JohnArtbox

Thanks all:D Nimblepix Painter can, as can pretty much all current image editors. If your current image editor won't do it PDPro is easier, cheaper and faster than Painter(it just wasn't on the machine I was using).

BitMapStyle render. [attachmentid=12467] The end use is for integration into a live action scene, so he won't end up this way, but I thought it was worth a test render. papergrain and very slight paper displacement added in Painter.

Thanks Jeff/arkaos Fanbones and TSM2 Rigged. Need to add smartskin for the skirt/ kilt and then set up my facial rig and he's ready for animation. I think I need to enlarge the swords to fit his admittedly oversized hands. [attachmentid=12420]

Moving along...added lots of little details, armour pieces, sandles and a sword. Also I rounded the face a little more as it did not work effectively for a front on view. Now I need to build a sheath for the sword and fix the helmet. Used spline Alpha, Gamma and Magnitude a lot for this model to keep the spline count down. [attachmentid=12245] The sword is a perfect example. [attachmentid=12246]

Just revisited this thread after a long absence....this is fantastic. Kudos to everyone involved in the amazing work being put into this rig. It's a fantastic example of how TWO is advancing AM.

Card variation for my brother's accountancy practice. [attachmentid=12114] I can't believe I missed the Christmas card competition That's two competitions in a row that I had images for and then forgot to enter. Rodney:I know the star is typically drawn your way but I felt it fitted between the two elves better at an angle.

Resolved the decalling by using cylindrical projection decals in two stages(front and back), on the different parts of the body. [attachmentid=12080] This variation on the character is for a spec project. Once I get the model complete and decalled I'll post an example of what I mean.

UV Sub patch distribution question? I use a certain amount of 4 point lathes and extrusions while modelling. To decal them, I then split the objects in half and decal either sidebut the outside areas of the decals, where the patches curve away, exhibit stretching. Is there a way to get those patches to uv evenly across the patche's surface, much like if an image stamp was applied to the patch? I know that increased geometry would give me greater control over the decal, but the simple models are faster to animate. [attachmentid=12017]

Thanks Paul, I'll try a reboot now that the next render has finished. I've altered the light setup to try and improve the background, although it still needs work. At the same time I've individualised the elves' happy faces, altered their hands, and fixed the head/hat intersections. The lighting is proving a bit of a radiousity learning curve. Ken: faces and hat's fixed . They're still all happy(except for the falling elf) because, after all, it's Christmas. MrJage: got around to hands Robcat: I comped in a pale blue green which worked nicely,but the radiousity is darkening the bg more than I'd anticipated. Dan:you're right about the BG, I was trying a softbox like setup, but it needs to be modified further. [attachmentid=11984]

I don't know how I did it, but somehow my wireframes are no longer appearing. The Scene still renders correctly but the choreography window appears blank, and remains so when the program is reloaded. I knowI've p;robably hit the wrong button, but I'm not sure how to reverse it...any ideas?

Thanks for all the replies..I had a few dead hours of computer time so I thought I'd set up a radiousity render. Interesting results with a relatively low render time time(just over an hour). [attachmentid=11967] Nancy: you're probably right about the yellow background colour, I just feel like I get stuck on the white backgrounds sometimes, they're such an easy option. Dan: I'll link the star in soon(probably on a stick), it's still pretty early stages.

Next stage... I think I need to graduate the colour on the bg to frame the star correctly, adjust some of the poses and then start to individualise the elves [attachmentid=11900]

Some fun for our studio Christmas Card... [attachmentid=11893]

David: I think they made it onto the program cd. Tileable grass textures...free for use but not for redistribution. Enjoy.... For those of you who have version 12, there's a stack of my tilable textures in the images section. [attachmentid=11871][attachmentid=11872][attachmentid=11873]

Hi Guys, thanks for the comments. Paul: they're standalone studios and granny flats. The main advantage is that they're cheap and can be built very easily by an average handyman. David: which grass mat/panel? the tilable texture or the reed fence for the pool? If your after the grass it's one of a dozen or so I donated for the new cd, so it should be available for download. Let me know if it'snot and I'll post it. Will:Thanks Phnxpyre: TreeZ's available here. http://www.kci-group.com/z/ The lighting is a keylight combined with a SkyCast spinning rig with two lights(shameless plug). Skycast And a light inside the studio

Pulled this project file out to render off some frames for my demo tape. It's a long render (2 hours a frame) but since my computer doesn't need sleep I figure it can take a week. Tweaked the lighting a litttle since the last version (Thanks Yves & Bill) [attachmentid=11833]

Another hour, and he's thinking...but not very well. You don't need to think much when you can lift a semi trailer. Thanks for all the feedback[attachmentid=11799]

Thanks to insomnia I had a few hours free time last night, but not being in the right head space to do Kapsules, I decided to model a simple character. Lots of cleaning up and tweaks to do (back of the neck, thumbs and a face for starters) but I thought I'd post this stage. [attachmentid=11499]

Great little scene Ed, makes me want to rush out and try it myself. The new render has really improved.

great work Stian - you're building up an impressive portfolio

It's a thought that's crossed my mind Blackjack Thanks Nancy. I've roughened the image inpost. Used a glass distortion effect and added fine papergrain for a smidge more chaos.

Drvarceto: When I get time I'll put something together...but it won't be for a while sorry. Here's a test I did on an artistic media render. I don't know if I'll head down this path, but the knight made a convenient test subject. Edit: I forget to turn off the stick to surface option in the initial render. The second render is more representative of the final effect

Great little image, lots of detail and a whimsical storybook feel

Good post Robert... simple layout, nice curves and a really cool texture.

Hi David I know what caused the crash. None of the drivers can see over the dashboards Looks great so far. If it was for dramatic purposes I'd suggest that the car rock as it was hit, but in this case accuracy is the key, isn't it? What parts were animated by Newton and explode?