Tutor Feedback

So the group (without Simon unfortunately) were together this afternoon with Tutor Jared Taylor.  We discussed how it was all going and a few things came up but the majority of it was all positive.  Apparently we had jumped the gun a bit considering we were getting graded on the ENVIRONMENT it wasn't TOO necessary to worry about the character WITHIN the environment and not to worry so much about how well he/she was modeled etc.  This got us thinking.... we needed to REALLY settle on a proper storyboard and get that sorted because we didn't really have a finalised idea.  Jared heard what we had to say about our story and he said it would take a LONG time to do it all.  We understand now that texturing it well will take a long time to do if we are going to do it RIGHT (unfortunately)  He described it as something that takes a while to get your head around it but once you do it's quite easy.  He also explained that he personally prefers to work with the textures AS he goes - I suppose this is like a break from modeling and also you can see what works and what doesn't instantly so it's probably a good idea.  To be honest I wish I had of done the same and thought about this while we were modeling.  Now we don't have that easy UV maps to paint.... uh Oh.  We'll survive though.  We are team Authentic/Cutting Edge while in PPD mode.  So anyway - we ran Jared though our idea we had for our script and then he thought it was WAYYY to long with too much animating.  Deep down I think the group knew this ... we were just being ambitious.  He sparked a number of different ideas, just his presence.  Tom came up with an idea... which was pretty good and we all agreed this (obviously Simon still doesnt know about it just yet but I'm sure he'll be ok with it)  The idea involves another character which'll be on the Boat that Tom has made looking though a Telescope at our character.  This allows us distort the image slightly (possibly fisheye lens) and also have a lot of our GLORIOUS modeling on display if the zoom isn't that good.  The BAD thing about this is that we may have to model a little more along the shore line so that it can get the lens in... but I'm not sure about that just yet.  Anyway the camera will switch between looking at the Guy on the ship and down his telescope to following a man on the shore (our new arrival)  This will allow us to show off our environment as well as showing off our texturing and lighting involved we've already been playing with.  I think it'll show the best of both worlds! :D

This one's for you Jared 'Raises Glass'. 

Cheers lol

Storyboard... On Authentic

Ahhhh man....I'm not posting it ALL up again. I did a quick storyboard I rammed out for the guys to see what's going on in MY head at the moment.  Its put on Authentic under 'As Promised'... might add it later... if i feel guilty making Jared Track through Authentic to grade me.... Hmmmm. Maybe later.

There you go Jared...wasn't really worth it thought as I did do it QUICKLY! haha (excuses Excuses)

So... Home for the evening and this is what happens?

Wooo I finally sorted out the head a lil better :D. Authentic will be proud! lol

He looks human...ish! hehe.  Useable - he'll be hopefully wearing (Tom's job haha) his drapes and clothes and what not...but we'll see as we've never actually added cloth to a character it'll be a big step for all of us - I'd quite like to sit in on the process of learning and learn myself so I might just do that! ;)

Tom have him eyes... obviously I didn't parent them... does anyone else think this looks a bit freaky - like a rubber mask or something!!? hehe.

Painting weights will take some time.  As you can see deformation occurs around the Chest plate... under the arms... ok...I'm not going to list them as its pretty much everywhere! haha.

Work on that tomorrow I hope.

Character Development

So today Tom brought in the basic guy we'll be using.  There was a number of things wrong with him but they were only Minor: eg scale, a few faces not stuck together and somehow Tom got some extra faces on the inside of his body which gave a strange effect...we didn't want it.  Tom and I sorted it in the end.  I've altered the body ready for rigging.... well I've started to I want to get more done as I havn't actually finished it just yet - it's work in progress but he's coming along.  Today I've also been updating my part of the Dock (adding more clutter) and bits and bobs.  I may also model the extra bits I've been wanting to but havnt had time to but for now I must go as I'm going to be late for WORK...EEK!  Ta-Ra for now.

Also had PPD for about half an hour where it all got explained to us.... so that will now continue on the PPD journal page.

Storyboarding?

Still a bit worried about the narrative... think its a bit weak - might try a little storyboarding session over the weekend as we don't appear to have one up anywhere? Tom and Alec haev supposedly done one. I know the basics... Sign on wall for a pub...guys fighting in alley... Fruit stall and eating piece of fruit....Also we/I have got to get started on the SFX soon... eg water drips and animating swings in lamps and cloths etc.... do we need to finish modeling soon? what do you think guys - only the sooner we finish modeling the texturing fun can begin... and finalise the lighting and so on til its looking "AwwwwwwwYEahhhhhh-able"

More Lighting Images

More lighting...thats all. Still experimenting to be honest.

Let There Be Light...And Light There Was

Still playing about with lights obviously... but theses ones are most likely going to stay. They may need tweaking a little more but hey.... I'll get over it. Just posting up the latest.

Under the market stall it was quiet and errie!!!...Ooooo maybe there'll be a character under there... maybe there wont!...Ooooooooahhhh.

And theres my latest of the new gate. Still not sure if its finished or not... lets see if I come back to it at a later date!!!... Exciting stuff here guys! lol

Thats what I've done so far (some bits are obviously hidden... but not much of it) Lets make sure I keep modelling now :D and keep up the work load coming out! I think I prefer the earlier one... the more orange style.

Background Music

http://www.worldofmi.com/features/download/mp3/

Found some monkey island background music could be useful for background of our piece.

Work In Progress

As it says this is work in progress.... by no means finished.  Thinking of putting more at the top and much more detail involved around it... but hey...its good for a proto for now to show I'm still doing work - maybe it'll push others to work a little more ....maybe not but lets give it a got hey!? haha! (ps theres more detail than you can see in the uprights)