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Here is going to be my challenge entry I first modeled this character in 2000, this time I think I will be able to achieve the look I have in mind [since i've had some practice...]

Outstanding! Really looking forward to this Will.

Oh no! Will, you can't enter! The rest of us need a chance I was hoping that all of your threatenings to enter were just jokes to keep us on our toes!

The character already looks great. Is this a resculpt of the old one? What kind of environment are planning on putting him in?

I'm looking forward to watching your progress

Lee

I'm thinking of doing that "death dealer" scene, with ruins in the background.

From Frazetta's 1973 painting? That would be awesome.

LOL A strategically placed white spot! But you missed some bits. This should be fun to watch progress. I thought you might do that character that was fishing with fairies. Hopefully you'll do that in the future.

Awesome! I'll take a poster when you are through ;-)

Cant wait to see this one take shape.

I always loved Tar. I wonder how you're going to improve it any more. I love the concept and settings of your other Tar works.

I love TAR. I know you will make something great.

Still working on the character....just modeled the wrist strap

since i've had some practice just a bit lol
looking magic as usual looking forward to seing the texturing

Im looking forward to watch the progression

I've been doodling around trying to decide on how I want the Jowls to look and work, since I was unhappy with my earlier version...
A real hippo has a bit of a chin (left side of sketch), but giving less of a lower jaw--almost all lip, seems a little "cuter" (inked version). I will keep these ideas in my head tonight as I remodel that lower jaw area...

Does he have to be cute? Personally, I prefer the original.

Here is how it looks so far...Still working with just one side (the other half is just scaled -100% x-axis in the choreography)

Nice! Incredible work, as usual, Will!

Wow, he is looking real cool. Can't wait to see him textured.

It's great to see you in action again.

Looking good Will... It'll be great to see him in a full setting...

Will, is it me or does his head seem a little too small for his body?

This is looking really good Will,i can't wait too see more!

Jay

Yeah, this should be good!

He looks like a candidate for the Squetch Rig.

I've made it past copy/flip/attach...Now I will start adding the rest of his equipment. I was really pleased with the mouth this time, especially the insides (I had better references this time around)--and I even improved my technique stitching in the teeth

Will,

That looks awesome!

Actually stitched the teeth into the model mesh... WOW... "I'm not worthy!" just doesn't say it.

Jody, it was actually really easy--I'll see if I can post a brief tutorial. I remember taking forever to model the Balrogs teeth--once you try this, you'll never go back.


Teeth Stitching Tutorial

Start with the mesh of the jaw or gums. In this case I decided to model what could be a crocodile or dragon's lower jaw.
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Using the ADD tool, stitch a circle into the gum. This will become the base of a tooth.
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Select the splines in each circle and set the MAGNITUDE to 167%. For these teeth I have added a second ring, which will become the tooth cross-section later.
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Where the mesh doesn't have enough resolution for the number of teeth you want, stitch in more. These dangling splines will be HOOKS.
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After you get your teeth drawn in, you notice that the adjacent teeth have 6point areas between them. Fix this by stitching a spline between them. leave the end dangling, then HOOK it into the next patch.
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Here you see all of the teeth stitched in, but a lot of 5point patches to make!!!
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It's really not too bad...just work your way down the line. Turn on SHOW NORMALS (SHIFT+1) to make it easy to see which way the surface is pointing. If the direction is wrong, hit (F) to FLIP it.
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Select the spline where it runs into the base of each tooth and PEAK it (P). This will help create a distinct gumline where the tooth emerges.
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Select the center of the tooth and TRANSLATE it up. Then select the cross-section spline and move it up also. You may need to switch views as you go. Holding down (2) constrains movement to the Y-axis (up and down).
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Continue down the line and shape the rest of the teeth.
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COPY/FLIP/ATTACH to get the second half of your model. Easy!
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That's so simple! Pure genius!

Thank you for taking the time to show that - it's so much more satisfying than just plonking a tooth into a gum. And the process is relevant for many other things too.

you're very welcome. That was the reason why I posted an example--it really isn't just about teeth

dude thats awesome, i gonna do that right...(opens A:M)....now!

Wow your amazing. I think you have easily won this contest without even texturing it.

Keep it up.

It's going to look fantastic,

Added some sandals...

Looking nice will. Did you use any special light settings for that render? it looks nice. I like seeing him in an environment.

one sun + ambient occlusion. setting the groundplane to front projection target.

The model looks cool.

I took your render and pushed the saturation to the max to show the colors that are in the photo vs the colors that are on Tar. To match the same light as in the photo, see the direct lit sand which is yellow-orange and the shadowed sand which is blue, you need to set the AO color to blue and the suncolor to yellow.

When he gets older are you gonna give him some black socks to go with those sandels?

Yves, if you set the Global color to anything other than WHITE (I originally was using Image based lighting), then the front projection target (ground) picks up that color and doesn't match the rotoscope. So I'm aware that the lighting isn't correct--if I were going to composite an animation in Aftereffects, I'd light it to match the scene and render Tar and his shadow separately, then composite with the background plate....since I'm still just working on the model, it didn't seem to be important to do all that extra work.

Is there a way to have an object not recieve the ao color or alter the color it recieves? That would be handy.

probably the easiest work around is to use a Klieg light with a colored shadow.

I think this will be his basic gear... I think I will add things like weapons, belt pouches, etc as actions. Now I need to start painting some textures.

Looking good.

Can't wait for the weapons and the textures.

How about if you add a axe at his belt or something like that. It could be made of wood?

Will,

That looks great!!!

We're missing you at the Hash Bash though...

*HUGS*

saw a cool tutorial in 3DWorld of terrain, which gave me an idea......

After creating the terrain with the terrain wizard, I ran Marcel Bricman's "PuZh" plug-in. The plug-in pushes the CPs a set distance along their surface normals, which makes the weathered gullies really look good--it makes the gullies seem to cut into the rock more naturally and swells the hills a bit. [It's kind of funny, because the tutorial I read was done in Max--it took 2 pages of step by steps! This was done with 2 clicks!]

Great technique Will. It looks really great.

2 clicks eh? Wow.

I agree! WOW from me too!!!

Will that terrain looks mighty good.....

Great work! Looking forward to see the progress... :-)

Just a before/after example of a hightfield generated terrain (from the terrain wizard) to adding a bit of inflation (PuZh wizard).

freaking awesome!

C

Still playing

OK, Here is the setting that I think I will work with....I'm pickturing a pile of bodies, armor, weapons,etc. scattered all around the hill--In the style of Frazetta's Conan