Keep updating the modeling and the rendering of the characters for my book. This turtle is the more wise, old creature of the forest: The Jaboti (thanks to Kelley for the tip about using the Linoleum pattern on the Noise Factory shader. I used it on the turtles shell).

This guy is the opposite of the Jaboti. Is the Bugio Ape. Hes the most curious too. I use the Anything Grows plugin (excellent product, by the way).

Fun stuff! Mark

Very cool. Bungio looks like he could get into all sorts of trouble. Your turtle character doesn't look very old... I'm trying to think, what would give it an aged look? Maybe bags under the eyes, above the upper lip. I sure like Bungio. What kind of backgrounds do you have in mind?

Thanks Mark. Thank you for the hint, ominousplay. Im trying to fix it with texture maps (I made a simulation on Photoshop). The Jaboti is very old, hes only using Bottox on that picture... ;-)

Message edited on: 03/10/2005 10:24

This new turtle looks older , good job. Thats a very nice character.

Even if it's not realistic, you could do something like add a small white beard, like an old chinese kung fu master... ;) The turtles skin is a bit too shiny I think, but that's completely up to you, other than that it's really excellent work. ;)

How about some wrinkles around the knees and toes? Also maybe some across the forehead? Just a couple thoughts.

Yes, all your observations are correct. And Im wondering: maybe the turtle is too "cocky" for her age. Im trying some look like Yoda, you know? Older, tired and wiser look. Thank you all, guys. Thats why I like this community so much. Whitout your help I cant get out from the splash screen of Carrara. ;-)

the yoda look is a cool idea.:) great work so far noviski,when will your book be available?

Nice work, noviski. The Turtle has come a long way. The wrinkles helped. Also, try making the eyes smaller. Large eyes are a baby characteristic that helps to make a character cute. Since you've got a good grip on 'Anything Grows' how about growing some moss on the shell? Definitely reduce the shine on skin and shell, and I like the 'Chinese Master' wispy beard idea.

Glad the 'linoleum' bit of info worked for you. I've gleaned so much good information fron this forum that it's nice to be able to offer some back.

Just remembered another thing: make the head smaller. A large head [especially with big eyes] is typically a baby attribute, and visually this screams 'youth', and 'cute'. If this turtle is "The Old Man of the Forrest", I'd think in terms of the Galopagas Tortise: big, rough all over, tiny head and eyes.

I tend to agree with kelley on the size of eyes and head lending to a more youthful turtle. I'm still wondering how you made the shell... did you use zones to texture the bumps vs. the space between mumps? I get a kick out of how much we enjoy the experience of watching / and helping a character like this evolve. Great works.

The shell was made from that ilustration founded on the web in the vertex modeler, ominousplay. And keep helping, your hints are allways welcome. ;-) DAIGORO, my intention is publish the book in 2006. It call "The Ugly Bird - A Mistery in The Forest" and its about ecology, discrimination and other important values. Thank you very much. Nice tips again, kelley. I like the Anything Grows idea. Since the book is for kids, and Im planning a toy line based on the characters, the baby/cute/young looks helps a lot. And about the chinese master idea...I dont know, really. The background (answering a bit latelly my good friend ominousplay) is a brazilian rain forest. All the animals on the story bellongs to our fauna. Thank you all again! I keep you updated soon as I can. God Bless You All!

She is aging beautifully! Hate to say it, ('cause it looks so nice) but you may want to take a bit of the shine off that awesome shell, or maybe hit it with a little wear? Markd

Is the life on the tropics, Markd. Shes 300 years old with a body of 120... ;-) Yes, the shell its a little shine, and I decide remap all the character. Separate maps for the eyebags, legs, head, shell with Anything Grooves e all the important contribuitions sugested for you guys. Thanks a lot.

Well, Im almost finished the remapping. And reduce the head size. But I decide to keep the cute look, for "commercial" reasons. I put some green color at the shell. the bottom are more yellow too. The last part are the legs, I didnt started, maybe tomorrow. ;-)

Wow, the wrinkles and liver spots look great. The green moss doesn't look quite right though. How about using general weathering techniques to decide where it grows, like cracks and dimples, not so much on the bumps sticking out. Great work though... And I think it looks believably old, no need to make it less cute, looks like an old story teller lady... ;)

I use the Global Ilumination on image. Thats why the green moss is poping-up. I need a colorfull shell for attract the kids, maybe more orange...
The real challenge is the background image. Im gonna sketch some landscapes for it. In fact, I cant look for this turtle anymore...Time to move on for other characters and props for the history. Thanks again, Sardtok! :-D

Message edited on: 03/15/2005 12:12