Playing in Mental Ray is fast and fun! (Before I had this computer I didn't think that was possible)

Before Gamma correction

After Gamma correction

I figured out how to correct gamma.
I'm running into topology issues. Some places are not smoothing smoothly.

I tried a test render in Mental Ray.  This is the first time I've run Mental Ray on this computer rig (i5 2500k) and it's FAST! O_0  This can only mean lots of fun in the future, instead of aging waiting for renders. :)

The Camaro is coming along. The orthos were accurate, but there are a lot of details I've had to look at reference pictures online to figure out.  This is definitely taking longer than if it was an original design, esp since I hope to do the Camaro (and all the Chevy freaks out there) justice.

I started a new project yesterday.  I've been modeling a low poly game character for awhile and could use a change in pace.  So-car time!  The new camaro should be enough fun to stay interesting.  I've learned a lot from modeling the character.  I am modeling much faster and cleaner now, and understand how to keep my mesh resolution in check.  I have two old vehicle meshes I can't wait to go in and clean up after this.

I pretty much finished texturing the van, but haven't posted it yet because it's not totally finished. I will post it from now on, finished or not.

And spell check doesn't like the word texturing.

Tailights

Painted some taillights based on some reference images.

 

The result in 3d

 

Today I was with friends and we drove by one of these vans which was parked far away, at night, in a dark parking lot.  I immediately knew it from the taillights. Strange how since I re-illustrated every detail of this entire van, I know it a little too well.  It soon will be starring in the dreams of my sub-conscience.

 

Headlight

 Here's a preview of a vehicle I'm texture painting in Photoshop.

I was soo tempted just to project a photo of the headlights I got off the net, but I'm glad I didn't.  Looks waay more consistent!  The photograph of the headlight is on top, and the headlight I painted in Photoshop is on the bottom.  No Wacom, just lots of masking and a mouse.

Always take the time to find good reference! It saved time in the long run.

It looks way more complicated than it is.  Some layer styles, dodging and burning, some amber painted in with masking, and reflections painted in.  Note to self: learn to let go of making billions of layers.  I think I have about 16 layers in the headlight..80 layers in the total texture.  Must....be...nondestructive...

I blog, therefore I am

First post!  I've been inspired by a former student and college friend to start a blog in order to document any fun experiments, projects and learning processes I go through.  I figure I will be getting much-needed feedback from friends (and strangers).  Being on the internet with other bloggers, I figure I will find other blogs for inspiration as well.  I have a few projects in the works that I will be posting soon.

A little about me: I graduated awhile ago with a degree in Computer Animation.  In the fast-paced and forever-changing computer graphics world, your skills age like fine wine, a classic car, or women, only getting better with age.  Actually, the opposite is true.  I'm like a blind slug, slithering through the dark.  Time has been the salt that has caused me to dry up in a lot of areas, so it's time to up my game and up my slime.  Although, I still really want a SGI Irix workstation. Back in the 80s and 90s, many of them cost between $30,000-$350,000 when new, but now I've read a lot of them are getting put out with the garbage.

I mean, who's going to argue with you when you have one of these sitting on your desk?

If there's an earthquake, just crawl into the computer case.

Truth be told, I've actually been teaching people classes in Art, Illustrator, and Maya at the local college, and I have a few years experience in the corporate design world, but I need to be more hardcore to keep up with all the changes...  I need a fire under my ass!  Hopefully this blog will do that. I'm hungry like the wolf (yea..I said it) for figuring out better workflows and newer methods as well, and I'll share those as I find them.  I realize that other software packages are constantly being added to modern workflow pipelines (Zbrush, Bodypaint 3d, Headus UV, etc)  and I want to get my hands dirty in all of them!  After all, not many people are still using one of these:

By the way, why was purple so popular in the mid-90s?