A base for future horses

[dragaodepapel]

Well, putting airplanes and buildings on the side for now :)

I need to make some unicorns, dragons ans other great creatures until September, 27, to participate as seller on a sci-fi fans conventions.

And I think a lot on how to make diferent horses like an pure unicorn, a dark unicorn, a pegasus, a nightmare and some "armored" horses from medieval era, in less than 5 weeks.

The solution: use of bones from 3D Studio Max :)

With the resources of the software to make animations, I made a base for a draft horse, put an esqueleton, then change the pose of the horse to something near that I want. Minor changes I make by hand.

Some pictures of the work:

- Start of the model. Planes with the views of a horse (obtained from Poser):
http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SHj4Iy0QAPI/AAAAAAAAAc0/SfytcqBnrwQ/s288/novo-1.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5222196597899657458)

- The finished base model, with the Simmetry applied. When a model is symetric, I make only a half of it, then apply the modifier:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLhnpBVJE0I/AAAAAAAABCg/r__OjOZLtXU/s288/horse_base_3.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240052120874980162)

- A quick test on Pepakura:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLhnpeszPJI/AAAAAAAABCo/_1ck0TCsbbY/s288/horse_base_4.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240052128758840466)

[dragaodepapel]

- Then the squeleton of the horse:
http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLilicI57FI/AAAAAAAABCw/hV5VLo_A5_M/s288/horse_base_5.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240120177533250642)

Now I need to correct some problems with the bones and their envelopes, but not a hard thing.

- And another quick test on Pepakura:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLiliV-AmzI/AAAAAAAABC4/PC0QOOoH5G4/s288/horse_base_6.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240120175876938546)

Now I hope to make the textures, that need to be almost realistic textures, so quickly like I made the base model.

And, of course, add ears, wings, and other elements :)

[Gharbad]

I haven't seen animals in CAD before, pretty neat :D

If you're interested, I built a horse kit last year:
http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/figurines-anime/79-husarz-polish-heavy-cavalry.html

[Stev0]

Hey ... is that Max 9?

[dragaodepapel]

This is Max 2009 32 bits.

I have an old computer, a Pentium HT 3Ghz (1Gb RAM, GeForce 5 256Mb), and it's runs nicely :)

Tonight I will work in the basic texture of the horse, that is the eyes, nose, shadows and highlights fos muscles, basic of the fur. With that I can change only the colors to make a lot of unicorns!

Maybe I start a farm for unicorns!! :D Of couse, dragons too. I need a paper dragon, that is the name of my company :)

[Stev0]

I have yet to play with 2009. I only briefly played with the 30day demo of 2008.

Using bones to deform the mesh for posing is a great idea. Much better than a static and boring pose.

[dragaodepapel]

I played the older versions, 5 and 8, with the student licence. I don't know why the version 8 have a poof performance on my computer. The screen don't redraw.

But I bought this 2009 and I'm very satisfied with it. Of course, when I need to render something more complex I need to use another computer. But, for my paper models projects, it's going very well.

Yesterday I started with the skin. I dreaming with a very very good texture, but, but... first, I'm not a good artist yet, and I have small, very small time to make all the models I need.

First I get the model and apply the UVW mapping. Then I selected the edges to start the Pelt Mapping. This form of mapping is excelent for organic models. And I'm surprised that my first attemp on it to get a mapping gives a result very close to the mapping of Poser horses :)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLs2yTvSJUI/AAAAAAAABDY/p1RpMfn7fj0/s288/horse_base_10.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240842829295658306)

Then I started the painting on Photoshop (CS2). The fur is hard to make. And reading a lot of tutorials later, I make that:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLs2yMKwmkI/AAAAAAAABDQ/1sJdhFEsOvE/s288/horse_base_9.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240842827263416898)

And a quick render on Max, and I get that:
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SLs2x4G2ErI/AAAAAAAABDI/3mhVjik-jwQ/s288/horse_base_8.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/dragaodepapel/TutoriaisDoFRum/photo#5240842821878289074)


Well, I'm using now this color to see the work, but I want to desaturate it to make a template. When I need colors, simply put the colored layers above this base.

I make the same thing in skin templates for avatars of Second Life (and it's sell very well :D).

For the first horse for producing, I'm thinking to make a Gypsy Vanner unicorn! The colors and the featers of this breed will be a very good testing. Or maybe a very well detailed Nightmare.

(And I'm thinking here if someone will want to buy my unicorns :D)

[dragaodepapel]

More news from my horse :)

After a lot of fight with the texture, I get a result. It's not that I want, but, this is my first horse. Next will be better.

http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SMtFhjBSR2I/AAAAAAAABD4/ODkaTmEQeX0/s288/horse_base_13.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BD5AqQmMN5wyyBtCyLllUg)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SMtFhrOAaUI/AAAAAAAABEA/XY_CMTfuilY/s288/horse_base_11.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/U75oT67TlAHdfj6zga4llA)

http://lh6.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SMtFhpFwvJI/AAAAAAAABEI/8HsLppTnnIc/s288/horse_base_12.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BSUfOJD-ZO69cNCWpHpqcg)

Sugestions are welcome! :)

[dragaodepapel]

Then, I put it on a pose, and start to create the parts on Pepakura.

The problem of this model: a lot of small parts!!!

I'm thinking that my horse is a wrong idea :(

http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SMxZzobkhnI/AAAAAAAABEU/MGw9CK8OMOY/s288/horse_base_15.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QSPwMMTm6_VA-WdNHqQ6Xg)

http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SMxZzyiLDhI/AAAAAAAABEc/-BOqvT_2EM4/s288/horse_base_14.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9TGuPB5ZSXO-IWCLnwRFFw)

[Stev0]

You may have to simplify much of your design. From a quick glimpse I can see that there are some parts of the mesh that you can do without.

Also I noticed that there are some proportional issues with the head and body.

http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs5/i/2005/119/9/e/Drawing_the_Horse_by_Cedarseed.jpg
Here is a good reference as an example.

[dragaodepapel]

Thanxs, Stev0 :)

I made it with a 3-view that I get from a model for Poser, and the head is smaller than normal.

I will redraw it.

[Stev0]

ooooooo....

I would avoid using anything from Poser. The mesh is far too dense. If you DO use anything from Poser, I would recommend using it as a 'reference' and throw the mesh away when you have built your own.

I think your mesh is on the right track though. What you may have to do is to figure out where to 'skimp' on the details for the sake of simplicity and where you have 'skimped' on physical model detail, make up for with artwork.

Can't wait to see more 'organic' models. :D

Animals and Humans are THE hardest thing to recreate graphically.

[dragaodepapel]

I use Poser only to get the reference pictures, not the model itself.

I used the model called Charger Horse, and it have a small head. I will get the reference from the Millenium Horse, that is a good model.

If i'm succefull with the horse, I will "attack" dragons, faeries, and other organic models :)

The pictures I put here are the ref pictures that I used.

[dragaodepapel]

Well, I re-started my horse.

I hope that can finish it in less than two weeks. Maybe this Saturday we will have an event to participate, and my unicorn need to be ready to sell (so, 6 days to finish it) :eek:

This is the 3-views that I'm using to help the modeling proccess:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM3JljLEyDI/AAAAAAAABEs/ZfQ3Em8hNtY/s288/horse_base_17.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kMt3pZHsWzEzEPumGPgjbA)


And this is the new result on Max. Less polygons, more definition of the shape, and a good model to unfold, like a first test on Pepakura showed.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM3JlQcEwrI/AAAAAAAABEk/qHxB28A-ePs/s288/horse_base_16.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Hib6W5wJh2ywhwB8G5icZA)

[dragaodepapel]

The base for horse is almost finished!

I need now to make a basic texture (simple than first).

Below the complete model, with bones (not visible). Now I can use this base to make the unicorn, or a nightmare. I'm thinking about that now.
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM8THKZxtTI/AAAAAAAABE8/C7yhdm8Ugvo/s288/horse_base_19.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/TiTMNN7kyg9kwkrXQxp0kA)

And a quick view on Pepakura (version 3), show an easier model to assembly:
http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM8THG6sgGI/AAAAAAAABFE/h8sSnCHjWOY/s288/horse_base_20.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/AdSe7B3gIWSKBezFCRVEag)

Now, I will define a pose and texture.

[dragaodepapel]

Before I go sleep (I don't know why I need to sleep :p), some posing.

There is, the pose for the future Imperial Unicorn!
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM89-ftERtI/AAAAAAAABFM/_OXDPXy7Qcs/s288/imperial_unicorn_01.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/OFoErhaVdep__7TSAqzhPg)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SM89-VeE9KI/AAAAAAAABFU/cos3vBASGzA/s288/imperial_unicorn_02.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/-mX8-lR9ImYZO1IPP42uYw)


Maybe tomorrow I make a quick draw of what I'm thinking to do, to define marks, colors, and so on.

[Stev0]

Wow... thats worlds better. I like how efficient the mesh is. When you texture it, it's going to look impressive.

[dragaodepapel]

I started the texture today.

I'm not a good digital artist, so my unicorn will look like a drawing :)

Some parts I will paint after the unfolding is complete. I print the pages to a image file (TIFF), then work the texture in the parts.

I don't know why, but in some parts the texture is streching more than on Max. So, the corrections I made later.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SNWGnUScuxI/AAAAAAAABFo/qqb2zNKIEVQ/s288/imperial_unicorn_03.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5QsNR4F6fMn6EOpNzx4fwg)

[dragaodepapel]

The texturing is almost complete.

Now I will export it to TIFF files, then finish the texture on Photoshop.

The unicorn is white, with a very very pale yellow to make fur.
http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SNmxbiMPZAI/AAAAAAAABFw/w9iQn3i627g/s288/imperial_unicorn_04.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NgXu6VcrA4e1iycLCnPgSQ)

[dragaodepapel]

And how about a Dark one? :D

The texture isn't finished.

http://lh3.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SNnJpeWYitI/AAAAAAAABF4/vfB80TgYVEc/s288/dark_unicorn_01.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3JVD6wrM9oDP_x2BsO6DVg)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SNnJpnfV9CI/AAAAAAAABGA/PBl5AsY8ROw/s288/dark_unicorn_02.jpg (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5w-ITegtVCQdlCPYeSIL6Q)

Now with my creatures I will conquer the word!! :D :D :D

[dragaodepapel]

Yesterday I assembled one of the unicorns.

I have encountered some mistakes in the mane, so I'm rebulding it.

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SN-mGGw94iI/AAAAAAAABNA/gNna5epkXms/s288/IMG_0079.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jGaEwcntup5C-43QansVMQ)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SN-mS736WCI/AAAAAAAABNI/_CiqK7aMGZg/s288/IMG_0080.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1GnPB1SDyYNyOXPRNLdDHQ)

http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SN-miBusRXI/AAAAAAAABNU/oFR6xilbObI/s288/IMG_0081.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/UCKiMscYWpYJci__pxbNPQ)

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SN-mv9ni-SI/AAAAAAAABNg/pTuwluv5las/s288/IMG_0082.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DmalzWxSn-dw_tv5RfpaIw)

[redhorse]

That looks pretty good to me. How big is it?

[dragaodepapel]

That looks pretty good to me. How big is it?

17 cm tall, and 29 cm width

And sorry for my english :)

With this size is easy to handle the pieces.

[dragaodepapel]

And, finally, pics of the Dark Unicorn:

http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ4kAeWwNI/AAAAAAAABOY/a7D8ejZH0gk/s288/IMG_0001_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8-tWjmbggBuzfFEPbAUUVg) http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ4kf44kHI/AAAAAAAABOg/r6rUD90lHhM/s288/IMG_0002_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wBFnRiAfPgQR-LKEfz3XyQ)
http://lh4.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ4keWoo_I/AAAAAAAABOo/WL8ip3KRaoA/s288/IMG_0003_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/jC4TuBG-2sXMCsZXqjosiA) http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ4lC5-XQI/AAAAAAAABOw/CR_wXbgR_Tg/s288/IMG_0004_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eftoo5ptZ4TsdYdbxkEVZQ)
http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ4leqRNzI/AAAAAAAABO4/vn3GTtCndt4/s288/IMG_0005_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/sIHJrR3fywizq7ab1O_cKQ) http://lh5.ggpht.com/dragaodepapel/SOZ3VXCVHuI/AAAAAAAABOQ/Nbp8LvCmWE8/s288/IMG_0007_1.JPG (http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/3KcTbxmoRxVrAWpeDlWZnA)

Well, this project ends here. I see that is possible to make a base model, then using bones (or other system for animation) is possible to make news models from the same base without a lot of work.

Now I can go to dragons, faeries, and other "organic" models without fear.

And maybe I put these two models for sell. Or the Dark at least.

Thanxs for all tips that I received for this project.

[dragaodepapel]

An update in my old topic :D

The dark unicorn is available for download. For free.

Drago de Papel - Paper modeling, model railroad (http://www.dragaodepapel.com.br/produto.aspx?id=68)

[B-Manic]

Thanks for sharing that is a really nice model!

~ cheers

[Bluenoser]

see attached thread for a Pegasus.
http://www.papermodelers.com/forum/figurines-anime/2740-pegasus.html#post37133