Lee Greatorex Photo/3D blog

Sculptris is currently a free to use 3d sculpting program (currently in Alpha stage). It is slightly more basic and raw compared to the big sculpting tools (mudbox/Zbrush) but it still has a great charm and excellent ease of use.

Here are a few tests done with it (using the default sphere as the starting point).

Above: test/wip work of a Magneto/ Raiden character (head would be covered with helmet)
Below: A goblin

Above: WIP of a Kingpin style character
Below: Test Render in Maya with bump and skin shader applied

I found the program really easy to use and a nice start for those not used to importing objects in to Maya for a render. (I used a modified version of MayaSSS Fast Skin Shader as a base for the skin with my texture painted colours as bump added to it, then a simple lighting rig for the images). The downside is it's quite a bit harder to get a refined model such as in zbrush and poly count can be quite high (although the reduce brush does an excellent job of lowering poly count).

This program is perfect for lunch time doodles at work or test ideas which can then be developed in more powerful software combinations. Give it a go!

This is progress from working through the flame section of the Maya Studio Projects: Dynamics book;

I'm kind of happy with it, still working through the burning building project while also working out how to utilise the skills learned in the book in to my own work, possible a character walking through a dungeon with a torth or similar.

Here's progress on the house section;


My laptop is on it's last legs so I'm not sure it will handle the higher res (currently the higher one seen at the bottom is at 80 - 90 and 70 compared to the books suggested 160+. I'll work out a proper ratio tomorrow and raise it accordingly from the low 40-50 and 30 suggested resulution values.

I've not posted in a long time, been doing a lot of photography work, ranging from Wildlife photography to shots in Lisbon (will upload a few of them on here shortly) as well as working on a new portfolio website - progress can be found here .

3D wise I'm currently using the program Sculptris and will do a couple of tutorials/ show some of my work since using it later this week.

Also as part of 3D work I'm currently going through the Maya Studio Projects: Dynamics book as a kind of top up to the degree (been a while since doing more detailed particles and since university moved to Maya) - you can find the book here

I'm currently working through the flames section (previously done the cloud of dust/ volcano project). I will be working through the whole book, hopefully then will link a couple of effects together to get a little test reel done.

Finally today I've been sketching today, Just thought I'd upload it as is (just changed the contrast/ colours slightly not going to colour or digital ink it yet).