(10-15-2010) Issue #002

All artwork, images, graphics and article content courtesy of Chet Spiewak (Author/Artist)

A Virtual Bug is Born....

The Vinny the Bug Man graphic novel is illustrated using computer-generated graphics. Behind all of it's storylines, characters, and props lies a 3D virtual digital world.

The Virtual World

Somewhere, a team of 3D artists is hard at work creating the next amazing special effect, cool character or whimsical universe for a new block-buster hollywood movie, or multi-player interactive video game adventure. What they all share in common- is the behind the scene virtual world built to bring the storylines, characters and worlds to life on the computer screen.

The computer artists edit virtual objects by manipulating there shapes(stretching, pulling) much the same way as an artist scuplts a mound of clay into a work of art. But in the virtual world a group dots(vertexes) suspended in space connected with lines is the media instead of a ball of clay. Over time the virtual objects come to life as characters, props and worlds.(see pic below)

Building a Character(simple overview)

One of the villains from the Vinny the Bug Man graphic novel series is "Bugsy". A notorious gangster beetle inhabiting the sewers of bug underworld. Bugsy dreams for a day when he made the head of crime family, but presently he serving time in prison for crimes committed against his fellow insects.

Here we use Bugsy-- to show some of the steps in the modeling process of a computer-generated character. Bugsy is a long lean character, with an over size head, multiple arms, and a set of wings..

The modeling process begins with an artist creating series of design sketches used as a visual guide. These character sketches act a road map to the 3D building process, giving visual clues to how the character is to be built... the more sketches developed, the more easier it will be to create a character in 3D.

The artist chose to start on Bugsy by building his head- first... Bugsy oversized melon makes for an idea starting point in the building process. For most characters the head is the hardest feature to model due to the detail required in building the character to account for facial expressions.

Note following are interactive and show some

Bugsy head is pulled, stretched, molded and soon it resembles the design character sketches. Then antennas, mouth and chin are added.

In the computer virtual world, 3D models like -Bugsy exists as a series of dots(vertexes) arranged in 3D space. These dots are connected by lines- forming squares and triangles Each connection creates a plane where a material is applied and the character begins to take 3D form...

After the basic head is built, more details are added--- eyes, teeth, tongue, and even an hat. Bugsy's personality takes form. More and more items are added, arms, legs clothes and wings. Character construction complete!..Bugsy is ready for the next step... Texturing.

Character construction complete!..Bugsy is ready for the next step... Texturing.