- setting up key inputs for movement and actions
- creating blueprints for the character to allow movement
- creating flipbooks for animation for movement
- setting those flipbooks for left and right motion and altering animation speeds.
Friday, 11 March 2016
ASU Week 5
This week I've worked on
ASU2 Week 4
This week I, along with writing my learning agreement, I began to learn how to use UE4 and how to create blueprints.
The basic principles I have focused on learning so far are.
The basic principles I have focused on learning so far are.
- how to set up a project and save
- how to access blueprints
- how to setup a 2D game
- how to import images into UE4 as sprites
- how to setup a character and blueprint
ASU2 Week 3
This week I continued to learn more about modelling in Maya, this time I wanted to start looking at modelling a character.
Using this tutorial on Lynda.com http://www.lynda.com/Maya-tutorials/Mirroring/83095/89989-4.html I started to learn more about extruding, mirroring and efficient modelling.
I also used image reference directly in Maya this time using image panes.
By creating a side and front view to work to it will make the modelling much easier, I won't have to guess where the nose/eyes etc should be I can match them directly to the image. It did make modelling much easier and quicker doing things this way.
Using this tutorial on Lynda.com http://www.lynda.com/Maya-tutorials/Mirroring/83095/89989-4.html I started to learn more about extruding, mirroring and efficient modelling.
I also used image reference directly in Maya this time using image panes.
By creating a side and front view to work to it will make the modelling much easier, I won't have to guess where the nose/eyes etc should be I can match them directly to the image. It did make modelling much easier and quicker doing things this way.
These are some screenshots of renders using mental ray in maya and placing simple lighting.
I then revisited the model and added in eyes and hair and revisited the horns.
I added a basic material and colour close to what I envisaged the tone of the characters skin and exported the images into photoshop so that I could try painting over the details onto the model. I did this to try and see what it would look like before attempted UV mapping and texturing.
This is the first time I have used something I have modelled in 3D to paint over in photoshop, although this time it took quite a while for me to model so it's probably not the most efficient way to work for characters, I can see this technique being useful for me when drawing environments. Being able to block out 3D shapes quickly and know that the perspective is all correct, then painting over the detail could potentially save a lot of time and make my workflow more efficient.
This is the point where my project changes dramatically!
This week I had a tutorial with Mark to discuss what I intended for the project and what I had planned for the masters project. I decided it would be my aim to try and produce something interactive and I had planned to do this in 3D. However after the discussion we both agreed that this would be a lot of skills for me to learn before embarking on the MA project and if I wanted to make something interactive then it would be better to focus on learning skills for making an interactive game for ASU2 which I could then use in my MA project.
So I have decided to learn a new skill in Blueprint in UE4. Blueprint is a visual scripting language used in Unreal Engine 4. I know little about programming but because Blueprint uses a series of visual, almost like flow charts, I think it will be a lot easier to get my head around.
To make things as easy as possible, I'm going to carry on using the character and world designs I worked on last term. For submission I'm going to design and build a very small section of the game to demonstrate what I have learnt about Blueprint and UE4.
Although I didn't end up taking the idea of 3D modelling further I'm really glad that I took the time to brush up on my modelling skills and refresh my memory. I now feel much more confident in 3D modelling and feel that I have a firm basic knowledge of Maya. I plan to use 3D modelling more in my concept art, especially when designing environments.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
ASU2 Week 2
I have spent most of the week watching tutorials on modelling in Maya this week. Although I have a base knowledge of modelling, the last time I actually attempted any modelling would have been in my first year of undergraduate so I felt it would be best to start completely at the beginning and go from there and refresh my knowledge before building on it.
http://www.lynda.com/Maya-tutorials/Overview-Maya-interface/370380/413182-4.html
I started with the Maya 2016 essential training. It didn't take long to refresh the knowledge so once I felt comfortable with the controls I started producing very basic models as tests before starting work on my character.
A simple pine tree made using a simple cylinder subdivided, I then pulled out each subdivision to make the leaves and keep the tree as one mesh and as simple as possible in terms of geometry.
Slightly more complex tree structure, again made with simple primitives and extruding. For this one I did model the "leaf" parts separately using spheres, decreasing the subdivisions and adjusting the edges to create a more uneven shape to replicate leaves. Because they were separate I used the boolean technique to combine into one mesh.
Having conquered trees I moved on to something a little more complicated. I decided to try and make an animal to have a go at something with a little more character and complexity than trees/plants. Sticking to the low-poly theme I tried to emulate the look of a papercraft model. I thought by working from papercraft reference it would help me to simplify an animal, and get used to seeing something in geometric shapes.
Next week:
Next week I want to begin trying to model faces and work on character modelling using image planes as reference.
ASU 2 Week 1
Initial Ideas and Directions
One of the reasons I applied for an MA was to diversify my skills as an artist so I was really looking forward to developing a new skill for this unit. Following my work for ASU1 I feel confident in my skills as a 2D artist and have decided to branch out into developing skills in 3D artwork.
Initially I planned to learn how to sculpt a character bust in Zbrush, using the character designs I developed in ASU1 as reference. Being able to show how my characters would look in 3D would be a valuable additional skill in a studio environment, especially in a smaller studio where roles aren't as specific as larger studios. I think being a 2D artist who has knowledge in 3D would benefit me tremendously when it comes to being employed in industry.
However I became interested in producing 3D models rather than sculpting and began to look into improving my skills in Maya. I had a base level of skill in 3D modelling and I decided to go over what I knew already and add to it. I went towards modelling rather than sculpting mainly because I already had a small amount of knowledge in this area which I could build on and I had become inspired by an artist I found online called Heather Penn.
What appealed to me about Penn's art is that her 3D artwork kept the style and feel of her 2D art. And although it was very simple, in terms of polycount and complexity, it was still appealing and a convincing representation of the objects or characters.
As my skills in modelling are a bit rusty and fairly basic, I decided it would be a good idea to keep to producing low poly models that are really simple. I am going to use the designs I developed last term and I aim to model and texture the main character, I hope to have enough time to rig and animate too but I will focus on the modelling stage and add the animation if I have time. Having done some 2D animation last term I thought it would be nice to be able to show some 3D animation in my portfolio too.
This week I also applied for the Diversi/King scholarship for women in games. This is a competition for female identifying students to attend the GDC San Francisco in March this year.
http://www.diversi.nu/gdcscholarship/. It's my intention this year to apply to as many internships and scholarships as possible alongside MA study.
Next Week:
I will focus on refreshing my skills modelling in Maya by following tutorials on Lynda.com and researching games which use a low poly style for inspiration.
One of the reasons I applied for an MA was to diversify my skills as an artist so I was really looking forward to developing a new skill for this unit. Following my work for ASU1 I feel confident in my skills as a 2D artist and have decided to branch out into developing skills in 3D artwork.
Initially I planned to learn how to sculpt a character bust in Zbrush, using the character designs I developed in ASU1 as reference. Being able to show how my characters would look in 3D would be a valuable additional skill in a studio environment, especially in a smaller studio where roles aren't as specific as larger studios. I think being a 2D artist who has knowledge in 3D would benefit me tremendously when it comes to being employed in industry.
However I became interested in producing 3D models rather than sculpting and began to look into improving my skills in Maya. I had a base level of skill in 3D modelling and I decided to go over what I knew already and add to it. I went towards modelling rather than sculpting mainly because I already had a small amount of knowledge in this area which I could build on and I had become inspired by an artist I found online called Heather Penn.
What appealed to me about Penn's art is that her 3D artwork kept the style and feel of her 2D art. And although it was very simple, in terms of polycount and complexity, it was still appealing and a convincing representation of the objects or characters.
As my skills in modelling are a bit rusty and fairly basic, I decided it would be a good idea to keep to producing low poly models that are really simple. I am going to use the designs I developed last term and I aim to model and texture the main character, I hope to have enough time to rig and animate too but I will focus on the modelling stage and add the animation if I have time. Having done some 2D animation last term I thought it would be nice to be able to show some 3D animation in my portfolio too.
This week I also applied for the Diversi/King scholarship for women in games. This is a competition for female identifying students to attend the GDC San Francisco in March this year.
http://www.diversi.nu/gdcscholarship/. It's my intention this year to apply to as many internships and scholarships as possible alongside MA study.
Next Week:
I will focus on refreshing my skills modelling in Maya by following tutorials on Lynda.com and researching games which use a low poly style for inspiration.
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