Action Hero - Mantis Man

[The Runner]

I love this man, one question. How do you do the texture on the eyeballs and ensure it is all tesselating as you have?

[SolidSnakexxx]

dustbin1_uk:
I understand you, mate. Sometime the workload is just insane... I feel ya pain. Anyhow on the Zsphere as added parts, I simply leave them in default state. I think it's quite all right. In fact, most of the time I do leave ZSphere settings as they were shipped, except for may be the fingers/hands stuff that I need to adjust the IRes in Transform sub menu.


The Runner:
Thank you, sir. For the Eye pattern, what I did is creating the alpha in ZBrush. The basic idea is to create a seamless alpha in ZBrush. It's real easy to create as this trick was once learned when I first got the ZBrush 2.0.

Here are the steps to get the seamless alpha and how I applied to the eyes:

1. I create the alpha environment first by selecting the plane3d with material set to Flat and color white. This is to set the canvas for the pattern itself.

2. I'd create a basic silhouette of a single form that will make up a pattern. In this case, an insect eye is a compound eye with shape like hexagon. So I chose the primitive cube3d and initialize it so that the side count equals to 6. This time around I draw (and select black color) the hexagon on the white canvas.

3. Utilize the "Snap Shot" feature found in Transform menu. This would allow you to create the exact size of the pattern. Then I'd use the Gyro to move and form the pattern. (See attached image)



4. For the seamless part, what you have to do is using the "~" - Tilda key which locates on the top left part of your keyboard...in general it should be the key right before number "1" this Tilda would let you move and create seamless pattern. (See attached image)



5. Once I have the alpha I want I simple export this out as a .PSD file and reload in as Alpha.

6. I'd turn this alpha to Stencil. However, it seems like the Pattern I have is quite large for the compound eye, what you need to do next step is to adjust the repeat (to whatever you desire).

7. In addition, my eye has some curve, if you simply use the default setting the side area might be off , so I activated the "Wrap" mode. And then I'd use the low Intensity of Standard Brush and lightly sculpt the eye.

Hope this answer what you were asking. Should my answer's not clear in any point you can ask me the specifics.

[Harmonic]

That mantis head is shaping up really nice! Can't wait to see it finished, it's gona be so cool!

[Gohanf22]

man solid everytime i keep looking at your work, i keep taking down notes. im really impressed with your work. im going to have to ask you for some better lessons in zbrush cause I'm still new at it. lol. keep up the good work dude.

[Crotalis]

I like the crispness in your lines on the insect parts. They make a nice contrast with the flowing smooth forms of the more human parts. Keep that up!

I'll be very intersted to see how you handle the toes. I see you've already got a start on it (They look a little long in spots btw), and that's one part I always have trouble with in Zbrush.

[SolidSnakexxx]

Just want to pop in to say Happy New Year 2009 (At least it's now 2AM on January 1st, 2009 in Bangkok Thailand) I've been whipping through the turn of the year .....zbrushing........ (^.^) My first year staying in sculpting....at home.

Harmonic:
Thank you, mate. I've been spending quite a long hour adding small hair on his helping arms (around his mouth) I think by morning I should have most of them "placed" in. Will post more soon.


Gohanf22:
Thanks, your words are very delightful and a real honor to hear that. If you have some questions that I may be able to help, by all mean, email me...I'll be more than happy to make ZB-Buddy (if I can answer your questions that is ).

Crotalis:
Thank you. As for the toes, I've been sketching his toes to be a bit non-human. At the moment I just place the regular human feet and toes as basis for anatomical reference...I think a lot of changes will be made to the overall body and the legs.

Again, thank you for reading, you all have a great New Year!

[Gohanf22]

your very welcome solid. your work is an inspiration to i think everyone. i added you to my buddy list and i will gladly take you up on your offer for assistance. thanks man. keep up the good work on mantis man.

[joe55]

that head is looking sick with those mandibles ! love it

[ISK-86]

Thanks for all SolidSnake... i have learned more reading your thread theese three days, than in a month of zbrush class.

People like you are the ones who make cg comunity a really nice one.

Really hope to see Mantis Man as the big prize winner, think you deserve it more than anyone because you sculpt so good and you are really interested in almos all threads in this forum.

Me quito el sombrero ante ti : )

Happy December-January transition

[MonteCristo]

Wow! You've really been going great guns with this one SS. I'm particularly enjoying the assymetry aspect, with on e Mantis arma dn one human. I think that was a very wise decision on your part.

[sazar26]

cool technique and gret tutorial, I will use that technique for my characters uniform thanks

[Fess]

That head is looking really good! Big thanks for posting that tutorial on seamless alpha creation, very useful!

[skullbeast]

SSxxx thats coming along nicely! the face and eyes are killer! some subliminal Ultraman in there! keep up the great work!

[SolidSnakexxx]

Gohanf22:
I, too, have added you to my buddy list. And Thank you for your continue encouragement. It's great to have buddies to share knowledge and experience with.

joe55:
I should have the added mandibles today. Will post once I brushed my teeth and all.. (Been a busy night ZBrushing)

ISK-86:
You have such kind words, and I truly am honor that you think that way. This contest is a real fun and for me every thread in the forum is really valuable as the resource to learn. I often ask things I do not know and gain a lot of knowledge through there. That's something great about ZBRushCentral...and frankly speaking I do not see much elsewhere that this level of knowledge sharing exists. So I thoroughly enjoy sharing what I know and willing to learn what I don't from all of us here. Also, "Me quito el sombrero ante ti" to you too.

MonteCristo:
Thank you. Again, hopefully with me choosing him not to look too human won't work against me in the end...as the character anatomy will drastically altered for more sick/mutated insect look to support the story. But I'll definately try my best.

sazar26:
Glad to share the technique, man. Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be here to help all the way.

Fess:
(^_^). No problem at all. Knowledge's meant to be shared.

skullbeast:
Thank you. You are right. I just checked out Ultraman stuff..and now I know where I see those eyes before. I'm working on adjusting the eyes a bit and will post some more soon. Your Widow Maker's insane in both story and sculpt as well.

[SolidSnakexxx]

Here comes the morning update...the first day of the year update that is

This one's real minor update. I added in the Mandibles and side closing mouth piece and fine tune the bottom part of the face (I'll need to do some more work on this area as well but not too pressing as this part won't be visible too much as its underside)



And here's my goal for today, I shall call today...hair day. At first start of this project, I didn't know Mantis's one hairy critter. But further examination shows that it has lots of (very tiny) hair on the antennae, mouth area and arm. Today I'll be focusing mainly on the head hair area...Gonna be subtool crazy This is the rough sketch out in ZBrush



I was asked to explain the proces of which I create quick sketch atop ZBrush model here's my process:

1. Place your model on the canvas as you wish to paint over(Use wahtever materail you want to represent the model).

2. Remembr you can adjust the perspective (Focal Lens) of your model by going to Draw > Perspective. Adjsut the Focl Length to whatever you desire.

3. Activate the MRGBZGrabber tool , the program will ask you whether you are goign to switch to this tool (Go ahead and confirm it)

4. After selecting the MRGBZGrabber Tool, go to Tool>Modifiers and uncheck the AutoCrop. As leaving this on will crop your image to the exact size of the model you have place. (Which sometimes you want to have extra padding like you have placed on the canvas)

5. Drag the MRGBZGrabber tool (Like Regtangle selection) starting from the top left of the document to the bottom right to capture the enture workspace. Your model will now be imprinted and placed in Texture pallete (Alphas will be sent to Alpha as well, but we'll not be using this)

6. Make sure you have selected the "Flat Color" Material so there will be no color form material that will affect the document.

7. Click on the Texture that's been grabbed. a flyout menu will open at the bottom row simply click "CropandFill" Now your canvas should be covered with that texture.

8. I'd change my tool to PaintBrush (2.5D Tool) and tick off "ZAdd" leaving only RGB on as I'll be manipulating only th color value atop my canvas. At this point you can adjust the RGBIntensity so taht the opacity of the color painted is not 100%.

9. Once finishing with the sketching/paint over simply export out as image by going to Document>Export...that's all

Again, if the process is unclear, please let me know.