Creating a Creature Workflow: Part 1,2,3

[Ken]

Hi guys,
My workflow videos(mainly using mudbox2011) is coming out on the AREA (login required).

Part 1 (http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials/creating_a_creature_workflow_part_1)
Chapter 1: Concept
Chapter 2: Creating Base Mesh
Chapter 3: Primary Form
Chapter 4: Secondary Form
Chapter 5: Tertiary Form


Part 2 (http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials/creating_a_creature_workflow_part_2)
Chapter 6: Drawing the Topology Frame
Chapter 7: Retopologizing
Chapter 8: Extract Displacement Maps
Chapter 9: Sculpt Model using Displacement Map
Chapter 10: Final Details and Extract Map

Part 3 (http://area.autodesk.com/tutorials/creating_a_creature_workflow_part_3)
Chapter 11: Painting Bump Map
Chapter 12: Painting Color Map
Chapter 13: Rendering (Maya)
Chapter 14: Compositing (Toxik)
Chapter 15: Finished Render

Hope those videos would be helpful for your some work...
And they are a little bit fast, I guess you can't understand well regarding the flow, but there is nothing special technic, and I didn't have time restriction to create them. I can support own vids, so let me know if you want to know about the details.

Thank you,

[PascalR]

Great work Ken, I am definitely going to check yours vids out :dance:

[oglu]

great work... i love those creature...

ken could you explain the shader creation a bit more in depth…
im really confused..?

looks like you havent used the VDM to render the final...?

[Tom]

Thank you for sharing =]

[tonytrout]

I second Oglu, its so fast :D I would be interested in the VDM setup in maya, it looks like you are using ashmans script and then putting in the VDM separately?

[Aumakua]

Excellent work Ken, thank you so much! I've already downloaded all the videos to watch them tonight ;)

[Ken]

@Pascal
Thanks :) I'd think you already know about those technics...but I'm glad if you watch!

@Tom
My pleasure! hope it would be helpful for you.

@tonytrout
Thanks :)
Yeah, you're right. I used ash's scripts to create shading network.
About VDM, I'll explain later with shading work.

@Nick
hey, you already downloaded!? haha. thanks anyway!

@oglu
Thanks mate ;)
I posted his shading network and attribute settings, so please check them out. there is nothing special, I guess..

About VDM,
Now, MentalRay can not render using the map so far, so if you'd like to use on MR, you need to create custom shader for it. but I know, It's kind of hard work... Fortunately, I could get a sample shader from my co-worker, but I can't publish it because of the my company regulation. sorry, but I suggested about the shader to develop to Autodesk help desk.

http://www.kenichinishida.com/temp/creature_Hypershade.jpg

http://www.kenichinishida.com/temp/creature_Attr.jpg

Thanks,

[tonytrout]

Thanks Ken clap You have to wonder when VDM is a feature of Mbox. Hopefully someone will write a shader and share.

[pitiwazou]

Very interesting, thx ;)

[locky10]

Thanks for this nice tutorial

[Storm]

I just love this character, great attitude, and extremely convincing shapes. And thanks for sharing the tut, I always love seeing other people sculpt ;)

[Ken]

@tonytrout
you're welcome :)
yeah, I also HOPE someone write and share the shader sometime...
Own shader is just a sample/wip, so I also want a fix version asap!!

@pitiwazou
thanks :)

@locky10
yeah, if you have any question or something, feel free to ask me anything!

@Storm
my pleasure, Storm. I love seeing other talented artist's stuffs!!

[Elvinsiew]

great tutorial! inspiring!! clap

[Andalous]

very nice work:bouncy:

[ianucci]

Thanks Ken, fantastic creature and and very interesting to see your workflow. :notWorthy:

Couple of questions, I noticed when cutting wrinkles into the model you were using the sculpt brush, did you use a super sharp fall off on the brush? Because I tend to use the knife tool for that kind of thing.

Also, you said you don't like to use bump maps, what did you mean by that exactly?

[Ken]

@Elvinsiew
Hi, Thanks for your compliment!

@Andalous
Thank you so much :) It would be helpful on your work.

@ianucci
Hiya, thanks feedback!
Yeah, you're right. using sculpt brush is my just habit from ver1.0. When I use the brush that is sculpting wrinkle, I will always use the most sharp falloff (you can use Ctrl+1 hotkey). But of course, I think you can use the knife brush.

About bump map,
Actually, I'd like to create/sculpt whole details without any bump map, but usually, it's impossible, right? And if I could, I think it would be perfect details. Also If I would, I need really really a hi spec pc, but I can't use it..
Anyway, usually, we should use bump/normal map to add some tiny details, I think. because you don't need wasted memory. Hope you could get my explanation:) There was nothing special meaning, sorry.

[ianucci]

Thanks for the explanation Ken, I thought that might be what you meant. All depends on the density your machine can handle I guess. What was the poly count for this creatures top level subdivision?

[Ken]

yeah, If my pc has many memory and 64bit OS, I think I could.
the creature is about 6mil poly. I know it's not too high level, generally...

[goktugg]

very nice work... also thanks a lot for this tutorial...