Treasure Chest / Mimic progress thread

Polybooks

Hello everybody,

I'm following the Treasure Chest course, but want to have my own version at the end. 

As a concept I have found this cute mimic chest from Franco Ghiacetti.

reference_small.png

My goal is to have a game ready asset in the end, and go through all the steps:

 block-out, high-poly model, low-poly model, unwrap, baking, texturing, lighting.

This is my block-out, it's a bit messy, just to get the proportions right.

022-03-15 170140.png




  • 🤩👏
  • Cool 👍
3 loves
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  • nemernick replied

    I am working on the high-poly version. In the course the model was beveled and irregularities were added by hand. Because my reference is rounder, I am using a subdivision modifier followed by a bevel modifier, with the edges creased and with an added weight.

    022-03-16 171541.png

    However I am getting shading artifacts.  Any ideas how to fix the artifacts?

    022-03-16 171502.png

    Also, adding irregularities is a bit complicated, I was thinking in sculpting them afterwards.

    Is my approach wrong? Should I just add more cuts to the base model and bevel/sharpen edges before adding any subdivision modifier?

    Thanks!

    I'll keep posting my progress.


    2 loves
  • Adrian Bellworthy replied

    Hi nnemernick ,

    Cool work so far!

    One thing I would change which should help a little with the shading artefacts.

    Remove the mean crease from the edges on those corners, and any where else you have them.

    Mean-Crease.png

    Add the bevel weight to those same edges, then move the bevel modifier above the subdiv modifier.

    The order of the modifier stack is important, and can vary the result quite dramatically.

    Adjust the bevel modifier amount until your happy. I personally would probably keep the segments to 2.

    You will still have some shading variation, but this is due to the difference in angle of the adjacent faces.

    Hope this helps.

    2 loves
  • nemernick replied

    Hi Adrian, thank you for the tip. I followed your instructions, the visible edge isn't completely removed, but I have to play with the settings some more.

    This is the sculpt progress so far.

    022-03-17 174315.png

    • 👍
  • nemernick replied

    Today's update:
    022-03-18 182729.png

    I learned to keep the details simple when following a stylized style. I was using a photo of a saber-tooth as reference and ended up with too many details. I had to start from scratch, luckily it was just the first tooth when I noticed that.

    Also, I forgot the planks on the backside were instances of the front planks, so the cutout details around the teeth appeared on the back as well :)

    By the way, feedback and comments are welcome.

    • Looks awesome!
    1 love
  • Kent Trammell replied

    Really nice work nnemernick! You're hitting a homerun with this.

    1 love
  • nemernick replied

    Thank you @theluthier  for the encouragement, it means a lot.

    Update:

    I realized the reference picture was horizontally stretched so I rescaled all the elements to match. The teeth were a bit harder to match, as they had to fit the reference and the sculpted outlines on the wood.

    The skulls and axe got a first sculpt pass. Made the first version of the chain.

    By the way, I hope I'm not spamming by posting these updates here.

    Screenshot 2022-03-24 171232.png


    • Awesome👍
    1 love
  • nemernick replied

    Some updates to the project:

    This is the low-poly version. I'm not sure if there too many polygons, but it's just the first level of the subdivision modifier.

    I have spent more time than I planned on having the low-poly model fit the sculpt so that the baking looks ok,

    Here the baked normals are applied to the model.

    And this is the first color pass from Substance Painter,it needs more work :)



    2 loves
  • spikeyxxx replied

    I like where this is going Felix :)

    1 love
  • nemernick replied

    Just wanted to post some updates. I simplified the geometry for the low-poly wooden part, instead of actual planks, it is now just one thin sheet with baked normals.

    Here I have added fog and a color to the background. Still need to work on lighting, the fog  and the  ground fading into the distance.


    3 loves
  • spikeyxxx replied

    The fog is a nice touch, but at the moment it washes out all those beatiful details  of the chest. But as you said, it still needs work :)

    1 love