Starting again - Last time!!!!!

From the last model. I had tried to work on it and fixing and altering it but it took too much time and I was getting little angry with myself, so what I did is what I do best after a long time is to start over again. This I have done that toooo much for this paper.

This is much more structured and better looking. Using the zSpheres again to create the main base of the tree. 

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Problem

When i was done and made all the brushes I wanted for the tree. I went and did the normal 'A' button to see it as a model. It crashes!!!!!! :'(

It was doing fine when I was building it up until the ending. WHY!!!!!!!

Went back to older files to see if it happened to them as well. Some older ones are working fine which is near the middle of the build. but when it went past one point where I got Durgesh to help and find the problem after a days work on it. it was that there was tooooo many small zSpheres that it couldn't read when it was opened. So next time i will need to remember that check files, check space, check the speed of the computer, check that you haven't added extra small parts when using zSperes, check how the model is looking like. and check more depends on what I am doing

Back to the process

So from the practises and exploring. I have noticed that with all of my models that I create and make always tends to be on a really small scale so it doesn't look like what it could be, but a mini version where its still a baby or a different type.

Needed to watch out for my proportions when modelling and have a clear image to always go back to so that I don't go off track.

Working on my model and idea.

I have finally found an image of my memory tree that I have reference to when working on my model. It will guild me better of a direction when I start my process. 

I noticed as well that now that it was based on my memory and trying to create it again. But now it feels like it has changed to simple nature design. My character will still be a tree that I remember of and make it the main focus point and the stand out. 

This was influenced and idea now from the Movie 'Avatar'. The sprite tree gives life and the meaning behind it. It really creates emotions. 

I want to keep mine to be a normal neighbourhood.

My drawing outline scanned in and import in as a reference image to work next to it. One thing I must of done wrong that the image was set in the middle so that the model was a little challenging to work with.

(usure what I did wrong and didn't work out well but its better than nothing).

Started the process with using zSpheres.

thought i would get a hang of this fast but sadly Im much slower than ever to learn how to place and work it to make it right to what I want but I still managed to still didn't do it well.

Test trying with the details i have for it

I noticed that that the poly-face isn't as smooth and much larger than I wanted to. I tried to subdivide it with the SDiv. Was at a point that I was mad with myself that nothing isn't really working to what I wanted but still needed to continue on and work.

Test tried to make some small details on the brunches. I used push and pull and masking the area I wanted to do it. It was pretty simple to get that done and it worked. But than the tree still looks really odd to me still. Doesn't look right and structure wasn't working for me again.

 


The chunkiness feeling and I think to realisation that its out of proportion again. But I still want to find out how I can fix and make the subdivide work.
After talking to Tanya, I relized that It was in another section where I have to click 'Divide" to make it work. I felt so stupid that it took me nearly a week to figure out. Thanks google for not helping and maybe still my fault cause I didn't asked and word the right thing.

 Looks much better with the small change by adding the division on.

NTS (note to self) - Remember to divide, BUT don't go over divide 5. Its max and doesn't function well.

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Working with what I have with my model

One thing that didn't turned out well was these two round bobs. I wanted and intended to make it look separated but still connect with the top part.

Need a lot of fixing and tools method to see if I can do it and challenge myself to use as much and know as much and learn what tools zbrush have.

 Using Clay tool to build up the surface.

Things to look at......

Explore trees.

Explore what I really wanted to do

I'm confusing myself :(

Stick to one

Why is this so hard to really sticking to one and go for it

Weekend workshop - zBrush workshop!! YAY

So so so. I'm glad to able to go to a workshop where Maddy from weta came in and showed us some basic tools and methods to work around zBrush

Tutorials - Hot / Short Cut keys

I feel that I should go back and look up tutorials to learn what I wanted to learn from the start.

While watching zBrush tutorials, I came along some methods and words that I can make myself remember with zBrush hot keys or so called short cuts.

Since I'm so bad with remembering the main good ones to use without getting lost in mind with Maya, I've written it down (Well the ones I've come across to now).

Changing to Maya again now

I don't know why I want to change back again to maya now. Maybe I'm not feeling right about zBrush or know enough to what I wanted to.....

More to write under

Moving on to a tree-ish mood

I've started FINALLY ish with a tree that I like and happy to show. Its just practicing but still need heaps to learn

 
Working stage middle point (all the same), but different perspective view point.

 so on the left is the way i work with, but when I put it showing a different view section thing, it shows me the grids ects.

Working stage the same, but different perspective view point.

Finished end ish point and stopped working on it.

Research on zBrush trees out there already

 http://viccortis.com/tree



Images I looked at about trees that other people had done before.
Just getting inspirations on what type of tree to do apart from oak.

Following simpler tutorials to go with figure making

 So from the Left is mine, the right is the tutorial. I'm pretty happy to say that I have followed pretty well BUT am still not confident with it and little confused as well. But hey hey, Im doing better than not able to get a circle to move and stretch. (Its close enough for now hehehehe)

First test tree on zBrush

So now that I have chosen to do a tree and have looked at many tutorials and ways to attempt it. Here I go with it.

#1 = NOOOOOO CLUE ON WHAT I AM DOING STILLLLL!!!!!!!! One work, LOST
#2 =
#3 =
#4 =
#5 =
#6 =

Test trying zBrush

Having no clue on what zbrush does, I went and follow a Lynda.com tutorial about the basics.
Even though that it is the basic and the beginning level, I still having trouble on following what he is doing and showing and the version is a little different which i couldn't get my head around it with some parts.

Started to build a person figure.

Key notes to self when watching tutorials

When following a tutorial, Ryan showed some short cut and hot keys to remember when using zBrush.

Research : Video & Photos of leaves ext

Tutorials

looking for ideas:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXQBQzSU5q4

Inspirations

http://www.lynda.com/3ds-Max-tutorials/David-Lesperance-Digital-Environment-Design/170631-2.html

http://www.lynda.com/ZBrush-tutorials/3D-Printing-ZBrush/161313-2.html

Week Two : Idea

As mentioned before hand when talking about character design of a memory of my own. Thinking that a character design means a character as a character cartoon or person/animal. But I never of thought that a tree would come to mind. where a strong memory of my early primary school childhood of a oak tree (pretty sure it was a oak tree or if I'm wrong, a massive big tree with acorns and flying leafs falling down.) AND as well the later years of primary school childhood where my best friend and I play horses on these longish branch/trunk on small trees.

Memories......

What is memories?.....
To me, it is something where something have had happened in the past where that moment or part of life you remember. It could be very vivddd and memorable which could be under different and many category.
Happy, sad, mixed emotion.
Family, Friends, Neighbours
Adult, Idol, childhood
Play, park, toy(s), music/instruments

What type of memories are there?...

To what I have found with the basics of understanding what there is is :
- repressed memories
- creative memories


I also looked into humans memories section to understand how we think and sections.

I never knew that there was sooo many sections a memory can be categories to. 

Research : Arthur on a book.

As recommended by Tanya, I looked at a look by Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods.

It was fascinating with the facts and knowledge he says and allow you think and understand what the world is changing to.

Research : On ideas out there

Researching on the idea of having a real space area to a nice animated form.

 Looking at surrounding areas, Buildings structure.

My Brief so far to my ideal

Aim


Overview



Methods/Process

Week Two - Class time with tutor.

I was stuck on the idea on what to do during the first week before second week class time.

I had thought that I really like to continue with character design where I have to model well, than go and texture it and do the rigging to perfection or.... at least to a better skill level to myself.

The other would be the a new thing that people don't really do is surrounding/environment design.
Bring out a place out where its nice and peaceful. Like my first intention was a city street or a park, than model it and having no people in it and making it a new feeling and surrounding for the viewers to see what they feel (Experience).

But then the idea of having a nice memories would be a nice direction to go with as I would go and get stories from someone special and recreate there memory.

After talking to Tanya with my idea and thoughts, I have had narrowed it down to the same idea of memories, but not of others but of my own.