CompuServe Thread

#Drawing in TS-2nd reques

19 messages in this thread
#12155From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 16, 1995 10:18 PM
How do you draw 3-d object? Answer: very carefully. Hi Fidaus, I have just read this string and work in TS without any cad. I use the splines, and I find that it is best to work slow one component at a time. I am trying to build a 3-d self-portrait just for practice. (and because I am the only live model that I can always count on to be there when I am working) (Grin) This is not easy to do. I am having sucess by begining with making small patches a nose and I do this large then scale it done then an upper lip, a bottom lip, a front skull, a back skull, etc. Then when I have all the components I will scale them together along with textures, bumpmaps, and every trick I can think of to get the image to work. Sure it would be nice to have the $100,000.00 advantage of an institution or movie studio's equiptment but I have found that the tools that we lack make us better craftsmen al around. Like the Programmer that worked with a 1 k memory machine was foarced to write tighter code than the supercomputor programer..(who probaley didn't even bother to delete mistakes because there was no great need too.) Believe me with or without cad TS can do the job. Art is not an easy profession, but it has some rewards that no one can take away from you! I do recomend the Sams book "Virtual Reality Madness and more" It has almost a chapter or more on TS and many other related programs plus useful demos. It was this book that introduced me to TrueSpace in the first place..I found it very helpful. Say you did want to draw a horse with just TS. Remember the body is basically just a tube, the head is a conical, its leg joints basically spheres, To draw in 3-d we have to think in 3-d. Now for detail, that is smaller tubes, conicals, etc. Rather than try to point edit the mouth on the head…create the mouth as separate then "pass the mouth object" thru the cone like head to its position and scale it to fit. Eyes are simple just spheres with texturemap…but eyelids and eyelashes now theres a problem especially if you want them to move…you may need more than one type to create flowing natural movement. However the macro and deform tools come in handy for this Lighting and Fog can play a big role in creating the illusion of reality. Camera angles also can do wonders. Engineers must think in extremely exacting mathmatic terms to create reality, artists do not…artists never forget (good artists anyway) that whatever D we are working with the image is a translation and of reality onto a flat surface in our case the screen. illusion of reality is often caused not by what we see or percieve on that surface but often by the things that we do not see. Remember that the errors that an artist percieves are those of one who has studied that work for it's entire creation, keep in mind that most viewers will spend but a mere fraction of that time even if they own the artwork. And that an Artist will not tell. With these credeos in mind Go fourth and create…never forgeting that as you are creating, your perceptions of your work are being honed and changing…and from that point, you will never be the same. (smile) Ken–artist PS It just my long way of saying "I dunno?!" (grin)
#12158From: Shane DavisonMay 16, 1995 11:05 PM
>> How do you draw 3-d object? Answer: very carefully. That was very well said (the whole message) – especially the example of modeling a horse. I think more beginners need these kind of descriptions to help them get started creating objects. Ken, you should get in touch with some of these people writing TS books… Regards, Shane.
#12191From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 17, 1995 11:07 AM
Yeah, me..
#12480From: Steven JurickMay 22, 1995 1:36 PM
<< That was very well said (the whole message) – especially the example of modeling a horse. I think more beginners need these kind of descriptions to help them get started creating objects. Ken, you should get in touch with some of these people writing TS books… >> Exactly, that very statement is what the 2.0 CD was/is trying to accomplish – letting Beginners/Semi-Advanced modelers learn to look beyond the complexity of the object they are trying to clone, and take it a step at a time. If it (the CD) is done right, the user should be able to interactively "watch" a horse or whatever be developed right before their eyes. That would be nice.
#12500From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 22, 1995 11:24 PM
Thank you Shane! I tried writing and I do write. However I am a "slow hand" and rarely have what it takes to finnish a book. I respect writers to much to bother them and try to take some of their credit. I do like helping people with their art…because people helped me. Writing short stuff I might be able to manage, but I believe it takes some greater drive than I have to actually write a whole book. My mind jumps arround too much…this is good for an artist or at least it is good for this artist, however it is bad for a writer. I have tried writing novels ..and to tell the truth I get bored with the initial idea before I've finnished five chapters then I would go start another novel and so on and never finnish a one. It really took a good many years before I realized that one I haven't got the special something that makes a real writer, two that I am cursed with an extremely non-stop creative mind that shakes off the self-disapline to stay interested in the story I am writing, three I actually hate the works I write and most of my art work almost as fast as I concieve the stuff…I always concieve of something I think is better. Perhaps it is a form of insanity which drives me to constantly think of different ways to do anything..totaly never satified by any of them. That is why I am an artist…it is the only proffession that can contain my insanity. I think I'm saying that I don't like to get my hopes up, obsessing over whether or not a thing will happen or not..it keeps me from doing something at the moment. I like to just give most of my concepts away they do me no good and I alway have more than I need. They say that an over active mind is a terrible thing to waste, I say that an over active mind is a hard thing to place…in any proffession. I recomend to all who would chase clouds to first look down at their feet, and see that they are firmly anchored. For I have done my time floating arround up there and nothing got done at all. Pardon me Shane I seem to be real non-sequec' r tonight. I am flattered and do not really know how to respond. Ken — artist
#12178From: Marc BeckersjuergenMay 17, 1995 7:46 AM
>I am trying to build a 3-d self-portrait just for practice. I would like to see the result. Will you upload it to the forum when it's finished? Bye, Marc e-merge
#12501From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 22, 1995 11:24 PM
Yes MArc I will! However not until I like what I see…and that is going to take a while. However when I call it finnished…whether I like it or not I will upload it with the apropriate disclaimer. (grin) How should I pronounce your interesting last name? (pardon my ignorance) Thank you Marc if you want anytime go to the various graphic libs and use the keyword "klammer" to see whatever uploads I have uploaded. This is my always use keyword so that I can find my own uploads. (I forget sometimes which of the files on my disk that I have uploaded and have to check on occation) It is nice to see interest in my efforts, Thank you! Ken –artist
#12190From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 17, 1995 11:07 AM
Well said..
#12502From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 22, 1995 11:24 PM
Gee thank you Terry..want to found my fan club? (chuckle) Have you seen any of my small works yet in the uploads? How is the CD coming…I have the free sample CIS cd,and the TS cd, are you on that? (Haven't looked at it in a while, but it was interesting) I usually review such disks once a month on an all day visual input binge. (grin) My modem is too slow to upload avi's (2400) now however I have a friend who has one 14,400 and that should make is a bit faster. heheh however the friends machine is slower than mine 33mgz vs 100 mgz and I wonder about that. What CIM setting works best for avi's? I had a time with the stills..I assumed that binary would do it and uploaded TGA's nope! so I had to convert (you know this) to GIF or JPG, I choose jpg because it seemed to have better color retention at 100% quality setting. I hope that they look alright. I assumed that most of the conversion problems would have been solved by now like hassle free…but I often expect more than reality gives. (hehehe) Tell me something about yourself? I am curious. Friend, Ken–artist
#12505From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 23, 1995 12:42 AM
Well, I've got stuff on both the trueClips CD and I did the opening animation on the CompuServe Feb/March CD.. If you want a 14.4 modem, let me know.. I've got a used one I'll let go for a song (or maybe some cool stuff for the CD <g>) >> Tell me something about yourself? I am curious. Well, Hmm… Maybe others that know me would be better at this, since I'm so humble.. <g> I do have quite long hair, as many people here have pointed out.. <VBG> Other than that, I'm trying to write a book on trueSpace for a major publisher. In my spare time, I have a wife and a 100lb. Golden Retriever.. <g> Also, get 3D Artist Magazine! (Want a sample?) I write for that when I come up with some cool stuff.. C 'ya..
#12762From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 27, 1995 11:14 PM
Gee, Terry, it just so happens that I have a rather large collection of bad songs which I have written over the decades. (chuckle,wondering if Terry could have guessed what he had gotten him self into). About every year or so I find myself good for nothing but doing my totally unproffessional hatchet job on music composition (sorta like Sherlock Holmes without his candy). Some of the "stuff" is interesting and goes back to my garage band teenage years when "Rock stardom" seemed like a good carreer decission, I am sure you may know of some one some where who can relate to that experience. I spent more years than I care to say pursueing willfully this carreer without the well rounded talent and ability to keep a band together (or even from mutaney and plotting to through me in the river…any river (grin)). Finnally I decided for the good of everyone that my desire was not matching of my talents (although My compositions are meritous "not bad" worth stealing even (and have been) I believe that the music world is better off (and so am I without me) participating a great deal in it. Tell you what, I am so strapped that I offer you Two limited editions (small dry points) personalized and signed (not to mention printed by my own hands) and one tape of whatever songs I hope will not rattle the nerves some of the tapes are not unplesant to listen to , I think (but I am not sure that I am totally without bias) In trade for your modem. I am pretty sure that these three items may one day purchase the price of a college education for your Great-grandchildren…although they are of no monitary worth now. If that is acceptible to you, all that is needed is a way to share addresses, I believe mine is open book on CIS so that we can complete this friendly transaction. (smile) However do not feel obligated..I will get a better modem in a few monthes… and I am not impatient about these things as in my youth. During my lets see who can grow the longest hair days when everybody it seemed was in the competition I grow a full six foot length of hair (and I believe it could have reached twelve but it was getting heavy and I tended to trip on it when it got much past the six foot mark. On windy winter Manhatten day at Union Square and St.Marks place while crossing the street …my hair blew acrossed my eyes, (it takes time to clear hair that long from ones eyes in the wind). Well I sorta heard the screeching of a lot of wheels as I was doing this (could have sworn the light was green for my crossing) and when I finely cleared my wonderful hair I was starttled by the fact that I was surrounded by a bus and a cab that were less than one inch from my legs. After musing this experience of charmed life that evening I cut my hair. (sob, said I never would) Howver my new look was a crew cut and shoalin cue wrapped arround my neck with a silver spear tip at the end eventually that went to and I reverted to the plain old long, combed straight back and cut at the neck hair southwestern pre-Beatles haircut of my youth which I continue to wear to this very day. I have grown a chin bread (which I do every winter) but this year I may keep it, because this year my chin wiskers are grey, and it hass been a full 47 years to finely look my age (haelulah!) the trend of my live has been to be considered way too far younger than I am and I am so happy. ( I was carded for a beer less than five years ago, believe me it is amusing but it gives resistance to being taken serious. My friend and I, Alyce, share two Dalmations which I prodded her to get when she decided dogs are nice for that safe feeling when living in the country. Pookie the eldest male fancies himself a great singer and like to sing to all the greats as the commercial fly by CNN. Chinie a.k.a. China was adopted and is a female of vigorous youthful energy, she fancies that it it her job to see we all get our exercise religously. They both come close to 100lbs but are not fat just very muscular because they workout chasing their rabbits and squirrls daily. I would like to sample 3d Artist Magazine, send some tearsheets of your articles or xeroxes please. I will send you copies of my "zine" (grin) humbley called "KEN" which I created but never distributed much. I would like you proffessional opinion of my efforts as editor, writer and publisher. (chuckle) There are only two editions to date however I am mulling over a third but haven't got the "itch" quite yet to actually spend the time it takes to produce it. My father was a printer\publisher and my mother an artist\art dirrector, so I sorta just need to keep my hand in publishing somehow. I'm pretty much of a city person by prefferance although I grew up in radicall "stick" of Maine, Mid. Ill. and later the foothills of Tucson, Arizonia (were I spent my teens). I love the isolation of the "sticks" however I need to socialize… and my overactive mind is a bit too much for local socializing to take place. Big cities enjoy my mind but my lack of acedmic credits prevents me from being able to suport my self in the cities anymore. That is why I love On-line it is a great forum for ideas and socializing on a level of maturity. With it the "stick" and the rejection do not cause massive depression which I can live with but truthfully do not look forward to. (grin) All in all I enjoy a pretty good life and keep myself quite active with producing whatever my mind concieves…I enjoy freedom that very few individuals could even think about…but there is always a price and I am paying mine. Terry it is nice to know a fellow artist with a (VBG). Write soon, Ken–de artist Ps What is your dogs name, my dogs want to know! They keep after me to build them an interface so that they can use the computer also. (churtle)
#12802From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 29, 1995 2:58 PM
Hey, you've given me new inspiration! <g> For our trueSpace CD, I'd like to request from anyone listening here, that they send in songs/music/sound F/X too! Many trueSpace people need that kind of stuff for backgrounds, etc.. So, if you have created and *own* the rights to it, then please send it in and we'll try to get it into the trueSpace CD! Ken, my dog's name is Nikko.. OK, so he likes to watch Steven Segal movies too.. <G>
#12336From: Firdaus DastoorMay 19, 1995 4:18 PM
Thank you. I have been waiting for a reply like this for weeks Firdaus
#12703From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 26, 1995 2:10 AM
I'm flattered. THank you. When it comes to the proffession of art, I find it is an exercise in refreshing the things learned long ago bby helping (or trying to) help others who are struggling. Sometimes I find myself in a slump (ie burn-out, unproductive) and I find it helps to go back and look at some of my earlier work (sketchbooks, etc). This has always been a strange experience, in the sense that as I review years old work that I had all but forgotten about…it seems fresh. An objectivity of self manifests were I percieve my younger self as an other individual which just happens to be me. I am often amazed to find that works I created that I hated take on a knew meaning…showing a dirrection or beginning of an evolution of art. Talking to others who take the challanges of art creation also helps me get a better perspective of myself and my work. This is what I find that is so interesting about art…when we create something it is part of our being,,,it is an insightful experience which is bewildering and difficult to explain in simple terms or phrases. From this experience I have found that I am much more consistant than I would appear to myself or others in any given year. For the consistancy only appears after viewing at least a decade of my efforts. I have learned that my work and choice of subject matter has a definate cycle which seems to be rehashed and (hopely) improved apon with each reappearance in any present time. Sorta like a time machine for the self, but also a map for others. When I look at other peoples creations over a time if they are living or as a retrospective if they are gone; I find that I know these people at a depth of similar experience. Whether hobbie or carreer the creation of art is a personal adventure into the spirit it has many unseen benifits which only time and effort relinguishes to any person. These are just passing abstract thoughts that I seem to be using as filler. (grin) WHen do I get to see some of your work, Firdaus? Ken –artist
#12352From: CaligariMay 19, 1995 7:25 PM
In the e-mail world of rapid, but sometimes shallow replies (I'm a culprit of those as much as anyone), I really appreciated your thoughtful answer. Thanks!
#12359From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 19, 1995 9:42 PM
Hey, clean out your mailbox.. <g> I tried to e-mail you on 3 subjects, but it's full…
#12705From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 26, 1995 2:11 AM
It is? How do I do that? How can I tell when it is full? (worried about loss of fan mail) (grin) This mail system is a bit confusing…I wish that all the forum maill would come to the main box address. You mean I missed 3 e-mails from you? This is terrible! (sigh) (pulling hair, beads of sweat rolling down brow over unshaven face racked (not) with the insessant pain of ROOT-CANAL, the artist cries, holding his head in his sinuey arms of 10 pt. steel…(sobbing) "This is a REAL bummer!" repeatly between frenzied outbrusts of "Napolean has NOTHING on ME!" to the background sounds of Mic Jagger singing "A train comes toooo the station….ther' re' TWO liiiights behind OOoooooooooooo ddda TRai…….etc.) while the sony Trinitron tuned the MAx is showing the EAR scene in the movie "Blue Velvet"….but the artist notices not…for he is colasped in a hovel on the floor near the plasicine bust of Star Trexs "Mr. Spock" next to the 8 x 10 glossy of Dianna Riggs portreying "EMMA PEEL" of the British series the "Avengers". It would have made a good painting but the artist was beyound seeing it…for he had gotten up to make popcorn which he flavoured with lemon\rosemarry\garlic butter. in other words…ok. (Grinning profusely) Ken –artist PS how do you like Ken's MatchBox? It is a rough, I haven't percieved the image for the background yet. Also How do I upload a COB object?
#12714From: Terry Cotant[RSS]May 26, 1995 7:37 AM
Ken, sorry to dissapoint, but I was telling Konstantin that his mailbox was full.. Liked the matchbox.. Keep 'em coming! You should first PKZIP all .cob's and/or .scn's.. Then, just upload them like you did your .jpg's.. C 'ya..
#12704From: Kenneth E. KlammerMay 26, 1995 2:11 AM
Do not feel bad Konstantin! I must confess that I am unemployed and have plenty of time to indulge in lengthy discourse. Plus the fact that I lack any of the restraints that are prerequisite to success in this "real" world. (grin) It is always nice to have friends like you that care to review my ramblings. Terry informs me that my mail box is full…I didn't know that was possible. In truth, there have been long periods in my life where I do not (for some reason) contact anyone for any reason. I think it is my love for spontanious art that has carried over into my personality or v.s. All I know is that if I wait until I'm ready…things flow with ease and when I burn-out evenually I aways begin again with the same vigour. I haven't been a 9 to 5 person for almost 20 years. I understand its restraints too well and have done best (that is turning my aledged vices into virtues) working freelance. It is not an easy road (what road is?) sometimes I''m rolling in work to the extend of 36 hour days, other times I just sit and contemplate getting a "real" job…usually I just sleep a lot til it passes. When we begin the road to adulthood we have two basic choices to do the traditional road (job, family, kids, nestegg,home) or to explore the pathes few tread (high risk, little comfort, poverty, lonelyness) in hope of discovering something to share and inspire those who do not have the luxury of what is considered extroridary "freedom" by some. I have found that "freedom" is just the cage we do not percieve and that each of us holds the keys if only we reknew our vision of what we already have. Courage is another misnoumer of the free life…basically we who (dare) tred little traveled paths are there because it is where we can survive and little other reason there is no courage to it at all! Yet I have found that if I do not get warped, or twisted into a ball of anger for what I have denieghed myself I ahve some great tales to tell and maps to show for it all. Which I believe is a far better way to walk these unwalked paths than walking them for real. (grin) move over PLATO! If may banter gives you pleasure and perhaps insight, I am more than proud of myself and happy to through-out more. Just an artist with lots of time on his hands, Ken –artist redundant (chuckle)