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Football Helmet - Alpha+Curvy Map Modelling

Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 10:32 pm
by Simon
Image

The main part of the helmet is just three drawn curves and a couple of image maps.

This video outlines the process:
Helmet Video

Here are the drawn curves:

Image

The helmet was improved using a transparency image to hide the bottom of the model (leaving the curved shape of the ear guard) and to cut out the air holes. I used Project Dogwaffle to make a TGA with an alpha channel for this.

Then a curvy map was painted to add the small surface shapes and rim.

Image

The face guard is just several drawn lines. The plastic clips on the guard are extruded images (Curvy 2.0 only).

The best bit about modelling using images rather than meshes is ease of modification. Once I had made the helmet I realised I needed to move the ear guard forward a couple of inches. All I needed to do was tweak my image maps (happily saved as easy to change vector art layers in my paint program) and it was fixed.

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 7:42 pm
by kenmojr
Why would someone go through all of the time and effort to create a tutorial without audio... :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Can someone point to a place on the web other then here that has good, easy to follow tutorials for a newbie?

Posted: Fri Feb 27, 2009 11:02 pm
by bigH
kenmojr wrote:Why would someone go through all of the time and effort to create a tutorial without audio... :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

Can someone point to a place on the web other then here that has good, easy to follow tutorials for a newbie?
This is the link - look above at
"This video outlines the process: "
Helmet Video

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:15 am
by kenmojr
???? - I don't know what you mean by this post.... BUT if you are suggesting I watch the video. I did exactly that... AND it did not help at all... Sorry a tutorial without audio is pointless....

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:19 am
by kenmojr
Bottom line.... the tutorials for Curvy3D SUCK... sorry to be blunt but I am very disappointed with the lack of co-operation regarding this piece of software...

You guys could learn alot about tutorials... Surf to DAZ and see some of the excellent Hexagon tutorials by EZ or go to Geekaplay and view some of Gary Miler's outstanding video tutorials on Hexagon...

I'm not disappointed in my purchase of Curvy3D BUT tutorials and how-to docs sure are lacking...

It is pointless (IMHO) to post a tutorial or how-to without audio or text... Especially when you are a Curvy3D newbie and trying to learn the software..

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:33 am
by bigH
Well if you do each tuturial - you will learn a lot about Curvy 3d
Every one learns in their own way .
Videos and pictures only can show so much - hands on is the best way .

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:52 am
by kenmojr
Well...that's the problem. Without audio or text I find it difficult to follow the tutorials here...And it appears some of them maybe for an older version of Curvy3D?

I tried the helicopter tutorial and "Edit Lathe" doesn't appear how often I hit the space bar....

I've played with the demo and I like Curvy3D very much but now that I have the paid version I want to explore more of it's capabilities... However the tutorials here frustrate me to no end as they appear more aimed toward an experienced Curvy3D user which I am not....

I had much better luck following Z-Brush tutorials when I was demoing Z-Brush.... :roll:

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 12:20 pm
by Simon
I agree, we need more tutorials showing the basic tools of Curvy and how to use them. Videos will be more accessible than the written documentation to some people.

This tutorial (the text version in the post) will be clear to established users but is not suitable for a beginner.

I'll dig out my microphone for the next tutorial :D

I'm glad to have you with us on the forum kenmojr, is it handy to get a fresh look at how to improve things - especially as I hope to improve this area a lot for Curvy 2.

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 5:54 pm
by kenmojr
Sorry Simon, but I was only being honest... I've been playing with Curvy3D since the review of Curvy in ImagineFX...

Your software is a breath of fresh air but I'm not tapping into it's capabilities as Curvy is so different then Wings3D, Hexagon or Cinema4D...

I just recently purchased 3DCoat and I am very impressed with it as well... I'm thinking that Curvy3D will be a nice addition to my ever increasing arsenal of tools (Paint Shop Pro, Painter, Bryce, Vue Pro Studio, Wings3D, Hexagon 3D, Cinema4D, PD Particles, 3D Coat)... So when I got e-mail from TheBest3D offering it at1/2 price I jumped for it....

I was debating about purchasing Z-Brush as I really enjoyed the trial I had of it...but couldn't justify the hefty price... Their tutorials are very easy to follow and there are plenty of them on the web....

I recently advised a fellow poster on ImagineFX forum that your software is on sale

http://community.imaginefx.com/forums/2 ... hread.aspx

I've also mentioned it at Renderosity and a few other forums I frequent...

Any new tutorials would be much appreciated...

Cheers

Ken

Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2009 7:27 pm
by Simon
Thanks for the mention on imaginefx!

I look forward to testing some new tutorials out on you :)

Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 4:26 pm
by sculptor
I think this tutorial falls down a bit because it assumes knowledge from the viewer that frankly may not be there.
In the video we see a click on the base colour and magically the model changes even though the base colour remains white.

I think the curvy help file needs to explain a bit about alpha channels.
Explanations i think need to be adapted for the lowest common denominator and that is usually me. :lol:
So alpha appears to be a mask type effect that can be stored in some image formats like tga (but not bmp ?). It can hide parts of the model but doesn't actually change the model. (So if we export the model the mesh is unchanged.)
Some paint programs will export what many users would see as the dotted selection areas as alpha channels and the selection area might have to be inverted to get the desired effect. (concept wise black becomes white)



curvy 1.5 you need to play around with the highlights to use alpha effectively .(highlights visible on alpha area)


sorry if this post sounds a little pedantic but so many applications can fail to get their deserved credit because there is a often a great technical gulf between developer and user.

For me curvy is such a great application that will do so many things easily.
It is a relief not to be playing with thousands of triangles (at least visually).
But new users are not led into it easily. They see these wonderful works in the gallery. (the elite ?) and the gulf between these and the introduction draw a few blobs is far to great.
What is missing is the in between practical use type of tutorial.
the "how do i do that" bit

Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 11:37 am
by Simon
Thanks for the notes sculptor. A useful set of tutorials will be an important part of the upcoming Curvy2 release.