I have gotten som questions on how I make my shelf-icons transparent.
So here is a little walkthrough for those it might concern. Note that this is pre Maya 2011.

I make mine in Photoshop on Windows platform. It should be a similar approach with other applications and OS, but this is the only way I have tested.

Start of by creating the 32x32px icon of your choice. Preferably with no more than 255 colors. Meaning 255 colors and 1 open spot for transparent pixels.
When you’re done, select the pencil tool, set your foreground color to RGB: 0 – 254 -0. Note: 254, not 255. That means it’s almost completely green.
Then draw the pixels you want to be transparent with that color. Remember: Only 0 – 254 – 0 will work.. so, as I said, use the pencil tool.

Here is my icon at 500%.

Read the rest of this entry »

This video demonstrates a quick, easy and efficient way to work with multiple deformers to achieve a somewhat complex and precise shape. (Ok.. It’s not really that complex of a shape. hehe.. )
Anyways.. The basic idea is; “Deformers are friends, not food” and “Wire deformer for president!”.

Runtime: 1.49 min
FileInfo: Compressed *.rar – 2.79 MB – QT Sorenson 3 – 800×600

Download

This method is a result of my continuous endeavour to find quick ways of obtaining different shapes. Keeping it simple and with as few manual tweaks as possible. Visual estimate is for organic modeling.
So if you want to model a die that’s not a cube with a simpel bevel, here’s one way to do it.

Runtime: 16 seconds
FileInfo: Compressed *.rar – 316 KB – QT Sorenson 3 – 388×372

Download

In this tutorial I go through a quick way to create chalklooking textures using a pencil on paper and Photoshop.
I hope someone will find it useful.

Please enter the tutorial section to view it.

Since I wrote the Twist Modelling Tutorial I’ve come up with a new way of creating the “segments” for the spiral using deformers.
I probably won’t write another version of the tutorial any time soon, but here is a screencapture showing how I do it.

Runtime: 1.49 minutes
FileInfo: Compressed *.rar – 2.70 MB – QT Sorenson 3 – 716×504

Download