What big teeth you have! (The better to eat you with)
Thanks!
Decided to make another skull for 3D print. Mostly based on specimen MWC 1 with parts adapted from other Ceratosaurus fossils. I normally create these orthographic views traditionally with pencil and tracing paper, this time I drew it entirely digitally in Krita on my SurfacePro, traced over digitally assembled reference.
Original research paper here-
Some specimen photos viewable online at WitmerLab-
In the next few weeks I'm hoping to put a new PC together so I can have a go at the Blender 2.8/2.9 series. With my current hardware I'm still mostly bound to v2.79 but that will be fine for making this model.
Thanks I'll try.I enjoy your stuff so much! More, please! You are such a gifted artist!
For a change I thought I'd have a go at some ancient weapons, maybe try and make a little pocket money as 3D game assets. There's plenty others doing this though so it'll probably just be a fun diversion.
3 grid squares equals 10cm, I admit it's a bit of a daft scale but it means my A4 gridded paper can represent an area of 1.9 x 1.4 meters, big enough for most sword lengths. The initial idea is to make medium and low poly 3D objects.
First scribbles
Draws swords! Do I detect a pun?
Went a bit further back in time for this batch.
The Thracian/Dacian blades are sharp on the inside curve, should've drawn them facing the other way to match the other drawings but never mind.
This one's been brooding in the background for too long, time to get started on the 3D model.
I'll put a few process pics up but not too many 'cause it slows me down. If anyone's interested in my methods there's a few threads here on the Dinotoy Forum.
T.rex W.I.P.
Styracosaurus skull W.I.P.
Dimorphodon W.I.P.
Mosasaurus W.I.P.
Used Krita's color-to-alpha filter to make the ortho drawing transparent for placement in Blender as a template.
I'll put a few process pics up but not too many 'cause it slows me down. If anyone's interested in my methods there's a few threads here on the Dinotoy Forum.
T.rex W.I.P.
Styracosaurus skull W.I.P.
Dimorphodon W.I.P.
Mosasaurus W.I.P.
Used Krita's color-to-alpha filter to make the ortho drawing transparent for placement in Blender as a template.
To make the skull I'm going to employ the same 3-step process I used for the Mosasaurus and the Styracosaurus, it's a bit of an odd approach but I like it.
Starting the scaffold by approximating the form with subdivision surfaces, this eliminates a lot of messing about push/pulling a cube or sphere into shape.
- freeform a 'scaffold sculpt' to form the basic shape
- construct a low poly mesh over the scaffold
- subdivide the low poly mesh and add details
Starting the scaffold by approximating the form with subdivision surfaces, this eliminates a lot of messing about push/pulling a cube or sphere into shape.
Some sculpt brush, a lot of push/pull with the grab tool and a couple of remeshes later
Think I've got the shape roughly where I want it
Think I've got the shape roughly where I want it
Your skill with Blender is fantastic!!
Thanks guys, glad this is of interest.
This is the process the building a poly cage. I like to work out the polygon flow by painting lines on the scaffold model. I start by defining the major edges, then fill in a traverse lines to make ladders of irregular, mostly 4-sided areas. It's a bit of trial and error and usually takes a few redos. Then with face snapping on I can just add polygons over the painted guides.
I've got a bit further since I made this GIF but I'm done for today, I'll check it over tomorrow and probably post some updates over the weekend.
Might as well keep pushing this forward while I'm in the mood. Theropod teeth in Blender, a relaxing break from making the cranium. Apart from the profile shape the main thing is to make sure they are narrow.
The solidify modifier is my quick and easy way to add thickness to the polygon surface. Once it's applied I'll need to make a few adjustments with respect to inner structures. Also form a cranium roof.
The solidify modifier is my quick and easy way to add thickness to the polygon surface. Once it's applied I'll need to make a few adjustments with respect to inner structures. Also form a cranium roof.
Viewed separately, the palette and brain-case section (green) looks like some kind of alien slug. Just need to get it joined to the cranium to complete the base mesh.
The orange rings are a place holder for the jaw's pivot point.
The orange rings are a place holder for the jaw's pivot point.
This is how the connected mesh came out
Too much happening last couple of weeks to do much with this but I managed to get back on it Wednesday night. Reckon I'm done with the sculpting part.
Now for the next stage which is making ready for 3D print, so I'll need to make-
Too much happening last couple of weeks to do much with this but I managed to get back on it Wednesday night. Reckon I'm done with the sculpting part.
Now for the next stage which is making ready for 3D print, so I'll need to make-
- poly reduced version
- knuckle and pivot for jaw hinge
- Jaw brace part(s) for tension fit jaw
- cylindrical hole under brain-case area to mount stand
Blender's decimate modifier can get a couple of million polys down to a few hundred thousand without mangling the details. I don't go too fine with details anyway as they disappear in the print.
Made the parts for the print version. This is just about ready now, going to try it at these scales- 1:8, 1:10, 1:12 and 1:16.
Made the parts for the print version. This is just about ready now, going to try it at these scales- 1:8, 1:10, 1:12 and 1:16.
