Jake Blues

Time for some juicy 3D renders of non other, than Jake Blues (scroll down that post a bit for more information).
I've been working on him quite a lot since I wrote that post. Modelling is finished, texturing is nearly finished (need to mess with the skin a bit more) and the hair will be created soon.
First off, I should add that I did a bit more 'concept art.' I found out I had to add a front perspective and I also tried to fix the side perspective. Whatever I do I just can't get it to stop looking like a Tin Tin character though.

Now for the renders themselves:

And that's that. Stay tuned for more TAFE work as good progress is being made on all fronts.

Tram Video is Complete!

All that rendering, done and dusted. It was as interesting journey, but a boring one. In all I rendered out 500 frames individually, some only talking 2 minutes while some took up to nearly 10 minutes! All worth it in the end though for this 20 seconds video. Enjoy.

PS: Play in 480p for the best results.

Beginning of TAFE Work and Stuff

Last post, I mentioned that I would talk about some of the 3D class work I have coming up this term. I have two different 3D classes now, which could probably warrant for two different posts, but meh. $2.50 Stream games aren't going to play themselves.
First off lets talk about my 3D environments class. As I hinted at before the main project for this is creating a huge futuristic city. You may remember that I tried to do this type of thing waaaaaay back in 2010, but I got limited by my computer when the poly count got too high. I'm not making up excuses there either, a 500,000 poly scene with a dualcore computer that doesn't even have 2GB of RAM isn't fun. It got to the point where I just gave up, because not being able to move around a scene is a major morale killer. These days I'm supporting a kick-ass setup which I recently bought because of the diploma. I have no excuses in that regard now.
Everyone in my class have to create their own building, and then pool them together so everyone can make their own totally awesome city without having to worry about modelling every single damn building. I find this to be quite a good idea, and we of course can mess around with the meshes once we get them so there isn't 30 or so identical cities in the end.
So far I've made my one building for communal use, and a rough concept. First off, lets take a look at the concept:

As you can see it's quite bare bones, with a lighting system added to make it look purdy. The assignment brief said we could use any software we wanted for the concept and after rage quitting while trying to paint something up in Photoshop, I decided to just create a still in Max. Like, why not? Works for me.
Like it's 2010 counterpart, I'm going for the whole floating city idea. I dunno why this keeps appealing to me since I hate the ocean, but I guess the whole media frenzy of the world supposedly flooding has always appealed to me. How would we live? I like to play around with ideas how we would, and this is one of those.
Where would we get the resources to build such a thing if the world did flood? Fuck knows, I'm just the technical artist. Here is my building:

Now lets chat about the 3D Character class. Or rather I talk, and you listen intently lapping up my every word.
Like I said last post, I would probably be creating Jake Blues from The Blues Brothers. Considering I kinda forgot about it (whoops), and the concept art was due, I went with him. I quickly did this sketch up in Photoshop today (quick for me is roughly an hour and a half) and this happened:

Um, yeah. Probably not up to it's full potential, but it will do. I do feel as if I'm getting better at tablet drawing when you compare it to some other stuff I've attempted. I don't want to even link those. Ah well, I want to be a 3D modeller, not a drawer. I'm only really doing this because I have to.

While I'm here I mind as well give an update on the tram video. I've slowly but surly being rendering out the frames. I've done 250 so far, with probably about another 100-150 to go. It's such a slow process, and it locks up my whole computer:

The problem is that this computer takes up most of my spare time (sad I know) so when it's locked up like that, I'm at a loss of what to do. Which is why I've been kinda putting it off, but I've been making good progress these last couple of days.

Tram Is Finished

It's been a longish journey, but hurrah. Modelling and texturing of my 1910's USSR Tram is complete. I know I said I would get this done before I started my diploma at TAFE, but since that started my time has been nil (mostly because at the same time I got a new computer and have been playing a lot of MW3). TAFE is going pretty good by the way, thanks for asking. I have two 3D classes now which I'm very excited about. One assessment is for a futuristic city (which I'll delve into in a future post) and another is for my first character. At this time I will most likely be recreating Jake Blues, because... why not.
All is well on that front, except for sound class. I mean why the fuck would you put a sound class in a technical artist game development course? If I wanted to be involved in sound, I would of done a bloody sound course. Sigh, I guess I'm just pissed off more than usual because I have an assignment due for that in two days which I haven't even stared yet. Needless to say, unlike my other TAFE work I will not be posting that!
Anyway's enough rambling, have some early 1900's Soviet public transport in yo face!

Also a video like I did with my tank will be up soon enough as well.

Tram Modelling Is Complete!

I know I said I wanted to finish the modelling aspect of this project half a month ago, but I guess I got side tracked with nothing in particular.
Ah well, the point is it's done now. Three days into my Diploma I should add as well. I was originally planning to have this done before TAFE started, but I guess I'm just a tard. The texturing will start very soon, but I'm waiting on a new computer for that. Towards the end of the modelling process it got very... painful. The computer I'm on now isn't that good. Two words- dual core! D:
But last week I ordered in a new computer (one word- i7!) and they told me it would be ready mid this week. Considering it's Thursday as I write this, I'm hanging on the end of a thread for it. But I guess when I finally do get it, the satisfaction will be all the more sweeter.
Anyway, please enjoy some more progress shots- the last you'll see of modelling I should add. Next time you hear from me it will either be textured or at least partially. Also the classes this year are looking quite rad, so you'll see some more TAFE work here in the coming year. The future is looking bright!

More Trammyness

Bare with me as I'm posting this late at night, it's nearly 2AM Perth time. I literally feel too lazy to sleep. 

I never thought that would be possible, but alas, I've outdone myself.

While I'm being too lazy to sleep, I mind as well do something about my conciousness and be productive. Work on my tram is continuing at a good pace, but I doubt it will be finished in time for the my diploma- which I start next week. I won't stop this project though as I've come too far, to stop now would be just plain shitty.

I've nearly finished the modelling (including the inside) and the texturing will be starting very, very soon. Please enjoy some more screenies of progress. Byeeee.

Tram Progress Continues

It's been roughly one week since I posted about starting this project, so I thought I would do an update. As you can see above, a lot of work has been done since I last posted. I'm quite proud with the amount of progress I've attained and I hope the modelling to be over and done with by this time next week. I don't really like setting myself deadlines when I don't need to, but its a goal at least.

From there I can do the texturing, make the scene, finish the project and get the girl ;)   

Tram Render Begins

A lot of work needs to be done.

And the start of a new era begins as I start a new render. 

As you can see above, I've just started. It probably in all has about two hours of work done so far, but I plan to go for the amount of detail that was in my tank (and hopefully more!). 

The tram it's self is a BF Tram from the 1910's which were used in the USSR. It was actually pretty hard to find reference pictures, but after a night and a few coffees I had about 30 all up.

I was lucky and hit a goldmine of colour pictures somewhere along the line (no pun intended). There appeared to be some day in Moscow where they celebrated all the trams of yesteryear, and they were all driven down the city streets. I can't imagine that really being much of a fun day out, but at least it aided me fairly well.

I plan to make a little square scene for this like I did for the tank as well. I quite liked making it that way, and it means I can go all out with the details all around the vehicle and not have to worry about anything being cut out. Expect a whole lot of still renders and another rotation video by the time I finish, hopefully before I start TAFE again for the year in February as well.  

Tank Render is Finally Finished

It's finally finished! A whole semesters worth of work in my 3D class, done and dusted. 

Above you can see the final video render, which was compiled in After Effects. The actual render it's self was made with 3DS Max and Mental Ray, look below if you want to see some final stills.
See here, here and here for posts detailing the progress.

Have Some Nostalgia In Yo Face

Well, for me anyway.
Today instead of doing homework I decided to do some routine maintenance on my Dad's computer. What of course I knew when I started was, that this is the ultimate procrastination. It's about an eight year old Acer, and I don't think any real work has been on done on it in about four or five years.
Anyway's, I was going through my old files on there deleting stuff and came across some real vintage 3D work. Before I was doing it at TAFE, I was doing it as a hobby since I was about 15 (so roughly four years of experience).
Among the files I came across my personal Blender 3D folder. Blender, if you're not in the know, is an open source 3D program. It's okay considering what you get and it's free, so it was nice to use before I started getting into 3DS Max.

Dem reflections

What you can see above is render I created in early 2009, so I would have just turned 16 years old. It's quite basic, and I've overkilled the reflections. Even the ceiling is reflective.

Doesn't matter though, we all have to start somewhere. This was of course not my first modelling experience either, but rendering. Not too bad for a first attempt hey? 

If you really want to go back my first experiences including modelling in Gmax and making the textures in MS Paint. I've come a long way and I'm glad I stayed with the hobby. 

Anyway, that's my reflective post for this year (no pun intended), one for the archives it would seem.