Weekly WIP Post #2

Poison Ivy: Black Menagerie Club WIP

        1. Textures
  • Poison Ivy Tan Lines (Top Right Picture). I tend to make these for everyone. Not sure they work for Poison Ivy though. As of now, they're not in the animation. Maybe in some alternate loops.
  • Couches (Bottom Right Picture). They look more 'correct' for the general idea/theme I always had for the Black Menagerie Club. The pillows I think I'll keep the color they are by default.
  • Ramma' Jam (The machine). Still getting those all sorted. Doing that takes a bit longer, since it's several pieces/models with different textures and settings. It needs to look like a single device after all.
  • Still deciding how the floors/walls would be for this one. Is the Club a warehouse? Underground brothel? Do the rooms differ based on who/what/where? Maybe the last one. I can see Ivy being in a wood panel room with more fancy furniture; but I can see a concrete dungeon too, so.

        2. Animation (80% or so of the weeks progress) (Small example video on Twitter)
  • Ramma' Jam Pole1 (Bottom Left Picture) and Ivy Hips (Middle Right Picture). Wanted to show the keyframes (points where a model bone is told to move on a specific point, up/down, left/right, forward/backward and/or twist on a 3D axis) so people can see how many points has to be set to move the models. Things like Pole1 needed a forward/back and a slight curve upwards, in time to the music. Not too complicated. Ivy, though, has 3 for her hips, 2 for pelvis, 1 for neck, 1 for head, 5 for each foot, 1 per knee, 1 per spine (3 total) and 1 per shoulder; also set in time to the music, but also adjusted for her own movement. For now. She's not finished. Still a lot to go on her, like her entire facial animations. I wanted to illustrate this for those who might not realize how much can go into these things. It takes time, more-so I think with the music.
  • Also started the bonus/extra/'secret' scene. This bit will be a SubscribeStar 'special', added to the end of the regular free release animation. More-or-less an 'after party' animation.
  • Haven't started anything with the GCPD people yet. Ivy/Machine and Lights are the priority.

        3. Other
  • Ivy (Top Left, Middle Left, Middle Middle Pictures) on the Ramma' Jam machine with most of the lighting on. A few people who had doubts about this choice of Ivy model have, after seeing the streams I do sometimes on Discord, decided that she's pretty hot after all. Before I forget to mention it again, this Poison Ivy model is made by Dr.Dabblur, a very good model maker/porter.
  • Things are proceeding smoothly overall and at a decent pace, I think. Some people might not though, based on a few unsubbed reasons (disappointed scheduling). Not naming names or pointing fingers, but these aren't small 3 second loops. More involved. Just me doing it. Takes time. Thanks to all those who understand this and stick with me.

        4. Misc/General SFMing
  • To set an animation to the timing of music, I have to find the BPM (beats per minute) for the music used, then, thanks to a friend who figured out equation, it's 60 Seconds divided by the BPM, then multiplied by the FPS (frames per second) the animation is set to. Gives me the spot where each beat hits on the keyframes. If I'm lucky, these line up like every 7 frames. If not, they end up things like every 7.23. That likes to throw it all off constantly, forcing me to find 'breaks' to reset it to the beat. A pain, but I like doing them these.
  • Sorted through several models for the background/scene; things like more plants, tables, other chairs if needed, etc.
  • Thanks to Mr. Love (Discord name) I have some new sounds as well. Mostly breathing sounds, which I think will be useful in quieter moments of the animations. Some other misc. types as well.

So yeah, WIP Week #2. Figured I needed to number that way the posts don't end up janky somehow. Wasn't sure these would be a good thing, but in the end, I think they are.

Don't forget to check twitter.com/Zjera3D for other bits/WIPs as well.