Mahkabre Within 2 WIP

[Mahlikus The Black]

TextureMaster practice on The Warrior head.
Trying to get a more realistic texture. Not worried about SSS right now.

Comments and suggestions welcome.

Also practicing new technique. Ron and Lonnie are trying to beat me out of making 'bitter beer face' models. I think it might be working (thanks guys). Some opinions on this would be good too.

This guy is going to be one of the main Characters for my Renderosity tutorial. The folks there really like the Mahkabre Within image but it doesn't fit their printing specs so I am recreating the same type of image titled simply The Mahkabre Within 2. I will be sharing this with everyone when available.

Thank you.


*EDIT - 1:00am*

New texture!

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046073182fra.jpg


Really Big Version! (http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046072657vch.jpg)

Here is the Dragon and his progression from a unified skin.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046068284tcg.jpg

[drjjwow]

very nice mtb.. he looks really cool.. my favorite parts are the lips and the eyes.. well done.

[Northstarr]

This looks amazing! I am captivated by the eyes, they are absolutely wonderful. The only thing I might do is put a bit more texture around the mouth especially on the upper lip as it looks a tad smooth compared to the rest of the face. The texture is looking really excellent though.

:tu:

[MrBraun]

Great image bro!! I see forward to final image and for the tutorial !!! :D :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Mahlikus The Black]

Northstar- I have reworked the texture above. Thanks for that..it did look a little funny. Also, I increased the bump and added alot more detail (texture looked blurry).

Dr.JJ- Infortunately the eyes are only temps. I am using color theory to help set mood and character. He is blue to give him a calm, withdrawn feel. Right now, the blue eyes give him a cold, cunning demeanor. The real eyes will have yellows, oranges, and reds. This will add power to his appearence and cause them to become a big focal point in the image.

Thanks for the comments...keep'em comin! :D

[Mahlikus The Black]

Here is a test of an experimental Universal SSS trishader I am making. As you can see, it works with a texture very well. The texture hasnt changed from the above one. The red terminator is from the trishader. The lighting is a three point lighting setup with a nice warm key light, a cool reflected light and a white backlight.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046155997djt.jpg


And finally, here he is in the Lighting setup I have for the Mahkabre within 2 image, same SSS TriShader as above, DoubleShader Eye material, touch of fog, 25 GDI, 20 GSI, and a nice ZMode shadow. Also, all lights and materials have no ambience and the lights have a hard fall off.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046158239urw.jpg

[MrBraun]

Great MTB !! :D :tu:
Better in better !!! :D :tu: Well done bro !!! ;)

[dfaris]

Mahlikus The Black


Nice pic so far, really like the texture you have here.

Any chance of showing us how you did the details in the skin?

[Mahlikus The Black]

dfaris - Yes i will in due time...dont worry. ;) I will be including detailed info like that in the tutorial and also supplying stuff like skin and scale alphas.

Here is another texture test. Its the first one so it is probably going to change. *sigh* I am never happy..lol. As a matter of fact, I know I am going to change is. *blush*

Once again, comments and suggestions are welcome please.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046357694emt.jpg

[Munch]

Awesome looking dragon. If it were me i would have different shades and hues of red for the texture of the dragon. :eek: :tu: But otherwise great!

[Mahlikus The Black]

Okay, second try. I decided to make the texture simple and let a ZB material do alot more of the work.
121 welcome.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046419045rkr.jpg

[+Lazarus+]

Call me critical; ok, I'll do it - I'm critical - but I think the eyes would look more stunning if you added some slight shadows just underneath the upper eyelids. At the moment, I feel the eyeballs have a slight stuck on feel.

Also, I reckon some subtle eyebrows would finish it off a treat.

Also, the eyes on the dragon shouldn't fill the whole socket. Eyes aren't oval. Having sperical eyeballs inserted to the back of the socket would look more real, with some glistening reds toward the front. Just a thought.

I love it though, don't get me wrong ;) :D :) :cool:

[Mahlikus The Black]

LOL. Excellent observations buddy but there arent any eyes in there yet..well not in the above one anyway. Don't get me wrong. I love the suggestions and have been looking at more lizard pics or study. The eyes horns and alot of the finer details of the image will do added one everything is in place.

thanks for commenting and keep'em coming yall!

[Mahlikus The Black]

Another test. The shield was made from a ZSphere. the detail work is a custom alpha which started in Adobe illustrator. This alpha was applied using TextureMaster. The Mapping is UVP to make it easier to go into Photoshop later to add the text and other editing like the shield edge.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046498482qvy.jpg

[DeeVee]

Great work mike very well done ..

[DLee]

The shields I really like. I've got to try that. The dragon is good as well.

[Mahlikus The Black]

Thank you. It is fun to play around with things in ZB and discover exactly what your lookinf or..
Here is the same texture save I adjusted the colors in PS. Since the warrior is going to have dark armor, the gold/light version is not what I needed. But this one is exactly where I wanted to go. I am also going to use the same trick for all the armor plates and the sword.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046505261pmn.jpg


Here is his sword. In case anyone was wondering, it says In Mahlikus We Trust..lol

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046508460qbm.jpg

[Munch]

Great images! :eek: :tu: :tu: I especially like the new texture on the dragon and the runes on the sword are awesome! :tu: Great work!

[boozy floozie]

Dear Sir, yours props and renders are enviably fantastico. I'll take a gross. :tu: :tu: :tu:

[Mahlikus The Black]

Thank you for the comments!

Here is an early, early, early test. Shoulders have no texture, there isnt a breast plate yet, and so many other things i dont know where to start. This isnt even the final positioning.

So why make it you ask? To see what things look like together.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1046554972kck.jpg