Who Can it Be Now..? Challenge

[groBoto]

Hi Everyone,

One of the true joys (and extraordinary creative aspects) of ZBrush is that it allows you, the artist to 'see with the medium'... go spelunking around in your head and finding characters, creatures and gadgets you didn't even know were there.

So that's the simple challenge here: Starting with the mesh provided, see who emerges. Each of us will find a different someone.

I'll seed a new challenge each week with a new mesh. Each one representing that weeks 'theme'.

You are also free to use these meshes anywhere & anyway you please. I'd love to see what you do with them, and to hear any feedback. Please post your stuff on this thread, and/or anywhere else.

Zip file contains the ZTL (just the raw OBJ import), plus some special Texture PSDs (see images below, and my main thread for more on the 'seam masking' techniques). I've include a few tips for working with these GroBoto-Generated meshes below.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=18&pp=15)Kione 3D Jam 4 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=81419&referrerid=74302)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

boolToon-Funnel-m.jpg

boolToon-4strip.jpg

BootToon-SeamMask.jpg

[michalis]

Nice base sculpt. :tu:
Let me do some crits here.
You don't need these spheres on eyes area. Eyelids could be useful though.
A more complicated solution on ears is needed. I have some ideas.
The nose. Nostrils?
I should post my solution probably. I'll see about it.

[groBoto]

Nice base sculpt. :tu:
Let me do some crits here.
You don't need these spheres on eyes area. Eyelids could be useful though.
A more complicated solution on ears is needed. I have some ideas.
The nose. Nostrils?
I should post my solution probably. I'll see about it.

Hi michalis,

Thanks.
Yes I'd love to see what you come up with...

...and thanks for reminding me of something I forgot to mention... those eyeballs are completely optional... not part of the head mesh. Just included them if anyone wanted to go with separated eyeballs.
Part of the fun here is that one can have as little or as much structure as desired in the GroBoto Model. In this case I really wanted to be minimalist -- the simplest kind of 'toon, highly stylized and very little detail (for me - even when sculpting -- I would keep it very simple).

I did a great deal of work over the last year or two based on more detailed GroBoto models. It was a lot of fun -- although that was before we had subtractive trims or smoothing. I especially liked playing with the highly abstract ones. This is the other extreme (perhaps too much structure -- but again, I did not have the tools I have now)

...so no meshes for these -- just some old files to give an idea of the range of possibilities. No doubt, I build some new, richer, head constructs soon.

There are more from this older series in my CGS Folio (I was doing one every evening for a while)... and it all started about page 3-4 of my Sketch/WIP thread here on ZBC

Best Wishes,
Darrel
Kione 3D Jam 4 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=81419&referrerid=74302)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&referrerid=74302)

GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

groBoMen.jpg

[michalis]

OK I'm starting here. No retopology, just the groboto base mesh.
BPR two lights and the wonderful material of Julian_K.
gbh.jpg

[groBoto]

OK I'm starting here. No retopology, just the groboto base mesh.
BPR two lights and the wonderful material of Julian_K.

Wonderful michalis... So far beyond the silly character of the mesh, yet retaining some of its spirit.
Very Boris Karloff.
...thanks for getting the ball rolling.


Best Wishes,
Darrel

[Julian_K]

I couldn't resist and quickly sketch the image that came to my mind when I had a look at the groboto head ( thanks for posting the mesh).

the head is the groboto mesh and I just quickly added a zsphere body mesh.

it's 'somebody' I truly disliked when I was a kid ;)

groboto_kasper_T.jpg

groboto_kasper.jpg

[michalis]

ha ha
I like this!
It proofs that topology is the base of sculpture though.
Our sculpts here have something common.
This is why I like groboto. Construct a different base topology and have a completely different character. ;)

[groBoto]

I couldn't resist and quickly sketch the image that came to my mind when I had a look at the groboto head... 'somebody' I truly disliked when I was a kid ;)


Hi Julian -- love this. Thanks for taking a spin with the mesh. Great expression, clean sculpt.

I'll be posting a new 'BoolToon' head tomorrow, Tuesday (and at least one a week)... hope you find some of them irresistible too.

BTW, this was my take... with my usual excuses of having no time & rusty ZSkills... but it's too true at the moment with GroBoto devouring all of my energy & time.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

funnelHero960.jpg

[groBoto]

Hi everyone,

Here's a the new mesh/ZTL for this week. Experimenting with a bit more structure (ex. ears, nostrils).

Please see the first post in this thread for general info about the files.

You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta/Overview/samplemodels) ...some other recent free ZTLs are there too.

...Would love to see who/what appears if you give it a shot.

I took one quick swipe at the mesh -- see below. It was actually an earlier version of the mesh (no teeth among other things).

TrypHorn-Setup1.jpg

TrypHorn-DA1.jpg

[michalis]

Your last groboto base mesh is great, lot of fun here and probably a wip.
I also checked how you tuned parameters for exporting. Great help.

A fast drapery also using toroids, groboto seems to be a great tool for draperies. :tu:
gbchal.jpg

[groBoto]

Your last groboto base mesh is great, lot of fun here and probably a wip.
I also checked how you tuned parameters for exporting. Great help.

A fast drapery also using toroids, groboto seems to be a great tool for draperies. :tu:


Great Sculpt -- love the simple but effective sfumato lighting.

Would love to learn more about your drapery technique. Best Wishes,
Darrel

[michalis]

Hey thanks. What to learn about drapery? I simply followed your tutorials, how to do masks, thats all. lol Use toroids around a base mesh, use zb move tool and magnifier or inflat then.

[RawSunlight]

I liked your doodles, guys, and I thought I'd try the groboto mesh out with something organic... just to see how it holds up

Would probably still want to retop' as there are a fair few tris in the generated mesh, but I thought it was magnificent tool to add to our armoury!!!
a 2h rough (someone stop me, I should be working! ;)

Very nice, I look forward to buying v3 once it's out
Joe90.jpg

[groBoto]

I liked your doodles, guys, and I thought I'd try the groboto mesh out with something organic... just to see how it holds up

Would probably still want to retop' as there are a fair few tris in the generated mesh, but I thought it was magnificent tool to add to our armoury!!!
a 2h rough (someone stop me, I should be working! ;)...

Hey RawSunlight,

Very nice. Great to have you join in here.

Thanks. Yes, we think it's a unique and powerful Toolbox item.

Fairly soon (v3 Release), the most erratic bits of the mesh will be eliminated (ex. zig-zag 'stitch' tris, and most tri-fans). After that, it will get cleaner and more fluid over time. Ultimately we intend to produce a very high quality flowing mesh. We will also add the ability to eliminate unwanted seams (edge loops) and unify patches.

Of course sculpting can -- if pushed far enough -- lead to the need to re-Topo no matter how clean the basemesh. GroBoto's ability to automatically mesh complex (even extremely complex), arbitrary morphologies that might take hours (days) to generate manually, is the unique bit... has the potential to fundamentally change the initial stages of 3D design.

OK enough boasting... I should be working too.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[groBoto]

Hi Everyone,

Here's another new mesh/ZTL . It was derived from the last character, but wit still more structure in the mesh -- kind of seeing how far I can go before the mesh gets in the way. In this case I found the new topology (especially around the mouth & eyes), to be quite helpful when sculpting.

Please see the first post in this thread for general info about the files.

You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta/Overview/samplemodels) ...some other recent free ZTLs are there too.

...Very curious to see how this feels to you.

I spent about 30 min with the mesh in ZB (probably the equivilent of 10 minutes for you guys) -- see below... like it enough that I'll probably continue.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&referrerid=74302)
Kione 3D Jam 4 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=81419&referrerid=74302)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

fezfez-zm.jpg

fezfez-hex2.jpg

[window1]

Thanks for free mesh, just a quick sculpt.
Look forward to playing around with the rest.fezfan01.jpg

[groBoto]

Hi window1,

Thanks for joining in. Please stay tuned for more BoolToons.

Here's an update of my take on 'FezFan'.

another quick session -- just playing with proportions & refining a few features.

The ears got smudged & mushed by some of the broader moves, will play with them next time around.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&referrerid=74302)
Kione 3D Jam 4 (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=81419&referrerid=74302)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)


fezfez-TQuad-zm.jpg

fezfez-TQuad.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

I thought I would give it a shot..who could resist..:D
Used the last mesh posted...The Move Topological brush in ZBRUSH 4 works great on it..that's the only one that I used for this first experiment.
Might take it further and refine some things..Always fun to play with new things..:)
Thanks for the mesh tool Darrel..:tu: Always interested in what your doing here.:)

The GOSSIPERS

GOSSIPERS.jpg

[RawSunlight]

Hey Darrel,

must say I'm enjoying doodling with your meshes... (and of course it'll be much more fun once I have a copy of my own to knock up shapes with :)

another doodle, this time with the trihorn thingie :)

Sea Creature Comp.jpg

[groBoto]

...Always fun to play with new things..:)...
Thanks for the mesh tool Darrel... Always interested in what your doing here.:)


Hey SpiritDreamer,

Wonderful mood and character to these gentlemen.

Great to have you join in. As you know, I'm likewise interested in your work -- and appreciate the breadth & boldness of your explorations. Art as discovery, invention & exploration is a notion to which I believe we both subscribe.


Hey Darrel,
must say I'm enjoying doodling with your meshes... (and of course it'll be much more fun once I have a copy of my own to knock up shapes with :)...

Hi RawSunlight,

Nice-- really like the solid volumes and forms you crafted there. ...and Love seeing the mesh taken in a wholly new direction -- these really are just 'blank slates'.

Thanks, my number 1 ambition for GroBoto is that it goes out elicits enjoyable creativity.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[groBoto]

Looks like it's time for a new mesh -- I'll post one tonight or early tomorrow (Thursday).

In the meantime, I took my FezFan sculpt a coupe of steps further -- here's a wrap-up.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=13&pp=15)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

FezFanFourQuad-1k-zm.jpg

FezFanFourQuad-1n.jpg

fezFan4-hex3.jpg

[lorembolo]

really interesting !

Can I use Sculptris to participate? (with adaptative tesselation disabled, of course)

[groBoto]

Hi lorembolo,

I know almost nothing about Sculptris (other than posts I've seen here an the intro Video when it was first announced)

...but of course -- please do, I'd be very interested in seeing how the meshes respond to Sculptris' tools.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[groBoto]

Hi Everyone,

Played with a different approach -- based more on trimming with booleans than building up with primitives. These are three variations on that theme -- none of them have as much personality as some of the previous heads... more of a 'blank slate' feel.

My own (even hastier that usual) ZBrush passes led me to think they had some real potential. Hope you give one (or two or three) a shot.

As usual...
Please see the first post in this thread for general info about the files.

You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta/Overview/samplemodels) ...some other recent free ZTLs are there too.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=13&pp=15)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

clipheads-zm.jpg

clipheads.jpg

clipheadsSculpts.jpg

[lorembolo]

Well, this is my first attempt with the Cliphead3 model.
Half an hour playing with sculptris.
ClipHead3.jpg (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:zb_insimg%28%27236443%27,%27ClipHead3.jpg%27, 1,0%29)
I'll try another one later.

[ludopencil]

very interesting basemesh!!!

cuisinier.jpg :tu:

[window1]

Thanks for the GBR, helps seeing how boolean tool works.
cliphead3_01.jpg

[SpiritDreamer]

Here is my finale take on the FezFan mesh..Lots of fun :)

OLD WOMAN 1.jpg

OLD WOMAN.jpg

[boblenain]

Thanks Darrel for your comment on my thread!

I'll do a try on your meshes because some of the results posted here are really nice. Thanks for sharing them!

[groBoto]

Thanks to everyone for joining in... all fun stuff.

lorembolo - Nice. I'd be interested in hearing/seeing anything you wish to share about the Sculptris workflow as it relates to these meshes.


ludopencil - Love that you saw a Chef's hat in the geometry -- that's what it's all about -- letting these meshes bounce around in our brains and shake something loose.


window1 - Nice sketch. Right, the new model I'll be uploading in a few minutes has a good mix of Boolean work... still discovering new ways to configure these meshes.


SpiritDreamer - Just Lovely -- yes, fun is the aim here. So completely a SpiritDreamer work, yet the flavor of the original model remains.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[groBoto]

...
I'll do a try on your meshes because some of the results posted here are really nice. Thanks for sharing them!

Hi boblenain,

Great. Look forward to seeing what you come up with.

New mesh/ZTL will be posted here in a few minutes.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[groBoto]

Hi Everyone,

I Thought that last batch of my models was a bit dull -- useful in exploring some different GroBoto methods, but not much personality to the characters.

Have a new, more energetic batch ready. Here is the first of them -- something ape-like. Think I've discovered some neat tricks for setting up alternate organic/mech interpretations of the GroBoto models (see latest post in my My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=13&pp=15))...

This one leans organic -- I'll be posting some of the mech stuff soon.
The ZIP archives found on the page linked below contain both Organic & Mech setups.

As usual...
Please see the first post in this thread for general info about the files.

You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta/Overview/samplemodels) ...some other recent free ZTLs are there too.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=13&pp=15)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

neoSimian-panels.jpg

[MrOreo123]

Here's my take so far on the FezFan mesh:
FezFan Re-Sculpt A 01.jpg
Done with Sculptris. I have more details to add, but it's getting late. Will play around with it some more tomorrow.

[groBoto]

Hey MrOreo,
Thanks for joining in... Fun & suitably weird interpretation. Hope you do play a bit more.
Sorry for the delay -- just very busy with GroBoto Development.
-------------

Here's a New Mesh. I like the structure of this one. Needs some tweaking, and (like all of these meshes), will benefit from some mesh refinements we have coming up very soon. However, it responds very nicely in ZBrush -- holds up to pretty wild caricatures while retaining convincing volumes & such.

As usual...
Please see the first post in this thread for general info about the files.

You can download & play with the Download the ZTL, OBJ, and/or GroBoto files here. (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta/Overview/samplemodels) ...some other recent free ZTLs are there too.

Best Wishes,
Darrel
My ZBrush Sketchbook Thread (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/showthread.php?t=61393&page=13&pp=15)
My CGSociety Folio (http://groboto.cgsociety.org/gallery/)
GroBoto v3 Beta Site (http://www.groboto.com/v3Beta)

Biff-WCIB.jpg

[Pride]

Can't resist a challenge that has frank 'hidden' in it. :cool:

Grobotostein.jpg (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:zb_insimg%28%27237843%27,%27Grobotostein.jpg% 27,1,0%29)

[groBoto]

Hi 3Point14,

Marvelous.
Never occurred to me, but that brow certainly suggests 'Frank'.

Thanks for the post.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[boblenain]

Hi Darrel!

I promised so here it is : The demon from Satsuma, made with your "triphorn"

Satsuma-01.jpg

Hope you enjoy it!

[SpiritDreamer]

Hi Darrel :)

Started having some fun with the Biff model..:) ...I wanted to try one of the machine types of models, but can't seem to get them to download for some reason..screen keeps coming up blank...probably just me not knowing what i'm doing as usual.:D
Anyway, having fun with this one,..will refine it further and post when i'm done with it.

GROBOTO BUST 1.jpg

[groBoto]

Hi Darrel!
I promised so here it is : The demon from Satsuma, made with your "triphorn"
Hope you enjoy it!

Hi boblenain,
Great. Love seeing what someone else's mind finds in these meshes. Thanks for joining in.


Hi Darrel :)

Started having some fun with the Biff model..:) ...I wanted to try one of the machine types of models, but can't seem to get them to download for some reason..screen keeps coming up blank...probably just me not knowing what i'm doing as usual.:D
Anyway, having fun with this one,..will refine it further and post when i'm done with it.

Hey SpiritDreamer,
Another great take -- seems to fit nicely with your 'FezFan' seeded piece... characters from the same realm. Really like the natural organic flow.

Just checked, there was one broken link (OBJ version of the 'NickelAgeShip')... fixed it and links are working now. Thanks for the heads-up.

BTW - OBJ & ZTL versions are identical mesh-wise (ZTLs being unaltered imports of those OBJs). ZTLs are smaller.

Best Wishes,
Darrel

[SpiritDreamer]

Thanks Darrel..:tu: ..That NickleAgeShip link works fine now..:)
I had a lot of fun playing with it this morning..:D
Just modified it using the deformation setting in ZBRUSH 4..Made it a little more AIRO/ARROW DYNAMIC..So it could get up to lightspeed without too much friction..:D

Groboto Ships in hot pursuit..:D

GROBOTOSHIP PURSUIT.jpg

[Pride]

background : multiples of the ship's geometry.

groboto-ship.jpg (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:zb_insimg%28%27239653%27,%27groboto-ship.jpg%27,1,0%29)