Working Practices

The first hurdle has arrived. It hasn't taken long to start having problems with this project. Until now I hadn't really thought about the implications of modelling abstract and non symetrical objects. In the past all I have done is model aesthetically pleasing symetrical people and square objects and never really thought about modelling organic shapes. Therefore I need a decent plan of action. I've looked on the web to see whether I could find any tutorials to cover this problem, needless to say to no avail. However, I have found something of use that I have never considered before. There was a tutorial about using cylinders to create a human being, I suppose it make a lot of sense as humans are rounded objects. Up to now I've always been starting with a divided cube. Taking this cylinder idea into my project may well help. That's where I will being it will hopefully make the legs and body easier to achieve.

Below is an early shot of the legs that I am creating using the cylinder construction I talked about




Another issue that I have also come across that I didn't give much thought to. I thought that by modelling some of the objects in plasticine before making them in maya would save time in the long run. I think it's an invaluable method, however, there are drawbacks. I thought that once I constructed the items and took appropriate photos that I could use them to help with the Maya construction process. The problem with using photos is that there is no easy way of ensuring the each angle has the same dimensions. For example the front shot doesn't line up with the back, they are different sizes. Really I should draw out the object and because it's not symetrical I should draw addition directions, front, back, top, head end, tail end and maybe underneath. I have proceeded without doing this but I have taken the photos directly into photoshop and tried my hardest to clean them up and size them to the same dimensions.











As you can see it's quite confusing to try and model from, I think if I had more time and I wasn't already horrendously behind schedule I'd change this. I'm sure it will still work out fine as the shapes are abstract anyway.