My Final Update

This is my final project for the semester in Life Drawing II. The main goal when I started this project was to model a finished 3D model piece and take a snap shot of it. Though I wanted to model organic creatures and other non-human related stuff, I wanted to stay close to human anatomy so I can improve my anatomy more hence is why I took life drawing II to re-focus a little on human anatomy. I also wanted to find a composition in the model that would at least be decent to look at. In the this final piece I believe I achieved my goal. Although the piece is not perfect in anatomy, I learned a lot throughout the the process of making it and I mean alot. This includes human anatomy, digital sculpting, texturing, lighting, and rendering. Also the more I worked on the project, the more I came to realize I was putting a lot more weight in learning the software and digital sculpting then learning how the actual anatomy human is.

In the process of leading up to the final, I had to learn my way into zBrush using it's digital sculpting tools. I needed to first learn the interface and where things were at and also other things such as saving tools and documents. Then I had to explore the brushes and how you can pull and push shapes in zbrush.

One of the difficulties I had was how to start the model. I read some online forums and the best tip I got from it was to either sketch some samples and model from a backdrop picture or model from scratch without anything. I chose the method of just sculpting from scratch and see what I would get. This is where I got the idea of a man hanging onto a log. As soon as I was able to detect the shape of what I wanted to model I began from there.

Texturing was pretty fun. At first I had no clue how to texture with Zbrush, though I did have some experience texturing using maya. After I got the hang of it, I can see how powerful zbrush can be when it comes to texturing. After learning how to texture I was able to apply my own painted skin texture and add a tatoo to the arms of the man.

And finally when rendering came I explore rendering a little different from what I am used to from other 3D applications. I had to render out each pass (color map, shadow map, lighting maps, etc) and composite all the layers together in photoshop using blending tools such as multiply and overlay and such. Rendering a complete composited piece took about the same about as time duration as texturing and modeling in my case.

Over all I wanted a piece to be in my portfolio related to 3D contents and I got what I what I wanted. I believe this piece will fit well into my portfolio for a 3D digital related job. I wanted to show my strengths in modeling, texturing, and rendering. Although really in the real world I should only focus on what I am good at most, I enjoyed learning the other process of making a 3D character or model.

However, I hope to continue making more models but this time speed up the process more. I understand that in the business world, it's about balancing speed and skills. I don't want to do a good job but have the time spent on a piece to be very long.

Further Update

After modfying the texture on the body and object the man is clinging on to, this is how it looks like so far. I still have to texture the face to give it a more realistic texture but this is probably the crop I might go for. Then I'll have to do the rest of the compositing in photoshop digitally.

Update on my project

I finally started to learn how to UV map in zbrush. After UV mapping, I began texturing. Right now the object is all in one piece, especially the tree trunk and the body. Since my final composition will only show one sice, the left side, I didn't detail or texture the other side for time purposes. I'm planning to add maybe a tatto on the back shoulder and then start texturing the skin more. I plan to render more realistic skin if possible, otherwise I just keep it at the way it is.

I continued modeling my sculpture by adding more details and defining the body. Again the concept is to have a nude male lay down on a tree log. I wish to take this model and place it inside a more define composition with a background. In the mean time here are the images.

side view	back view
front side	top view
Head modeling close up	Rough idea for final composition

Let's Begin !!!!

After a few weeks now of thumbnail sketches of what I want to model into a composition, I finally picked one of my ideas and began modeling. Here you can see a figure of a naked man clinging onto something... That something, I am still not sure what I want it to be. But it will eventually turn out to have its own identity. I think I might lean towards a tree trunk. Yes that is it. A man clinging onto a tree trunk.

Since I want to make this composition a little more creative, I'll add more stuff to it later.

Project Proposal

I am interested in the digital 3D world. So I want to try and create a humanoid character and pose it in a composition and then render it out on a print sheets.

I will be using the following software: Photoshop, Zbrush

In 3D modeling and animation, I will go through the process of sketching thumbnails (Front, Side, Back, top). I will then find texture to put on the character for clothes and skin. I will have to then rig or pose the character in place, at the same time keeping in mind how I structure/model the line flow of the model.

I will then paint/color the model and light it in a simple scene using digital lighting.

Though each process may be short in description, each and every process that leads to the final product is actually very time consuming. Therefore, my goal for the first half of the semester is to get the character model. For the second part of the semester, I plan texture, color, and pose the character in a scene.

In the process of doing all of this, I hope to gain more knowledge of the digital 3D world.

Follow up

I began drawing ideas and sketching thumbnails of what I want to do for my 3D model. I think I'll plan to keep the composition simple. The model will be in the center in a posture. I also plan to color or texture the model as well.

September 15, 2010

I finally decided I will make a composition in 3D this semester. The composition will consist of a character in a pose. The environment will be lightly added to give an atmosphere. I will work with the application Zbrush and try to rig the 3d model in Maya to pose it.

In the end I hope to render a scene and make a print out. I plan to use this piece in my portfolio.