Planning the project

Approaching the third week of the project, the first milestone was the presentation of the project. After the initial research period, i wanted to create a blockout of the 3d asset. I find that creating a character is easier with a turnaround for reference. I created one for Ax man, especially as he has such exaggerated proportions.

From this i created a 3d blockout of the character to represent what the rendered character would look like.
I am still not certain as to which artistic direction to produce the textures in. Stylistically i want create a sort of pastel pallet like the art design of Valve's Team fortress 2. Although i have considered generating a realistic look to the characters skin texture, in which i wouldn't just use a simple solid SSS material, as skin isn't a uniform substance, it requires various layers. A proper skin SSS shader has a subdermal, dermal and diffuse SSS texture channels, as well as weighting control for front, mid and back scatter.

Here's my initial blockout;

The topology is not representative of the final model. But proportionally, it will not change greatly.

The project requires a great deal of planning, as upcoming milestones alongside the writing of my dissertation leaves me with little time to concentrate on one element of the project over another. I have generated a Gantt chart with the main elements of the project and when i aim to have them finished by.

To summarize;

„Week 1- research/development

„Week2- concept/character & diorama blockout

„Week 3-presentation/ initial planning

„Week4- modelling character

„Week5- texturing character/ high poly modelling

„Week6- as above/ texturing diorama/FX

„Week7- rigging/contingency planning

„Week8-Alpha stage presentation/initial cinematic

„Week9- additional lighting/ composition

„Week10-contingency planning

„Week11-Final presentation/ cinematic video

„Week12 /onward- improving work based on feedback

 

Refining a concept

I chose to work on one of my own concepts, and develop the character in order to create a diorama to place the model into. The concept i chose to develop was Ax man, in my mind a super hero with an enormous build.

The notes i made were;

• „CHARACTER CONCEPT BASED ON MULTI PLAYER/ SUPER HERO GAMES
• „SIMILAR GAMES- CITY OF HEROES, ANARCHY REIGNS, GOTHAM CITY IMPOSTERS,  TEAM FORTRESS
• „STYLISED DESIGN –TOON/COMIC BOOK STYLE
• „EXAGERATED FEATURES  

After the initial concept i created a mood board, looking at related concepts of characters for inspiration of the colour pallet for the Ax man character.

 

I looked at characters such as Marvel's Juggernaut and DC's Bane primarily for inspiration of the colours and visual effect of the model. 

image references;

http://batman.wikia.com/wiki/Bane_%28Batman:_Arkham_Asylum%29

http://blacksadd.deviantart.com/art/Bane-327377994

http://www.comicvine.com/forums/battles-7/storm-vs-bane-h2h-645829/
http://raph.com/3dartists/artgallery/imagePage?iid=6620
http://www.fightersgeneration.com/nx5/char/juggernaut-sm-render.png
http://www.actionfigurepics.com/2010/06/marvel-select-juggernaut-production-pics
http://sankart.deviantart.com/art/Venom-Turnaround-347362096
http://cghub.com/images/view/169159/
http://www.maroonersrock.com/2011/02/anarchy-reigns-character-bio-jack/
http://www.maroonersrock.com/2011/02/anarchy-reigns-character-bio-big-bull/
http://charactermodel.tumblr.com/page/377

Creating a character

For advanced 3d i struggled to find a concept that met the brief of following a concept. After viewing numerous concepts i failed to find anything that grabbed or inspired me. I stepped away from the computer and sketched a few characters, although i had settled on a sci fi theme over fantasy. I draw cyborgs, zombies, mutants, and a hybrid character that comprised of various elements.