low poly: weapon: ax

[blankslatejoe]

Ok, here's an ax concept im working on. I'm trying to get the hang of low poly optimization

Here's my sketch...
http://ramsites.net/~mirabellojr/wips/ax.jpg


And the model...
http://ramsites.net/~mirabellojr/wips/axfinish.jpg

crits, comments welcome!

[usagi yojimbo]

this really cool, i like it alot, except for the handle, i see what you're trying to and it could work if you use more polys, but the handle in the sketch is much better. also its thinner than the rest of the shaft, if anything it should be thicker

[blankslatejoe]

Thanks man, very good point about the handle. i was really havin problems with it and trying to keep it low poly. I figured that since the characters hand would be covering the handle, it didn't need to be as detailed as the rest...

But either way, it could use a little work. I'll def. readdress it and post the results here.

[andru]

Actually, when it comes to low-poly, the real detail comes in the textures, so that handle should be fine as long as you pay good attention to detail when it comes to painting the textures.

[AfroLaxMan]

I agree with andru-

the textures will bring out the handle's life, not the geometry, and keep in mind the hand will be covering it, so those polys would extras that wouldn't get seen.

[blankslatejoe]

Well then, I tweaked the mesh a little more, my total triangle count is currently 550. So I guess im moving on to texturing now! Hoo ha! Thanks guys!

[matrix]

he really good.


matrix

[blankslatejoe]

ok guys, here's my blade texture, I'll put down some more later, I just want to put something up in the meantime.

http://ramsites.net/~mirabellojr/wips/axblade.jpg

[ElVeN]

i'm very impressed by your blade texture here. is this just painted from scratch in photoshop? or have you used some photo manipulation?

[blankslatejoe]

yeah, i handpainted the texture in photoshop, it took about 8 hours over a couple of nights

[matrix]

he damm great.

[blankslatejoe]

ok guys, heres the ax almost completed!
http://ramsites.net/~mirabellojr/wips/axetextf1.jpg

http://ramsites.net/~mirabellojr/wips/axetextf2.jpg

just a few more tweaking things to it, but otherwise im about ready to close this project! what do you all think?

[poopinmymouth]

Looking good joe, couple things that I think need work. the blade and the handle's texture are rocking my world, but the straps holding on the blade, need a little more concreteness. Give em some brighter specular highlights or something. Also I think they might have texture stretching issues. The lower handle definately does. I know it would be a pain to iron them out, and then repaint them, but I think to truly pop this piece, you need to do just that. Also, I think your color pallete is becoming a little too dull. It works for the blade and handle, but try experimenting with some hue shifts in photoshop on the handle and leather straps to see what you can come up with. Keep it up man.

[matrix]

ya looking cool

matrix