Project WIP update - Hjalta test pose 02 turntable
Added 2016-01-04 20:28:29 +0000 UTCYeah, 02. Because 01 wasn't very good. XD
So, while working on a character, once I think I'd finalized the topology (that being basically the surface's geometric flow), I occasionally make test poses to see if the topology needs adjustment. Because pose-induced deformations depend on the topology flow, said adjustments can take quite a while, if you're unlucky or inexperienced.
Retopologizing is a lot like a pretty difficult puzzle game, where you need to build the topology denser where the deformations are predicted to be stronger (and/or where you need more detail), while avoiding using triangles, as they cause artifacts (but, naturally, that's not always possible), AND keeping the flow consistent with the forms of the object, as well as with the deformations that might occur. This... actually sounds WAY harder than it really is. XD
And if you're interested in seeing the topology flow on Hjalta, this ridiculously hi-res gif shows it alternating between two subdivision levels - 1st and 4th (out of 6). Yes, all those squares and triangles were built and tweaked manually. Still could use some fixes, but nothing really important.
If you found this boring and technical bit to be extremely boring and technical, this is precisely why I'm slightly hesitant to make a "how it's made" type of post. XD BUT I'M PLANNING ONE PROBABLY IN THIS MONTH SO YAY MAYBE
ANYWAY
NOW FOR THE JUICY STUFF
More like milky stuff, amirite? *poke nudge wink*
HERE is a hi-res version of this post's preview image, and HERE is the actual turntable video. Feel free to download it for slightly better quality. ^.^
And yes, you are correct - I didn't even bother with giving her an expression. IT'S A TEST POSE IT TESTS THE TOPOLOGY OKAY? It's not really for show. XD I just thought this one was too cute not to share. ^.^ And yeah, I sometimes recycle test poses for actual artwork, but that's pretty rare. I might recycle this one!
Also, new hoofsies! They need some more detailing, but otherwise they're final. I like 'em. A LOT.
Enjoy! :D
Comments
I CAN EXPLAIN THAT! :D If I had subdivided the basemesh from level 1, the ears would indeed get smaller. But ZBrush has levels of detail, and the highpoly sculpting's displacement, relative to the basemesh, can be negative OR positive. So this isn't merely a smoothed out basemesh, but more of a cage for the higher-poly details to pop out of (mostly). I'm also not very good at explaining things, but I hope you got what I mean. XD Also you're confusing topology with UVs! The UVs are done on the lowest level, yes, but you can have a model with topology, but without UVs. You can't really have it the other way around. XD And don't worry about not being taught to do these poses. If you know what you're doing you don't really need to test the topology like this. I just like to be 1000000% sure I'm doing things right. XD And also, normally you would use rigging. In such a case, you wouldn't exactly have the luxury of adjusting/redoing the topology after rigging, without possibly having to also redo the UVs, textures, AND the rig. Gosh; I hope I just don't know a lot about this; sounds horrible to rely on rigging alone. XD
tchaikovsky2
2016-01-09 15:27:36 +0000 UTCI primarily want to go with brown and beige, but that's really up for experimentation. I don't know in what form, or whether or not there'll be something more to it. Needless to say, I'll try to make her as much non-plain as possible. :3 Glad you like! :D
tchaikovsky2
2016-01-09 15:10:48 +0000 UTCI'm glad everything works, and it's good to know this technobabble wasn't boring! XD As for your request, is <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B3Dx9oDLlyB8Z2s3b0l3UktSc1E/view?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">this</a> good? I think I could still take it a bit further if you want (personally I'm okay with either). And I'll be sure to make some hoof tease pics with her once she's done. :3
tchaikovsky2
2016-01-09 15:08:47 +0000 UTCI was going for something more like cute and playful, but I'm glad you enjoy it anyway! X3
tchaikovsky2
2016-01-09 14:26:03 +0000 UTCHow come in the .gif your unsmoothed geometry was smaller in some spots like the ears and the knees vs the smoothed locations? When I was doing some of my smoothing examples in Maya I noticed when I smoothed the geometry it became smaller, but yours looks like its the opposite in certain locations. I like this pose a lot. Its very smart to do that kind of posing to test the UV's. I wish that was something my instructor taught me. So much for spending hundreds of dollars. I'm glad you went through the process. This character appears to have been created much faster than some other characters, its good to see your process is speeding up rapidly. Thank you for the full round imagery. Like that you have given a turnaround image of her nice figure.
Randochi
2016-01-08 02:07:03 +0000 UTCBlah blah technical babble blah. Just kidding ;3 She is looking really cute. Do you have a a specific coloring pattern planned for her? Will she be white with black blotches like dairy cows? Rusty like most beef cattle?
Crystal
2016-01-05 00:37:33 +0000 UTCGood stuff here all around. It is always fascinating to get a behind-the-screen explanation of how art is created, and I eagerly await the next. I'm glad to see the results allow you to craft intriguing poses without compressing the figure. Though I also love the small details it brings, like seeing the small rippling fold of chub on Hjalta's sides, just above her thigh and hip (at least, I assume that's displaced flesh, and not a misplaced bone). Elaborating on the juicy/milky bits, this pose works fantastically and would be great as a fully rendered picture (whether or not it is merely for testing). I love that Hjalta has a rather plump and full labia, as well. It lends to her being slightly more adult, and lends to her more bovine nature as well. Plus a large and well-grown labia and clit are so much more realistic, as opposed to the skin-tight, almost impossibly small ones seen in a lot of media. Keep it up (and, uh, yanno... feel free to make it even bigger... >_>; uhh, *please*). The hoof details are great. The slight wrinkling, the subtle vein-work, the ridges and details show you did your homework in referencing them, and their wholly-animalistic nature contrasts well against Hjalta's still mostly humanoid form. It kind of reminds me of a Satyr or a Faun in this regard. I think your footwork is one of your most notable artistic strengths, if this and your past work are anything to go by. Hell, it's not even really my thing as much as other stuff, but I really would like to knead Hjalta's feet long and intimately.
Magnus Irongut
2016-01-04 21:31:59 +0000 UTCSooooooooooo sexy!
SexyTurian69
2016-01-04 21:17:30 +0000 UTC
