Wookie Alien (Wookie'fied furred Alien Xenomorph)

Alright folks, first log entry and my first SWAG Request taken on for RedDragonRipper... Woot for me!

I've got the resources & materials to do this one and don't have to purchase anything extra, so thats the only reason in the future that I'll ever take on or do requests. And this is a learn in progress. A brand new challenge :)

Ok, I've already started this one, and got the body: torso, legs & arms covered in fur. Fur follicle amount is in the 75,000 count right now just for what I've got right now. These are just simple quick test renders, takes this Core2Quad about 30 seconds to pump out a 640x480 sample. Mighty useful when making minor adjustments as I progress along and dont have to wait eons for a result.

Hmm, I wonder if i can upload multiple images in one go? If so, then here's the side & front profiles. Yup! there we go.

Ok, the RedDragonRipper's GM wants the fur in the usual variety of brown, white & black fur colouration. *I might* be able to do some lengths of patchwork on some of the areas - I'll have to see when I get to that point. What I can do for sure is make the fur more corse, or longer or shorter - from a shaggy stuffed animal to brushcut.

Fur colouration: well, i'm in luck. I've made over a dozen color shader patterns, mostly camouflage variants and other variety. Theres 2 or 3 of them that'll work just fine for Wookie hair. The fur as it is right now has one of the camo shaders applied. It was for vehicle scale so i'll have to shrink the pattern a bit. But its a great start IMHO. For the fur, theres both Hair Root, and Hair Tip. The camo shader is only applied to the Hair Tip. the Hair Root base color is black.

The Difference:
- front view: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- front view2: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Camo #13 / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3c.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3d.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Rust3A / Skin: Default Alien Texture

See the difference it makes? I added 2 more variants with my Rust3A shader to illustrate this further. Making both the Root & Tip the same and the Root as Black... I'll leave this to RedDragonRipper's choice... Fur pattern coloring is still open for customization at any point in the process towards completion...

The "Camo Shader #13" or "Rust3A shader" is what I'm using for now.

Do note the green skin underneath - thats the area of the model that the fur has been applied to. The actual skin is a texture which I may use... or Apply the same camo #13 shader on both the skin. Thats why you see in the front and side profiles, the multi-brown (like calico style) fur, and underneath is black.

Trivial fact - you can see some of the 61 shaders I've already made since getting into Carrara. Theres the camo shaders I used on both Levrr, the Togorian, and on Missy's jumpsuit.

Well, I gotta jet for now. Will check back later today and work on it more I've the head and tail to cover in fur yet. Comments and whatever welcome :)

BTW: RedDragonRipper , I want to hear back from you. I need your input - at least i'd appreciate some feedback, otherwise I'll just have to assume what I think looks best and that'll end up being what you get.

========================= June 10, 4pm =========================
Images Edit / Addendum: 2 New sample renders

:edit: uploaded picture size less than 2048 res. (exceeded forum gallery software max sizes)

========================= June 10, 7:45pm =========================
Images Edit / Addendum: 3 New sample renders: full body hair coverage

- Doc3.JPG - front view: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3a.JPG - front view2: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Camo #13 / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- WIP 1a.JPG - Hair modeling room. 75,000 hair count on body!
- Doc3b.JPG - front view2: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Camo #13 / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3c.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3d.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Rust3A / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3a-1.JPG - same shader camo #13 w/ hair root black. 2048x1536 sample render size. Render time: 9 minutes
- Doc3e.JPG - same as Rust3A w/ hair root black. 1024x768 sample render size. Render time: 0:05:13 minutes:
- Doc3f.JPG - same as Rust3A w/ hair root black. 1024x768 sample render size. Render time: 0:05:13 minutes
- WIP 1b.JPG

Had to take a break from work, eat supper and relax by continuing on this project request. Got the full body fur coverage now. I'm quite pleased, there probably won't be much 'combing' of the fur needed. I'm taking a liking to the Rust3A shader, as its producing a nice salt'n'pepper kind of effect. Its way more intricate and detailed in the mixed color pattern, while the palete's much wider. Includes several shades of brown from dark to orangy and grey, with traces of white.

I also shortened the hair from .3ft to .2ft . the hair/fur seems to conform and follow the model's UVMaping more. Especially noticeable around the side of the head, front chest, shoulders. It virtually brushed itself, appearing to have shape and definition rather than appearing to have been dunked into the washer and fluff-dried in the dryer...

I think I need to work on the teeth a bit, make a shader that'll give them a milky pearly white sheen. The default texture supplied with the model just isn't cutting it for my tastes.

========================= June 17 =========================
I lengthened the fur from 0.2 to 0.4 , and added a thing called Gravity to the fur. Presto. Whatever pose I put the Xenomorph in, re-apply gravity and down it drops. This way it dosn't end up looking like either a plushie kid's toy or it took a dip into the Kashyyk Village Communal Washer & Dryer hut tumblers... (skickers & grins...).

Didnt use any Light through Transparencies or Caustics, though I did use Field of Depth as you can see the camera focus is on the Xeno coming through the doors, not the R5 Astromech in the foreground... Test render settings, 1024x768 and it still took a good 9 minutes to roll out this image... And that is the 75,000 fur at Large folicle size, and the rust3A pattern...

Take note how the shoulders and top surfaces of the Xeno's body is smooth (not plushy toy bear fuzzy), and the lower parts 'where the fur would hang' theres actually hanging shaggy fur... like the arms and stuff.

========================= June 20th 2:23pm =========================

Images Edit / Addendum: 2 New sample renders: scene lighting and fog setup

* Note: No postwork has been done to the images sofar.

Alright guys and gals. Fixed the lighting closer to what I had in mind, from above and behind the Xeno, with the light spilling in...

Since I was listening to the song Sweet Dreams (Are made of these) - not the original 80's pop version by the Eurythmics, but the darker heavier Marilyn Mansion rendition... Talk about mood setting music...

I added some mysterious ground fog / mist... Really adds that exotic 'you know its from another planet' creepiness to the atmosphere don't it? The fog/mist also has this eerily glow to it, the self illumination playing with the shadows and off the walls, and even enhances the darker Xeno-Wook silhouette from below.

I also toyed with the fog/mist density from 2.0 to 1.0 settings. Displayed here is the 1.0. 2.0 wasn't so much thicker as it was brighter, suggesting it was being illuminated from some underneath light source.

I'm still hassling with the elbow fur lengths. works on one arm, but not for the other, not sure why. And its on the arm that isn't as visible, else i could get away with it and nobody would be none the wiser.

Other then that, I think i'm just about done with this picture unless anyone has anything to add, critique, suggest, comment on ;) (only need make a higher resolution render at full quality)

What do you guys and gals think?

:edit: I can also do a 2 for 1 feature, making a stand alone Xeno-Wook profile picture, so the detailing on the fur is not lost.

========================= June 22nd 11:11am =========================

Images Edit / Addendum: 1 New sample renders: New Camera angle with Twi'lek added

* Note: No postwork has been done to the images sofar.

What do you guys think? the Missing item in the scene? Helps gives clarity to the scene or detracts from the main feature? I still have a bit of adjusting on the Twi'lek's pose if so...

Need your opinions, comments, critique guys & gals! ;)

========================= June 25th 1:32pm =========================

Minor update. Final scene renders are done. Just working up a Xeno-Wook profile that'll be done tonight. Profile view 1/2 done. You're gonna love this

========================= June 27th 11:16pm =========================

Alright folks, I declare this blog W.I.P done!
Images have been submitted to the SWAG Galleries, as well as their respective full 2048x1536 versions to my DeviantArt Gallery

Thanks to everyone viewing, commenting along every step of the way for my very first SWAG Art Request completion.

Just for quick & easy reference since the titles didn't do anything...

Attached images left to right:

The Difference:
- Doc3.JPG - view: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3a.JPG - view: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- WIP1a.JPG - hair screen
- Doc3b.JPG - front view2: Hair Tip: Camo #13 / Hair Root: Camo #13 / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3c.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Black / Skin: Default Alien Texture
- Doc3d.JPG : Hair Tip: Rust3A / Hair Root: Rust3A / Skin: Default Alien Texture

I'll make note of this for future reference.

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 10, 2008 Permalink

This is just my opinion.. but I think the fur needs to look a bit softer.... Of course like I said.. that's just my opinon.. right now I think he looks more like a porcupine, then a wookiee :) ... But he's looking good... your 3D modeling is great... And this isn't meant as a put down at all.. just think that having it lay down or something would make it look more like a wookiee... :)

Very good 3D modeling though, wish I could do something like that.

Posted by: Xanamiar
on: June 10, 2008 Permalink

Thx for the constructive comments ;) Its great to have others opinions and views. Because you see what I don't see.

I'll see what I can do about the fur... perhaps make some of it longer in areas, shaggier and 'comb' it like you do with a hair brush. We all gotta brush our hair in the morning, and this model's fur no different.

The model's pose itself is just the default pose that the model loads into the program. I usually leave the default pose on the characters as I put the clothing or whatever on them. In this case, I used Carrara's tools to add the hair / fur onto the model, and the fur is what i'm still working with. Once it looks good, then I load up a model set environment and start populating it with props.

I'll most definatly put the Alien into some sort of stalking predatory hunting pose once I get a set loaded and figure out where I'm going to place them all.

The Alien model was made by someone else, i have to look in the readme's and see who it is. I've got a few Alien Drone models. Not to mention the APC, dropship, Sulaco, the Power Loader, the Aliens Complex on LV-number something. Theres lots of modelers out there making fan made stuff from franchises because they love those movies. So models are like these are free, much like the art SWAG does.

Theres very much a good chance you could do something like this actually. I'll start a little thread about it. Theres a ton of free resources out there including a modeling program to start with.

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 11, 2008 Permalink

Hey all, Had some annual family stuff to tend to over the weekend. I'm getting right back to the modelling now.

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 17, 2008 Permalink

Ok guys & gals...

I lengthened the fur from 0.2 to 0.4 , and added a thing called Gravity to the fur. Presto. Whatever pose I put the Xenomorph in, re-apply gravity and down it drops. This way it dosn't end up looking like either a plushie kid's toy or it took a dip into the Kashyyk Village Communal Washer & Dryer hut tumblers... (skickers & grins...).

Uhhh, hey, is there a way to add more images? I have 2 samples - going by Xanamiar's comments about the hair looking like porcupine qills rather than hair. The default setting is Large, and one step down - Medium, makes it look too fine imho. Not sure if theres a way to control it more precisely...

I'd probably also have to edit the fur / hair count density, at least double it from 75,000 to 150,000 or even triple it to 225,000 but thats really getting up there in resource usage... I'll see what I can manage and do the best I can. I'm going to start posing and adding the scenery and everything else to complete the picture. Once I get those setup, do a couple test renders for placement, finetuning, and lighting, i can up the count of the fur and set it back to medium and see how much resources it takes. (That 8gb of ram might make a nice birthday or xmas present to myself... ;) )

:edit: Nevermind. Just checked and read Eclipse's most recent site news update. Server hosts being switched, and blog editing and image uploading temporarily disabled... Well, in the meantime, i'll just link them off-site:

So... Does this look more like shaggy Wookie hair? If so, which one?
-= Fur Gravity default large thickness
-= Fur Gravity medium thickness

give those a look and lemme know what you think!

:edit 2:
-= Scene, Poses, Props, & Lighting Test

Ok, been trying some stuff. Nothing's permanent. Slowly getting the lighting to where I want it, still not happy with it yet. Maybe adjust camera angles and zoom also.

I'll go at it more tonight.

Comments, opinions, critique welcome ;)
________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 17, 2008 Permalink

I personally like the large thickness. Maybe with it getting longer towards the elbow from the wrist. I love the stalking look in the render....kinda like " I wonder if that little thing is good eat'n"

Posted by: Casca1967
on: June 17, 2008 Permalink

I'd have to agree that the large thickness does look better... Just out of curiosity ((because I'd like to see what it looks like)) any way you can make it's head a bit more round?... Just curious to see what it would look like with a bigger head... Like a wookiee head, with those huge teeth and jaw.. I think he'd look cool.

And I like the gravity look with everything but the arms... seems like they should be all drooping straight down on the arms, but don't know if there is anything you can do about it, but it does look a lot better than the tumble through the dryer...

Posted by: Xanamiar
on: June 17, 2008 Permalink

looking great! i like the medium thickness more... but both work great. that test scene is awesome. would scare the shit out of me to see one of those coming. keep up the great work!

Posted by: RedDragonRipper
on: June 17, 2008 Permalink

Thx all for the feedback sofar. I'm glad your liking how its shaping up to be. still a work in progress i'm getting right back to now, that the sun has set and night comes near...

My main goal tonight is to fix the lighting. That orang'ish lighting isn't bright enough or close enough nor is it casting any shadows on the floor. Just that silhouette outline on the corridor wall. Basically I want some of the light from the larger room spilling into the corridor.

I was toying with the idea of adding in a Twi'lek adventurer / scoundrel what-have you... maybe ducking around the corner beside the R5 there (its a corridor "T" junction). I didn't quite wanna use Missy so soon again, and was thinking of a Blue Skinned male this time. Memory resource-wise I still have a bit of room, while the single light source playing on the Xeno-Wook 's fur still makes it near 10minute test render.
- But if the camera distance and angle works, then I won't change it or add to (detract from) the scene...

Casca1967 - I'll try lengthen the fur from the wrist going towards the elbows

Xanamiar I can possibly distort / warp or even scale up the head to size. I can do that and with a close-up if you want.

RedDragonRipperThx!
________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 18, 2008 Permalink

Sorry guys, getting late and gotta be up in a few hours. still working with the lighting and elbow fur length. making progress on both, tho the renders right now are like 320x240 size to speed the previews up... i'll post something later today ;)

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 18, 2008 Permalink

Xanamiar - i'll still give it a shot with the resized head... just was focusing on the lighting and scene setup first.

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 20, 2008 Permalink

That is looking really dang cool. You have ventured into a territory that I can never claim - full scenes with amazing detailed settings: action frozen in time. Looks awesome!

Boshuda

Posted by: Asok
on: June 22, 2008 Permalink

Thanks Asok! And i'm still learning alot as I go along. This is probably the 3rd time i've used the fog tool in a render, each time a different application for it, while its the first time I did both low-lighting and fur.

I'll do a final high quality render tonight and call it done. I'll also do up a more traditional Profile picture for the Xeno-Wook. I just don't think the Twi'lek fits (even if i had the right pose). The focus really is on the Xeno-Wook, thats where the eye is drawn to immediately, passing the R5 along the way. While having in the Twi'lek maybe gives reason to why the Xeno-Wook has pried its way through the doors and looking in his direction, leaving out the Twi'lek leaves more mystery and open-endedness to interpretation and imagination.

Unfortunately, I just can't get the elbow fur any longer for both arms. If theres a way, I still probably have a fair bit learn. I'm poor at photo-shop drawing, so adding the fur length / touching it up is out of the question for me. And besides, my goal is to achieve as much as I can without doing postwork aside from the signature.

Thats why I've always and still will envy those who have a natural talent with the pen / pencil. Its more than drawing lines, its also having the eye for proportion, lighting and shading and other minor subtle but important details. And if you can do that, your not limited to what you can draw - sw species or whatever. I on the otherhand, am limited to what resources I can find to work with. So each medium respectfully has its pros and cons ;)

________________________
Core to the Quad baby!!!

Posted by: TNJadeonar
on: June 22, 2008 Permalink

Damn, that's some creepy stuff...

http://swagonline.net/node/4346

Posted by: Jace.Terrik
on: October 10, 2010 Permalink

This is very interesting article. Next time author can use a college essays for finding interesting theme.

Posted by: Alycia
on: September 8, 2011 Permalink

Wookie Alien (Wookie'fied furred Alien Xenomorph)

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