Shoe Laces in Zbrush

Hello This is a blog post about how to create show laces. I started by finding some lace brushes already made.
http://www.badking.com.au/site/shop/clothing-attire/laces-brush/
I have used this particular lace set before and found that making your own was a easier way to go about it. I started with zspheres and ran then thru the shoe lace holes that I made in the military style boot I was working on.
 
The easier way would be to use a premed set that I found online but I wanted to make my own set because if you notice I have a change in the laces because in a military boot it has the holes and the rings to tighten the laces.  This process shows you how you start off with zspheres then use adaptive skin and then use the ramp feature to thin out the laces.

1. How does the size of the texture image effect what is displayed in the render?

The size of the texture image can effect a lot especially in the tender view because it could be black or grey in the perspective view port but in the render the image can show. I can also be blown out and have major stretching so it is important to utilize the image in the uv editor and the bump maps that match the color image texture you use on the object.

1. How does the resolution effect the quality of the render?

The resolution of the image is extremely important because it can have a pixelated stretched out look if the image is to small. also if the image is to big and is not properly sized to the object you could get a close up of not what you want the texture to be.

Finale render for SAL
this was a pretty fun project was challenging but fun

What worked and what didn’t? 
Detail work worked really well and copying over one finger and duplicating really helped with the time and then remeshing it back on the hand itself. 
What would you do differently next time?
Back up my files more often and make sure the files are not corrupted. And also make sure my mac book is up to par and be carful about not running anything else in the background to have the computer crash and freeze on me so the files don't get corrupted and then won't open later. 
Did you encounter any major issues, if so how did you adapt? 
My szbrush files were corrupted three versions back and the stool 
http://forums.autodesk.com/autodesk/attachments/autodesk/area-b46/8581/1/M2015_Flicker.gif
this is an example of what it looked like but it was the entire view port and then it would crash multiple times.
How did the end result come out (give yourself honest feedback)? 
i think model came out pretty well i would probable liked to have put a little more time the details of the arm but i like the end result.

Final tradition piece using colored pencil, pencil, ink, and acrylic paint

Digital with splatter

Digital Painting without splatter paint

First draft

Objective Critique
The jackson pollock painting I picked is a monochromatic style painting using on skin tones and black very simplistic and unappealing. The pieces has a sense of scattered movement with no meaning behind each stroke or in this case splatter. In every art piece every stroke or movement in a piece should contribute to the piece itself this has no meaning but throwing paint on a canvas. The only principles of design that can be talked about with this piece is movement because there is nothing else to look at no lines, no meaning not structure to the piece.

Subjective Critique When I first looked at this piece I felt a sense of release let me explain why. The only time i splatter painted as a child was when i was angry or upset and I would just throw paint around just to have a release. Its like going shooting at the range or having a drink at a bar its just a sense of release form the daily stresses. This is the only way i could relate tot these pieces otherwise they were childish and lifeless. 1 Jackson Pollock was a big part of art at the time, but i don't understand how splattering paint onto a canvas is art a child can shatter paint, even an animal like an elephant can paint for details and thoughtful pieces. 2 I believe that most of his painting had no reason behind them and he just made something up after the fact to give the painting's meaning so he could sell his pieces. 3 most of his paintings are lifeless and unappealing to the eye the least he could have done was pick a better color pallet on most of his pieces.
I would change everything make the piece have meaning include some lifelike realistic qualities make it have a purpose to why the painting was painted in the first place. What i believe will do use the painting and create awareness for viriligo disease which is a skin condition that causes the lose of skin color in blotches. i would do this by using the on of jacksons paintings to represent the skin condition and show that you are still beautiful no matter what.

Jackson pollock: a collection Survey, 1943-1954 splatter paint

Hedwig with her head turned around another for extra props MCR

Nimbus 2000 Another extra for my room in MCR

Sword of Gryffindor that I made for week 4 asset to help with the harry potter theme I went with for my room.

Sorting hat from Harry Potter i made for bonus props for week 4 of MCR really fun sculpt

Lion Head shield I made for week4 of MCR Really happy with this one

Cabinet I made for Week 2 of MCR

Using primary and secondary forms are extremely important when modeling in both classes and in modeling for any object. when I model if it is not an organic object and it is made i ask myself how was this made and how many pieces was it made in to make this object and break it down. Edge quality is very important because there is no 90 degree angles and there is not straight lines in nature. It is important to have smoothing edges for the form to smooth correctly in 3 mode. It is also important to model you object to look like 3 mode in 1 mode for a better all around model. The only problem with holding edges is when you import it to Zbrush when you divide the mesh all the divisions go to the holding edges and you don't get the typology you need in the areas you want. Making normal maps are really fun to do because you can take a highly detailed model and map it onto a simplified version of itself and get the same detail.

This class has been extremely helpful for the basics and I can say for myself, I have become very fluid with the basic commands needed to operate Maya. Using Blackout in the class helped visualize basic forms in complex objects to break it down for easier modeling techniques. Using image planes is really helpful for reference and getting the object in the basic form and then using the reference images to create dinner details later after removing images plans. Also, after using the image planes you can take your artist eye in the perspective view and manipulate the object to give it an easier look in the eye. Like our teacher Mr. Tony Bagsby said we are basically vert pushers and using the all the basic modeling tool are really important. We will always use them and once we really become very fluid with our modeling, we will have all the basic training we gathered from the month down and it will be second nature. Edge flow and typology is extremely important for any model to be esthetically pleasing to the eye. Typology is really important for models and if the typology is not correct the character will not move as build as the animator would like.

Rendered View of a SparkPlug I made in week 2 of 3DF About 2Hrs

Rendered View of the Camera I Created in week 3 of 3DF About 4 Hrs

David Luong I would say I admire and am inspired by David Luong because he not only has the job I want but he is an amazing artist. He gives great advice through his web site and podcast. He not only loves what he does but wants to give back to the next generation and teaches people how he does things. He also talks about how he is learning new stuff from the next generation and the new things that come out. Being humble in the art industry is very important and loving what you do is even more important in any industry. David is an amazing VFX artist who loves art and wants to inspire others just like me. Watching his demo reel is really inspiring and makes me want to make my own work immediately and improve my skills.

http://www.davidluong.net