First time rigging...

05:17 0 Comments

Development of me rigging 'Kevin' using the 3ds max CAT rig, I have put the bones together myself, I haven't used any presets.

I've decided to name him Kevin, don't ask me why, ha. Anyway... i'll post more later on and thoughout the week. Going to rig his head now, chiaoooo....

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Silent Comedy Update.

09:11 0 Comments

Today I have finished my character morphers and I am now about to rig him. I hope everything goes smoothly and I don't end up eating the computer in anger haha. I need to think of a name for my character too.... I'll have a think while I rig. Screenshot below. Top right, you can see some of the facial morph targets...... enjoy!

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Dynamic Pirate Camp!

09:02 0 Comments


For the ‘Pirate Camp' project, we had to produce a 30 second dynamic animation. To do this we were commissioned to use Autodesk Maya to model, texture, light, add dynamics and to render a Pirate Camp.  

For the project I researched many pirate camps and CG artists to get inspiration for creating my dynamic animation. I also looked at objects I would model for my scene in Maya and the dynamics that I can possibly add. I gather a few reference images ready for modelling.

In seminars, we learnt how to model simple objects and how dynamics could be added to these objects. I had never used Autodesk

First of all I sketched the objects and scenery for the Pirate Camp and used Maya to test out the dynamic animations that we learnt in the seminars with Baris. For my scene I decided to model: Rocks, flag, palm trees, fence, hills, treasure chest, coins, tent and logs. For the dynamic animations I planned on creating, rain, fire, a rippling pong and wind on the pirate flag.   

Therefore I used my reference images and sketches to start building and modelling the objects for my scene, where I used the skills I’d learnt in seminars to create the feel and atmosphere of the scene.

For the camera shots for the scene, I decided to keep mine quite simple so you can see all the dynamic animations work together. However this is something I would definitely change if I did this project again. I thought it was a bit too boring for the whole animation.

Throughout the process of this project I thought the most difficult part was getting use to the tools in Maya, along with getting the dynamics as realistic as I could using the different attributes, especially the fire. I also had trouble with rendering now and again. An error was shown sometimes when I rendered my scene, however all I had to do is type some script into the script editor and it stop the render problem from happening.

I particularly enjoyed building the scene together and working with the flag dynamic animation, I thought the flag worked the best out of all the dynamics within the scene.

I used Adobe After effects to composit and premiere pro the render.

Overall I have a learnt a lot from this project, especially being introduced to a new software was interesting but also difficult at times. I think feedback from other people throughout this project has helped me a lot. I would like to learn Maya more in depth, especially for the animation side of things. I have a great interest in character animation and knowing how Maya works for this would be a great to know. When I have spare time and over summer, I am definitely going to learn more of Maya. Overall I thought this project was great for developing new skills and I have learnt a better understanding of using dynamics for animation.




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Quick Post!

07:23 0 Comments

Screenshot of the development of the pirate camp project:
Still some texturing to complete.

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Maya Update #2!

09:26 0 Comments

Another quick post of my pirate camp, it's coming along, thank god! Compared to me stressing yesterday, I have managed to get a lot done today.

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Maya - Pirate Camp Project Update!

08:06 0 Comments

Screenshot of the development of my pirate camp using Maya. I have used dynamics to animate a flag, fire and create rain. Still working on it at the moment...

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First Lip Sync Attempt!

10:06 0 Comments

The sound is from the 11 Second Club, this months. I'll probably upload this to the competition when I've tweaked it a bit, this will be great for feedback on my work and getting to know other animators. First entry for 11 Second Club, wooooooooo! I'm going to keep it up every month.

I used the free MAX rig thanks to Peter Starostin and James Hunt :o)

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I forgot to mention that I have changed my idea for the Silent Comedy project!

09:46 0 Comments

I do this a lot. Always changing my mind and ideas but this time I'm sticking to it :D After hours and hours of Unwrapping 'pea'ing' me off I have textured my character the normal way for texturing, since I am only using basic colours anyway I thought it wouldn't be a problem.

I am quite confident with using UVW unwrapping because I used it in my visualisation project to texture my scene, maybe I just need to work on unwrapping a character, however my UV's were fine :| Maybe it's the computer or maybe it just doesn't like me - haha!

Soooo as I was saying, I have changed my idea for this project. I have designed a chubby child tries pinching cookies from someones window sill and the all ways he tries to get the cookies is comical! I have done a full rough story board (did that yesterday) but I'll blog a better one when I get round to it. I think I might start doing it tonight.

So here is a render of my character below and I will now start rigging my character and complete that tonight! Yay!

I am going to make his eye pupils a little bigger and maybe give the poor boy some hair!














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I hate Unwrapping!!!!!!!

09:13 0 Comments

I have now unwrapped THREE characters and every time I press render they come out all pixelated and bright, even when I have smooth on. Very annoying!!!! I put a normal disfuse colour on my character and that renders fine. Maybe it's something to do with my UVW unwrap or something but I really don't know.

If anyone could help me, please do because no one seems to know why its doing it?!?

I just want to start animating and then I'll be HAPPYYYYYYYY! Animating is fun, unwrapping SUCKS! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!



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PROBLEM!!!!

09:04 0 Comments

Can anyone give me a reason why my character is rendering like this? I will have to re model his head and maybe his body again if not :| HELPPPPP!

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Location Location! Sketches...

15:59 0 Comments

To consider the visual elements within the attic, I have drawn a few sketches of the objects.
I have also thought about the beams I am going design for the attic....

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Location Location! Lighting...

05:01 0 Comments

I have collected a few reference images for the lighting in the attic. The only lighting in the attic comes from the windows, therefore I will set the walk through during the day so there is more light coming through. There are four windows at the front and four at the back, however they are only small so that will mean they will have more effect on the visual elements around the the windows. 



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Location Location! Textures...

04:40 0 Comments

I have selected the textures and main objects that I will be modelling for the scene/walk through. I have used images from google and textures from cgtextures.com for the walls, floors, doors and windows.
































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Location Location!

02:52 0 Comments

I started modelling the attic in 3Ds Max. However, I have changed some of the dimensions from my original top view plan. Here are a few ongoing screen shots below and I will blog later with more progress....













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First Attempt: Walk Cycle!

10:00 0 Comments

This is my first attempt animating a walk cycle, that I have done today. A few subtle movements could be added but this is just a test for now (I have used the free MAX rig for this)....

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'Location Location' Visualisation Project!

09:35 0 Comments

So, for the visualisation project I have put together a top view plan of the attic, so I have a clear idea of the attic space for when I begin modelling. I have also found some reference images which relate to what I would like the different areas of the attic to look like.































 > (Main room) This image refers to the main room in the attic, although the attic I design will have loads of furniture and items in the way but I am going to use the similar style of the beams from this photo.

 > (Classroom) This reference image relates to the old classroom in the book. However I am going to let less light into the room.  I plan for the windows to be quite high up.

> (Stairway) I like the narrow, worn effect to this image for a reference of the stairway. Thinking mainly about the detail of textures within this part of the walk through, as the camera shots will be quite close up.


> (Windows) This is the style of the windows I am going to design for the attic. Although I will make some of the windows a bit larger. All the windows will have metal bars across them. (To stop the children escaping in the book).

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