Crocodile - Model - Part 2

Once the shape of the model was done I extruded some nostrils and eye whole sockets. The eyes where simple spheres with a multi sub object material added to it. This is also what I did to the main crocodile but for the green coloured skin I also added a scaly skim bump map to give the character a better look.

Overall I was quite happy with the outcome of the model it looks nice and 'cartoony' which will match the other models. I also used a little self- illumination on the teeth to make them stand out a bit more.

Crocodile - Model - Part 1

The second news story is set at Colchester zoo and the main character is the Crocodile. I started by finding some reference pictures for the model. I came across a simple crocodile cartoon that I was going to use for the side view but I still needed to find a top view.

I finally found a picture of a cartoon crocodile from the top. It didn't quite match the side one but it was close enough so I could at least use it to roughly shape the model.

The model started with a simple box object which I moved the vertices's around to match the outline of the cartoon on the reference pictures. The teeth were made by extruding the polygons inside the mouth and then scaling the ends down to create points.

Thug & Boy

The news story set on Southend pier stars two characters, a boy and a thug. These models are made from my original man model. For the boy I just scaled him down and then changed his outfit to a bright green and yellow. I also made a baseball cap for him. For the thug I changed the outfit the black and blue. I removed the hair piece to leave a short looking hair style.

The scene was made from two planes that have a pictures of the pier assigned to them. The scene is meant to look a bit tongue and cheek with the characters looking like they are super imposed onto the background.

Studio - Part 2

Once the studio was set up I needed to place some fixed 'Target' cameras in front of the studio. This was quite tricky to get everything in the shot I wanted. I placed in the scene three cameras. The middle camera would start the scene off and the left and right cameras would tackle the two news story's.

The central camera focus was on the two presenter and the back video wall where I have added a picture of Hylands House in Chelmsford. I didn't want anything too detailed so that it didn't distracted you from the main characters.

The left camera would be for when the man speaks and the Right for the women. I was slightly concerned the way the table looked in this perspective view, as it was very prominent in the scene. But this could only be overcome if I used the 'Orthographic Projection' view for the camera, but this made the scene look quite flat.

Studio - Part 1

The presenter characters were now ready to be placed with the furniture objects and a studio built up around them.

First I made a red platform for them to sit on. I made the platform the same shape as the table so that they complimented each other.

Then I added the floor of the studio and the back wall. The wall only to be created for the back and sides because the cameras will be placed at the front. The colours I choose was red, white, and blue. These colours worked well together and it also hinted of British heritage and pride.

The final thing to do was to add two T.V screens on the side walls and a big video screen behind the presenters. These will house different pictures that relate to the different subjects.

Laptop, Table & Chair

Before I create the studio I need to make some props and furniture. I started by creating a simple Laptop. This was made from a box object that that was extruded at the end to make the base of the computer then a plane was added for the screen. The keys were made by slicing a box into squares and then deleting the gaps. I didn't put any detail on to the model because the computer would only be seen from a distance.

Next was the table. The legs were made from an Ngon that was extruded and Beveled then given a Turbo smooth. The table top was made the same way as the legs but i started with a rectangle shape and changed the 'Corner Radius' parameter to curve the corners.

The table is a brown wood colour. I debated putting a wood map over the table but I have chosen not to for now because I want keep everything 'cartoony' and simple.

The two presenters needed to have a chair to sit on now so created a simple couch made from box objects and extruded rectangle shapes. I designed my presenter characters with the sitting position in mind. The backside of the model fitted nicely on to the chair. This made it easy to sit the character down without having to bend the knees.

Man & Women - Final Models

The model was now nearly complete. I now needed to add a 'Smooth' modifier to even off the sharp angles. I didn't mind the character having some square looking body parts, as I wanted to keep the model true to my original design.

I was quite pleased with the final model design the arms and head moved o.k and it looked like my original sketch.


Next I needed to create the model for the women presenter. This was done by copying the male model and then changing a few things to make the model look female. First I went back to the multi-sub object parameters and selected different polygons to colour. I removed the black hairline and also changed the design of the top to make it look more distinctive. Next I extruded the top sides and back of the head to create the hair. I also slightly changed the the shape of the mans hair piece to make the women's fringe. Finally I gave her red lips.


The final model looked good and it wasn't very time consuming. The only problem I had was that I needed to redo the Skin modifier because the weights reset themselves when I went back to the editable poly stage to select the different polygons for the top and hair.

Man - Model Part 2

Now the male presenter body was finished I now needed to add colour to him. This was done by creating a Multi-sub object Material. Here I selected four different coloured materials for the model. Once I had done this I selected the polygons I wanted to change and then assigned the appropriate colour the the model. The tie was made by selecting a tie shape on the mans torso and assigning black to it.

The next step was to add a biped to the model . The biped needed to fit nicely inside my model so I scaled each bone accordingly. I also removed the toes and few other bones that I knew I wasn't going to use.

Next the man was given a skin modifier so that the body parts of the model were attached to the biped. This part I found quite temperamental when weighting up the bones. Sometimes the weights were affecting parts of the model that I didn't want it to. I mainly concentrated on the arms and head, as these were only parts that were going to be used.

I weighted up each finger as well just in case I decided to move them in the animation.

The eyes, mouth, hair and nose were made with simple Standered Primitive objects and connected to the model by using the Link button to attach them to the biped skull. So when I moved the head the facial features would also move with it.