STUDIO 2 Journal entry week: 2

So Week two was quite good actually, I even enjoyed myself (I know right!?).

I learnt more in this last week than I have quite a while.

This week I completed my Art Bible, Final Character Design, Final Story Board, Started mock-up modelling my Character and learnt an extensive amount about rigging.

Art Bible

My Art bible Consisted of a multitude of Mood Boards, my Character designs, Storyboards, Treatment and Environment Layout Map.

Final Character

I tried to merge a few of my initial design together to create this little guy (from my previous blog), however I drew most inspiration from the character in the hat (I may or may not model a hat when it comes to 3D modelling (oh yes, by the way I have officially decided to create 'Sludge' in 3D).

Story Board

This is my final Storyboard, I have chosen to include 3 camera angles instead of just 2.

Started Modelling

This is a Mock-Up model of my Sludge character. I have since practiced rigging on him, however for my final character I will be re-modelling, and using this model as a backup if need be.

Learnt about Rigging

So during my last lesson we went through how to manually rig a blob character (very helpful for me as my actual character is basically a blob). Below is some of the info I noted down to remember how to rig:

- To create Bones go: Rigging, Skeleton, Create bones. Then click to add bones. Name them.

- To create Nurbs go: Rigging, Curves Surfaces, Circle.

- To create eyes that move: Create sphere with a pupil. Add a Lattice (Modelling, Deform, Lattice). Have to put eye in the right spot first. Make sure lattice is bigger than the eye.

Add curves in front of the eyeballs by snapping then to the centre (make sure they are directly in front of the eyes). Then make a bigger curve around the two little curves. Parent the small circles to the big circle. Click on the correct curve then the correct eye then go Rigging, Constrain, Aim [], maintain constrain.

- Parent curves to bones: Rigging, Constrain, Parent. Name.

- Parenting Eyes to move with character: Select all eye related things, then click the nurb you want controlling it, then press P. Then Click the lattices and the eyelids and then click the bone you want controlling it and go: Rigging, Skin, Bind skin.

- To bind the mesh to the bones: Click the mesh, then click all the bones, Rigging, Skin, Bind skin.

On a non-animation related note, I went to a History reenactment festival in Lytton, QLD called 'History Alive'. I camped in a Viking encampment with my family and another viking group (however there were multiple viking groups and encampment there). It was very interesting as I have never been to anything like this, only Viking or medieval themed not all history combined (From Romans to WW2).

Here are a few photos:

Mid Chew

12th-13th Century York Encampment

I am Vegetarian myself, but there is something authentic to seeing meat cooking on the spit

My dad is a Blacksmith and was showing the World War reenactors his knives

Almost my entire outfit has been made by me or by friends and family

This was our encampment

Overall this was a very good week.