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Badger
Feb 5, 2009 4:52:28 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 5, 2009 4:52:28 GMT -9
Here is the first sketch for a badger miniature. I say "first sketch", but I'm not counting the sketches that made him look like South Park's Man-Bear-Pig... I'm thinking he'll be a tracker or frontier ranger type of character, but that is still developing. edit: If no image shows up, please click the above link. My battle with Skydrive continues... Fixed.
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Badger
Feb 5, 2009 7:01:54 GMT -9
Post by kane on Feb 5, 2009 7:01:54 GMT -9
Very cool! Great dynamic pose. Love the rifle. Face looks spot on.
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Badger
Feb 10, 2009 13:11:41 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 10, 2009 13:11:41 GMT -9
Since I'm only able to work on this progress about a half hour at a time, I thought I'd explain my process. If anyone has any hints or tips please let me know. I start with a non-photo blue pencil sketch, ink with a black marker, and then photocopy on a light exposure setting to remove the pencil. I usually draw at four to eight times the scale. On this particular drawing I was too heavy handed with the pencils and didn't photocopy at a light enough setting. After I've scanned my sketch, I begin tracing the basic shapes using a contrasting color. At this point I'm not really worried about line weights or textures. I just start with one area and block in some basic colors. This helps me get the shapes stacked correctly. I had tried to use the trace option with CorelDraw, but it wasn't exact enough (or my drawings are too sketchy).
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Badger
Feb 10, 2009 13:32:42 GMT -9
Post by Slick on Feb 10, 2009 13:32:42 GMT -9
keep up the grate work! cant wait to see them finished
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Badger
Feb 11, 2009 7:20:54 GMT -9
Post by kane on Feb 11, 2009 7:20:54 GMT -9
Interesting technique. Seems very effective! Looking great.
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Badger
Feb 12, 2009 12:01:26 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 12, 2009 12:01:26 GMT -9
I've finished the basic "blocking-in" of the visible badger parts. Yes, I know it doesn't look like I've done much, but I did say that I've only been able to work on this about 1/2 hour per day... I'm kicking myself for not working out the clothing before I began this. I'm definitely a pencils first person. Trying to do to much straight on the computer tends to create weak designs for me. I'm probably going to print this version and attempt to pencil in and ink the outfit. Then I'll rescan the image and swap the new drawing for the sketch I'm currently tracing. Hopefully I've learned my lesson...
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Badger
Feb 12, 2009 13:13:46 GMT -9
Post by stevelortz on Feb 12, 2009 13:13:46 GMT -9
My computer graphics time has been cut way back too. My wife is working on a book, and I think she's got more potential with it than I have for my stuff, so the computer has become her tool instead of my toy. It's all good!
I'm glad you're sharing how you do your stuff, because I'm trying to work through some of the same stages of the process. Are you using CorelDraw? I've been fiddling around with GIMP since I got intimidated by all of CorelDraw's bells and whistles.
Have fun! Steve
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Badger
Feb 13, 2009 4:13:32 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 13, 2009 4:13:32 GMT -9
Are you using CorelDraw? I've been fiddling around with GIMP since I got intimidated by all of CorelDraw's bells and whistles. I've been using CorelDraw because it's what I have at work and my computer is dead at home. Working only on my lunch breaks really slows things down! As far as Corel's bells and whistles, I'm still learning and they have pretty good tutorials in place. I have not tried GIMP, but I've heard many good things about it. When I replace my home computer, I may switch to GIMP as Corel seems a bit pricey.
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Badger
Feb 18, 2009 12:38:08 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 18, 2009 12:38:08 GMT -9
And the progress continues... The shirt basics are complete. Next will be pants and boots, and then rifle...
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Badger
Feb 18, 2009 13:08:43 GMT -9
Post by Aestelon on Feb 18, 2009 13:08:43 GMT -9
Looking tasty so far; I really like the shirt design. As for programs, there's quite a few gratis ones out there, and if you've got the hard drive space for them, it's worth downloading several, as there's always stuff that one program will do that another won't. GIMP's pretty versatile, but as I've said in this thread, I do a lot of my vector work in OpenOffice.org Draw, with occasional forays into Inkscape. And since you're not paying for them, why the heck not get as many as you can..?
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Badger
Feb 18, 2009 13:09:06 GMT -9
Post by kane on Feb 18, 2009 13:09:06 GMT -9
Lookin good! Keep it up!
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Badger
Feb 18, 2009 18:06:54 GMT -9
Post by docryder on Feb 18, 2009 18:06:54 GMT -9
Don't forget to build up his deltoid on his right shoulder...
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Badger
Feb 19, 2009 4:46:08 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 19, 2009 4:46:08 GMT -9
Don't forget to build up his deltoid on his right shoulder... Thanks! The original sketch I was working from included shoulder plates that I decided to eliminate as they would interfere with firing a rifle. Those plates covered the deltoid area and I forgot to sketch them back in.
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Badger
Feb 23, 2009 10:35:45 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 23, 2009 10:35:45 GMT -9
The shirt basics are complete. Next will be pants and boots, and then rifle... After fixing the shirt, I skipped ahead to the rifle. Guns are more fun than clothes! Does anyone have any ideas for cool boots?
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Badger
Feb 24, 2009 7:11:39 GMT -9
Post by Aestelon on Feb 24, 2009 7:11:39 GMT -9
Two words: Judge Dredd.
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Badger
Feb 24, 2009 10:57:44 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 24, 2009 10:57:44 GMT -9
The Judge's boots may be a tad too brutal... All of those buckles and plates would get snagged in the brush as the badger sharpshooter tried to find an advantageous position to pick off the enemy. Dredd's boots are dang awesome though! I've finished the basic tracing and blocking in. I've also removed the original sketch from the background. There will still be a lot of tweaks and details to add, but basic texture filling is next. I'll add the extra details as I go.
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Badger
Feb 24, 2009 12:40:17 GMT -9
Post by kane on Feb 24, 2009 12:40:17 GMT -9
Loving it so far, Waffle!
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Badger
Feb 25, 2009 11:03:54 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 25, 2009 11:03:54 GMT -9
And now some early texturing: I'm experimenting with layering textures and transparency effects to create fabric and fur textures. It's a slow go and definitely a work in progress as some of the dark fur patches on the face look a little flat. I'll have to do some test prints too as it may look better in a reduced size...
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Badger
Feb 27, 2009 6:16:03 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 27, 2009 6:16:03 GMT -9
Texturizationosonification Continues!!!!!!!!! I still have to make some test prints, because all of this texture experimenting may be useless if it doesn't translate to the printer...
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Badger
Feb 27, 2009 8:36:04 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Feb 27, 2009 8:36:04 GMT -9
I think the front view is finished... I may tweak the scale of the fur texture as it doesn't really show up on the final print. What do you think?
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Badger
Feb 28, 2009 18:25:47 GMT -9
Post by squirmydad on Feb 28, 2009 18:25:47 GMT -9
You really have to exaggerate with textures in 30mm scale. Try going for more extreme transparency effects. It also helps to shrink the final figure to actual size. This is how I color them so I can see exactly how the coloring and texturing will look. JIM
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Badger
Mar 1, 2009 1:10:10 GMT -9
Post by kane on Mar 1, 2009 1:10:10 GMT -9
Fur is a touch flat, but it still looks good to me!
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Badger
Mar 2, 2009 7:43:06 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Mar 2, 2009 7:43:06 GMT -9
You really have to exaggerate with textures in 30mm scale. Try going for more extreme transparency effects. It also helps to shrink the final figure to actual size. This is how I color them so I can see exactly how the coloring and texturing will look. JIM Thanks for the tips. I've been too stuck on drawing things big and reducing them down to increase the detail. That works for illustration but not for miniatures. The details just get too muddy. I'm learning now that real size is the way to go and to test print often. Things on the screen just look completely different when printed on an inkjet.
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Badger
Mar 3, 2009 7:42:46 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Mar 3, 2009 7:42:46 GMT -9
And now the back view... I usually do not work from a sketch for the back view, but I probably should. I start by mirroring the front view, deleting the texture layers and black outline (these will be added back later), and then rotating the image 180 degrees. I then combine shapes to keep the basic outline intact. The insides are then stretched and skewed to make the back view. This gives a very distorted look while things are in progress, hopefully everything comes together at the end. You can see that I've already started working on the head, back, and arms. I also shift the order of items to create correct overlapping (the rifle was moved from the front to the back). I also added an ear to both the front and back view.
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Badger
Mar 4, 2009 14:12:11 GMT -9
Post by magpiestear on Mar 4, 2009 14:12:11 GMT -9
This is really looking good WaffleM.
I really love your textures and shading.
Can't wait for the finished item
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Badger
Mar 6, 2009 12:03:46 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Mar 6, 2009 12:03:46 GMT -9
The back view is finished, all textures have been added, and the test print looks good. This weekend I'll glue and cut out the test print to check alignment and scale. If everything is okay, all that's left will be to add the tab and submit him to the Hoard! Yay!!! ;D ;D ;D
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Badger
Mar 6, 2009 12:36:28 GMT -9
Post by kane on Mar 6, 2009 12:36:28 GMT -9
Very cool! It came together nicely. The fir on the arms looks grainy at this size, but I'm sure looks much better at print size. Great work!
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Badger
Mar 6, 2009 18:22:41 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Mar 6, 2009 18:22:41 GMT -9
Grumble, Grumble, GRUMBLE!!! I noticed an out of place texture transparency and a missing set of lines for the back of the shirt and satchel. I'll probably increase the satchel size too. I guess I should take a better look at my test prints before I declare that a design is finished...
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Badger
Mar 8, 2009 7:53:36 GMT -9
Post by squirmydad on Mar 8, 2009 7:53:36 GMT -9
It turned out really good! Looks like your starting to get a handle on the coloring and textures. Rear views take some getting used to, but once they become easy for you, then the figures become much easier to design. JIM
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Badger
Mar 9, 2009 5:41:23 GMT -9
Post by WaffleM on Mar 9, 2009 5:41:23 GMT -9
The design has been tweaked and test printed. Everything looks good and it's been sent off to the Hoard for March. What do you think? Now onto the next project...
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