[TorQ]

I like what you are up to Modron. One thing that I am concerned over is the thought that people will be presenting information that might not be so much wrong as liable to lead newbies down the wrong path. In a long thread, which this promises to become, people might miss some of best information... I'm not entirely sure on how to avoid these issues but they are still a concern. As for my part I would like to suggest a revision for your lizard.



As you can see, the one thing that I am doing is introducing "proper" poly loops right from the beginning. I think that this is something that needs to be drilled into everyone's heads. The sooner you get you polys flowing the right way the better!

Step 1) Make a box and create a mirrored instance. Delete the faces that touch between the two boxes.

Step 2) Extrude the backside of the box out five times into a "U" shape. )At this point we are already creating what will become the mouth loop.)

Step 3) Shape the profile a bit.

Step 4) Use the Loop Cut Tool (CNTL+R) to cut in the boarder of the mouth loop. Be sure to try out the new smooth function when doing this. I used a smooth percentage of over 100.

How-to Use the Loop Cut Smooth option: The smooth option in the Loop Cut tool is really cool. I don't think its widely known how to use it but its easy. Press CTRL+R to start Loop Cut. Next select the loop that you want to cut like normal. Before you make your final click as to where you want the cut press the S KEY to turn on Smooth. Now click where you want the cut and it will ask the percentage of smooth you want. Test this out on a mesh that has some curves to it to get an idea of what it does. Try different amounts of smooth.


Step 5) Select the back of the head and extrude it back.

Step 6) Extrude the poly and scale it down to begin the creation of the main eye loops.

Step 7) Use the Loop Cut Tool to devide the eye loop in two.

Step 8 ) Shape the eye loop.

Step 9) Cut the Eye loop in half again but vertically this time. Shape.

Step 10) Add another loop to the eye loop using the Loop Cut with smooth.

Step 11) Cut the face to add more detail.

Step 12) Shape.

Step 13) Cut in another loop in the mouth area.

Step 14) Delete the polys from the center of the eye.

Step 15) Add a sphere for the eye.

Step 16) Shape the eye socket to fit the eye and extrude and loop cut to get the socket to look the way you want.

Step 17) Extrude the interior of the mouth. Add loops as needed, shape, and finish.




Let me know what you think.

TorQ