model and working on improving that before i'm going to dive into the world of topology and texturing. Anyway here are 2 screenshots one as is and one wired.

As always critique and comments are very welcome.

HardBaller

Ok here's a small update on my robot bird that i talked about 2 posts ago. It's nearing the last week of the DT contest so i'm going to put the finishing touches on it i think. It's maybe about 90% done. No retopo or special texturing on this model. Added some color for viewing pleasure though but it's as it is. First project with a timeline and do consider that i just started learning.

Made a render of the perspective, 2 close ups of the legs and a close up of the wing mechanic. As always C&C is more then welcome on anything i make.

HardBaller

Some subtle changes though to keep the overall feel but still change the look. It's still not in the 100% finished stage because i want to see what happens if i import it to Zbrush to see if i can get some welding seems on there in places where it could matter. Also of course the final beauty shot with some photoshop over it.

So as you can see. Added the 2nd wing, Added a lot of tiny detail to it especially some mechanics that could explain how the wings move instead of "magic". Also changed the shape of the eye sockets and the eyes them self. Needs some nice effects though. Also changed the beak to be more square looking and opened it up to give it some functionality. Think maybe of K-9 from Doctor Who who can analyze things among others by smell. Also added bolts where it matters to actually make it look connected as a whole.

So here are some render shots. Comments and critique is welcome as always.

HardBaller

Trying to work at my "beauty shot" for my contest submission. Now i've done a couple different renders. Combined some of them and made a couple small adjustments in photoshop and did some small wear in places where it would make sense. But right now i'm feeling that going on any longer would make it worse instead of better so for right now i'm calling it done. Got a couple days left before submission so if anyone has any C&C or i think of something myself again i can still done some things to it.

HardBaller

Bit of a morning practice project. Nothing special just an armchair a bit like the one i'm sitting on atm.

HardBaller

Also posted these in the P&P section but also had to add them to my sketchbook. My very first Zbrush attempt ever . And tbh i'm pretty proud of it .

bigphun

Is that last one suppose to evoke Gallagher? If so good job.

HardBaller

Haha i had to google to find out who that was but darn that's a funny coincidence haha.

No i was doing Speed sculpting a cartoon head on Digital Tutor. It follows a concept drawing from Dean Yeagle. Think i kept it in the "spirit" of the drawing but it's not exactly as the concept. Hell first time ever not to bad right.

HardBaller

So started to learn a bit about rendering in maya and started to play around a bit with lightning etc. Gave up on using photoshop post render for the competition. I know it has some advantages but i want to do it all in maya with this one for learning. Anyway another update on my contest model and i think i'll leave it as is. Compare it to the previous images and spot the difference hehe . C&C is always welcome

HardBaller

Yes again the bird haha. Made some more tweaks to the lighting and did a high rezz render for my first contest submission. And i have to say that i like it. It keeps you busy and forces you to keep working and improving on your skills to get ahead and better for the competition. Just look at my first render and this final. I've places them below each other.

Before:


After:


So what do you guys think. Any C&C is welcomed as always

HardBaller

Well day 2 of no inspiration what so ever so i started to doodle a bit. Was watching the hobbit and idk but for some reason i ended up making a hammer haha. Base handle/head i did in maya with some beveled edges and did the detail and finish in zbrush. Also painted it. First time doing any sort of texturing unguided and tried my hand on polypainting here. Some spots need some change and i think i used the wrong mat when using mrgb to give it that bare metal look but idk. C&C is more then welcome.

HardBaller

So after a wile i've decided to start posting again. I'm in a DT contest again. I try to do them every month to keep pushing myself. This month the theme was game asset and i decided to make a DITE. It's a sword like weapon featured in the anime Chrome Shelled Regios. It's not an exact copy but based on that idea. Anyways this is it. 1900poly DITE model. I'm still not that good at real low poly modelling but i'm getting there slowly.

HardBaller

So done a small 30min "speed" sculpt. It's nothing much and needs some improvement but for me this is a leap forward tbh. I never finished anything in under 4 hours haha so building this crossbow in under 30mins is a big step.

Wireframe shot + 2 mental ray render from different angles.

HardBaller

So started the morning with some curve practice. And yes i did do the knobs and switches and plug with polygons but the body and neck are curves/nurbs. Though for some reason the neck isn't 100% closed so i can't finish it and start working on the details. I'll figure it out (i hope haha). For now the main body, elements, jack plug, tone/volume knobs and 3-way switch are done. Neck has the layout but not the mass yet. So this is where i'm standing now. I think about 2 to 2.5 hours work so far. But with a lot of figuring out stuff.

HardBaller

So spend some time learning again today. Trying to use more bevel for the edges and less smoothing to keep the count a bit lower then my usual earlier models. If you look back in this thread at first i made a simple couch and table with 41K+ faces. And now i'm here. I started to just make a quick cyberpunky style workbench/laboratory table. And well.. when that was done i added some light. And then some effects "in" the table. Then some test bottles, some paper. a couple pencils etc. etc. i just couldn't stop but end of the day now and need to call it quits if i still want to do some nice renders.

So here is the model. a wireframe render, a wireframe overview render. 2X mental ray "beauty" shot and 1 mental ray overview render of the whole scene.

Comments are always welcome.

HardBaller

Cross post from Hobo Bodybuilder Bust

2nd model in Zbrush ever and a more anatomically correct bust. First time. Zero training and lessons in this area of expertise but wanted to see what i could do in a limited time myself just freehand to know where or how i'd start off. Easier to follow progress like that i think.