Cel Shaded Goodness

The re-texturing and re-rigging of the VF-1 is complete. Alls I gots to do is set up the transformation to GERWALK mode from FIGHTER and from BATTROID to GERWALK. Save out those animations, reverse 'em, and then I'll be set. Mostly. Importing and exporting FBX files is a little wonky on account of the IK targets, but I should have that cleaned up shortly, as well.

You wanna see what the latest in outta space is?

Just another update as I work on rigging the Valkyrie for transformation. Whenever that gets too daunting, I go back and add some more effects or backend stuff to what I've already done. Things that are missing from this sequence:
*ink outlines (need to determine best weights)
*Craft do not blur with motion through canopy glass
*Dralthi are not firing as Valkyrie passes through their ranks
*3 Raiders at end need their firing fixed (with new pflow system I extrapolated)
*Fire rate for Valk needs to be adjusted
*Shell casings
*global lighting
*cockpit lighting
*textures need to be adjusted to accept light color-tinting
*Valk textures need to be toon-ified
*Console/Dashboard still doesn't fit within confines of cockpit

I also want to add brow raises and winks for left/right for the Rev1 model so that I have more control over facial expressions, using a wired controller.

And now, a taste of what's to come...

This is just an example of some of the stuff going into the video. The lip sync has not been tweaked in this scene, textures are placeholders in some cases, and no ink lines have been added. Also, the console for the VF-1 is sticking out of the cockpit!

Back from Da Trenches!

Okay. We're back. With a brand new system that's cutting render times into tiny fractions, into like, 1/24th of the previous times. Not too shabby.

Here to celebrate is this video:

Now, I basically shifted some cameras around, and added some exhaust to the previous test render, and let 'er rip, just to see how long the renders took. Previously, each angle took all night, with the possibility of overheating the computer and causing it to shut down. This time, render times were between 18 and 24 minutes, at one point, I used backburner to render TWO camera angles at once. Quad Core processing, people. You can't really knock it, not for another year and half at least.

Anyway. I'm excited to get back to real deal of putting this video together. Plus it's giving me practice for another CGI project I've got on the back burners (so to speak).

Aaaaanddd, we're off... wherein "we" means "my computer" and "'re" means "is"

So, remember how my computer was turning itself off during rendering? Now it turns itself off during whatever. I get about three minutes after boot before the thing just turns itself off. Then I have to wait for about a day before it comes back. Needless to say, this is going to affect the production schedule somewhat. I'll be breaking into my emergency 3rd credit card to purchase a new computer.

I'm still taking donations and selling CDs, however, so if any of y'all are excited to see this project complete a little sooner than later, by all means, I'm willing to accept help. More than willing.

In other news, production for The Exploding Girl wrapped on saturday. It was an extremely intensive and intimate shoot with a small crew, small cast, and a small budget. Camera department was awesome, and brought me up to speed on the first day. And everybody had to pick up a little slack since we didn't actually have any G&E. I've made some great friends and colleagues on this project, and I look forward to working with them again in the future.

Cuz of other stuff

So, right now, I'm a week into production of "The Exploding Girl", an indie feature directed by Brad Gray and produced by Ben Howe and Karin Chien. This is my first gig as 2nd AC, and I'm really enjoying it. Since we're shooting on the RED ONE, my job doesn't really involve loading mags or unloading, but rather slinging huge files around huger hard drives, and making sure the batteries are fully charged. And that camera CHEWS through batteries like nobody's business.

Anyway, production on the video is at a standstill during this time, but I'm excited to begin work again in September, when I'll need to purchase the latest 3ds max software. If anybody would like to contribute, of course, the donation link will hopefully still work. You can also buy copies of the old albums, because I know that far fewer people have these than should. Anyway, I'm excited to say that the majority of the behinds the scenes work on the video is done, and what is left at this point is making shit happen. Well, provided that the 3ds max upgrade comes off without a hitch.

This is just a test, so don't ruin your shorts yet.

This is just to test out the rigging of the Rev1 character, the rigging of the cockpit controls, and how the two interact.