Loo Chean Khiang demoreel 2007

One of my senior has just completed his website, with some demoreel. Worth a look :)

http://khiang.co.nr

Maya modeling technique

Before using maya, I was a lightwave user for about 2 years. Having accustomed to modeling toolset in LW, I cursed maya a lot when I just started to use it.

However, I found some similar technique which can be found in Max or XSI too perhaps.

Based on my knowledge and experience, these 3 are the technique I used the most.

1. Using proxy.
I used this the most. Previously maya below version 7 hasn't got this tool yet. Instead I used CPS (Connect Poly Shape). It's a script, which behave in similar way.

To use:
- select an object you want.
- click Proxy > Subdiv Proxy options box.
For more info, you can refer to help. But usually I would leave everything to default, except Subdiv Proxy Shader to Keep.



Once applied, you'll see there's a new object on top of it. If you check the outliner, There are now 2 objects under 1 group.




So how's it similar to LW? Did you see TOGGLE PROXY DISPLAY and BOTH PROXY AND SUBDIV DISPLAY on previous image? There's a default shortcut key, which is ` and ~.

Try this:
Select vertex on lowpoly, press `, move it, so now you'll see the hires is moving as well.

Okay, now I'm done with the modeling, how do I clean it up?
Well, you can manually delete the hires, unparent the lowpoly and delete the group node, but the simpler way would be:
select the lowpoly object, apply the proxy > subdiv proxy again.

Why manually delete? Sometimes I found proxy to be a little bit buggy.

Advantages:
- Easy toggle and editable. LW and Modo users will love this.
- History is properly kept.

Disadvantages:
- Sometimes buggy with mirrored objects.
- Sometimes you have to manually delete the smooth object (bug I guess)
- Smoothed object might have problem with render (investigate the render stats under attribute editor)


2. Active Smooth Poly (http://www.3dbe.com/ActiveSmoothPoly/Default.aspx)
This is another script I used by Tal Threstha. The purpose I used this mainly is for viewing hires object only.
You'll find out more in his website, I'll just summarize.

Advantages:
- Fast, I assign to alt+q, object smoothed, and you can still orbit the viewport
- Good for minor tweaking which do not require proxy.
- History is clean, since the script will automatically clean polysmooth node after it's deactivated.
- Comes with smoothing radius, so you can adjust the distance of smooth, good for slow computer.

Disadvantages:
- Once smoothed, you can't edit the lowres object like proxy mode.
- selecting object and activate the script is fast, but selecting vertex and activate the script seems to slow down performance.


3. HKSubDConvertor (http://www.henrykorol.com/Scripts/SubdToggle/index.html)
The last one here is not really my preferences, but it's worth mentioning. I occasionally use it.
Again, visit the website for more information.

Advantages:
- Smooth object look really smooth, because it converts object to SubD
- Good for detailing or finishing phase.

Disadvantages:
- Always delete history, not good if you'd like to keep bevel or such node.
- Personally I just feel it's not clean, even though it claims to be.
- Once in a while it would crash maya.
- Conversion would be slow sometimes, depending on your machine and poly counts.

hello..are u still awake? :P

Insert Edge loop tool tips.

Just in case most of you don't know, here's a little gem on insert edge loop tool, which I've neglected for a while, but now I use this tool a lot.





You can also check out the offset edge loop tool...

File Revision System using FileHamster

When working with scenes, we are aware that saving files incremently is extremely important. However, most of the times we end up losing the track/record of what we have done toward that particular scene and we often end up being cluttered by bunch of files inside a folder.

There are several ways to remedy this, one of them is by using attribute editor (there's a small comment box in the bottom)



I recently found a free software called FileHamster. What it does is basically save the backup of your current scene, and allow you to give comments, or notes, and also lock the file, so that it's not easily edited.



What you see here, is that I ask FileHamster(FH) to watch a folder called c:\Documents...\scenes, and in that folder I have only 1 file, which is test_V01.mb

test_V01.mb only have a sphere in a scene. I save the file.
The popup will appear, asking what comment you wanna write, so I write "a scene..."

Next, I add a cube to the scene, and save again. This time I still save the scene as test_V01.mb, instead of test_V02.mb, which was my typical workflow. The popup appear again, asking for comment, so I add "tambah cube".

I did the same thing again by adding cone.. and the process goes on.

The benefit here is that I only have a file on my working directory, instead of several versions, which is of course, neato!

There is a good example on using FH with Photoshop in their website, I suggest.. give it a try :)

Foto Jadul

I found this photo when organizing my Harddisk folders. Funny when I looked back into my past, things have changed ever since, I miss those time painting on canvas, or spent one week mid-term break at library practising anatomy and sketches everyday rather than going on holiday or break like others did. It's sad to think about it, as I didn't have as much fun as others did, but I won't be what I am now if I took the other path :)

The other guy on the photo is Foad, my life drawing lecturer on sem 2. Totally a pure artist, he played music, weird music... he does caricature, and lotsa other stuffs.. Genious guy I would say.. one of my best teacher and a guy who influence my life, well.. at least the hair is a good starting point :P

10th ICG Speed Modeling Session - Glasses

This is my entry, It's totally done in Modo. I won't call it speed modeling, the whole thing take me a day to finish off. Well, the most important thing is that I learnt :) and I'm still adjusting myself to get used to modo. Modo tools are awesome... Hope I got more time to explore.. gotta continue my cylman for now :D

CylinderMan WIP: character done

Small update, The character is considered done, though not 100% resemblance. The detail on the bust and abs would be done via normal map.

It's time to continue with the environment now.

Cylinder Man Work in Progress

Something I've been working on, on&off...

The concept art image was taken from Puyuh



Work in Progress:

Jakarta Undercover the movie

I met Lance a while ago on Indosat job, which require me and KFC to fly down to jakarta to handle and supervise some CG shots. I was told about this film while chating with him during break session, but never been given a clue about the movie. It was supposed to be shown last year, and some of us were invited to the premiere.. but I think as time fly, it's forgotten :P or maybe it could be another reason, as the title said, it's quite controversial. I read the novel, it's thrilling and creative in unique way. Let's see how well Lance portray it into the screen :)

Here's some information about the movie, taken from here




Velvet Films

The Most Anticipated Indonesian Movie of 2006

JAKARTA UNDERCOVER
Director : Lance (Cinta Silver)
Cast : Luna Maya (Bangsal 13, Cinta Silver, Ruang)
Lukman Sardi (Pesan dari Surga, Berbagi
Suami, Gie)
Fachri Albar (Alexandria)
Christian Sugiono (Catatan Akhir Sekolah,
Cinta Silver, Jomblo)
Laura Antoinetta
Aimee Juliet
Introducing : Kenshiro Arashi
Cameo : Fauzi Baadilla, Mario Lawalata, Hanung
Bramantyo, Sita Nursanti, Farhan, Ray Sahetapy, Tutie
Kirana, Arswendi Nasution

Beredar serentak di seluruh Indonesia

Mulai 22 Maret 2007

Celebrating Khiang's Bday