Long Time

Hi Folks,

It's been ages since I last posted anything. Various reasons, but mainly I've been focused on learning more about Unity, C# and modeling the basics so really nothing interesting to show off. I've been working through the Hard Surface Modeling Challenges on PolyCount. This is fantastic practice because you're focused on creating some really gnarly shapes. On top of recreating these as Hi Poly models, I've been attempting to get more experience working through the game pipeline, so after I finish each of these models, I attempt to retopologise it, unwrap the uvs and then bake out the various maps. Up to this point it's been a bit of a disaster, but by week 5 of these challenges I feel like I'm getting there. Below you'll find an example. Let me know what you think. Hope the new year is treating you well. 

-Paul

New ZBrush Sculpt - A Stone Well

Yep...you read that right...its a stone well. Nothing special. Just thought I'd try making something a little more naturalistic in ZBrush. Modeled entirely in ZBrush, but rendered out in Maya using Mental Ray. Took a few pointers from Tate Mosesian's video series on Pixologic's site, http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/environments-with-tate-mosesian/. Tate Mosesian is the Lead Environment Artist at Naughty Dog so he's got some chops. Anyway hope you enjoy.

All the best

Paul

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Ghost Key Sculpt Final

Hi Folks,

Sorted out most of the issues I was having with the UVs. Turns out the ribbon/swirl was causing all sorts of issues when generating a UV map in ZBrush. Had to push and pull a bit to get it working properly. 

Here is a final comp I put together after rendering it out in Maya using Mental Ray. Simple comp with an Ambient Occlusion, Depth and Beauty Render. 

For the most part I'm happy with how it turned out. I've definitely got some learning to do when it comes to Displacement Maps. Let me know what you think. 

-Paul

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New ZBrush Sculpt - Ghost Key

Hi Folks,

Another day, another key from Locke and Key, the aforementioned awesome graphic novel series from writer extraordinaire Joe Hill. Here we have the Ghost Key. Still a work in progress. The sculpt is done, but I'm getting some wacky errors when I try to create a UV map and associated textures for the body of the key. Also...I'll be experimenting with displacement maps on this one so stay tuned for shenanigans. Initial test render is looking decent. 

-Paul

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New ZBrush Sculpt - Shadow Key

Hi Folks,

Another key from the brilliant graphic novel Locke and Key for you today. Done mostly in ZBrush and then rendered out in Maya. I'm not sold on the materials...feel more plastic than metal to me, but I've spent enough time on this one for now. I'll move on to another one shortly. Let me know what you think.

-Paul

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New ZBrush Sculpt - The Echo Key

Just finished up a new ZBrush sculpt. I've been trying to come up with little one off pieces that I can actually complete in a reasonable amount of time. This is the Echo Key from the amazing graphic novel series 'Locke and Key'. If you haven't read it...do yourself a favour and order every last issue. Its a great horror story written by Joe Hill, illustrated by Gabriel Rodriquez and published by IDW. 

Hope you like it.

-Paul

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40K Lasgun WIP

Working on a new model these days. It's an Imperial Guard standard issue Lasgun from the Warhammer 40K Universe. Still a WIP, but it's coming along. The Dynamesh/Boolean tools in ZBrush never cease to amaze and come in incredibly handy on these hard surface models. As always let me know what you think. 

All the best.

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Nostromo Airlock - Final Render

Hello again,

Rendered out a higher res version and performed some rudimentary compositing ( Ambient Occlusion and Depth of Field ). Pretty happy with how this turned out. Let me know what you think.

-Paul

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Nostromo Airlock

Hi Folks,

Working on a new piece inspired by my all time favourite film, 'Alien'.  Using a combination of polygonal modelling in Maya and various booleans in conjunction with ZBrush's new Dynamesh feature to build the doorway. Then roughed in a first pass of the lighting. Still need to apply some smoothing and tackle the floor grate, but its pretty much there. Hope you like it.

Sci-Fi Ninja ZBrush Sculpt

Hi Folks,

Got lots of things on the go these days.  Learning a lot about Python and scripting in Maya as well as taking a game programming course using C#.  That doesn't mean I've stopped putting the new rig to use making sweet ZBrush sculpts though.  The following is a piece that I made while working through Pierre Roger's ( www.sketchzombie.com ) awesome Digital Tutors course.

I've attached various images of the project from beginning to end and a final Hi-Res render which you can see above. Hope you like it because I enjoyed making it while learning some sweet tips and tricks from Pierre.  

ZBrush Lantern

I've been working through Seth Thompson's fantastic tutorial on how to use the new Panel Loops feature in ZBrush.  You can find the tutorial here: 

http://pixologic.com/zclassroom/homeroom/lesson/environments-with-seth-thompson/#environments-with-seth-thompson-part-2

Really learned a lot about how handy this feature can be.  Its shocking the amount of fine detail you can get in a relatively short period of time.  

Anyway...its not going to win any awards, but here's my version of Scott Thompson's lantern.

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Quick ZBrush Sketch

Recently bought a new computer...can finally run ZBrush properly once again without everything grinding to a halt.  Just noodling around and came up with this surly tree creature...half Swamp Thing, half Goblin King from Return to Oz.