My R2 and other astromechs in Maya

I've build a set of astromechs in Maya. Having built the models, I thought it would be fun to make a short cartoon to show them off a bit. You can see it
Here. 60MB (some of the names I made up)

The models have all the tools I can find reference to from the original trilogy.
If you want to see R2-D2 show off, you can find that Here. 50MB

What do you think?
Comments? Suggestions?

 

Cute, thanks for posting!
I have a request, if you'd entertain one.

 

Sure. I'm always looking for inspiration.
The worst that happens is I say no.
What would you like?

 

The head of an R1 series droid, I've only seen one or two good reference photos (both on ]wookieepedia). We're in long-term post-production limbo, gradually piecing together the 3D cg world. He only needs to stick up out the back of a starfighter.

 

I can build the model and put whatever color scheme you want. Fortunately, I also happen to have an old Starlog magazine which has a front view of most (if not all) the droids in the Jawa sandcrawler sale at the Lars farmstead.
You do know that the R1 is a really big, tall (2+ meters)droid? Main body is about 5' plus the head.
Do you just want the maya model, or do you need it rendered? (I would need your formatting info)

 

This is officially a Good Day then! Thank you.

Yeah that's the one: 2 meters and whatnot...Our timeframe is pre-prequels, so the odd look and gangliness is a plus.

I have Maya 2011, so I'll be able to convert it myself, just need model and textures, feel free to scratch and grime it up. If you're feeling really ambitious it'd be cool to rig a few tools so he can 'fix' some things during our scene, but that's not critical.

I'm working in Max for this project...rendering a whole environment...shot everything on a greenset...I still also need several unique vehicle models. Actually haven't touched it in about 6 months; I've been busy on a more 'profitable' gig.

 

Heh, guess which droid was missing when I went and checked the magazine.

Yeah.
Fortunately, I do have some other photos to work from. And even the action figure if I get stuck.

 

I found a book with an OK orthographic front&side view of R1 to work with, as well as a specification for the top antenna so I can use that for proportions.

Do you have a poly-count limit? Do you want with or without the antenna on top? (seems that is optional). Preferred color scheme?
Starting base work this afternoon (sorry--got a little distracted by that annoying 'real life' stuff), so the sooner I know, the better.

 

OK, I've got the main head built. Just not the antenna.

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head03a1.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head03a2.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head03a3.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head03a4.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head03a5.jpg]

 

Here it is, with the antenna.

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head04a1.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head04a2.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head04a3.jpg]

[image=http://www.elasticsmiledesign.info/maya/R1Head04a4.jpg]

Anything you'd like to see different?
If you are ready, I can post the MB file, or export whatever file type you want.

 

Do these astromechs live in a world without shadows?

 

they did.
I just found a really neat setting and will be replacing the old videos with the spiffy shadow versions, probably tomorrow.
(shadows add considerably to the render time)

 

You're not using Final gather or even mental ray by the looks of the renders. Shadows shouldn't be taxing on your system at all.
Also, Where's the shiny?

 

Maya Software Render.
Texture shadows.
I wasn't going for chrome or mirror-polish, so I didn't use Mental-Ray. May have exaggerated the render time difference.

 

For some reason, the camera movement seems to have developed a jitter when I animate with shadows. Anyone got any ideas?

 

Never heard of texture shadows...Go to your light source and turn on "Raytraced Shadows".

And Final Gather isn't necessarily for reflections. It gives you a more realistic calculation of how light rays or photons bounce off of your surfaces.

 

Mental Ray is a LOT more than just fancy reflections. Try rendering a scene using maya software render and MR. If set correctly, there should be a huge difference already.

 

I alternate between the two, depending which I think looks better for the project.
For the R2s, I like MayaSoftware, and only used MR for the Smoke. (Sphere particles don't render in MS for some reason)

Anyway, now I get to debug my page to find out why a couple links don't work.

 

LOL. I'm not sure what glasses you would ever be wearing to make the scanline render look better than a MentalRay render.
Trust me, there are a lot of things you won't be able to render with out mentalray.

Raytraced shadows. Your render settings obviously aren't optimized for animation. If it's calculating a new shadow every frame with no thought about the frame before it, you'll get all sorts of noise and "jitter".

I've been doing this for long enough to know a few things about Maya.
You can take a look at my Demo Reel if you to see that I know what I'm talking about.

 

Just a matter of taste and what you like.
Sometimes I like cartoony. Sometimes I like the super-glossy bordering-on-reality.
It just depends.


Yeah, I've had this computer for a few years, built it before I started getting into animation. Same jitters don't show up when I view the same files on other computers.

Maya is such a fun program. I'd love to build a complete WTF file of all the weird idiosyncrasies.
The number of inherited holdovers from the previous programs create such wonderful illogic sometimes. Things you're expected to "just know about".
gotta love the steep learning curve.

 

OK, here's the list again, now that I have the links sorted out (not sure why some of them weren't working, but there are the vagaries and idiosyncrasies of computers)
Droid Parade 60MB
The models have all the tools I can find reference to from the original trilogy, even if they don't show.

If you want to see R2-D2 show off, you can find that Here. 50MB

And here is R5-D4 showing his tools Here.

For fun, go over to R2-KT.com, where I built some banners the site was kind enough to use. I find the winter solstice holiday one satisfying.