I'm claiming the fancy sign.

Status Report Description:
Fancy sign model for - Brautigan's Balloon Bazaar


script reference:

2_07_30
CAP’N BILL, TROT, SCARECROW & PON walk together to a big sign that says, "Brautigan’s Balloon Bazaar."

Some character flavor:

2_07_32
BRATUIGAN (barks)
Oh, my gents, my genteels, my good .. strawman. Come sail the skies! Come ride the clouds! Come float in the vast ocean of the sun!


I'll review and render out the Bazaar set to get a feel for the space. I'll also place some balloons.

Any design docs (sorry, if this is in an obvious space).

Great. Can't wait to see the sign.

There's a sign on svn already. Can you replace that as it's linked into the chors. Thanks.

Some ideas floating around in my head.

I'm seeing more painted, wrought iron in the next version. Maybe Eiffel tower meets some Paris Metro signage. I see a number of pennants flying in the wind or maybe something turning like a windmill.

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First draft incorporates the stone work of the actual bazaar, combined with some potential iron work. The balloon on top would be shiny, painted tin. Maybe the sign is wood.

I know that I've got a lot of disparate elements, but I like to see the different elements together. I don't know that this works, but I'm liking the elements. More of a Zoo Sign (older zoos).

I'd also thought about Brautigan adding his own name to a long standing sign. Maybe pasting his name on the sign. Feedback?

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I'll need to check in the current model this afternoon.

Looks good! Don't check it in. Just over-write the proxy sign that's already there.

1. Removed the proxy. I've got a really big sign now.
2. Added to SVN w/ textures
3. Change proportions of columns to arch and signs

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awesome. thanks.

Working on a new direction. Created an iron framework for the sign.

Checked into SVN.

Latest render below:

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Completed a nicer iron work sign w/ some nice posts.

Latest WIP has been submitted to SVN.

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To do:

1. Detail out hardware connections
2. Add some wood texture to the sign
3. Add some more cloud and wind details to the arch (at least).

That looks good. Go with that one.

Created some curving accents and the connection collars. Added to SVN

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Next steps:

1. complete the joints
2. rework the top curve details?
3. detail out the tin balloon
4. add some detail to the sign and the iron work to secure the sign to the frame
5. revisit the lower detail. I can see some improvements here, but lower priority

That is a really nice looking sign, but the words need to be MUCH bigger.
Have them fill up the entire available space so they can be read from a great distance.
Also, do you know how to curve text along a path in whatever program you used to create the text? Can you curve the word "Brautigan's" across the top of the sign so it follows the curved contour?
If the image of the balloon no longer fits on the sign when you enlarge the letters, perhaps you can slide it behind the words or, if that doesn't work, omit it? The important thing is to be able to read the words easily from a distance.

Thanks for the feedback. The sign text is just placeholder that I threw together (oops, I didn't mention this in my next steps!) and one of the next fixes.

I was thinking along the same lines for large letters across the top, matching the curve. I have a photoshop document with layers for the text and balloon, so I can rearrange this all quickly.

I should have another revision sometime this weekend.

Completed a revision of the sign texture w/ some better text.

Latest version:


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Next steps:

1. model cleanup: curves
2. More detail on the sign texture
3. Get a bump map for the sign texture (wood planks)
4. Replace top balloon with something better.

Great progress! It's gonna be a nice sign.

Latest Version.

1. Created an inflatable balloon w/ a new decal. Fixed decal positioning.
2. Added some smaller balloons

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Next steps (carried forward)
1. model cleanup: curves
2. model addition: add detail to the top of the arch
2. More detail on the sign texture. Maybe Brautigan's face?
3. Get a bump map for the sign texture (wood planks)
4. Add some netting to keep the balloon attached.

Just a thought. Could the balloon move up and down a little? Like an A:M version of the old fashioned neon sign movement.

Wow! It's really come on since I last looked.



I like this idea. It'll be another reason for the group to talk to Brautigan (ie they know he owns the place).



How about a rope/string.

number,

just wanted to say that before I added my unsolicited 2 cents worth, I should have mentioned that I think you have made an excellent sign. I've watched it evolve from the beginning and it just keeps getting better. Very well done.

The sign is looking GREAT!!

Kudos on the attention to the finer details. I can't wait to see the finished model.


Great work!!

George

Added a rope for the big balloon and reset the smaller balloons. Added materials, textures, and new model to SVN.


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1. Completed wood texture on the sign
2. Added Brautigan to the sign

Latest render below. All checked in.

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Next steps
1. expore an action for the balloon animation
2. finalize the sign image (add more balloons?)

1. Complete on the sign image (modulo feedback). Latest texture in SVN.

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Next steps:
1. animation action
2. tweaks from feedback

Awesome. Can you put some kind of bump map on the part with the decal so it looks like old white-washed wood?

I have a bump map on the sign for the wood texture, but can see that the unpainted areas should look like bleached wood (better color, some distressing, darken the recessed areas to match the bump).

Maybe I need to tweak the wood bump map in addition to fixing the texture?

Thanks for reviewing.

Sun bleached wood texture created. Fixed some issues w/ the specular bitmap. Added some bones to the balloons and simple pose slider for big balloon action.

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I'll call this my Release Candidate for modeling and texturing.

I'll complete some more rigging and pose sliders.

Looks great.
Instead of fussing with more pose sliders, could you create a 12-24 frame action where the balloons and stuff wave slightly in the wind?
That would be a lot more useful to the animators.

Sure, no problem. May take a couple days given my current schedule.

I have yet to save out an action. I see an actions folder in the set, so do I save there?

Since this action applies only to the sign, save it in the same folder as the sign.
Thanks!

Completed a 48 frame sequence. I really couldn't get a nice animation w/ 12-24. Hope that this is OK.

Still need to animate the left flag, clean up the hanging rope, and any fixes that are called out.

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That's great, number. Congratulations on making your first Action

Completed blue pennant animation. I think that I need to fix the sway back and forth, but I'm happy w/ the traveling wave.

All in SVN.

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next steps:
1. fix blue pennant sway
2. animate red pennant
3. finalize textures

Fixed pennant swing and completed red pennant animation.

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I have some small fixes for the texturing, but otherwise complete.

final texture tweak done and added to SVN.

Final action done and submitted.

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I've got no more open issues.

done done? (as we say at work)

Looks great. I would say it's done