Pixelation
Critique => 2D & 3D => Topic started by: sakket on March 07, 2010, 04:16:59 am
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Project blog here http://littleroller.blogspot.com/ (http://littleroller.blogspot.com/)
I guess this is my first official actual post here. Hope I don't screw it up!
So ive always been a papercraft guy, and low-res 3d graphix obviously lend a lot to papercraft. Making this connection while lurking here lead me to try my hand at designing my own legitimate papercraft. So super-thanks to you dudes.
Project Goal: My preffered papercrafts are either HUGE AND WEARABLE •example (http://sakket.deviantart.com/art/GUNDAM-PONYSTAR-X003-CUSTOM-101778907) example (http://sakket.deviantart.com/art/TAAAANK-106416554) • or ABSURDLY SMALL •(these guys are about a cm tall) (http://sakket.deviantart.com/art/little-giant-monster-party-101776125)• so naturally, I plan on making something tiny.
My goal for this project is an easily constructed, versatile, humanoid, and most importantly, customizable model about 2 inches tall, and then accessories and such. On a personal level this is an attempt to meet my craving to collect warhammer figures and kawaii anime figures (http://www.collectiondx.com/gallery2/gallery/d/433768-4/all.jpg) with a cost-friendly alternative (free). The end result (if I dont get bored, which is likely) will be a fleshed-out tabletop battle system. In the event that other people might take interest in this, (lord help us) it should be relatively easy for them to begin customizing their own Littleroller figures, with pre-made accessories and such, or from scratch. (littleroller is the name i came up with just now. somebody tell me if its already taken.)
First prototype;
My first attempt was modeled in wings3d. I tried keeping construct-ability in mind, while avoiding the body/torso conventions of stuff like this • lazy torso srsly (http://gza.gameriot.com/content/images/view_320200_1_1241021032.jpg)• i also knew i definitely wanted some kind curve on the corners of the face, as simple models ALWAYS seem to lack that.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/19b4357f.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/8934debe.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/b1e32cc2.jpg)
so I went through a nice little fetch-quest to find a reliable way of unfolding it for printing and ended up switching to sketchup7 (mac user)
I printed and built it larger than the goal size, to test it out.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/2cce7bc3.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/9828b4f1.jpg)
THINGS LEARNED FROM 1rst TEST BUILD:
• Making each piece a closed structure is a bitch to construct. those last few tabs complicate things.
• arms look crappy.
• legs are too complex to make any smaller than the test size, especially with the fact that it's a closed structure.
• ears may be too small.
• texturing horizontal lines across angled surfaces like the legs is easy to screw up on.
second prototype : applying what I learned I went back to sketchup and made an entirely new body. this time adding a neck joint so the head is pose-able/removable. also lowered the number of constructable pieces from 6 to just 3.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/06ec375b.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/8ab60c39.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/b2f775ab.jpg)
Built it smaller this time, closer to what i originally planned.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/98cad26a.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/1c0e80b8.jpg)
THINGS LEARNED FROM 2nd TEST BUILD:
•SO MUCH EASIER TO CONSTRUCT. every piece had a nice opening, including one added to the bottom of the head, which otherwise was unchanged.
•less folding = faster construction = tubes good.
•cylinder= easier to make horizontal lines = tubes good
•might have to make the body bigger/head smaller, but this has it's charm.
•flat-pieces for the arms is easy, but I think small tube-pieces might suit my purposes better.
•ears might be too big, but works adorably if It's a monkey.
•gotta remember to make the hole in the bottom of the head the right size XD
If any of you pros have any pointers/suggestions/requests for accessories or characters (im gonna try making a miku to get peoples attention after i get the base down) be sure to let me know! that's why i posted this! If you want to berate me for being a weaboo fag and dirtying the forum you could do that too..
•••••• update! march 8
3rd prototype :
as you can see.. or kind-of see, (the pictures suck) I put a little elbow grease into making this one look more finished. It now stands at exactly 2 inches, my originally planned size, and I added a cute monkey tail which actually helps balance the model also changed the arms.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/70baa476.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/d7ff878f.jpg)
THINGS LEARNED FROM 3rd TEST BUILD:
•Just one millimeter smaller seems to add an extra hour of construction time. I may go back to test 2's scale.
• have to tinker with the shoulders of the arm pieces a bit but otherwise, they suit my purposes perfectly.
•still seriously debating If i should change the body size.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• march 15 SUPER UPDATE
4rth draft! ;
I think I now have a definite final model! Now I can finally get to the fun stuff. I also borrowed a decent camera from my girlfriend. everything is turning out pretty awesome.
Heres the updated the rosie-alpha model
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/d963bb8c.jpg) (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/416d5bda.jpg)
Note that the head was actually stepped on and effectively crushed before I took this picture. also my 2nd draft torso was accidentally submerged in water and dried out without losing it's for at all. I am pretty happy with the durability of these models! :D
Rather than gluing every piece together I have decided to have separate pieces that fit together. This not only makes construction easier (no closed structures) but also means you can customize them on the fly. (this will fit in with the game I have planned) Further advantages include being able to customize individual parts of the model without feeling pressured to alter the rest of it as well. (like if you only want to make heads, or hand accessories you don't have to look at the torso. This is mostly for me because I am THAT fickle.)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/2fa94e66.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/c606dfcf.jpg)
Here is the new Cass head, and all I had to do to test it out was trade it with the Rosie head.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/72ddc298.jpg)
And here is the cass head with the outfit portion of the mech costume im putting together. (im aware of how low the texture looks, ive already tweaked it)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/4adfc00f.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/7ad0e7b9.jpg)
I'll be releasing the actual blueprints to make these soon (with some basic instructions) I just gotta clean them up!
Update March 16;
taking in advice from 7321551 I have successfully made a more aesthetically pleasing AND easier-to-construct design for the arms. It's just a tube with one end folded over and pinched. I'm a retard for not thinking of it sooner.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/7458de02.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/e3a83f23.jpg)
Also I believe the additions I have made on the cass-head have made quite a difference.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v244/SAKKET/PAPRCRUFT/c52f4a90.jpg)
(that's the un-modified outfit piece btw, don't worry i fixed it.)
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Huh. Neat!
I've actually lived until now without knowing that papercraft was "a thing".
Anyway, it's definitely on the "endearing" end of the scale, as far as niche-interests-discovered-on-the-internet go.
So, customizing will involve attaching appendages to the head, right? There's much more character designs in that than just painting them. Although it's already pretty top-heavy. I can see a lot of fun-potential in designing your own unique critters in a modular way. Attach two conical pieces to the top, a short cylinder to the front, etc...
Am I right in thinking that the biggest challenge would be working out a final design that can be arrived at in simple enough steps for other people to want to make their own?
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Am I right in thinking that the biggest challenge would be working out a final design that can be arrived at in simple enough steps for other people to want to make their own?
Jah, what I have in mind is a system where the base is easy and quick to make, but then you can get more complex if you want to. A main point though is that it isn't primarily skinning the models like with other simple figure bases (which seem to point to paintable vinyl figures) but actually modeling pieces for them, like shoulder-pads, tails, hair pieces.
It'll make more sense as i poop out more stuff I promise.
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uuuupdaaaate
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Nice progress.
Prototype 4's proportions seem stockier (particularly Cass-head) which has caused a bit of a dip in cuteness. Cuteness isn't really about sizes, it's about ratios, & the head to shoulder ratio is probably one of the most important.
(http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/xv8w1h0s/littleroller_proportions.jpg)
Could it catch on? Probably!
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Nice progress.
Prototype 4's proportions seem stockier (particularly Cass-head) which has caused a bit of a dip in cuteness. Cuteness isn't really about sizes, it's about ratios, & the head to shoulder ratio is probably one of the most important.
(http://i489.photobucket.com/albums/rr257/xv8w1h0s/littleroller_proportions.jpg)
Could it catch on? Probably!
Are you referring to the last two pictures? because I totally added gundam-esque shoulder-pads for those, but you raise a good point either way. With the cass head I also left off ears, which I think have helped combat the ratio problem.
the normal arms I think i'll go back and alter again so they perhaps come to a thinner point at the top. though I might keep these around in case I start trying to do male characters.
Other than that though I'm going to see what I can do with just adding more stuff rather than re-working the models. (worst case scenario I can just make the head bigger XD)
thanks much.!
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Are you referring to the last two pictures?
Mostly, yeah. The third-to-last seems a bit stocky too, but since her head's no smaller than Rosie's it must be the hair giving that impression.
Making the heads a bit bigger couldn't hurt.
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Are you referring to the last two pictures?
Mostly, yeah. The third-to-last seems a bit stocky too, but since her head's no smaller than Rosie's it must be the hair giving that impression.
Making the heads a bit bigger couldn't hurt.
I think I found a decent workaround! watcha think?
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Perfect!
I want one. :)
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These look awesome.
I've always had a passing interest in building papercraft models but i've never thought of making my own!
It'd be cool to design some armours/other equipment for this :)
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These look awesome.
I've always had a passing interest in building papercraft models but i've never thought of making my own!
It'd be cool to design some armours/other equipment for this :)
plus designing extra stuff can be as easy as flat designs you just glue on, (as illustrated by the gundam head-crest on the robocass model)
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update.. after 8 months. lol.
made Cirno.
(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/bottomrubs/949_1562.jpg?t=1291497949)
I'm totally moving forward with this.
littleroller.tk
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These are soooooooooo adorable. I feel like if I wasn't making the incredible effort not to, I'd melt in my seat. And I love how customizable they are. Are you giving away any as Christmas gifts this year?
The purple jewel guy on your first post sorta looks like something out of the megaman legends game which is a huge plus for me. I feel so bad that I never noticed this thread till now
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These are soooooooooo adorable. I feel like if I wasn't making the incredible effort not to, I'd melt in my seat. And I love how customizable they are. Are you giving away any as Christmas gifts this year?
The purple jewel guy on your first post sorta looks like something out of the megaman legends game which is a huge plus for me. I feel so bad that I never noticed this thread till now
absolutely love megaman legends, and I think i will actually make a christmas-themed character for christmas
also UPDATE
(http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5005/5249706793_25c3a1ab82.jpg)
made a new base that's at least 10 times easier to build!
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I don't know if it's hand drawn on the model or not, but the real media feel of the texture versus the 3d mesh-ness of the model makes for something very appealing. It's so meta.
It's a real life model that looks like a 3d model that with a texture that's digitally made (?) that looks like real colors that look like they're made digitally.
Very nice. Also super cute, I dig.
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thanks much!
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_I4ppAdYh-cc/TRli-0uOH4I/AAAAAAAAABk/3CY245XR6RA/s400/rabite%2Bpreview.jpg)
I made a rabite!
also working on a costume, thought i'd share it :D
(http://d.facdn.net/art/sakket/1294905664.sakket_gogogo.jpg)
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Holy crap that rabite is absolutely delightful in its blocky simplicity. Esp. against the background. ' u '
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quite thanks! minimal time investment is something I shoot for. :D
aw heck, I'll show what ive been working on too
(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/bottomrubs/949_1638.jpg)
there are a couple technical issues I'm trying to iron out due to my own negligence, but i'm pretty happy with it nonetheless.
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Can you tell me what program you used to design your papercraft in 3d, and the program you use to print out the pattern?
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firstly, all i can say is i'm so fond of these it's not even funny. And i hope you don't plan on/didn't 'texture' the cardboard of your costume, it has to stay bare like that!
Secondly, i'd like to second chrisp's inquiry :)
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I actually use google sketchup for getting the shapes right, it's fast and easy, and theres some extremely convenient unwrapping/tab adding plugins specifically for papercraft design, + it works on mac.
the art/textures are then done in photoshop, some trial and error is necessary for some things, but all in all it's not so hard.
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But how do you print it? Do ya just use a regular printer?
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yup. but for some reason printing directly from photoshop doesn't work as well, so I usually open the jpgs in preview and print from there
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I just realized that Rosie's cosplay costume is Hatsune Miku's outfit. Any chance you can make her a wig with Miku's gigantic twin tails?
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ive been too timid to attempt miku's hair, otherwise I would have totally made a miku model by now.
also I've started moving over to a side project, which involves robots!
(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/bottomrubs/952_1743.jpg)
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Wow, these things are so cute. I definitely think the new base looks better than the round one. Those robots are looking really sick too!
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very creative work with cardboard and stuffs. reminds me of appleseed
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How smart, you're using 3D UVW maps for the real world. Great idea. Just cut along the outer edges and fold along the lines. Do you use any special folding technique to get crisp folds? Got a thing for clever print production.
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thanks all. This side project has effectively consumed me! I just made a new monster design that I'm quite proud of, and in the process of refining the tabletop game that goes along with these :D (any playtesting would help a lot)
posted everything on littleroller.blogspot.com (http://littleroller.blogspot.com) :D
(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr343/bottomrubs/DRAZALpicture.jpg)
I don't actually have any folding techniques whatsoever.. If it's important that I get a nice clean fold I might put something like a metal ruler down, but otherwise I'm very into the casual hobby-ist attitude, my designs included.
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Awesome! Please continue.
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Oh I see. I once made a big bouquet of flowers, complete with octagonal flower pot out of paper I printed painted flowers, etc on. One thing I did, which it appears you did something similar, or maybe exactly, with your last robot guy, was duplex - print on both sides of the sheet, a mirrored copy of what's on the other side, so both sides of the paper have design printed on them. No ugly blank white surfaces.
Cool cyber-dino. That village is screwed.
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One thing I did, which it appears you did something similar, or maybe exactly, with your last robot guy,
Illusion successful! the template on the robots is actually entirely one sided! the legs probably threw you off.
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(http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHf76uEt3WA/TYzzFZaLkKI/AAAAAAAAADU/PvNoZgFCnWQ/s1600/showdown.jpg)
LOTS OF NEW STUFF!
plus a nice little directory to make it easier to get the game going!
http://littleroller.blogspot.com/p/play-phantom-capsule.html
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If I was 18 and had a debit crd I would TOTALLY buy one of these, make that the WHOLE darn set.
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@Sakket: Do you just use an x-acto knife, metal ruler, scissors and some glue sticks? That's all I've got and I've been getting glue all over my fingers. It's a bit of a hassle getting these little guys put together that way. Do I need more nimble finger? My girlfriend seems to have no problem putting these together. She refuses to explain her techniques, maybe you can share yours.
If I was 18 and had a debit crd I would TOTALLY buy one of these, make that the WHOLE darn set.
You just need to go to his blog and print the things up. They're free, he's really that nice of a guy.
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@Sakket: Do you just use an x-acto knife, metal ruler, scissors and some glue sticks? That's all I've got and I've been getting glue all over my fingers. It's a bit of a hassle getting these little guys put together that way. Do I need more nimble finger? My girlfriend seems to have no problem putting these together. She refuses to explain her techniques, maybe you can share yours.
If I was 18 and had a debit crd I would TOTALLY buy one of these, make that the WHOLE darn set.
You just need to go to his blog and print the things up. They're free, he's really that nice of a guy.
I get glue on my fingers constantly. I try to avoid it as much as possible because it sometimes kinda messes up the outside of the model, but yeah.. I'm in the same boat as you. I use scissors, a glue stick, and a pumpkin carving tool.
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@Sakket: Do you just use an x-acto knife, metal ruler, scissors and some glue sticks? That's all I've got and I've been getting glue all over my fingers. It's a bit of a hassle getting these little guys put together that way. Do I need more nimble finger? My girlfriend seems to have no problem putting these together. She refuses to explain her techniques, maybe you can share yours.
If I was 18 and had a debit crd I would TOTALLY buy one of these, make that the WHOLE darn set.
You just need to go to his blog and print the things up. They're free, he's really that nice of a guy.
FREE?!?! O...M...G... Thats awesome!
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http://youtu.be/zdR92Do9Dpw made a video!
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http://youtu.be/zdR92Do9Dpw made a video!
It's amazing! You seamlessly integrated animation and live-action! XD
It's really amazing though, I've watched it several times and have used it to convince friends to play PC with me.
<3
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Wow. Such an ambitious project. Just wanted to say everything looks great. When I get some free time I'll try play PHANTOM CAPSULE :]