NancyGormezano Posted January 27, 2005 Posted January 27, 2005 Needs mucho work - but I like the way it's progressing. Been playing around with creating a model with hair, and trying to get something that might have reasonable rendering times for animation - - so I've been keeping the density low (lower than I'd really like) - And hoo-Boy have I been struggling with the grooming (yikes what a spaghetti nest of string!), resorted to fakey lighting, shadows, 1 pass, etc... BUT this image at 640 x480 rendered in 37 secs! I could live with that...(I'm really really impatient) Will be working on cleaning up the face (too confusing - image wise) - fixing the bald spots... comments welcome Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted January 27, 2005 Hash Fellow Posted January 27, 2005 That does look wild! The yarn must be an image map applied to the hair, right? Only suggestion i would make is maybe edit the yarn map so it ends less squarely. Quote
Paul Forwood Posted January 27, 2005 Posted January 27, 2005 Oo yeah! I like it, Nancy That cat has got has great potential. Camouflaged for top secret missions in the knitting basket! Quote
Mr. Jaqe Posted January 27, 2005 Posted January 27, 2005 WOIIII! that's a lot of hair! nice kitty Quote
johnl3d Posted January 28, 2005 Posted January 28, 2005 Great cat looks like it would have one very large hairball though.....have you tried to animate it Quote
NancyGormezano Posted January 28, 2005 Author Posted January 28, 2005 thanks for the comments y'all - Robcat: Yes the yarn is an image map - I'll give some thought about "unsquaring" the ends. I was thinking originally of going for the look of cut yarn - as if to suggest someone had actually "sewn/knit him up"... might try using two image maps for emitters so that the strands don't look so regular Johnl: Yes I'm starting to animate him - using dynamics so that the hair moves, as well as giving the red tie dynamic constraints as well - might have some tests to show manana - so far render times have been reasonable (20-30 secs/frame at 640x480) ... Still having problems with grooming - very tricky, scary, tedious - the old adage of 80% of the work takes place in 20% of the time is turning out to be very true of course...it's that remaining tweaky stuff that drives me crazy - Quote
.:shortdog:. Posted January 28, 2005 Posted January 28, 2005 Wow, thats great...and obviously doesn't take to long to render. The yarn/hair on the feet doesn't look quite right tho. Quote
NancyGormezano Posted February 26, 2005 Author Posted February 26, 2005 Mr Fwuffy has grown up...Shall we say: More manly, More of a Pwofessor - here is a FatCat walk test with hair (developed for Bootcamp ex 6b) - will have to work on tail action - still working on facial expressions, phonemes, smartskin (cp weights). Yarn Cat type will transform into some other creature eventually... catWALK6b.mov Quote
Dalemation Posted February 27, 2005 Posted February 27, 2005 I love the animation. Great walk with the tail flicking around - and the hair dynamics are very impressive. Cat has loads of character Quote
John Keates Posted February 27, 2005 Posted February 27, 2005 I love the stlye of these! I particulrly like the first one. I want to see him move. Actually, you kinda beat me to it on that one - making a character just out of hair. I would suggest setting the angle limit of the hair to about 60 degrees as this should stop the hair from going right through the body. Quote
Mr MM Posted February 27, 2005 Posted February 27, 2005 Really nice! I also like the background - only 2D flat orange. It questions the belief in 3D. Perhaps the cat is out walking on a very huge orange fruit... Who knows.... But red together with orange - that is not my favorite combination of colors... Blue instead of red?!., I had a Google search on: color meaning perhaps something for your imagination - http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/index.html http://www.color-wheel-pro.com/color-theory-basics.html http://www.crystal-cure.com/color.html http://myth.com/color/meaning.html http://www.thiaoouba.com/see_aura_color.htm http://web.mit.edu/philos/www/color-biblio.html Quote
J L Johnson Posted February 27, 2005 Posted February 27, 2005 Very expressive character! You wouldn't be working an animation based on a Lewis Carroll piece would you? Quote
Dagooos Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 Now that is a great character! So refreshing to see something like that. I don't think you should worry about the render times so much though as he deserves more then 30 seconds to render Quote
NancyGormezano Posted February 28, 2005 Author Posted February 28, 2005 Thanks again for the comments y'all John - good idea to change the angle - I wondered what that was all about - I like the hair a bit colliding with his body, stylized sorta - but maybe its a bit much the way i have it - I tried collision detection and couldn't stand the render hit - tho I did use it for his top locks - and it worked relatively well Mr MM - thanks for the links - Color palette is a very subjective, emotional thing - My paintings (when I was exhibiting) were known & loved for the explosive color palette (and bold expressionistic style) that I used - tho those who were more reserved hated them for the very same reason that others loved them - As artists - We each have to choose what speaks to us personally & hopefully there are others out there who speak a similar language. The further out we get - the smaller the audience - If we want to make a living at it - we sometimes have to sacrifice personal taste for "more familar & commonly accepted imagery". Lucky for me, I'm not trying to make a living at this... JL - No I don't currently have a particular animation in mind (tho, funny enough I I did do "Alice in NutcrackerLand" on AMFilms). I usually never know where my characters will lead me - eventually something clicks - never know when... Dagoos - you're right - I will have to learn patience - but, but ...that would take time - Quote
NancyGormezano Posted February 28, 2005 Author Posted February 28, 2005 Oh yes - and now meet the Professor's new friend: Heidi Fleece - Proprietor of the Local Cat House. Madame.mov Quote
Mr MM Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 You are a genius modeling/animating, Mrs Gormezano. A really sexy cattess. About the cattess Mror: http://www.pagehalffull.com/thom.html And here is more sexy cats: http://www.catsplay.com/book.php3?isbn=068817650X Quote
JohnArtbox Posted February 28, 2005 Posted February 28, 2005 great cats. I love the yarn fur cat,(that's me being a sucker for designs that are different). The sashay is pretty cool too. Bootcamp sounds like fun, and seems to be getting great results. Quote
Paul Forwood Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Nancy Your feline friends are FANTASTIC! I love the floppy hair on Madame's feet. Quote
NickHutson Posted March 1, 2005 Posted March 1, 2005 Realy nice work. It's got a unique style. One crit though. I think the hair maybe a little to thick. If maybe you took the diameter down a bit it might look softer on the ends. Or maybe you could round off ends in a channel editor. Just some thoughts. Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 7, 2005 Author Posted March 7, 2005 Another new friend for the Pwofessor: - Ms Marlene D'Eeektrick (lampost, cigarette courtesy of Hash free models - thank you, Tom - whoever you are) Quote
Admin Rodney Posted March 7, 2005 Admin Posted March 7, 2005 Excess is Never Enough Oh dear. Nice characters Nancy! Did I miss any revelations on your plans for these characters? Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 7, 2005 Author Posted March 7, 2005 Rodney - I haven't revealed anything, yet - BUT... I am thinking about the moooood animation contest ....hmmmmm.....perhaps I shouldn't say anything - it's so long off tho. Quote
Mr MM Posted March 7, 2005 Posted March 7, 2005 Another new friend for the Pwofessor: - Ms Marlene D'Eeektrick What it is this going to become? A triangle drama? http://www.playbill.com/news/article/90149.html http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=2192 I am just waiting for a new pwofessor to turn up.... a Master of Love to go waltzing around with the first pwofessor - a Master of Jealousy? http://www.quickegreets.com/javafree/valentine/val69.htm http://www.stressdoc.com/master_of_jealousy.htm Just a remark - the ears - on the new figure - are they not too big? Will they not be flapping a lot then she does the can-can? The original had not got that big ears! Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 7, 2005 Author Posted March 7, 2005 Just a remark - the ears - on the new figure - are they not too big? Will they not be flapping a lot then she does the can-can? It's not her ears that are a problem - it's those big oversized, out-of-proportion thighs. The thighs get all twisted when she does an arabesque, or any high kicks - need to work that out...I have been so negligent in figuring out fan bones, smartskin, cp weighting - I know the answer lies somewhere in the tweaking of those features. I hate iddly-piddly-tweaking. (I'm hoping for that tutorial from the Mr. Amazingly-Brilliant Tight-Defying Colin Freeman.). As for THE Marlene - I've already downloaded a few of her original songs in mp3 form to spurr me on - especially "Falling in Love, Again" from "Blue Angel", I believe it was the first talkie made in germany in the 1930's. Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 12, 2005 Author Posted March 12, 2005 Just about finished with tweaking of my characters, going to start animating a short silly thing next - tho I am finding it hard to work with 3 hairy creatures in 1 scene. Sorry I don't have something more controversial to present. Family photo of all three - From left to right: Heidi Fleece, Marlene D'Eeeektrick & the Pwofessor. Quote
KenH Posted March 12, 2005 Posted March 12, 2005 LOL What a hoot! Some of them look abit threadbare. The image took forever to download! Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 13, 2005 Author Posted March 13, 2005 Thanks for the feedback Ken - I forgot to "compress for the web" - so I've resubmitted a much smaller jpg. Threadbare, hmmmm.... I was trying to go for a stylized look - but I guess it didn't come off that well. My choices for density & thickness obviously doesn't show the full extent of what AM is capable - I was sorta going for comedic. Might be better in an animation - but then again it might not - will have to consider Rogaine therapy. Quote
KenH Posted March 13, 2005 Posted March 13, 2005 Ah....much better downloading. The fur isn't that bad. Just mainly round the cat mussles seems to be the most balding. Quote
dcnelson Posted March 13, 2005 Posted March 13, 2005 Threadbare, hmmmm.... I was trying to go for a stylized look - but I guess it didn't come off that well. My choices for density & thickness obviously doesn't show the full extent of what AM is capable - I was sorta going for comedic. Might be better in an animation - but then again it might not - will have to consider Rogaine therapy. I know it's just my opinion, but I think the density and thickness you've chosen makes for a 'wonderful' stylized look. I'd vote that you stick with it. My only other thought is that the faces of Heidi Fleece and the Pwofessor are a bit too similar in appearance. You might consider tweeking their faces some to differentiate them a bit more (their glasses don't count). Now if they are suppose to look alike due to family resemblance (whether biological or too many years spent together) or by the artist's choice (yours) then please ignore my comment. Regardless, just wanted to say that I love the style you've got going here. Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 13, 2005 Author Posted March 13, 2005 My only other thought is that the faces of Heidi Fleece and the Pwofessor are a bit too similar in appearance. You might consider tweeking their faces some to differentiate them a bit more Thanks Dean for the feedback. You are soooo right. I've been struggling with that. At first I thought they might be Mr. & Mrs (you guessed correctly about the "too many years together") - The problem is: I don't have my story straight - not sure of their relationship, yet - even so - I agree they should look more different from each other - I've been staring at them for too long and have lost the ability to "see". However - Perhaps I can see a nose job in somebody's future. Quote
Mr MM Posted March 13, 2005 Posted March 13, 2005 To tell you my opinon - it is a genius work! But... My opinion is the whiskers are to big. They take to much of the interest. And the eyes are to small. They gets to little of the interest. The eyes are the mirror of the soul. So big eyes are mirroring the soul better. That is my belief. And someone elses too: http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation/the_eye...the/167179.html So curious waiting for the first trialogoue or will it be a dialogue? perpahs a monologue? For sure a catalogue! Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 13, 2005 Author Posted March 13, 2005 My opinion is the whiskers are to big. They take to much of the interest. And the eyes are to small. They gets to little of the interest. Thanks for the feedback Mr. MM - I agree - Eyes should be more prominent on the cats - usually I do focus on eyes - so that has been bothering me as well - and yes I was wondering if the whiskers were too prominent . But, but - waaaaaaa - I like them - sniff - sometimes we have to give it up. Not sure what I will do about them. So let me see: Nose Job, Eyelift, facial hair makeover - ok...BUT no Boob Job, I definitely draw the line at Boob jobs (sorry Mr. BigBoote). Quote
Mr MM Posted March 13, 2005 Posted March 13, 2005 Why not let the whiskers be "flexible"? to express different emotions! Shrinking, growing, stiffening, softening, having different colors.... Quote
NancyGormezano Posted March 13, 2005 Author Posted March 13, 2005 Actually I do already have pose sliders to animate the whiskers on the mouse to express emotions - I've been focusing on her more, as she will probably be the star in my next flick - will also add them to the cats...whew. Quote
NancyGormezano Posted April 1, 2005 Author Posted April 1, 2005 Just posting to keep myself honest & off the streets - Have started animating (will be about 3 mins)- slow, slow going - here's a still of Marlene & the Pwofessor in Concert - Heidi will probably make a cameo appearance. I'm using this an exercise in lip synching & working with multiple personalities (other than the ones in my head). Piano is from Hash free model library - Amazing Job Dylan Perry, thank you - I've created the bench, curtains, & candelabra - will donate them - but they are nowhere near the quality that Dylan did... (I skimp & take shortcuts - so I don't know how useful they are to all the meticulous modelers I see out there...) Quote
Gerry Posted April 1, 2005 Posted April 1, 2005 This still looks great Nancy! It's got a great unified style in keeping with the characters. Quote
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