• Joined: December 26, 2008

Topic: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Recently, I have found myself unable to animate brickfilms, in part because for the first time in my life, I am constantly busy with school and other activities; not to say I haven't been involved in these before, but not to this extent. And it's gonna get worse; I have to get high grades so I can get into BYU Provo, and, specifically, the animation program, both of which are very hard to get into. So, that said, recent events have inspired me to try Blender again. The reason I have more time for Blender than brickfilming is that when it comes to brickfilms, I am very picky about my animation setting, so I'd only animate at night. Now, I'm too tired when night rolls around, so I don't animate. With CGI, I can do it at any time of the day, really, because it's all in the computer and isn't affected by the constant change of real life.

I have got to be boring you guys, so I'll cut to the chase. Here is the mini-figure, so far.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2644/4080921629_411805a86e.jpg

Click the link for a bigger picture. This is my first complex model in Blender. Comments are appreciated, and if anyone wants the actual Blender file so they can get a better look, just e-mail me.

Last edited by Littlebrick (November 6, 2009 (04:14pm))

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Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

nice lighting and shadows

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Very nice! But the stud on top needs to be bigger.

Brickyman's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

I'm getting quite a Luxo Jr. feel from this, which is in no way bad.  But yeah, the only thing that could use work as far as I can see on the model is a bigger stud on top and a much larger neck.  You definitely look like you're on the right track.

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

It might be the angle; I did a lot of comparing by putting a real LEGO head right next to the one on the screen, and it seemed about right to me. I'll post comparisons if anyone wants them.

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Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Since I am a Blender-almost-know-it-all, I can see a few flaws:
1.  The stud ontop of his head is too small
2.  The color of the head is a bit off.
3.  You only have two lights that I can see. One is the basic, bright spotlight, and the other one is a dimmer, background light.

Overall, I have to give this a 2 and 1/2 out of 5. It's not really that great at all, but you know how to use Blender, and since it's very hard to learn and master, I gave it a bit of extra points.

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/BGanimations/Signatures/final_400x100.png
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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

BG, I'm only really focusing on the model. The lighting is just to make the pictures a bit more interesting. That goes for the colors as well; I will worry about those later. Anyway, here's an update.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2787/4083746196_56684a3659.jpg

Both the top and bottom studs of the head are a bit bigger, and both have holes in the middle, but you can only see the one of the top, and the torso has been resized from front to back.

Last edited by Littlebrick (November 7, 2009 (11:58am))

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Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Hey - way to go Littlebrick! Keep at it - you'll get better and better with Blender.

I have a 3d minifigure model that has correct proportions - shoot me a PM if you'd like me to send it to you.

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

The edges on the torso need to be a tad rounded and the stud on the head looks like it should be a bit bigger. Other than that, it's perfect.

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Penta's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

I have a very detailed minfigure too (yeah really). Maybe we all should start a little models exchange thingy...

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Okay, uppydate time. For the most part, I've decide to go straight to a cartoony model; but just for kicks, I decided to make an "accurate" model of a LEGO head (maybe I'll do the rest some other time), just to see what you guys think. Also, I found an awesome new way of lighting my stuff today, so I though I'd try that out as well.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2560/4098211689_1868d2362f.jpg

In case you haven't figured it out by now, the "accurate" one is on the right.

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Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Wow, that's insanely awesomely new, although the effect could be achived rather easily, I never thought of doing that before. Oh, and it might be easier if you install the LDraw database, but it's really confusing trying to download it, it took me about 3 days to figure it out, and even then I only got it on one computer.

I like the sharing digital parts/minifigs idea though. It would help a lot of people, well, a lot.

http://www.majhost.com/gallery/BGanimations/Signatures/final_400x100.png
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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Another small update. The minifigure has a face now.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2686/4099458538_6b5611495c.jpg

If it seems a little bright, I'm having a small issue with my lighting; I'm working on getting that fixed.

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CGI LEGO! Updated occasionally...

Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

It still seems to me like the proportions are rather off.  In you second to last update, I think the first head is better on the whole, but the neck on the second is more correctly formed.  And I'll suggest moving the eyes a tad close for that LEGO feel.  Otherwise, it's looking better and better for sure.

Cheshire's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

I think the face needs to be up a bit.

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

I'm interested to know why you've chosen to build your own models instead of the LDraw parts? Sure the LDraw parts aren't all perfect, but pretty darn close and easily fixable if you know your way around blender, which you clearly do.

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Well, like I've said before, this is my first complex(-ish) model, so I wanted to do something I was familiar with. Also, I think it would take me a lot longer to fix up those models than it would to make my own; plus, I like the satisfaction. I've tried to use LDraw models before, and they were a nightmare to work with.

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Wow, these look really good.
Will you be doing CGI animation with them?

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

Yes, Just Kidden, I hope to do some animations with them.

Well, I was going to work on it more today, but I figured out how to do reflections, so I had a bit of fun. At least you get to see everything I've done so far on the mini-figure in this picture.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2487/4113361780_dfcc177471.jpg

From now on, I'm only going to update this thread when I've actually made some progress on this model, but I will be posting more pictures of just messing around in Blender on my Flickr account, in case anyone wants to see them.

Last edited by Littlebrick (November 17, 2009 (02:37pm))

"[It] was the theme song for the movie 2010 first contact." ~ A YouTuber on Also Sprach Zarathustra
CGI LEGO! Updated occasionally...

Littlebrick's Website

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Re: Blender 3D Minifigure - Work in Progress

That's a pretty good rendering! mini/smile