The Last of the Leaves

[Meats Meier]

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Feedback appreciated!:D

[B.C.Johnson]

Astonishing...

[Gary Komar]

was a fan of your wire guys long before your joining zbc,did i see that tree
before maybe in another image on your site.meats is in the house:tu: :tu: :eek:

[chadtheartist]

Excellent work as always Meats. I don't know how you find the time to do all this stuff. It's really pretty amazing! If you keep it up, you're going to need a whole row just for your stuff on ZBC, LOL!

Thanks for sharing your work.

[Max the Artist]

Your work is most impressive and this piece is just as stunning as the rest of your creations. I just can't figure out how you do it, to get that extreme amount of detail you gotta have so much patience it's unreal or you gotta use some script of some sort ;) but truly impressive! i wish i had your skills
Keep up the awesome work man!

[kellerrific]

Hi Meats,

I enjoyed your Zbrush DVDs, any plans on an advanced techniques DVD?

I see that many of your compositions use similar constructions in the details, like nuts and bolts and little mechanical doo-hickeys. Have you amassed a huge library of custom tools that you load and use when working in Zbrush or do you make these details as you go each time you start a new Zbrush document?

Thanks,

Eric

[andreseloy]

Im just waiting the arrival of Meats DVD¡¡ and this outstanding scene is the prelude of (i hope so¡) a new step of learning stimulated by this wonderful artist: Meats¡¡¡
Thanks for share and also to me very impacting the message¡
Andreseloy

[ilusiondigital]

repit:

w
o
w

[Frenchy Pilou]

...yet nobody makes your sculptures in the real world because it will be a real headache to realize it :rolleyes:
Your last gardener has the "green hand" ;)
Cool vegetation and close up :tu:
Pilou

[Meats Meier]

Thanks B.C.Johnson,chad,Andreseloy,ilusiondigital.

Gary -

did i see that tree before maybe in another image on your site
Nope, I needed a tree, opened Maya, painted one onto viewport using Paint Effects, converted it into a polygon and exported. In about 10 minutes I had a new tool to paint onto the canvas in Zbrush. The two programs make a great team.

Max-

I just can't figure out how you do it, to get that extreme amount of detail you gotta have so much patience it's unreal or you gotta use some script of some sort ;)
I don't have any script, I just can place things in 3d space and replicate quickly taking advantage of the power of Pixols.

Kellerific-

I enjoyed your Zbrush DVDs, any plans on an advanced techniques DVD?

I see that many of your compositions use similar constructions in the details, like nuts and bolts and little mechanical doo-hickeys. Have you amassed a huge library of custom tools that you load and use when working in Zbrush or do you make these details as you go each time you start a new Zbrush document?
I'm definately going to be doing a lot of advanced DVD's. My main focus is Zbrush right now.

I am starting to get a decent library together, at least a whole bunch of scattered tools littered throughout my hard drive. I usually do create tools as I need them, but if I run into something I can throw in, I'm not at all opposed to using it.

Frenchy -


Your last gardener has the "green hand" ;)
Do you mean "green thumb"? ;) I guess if he is good enough he can have the whole hand...

[sephellius]

Mr. Meier,

Did you build a base mesh, and then start plopping primitives onto the thing?

[hyper1]

Please tell be this took more than a day. This is way awsome!

[havran]

that is a nice bit of poetry, Mr Meier

[Buckie]

Amazing detail, I love the washed out colours you use too..............................more Meier madness

[Mr micro26]

very nice meats as always...love the detail you give to your pics.
:tu:

[yoogy]

:eek: :eek: :rolleyes:
Absolutly phantastic - GREEEEEAAAAAT - WOW
More-more-more
Yoogy

[Mahlikus The Black]

Well I don't know if you can't tell us if you are using the new Z or not. I think I smell it though but whatever, I could be way off. I have seen a mesh smoothness in Wire head and in here that I just can't achieve with alpha masking/deleting points on a skinned zsphere tool (or primitive). Even with a dose of unified skinning after that..its still not as clean. What upsets me the most...I mean really starts to make me loose it, is the fact that this makes me want to spend a good day or two in Z trying to crack its like. I mean seriously do some hardcore pixol damage. Like the few days it took for me and other ZBC members to crack the Pix distressed technique.
But I am too damn busy with work to play around.
ARGH!
I do thank you for stuff like this Meats buddy. It really keeps the ZFlame burning bright inside and most definately sparks a new fire for the longing of that tasty ZUpdate.
I am also REALLY excited about ANY dvd on Z you could make.:tu::tu::tu:

[bicc39]

Sorry to interrupt your thread and show my ignorance at the
same time, but curiousity and enthusiam gets the better of me.
In a few of your works you have mentioned working closely with
Photoshop.
In a previous work, you mention doing compositing using zbrush
"passes."
Could you explain this in general.
I do not wish to take up your time.
Thank you.

[Meats Meier]

Thanks again.


Mr. Meier,

Did you build a base mesh, and then start plopping primitives onto the thing? In my Primitive City image, I only used primitives and just add them one at a time, but in this image, yes, that is how I worked. I created the character first, and then added many primitives to him...I find it very fun:D


Please tell be this took more than a day It did take me longer than a day, I worked on it here and there for about 3 days...I was busy with other things for a bit there..


Well I don't know if you can't tell us if you are using the new Z or not. I think I smell it though but whatever, I could be way off. I have seen a mesh smoothness in Wire head and in here that I just can't achieve with alpha masking/deleting points on a skinned zsphere tool (or primitive). Even with a dose of unified skinning after that..its still not as clean. What upsets me the most...I mean really starts to make me loose it, is the fact that this makes me want to spend a good day or two in Z trying to crack its like. I mean seriously do some hardcore pixol damage. Like the few days it took for me and other ZBC members to crack the Pix distressed technique.
But I am too damn busy with work to play around.
ARGH!
I do thank you for stuff like this Meats buddy. It really keeps the ZFlame burning bright inside and most definately sparks a new fire for the longing of that tasty ZUpdate.
I am also REALLY excited about ANY dvd on Z you could make.:tu::tu::tu: I'm just using the standard Zbrush 2.0 for these images. I just try and have as straight as an alpha as I can because diagonal ones obviously produce bad meshes. Also, wherever there are crappy parts to the resultant mesh, I make sure to hide it with something else. Unfotunately, there isn't much to crack here, just placing the Pixols. I really appreciate your comments, Mahlikus!


Sorry to interrupt your thread and show my ignorance at the
same time, but curiousity and enthusiam gets the better of me.
In a few of your works you have mentioned working closely with
Photoshop.
In a previous work, you mention doing compositing using zbrush
"passes."
Could you explain this in general. When I do my images, I render several passes that I then can combine with a lot of control in Photoshop. I create passes that have just the specularity, color (several), shadows, etc.
To do this, I just paint on new materials, change light settings, and then render. For instance, to do a shadow pass, I color everthing with the fast shader, color it white, and render with shadows. From then on, I don't have to render any more passes with the shadows (which take longer) because I can add them on top of everything else in PS as the last step.

[froyd]

WORD, MTB :D youre definitely right. Just another brilliant piece of art. All this well thought details without any cracks or artefacts - everything seems so smooth. Maybe this question was asked already, but what machine are you running on, Meats? Always docsize 4096x4096 - ZBrushs maximum! And that together with, im sure, many layers and huge geometry. Well, I´m out of words... great work, meats! :)

greetngs
froyd

[Mahlikus The Black]

Cool!
Well I am busting wicked butt to try and finish my daily grind work so I can play tonight. I have to play tonight or else I am going to explode. By what I see here, do you go crasy with mm or is it mostly freehand placement & eyeballin it?. My guess is a little of both as needed. You must have tons of MMs even still. I tell you what bud, I'm gonna try and crack something..lol.
Take care and keep'em coming.
OH YEAH!
Dude I want a poster of this bad boy!! Any plans?
Gotta go, need to finish working.

[bicc39]

My appreciation for the explanation and the time it took
you.
If you answered all the questions I am sure we all have,
you would do nothing else.
Best to you.
edit: because of your explanation of this alone, I have
just ordered your dvd's. Somehow I think it will be quite
worth it.

[Antropus]

Amazing work, Meats!!!!!!

How can you work so fast and make so great pieces? :eek: :eek: :eek:
You are THE man. Keep inspiring me, please ;)

Kris

[egalamonego_]

:cool:Amazing work, there's so much detail

[aminuts]

Very cool, Meats!

A couple things bother me....my opinion so don't pay attention....but the fog on the body doesn't seem quite right and am not sure if its where its at or if its the more foreground parts need to be sharper, I can't quite decide, something just seems amiss.
Also I like the idea, I think it would be more stirring if the background and the leaf pile was more urban or mechanical as well if that makes sense.
Otherwise, I dig it.:D Am still trying to work out some compositions of my own with your technique, which I thank you very much for! It's alot of fun to experiment with!!

[Pencha]

i´m a fan of your work!! the first thing i learnt about Zbrush (after being for hours trying everything) was your wire tut, this seemed wonderful for me... but the last two pics you posted are just too much!!!! :o

question 1: can you please give me the specs of your computer? i want to have an idea about wich kind of computer i will need if i plan to work with zbrush (until now just sketched a little bcause my computer IS too slow)
question 2: wich tablet do you suggest??

thanks and congratulations again!!

[pixelsoul]

:eek:Damn that is one of the best pieces i have ever seen, and only 3 days :mad: makin me very jealous of your skillz...

Do you have made a tutorial dvd also about making, stuff in this sort of style with nuts & bolts and stuff, am really wanting to know how you did it :lol:

[Meats Meier]

Hi Froyd-


what machine are you running on
I do a lot of my work on a laptop - it has a 17 inch monitor, 3.06 ghz, 1 gig of ram...my work machine is a dual opteron with 2 gigs. I go back and forth, not a lot of difference actually...still wish I had 2 gigs in the laptop.

Malikus-

do you go crasy with mm or is it mostly freehand placement & eyeballin it?
Your right, it's a lot of both. Usually the main part of the image is multimarkered and placed high res, then the details added later freehand.


Dude I want a poster of this bad boy!! Any plans?
I am starting to think about that, I would like a few prints myself ;)

Thanks Bicc39, ANtro!, and egalamonego_!

Aminuts-


A couple things bother me....my opinion so don't pay attention....but the fog on the body doesn't seem quite right and am not sure if its where its at or if its the more foreground parts need to be sharper, I can't quite decide, something just seems amiss.
Also I like the idea, I think it would be more stirring if the background and the leaf pile was more urban or mechanical as well if that makes sense.
Agreed. The composition is a little off, as well. It is a little "left heavy". I could have changed a bunch of things quickly before I started to detail it, but once a lot of it got layed down, I couldn't force myself to go back. I like the mechanical landscape idea, thanks.

Pencha -

question 1: can you please give me the specs of your computer? i want to have an idea about wich kind of computer i will need if i plan to work with zbrush (until now just sketched a little bcause my computer IS too slow)
question 2: wich tablet do you suggest??
1- see above
2 - I've always loved Wacom. If you can afford it, go for the Intuos ones, they have 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, while the graphire only has 512- you can really feel the difference. Also, the best ones are the new graphire 3, which have built in programmable buttons as well as little scroll pads for zooming and such.

pixelsoul -


Do you have made a tutorial dvd also about making, stuff in this sort of style with nuts & bolts and stuff, am really wanting to know how you did it :lol:
Yep, working on it now! Thanks for your interest.:lol:

[blinxpro]

I just got back from the seminar you gave in San Francisco! After driving back to Salt Lake I went straight to work using the methods you had shown. In less than an hour I managed one of my best portfolio pieces, but it has your name all over it (your style). I'm sure that some people that see it might very well accuse me of stealing it. I have been a big fan for years and wish that I could have met you when you were living here in Salt Lake.

Your new piece just intimidates the hell out of me. So many do-dats and dangle-wopers!

[sephellius]

In less than an hour I managed one of my best portfolio pieces, but it has your name all over it (your style). Try your best not to get technique confused with style. You may be using his techniques, but your mind makes it your style, not Meats'.

[pixelsoul]

Yep, working on it now! Thanks for your interest.:lol:
:D sweet let me know when you finished it.. would love to see it

[Fouad B.]

Excellent! :tu:

[0bz]

It needs a bigger border meats !
:D :lol:

Awsome work man.

Sean.

[Meats Meier]

Thanks a lot, guys.

Blinxpro - Hey, thanks a lot! Thats really cool to hear.

Sean - You! First the mini motorcycle thing, and now this.... ;)

[Dutchman]

[Wow... haven't been here for a while... Just picking up ZB2 cause I've got some more free time :) ]

WOW MEATS! You keep amazing me! :eek: The concept and so of this image is AWESOME STUNNING! I love the shading / lighting, btw...! :cool:

Reaaaly inspiring stuff... I think you made me click the ZB icon this weekend ;)

BTW: I haven't seen it on CGTalk.com yet...:confused: (not on frontpage at least ;) ) Are you gonna pot it over there? :rolleyes:

Great to have people like you on earth ;) ,
Gijs

[ps: you don't have to reply anymore that mail I sent to you this summer ;) , I found al answers yet :) ]

[alexCarbonero]

check this out, competition :lol:

[Jimking]

I've heard complainings about gnomon dvd delivery, well I want to thank you how incredible FAST it was! Left friday from Dallas and here in Finland next Monday WOW!:eek: Now can't wait to start learning from you.

-Jimking-

[Aztec...soljA]

what a nice style, I love it! man how can you not get confuced with so many wires :cool:

[SN RAJPUROHIT]

:tu: :tu: Mind sucking man. Its really awsome work. I really liked it.
How much time it takes to complete this masterpiece?

I'm a new user can u teach me some basics for zbrush.

SN RAJPUROHIT,
INDIA

[slashpot]

Not too bad for a beginner I guess, but I could've done it in 2 days...

NOT!!!!:lol:

I couldn't do this in 3 years! But dont worry guys, I've found out his secret! Meats actually has six arms & uses 3 machines at once. (Artists impression anyone)

Anyway, incredible work once again Meats, you should devote an entire DVD to the creation of this image...I think there'd be a few takers right here.
Well Done mate, you are an inspiration to many, myself included.

[acmepixel]

...
Anyway, incredible work once again Meats, you should devote an entire DVD to the creation of this image....


Well, he kinda did; ;)

http://thegnomonworkshop.com/dvds/mme03.html
and
Wire Tute (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?p=175641#post175641)
:tu:

[Meats Meier]

Wow, a blast from the past! :) Thanks.

Thanks for linking to my illustration DVD acmepixel...

[lemonnado]

The illustration DVD is great. I bought it well after I thought I knew ZBrush and still got good mileage out of it. Specially the cool Z-Tools are already worth the investment. And if all fails, shooting the poor Humasset model through a brickwall as SoftBody object in XSI is simply priceless :D :D :D
Lemo


PS:Cmon.... post something cool Meats! Or do we have to wait till May ;)

[Kryos]

I keep meaning to order some of the Zbrush DVDs, just never get around to it when thinking about it cause I'm never at a computer or never have my credit card on me like now. Darn it all. :(

And I'm jealous, Meats registered a month before me. :(

[Meats Meier]

lemonnado - Lol! That's hillarious....btw long time, sorry about that. I've had my head buried with learnin' stuff. Also working on a DVD that will be released in the next month and a half..
And your stuff keeps getting better and better, it's cool to see :tu:

Kryos -


And I'm jealous, Meats registered a month before me
Score! :D

[Harmonic]

Sweet NEW Meats Meier DVD, can't wait to see it, would love to what you have been working on these days, you work is always inspirational. :)

[slashpot]

Well, he kinda did; ;)

http://thegnomonworkshop.com/dvds/mme03.html
and
Wire Tute (http://www.zbrushcentral.com/zbc/showthread.php?p=175641#post175641)
:tu:I...err...knew...that.


<d'OH!>:o

[Yari Jindou]

stunning, i am a fan of your work and your work just keeps on getting better and better, its so inspiring yes this is 2 years ago but man, its still cool!

[borkman138]

I'd like to get some opinions about creating hard-bodied objects in zBrush. I'm attempting to create a character with both organic and machined parts. My approach has been to start with an organic mesh and sketch the features with greater passes of refinement.

I'm having problems producing flat surfaces and straight lines. My strategy has been to use clay tubes with the lazy mouse to produce basic rectangular forms and then the flatten and pinch tools to sharpen the profile. I have also tried the layer tool and the projection master to create details but my overall forms remain imperfect. This is a good example of a model with the same mixture of machined forms and organic modeling. What strategies do others use to create machined parts? Am I going about this the wrong way?

[hyper1]

Man, you've clocked into the right place for an answer! ;) I would suggest a slightly different approach. Try using black and white alphas, possibly in Projection Master or by hand. Various radial symmetries really help the process for precise alignment as does the deformation panel settings. There are many many tutorials on this subject if you do a search. Hope this helps!
Gary

I'd like to get some opinions about creating hard-bodied objects in zBrush. I'm attempting to create a character with both organic and machined parts. My approach has been to start with an organic mesh and sketch the features with greater passes of refinement.

I'm having problems producing flat surfaces and straight lines. My strategy has been to use clay tubes with the lazy mouse to produce basic rectangular forms and then the flatten and pinch tools to sharpen the profile. I have also tried the layer tool and the projection master to create details but my overall forms remain imperfect. This is a good example of a model with the same mixture of machined forms and organic modeling. What strategies do others use to create machined parts? Am I going about this the wrong way?

[kitaro]

Heya,Meats
Great work as usual.