Match Moving 0.1

Not much to say for now, beside that it seems really good so far. I am reading this recommended book about Match Moving and I think I will try to get a job as matchmover. It seems like the type of job I'd like to do for a while, can't wait to get started on it.

Video Production 0.1

New (Academic) Year is upon us and so more work, which is quiete exciting. Might have start updating this earlier, but didn't have much to show yet. It week 2 only and I already think the classes are better than before, though also more work at home, especially if I wanna get placement next year.

Anyway, this class is real fun, the teachers are great and the subject is great too. I know some of it from High School so wont be such a problem for me, hopefuly and I am sure with my hand-picked team we can come up with some cool stuff. Our main idea so far is 2 minutes parody of Snow White, not sure what expectaly yet as we all seem to have different ideas, but there will be lots of "easter eggs".

So far we are not focusing on it in the class yet, we only do group meetings to get our  script/storyboard down soon. In the class we had introduction and today we did short filming after training with cameras, which was fun! I got to be the director-ish and camera man for our group. There was also pretty helper girl that we got to record acting, so it was a fun day. Only it was really windy, like a lot so sometime it was hard to keep still.

Some pictures from today of me and my group, my fourth minion was taking the pics so not in the shot =P

Maya 3.8

Had some hard time last few days, so needed to take a break. I think some of it was because I didn't want to end up doing what I do every other day, PhotoShoping, and unfortunately the tutorials were mainly about making the texture in PS. Decided to work on it more today and I like how it came out. Need to finish the rest tomorrow and improve the text on the side. Then there is problem with smooth and UVs going funny on the wings, so might need to fix that too, the smooth edges go over black areas and stripes aren't straight. Other than that I have done the colour map, bump map and specular map.

Maya 3.7

Finally have finished watching the tutorials, more or less, so now I can work at my own pace with the texture. I have done colour, bump and specular map for the body, though its missing still some of its painting and decals, the tutorials have been showing only one wing so the rest I did without help. I think the specular map did help to bring out the subtle differences in the metal colour, though that might have been due to stronger light in the scene. Think tommorow I can finish, or at least be close to it that I dont have to pause every half and hour or so. Then its the other part of the plane to do, but those should be fairly simple, will see how it goes. Here is latest render.

Maya 3.6

Been working since morning but still didn't do enough progress I think. I watch tutorials and work on my texture between then, which isn't fast and takes some time, but I am making steady progress. It takes a while because I want it to look good and as I mentioned before I am working on 2k square, so its big too and UVs my plane takes most of the space as it should.Since last update I have added dirt, dust, some more detailing to the metal, rust and started on the decal. I am no 100% sure on those, but I do like them so far. My logic behind them they are stickers and would get damaged first at front because of the air flow when the plane flies. Overall I am aiming towards damaged/veteran looking plane that just got out of a fight, like landed after a mission. I do like it how its coming out. I love texturing =)

Maya 3.5

I think this project is getting longer then it should because my PC just takes so much time to process stuff, to a point where it really frustrates me, but its better than nothing at all. Been working on making teh texture most of the day and I think I finally have the base of it down for better part. At first there was some time wasting with cutting out additional paint panels, but overall the tutorials have been helpful. I do like how its coming alone, but watching turotials, then making it myself is time consuming so its not as fast as when I would do it all by myself. Though I have learned some new tips and tools for PhotoShop, but mostly been using my own techniques to make the texture.

The first is picture is just basic colours of pain and decals. Second one is render where the panels have been given new colour and some variation to look more real. The third has even more details and weathering on the panels then second, I believe its almost done, as far as base of the silver-ish metal goes, will add some more marks later on, like dust, bullet holes and rust. Under it is the texture itself, though its only 25% of the original one, I am working on 2k square format.

 

Maya 3.4

Didn't do much in the afternoon and before that because I was sleeping and then cleaning my room, but I did catching up in the evening, so hence why this is posted after midnight. It has been kinda slow progress because I had Maya and PhotoShop open while working with 2048x2048 textures and renders, this PC just couldn't keep up. Can't wait to get new one in September. I wish I would have done these tutorials a long time ago when I was still working on my university project, it would have helped me so much. Been an idiot wasting all that time, seriously. Knowing about projecting textures and baking them, I wouldn't have to go through all the shit I did and probably would score higher as well. Well, lesson learned the hard way. Also PS CS4 exdented doesn't have Extraction filter... rip off. It has been great learning about this texturing, it will help me a lot. Personally I think some of the projecting was unnecessary because lots of the decals could have been just drawn onto the main texture with panels, which I think could have been done first. It might have saved time and wouldn't require extracting decals from white background later. Here is my P-51 "Devil's Daughter" so far, its still work in progress, but it will get there soon enough.I should mention its low-poly mesh, no smooth yet.