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Next Project - Dwarf Miner - Crit/Advice wanted

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#14

Hi all,

Well i’ve finally had some spare time and done some more work on my Dwarf Miner.

Modelling wise he’s pretty much done, got a few props to make (pick-axe, TNT, cigar, rat on a stick) and he’s gonna have a shoulder slung bag that rests on his hips (i’ve just got to figure out how i’m gonna rig it)

Used Zbrush on almost everypart of the model and most of the textures (i used the drawing lots of flat planes in projection master method as shown in one of the video’s in this forum, amazingly powerful technique), been a great learning experience overall and don’t think i could imagine not using zbrush now.

Not happy with the shading on his boots and helmet + i’m having trouble matching the colour of his hair to the beard. Also need to add some eye lashes.

Next step is to rig him, the bones are layed out and done some deformation tests, not looking to bad so far. Hopefully do a little animation if i get time.

Crits and advice welcome.

Hez

DwarfWip14.jpg

Attachments

Closeup.jpg

#15

Don’t worry about that… in real life, i’ve seen very few times a beard that matches the hair…:smiley:

On the other hand, the beard is very well combed… too combed, IMO…

Anyway, the model looks fine.

All the best

#16

Finally got the hair to match up better, it was the specularity setting that was screwing it up. Also ruffled the beard abit, will mess it up abit more, originally i was going to have braids in it but gave up on that idea. Thanks for the comment tho, was something i just completely overlooked, think its improved it alot.

Also turned on raytracing shadows which has fixed alot of the problems i was having with shading, need to soften the shadows abit but liking it much more now.

Comments as usual are welcome

Hez

Updated:
DwarfWip15.jpg

#17

I like teh last one very much, WAnted to find some crits but couldnt find any :stuck_out_tongue: Now the only thing he need is a nice render, this looks to cartony :]

#18

Thanks for the comments slocik, he is meant to be a slightly cartoony character but i know what you mean. Its always been an area i’ve neglected before, texturing/lighting/rendering and i’m kinda going through a trial and error process, which is taking a long time :cry: I’m happy with the skin texture which i’ve mainly concentrated on but the lower half is giving me lots of problems. Trying to get his jeans looking right and the boots to look like leather etc. I’ll rough up his steal toe caps and add some dirt maps overall which will hopefully bring him down to reality abit.

I’ll try and get some of his props modelled today, first thing is a shoulder bag and then a pick-axe. Not sure how much i’ll get done tho, lots of other stuff going on in meh life at the minute which doesn’t leave alot of time for 3D :cry:

Should have some new renders up in the next few days.

Anyother comments or suggestions are welcome

Cheers
Hez

#19

I think you should add some dirt to his body, clothing and hair. He’s too clean at the moment. A pleasure to the eye though!

Joost

#20

Very small update, didn’t manage to get much done today. Started on his bag, not that happy with it, looks abit small, but then if i make it much bigger its going to get in the way when he’s animated. Will rough it up and paint the textures for it tomorrow hopefully. Slightly remodelled his hard hat too.

Also gonna have a crack at some dirt maps, should be a breeze with zbrush and some good alpha maps. (Famous last words)

EDIT: Actually thinking about it now, i might just have the small bag attached to his belt one side, and a mini pick-axe on the other side in a small loop, like a utlity belt. I did some animation test with the strap over the body and i reckon its gonna give me loads of head-aches when i animate him.

Hez

bag1.jpg

#21

been a while since i’ve seen an update on this

its coming a long nicely! my likey!:+1:

#22

Very nice clean character…

He’s the cleaner miner i ever saw hehe
Good job.

#23

Hi all,

Well it was definately about time he got abit mucky so to that end i’ve started on some dirt maps. I re-textured the boots because i really wasn’t happy with them and added some small rivets going round the steal toe caps.

The dirt map for the body was a real rush job, just wanted to see what it looked like with the boots and trousers.

I have a question for any experienced z-brush uses. I’m sure its something really obvious that i’m missing but i’ve been making the dirt maps by applying a black texture to the objects in zbrush, then going into projection master, selecting the polyplane tool, turning off the z-depth, making the texture white and using dirt alphas to bring through the white. The problem with this is as the object is black, its really difficult to see what i’m doing. But if i try the reverse, starting with a white texture and trying to apply black in the projection master nothing happens. When i set the texture as black in the projection master, it doesn’t show up as black, just the normal Z-Brush grey background. Any clue whats going on?

Sorry if i’ve not explained it well, brains abit frazzled.

Again thanks for any help and comments

Hez

EDIT: Just realised the bump map for the trousers isn’t showing up in this render

DwarfWip16a.jpg

#24

:+1: :+1: Ciao Luca

#25

Hi all,

Small update. I’ve been working on the dirt maps today mainly. I got the body looking pretty sweet, then decided to just add a little bit more dirt and cocked it all up. The whole texture ended up really muddy and as i was overwriting the images i had to start again :mad: Still not completely happy with it but i’ve had enough for today. The gloves are giving me issues as well but i think i’ve figured it out now, will see if i can sort them tomorrow.

So what do people think? I think i liked him when he was clean, probably cause i’d worked on the skin loads, but i know he needs to be mucky, just don’t think i’ve got the look quite right yet. I really want to get onto rigging him as this is taking far to long. and i STILL haven’t added any eye lashes :cry: Also his beard has smoothed out again, i messed the settings up so just reset it for now.

I figured out the problem i was having in zbrush, it was just me being abit simple :slight_smile:

Thanks for any comments/tips/pointers as usual

Hez

DwarfWip17.jpg

#26

the only thing that bothers me is the “red” beard…

it seems to stand out a bit much i think it’s too yellow or
maybe needs more “red” hehe maybe some more “dirt”

awesome work

#27

I like it so far. I think the gloves at least on the palm side should be a bit dirtier as that is the one thing for sure touching the dirt all day long…all sweaty yucky grimy shiny. Also yeah…the beard is a bit too clean.:smiley: He looks like someone who might leave a little of his lunch in there too.

Keep up the good work on this guy…he’s really coming along nicely!!

#28

Just a few words of encouragment… It is looking great so far, so keep up with the good job ! :wink:

Bye !

#29

First time seeing this thread…I’m very impressed! The clothing detail is really well done. I’ve been trying to figure out how to apply “dirt” myself in zbrush so could you tell how you finally resolved the problem?

#30

Thanks for the comments people.

I agree with the beard being too smooth and shiny, its just trying to get the right settings. At the minute i can either have it all smooth and perfect, or completely messed up, but then it kinda just blends into a big orange blob. Gonna play with it some today.

LynneMitchell: Its actually really easy. The method i’m using is to apply a fully white texture to the model. Then go into projection master, select the Directional Brush tool with the DragRect stroke, load in a good alpha ‘dirt map’ (black background image with white dots/streaks/splashs on etc for type of dirt you want) Then select the colour of dirt you want in the usual colour pick area and start dragging out some lovely spashs of dirt. You can adjust your last stroke by using Move/Rotate/Scale. You can add the dirt coloured but i’ve just used black and white, then used the texture i end up with in photoshop as a layer mask or directly in maya on a layered shader. You could put the dirt directly on your colour map but you’d loose a lot of control and it would be a bastard if you needed to alter it in anyway later on

Hope that helps.

Hopefully he’ll be finished today, then i can get on with rigging him. Still got to sort the gloves and helmet out abit more, add some dirt to his little bag and i’m not completely happy with the skin still. + some bloody eye lashes (having so many issues with them, if anyone knows a good tutorial in maya for them please let me know, will save me pulling out what little hair i left :stuck_out_tongue: )

Hez

#31

Todays update:

Been tweaking the dirt maps and the beard mainly. Looking now i’ll tone down the brown splodge on his belly, its a bit too intense. Also tidied up the dirt glove maps. (Still no eye lashes)

Essentially i think he’s done, i’m sure the textures will be tweaked furthur but for now i want to get on with rigging him. I still need to model his other props (pick-axe, lunch box, TNT sticks and what not) but they can wait for abit now.

I’ll post some updates when the other bits are done and he’s 100% finished but for now i’ll probably post in the Maya CGTalk forum, gonna need lots of help getting him to move :slight_smile:

This has been an amazaing Zbrush learning experience and there isn’t a chance in hell i could have made him without, its been used in pretty much every part of the modelling and texturing process. Also seeing other peoples techniques and work has been a real eye opener to whats possible.

Comments are welcome as usual :wink:

Hez

DwarfWip18.jpg

#32

the only thing i would say is ,

i think the model is fantastic, but you need to spend more time on your textures.

I spent alot of time handing over models to texture artists in work, and didnt realy think alot of it. Untill i had to texture my models after i finished with the company. Then i had to learn a whole new art form!!
I still struggle with it, but knowbody knows :wink:

it will just “snap” one day. Then the worlds you oister-with_big-horns and a …you get…it

love the work though

#33

Thanks for the info on dirt maps! I’m just finishing up my 2nd model and need to “age” it. Your model has really come along nicely.