D.Joseph Design

I love this! I did an FBI warning in Year in Review 2003 in which I changed the text to basic nonsense. But your idea is great!

I think it gives him an interesting appeal. Kind of "what's-up-with-that?" emotion. Actually, I had already capped the fingers in that render, but I forgot the thumbs, which I promptly corrected later. I originally intended to just fix this frame in Photoshop so no one would see it, but oh well.

It needs a bevel. If it has a bevel, it should be stronger. I've also found that environment maps (also called reflection maps) really enhance reflective objects. Just make a black image in an image editor and brush several white, soft-edges, straight streaks in it. Be sure to set the environment map as additive and play with the opacity. You could even use a grayscale photo of something.

Aah! Excellent point. And your further wisdom: I shall. It's funny that this issue comes up, because the only reason I went for this style of switch was because of my plan for the finger "twidle" ("frill"? Whatever) and then a straight push with the index finger. Since I'm not doing that, there is no more reason to have this style switch. Now I face another issue. I think that a standard switch would be too small for shaggy's finger. Do you think that I should do it to scale anyway, since everything else thus far is to scale? Or should I make the switch just "big enough" (however big that means) for his finger? Or then again, this may not be an issue.

Ominous? Unless you're using that word differently than I'm used to, it's not the intended effect. I want a little suspense in not seeing the full character until he sits in the chair, and I'm hoping that some of the audience will see the extra humor in the suspense. Kind of like many movies do for the big actor or actress. Yes. The back of his index finger. I tried the actions myself. Although I don't have the button-switch as in the animation, I found myself flipping light switches with the top-back of my finger and then adapted that for Shaggy. Any other hand position would be awkward unless I did a lot of other body movement. My original idea was for Shaggy to do a little finger "twidle" like I did in 2002 and then press the light switch straight on. But doing so with the right hand would be near impossible while standing just inside the room, and I didn't want Shaggy to cross his arm in front of his chest. The only other alternative I thought up to work while Shaggy remains just one step in the room (a significant need) was to turn his palm toward the switch and press it. But such a move would require an awkward upward-projected elbow. How would you turn on a switch like this? I'm open to other ideas. Right now, I am my only motion reference.

The texture itself is not the problem. Here are the things causing my lengthy render times: A total of nine lights, three of them casting four rays—major slow down there Reflections—this is the reason the new wood texture added forty-five minutes to the render—I wasn't using reflections last time. 16-pass rendering—so take whatever the above equals and multiply it by about 14 or 15.

Hmm. My handles rotate a full 85 degrees, so that's how I set the model. I didn't know there were "versions" that rotated less.

From my Chair Wars animation: I wanted everyone to see the difference between the Enhance:AM texture that I used ("straight from the box") and the EggProps material with which I replaced it (only changed the colors and lowered reflectivity). The unfortunate thing about those beautiful reflections off the wood work is the extra forty-five minutes it added to the render. First frame took 1:17, second took 2:04 (hours, not minutes).

Here's another render from my animation. I wanted everyone to see the difference between the Enhance:AM texture that I used ("straight from the box") and the EggProps material with which I replaced it (only changed the colors and lowered reflectivity). The unfortunate thing about those beautiful reflections off the wood work is the extra forty-five minutes it added to the render. First frame took 1:17, second took 2:04 (hours, not minutes). And you can see my animation progress here. The last part there needs to be slowed down.

Hmm. I just bought the Oak and Chestnut and I think that the Oak will meet my needs. Man, these are nice textures! I first thought, "Yeah, it's just some combination of colors and settings with one of Hash's texture modules." But MAN! I expanded just the Oak and discovered a highly complex material all built with A:M functions. William, put me down for wanting the whole set when they come out. If this wood works, then it means that I can render my Year in Review animation on Macs, which will save some time. I just need to change some colors and then I'll post a render of how much better my room scene looks with the Eggington texture over an Enhance:AM texture.

"Ask and it shall be given unto you." Someone is now $5.98 richer and another is $5.98 poorer but satisfied with beautiful wood.

Make a great-looking dark oak (for indoor furniture) and I'm an instant buyer.

WOW! So I don't get it. These are plug-in–free materials for A:M? Dual-platform?

LOL! Well, that's part of the intent. The animation won't actually show the character's full body until he sits down. Until then, it's only partial shots like this or his feet. Thanks, Mathias. I loved that one too and I think that I shall always have that fun association with rubber duckies. The idea was so original and unique that it stands as my greatest character animation ... ... out of two.

Now that my room scene is basically done, I have begun the animation phase of the opening for my last annual Year in Review video for my church. I'll post new animations from time to time, but for now, here's a cool frame from the animation.

Thanks, guys! I'd like it to, but I can't seem to make the fire lighting effects any brighter. Very frustrating. What color do you guys think for the carpet? Wood would be neat, but there's already a ton of wood, and wood makes for different reverb, so that would mandate more audio processing to make it sound realistic.

New renders! Changed: 2000 ribbon for mantle 2001 medallion for mantle 2002 photo in frame for mantle 2003 hat and rubber ducky for mantle Christmas stocking (will maybe hold something) I still need to put photos in the frames, improve the stereo system, and pick a decal for the mug. But I'm to the point that I can begin animating! In fact, here is a preview render of the opening of the opening.

I think it's cool to be the last of the single-digit registered users.

Man! That's a bummer. Is it rendering from only one computer? One straight render session?

Answers in Genesis saw my work on current and previous Year in Review productions for my church and they asked me to make a short video for them. The video is 8 minutes and starts with this animation, which is mostly camera animations of the previously created 3Dized logo. View it on my animations page (2.1 MB QuickTime).

I think that the bevels should be larger. It just looks too sharp.

I just realized a good use of such an effect: the sun. Since is equator rotates faster than its polls.

Very cool. Just watch that your movements aren't too quick and jerky lest you lose your audience to the trash can from motion sickness.

Why not use a projection map instead?

Awesome! But it looks a little squashed. Is this intentional, or have I been out of the military life so long that I've forgotten what a Harrier looks like?