Short Film Character

Artwork Focused Critiques
1

Hi all.

Thought I would post some images of the character from my short film project.

Rendered in Cycles. All sculpting / modelling / rigging etc. in Blender.

I’m always looking to push the detail / realism so all feedback welcome.

If you have a minute please take a look and let me know what you think.

Cheers.
Oliver

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2

Looks very good. The hair and the texturing look great. The only thing that jumps out at me are the wrinkles on his forehead. I’m not sure if it’s because there are to many or that they all go completely across the forehead. It seems a little unnatural.

3

Looks awesome, except that the eyes seems a little odd to me, doesn’t seem real, and I can’t explain how or why.

4

The character is interesting. At this point … :slight_smile: … the lighting fairly sucks.

Points to deal with:

  • Use three-point lighting and consider using soft complementary colors in those lights.
  • The catch-lights must be pin- points, in both eyes.
  • There is an objectionable pallor to the skin, unless you intend this. Use of appropriate lighting colors can ameliorate this effect, as books on studio lighting discuss.
  • In the original shot, the model is certainly appropriate and realistic for the scene presented, and the modeling is excellent.
5

Agree completely with @sundialsvc4, and I think the weird eyes that @Morgan Nilsson is seeing is because they’re a bit too light, and a bit too reflective. Turn the specularity down a tad, and they’ll be better.

6

Actually I disagree on a few points here: Three point lighting is a good starting point if you have no experience lighting and you are not trying to match to a background. In your case (I’m assuming that you are using that background), you should use the image to ‘inform’ your lighting. I have a little pet peeve about people disregarding the lighting in background plates so they can follow some pre-described lighting standard. Or doing so to show off some details. Most of my favorite DP’s totally disregard the three point lighting scheme and instead go for a more natural looking light setup that utilizes bounce lighting and back lighting.

Eye lighting can be used to great effect but only when the scene actually calls for it. If you’re character is looking into the dark, there is no light to shine into their eyes. A better scheme is to create an environment for the eyes to reflect or use an HDRI that matches the scene. If your lighting is setup correctly, these object will reflect light from the environment and into his eyes. You won’t see pin points of light but you will see the objects that are illuminated in front of him.

Everything else, I agree with.

7

I agree with Morgan Nilsson,his eyes are looking odd,theyshouldn’t be shining.

8

Are you talking about the fact that his irises are so light that it seems like they are giving off light? His eyes are a little unnaturally light colored. Whenever I see someone like that (it does happens in real life), they seem to have an otherworldly quality.

9

Hrm, I so hoped this was the protagonist of H.P. Lovecrafts’ ‘The Music of Erich Zann’ then the eyes would make sense. Maybe it is? please please?

Great character design that looks good. He appears worried/concerned.

10

Hi Everyone, Thanks for all the feedback. Here is the latest image.

This one is more of a studio style lighting setup. I will work on the version with the character in my environment later today.

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I have softened the key light quite considerably. This does loose detail in the face but I think produces a more natural result. This also has the result of slightly lighting the eye are and cheek on the left of the image.

I have used quite dark Fill light on the left, using a couple of fill lights. One to raise the values above absolute black and one slightly brighter but facing forwards to bring out some detail on the dark side of the face.

I then have some subtle back light on the right side. Although this may not be quite bright enough as its only visible on the shoulder camera right.

The eyes are now lit separately to control the highlight.

MeanPi2: I love Lovecraft! However this is not based on any of his stories. But it is a Horror Fantasy.

I will post some images of the environment if I get a chance.

Thanks.
Oliver

11

Ok so here is the character in the Environment:

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Trying to go for a cinematic feel to the lighting with plenty of detail.

Please note the hands are not properly sculpted, textured etc.

Please let me know what you think.

Cheers.
Oliver

12

Image on post #10 almost perfect, gallery level.
The only thing I see is the modeling between the two eyes on top of the nose, that I don’t feel natural but perhaps it’s just me.
Congratulations.

13

Very nice images. I like the lighting a lot better now.