BLENDING LIFE — Blender 3d Realistic & Stylized Human Challenge [ENTRIES CLOSED]

[Len]

BLENDING LIFE
Blender 3d Realistic & Stylized Human Challenge

Photo-realistic humans in movies like Beowulf, The Matrix and Animatrix (Jue vs Thaddeus) has stunned audiences worldwide, but the constant battle against the "Uncanny Valley" has left many an artist utterly frustrated. Yet every so often on forums like CGTalk and elsewhere, we see stunning images from seemingly genius artists, who are able to recreate digital human doubles so perfect that it boggles the mind. Welcome to the world of the lifelike CG created human.

During Blender's history we've seen very few photo-realistic humans even though our beloved application is more than capable. It's hard work and it takes a lot of patience, but lets show the CG world what we can do. And most importantly ... HAVE SOME FUN!

Important note: Please keep this thread clean. Feel free to discuss and ask questions about this contest at its News & Discussion section at http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=137008.

CATEGORIES
Category A
The photo-realistic human – portrait only. The more lifelike, the better. Think crazy detail. Give it that twinkle in the eye that says: "I'm alive!" Everything must be done in Blender internal, modeling, hair, lighting, rendering, you name it. Texturing can be done in external applications like Gimp or Photoshop. Only basic post-pro, like simple colour correction is allowed. The background may be a photo or any other image created by you, but final composition must be done in Blender.
Category B
The stylized human – portrait and/or full body. "Stylized" means different things to different people, but in this case it must not be overly cartooney. However, a character that is out of proportion somewhat but that has good texturing is fine. You're allowed to use external programs like Photoshop, Gimp, etc for effects like adding hair and extras, but don't overdo it. Only Blender may be used for 3d work. External renderers like Yafray and Indigo may also be used.

PRIZES

CATEGORY A
1st: • 3d.sk: One year Premium membership to 3d.sk valued at 1290 EUR!
• Montage Studio: Head + body dvd's
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess
• Total Textures Humans and Creatures texture dvd from 3DTotal (Sponsored by Montage Studio)

2nd: • Montage Studio: Head + Body dvd
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

3rd: • Montage Studio: Head dvd
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

CATEGORY B
1st: • Montage Studio: Head + body dvd's
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess
• Anatomy for the Artist by Sarah Simblet
• Any one item from Blender's E-shop

2nd: • Montage Studio: Head + Body dvd
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

3rd: • Montage Studio: Head dvd
• Animating with Blender: How to Create Short Animations from Start to Finish by Roland Hess

TEXTURES AND REFERENCES SUPPLIED BY 3D.SK
3d.sk is supplying us with a package of seven different high quality portrait textures and references to choose from. Using them aren't mandatory – in other words you may use your own textures if you like – BUT, if you use the textures from 3d.sk your entry stand a very good chance to be showcased at the 3d.sk "User Works" Gallery, which will give your artwork further exposure. You can download them at www.lucyroy.com/blender.zip



Copyright note: These Images are provided for the Blending Life contest and can be used for personal and/or non-commercial projects. All commercial use is strictly prohibited. All images are copyrighted. (c) www.3d.sk

ENTRY DETAILS
IMPORTANT UPDATE 26 Nov 2008: Entries needs to be e-mailed to blendinglife@gmail.com. For detailed requirements click >>HERE<<

Create a place holder on this thread. Please specify which category you'd like to enter. Should you wish you can also include a link to your own created WIP thread. Be sure to include "BLENDING LIFE" in your WIP subject line.

Image size: Submitting your entry at 1024px wide minimum regardless of aspect ratio and hight is best. It's important to show as much detail as possible.

DURATION
The contest will run for a period of nine weeks. That will give you three weeks each for modeling, texturing and lighting.
OFFICIAL START DATE is 6 Oct 2008
CLOSING: Extended by one hour: 1:00AM (GMT) Monday 8 Dec 08 – One hour after midnight.

JUDGING
Four judges will pick the top five for each category, after which final judging will be done by both the judges and the Blenderartists.org community. The judges will give a mark out of 10 for each entry and the community will then also vote for each of the top five in each category via a forum poll. The results of each will then be added together which will give us the final winning scores, revealing the top three winners for each category.

And the "scary" judges are ...
• Peter Levius (3d.sk)
• Jonathan Williamson (www.montagestudio.org)
• Derek Marsh (BgDM at Blenderartists.org)
• Len Van Der Westhuizen (www.lenwest.org)

RULES
1. Single image texture/photo projection is strictly prohibited for the actual model's texture. One must be able to rotate and animate your textured model.
2. Modeling and rendering must be done in Blender internal for Category A, however Category B may use external renderers like Yafray or Indigo.
Texturing can be done in an external application like Gimp or Photoshop.
3. A wireframe screenshot must be included with your entry and Category A entries must also include a simple alternate render from a different camera angle.
4. Post render retouching – Only simple colour retouching is allowed for Category A. A grayscale final image that resembles a
black & white photograph will be allowed, but a simple secondary colour version must be included alongside the main entry. For
Category B you may add hair and extras using external applications like GIMP or Photoshop. But the more you do in
Blender internal, the better.
6. You are not allowed to enter previously created work. Only new material created specifically for this contest is allowed.
7. The judges decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
8. In the unlikely event that rules are amended you will be notified at the News & Discussion thread here.

HELPFUL LINKS
1. Tutorials:
• www.montagestudio.org – Jonathan Williamson has two brilliant modeling dvd's that's sure to make you an instant hit. Be sure to check his free tutorials.
• Organic Modeling Tutorial – Realistic Portrait by Alt_ligury – http://wiki.cgsociety.org/index.php/Portrait
• Multiple image-projection tutorial by Ben Dansie – http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=125206
• Portrait UV unrapping made easy (a bit rough) – In this thread: http://blenderartists.org/forum/show...ortrait&page=2
• Blender Art Magazine ISSUE 16 Wow Factor – Skin Shading using multi-layered SSS – http://www.blenderart.org/issues/
• Skin with multilayered sss experiments – http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=121552
• 3D WORLD magazine, Issue 90, May 2007 – It includes excellent tips from well known artist Oliver Ponsonnet and others.

2. Textures:
• www.3d.sk – The best out there. They've got a wide variety of professional high resolution photos that can be used for both reference and textures.
• Free Iris textures – Please note the copyright information, e-mail them for permission as indicated at Blendernation News.
http://www.blendernation.com/2007/09...iris-textures/

3. Blends:
• Broken Shadows – Grunge themed portrait – http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=103053
• Saskia Portrait – Download and password upon request. – http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=117865


(Art in top banner – from left to right: Grunge portrait by Len, Old Man by Macs, Portrait by Alt Ligurgy and Man Wireframe by Jonathan Williamson)

[harkyman]

So, for the "stylized" category, are we talking things that might be out of proportion, but that look "real" like this:

?

[Len]

Hi Harkyman. That will be okay for Cat B.

[Orinoco]

Ok, I'll give this a shot. Placeholder.

[chipmasque]

My final Category A entry:




My WIP thread.

[REiKo Rhoemer]

"Ultraviolet"

Made in Blender 2.48a, textured in GIMP 2.6.0.

About 1.041.000 vertices.
Rendertime: 11h 17m. (in resolution 2480x3508)


(this image was downgraded)


WIP: http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=138773.

[linuxpimp21]

I'll take a shot: Placeholder for Cat A

[RedJay]

Possible placeholder if I find time.

[matthe]

placeholder - category A

[tyrant monkey]

Small version of final entry, congrats to all that finished and thanks to all the folks that took the time to make this happen, this has been one fun ride and I have learnt bucket loads, hopefully its back in 2009 bigger and more bad a**

[BlendRoid]

(placeholder)

[gaalgergely]

unfortunately i couldnt finish my entry in time
my wip

[Len]

Hey guys! Glad to see 9 place holders already in such a short time. Awesome!

There's been some confusion about what's expected for Category B. I will supply clearer guidelines before Monday (the official start).

PS. pls should u wish to reply to this message pls do so at the Q&A thread here >> http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=137008

[ZombieJohn]

http://blenderartists.org/forum/showthread.php?t=137683

Hoinary-lup.

[Clean3D]

Here's is my placeholder.
With text that is centered.
I may not win,
but at least I've entered.

p.s. I'll be going for category A

[DIGnmg]

I am in.....what do i need to do to be in? i will do Cat A

[zednanreh.c]

category A placeholder

http://blenderartists.org/forum/show...hlight=liliana

[SomewhatDamaged]

I'm in but need clarification about cat. B

[David_Mac]

Placeholder.

[HumanForum]

I'm in for a cat A placeholder