*A:M User* Shelton Posted January 5, 2012 *A:M User* Posted January 5, 2012 One thing about the hook at the flat point of the shoulder blade, it will allow better definition and the shoulder blade will stand out. I like using them for that Steve Quote
itsjustme Posted January 15, 2012 Author Posted January 15, 2012 I just posted another ball bounce exercise here. I'll spend a little time working on the generic guy's modeling and kick out another ball bounce exercise this next week. I've also got a tweak to add to the Squetch Rig along the way...I'm squeezing it in before I stick with my "feature freeze" on it. Quote
itsjustme Posted February 12, 2012 Author Posted February 12, 2012 I have to post another "stay alive" post...I haven't had much free time in a couple of weeks (lots of overtime). I think next week will be better for animation work. Quote
itsjustme Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 I've gotten tied up in a few other things, so I haven't been able to work on much else for a few weeks...one more "stay alive" post, I guess. I did add another bouncing ball exercise since the last one I mentioned here...it's here. If I'm able to post what I've been making for a friend of mine, I'll do that in a few days or so...he needed a five second logo, so it's up to him whether I can show it to anyone. I'll ask him once I get the renders done (SD, 720 and 1080...the SD is rendered so far). Quote
mouseman Posted March 11, 2012 Posted March 11, 2012 If I'm able to post what I've been making for a friend of mine, I'll do that in a few days or so...he needed a five second logo, so it's up to him whether I can show it to anyone. I'll ask him once I get the renders done (SD, 720 and 1080...the SD is rendered so far).If he needs encouragement, tell him that the purpose of a logo is for it to be seen and get him noticed, so posting it on the forums would be free advertisement! Quote
itsjustme Posted March 11, 2012 Author Posted March 11, 2012 If I'm able to post what I've been making for a friend of mine, I'll do that in a few days or so...he needed a five second logo, so it's up to him whether I can show it to anyone. I'll ask him once I get the renders done (SD, 720 and 1080...the SD is rendered so far).If he needs encouragement, tell him that the purpose of a logo is for it to be seen and get him noticed, so posting it on the forums would be free advertisement! I'm pretty sure he won't have a problem with it, but I don't want to assume it's alright without asking. I'm still rendering the HD versions and then I have to do some double-checking of the final renders before I'm done with it. I'll ask him after I've actually delivered something, Chris. Quote
itsjustme Posted March 21, 2012 Author Posted March 21, 2012 The five second logo I worked on for my friend is now posted here (with his permission). Now, I've got to catch up on my other projects. Quote
itsjustme Posted April 7, 2012 Author Posted April 7, 2012 I was hoping to have more done to show by now, but I did get another Quickstart Expressions tutorial knocked out about two weeks ago...it's here, in case anyone missed it. At the moment I've got another ball bounce exercise I'm working on and an update to the animation I made for my friend incorporating Matt Campbell's suggestions. I've also done some tinkering on one of my nagging rigging issues...I periodically go back to a couple of those to see if I can come up with a solution. I've put in a couple of feature requests because of this one, but I may have to add one more, I'm thinking. I just have to think up a request that makes sense within the existing system. I've still got a rig addition to make and some modeling on the generic character that I'm trying to improve. It seems unrelated to Bertram, but in reality it's all going to help with the animations I want to make with him...he's always my main focus even though it may not appear to be the case at times. Quote
itsjustme Posted April 24, 2012 Author Posted April 24, 2012 I've had an extremely busy couple of weeks, so I'll have to use a "stay alive" post again. I think I might be able to get something accomplished this week though. I'll put a couple of experiments aside for the time being and do something that will yield results I can show. Quote
itsjustme Posted May 3, 2012 Author Posted May 3, 2012 I finally got some time to do some more tweaking on the generic character. I beefed him up a little, opened the eye sockets up a little, thinned the nostrils a little, put in more details in the neck, shoulders, arms, legs, abs and face and added soles to his shoes/boots. Most of the changes are pretty subtle, but it looks a lot better than the last posted images to me...so I think I'm making progress. I've still got more to do...a little tweaking on the ears, mouth and probably a few other places I'm forgetting at the moment. This time I used Jason's default Choreography and light setup...the AO render didn't show the details as well. I'll put this guy down for a little while so that I can make some changes to Sam's modeling and then work on the rig additions I want to get in before I finalize everything. Quote
itsjustme Posted May 18, 2012 Author Posted May 18, 2012 As usual, it's been a very busy couple of weeks. I've been bouncing around to a bunch of different things...research, working on a rig update, etc. However, my major accomplishment this week has been getting the first draft of three Bertram shorts written...I've got a couple more that may get written this weekend. Of course, they'll probably be revised a lot, but I'm getting the ideas I've carried around in my head for years put into a more coherent form...so that's a good thing. I decided to use Celtx (free) seriously for the first time...no complaints, so far. I used to just use a text editor like AbiWord, but a friend of mine convinced me that I should follow the advice I gave him and see how Celtx feels. At this point, I'm glad I went that route. Quote
itsjustme Posted June 7, 2012 Author Posted June 7, 2012 I haven't gotten as much done as I would have liked since my last update. I wrote a first draft for the fourth Bertram short...which is where I'll stop for now. I'll go back over all four in a few weeks to see if I can improve them. I did some modeling for Bertram's first short, but it's not far enough along to show. At the moment, I'm in the middle of rigging a character for use in an animation exercise...when I get it done, I'll release it (which I'm hoping will be sometime next week...we'll see). Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted June 7, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted June 7, 2012 *Very* nice splining, David! I agree. Fine looking models! Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted June 14, 2012 *A:M User* Posted June 14, 2012 Hi David looks great! In the shoulder area, how well does the mesh work when you roll the shoulder to wave for example? Steve Quote
itsjustme Posted June 14, 2012 Author Posted June 14, 2012 Hi David looks great! In the shoulder area, how well does the mesh work when you roll the shoulder to wave for example? Steve I haven't actually rigged him yet, but I don't see anything that would be an issue. Except in extreme movements, the shoulder probably won't have to roll...for a wave, the bicep would roll the mesh starting at where the shoulder yoke ends (creating the bicep crease). This version of Sam is modeled differently, but, the same principle applies. I just brought the arm up like it's going to wave and then rolled the bicep to show how the mesh deforms. Hope that helps, Steve. wave_arm_roll.mov Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted June 14, 2012 *A:M User* Posted June 14, 2012 Thanks David. The reason I ask, the should looks good. I think the shoulder area with all the dynamics there is a hard area to model. I have concentrated on the last models to do a better job in the shoulder. Anyway, keep up the good work Steve Quote
itsjustme Posted June 29, 2012 Author Posted June 29, 2012 I'm still working on that animation exercise character...a lot of trial and error, which takes me longer than I'd like. I've also re-worked the splines on the face and abs of the generic character. The changes show up as very subtle, so not a lot of difference in a final render. The face should animate better and there's a little more definition in the abs (I'm not going for "six pack abs", just a suggestion of some underlying structure)...I did end up with a hook in the neck that I don't care for though. I think it would take me a lot more work to improve my head modeling, so I may just accept what I've got with this one for now...I can always tweak some things as I rig him. Now, back to the other character and the rig update. Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted June 30, 2012 *A:M User* Posted June 30, 2012 Very nice! Excellent example! Steve Quote
itsjustme Posted July 3, 2012 Author Posted July 3, 2012 Hopping around a little, here's some casters that I needed to model for a cart (which will probably be in the background of the first Bertram short). I realize it's not much, but, these kinds of odds and ends eventually add up...and it keeps me from bogging down on one thing for too long. Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted July 3, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted July 3, 2012 I'm glad you're still making progress. That's crazy detail you're putting in! Quote
largento Posted July 3, 2012 Posted July 3, 2012 You're right (about it adding up), David, and it will certainly shine through in the final project! Quote
itsjustme Posted July 10, 2012 Author Posted July 10, 2012 I added an update to the break room...here. Quote
itsjustme Posted July 28, 2012 Author Posted July 28, 2012 I was hoping to have something to show by now, but it has been slow-going recently...I'll have to use a "stay alive" post for now. I've been re-doing the ceiling in the Break Room, testing different lighting for the Break Room and re-tweaking the face on the generic character. I've also got what I think is an answer for a problem I was thinking through on one of the rig updates...which I'm trying to work my way toward installing. I'm hoping to have something to show in the next couple of days. Quote
itsjustme Posted August 16, 2012 Author Posted August 16, 2012 Unfortunately, time has crept up on me and I still don't have anything new to show yet. Getting a new laptop and doing the usual transferring and resetting up of everything has been one of the culprits...I still have more RAM to add to that. I've done more work on the generic character, lighting of the Break Room and some fixing of the Squetch Rig installations (Mark Skodacek pointed me at a few issues...the current installations are broken, but I should have the next version done in a little while). I'm still moving forward, but it's not apparent by my posts. Quote
itsjustme Posted August 30, 2012 Author Posted August 30, 2012 Here's an update on the generic character. I remodeled the head and neck in an attempt to improve a few things. There are still a few areas that will need tweaking, but I think it's a step up from what I had before. Quote
steve392 Posted August 30, 2012 Posted August 30, 2012 Very smooth modeling David a graet example Quote
kwhitaker Posted August 30, 2012 Posted August 30, 2012 i agree with Steve, Very smooth modeling, that takes a lot of work, and looks wondeful. Quote
Gerry Posted August 30, 2012 Posted August 30, 2012 Let me add my compliments, David, and also say much better positioning for the ears! That was the only thing bugging me in the earlier iterations. Quote
itsjustme Posted September 15, 2012 Author Posted September 15, 2012 Another "stay alive" post, unfortunately. I took a side trip on my modeling explorations for a week and found out that it was a dead-end...at least for what I was looking to do. I've been dinking with the Squetch Rig updates since then...a few dead-ends, but I think it's getting better. I'm hoping to have something worth showing next week...if things go well. Quote
Admin Rodney Posted September 15, 2012 Admin Posted September 15, 2012 Another "stay alive" post, unfortunately. I took a side trip on my modeling explorations for a week and found out that it was a dead-end...at least for what I was looking to do. I've been dinking with the Squetch Rig updates since then...a few dead-ends, but I think it's getting better. I'm hoping to have something worth showing next week...if things go well. Well, now you've got me curious! Are you really going to leave us hanging without expanding upon that? Oh to be a fly on David Simmons wall (with a nice zoom lens video camera pointed directly over his shoulder at the monitor of course). Quote
itsjustme Posted September 15, 2012 Author Posted September 15, 2012 Another "stay alive" post, unfortunately. I took a side trip on my modeling explorations for a week and found out that it was a dead-end...at least for what I was looking to do. I've been dinking with the Squetch Rig updates since then...a few dead-ends, but I think it's getting better. I'm hoping to have something worth showing next week...if things go well. Well, now you've got me curious! Are you really going to leave us hanging without expanding upon that? Oh to be a fly on David Simmons wall (with a nice zoom lens video camera pointed directly over his shoulder at the monitor of course). It was just attempts at simplifying some of my anatomical modeling...it works fine, but I lost some definition. I'm not great with anatomy, so I'm trying to get better. There are some landmarks that I thought I could get to look more realistic when they move...it's time consuming testing with a lot of trial and error. I've learned a few minor lessons, so it wasn't for nothing entirely. I've figured out some better bone placement and additions in a few places, which have turned into possible additions to the Squetch Rig. I'm in the middle of at least five possible updates, some will be easier to figure out than others. Quote
itsjustme Posted September 28, 2012 Author Posted September 28, 2012 I've posted the first test renders of a couple of possible Squetch Rig updates here. There is more work to do on them and then other possible updates brewing. Quote
itsjustme Posted October 13, 2012 Author Posted October 13, 2012 I'll have to use another "stay alive" post....it's been a very busy couple of weeks. I've done more testing and modified Sam's torso in order to test the possible rig additions...still heading in what I think is a good direction. I'm hoping to get a little more time to work this week...we'll see what happens. Quote
itsjustme Posted October 22, 2012 Author Posted October 22, 2012 I did a first-pass type of test with a training character I've been tweaking when time permits...he needs a few more controls. This has "hold" interpolation on everything and was used mainly to try to get the CP Weighting to look a little better. flour_sack_test_10_22_2012.mov Quote
Admin Rodney Posted October 22, 2012 Admin Posted October 22, 2012 Very nice David. The hold interpolation makes it have something of a 'stop motion' feel to it. I like the snappiness to the movement. Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted October 22, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted October 22, 2012 that's a pretty goof GOOD sack! Quote
Fuchur Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 that's a pretty goof GOOD sack! Really good and you really got personality into him. See you *Fuchur* Quote
itsjustme Posted November 4, 2012 Author Posted November 4, 2012 Here's a phone model for Bertram that I've been knocking around...only a couple of temporary decals and color on some groups for now. Quote
Admin Rodney Posted November 4, 2012 Admin Posted November 4, 2012 Very nice David. You make this stuff look easy! Quote
*A:M User* Shelton Posted November 4, 2012 *A:M User* Posted November 4, 2012 Awesome David Steve Quote
itsjustme Posted November 19, 2012 Author Posted November 19, 2012 It's been an extremely busy couple of weeks, so I'll have to use another "stay alive" post. I've managed to get a small amount of modeling done...if I'm lucky, I'll have something to show sometime this week. Quote
Hash Fellow robcat2075 Posted November 19, 2012 Hash Fellow Posted November 19, 2012 It's nice you are alive. Quote
itsjustme Posted December 5, 2012 Author Posted December 5, 2012 I haven't been able to do much except work and sleep for the past month...so, I'll have to use another "stay alive" post. I managed to get a little modeling done (in ten minute bursts...which isn't much), but nothing else. I think I've managed to get past some of the issues I was having with a particular model...this will be the third time I've started working on it. If I'm lucky, I may have that model to show by the end of the week. Baby steps for now. Quote
itsjustme Posted December 11, 2012 Author Posted December 11, 2012 I just posted an update to the standalone FACE rig here. When my schedule calms down, I'll get back to updating the entire Squetch Rig. Quote
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