zyzygiert518

[zyzygiert518]

Website/Portfolio

https://zyzygiert.wixsite.com/zyzygiert

[zyzygiert518]

End of the Project

For my ART518 project, I focused on the link between art and technology, as well as a bit of storytelling and world building. I have explored my chosen theme both in terms of the media I used, as well as the visual theme of the project.

My initial idea was to design, 3D model and 3D print figures of two original characters. To do that I used a combination of skills I already had, as well as some processes that I haven’t tried before. My project contained four major steps: drawing the character designs, making 3D models, 3D printing the models, and then painting the printed figures. From those processes, I was already somewhat experienced with drawing and designing characters, but I have never done 3D modelling or 3D printing before this project, and I had rather limited experience with painting figures.

In order to develop this project, I started by looking into and learning about 3D modelling and 3D printing, as those are the steps that are entirely based around technology, so thematically the most important steps for my project, as well as the only two processes that I have never done before. I looked at a multitude of YouTube videos explaining how those processes work, and a variety of different tutorials and tips on how to use the software. I also took a lot of inspiration from various artists and media I enjoy, including Josan Gonzalez, Ryan Barry, a game called Cyberpunk 2077, and more, which suited my project thematically, as they also create human-robotic characters.

For my own characters, I decided to reuse some of my older character designs, and remake them to look better and more updated. This helped me cut down the time on designing characters from scratch, so I could move onto the exciting new processes sooner. I went for some of my favourite characters, that are also the most important characters in terms of the story I am writing for them, however, unfortunately I did not manage to include much narrative in this project in the end due to the time constraint. This was also partly due to my own mistake of not managing my time for this project better. I was planning to include a little bit of a backstory for the characters, so the viewers could relate to them, or at least understand the design choices more. I was also planning to make a third character, and I started the design, but I did not manage to do finish that in time when I had to move onto 3D modelling.

For the 3D modelling stage, I initially planned to use software called Blender but, in the end, I decided to use zBrush instead, as I found out that it is better for digital sculpting and can handle more polygons, and therefore higher quality models. It also has more interface customization options, so I could hide most really complex options that I was not planning to use, which made it significantly less overwhelming and confusing to use. Working on the first 3D model proved to be very difficult and took several weeks, however, I learned so much from it that the second model, which in my opinion turned out even better, did not even take me a week. After creating the 3D models in a t-pose, which makes adding all the needed details easy, I had to pose them into appropriate positions, so it would work well as a 3D print. This is another step that took me a really long time on the first model, but ended up being significantly easier on the second one, as I learned from the first one, where I had multiple issues, like the model rig (skeleton used to pose it) did not work whatsoever, or noticeably warped the model.

In terms of the 3D printing stage, I unfortunately did not learn all that much, as I finished the 3D models too late to have an induction into the facilities. Luckily, the technician was very helpful and printed the models for me, explaining some of the processes to me in the meantime. I decided to go for around 10cm height for the models, as smaller would not work well in exhibition, and bigger models would be extremely expensive and difficult to print. Admittedly, I also went to a smaller size because any imperfections on the models are significantly less visible, while still maintaining all the details I took time to sculpt into them.

For the figure painting I also ended up running into some trouble. I had some limited experience with model painting, however, it proved to be even less useful that I initially thought. I have only painted fully metallic, robotic models before, and I had a lot of issues with painting fabric and skin tones for my current work. I also had to use some new paints, which turned out to work very differently from the ones I was used to, which took a while of getting used to, and even more time looking up various videos and tips on how to use them properly. The paints turned out relatively well in the end, so I am rather satisfied.

Overall, I am very happy with how this project turned out. The newly redesigned characters are a major improvement from their old versions, and the 3D models and 3D prints turned out very good, especially considering this was my first time working with this sort of media. I have learned a lot from this project, and I am planning to continue improving the skills I developed during the module.

[zyzygiert518]

Painting the Second Figure

I followed the exact same steps for this figure as for the previous one. I’m not quite as happy with this one as with the other one, but I think that’s mostly due to my inexperience, and this character having a more complicated colour scheme and materials. Overall, I still think it turned out pretty well, especially considering this is my first time doing something like this. 

[zyzygiert518]

Properly Painting a Figure

After having a bit of practice, and finally having properly printed figures I got down to it. I started with a base coat of every colour, then added a black wash, which I followed up with some mid-tones, then highlights, and then another black wash, this time with a Q-tip to wipe it off the highlights. Overall, I am very satisfied with the final outcome. 

[zyzygiert518]

New 3D Prints

After getting the new 3D model printed, and getting another copy of the first one, which unfortunately ended up being a failed print due to a software update, I primed them and decided to use the failed print to practice what I learned about the paints. A big inspiration, and provider of tips so to speak, was ‘Squidmar Miniatures’ on YouTube, and I learned a lot from watching his videos.

[zyzygiert518]

Posing, this time smarter

I also figured out how to pose the model in a better way. I experienced really bad warping on the mechanical parts last time, and overall the posing was very troublesome. This time, instead of using a rig/skeleton to pose the entire model, I decided to keep the parts more separated, and sort of hand move them into place. First, I joined all the fabric and organic parts together and used a ‘move’ tool to pull them into the right position. In terms of the mechanical parts, this is where I made a big change - without using a move tool, pulling or warping anything, I kept every single mechanical part after each joint as a separate object, and then just moved the separate objects into the right place without changing the size or distorting anything. This is technically more time consuming than using a rig, but if I include the extra time it takes to smooth out anything that warps, overall it ended up being quicker and less frustrating. 

[zyzygiert518]

Second 3D Model

In the meantime of printing and painting the previous model, I started working on the second one, so I could have both ready for the end of year show. After learning a lot making the first model, and feeling a lot more comfortable with zBrush, this model only took me about a week to make, and I ended up being even happier with it than the previous one.

[zyzygiert518]

First Painting Attempt and Fail

In terms of painting, I thought my previous experience would be helpful, as I have painted some figures before. However, I did not consider the fact that I only painted metallic figures before - which proved to be of very little help with painting the clothes and especially the face. It also didn’t help that I bought new paints for this model, and did not think about the fact that they could work differently to the ones I used before. As it turned out, the new paints are water based, and you’re supposed to thin them down a fair bit with water, which I didn’t do, as my previous paints were ready to use as they were. 

[zyzygiert518]

First 3D Print

After getting my first 3D print done, I used tweezers and pliers to remove the supports, which are needed for the figure to print properly, and then smoothed out all the spots where they were originally connected using a very sharp scalpel.

[zyzygiert518]

3D Printing Issues/What to do next

By this point, when I was finally ready to start getting my first model 3D printed, I had realised that it was too late to get an induction into the Digital Fabrication Lab, which is where I could do the 3D printing. This was due to my own mistake of not signing up for the induction later on, I didn’t think about how long making the model would actually take. Luckily, after going over the details with the technician, he pointed out a few things for me to adjust to make it easier to 3D print, and then went ahead and 3D printed it for me, while walking me though how to do it for when I can get the workshop induction. We decided it would be best to go for about 10cm in height for the figure, as anything bigger would be overly expensive, and smaller would look good overall, but wouldn’t really work in an end of the year exhibition.

[zyzygiert518]

Rigging/Posing

This was yet another step that turned out to be a lot more troublesome that I was expecting. I ended up having to redo the entire rigging process 4 times from scratch, which I was really unhappy about, and it completely ruined my motivation for a few weeks, resulting in me struggling with time even more. I tried using Blender, as I read that the zBrush ‘rigging’ (which isn’t even actual rigging) isn’t too great. This was a big mistake, and a complete waste of time, as it ended up not working whatsoever in the end - the automatic weights option (properly binding your model to the skeleton rig) kept either working wrong, or completely crashing the software. I decided to go back to zBrush, and give the ‘not so great’ rigging a go. I do admit, it isn’t ideal, but at least it worked and allowed me to pose my character. I encountered some warping however, due to the twisting and bending of the model to pose it, some part essentially moved wrong, causing weird bends and almost waves in some places, which is another thing that made me redo it from scratch another time, to see whether maybe I did it wrong. In the end that only helped a little bit, I fixed it and smoothed it out as much as I could after finishing the pose.

[zyzygiert518]

Doctor 3D Model

This model took me about 3 weeks, to a month to finish - it turned out to be significantly more difficult and time consuming that I was originally anticipating. It included A LOT of redoing things from scratch, hours of watching various tutorials on how to do specific things, and just trying different options out, however, in the end I am very happy with how it turned out.

[zyzygiert518]

Male Character Template

Since both the designs I want to make models of are male, I figured it’s going to make my life a lot easier if I make myself a male model template to use for both of them - then I already have the basic shapes to get the models started. It’s quite simple, but considering I’ve never done 3D modelling before, I was very happy with how it turned out, and it took me about a week and a half of free time. Surprisingly, I actually found it easier to do 3D modelling with a mouse than with a graphic tablet, despite hearing that a pen tablet makes it significantly easier, and being comfortable drawing on one.

[zyzygiert518]

3D Modelling Software

I was originally going to use Blender for 3D modelling, however, after trying it out I couldn’t figure anything out, quite literally. I wasn’t able to do extremely simple stuff even after watching a multitude of different videos on how to do the different processes. After that I decided to use zBrush instead, as I found out that apparently it’s a lot better for digital sculpting, as it can handle more polygons on the screen at the same time, and I found it a little easier to use - partly because it has more customization options, so I could simplify the interface to be less overwhelming.

[zyzygiert518]

Female Character Design

I also wanted to make a female character design - I made a female template for the design and started drawing. However, unfortunately I realised that I was starting to run out of time and most likely didn’t have time to finish a whole another design. I decided to move onto the next processes with the 2 finished designs and possibly revisit this one later on, if I have the time.

[zyzygiert518]

Zyonn Redesign 2

After going ahead and finishing the linework for this design, I decided to go for a rather bleak colour scheme, with only one colour for his coat, so that the design isn’t too boring/simple. I felt like having one colour standing out makes the design a little more unique, or even recognizable than only using black, white and grey.

[zyzygiert518]

Zyonn Redesign

In the meantime of working on the doctor, when I was getting stuck with the design, I briefly started working on redesigning the other character shown earlier, Zyonn. After drawing his mask, I also started considering potentially making a 3D model of the mask and attempting to 3D print a wearable version, however, I will decide on that once I get to 3D modelling.