Self-Reflective-Journal: Week Two:
Here was our first introduction to the Mash effect in Autodesk Maya. We learnt the process of using a dancing figure with a Mash Node. We used preset files as we didn't have our own data to use yet. We followed Emily's instructions while we had the pdf to guide us. This was simple and straightforward to do as all the instructions were given to us and we could get creative in how much we wanted to edit the effect.
I created a cog wheel in the poly modelling tab. I then clicked the MASH tab and created a MASH network. This multiplied the poly model to 10 and the MASH tools showed up in the attribute editor. I then put my geometry onto my Maya character. I selected the MASH1 node in the outliner then went into the attribute editor and selected the MASH1_Distribute tab. I selected Mesh from the distribution type menu and I connected my character file to the input mesh. I then hid the character mesh and skeleton and made a channel box to off and on. I went and increased the number of points to 1000 in the MASH1_Distribute tab which made more cogwheel shapes appear. I then went back to the MASH1 node and right-clicked on the signal node. I altered the size of the cogwheels and then went back to the MASH1 node and added a colour node. I had to connect the cub mesh to the UV mesh. I then picked a colour and randomised the hue slider to get various colours. I then added the trails node which made trails that followed each movement of the character. I then played the time slider to see all the effects of the MASH nodes.
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← Link to playblast of character Mash dance with Trails
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← Trails effect with Mash
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← Node Viewer in Attribute editor.
← Here we linked the character file in 'Input Mesh. We could also choose the distribution type and points (the amount of poly models on the figure).
Outliner for Mash →​
Mood Boards Week 2:
These concepts are inspired by shatter glass, cloth material over a figure, ropes tied to figure dancing and liquid-like material as the base of the figure. These are various ideas of what type of material and main look the mocap figure may derive to be.
These are flourscent colours that are on the darker spectrum and have a bright hue to it. I would like a feature light casting over the object in a environment that is desolate where shadow is reflected. One idea I had was glass walls reflecting the figure dancing on each side. Another is just a white room with the colourful lights.
These are open environments with various colours. These either have a feature light or have different tones and hues to one main feature colour. I may use dark blues and white as the main idea. Or edit it to be various colours it changes to, reflecting different emotions and storytelling of the dance.