Maya: Building a Human

[Jason T]

Yep, I'm going to try to build a human character in Maya. Should be interesting...;)
I am going to block out the character using Box modelling techniques. When I am happy with the shape, I plan to sub-divide it, tweak it and then, if I have time, Z-brush it to death.:p
I do not promise to be particularly fast or interesting. I wanna build a Theropod as well, so this may get pushed to one side in my rush for Dino awesomeness.:D

Anyway, on with the show...

With reference images courtesy of the legendary Andrew Loomis, I built a cylinder, like so:
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715375_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715375.jpg)

Tweaking the shape a bit & building the basic muscle groups in:
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715442_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715442.jpg)

More tweaking...
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715510_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715510.jpg)

At this point I have added the basic pelvic shape. I plan to make the limbs from cylinders and combine them later.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715616_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715616.jpg)

And now for a leg.;)
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715667_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715667.jpg)

Leg shape combined, tweaked & bridged.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715721_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-715721.jpg)

[Cybit]

Looks interesting and like your off to a nice start, this is going to be fun to watch. :D

[BillS]

Thats exactly how I do it to.


LMAO... Man I'm going to hell for a whooper like that. :D

Nice work so far JT

[Woody]

*Woody pulls up a chair*

This'll be interesting to me. I'm up to my eyeballs in Maya training right now gearing up for school.

[Rigel]

Those are nice background images to work from. The character is looking very good so far.

[bmckain]

Grabs the old pointy stick and zaps Bill for the fib. ;)

[Jason T]

After an afternoon Christmas shopping service is resumed.;)
And behold! A foot!:D
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-732563_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-732563.jpg)

[Jason T]

One cup of tea later and an arm has been built.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-735197_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-735197.jpg)

[TheGreatRaja]

nice work, never could get the hang of Maya

[Jason T]

You want to try it Roger; I am a total convert. It's easy to use but it is coupled with amazing customisation and control over every aspect of your work.

[Woody]

@Roger-
That's one thing I'm really digging about Maya - almost everything has
more options than you can shake a (pointy) stick at. It's a bit daunting
at first, but just comes down to trying different options and getting
into some tutorials. Coming from LW, you'd have no real problems
with adapting to the workflows. I'm finding the transition to be pretty
easy actually. You should d/l the PLE from Autodesk and give it a shot!

[Jason T]

Roger: Do it. Do it now! ;)

First render of the Sub-D body & my first attempt at using the Maya skin shader too.
http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-757100_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/12-15-757100.jpg)

[Woody]

Nice work Jason. The abdominal muscles are a bit toooooo defined I think, but good, quick work on it nonetheless. I like that shader too, what did you start with? A default Mental Ray SSS shader? I think the scattering might be little bit strong, the scale seems more that of a rubber doll than a normal sized human.

[Jason T]

I noticed the Abs are too defined. I will just adjust the low-poly proxy, but I'm not too worried as most of the muscle definition will be worked out in Z-Brush.
The skin shader is the Mental Ray Fast SSS skin. I was just playing around and getting a feel for it. I promise the final version will be spot on.:)

[Meurig]

Looking really good so far. A bit too angular perhaps, as said, but great all the same. More, more, more! :D

[Gordon Robb]

This looks really good to me.

[BillS]

I've seen some tut's on modeling in maya. It seems to make a lot more sense when you get your tools set up on a shelf and then make heavy use of the Hot Box (?) Spacebar thingy.

[Matt]

Now this one should be good... pulls up a chair :)

[Jason T]

I've seen some tut's on modeling in maya. It seems to make a lot more sense when you get your tools set up on a shelf and then make heavy use of the Hot Box (?) Spacebar thingy.
The hotbox is a wonderful idea but I much prefer setting up a custom shelf instead of hunting round for the tool I want.

[Jason T]

Quick update: I have exported the model into Z-Brush and started defining the muscle groups. This is not the final version: I am simply getting a feel for the areas that need fixing as well as working out which order to tackle the muscles & get the right shapes.
Instead of stills, I give you a turntable from Z-Brush.:)

[Rigel]

Overall the shape looks good, although the toes don't look quite right.

The skin shader definitely makes it look like a Barbie doll though. :)

In the z-brush version, that bronze texture looks amazing!

[BillS]

The cheeks could use a bit of work but over all its great looking!

[Rigel]

The cheeks could use a bit of work but over all its great looking!

Why are you looking at his cheeks? :eek:

[Woody]

Stumpf's bronze matcap rules.

Nice start on it Jason. Watch the accurate representation of muscle groupings though.
I have attached some reference that you probably already have a copy of, but I've found
it to be a nice quick ref to have up on the second monitor while sculpting. :cool:

[Cybit]

Stumpf's bronze matcap rules.

Nice start on it Jason. Watch the accurate representation of muscle groupings though.
I have attached some reference that you probably already have a copy of, but I've found
it to be a nice quick ref to have up on the second monitor while sculpting. :cool:

First, Thanks for posting those Woody. Second, I think it's an optical illusion but in the middle pic the hands almost appear to be backwards. :D

[Cybit]

Why are you looking at his cheeks? :eek:

I'm wondering which cheeks he's referring to. Sorry, I just couldn't leave that one alone. :D

[Woody]

Any updates on this Jason?

[LDgree]

Nice Study xD,

In Zbrush don´t forget to press p ( perspective ) before create a movie... you will see shapes and flow better ^^