九份, JiouFen

-------
Fall 08
Maya 8.0
Photoshop CS3
Crazy Bump
-------
After 3 months of work, this one is finally done. I'm really happy with the render I have right now, even though there are some parts still need to be improved.
I think I modeled the details too much, and the resolution on some textures might be too high(1024*1024, is it too high-.-?). My computer couldn't render the whole scene with textured models. It kept crashing and crashing until I found a way to render this 3d scene. I have to figure out a way to deal with this problem...
But~! It's okay~!
I'M DONE~!!!
I'M SO GLAD THAT I'M DONE~!!!
I'M VERY VERY VERY HAPPY NOW~!!!
-------
A demo reel of the project.

九份, JiouFen 2037...

Fall 08
Maya 8.0
-------
This is it. I finally decided to end the modeling part of this project, because I really need to get to uv unwrapping, and texturing.
This piece is my project for one of my Special Studies Class this semester, based on a place in Taiwan, which is also a refrence environment of a famous Japaness Anime "Spirited Away."
Before the semester begins, I already know what I'm going to model for this class, which is a model that involves my culture. I kind of stay away from making something sci-fi, that's what I was doing when I first know how to model stuff in Maya.(which is a year ago?)
Anyways, I hope it will look amazing once I finish texturing and lighting .
Hope you can enjoy the details I put in there.

Human Head Modeling

Fall 08
Maya 8.0
-------
Here is my first human head modeling. I guess it looks all right. This is my girl friend, Ashley's head. She volunteer to be modeled.
Overall, modeling a human head isn't really hard. The hard part was getting the detail on the face and apply on the model, and at the same time keep the grid as clean as possible. Ear was the most difficult part, because I had to model it first and try to connect it with the head. They shared different amount of edge borders, I had to tried not to add unnecessary details when I connect them.
The parts that I really like are the nose and the ears. I think they are the most successful parts in this head modeling project.

Applying for the scholarship...

Fall 08
Maya 8.0
Photoshop CS3
-------
Ah...
I'm doing these for applying the scholarship.
They just some old work but in very high resolution. (1440*900 with 300 dpi)
I spend a lot time to render these pictures. If I did not get the scholarship, these could also be in my portfolio piece.
I still hope that I can get it, wish me good luck~!

Tobot V2.0

Fall 08
Maya 8.0
-------
Hmm...
I don't know what to say actually...I guess I just wanted to practice my modeling skill.
So, I give you the new Tobot2.0.
I think it fits the style of my environment:P

Wire frames of Tobot

Fall 08
Maya 8.0
-------
I just figured out how to render wire frames in Maya; therefore, here is some wire frames render from my first character.
I'm rigging this guy this semester. I hope it won't take me too much time.







Love the wheels~! Haha...

Tobot - Texturing and Lighting

Spring 08
Maya 8.0
Photoshop CS3
-------
This is my first 3d character design. Modeling in maya, texturing in photoshop. This is also my first time texturing in photoshop. I didn't really try digital painting before; therefore, I found some realistic metal texture online, changed the color(original one was gray.) Then, I used burn tool and dodge tool to make the metal parts look old and put bump map on every single surface on my character. Additionally, I added some white stripe on armors, which looks kinda cool.
I also played around the lighting and render options. It took a while to render these pictures.
Even though the rusty texture isn't what I really want it to be, I still like it.
Anyways, enjoy them!

My Environment - Tolian

Spring 08
Maya 8.0
Finals are coming, I finally finished texturing everything in the scene. The whole concept was based on a final project that I worked on in intro class. I always wanted to make it better. Actually, I have been working on this model since last semester. I kind of stooped for a while and then started modeling again. I learned a lot through the process and also learned a lot this semester when I am in the 3d modeling class. Therefore, the model itself had been refined and refined.
The texturing for the ground gave me a lot of trouble because I wanted to make it look realistic. I also used a new technique I learned, which is environment fog for this project. It gave the whole scene a different feeling which I like it a lot.
Eventually, I think I'm okay with what I got so far.







Please leave me some comments and help me improve my skills. Thank you all!

Introducing...Tobot & Nabu

Spring 08
Maya8.0
Finally done modeling of my first 3D character Tobot. It took me a while to add details and think through the mechanic on the whole body. Except the little Tofukind - Nabu, he will sit inside the helmet which will be filled with a special purified soysauce. Through thinking, Nabu will able to control Tobot.

-img 01- tobot


-img 02- tobot


-img 03- Nabu, he looks weird without texture...


I will have to start UV unwrap, which is going to take me a lot of time.
Good luck to me...

A new prop for my character

Spring 08
Maya 8.0
Photoshop CS3
Here is my new prop for my character-Tobot. I had one, and I updated to my blog a week ago, I deleted it. I found out that I didn't really like it. The more I looked at the previous one the more I dislike it. So, I decided to make a new one, and HERE IT IS!
Modeling, texturing and design are better than the previous one. Additionally, I used photoshop to paint some of the textures to make my new model more real and heavy.
Anyways, enjoy what I got so far, and give me some comments.


-img 01- new model

-img 02- side rendering

-img 03- split into two swords

My first sound editing

Spring 08
Soundtrack Pro
Here is my first short soundtrack edited using Soundtrack Pro. It took me around 6 hours to do the whole thing, quite a long time, haha. I'm not really a music person and never do thing kind of things before. I guess the result is not bad for a beginner.
There is only music in the link, no images. Don't be panic if you just hear the music.
Anyways, enjoy it.

A Building from Tolian

Spring 08
Maya8.0
I think I'm done with the modeling on this building. One thing kinda bothers me is that this building doesn't really go with the world I created...I might have to tweak the style, make it more round or something.



By the way, my character will be done around mid May including texturing, but I will post my character when I finish modeling.

Yummy~!

Winter 08
This is a picture I took when I was in Taiwan during the winter break. My girlfriend and I was trying to let the cat get closer to us. Then, my girlfriend put cookies on the ground and let the cat eat. It took a while for the cat to get to those cookies...
I thought it's a good chance to take some photos and I did. I have some other one with stand- still pose, but I think it's much more interesting to show something that has more action or emotions to it.
I think the composition is kind of bad, the cat's body cut the picture into half. But, I don't think it's going to be a big big issue. Personally, I think a good photography is not always about how good camra angle, composition or colors are. It is about if the artist could tell a story in one shot! Then, THAT is a good photography!

Unknown...

Spring 07 -img 01-
Spring 08 -img 02-
Maya8.0
This is a final project from my first 3d animation class. It based on a wooden project I designed when I was in Pasadena City College. Nothing much to talk about this one (img 01) because there is much that I need to improve.
Since my skill is improving, I'm working on another building sturcture which is based on img 01. It's going to be my environment for a character I designed in the recent 3d modeling class. (img 02)

-img 01- it's a war scene... ... probably...


-img 02- it's a rough rendering, doen't really have any texture and good lighting on it. the model is not complete, either.

Me! Me! Me!

Spring 04
Photography
I don't exactly remember when I took this photo. It was a phtography class I took when I was still in Pasadena City College. We had to take the picture, pull the negative out in the dark room(where you can't even see youself), put the chemical in and out, and project the negative image on a piece of photo paper. This is one of my final project. (it's not photoshoped...)
There are 3 images of myself in the picture. Then...who took the picture? The forth me?

Haha~!

Animal Drawing

Fall07
Animal Wild-Life Drawing
Well, drawing is never my thing...but I still try to draw and improve. The knowledge which professor taught was good, but my drawing skill sucks a bunch...haha. These are few drawings that I think are "okay" enough to show off a little bit on my improvment.
These are drawings draw directly from live animal at LA Zoo. Drawing from live is hard. When you are drawing, they are also moving at the same time. Then, it's important to get down a quick gesture first, build on other things by the knowledge that you learned.

It's hard...for me.

Endless Ending

Fall 07
I took this picture while I was on my way to LACMA. I was adjusting the shutter speed and f-stop AND...DRIVING AT THE SAME TIME! I totally freaked Ki Jeon out...haha, he was in the car,too.
The sky was amazing, so I had to risk my life... ... ... and also my friend's life, haha...

Another lighting test

Fall 07
Maya8.0
This is another lighting test I did after the light fog one. I intended to make this one as realistic as I could. Honestly, I don't know how good or how bad it is...haha.
To be realistic, the viewer will have a high expectation from the creator; therefore, there were a lot of things to change and fix. It took me a lot of time to figure the light out. It was hard.
Maybe there is a easier way to do this...

A lighting test

Spring 07 - Original Models
Fall 07 - Lighting
Maya8.0
This is my room, was done in Maya 8.5.
It was for a assignmant in my first 3d class, I changed the original models a little bit to make them more detailed and realistic after I learned something new about modeling.
Then, I played with the lighting on this scene. It was a light fog effects which I added to the light attributes.
It turned out quite interesting.

First short film

Fall 06
Introduction to Triditional Animation
This was made in my first triditional animation class.
Since I'm not good at drawing, this class really gave me a hard time to complete. Good thing that I pulled everything out on the final presentation. Thanks to my friend Ki helped me in some drawing cases.

This is a 100% hand drawing animation. The character in there on the right hand side, he is a mutated tofu, his name used to be Tofu, but I changed it to Nabu. It kind of fits his personality.
I'm thinking of creating a whole "Tofu-World," for a game or something.

Anyways, enjoy this short tiny film!