Coral test

I am still working on my character, but this week I also created a test version of coral. Then I brought it to the printing lab and was told that we should try to print it without the supports. I was excited to do it, as process of removing the supports seems to be the most difficult part so far. 

Coral in Zbrush

Coral in Meshmixer, hollowed out: you can see the wholes in the bottom too

First, I added the supports, but then we decided we will try without them and turn it 90 degrees as its stands

This time I was using the printer on my own. It was exciting and scary. I still had a little supervision, but next time I will be all alone. Hope I can be trusted and I will not break anything. 

Printing pictures and result:

File is in there: layers on the screen

Wash tank, full of this:

Curing station, which is also a washing station in one. Curing hardens the resin

Print ready

Sprayed with the coat of primer

Was the printing without supports a good idea? Yes and no. Yes, because it doesn't require as much of post process. No, because I have noticed some mistakes being printed, because of the parts overhanging in the air. However, those mistakes can be fixed by applying manually a filler, clay like texture, which is very helpful. 

My progress with the Mother:

Corset: took me a while

Hair

Little crown on top

I am getting a bit slower again, but I do want to get this model to the perfection state. It is okay. Next week I will aim to finish my model entirely and complete other assets. 

Iterations + first resin test

 I made some progress with my sculpt:

I got a pretty good feedback from my peers on the group meeting. Although it is not finished, I processed it for 3D printing and decided that I should not waste my time and print it to see how the ecological resin will look like. 

Supports I put

Hollow model

Supports edited

Getting the settings right for the printer: we used settings as on the pictures, the model was hollowed, we changed the supports slightly with a pointy bits at the top- medium supports. The software I was using was Anycubic Photon Slicer, the one at Abertay lab was Photon S Slicer, which was slightly newer version.

2. I was shown how to use the resin printer, I was being explained all the elements and what to do step after step. 

First test with eco friendly resin

My little instruction for printing:

- Switch the printer on 

- Insert the flash with the sliced file (remember, you have to slice the STL file with the supports: it shows the layers that will be printed, very cool)

- Open the printer up, hold it at the top, be careful, open it way until it sticks to the back

- Take the glass shelf out, upside down as it is, carefully to not scratch the glass in the middle

- Check if the middle window is clear, you can wipe it delicately

- Put the shelf back in (not upside down)

- Tighten the screws

- Take the metal plate with a holder, insert it on the top, fit it into a knob, all the way there, tighten the screw on the top (DO NOT LET IT FALL ON THE GLASS)

- Close the printer

- Operate the screen, choose the right file and press play

Printer in action. Flash on the side with the file on it, screen showing the layer of printing, metal plate going down into the tank full of resin and.. it's printing!

My happy printing face!

After the print is done:

- Take the plate out carefully (unscrew and all)

- Put the wash machine on with filled tank (alcohol), take out the metal netting, place the plate in there, put to wash for 4-10 mins (most likely less)

- Once ready, take out for it to dry, you can now separate it from the base

- Unscrew the shelf, lift, then take out, pour the resin back to the bottle (there should be a little mouth for it), use the scraper for the access of it

- Put the shelf into a tank wash ( can be together with the scraper)

- Once washed, dry it out, upside down as it was, watch the glass.

- For curing, take the wash tank out, replace it with a plastic plate, switch the button to cure, put the model on the plate, cure for about 4 mins?, take it out

Ideally I should study the manual before I do another test, but this notes helped me to understand the printing process step after step. I did not manage to take the steps after the printing, so the lab technician helped me, next time I will be show how to do that and try it on my own.

I was extremally happy with the outcome of the print! Below are a bunch of pictures I have taken. My plan is to carry on with the model and other assets for it. I will create a test coral and print it one in resin, one with FDM and PLA. Exciting stuff!

Mother on the metal plate

Supports

I had to remove them all - very tricky

Workspace

Supports- might have a think if we can melt it, to recycle

Supports removed, sanded with a sand paper

Great print, but I manage to break two little spikes on the tail and I did not sand the back enough- it was just a test though.

With the primer coat on:

Ready to paint!

Someday.

It was a very educational experience, can not wait to print more!

Let's start sculpting!

Quite a few things happened in this week. On Wednesday I finally was able to come out of my self-isolation and start with a progress on my project. I am feeling great and very excited.

I had my supervision meeting and got very positive feedback on my dissertation outline, with one advice: I shall bare in mind how to connect the outcomes/ findings of my project practical with written part. I also got a positive feedback on my concept art, which is great. There is one idea, which I will most likely implement in my project: I will not be printing the whole platform, I will use mix media techniques, for example making the nets myself and the plastic bag around her neck. It is such an exciting idea, that I really can not wait to see how this will turn out. It also matches perfectly with my dissertation flow and points I will be talking about. 

Another great news, I finally met with 3D printing technician at our university and seems like my project its very promising. He already bought the eco-friendly resin for me. And here is where few changes will come, I have a few options:

1) To print the figure, the coral, the coral, the barrel, the base and maybe a bottle separately, using resin printer and eco- friendly soya bean resin (pro: resin will give some much detail to the model and it will all look better, considering that it will be rather small; con: is the resin more eco-friendly than PLA?)

2) To print figure and the coral in resin and the base, barrel and bottle with FDM in PLA (pro: great combination and experiment with both techniques and materials; con: will need to be careful with the scale working with two printers)

3) To print one version in resin and one version in PLA (pro: both techniques used, will be great to compare; con: do I paint both versions? which one goes into the snow globe? isn't that too much?)

So far I am thinking that the second option looks the most interesting. But third one would give me more compartment. I might get a feedback on that on our group meeting or ask my supervisor. While third option seems great for comparison, I do not know if its not too much work. In second I will already have pieces to compare...

In any case, I was being told I am welcome to use the lab anytime, so I will definitely visit as soon as I have some figure to print. I was told to not finish whole figure and then come, Gerry did encouraged me to come and print test versions, as they did not test this resin before as well. Once I come I will also do the workshop and learn the whole technique step by step. 

So far I sculpted the figure, so far focusing on proportions and overall shape:

Checking how long is the tail: looking at character turnaround

From blockout to more visible shapes

I need to make it less like a dolphin...

more iterations

Also changed her torso, more female looking

Next week I have to carry on with it, but also do a test version of coral or bring this test version to the 3D printing lab. I might do it on Friday, after my dissertation presentation.

Lost count of weeks; Concept finalised, I think.

 I changed the timeline and seems like I am behind with the sculpting, but I should be still fine with the project. For now it even seems like I can afford one week of Easter holiday. This might change. The sooner I start sculpting, the sooner I can ask for 3D print test. So it is quite important. Ideally I'd like to make one test with an old model, one as a test version of my the honours project idea and one final outcome.

I also submitted the outline of my dissertation.

I am still isolating and I have a supervisor meeting on Monday. Fingers crossed I can be out next week and start sculpting. Meanwhile I will wait for supervisor feedback and work on any written work.

Platfrom design with notes

Concept art done

I have a strict plan for sculpting the pieces and this should be doable. I might need to use a base from old project of mine for the Queen to speed up the process. About the platform, I am going to use automatic retopology and UV unwrap where possible, inside of ZBrush. 

I also got my risk assessment and ethics form approved.

Unforeseen circumstances

 Well, I did not expect that but I had positive Covid19 test. I am feeling weak and have to self-isolate, therefore I have no access to my PC and sculpting software... I have decided to take it easy, rest and try my best to accomplish other tasks to be fully available for sculpting once I am well.

I have changed my timeline once again, I was lucky enough that first time creating it I did not know dates submissions so I left myself two weeks of nothing before that. For now seems like I still will be able to take some Easter holidays and accomplish my project on time. I just hope that 3D printing will really be available to me so I can do some test runs. I also put extra week for preparing the snow globe, just in case so in the worse case I can push things a little bit. I already feel that I will need to crunch sculpting. Might be needed.

I rethink all the processes of the creation:

-Simplify character & platfrom 

-Try learning 3D printing and hopefully do some test versions

-Find out how long would the printing take and if uni and 3D printing services are open for the Easter holidays

Fingers crossed I feel better for next week so I can start sculpting. I kinda have to.

Concept art... completed?

 I made elevator pitch for group meeting:

I received very positive feedback and my excitement for my project is growing. Similar presentation I had done for the tutorial at the uni and students also took it well. I did not get any more comments about the scope, which I hope means that this project should be doable in time given. I have not included the new concept art sketches for my presentation, as I wanted to work on it more. Here are the new drawings of dynamic poses to understand how the character will move. 

Deciding the colours and comparing to old design

Added the turtle shoulder pads

No colours version

Posed and with a platform

Unfortunately I have not managed to start sculpting. 

I have managed to get in contact with 3D printing lab technician at our university, so that's great! He said I can come anytime and he will show me the induction to the printing. He also said that printing in PLA will be possible but resin printing gives better details. This stresses me a little bit, therefore I might need to revise the platform and model again so the printing could go right way. I also should show the concept art for him, to see what he says, if it will be possible to print. I MUST start sculpting next week. Timeline readjustment again?

Possibly.

Risk assessment and ethics application has been submitted too. 

I have change the project title since it should refer to my practical part and dissertation more:

In captivity: To investigate environmental issues in marine life, through 3D game character visual design, while exploring sculpting techniques, with the focus on eco-friendly 3D printing technology.