Zbrush Retopolising for export into Maya

Zbrush Retopology Class - creating a low poly head using ZRemesher

Duplicated low poly head below; orange/black dotted lines indicate the 'ZRemesher Guides Brush'.

Using symmetry mode 'X' I drew on the guides (around the eyes, mouth, nose and neck)

Setting the Target Polycount to 2 - Quad count was around 7000

Setting the Target Polycount to 1 - Quad count was around 3000

Generating 'dummy' head geometry for retopologising

Duplicate the highpoly head - rename to 'Decimated_head' > Zplugin>Decimation Master>Pre-process current (NOT ALL!)> set percentage of decimation (e.g 10%) > press Decimation Current.

Export Decimated_head subtool as an obj file

Save!!!

Preparation for retopologising in Maya

Quad Draw tool does not support the 'X' symmetry function, so we have to delete half the head, work on that and then duplicate, mirror and merge

Using the quad draw tool, to draw live 'magnetic' quads onto the head.

We deleted most of the quads around the eyes, mouth and nose, as these areas are the ones that are likely to have most deformation when it comes to animation.

Quad draw and 'CTRL' then allow for multi-cuts and additions of edge loops to create good details

Zbrush - self portrait practice

Zbrush practice yesterday...Sean is right. "Dynamesh is your friend"

Starting with a 3D sphere this rough model of my head took about 4 hours....

A new learning curve and understanding of a new interface....

The top image shows a photo inserted as a map into the model space - from this I can snap the view to side or front and sculpt the clay to match the image

I practiced with 'brush' size - 100 seemed to be pretty good for quick application and subtraction of clay and 25 and below for more detailed work...

So far I've used Clay Build Up, Move and Dam_Standard brushes

Water bubble tests in Maya

MAYA material tests

Storyboard water bubble - Photoshop

First quick test experimenting with a rough image plane of frozen branches and a 3D sphere with
Mia_material_x3 applied in Maya

And then further tests, using a variety of images linked to the bubble and adjusting the Mia_materials
I prefer the first one directly under this text....and I think the poppy in the landscape may look better if it's applied in Nuke - rather than as a material in Maya

Atomos Ninja Assassin - Timelapse

Malcolm Finnie has suggested that the Atomos Ninja Assassin (what a great name!) will be a great way to go when creating timelapse....
Looks very cool and user friendly in this link https://vimeo.com/126891372

And I found this youtube video of the results....looks brilliant!
How great is this...DJCAD have the kit and Scotland has the landscape!

Tips for Creating Timelapse

Updating my shooting schedule and researching on how to create timelapse...

Locations tba!

http://www.enriquepacheco.com/10-tips-for-shooting-time-lapse/

Shot list - Thaw

'Generation Game Challenge - Sculpt a 3D self portrait in Zbrush!

Friday's 3D class...
The 'Generation Game Challenge' - Sculpt a 3D self portrait in Zbrush!
Using import Maps, 3D editable spheres, clay build up, move and dam standard brushes, smooth tools and Dynamesh to increase the polygon count....

Sean's 'Watch and Learn' demonstration was superb....brilliantly observed, great knowledge of anatomy and he made it look wonderfully effortless...

.
So after lunch, our turn.
If this were a cake decorating challenge, this is the equivalent of what I hoped to produce, versus
reality....

My basic model, so far at the end of day one...I'll aim to work on this over the next couple of weeks....
Practice, practice, practice....

'THAW' - Animatic

Lock down!!!
Animatic _Version 26...final !!

Time for the shot list; the crew; live action shooting; timelapse creation and technical tests!
Reference: Timelapse footage https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5l4MghKGEA&index=2&list=PLR6NkeqscAx1r2b3gn0xPJqqfAe7tIEYy

Hope sequence ideas

Some fun ideas for the hope sequence....

Enchanted Forest - Pitlochry 2016. Final film research

Wow!!! open air in a forest, 3D, live, vivid and intense cobalt purple trees and this spectacular animated light display, back projected onto a fountain mist cloud above a lake!!

This is fantastic reference and inspiration for the hope scene within 'Thaw'; and how this can be represented...
A crescendo of uplifting music, poetic and transformative abstract imagery, to illustrate the moment as the protagonist emerges from shadows into the light...

Maya version 2016; modelling and UV mapping a soda can

Maya version 2016!!

Year 2 - Round two!  Modelling and UV mapping a soda can..

Ahhh...the familiarity of terms such as UV mapping, UI,  Hypershader, Multi-cut edge loops, Outliner, Channel Box, Attributes Interface, Geometry, UV Cylindrical and Planar Maps, Textures, File nodes, UV snapshots, Right click, left click, middle mouse drag....

And of course.... 'coffee break'