Tutorial: Modeling a Car in 3D Studio Max

I finally broke down and created a nice video tutorial on basic poly modeling techniques.  I go over using a plane and matching it up to reference to end up with a car model.  Also, for all the people that requested that I slow my videos down, this is at a rate if 1:1, meaning it is in real time.  This was also a live lecture, so I do field a couple of questions and go off on a few tangents, but it does help show the workflow and thought process of starting a complex model from scratch.  I hope you enjoy and keep sending your comments and suggestions.

O yeah let me know about the audio levels, this was the first time I used this capture setup and compression so I may need to adjust it for future videos.  Also, let me know what topics you would like to see in future videos.

Enjoy!

A New Year Update: A New Head Model

It may seem like I have been quite, and that's because I have.  I am working on a deadline of Feburary for my Graduate Portfolio, I have completed up some models for it and I am very excited about the results.  But more exciting is the fact that I have resurected my game, and better yet, if it is not done by the end of this week it will be completed in the next couple of weeks.  I am going to keep this breif so I can get back to the grind, but here is a nice teaser of what is to come with my new portfolio.  I will make sure to write up a full article as soon as I am done with the game.

Portfolio: Al Capone 3D Model

Here is the model of Al Capone that I have been working on. This was the first face model that I was applying the Reilly method to 3D modeling of a head. It has the planes in the cheeks, and forehead, and based upon the results here I forced even more Reilly planes into my next character model, with even better results. I used 3D Studio to model Al, and Mudbox and Photoshop to to the majority of the texture work.

It was a bit different also, normally I would work off the high quality reference I could find, but since the technology and logging of information in his day was not up to par, I had to work around issues with low quality reference and really a lack of reference all together. Great stories and headlines, but no 10 mega pixel images to go with it. What was there was black and white, or yellow. So color was an issue, and not being able to use the modeling reference and a texture base was also a fun one to work around. That may also be the reason that Al has a slightly cartoon feel to him, one I actually did not want, is due to the lack of reference up to the task to be the textures. In fact I could not find one to use, I had to piece together other refs and create a bunch from scratch. He does meet the standard I was going for as far as overall quality and poly count, along with learning uncharted modeling techniques for the forehead and cheeks, Al will go down as a very successful project.

I created a model sheet and a model breakdown of the Al Capone 3D model, hope you enjoy!

Portfolio: The Moon Wurm

This is a model I had sitting around. I created him to be a boss in the Tower34 game I have been working on but never posted it up for the world to see. The Wurm is rigged, animated and ready to go. I have already tested it in Unity3D. I gave it a simple character controller and even created a simple game were the wurm eats mines. Currently I am unsure of the state of Tower34 though, I ran into a critical error as far as the game play is concerned. I am left with the choice to try again or to start on of the many new ideas for a game that I have. I am leaning towards simplifying the game and at least try to salvage what I have. That way I do not just chalk this up to a learning experience, but actually get my homage to Galaga that I have always wanted to make.

Here is a stereoscopic render and a scene breakdown, hope you enjoy!

Portfolio: Life Drawings

I just started a new blog to keep track of my life drawing progress. I started sitting in a couple of classes about six months ago to help meet the life drawing requirements for the master's degree I am looking into. I was very rusty at first but my recent drawing do show much improvement, each week they seem to get better and better. I will keep updating my progress.

Here is the link: papertopoly.blogspot.com