Ernhardt, Gunslinger - Well Dressed Merc for Swagger [VR]
high dynamic range
Hey ya'll, I'm working on fixing this art test I submitted to Survios a while back.
// Current Update
// Current Update
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Right now my main concern, based on feedback, is that the upper arms were not exhibiting enough mass and folds like it did in the original concept.
Right now, I'm not sure if it's the wrong brush/technique I'm using to paint int he custom folds, but it doesn't super feel like a bunched up linen shirt around that area.
Also got feedback that the chest does not follow any particular torso anatomy, so I've reworked it here to finda design balance between the original concept and accentuating the human torso anatomy.
Any critiques?
Trying to get the chest elements to have more depth overall and conform to the anatomy. Let me know if you see anything that could use improvement.
Adjusted silhouette of biceps to looks fluffier and bigger.
Still adjusting scratch details of the torso armor.
Need to reduce polygons of torso and head to be under 8k tris as per original prompt.
I should probably get an actual pupil sculpt to bake from. Or get it done in Substance Designer.
How are the hand details, scratches, and scuffing reading? Do they make sense?
Refined edge wear and damage on body and face.
Fixed face errors. Added eyelashes.
Still trying to resolve how to get the upper torso to 8k tris without losing silhouette landmarks.
Any feedback? Anything that could be improved? I keep thinking at this back end of the stage, I'm missing how to get this to really pop with the texturing.
Figuring out the color palatte for the light. Thank you to @Amsterdam Hilton Hotel for his pistols. They are dope!
Any feedback on the textures at this time?
Turnarounds
You also might want to look into the silhouette of your character model. Much like props and environments, you want to have a distinct silhouette. The head's is great, but the torso and arms could probably be messed with (maybe there's an extra accessory or the clothing is bunched/folded differently). I see you did it with the ends of the sleeves near the wrist, but maybe add something asymmetrical to vary up the silhouette.
When I go back to improving my old models it's very demotivating for me to change things on the model
Whats does he have very big feet? is this a design choice? Just seems to stand out, once you notice it, its very distracting.
I formed the shoe mesh around the base mesh I was using.
How would you break down the types of details I should be considering/layering?
off the top of my head, all I have is:
1) Dirt
2) Smudging (roughness)
3) Edgewear/scratchs
4) Base Fabric Metal
-Part name
--Material type
---Base material
----Scratches and miscolouration
-----Text and decals
------Roughness variation
-------Dirt
--------Additional detail pass
---------Extras
- Added more roughness and albedo accentuating of edges/cavities in the shirt, arms, and vest.
- I need to figre out how to add some version of a rudimentary flow map to the hair.
- Need to adjust the hairline to be more feathered, either with the texture or mesh.
I'm hitting against my knowledge extent. Anything specific I can do to help get this to its best polish?- I'd echo what Tectonic mentioned about the hiarline, I think it could be a much softer transition.
- This is super minor, but I'd flare eyelashes out at the corner of his eye a little bit. They look kinda unnatural atm.
- The metal bits clipping into his mouth don't make sense to me. Maybe the fix would be as simple as painting in some skin in the corner of his mouth so the metal doesn't intersect there?
- The cloth does look paper thin in several areas. If you're not adding geo, then maybe you could push areas like the vest around shoulders out some more with a height map? Though honestly, if this is for you portfolio it would look better to model in those details and there isn't really a reason not to.
- I think the pants and shoes look really sharp. The character has a little bit of a dishonored feel to me, so I think it would tie the consistency together to simplify the fine wrinkles in the shirt slightly - especially around the elbow joints.
- Somehow the small horizontal wrinkles in the vest look more like skin wrinkles to me than cloth? I can't tell if it's the normal map, or the roughness of the material that's doing that. I'm not sure what material the vest is supposed to be? Also, the back center seam of the vest looks a lot more intense than the other seams.
- Are you using a fuzz map on the cloth? If not, a really subtle one could help define that material.
I hope this helps! Cheers
I fully agree with Sebeuroc on all the points. I would also like to add some points as well.
-I think you should add more geo to smooth out his silhuette. His fingers look really low poly and his shoulders and arms look a bit blocky.
- The folds on the arm or the rolled up sleeve does not affect the silhouette at all, I think it would add a lot if you modelled it out and gave the rolled up sleeve more form.
https://amp.businessinsider.com/images/5322158069bedd201529bd77-750-563.jpg
- I think you should break up the silhouette of the hair with more flyaway cards, as the hair is really flat right now when not looking head on.
-The lightning is really flat right now and does not give a good focalpoint. As the lighting is very blue it is washing out the image.
Lastly I think you can push the pose a lot. Right now it just looks like he is falling from a TPose. I think it would help him if you added torque from his Hips rotating up through his chest, almost like he would be dancing. And maybe try pull in his Right arm as he is moving it towards where he is aiming but in the midst of that movement.
Quick paintover to visualise.
Good luck man, he is coming along really well.
- Using this wonderful tutorial by Saurabh, rebaked the eyes, tightened up a bunch of tiny details with the face.
- I think the hair should be more blended given the technical limitations.
- Added in cavity maps for the textures.
I think I'm close to calling this done and moving on. Probably just going to get my beauty shots and then get it all comped. Still need to optimize the mesh.Thank you everyone for getting me this far! Let me know if there's anything else that stands out!
Figuring out the beauty shot
Do away with the embers?
The straight on camera angle along with the focal point on the chest makes the pose feel a bit odd, I think if he were rotated slightly to his left so the arm was easier to read that would help make it more striking.
Also, I liked the original version that was entirely in focus compared to this one, it just feels very odd when the blurred sections such as the middle pistol are on top of a flat graphic and it hides the beautiful model underneath.