Animation Challenge #1

[Chris Nowak]

Alright, here it is.

For the people who just see this now and didn't see the previous thread, your challenge is to create this picture in 3ds max. However, there is no competition here.

To people making this:
I would guess the best way to go about this is for everyone to create a new thread for their model. If you know you can't post updates all the time, you should post in this thread. However, if you can devote some time to this you should create a new thread and post pics of your progress as you create this thing. If you can, it would be best to use your own web space to link to the pictures, but I guess if you can't just attach them to the post.

This will only work if you post exactly how you do things or offer to go into detail if necessary. Definitely there should be no "destructive criticism" like "dude u r stupid, I could do that in 10 seconds". Constructive Criticism only plz. Anyone can do this, even if they have no experience, and it should be upon the rest of us to help less experience ppl along.

Alright, if anyone thinks this picture is too hard/too easy/just right, plz reply and tell me your thoughts. I dont have a very ood grasp of your skills, although I tried to make it easy.

In the picture, there is a hand grasping the weapon. You don't have to model this(obviously difficult) although I place no restrictions on what you can or can't create. If you want to make a weapon similar to this, by all means, go ahead.

ps. if you know where this comes from, you're a real nerd (like me)

[Trashed20]

so we are supposed to model a hand weapon of our choice?

[Chris Nowak]

ooh sorry that might have been a little vague. No, you are supposed to mode that picture above, although the hand grasping the weapon is optional. If you want to vary a little from the pic, thats fine but try to keep it close.

[Sunny Thaper]

Any way you could upload a different perspective pic of the axe? I understand that it's probably the only pic you have but if you do have more, please upload them;

[Chris Nowak]

nope sorry thats my only picture. I feel that as it is an axe and there is little depth to it, a perspective picture is not necessary.

[Daishichimaru]

That's a pretty bad reference picture, the quality is low, the angle is horrid, and the gauntlet obscures half of the detail on the haft. If you're serious about it, try to get things of which you have several pictures, from different angles, and with clear detail. Other than that, this could prove interesting if anybody bothers to actually work on it...

[Kevin Kolodziej]

I think the picture is just fine. Thats the challenge of it - one view FORCES you to be creative and do the best you can. Most weapons will be symmetrical, aside from a design on the handle. But then you can just go ahead and put your own design on it. If there were multiple views of this object, what would be the point in rendering it?? This is a learning process for those that want to learn about how to model..so just make the thing already! I'm hoping to get some time this weekend to work on it...what's the timeframe on when you want these done?

[Chris Nowak]

ok, you guys are missing the point. Its not supposed to be a picture you can post as a bg and model off of like that. This is just to demonstrate some techniques, such as making really cool shiny metal for the blade or something, that could be useful for inexperienced ppl. If you think its a bad reference pic, don't use it but model something similar from your head. Again, apologies if this is too difficult, I have no Idea of anyone's skill here.

For this I would say that Ideally it should be done in about 2 weeks. Then, assuming at least one person finishes, I'll post another picture.

Oh yeah, I did do a weapon intentionally because there was very little depth to it.

[Sunny Thaper]

Originally posted by Chris Nowak
ok, you guys are missing the point. Its not supposed to be a picture you can post as a bg and model off of like that. This is just to demonstrate some techniques, such as making really cool shiny metal for the blade or something, that could be useful for inexperienced ppl. If you think its a bad reference pic, don't use it but model something similar from your head. Again, apologies if this is too difficult, I have no Idea of anyone's skill here.

For this I would say that Ideally it should be done in about 2 weeks. Then, assuming at least one person finishes, I'll post another picture.

Oh yeah, I did do a weapon intentionally because there was very little depth to it. The only reason I wanted other shots was because I didn't want to use my imagination but rather test out my skill. Sure a nice axe can be made but to completely model something else perfectly is where true skill lies. I am not one of the types to post the pic in the BG but if I was, that shouldn't be discredited. That's a great way to learn how to model and ideally if you have blueprints, etc. that is the only way to model. Anyway, I want to participate no matter what so expect something from me.

[MBiddy]

I think true skill is being able to imagine something original and creative and then model it.

[Chris Nowak]

I feel similar to MBiddy in that it is the true skill to come up with something from your own head. Yeah, you could model it perfectly, but how many times are you going to find something you are going to model for the animation comp this year that come complete with 3 neat little reference pics(unless, of course, you have a very good artist with a lot of time)? This should give inexperienced people an opportunity to see how one would go about working with limited information.

I do agree that it is a good skill to have and it is valuable to be able to model things perfectly. However, in my experience, the ability to extrapolate further than what information is given to you is even harder than that. I'm not trying to label these two skills as better than each other, though, I just felt that this way would be more useful to teams as they do animations for this years competition.

That said, thanks for the input. I've never run anything like this before, and its good to know what people want. In two weeks or so I will try to find (or draw, or get someone else to draw) somethings with reference pictures, to see how well that works out.

[Soukup]

even though chris doesn't know about this, since we are on the same team and this whole thing was his idea, one of us will try to have a model done so that you guys can see, and yes we will share our techniques with you.
the general idea of this challenge has one purpose, well maybe 2. first you want to show off, what you can do. second in first we share our techniques. tools, strategies, and ideas, why should animation be any different. when looking at the forum that we pulled this idea off of we found that as soon as somebody came up with a new addition to their model, they posted a pic of it up on the website, kinda to brag about how much cooler their picture is than everyone else's. so if everyone is up to date and keeps updated their pictures and intorducing new techniques, you will find that while making your own model you may discover that someone gave you a technique that will greatly enhance your model.
so let's have some fun and make this battle axe.

ohh... and this really was the only picture of the axe.

[Chris Nowak]

oh yeah, another thing. Feel free to use the software of your choice. 3d Studio MAX isn't the only 3d program out there. If someone has lots of experience in softimage but wouldn't have a clue as to how to make this in MAX, they can go ahead and make it in softimage. Then they can teach the people who have no clue how to make it in softimage how to make it and the 3ds ppl will teach them how to make it in MAX.

[Chris Nowak]

Ok, to everyone who wanted to participate in this, sorry I let this die. Right now I'm working on an animation to submit to NFAA and Its taking up most of my free time (well, theres also school, work, and robotics) so I couldn't really give this thing any sort of support. Also, animation enthusiasts should think about starting on their animation entries. If anyone wants to pick this idea up and go with it, I don't have a problem with it.