OLD BEASTIE LW/ZB

[s o u t h e r n]

I have just completed some animation tests using a head a built in Lightwave. The reason I'm posting it here is that the templates for the low res Lightwave head came from a very high res ZBrush head. I have seen Ken B use this method a number of times and I have to say it is really powerful. I find it hard to model a detailed head in Lightwave unless I have accurate backround templates in two of the viewports (same applies to any polygonal modeler I suppose).

With ZBrush I can easily create a detailed organic head straight from the imagination in minutes. It is of course possible to take the head straight out of ZBrush, with a top-notch texture (using texturemaster) and bump map.

See examples: here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg10.jpg)
here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg11.jpg)
here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg12.jpg)
here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg13.jpg)
here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg14.jpg)
here, (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg15.jpg)

The problem, some say, is the lack of edge loops and correctly placed chunks of geometry that help you refine the model for animation.

The three heads below show a detailed ZBrush head. Modeled, textured and rendered in ZBrush.

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg57.jpg)

This screen shot shows the above model being used in two viewports (minus his very fine tusks which I didn't want to use), in Lightwave, side view and front view. It then enables me to accuratly recreate the model, point by point, poly by poly.

Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg58.jpg)

This is a quick test render with a very basic texture map and bumpmap.
Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/aimg59.jpg) Image (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/animations/lwheadanim.GIF)

and a couple of the early test animations (you will need Divx 5 codecs to play these I think)

phenome test (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/animations/test1.avi)
basic spin test (http://www.southerngfx.co.uk/uploads/animations/spin.avi)

Glen

[Mentat7]

Suhweet! You make it look all too dang easy Glen. :) BTW..I am coming to grips with Wings3D...it is helping me to understand basic principles/skills that I can then turn around and use in C4D and Lightwave. I am going to have to try this point by point modeling....

[sjors]

Just brilliant. Nice cross-platform work.

[rpage]

My hat is off to you Southern. That is truely awesomne work. I am quite glad that you posted this. I am currently trying to teach myself animation, and the modeling head part is giving me fits. I can make fairly nice stuff in ZBrush but in anything else I am worthless. This is awesome and I can not wait to try it myself. Thanks for sharing with us! Maybe someday I will actually be able to use my Motionbuilder with my own models! hehehe :D

[boozy floozie]

Great posting and very informative. :tu:

[Ken B]

I always love seeing examples of this workflow. Thanks so much for posting. Cool model and optimized mesh.

[juandel]

fantabulous looking stills, Mr. Southern!!! i would love to have a look at the animated files, too: anyone knows where to get that divx for the mac?

- juandel

[s o u t h e r n]

THis is as far as I got Juandel.
http://support.divx.com/cgi-bin/wonderdesk.cgi?db=faq&uid=default&from=&language=english&wdauth=&view_records=1&ID=*&FAQCategory=DivX+for+Mac&so=desc&sb=1

See if that helps.

[KenH]

Really excellent! I'm slowly doing my first model at the moment. How do you find LW for character animation?

[juandel]

ha! thanksalot, Glen! :tu: :tu: :tu: it was a bit tricky to get that download, but worked after all - great anims! the phenomenon is utterly fantastico! kudos! btw: your PM-box seems to be full ;)

- juandel