Success! Mi Thinks...??

Today due to the weather of death...

I have been using this time to do some more work on texturing from yesterday. I had some great feedback from my tutor Dean so with the advice, it has helped me and I think I'm getting the hang of it. The texturing process is long but the more I texture, the better (ahem) at it I'm getting and quicker when using short cuts.

I continued with the Viking Sword to make it look better and to correctly line up my models UV's onto one Map so that I can save texture memory for the Unreal Engine 3. I've taken some more Renders and Screen Grabs of the work I've done today...

Viking Sword 1 Screen Grab

Viking Sword Render 1 (Just the blade has been textured in this image)

Viking Sword Render 2 (Handle Textured)

 

All Textured Now

 

I can now say that I have "Finished A Model"

Viking Sword 4 Finished Screen Grab

 Another one finished

Viking Sword 4 (This Render the handle hasn't been textured yet)

 

These were Renders before I added the handle texture as you can see in the above Screen Grab.

Here are the UV's and how I laid them out...

I'll be continuing this later... need a break!

Having some serious issues with TEXTURING!

Today I've been trying...

To do some test texturing on my models and my head is currently spinning! There are so many different ways (well, a few various ways) to apply a texture onto a model. I have been calling my mate Anthony for some help as well as downloading some Texture Tutorials.

I have found a way but I'm not content with it. I have no time to be a perfectionist but it does count towards my Hons Degree. Confusion kicks in when I have for a texture that I want and then I put it to the right size but then applying that to my object is strange. Below there is my model's UV's

Viking Sword 1 UV

Metal Texture

How the heck do I place my texture in this shape correctly and accurately? I'm getting more confused with this process. I realized that I'm a learner by doing and watching someone do it then I can "copy" that process. It more difficult because I have to put it in and shrink it down but then am I not losing the quality of the texture?

An example is the UV above. The texture I have is 512x512 and the UV has been saved as 512x512 but the shape is square and the UV is whatever shape it is... so how do you apply this correctly??

This was difficult in not knowing whether this was correct but I had a go...

Placed this into PhotoShop

Try a ting dot com... (This is what I tried to see if it would work or if this is the correct/incorrect way)

I know this attempt is lazy but when you need to try something to test out a theory then it has to be done quickly!

This was all the pieces of my Viking Sword covered with the textures and I painted the handle part myself and added a few "extras" like Emboss, Pattern Overlay etc...

Maybe the way above (shrinking it to fit) will be the only way but is it the correct way? I'm no sure what to do. Since this is for the Unreal Engine 3 (UE3) it will have to be done as such. I need some assistance from someone... My Mentor works in Runcorn now so it's difficult to catch up for a tutorial now. College is closed due to the Snow and this really bites!

I'll be working on this for a while everyday so this Blog will be (should be) updated more often.

Below is my attempt/result so far... looks OK but I feel that I need better texturing skills! Ahrrrrrgggggg!!!!

Viking Sword Textured Render 1

I feel that this looks OK... since this is only a prop it will have to do I guess...

Viking Sword Render 2

Viking Sword Render 3...

Fixed the error on the first Sword Render image where the handle part was showing on the Sword Butt... Anyhow, today could have been better but at least I have done something!

Slow Day Because...

People are trying their hardest to get me down!

Let me elaborate on this a little... Right, before this course started, I was given the go ahead to do this course from the Test Manager within my workplace. Wednesdays are the days myself and my other friend (Anthony) have been given to attend college and to do our work. In fact, we have to pay for the course ourselves which is quite a bit of money over the 2 years and at a BA Hons level it ain't cheap!

Anyhow, today is a Wednesday and due to the time of year college is closed. Since weve been given Wednesdays to do our work all day, I've been working to try and get most of my modeling done before Christmas (in two days). I got a phone call from a guy a work stating that something is going on at work today and why myself and my friend are not in and that college is closed. Well duh... we are studying and using the time effectively to get our work done which we have approved by our Test Manager.  A few years prior to this course on our Foundation Degree, me, Anthony and one other person from the course PASSED!! We have proven ourselves that we are not slackers and we dont take liberties;... Our Test Manager is very understanding and he allowed us to do this course.

We are grateful for that but there are always some snakes who try and make it hard for us. Every Tuesday I get "oh, you going college tomorrow?" Well obviously, and then on the Thursday, I get... "oh, how was your day off?" These guys are idiots. They have taken this too far now. Previously, we had a Training Room within work with the relevant software on the PC's, this training room doesn't exist now and hasn't for a few years. Back then we came into work on the days college was closed and did our work there... so if we are suppose to come in on those days college is close then how do we pass the course? Is someone gonna pay for it for me if I don't do my work at home because I have to go into work?

I'm so angry today that I couldn't focus enough. I've got some work done today but I know that I could have done so much more! I'm angry at those involved in work and I'll be complaining to the max tomorrow!

I'll write up a proper update after all this mess get sorted. Anyhow here s a few renders of the re-modeled Viking Barn. I took my tutors advice and make it look more worn etc...

Re-Model Barn - Render 1

Re-Model Barn - Render 2

Re-Model Barn - Render 3

Re-Model Barn - Render 4

Screen Grab 1

Screen Grab 2

Screen Grab 3

Screen Grab 4 - Poly-Count

Today's Workload....

After having some useful information...

From my Mentor and Rob, I have decided to work my butt off. (In a manner). Today, I re-worked my Viking Homes and now the models have been done to a standard that I'm happy with. I know now that I need to get myself into gear and to just go for it with them and all my other models.

I also manged to create a Viking Blacksmith workshop which was hard due to not having any real references for it. It was a challenge but I'm pleased with the outcome. I know that I have more work to do on it like adding a water barrel, swords, shields and wood in various places but it's at 95% completion in the modeling area. I've also decide to do show you a list of what I have done and what need doing below... This will also help me so see it up on my blog!

My Completed Models are as follows... (which need texturing)

5 x Viking Homes

2 x Helmets

2 x Swords

2 x Axes

1 x Watch Tower

2 x Barns

2 x Under Construction Barns

1 x Row Boat

1 x Shield (need to add different textures to make have a variety)

My list of assets which I need to make are as follows...

2 x Swords

2 x Axes

3 x Barrels

10 x Rocks

1 x Weapon Shop

2 x Longboats

3 x Row Boats - Fishing Boat

2 x Pier (Walkway)

2 x Wooden Fences (Different Styles)

1 x Wooden Table

1 x Well

2 x ENVIRONMENT - Viking Village Area (which is near the shore) and Forest Area.

Looking at this list I feel that I may have missed something but I can also see that I have a lot to be getting on with so, if I remember what I've missed then I'll add it.  Before I go I just want to say thanks to a few people... They know who they are...

Symone, Claudia, Nick, Rob and Anthony. All of you have been so supportive that I feel that I can achieve much more now. You guys/gals are the best!

Right, I'm gonna attempt to add my images for today now...

Barn Render 1

Barn Render 2

Finished / Unfinished Barn Render 1

Note: This is what will be going in my environment like this to show that the Viking are still building Houses, Barns, Longboat, Row Boats etc...

Finished / Unfinished Barn Render 2

Viking Home 1 Render 1

Viking Home 1 Render 2

 

Viking Home 2 Render 1

Viking Home 2 Render 2

Viking Home 3 Render 1

Viking Home 3 Render 2

Viking Blacksmith Render 1

Viking Blacksmith Render 2

 Viking Blacksmith Render 3

Viking Blacksmith Extra Render 1

Viking Blacksmith Extra Render 2

These Extra version have a piece of cloth at the front of the Blacksmith. Hopefully you can see it.

It will also have a low wall on this side.

Thanks for reading and supporting me everyone! See you soon!

Problems with Blog...

I've been trying to write for at least 45 minutes about my progression so that I can have the images with the text as per usual. This is annoying so I've decided to write about my progression separately.

Right... since the last time I've posted some work. I've been re-modeling over and over since that time due to me being too fussy with my modeling.

I managed to redo one of my Viking Homes to a standard I'm happy with so that's progress! Woohoo! Today I modeled the Viking home, a Watchtower and a Barn which didn't take long to do so I'm quite pleased with the outcome. I'm not going to waffle on about them but these are the final models that will be going into the Unreal Engine 3 when the time comes.

I still have a few more models to make but I'm beginning to work a lot faster than I previously did. Like I mentioned a while ago, when you start getting more comfortable with Maya or any other software application, the work you produce will be at a better standard and done more quickly. "I love it with a plan comes together" Today has been a good day for me and my workload!

"Can I have more of these days please God?" Thanks!

Note: The renders of these are in the post 'Here's Some Progress'

Here's Some Progress -

Viking Home 1

Barn Render 1

 

Barn Render 2

Tower Render 1 - Full

Tower Render 2 - Close Up

Tower Render 3 - Front View

Tower Render 4 - Back View