[Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!

Tue Feb 5 14:18:45 PST 2008

For those that have never made models, its a lot of fun and very relaxing. 
Minatures are especially fun since they are small enough that you can work 
in a confined space and if you like painting and detailing you can make them 
look pretty good. Then all you need is a quick cam, some green, blue, black 
cardboard for a backdrop to film against, a rotating table that's about 
8-12" in diamters with some kind of angle marker on it, so you can repeat 
positions. Then a couple cheap white lights with trimming pots on them 
lighting your model for both ambient and specular effects. Then you just 
snap, rotate, snap rotate, do your poses. Bring it all into photoshop or 
paint shop pro (something with decent image processing), clean the edges 
from the backdrop, add little lighting effects and glowing eyes etc. and 
make little movies. Better than spending 2 years learning maya, 3d max, or 
whatever, if you want quick and dirty 3D characters for something simple.

Andre'

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <john at cozmicfunk.com>
To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 4:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!

OK, now I am getting really excited, especially that Andre has taken the
bait. I want to actually plan an event and put it on the calendar.

I could even offer anyone interested in coming over to see my pops. I
can't bring them all out, except maybe SXSW coming up. I am waiting to
see what the Prez thinks about the workshop idea :)
JPF

Andre Lamothe wrote:
> In my book "tricks of the game programming gurus - 1994", I showed how to
> build a little stop frame animation studio then how to photo the 
> miniature,
> extract the bitmaps, then all the math to project the 2D sprites into a 3D
> scene. I found the original book source, and unedited chapter, but I can't
> find the "loose" figures damn it! Anyway, I just tried the program and 14
> years later still works perfectly, now, that's defensive programming :)
> Anyway, I will bundle the material and create a link, so people can try it
> on their machine. Its a very simple demo, but a 3D space ship (very low 
> rez,
> it as 1994) moves in a 3D starfield. As you control it with the numeric 
> pad,
> right and left, it turns in 3D space, scales, etc. But, its not 3D, its 
> just
> a 2D image with 8-16 different views and the math selects the view and the
> virtual camera position selects the scale for the 2D sprite. This is how
> DOOM and many 2.5D games worked in the 1990s, wing commander is another
> example. The toy was from the store and looked really cool. About 2" in
> length.
>
> Let me see if I can find the figures, now I am on a mission. If I have to, 
> I
> can scan them from the book, but that's a pain.
>
> Andre'
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: <john at cozmicfunk.com>
> To: "The Robot Group Mailing List" <robotgroup at puremagic.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, February 05, 2008 3:23 PM
> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
>
>
> All right I am perfectly game for this!
> Now who else wants to step up to the plate? Bring our your models, toys,
> styrene, LEDs and Super glue. Hey Marvin, do you want to help and lets
> get Andre involved too, he built some amazing stop motion models years
> ago for a game. And Eric has built a creature for a film. How about you
> Vern, is there anything you don't know about? I would not be at all
> surprised if you have done some resin casting at some point. lol :)
>
> JPF
> Denise Scioli wrote:
>
>> And, we can have the class at The Heritage.  Saturday's are terrific, am
>> or in the afternoon.  Just let me know ahead of time.  I love this idea
>> John.
>>
>> Denise
>>
>> PS.  I have also wanted to do a concentrated class in Pepakura with Gray,
>> as it confounds me.
>>
>> ----------------------------------------
>>
>>
>>> Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2008 14:21:15 -0600
>>> From: john at cozmicfunk.com
>>> To: robotgroup at puremagic.com
>>> CC: bonafont at sbcglobal.net
>>> Subject: Re: [Robotgroup] Tiny Robot Wanted!
>>>
>>> Hey Grey,
>>> I wanted to thank you for your public insight regarding this. Every once
>>> and a while, a topic emerges with direct relevance to my work.
>>> I have been a fan of this movie forever. A week ago Andre also replied
>>> and then replied to me personally about this. The robots in this film
>>> are amazing, I wanted to make a replica of them for years. I even have
>>> the Japanese model kits of them but they are so tiny, you can't even do
>>> much with lights or motors etc.
>>>
>>> These little ships are the best visual fusion of UFO's and Robots. I
>>> wonder why they never made any toys of them?
>>> Also, I did email Javier about his prop and never received any word
>>> back. People are busy and these kinds of projects take a lot of time and
>>> inventive strategy. I feel very fortunate to be associated with a group
>>> of such giving and insight, especially Grey Mack who always so much to
>>> contribute in his knowledge and understanding of problem solving
>>> solutions!
>>>
>>> I propose that we also do a prop class for those interested. Some of you
>>> know my miniature and model skills. In last couple of years I started to
>>> get into more motorized or robotic features of my models and I have to
>>> say it is the best challenge for me as an artist. I want to learn more
>>> from the seasoned veterans of this group. I think if we did some kind of
>>> class, those interested could learn from each other and we could all
>>> benefit. I want to share my successes of model and LED application
>>> aesthetics. Let me know if we can do a workshop on this. Have a great
>>> week:)
>>>
>>> For those interested, I have updated my You tube channel with my short
>>> horror film I dis last year. I created all of the visual effects among
>>> everything else. I could have used more blood in the grand finale
>>> effect, live and learn.
>>> http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=cozmicpfunk
>>> JPF
>>>
>>> Gray Mack wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>> Javier, I saw this post recently and was wondering if
>>>> you got anywhere with your robot designs.
>>>> In looking at an example from the movie "Batteries Not
>>>> Included"
>>>> http://www.ketzer.com/original_movie_props/wheems.html
>>>> You might be right that a real robot may not be the
>>>> best approach for something small and detailed like
>>>> that.
>>>>
>>>> My suggestion is to try to model it in a cad program.
>>>> Something like autocad or google sketchup. Then you
>>>> have a basis for your CGI model already done.
>>>> And you can experiment with the little details like
>>>> teeth, eyebrows, etc which are likely important in
>>>> making your robot seem menacing or lovable or
>>>> somewhere in between.
>>>>
>>>> The next step might be to check out some card folding
>>>> applications. Download a free copy of Pepakura
>>>> Designer ( http://www.tamasoft.co.jp/pepakura-en/ )and
>>>> see that it will import the format that your CAD
>>>> program can export. This will allow you to print out a
>>>> cut-out-and-fold paper model of your 3d design. You
>>>> could probably transfer the design to thin sheet metal
>>>> and tin snip it out for something more rigid. With
>>>> some careful design, you might even be able to use
>>>> some pushwire cables to animate it. Here is an example
>>>> of a CAD to 3d paper model I created using these
>>>> techniques in just one evening:
>>>> http://robotics.meetup.com/69/photos/135747/1094946/
>>>>
>>>> You may find it hard to get anyone to volunteer to
>>>> actually build one as it involves a lot of time and
>>>> work. But it is something you could do yourself, or
>>>> maybe you could find a way to get some kids involved
>>>> for some sort of contest/prize?
>>>>
>>>> -Gray
>>>>
>>>> --- Javier Bonafont <bonafont at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Hi robot afficionados.
>>>>>
>>>>> I'm an austin filmmaker and I have a possible Web
>>>>> series that involves a
>>>>> small robot, about 4" tall, and I'm looking for
>>>>> somebody to help design and
>>>>> build it.  There will be a CGI version of it also,
>>>>> but I want to start with
>>>>> the physical version.  Anyone in the austin area
>>>>> interested?  possible
>>>>> deferred pay if the pilot is picked up.
>>>>>
>>>>> The robot is essentially a mechanical puppet, not
>>>>> necessarily a real robot,
>>>>> but it has to look like something out of "batteries
>>>>> not included" or
>>>>> something of that nature, with parts that move and
>>>>> light up, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> email me for more information and details at
>>>>> bonafont at sbcglobal.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks!
>>>>>
>>>>> Javier Bonafont
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
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