Just got real

Squarespace iPhone app? Thank you kindly.

On fxphd

While I’m loving fxphd it’s kind of irritating how each lesson is distinct; the content is magnificent but it almost feels like what you learn is wasted. It would make more sense to me if each subject worked towards completing a project over the 10 weeks of teaching, but that would require a far more significant investment by the already busy lecturers.

Nuke, tracking, and modelling are all *deep* subjects. I’ve enough of an overview now to understand how to comp and grade my output from Maya, but don’t think I’ll continue with the other topics next term. Nuke is something I get very excited about, to the detraction of the modelling and animation.

This is a little scattered, excuse me - I have homework to do. Screenshots etc. soon.

Update

It’s been an interesting month. After the last batch of animation tests I lost a lot of momentum. The timing was all wrong, I wanted to do things I didn’t know how to, and I was just a bit “over” the piece. To get past the block I started looking for something new to do, and thought the conversation at the start of “When the whistle blows” (see below - NSFW) would be a neat little back and forth.

I started to flesh out the scene on paper, getting it to a point that it seemed to work and then realised … I had no idea how to build a set or props. It relied on a table and booth, some glasses, cigarettes etc.

Around this time the new Windows 7 box came together, i7 920 (OC’d), 6GB RAM, low-end video card (it was cheap and more than enough for where I am at the moment). I started learning how to model.

The more I use Maya the deeper the hole becomes. DVD’s are a fantastic way to learn but I needed something with more feedback.

Qantm offer an online diploma of screen and media (animation), but they’re currently using Max and won’t transition to Maya until next year.

I enrolled in fxphd. Smartest move. Ever.

In addition to more Maya than I can shake something at, I’m also learning tracking and compositing. It’s like Nirvana but without all that pesky enlightenment stuff.

  

The i7 box is plenty fast, and while I dearly love my Mac the Windows 7 thing seems stable and straight forward.

Updates to follow.

Vertex?

Whilst learning to animate is the primary focus of this whole exercise, I’d also like to be able to build things. A demo reel filled with nothing but Norman rigs would start to look a little like an Animation Mentor student showcase (The bitter snipe is only because I can’t bloody afford to join in myself). I’ve never really got NURBS, but polygon modeling was something that always made sense. Maya is good at both and I’ve developed a love for the damn package, despite the occasional beach balling lockup.

Glen pointed out Silo; a brilliant sub-d modeler for which he’s created a huge amount of tutorial content. The pro version does UV’s and has a topology tool, but the core version has everything I need and is only $79 USD.

It looked good, so gave the free trial a shot. There are some adjustments to be made on a Mac around navigation, but the keyboard and mouse can be completely remapped. In all, it’s a great little package and because the workflow and shortcuts are the same it doesn’t feel like I have to learn a whole new program.

No more video

At least, not until this thing is finished.

… after this one.

I’m wondering if a 6 frame run is too fast to read, or if I need to give it more screen time?