Today we first started by doing a quick recap in Maya to remember the interface, especially if some people hadn't used it for a while, and then we spoke about what we were going to be doing in the next couple of weeks to come. For a side project for this module we are going to be creating and rigging an alien character which we will be creating in Maya in preparation for the next module.
To begin with we started by using image references that were supplied to us and took them into Photoshop. We followed a tutorial that was supplied for us and broke up the image using ruler guides. We then used the selection tool to draw inside the ruler lines and used the expand selection tool by 5 pixels so that it was slightly outside the box.
We then repeated the process on the second area and did the same process.
In Maya we then added in the images onto the different perspective planes and ensured that the were all facing the right way.
Once they were in we then moved them apart so that they were on different sides of the grid and out of the way before we start the modelling process.
We then began modelling following the image guides that we had added in. I started with the foot, just working down the right hand side, as this felt more comfortable for me, and we were creating a symmetrical alien which we would just duplicate the other side later. I started by getting in the basic shape first to get a feel for the model, as I had never created anything this complex before and then went back after to add in the finer details.
I then worked up onto the torso, following the guides that I had put into place and followed it up the right hand side of the torso, for this part I also deleted the faces that would be joining onto the other side so that they would match up better later when I merged the vertex together.
I then moved onto the arms, which I ended up making a few times in order for them to be right and how I wanted them. In the end I am happy with the look of them and I think I have all the muscles coming through in the right places.
Lastly I worked on the head, this was definitely the most difficult part, and as they were facial features to add on as well, I saved this until last. I started off by using a cube which was free standing but this didn't work out very well so I went back to just extruding the head upwards instead, which seemed to work a lot better.
At the moment I am very happy with how it looks, well how halve of it looks, and I'm excited to finish off the rest of the facial features, even though I know there going to be tricky. So the first thing I started out doing was mirroring the body so that I had a full alien then I began to sort out some of the features that had been altered by the mirroring.
I just did a quick smooth preview to see how it was going and it was looking good so far.
I then moved onto the facial features, something I found very difficult to get right, and I did not enjoy this stage of the project at all. I started by deleting a space for the eyes and mouth, as they would be separate geometry that would fit into the model. I then added more geometry around the eyes so that they could be shaped further but I still wasn't really happy with how it was looking; my model was very divided into cubes instead of being more sculpted shapes around the face, but I found this very hard to change around without making a mess of the face.
I then added the eyes that would be going into the sockets, this just consisted of a low poly sphere with two semi-spheres around the edge of it to act as the eye-lids and then sculpted the area around the eyes to make the shape of the face more prominent and give it more depth. I then went to adding the pocket in the mouth by extruding it in. I am relatively happy with the look of the face, I would have liked to add a little more detail around the edges of the mouth but I was having trouble with the faces so decided to leave it in the end as I was still happy with the result.
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