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I submitted an image for last weeks Weekend Challenge over at Elysiun. I was thinking of putting it up on this blog when I realised that I have not recorded my previous two etries into the WC either. So here, for my own reference more than anything else, is a list of my last three entries for the WC - along with links to the appropriate Elysiun forum threads, so that I don’t have a hard time finding them in the future if I need to.

Weekend Challenge #101 : All Alone
Voting Thread
My thread in Finished Projects

This was a composited image using a regular photograph I took specifically for this project. It started mainly as a test of some compositing tutorials I came across on the forums. It turned out pretty well and the simple character model really did end up looking very lonely. Also, surprise surprise! I actually WON this challenge, in spite of this not being a pure Blender entry. Although it was only by a hair. I later modified some of the shadows falling on the character to make it a little more realistic. You can view that modified version of the image on my portfolio page.


Weekend Challenge #103 : Cyberpunk
Voting Thread
My thread in Finished Projects

I had a very complex scene in mind for this challenge, which involved sprawling desolate landscapes and futuristic towers littered around the landscape. I managed to complete most of the modelling and texturing, but my trusty old Pentium 1 laptop simply could not handle what I was throwing at it. So, I used the models I had come up with, i.e. the gloved hand and the futuristic tower, to create up a simpler and more iconic image. I was pretty happy with it and liked the slightly renegade look of the scene, but I was not totally satisfied that it was finished. There were only a handful of entries that week and I came in a very far second in the final count. I went on to improve the image by strengthening the ligting and adding a bloom/glow effect in Blenders sequence editor. The modified version is on my portfolio page. Hopefully one day I will get back to these models and recreate the original scene I had in mind. Hmm …


Weekend Challenge #112 : Primitives
Voting Thread
No Finished Projects thread for this one

I decided to participate in a challenge after a long sabatical, not only from the WC, but also in some ways from Blender (barring the Techman character I’v been updating on this blog). While I got the idea early, the execution of it was one of those last minute things and was finished in a couple of hours. I wasn’t very happy with the result, and the challenge that week was very well populated. I stood a far nowhere in the voting. But, I do think this scene is a good start, and I do intend to finish it to my satisfaction. Once that is done the new version will definitely be put up here. Untill then, the latest Weekened Challneg is also coming to a close tomorrow. I’m going to try my best to throw in my hat into this one as well.

Samir

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I seem to be going through a “let’s do a logo for this community project” phase. Just an observation, and not a complaint, because I’m a staunch supporter of the the “Open” movement and am glad that this is one way for me to do my bit. My latest cause is the Open Clip Art Library.

Those who aren’t familiar with this project should have a look at it. It is truly a worthy challenge to try to put together a free collection of “open source” vector clip art. With the increasing viability of software like OpenOffice.org and Inkscape, a good collection of clip art is essential to complement these packages. I recently visited the site and saw a call for logos for the project. I sketched out a couple of ideas and executed them in Inkscape. The logos submitted so far are viewable here. At the moment I’m writing this my logos have not been put up on the page, but they will probably show up once the administrators has had a look at them.

I wish this project continues a healthy growth, because it is an essential part of the open source alternative. Those who don’t subscribe to that “idealism” can go there purely to get some cool, FREE clip art.

Samir

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I have used Blender for professional work before, so I though it was only right to use Blender when illegal_ops put out an open call for a logo for a new Blender community site, BlenderCG.com.

The logo is now up on the site as the header/masthead. It’s a new site built to provide many Blenderheads out there a place to host their images and yet other place to hangout and hone their craft. Can’t argue with that sentiment. I wish them the best of luck and all the success in this worthy cause.

More the merrier.

Samir

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It goes without saying, that I have once again been away from this blog for a long time. This armaturing and posing was done a couple of weeks ago, but sheer procrastination has kept me from posting it here. I really must try to post more regularly. Anyway, better late than never, and at least this has not ended up as one more Blender project stuck in limbo. I finally managed to armature the figure, and started playing arond with posing it. I also assigned the loin cloth mesh to the same armature and after a bit of tweaking, it seems to distort in an acceptable manner unless the leg is bent to its extreme positions. At the moment I’m happy with it, but this is definitely still a work in progress. For animation I might have to rethink some of the geometry to be more anatomically correct for better deformation - such as the flow if the faceloops along the arms. Some weight painting might also help smoothen out the rough corners at the joints.

Recently there was a call for splash screen ideas for the latest release of Blender (2.34), and I thought that was as good an excuse as any to put my character through some more deformation tests. This mockup was the result of the exercise. It didn’t win of course, because it is by no means is a stunning example of what Blender is really capable of, but it was worth the effort just to get to know this model better. Here I rendered the character with smooth surfaces as a test, and also because I didn’t expect my rough look to be comprehended by most of the viewers as a legitimate choice. However, the solid shaded polygonal look will continue in my further uses of this character. I like that look for the world I am trying to create.

More to come.

Samir

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