United3dArtists Archive

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 22 Jun 2009, 14:20

Just starting a thread to encourage me to put WIP's in and actually get a move on with this one. Planning on releasing it in episodes...sort of a web experiment.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 22 Jun 2009, 23:25

I can't wait!!

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 03 Jul 2009, 19:18

Ok guys, need a bit of help with this one.

Doris is going episodic; like a comic book with a bit added regularly. What I want to do, rather than just have a picture and text on the screen is to reveal parts of the book slowly. Maybe timed, maybe by clicking.

So, for example, you get a picture of Doris reading the paper fading in then the box with text appears. As Doris spots a job, a close up of the ad appears in the screen. Another part of the story then appears. Suddenly (on the story) a bird crashes into the window. Wallop! (we get an image pop up along with sound).

Get the idea? Basically, I am gonna have a little fun now I am not constrained by print plus this will allow me to reveal the story while I am writing it rather than having to wait a year or so to complete it.

I am guessing this would be best done in flash, but I have no idea where to start. I am great at 'tweaking' existing code but have no idea where to begin.

Anyone suggest a starting point or way of doing this?

theuns · Post by **theuns** » 03 Jul 2009, 19:47

this is also something that i'd like to learn and also don't know where to start, so i'll be watching for the suggestions posted here...

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Feb 2010, 21:10

No ideas on the above then?

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Feb 2010, 21:12

I decided that Doris needed something a little more 'british' as a logo. I also love the kitsch 50's style of design seen in games such as Fallout 3.
What do you think of this?

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Feb 2010, 22:08

And a few updated ones for the 'future' Doris.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Feb 2010, 22:22

Actually the chrome version works well as part of Doris' spacesuit.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 20 Feb 2010, 22:49

Good logos.

I don't know flash but this sure sounds like a job for it.

So it is not exactly animated but each page or part (reading paper, box with text, spots a job) is a still picture that would appear using special effects like fades, sound, motion, user interaction, etc.? You want to use the web medium's abilities. That sounds like a good idea to me!

You would have to know the basic story line at first so that all the episodes fit together into a good story. Otherwise you might find yourself in the writer's equivalent of "painting yourself into a corner".

Will it be open ended with limitless new episodes possible?

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Feb 2010, 23:09

Yup that's right. Flash sounds like the way or i would be happy with some sort of script that faded in each part at the click of a button....sort of like a powerpoint presentation really.
I decided Doris would not wear blue...maybe a nice purple!!

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 21 Feb 2010, 16:50

Well, I found a way to do this in flash but need some advice so I posted a request in the tech forum if anyone can help.

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 21 Feb 2010, 19:14

I like this Doris. It could be a real toy with funny sounds.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 22 Feb 2010, 11:28

When designing my characters nowadays, I tend to imagine them as toys so that they could be manufactured (well, you never know!).

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 22 Feb 2010, 15:30

Paul, have you had a look at Adobe Indesign CS4? There is an SWF production component to it. I don't know if you can script it but some of the canned transitions are really very nice. I think one may be a book page turning.

Give it a gander, if you think it may be useful I can try to do a couple of things for you as a proof of concept. I just recently purchased Indesign CS4 and I have yet to do the training or really use it on a project. If useful I would be glad to help.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 22 Feb 2010, 16:43

Cheers V3rd3, did you look in the tech forum where I posted my dilemma? I already have one (maybe two) flash source file that will do what I need but my lack of coding skills mean I can't quite get what I need.
I have posted below another file which would also work; it moves around a larger image before zooming out. I could also use this type.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 23 Feb 2010, 08:03

I have to admit I have not looked at the forum, or InDesign, very much yet. I will dig around a bit and see if InDesign gives me the ability to script the SWF.

It will take some time but I will get back to you with my results.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 23 Feb 2010, 09:18

You are a gentleman sir...but don't put yourself out on my account. I managed to tweak the second flash file so I can have multiple buttons to access different areas of a larger image.
Just struggling with how to get different images in the first flash file....need someone who knows flash coding I guess.

Still, I appreciate very much your offer...

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 24 Feb 2010, 23:58

This is the sort of thing I had planned. The other flash file has fades and reveals etc.

http://www.buddyworldbooks.com/dsdpage.html"

the other page (WIP) here:

http://www.buddyworldbooks.com/dsdpage2.html"

Steve · Post by **Steve** » 24 Feb 2010, 23:59

Sorry, bad news, can't view the flash, says I need a username and password

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 25 Feb 2010, 00:30

Mmm, my mistake. Refresh and try again...it should be sorted now...

EDIT: I still have the 'footer' on each page linked to a folder in the members area but if you hit cancel at the log in prompt you should still see the flash example...

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 26 Feb 2010, 00:09

I fixed this now so no need for signing or cancelling...

Whadya think?

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 26 Feb 2010, 05:00

Transitions look good. Lots of things to do with this. I look forward to seeing how use it.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 26 Feb 2010, 08:57

As always Paul I think the world of your art.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 26 Feb 2010, 09:07

Why thank you guys. I am really chuffed that I managed to solve it (in a roundabout kind of way) and I am excited about developing my first book solely for web viewing using it.
I spent last night tidying up the story and redesigning the Jungle Woods logo to better reflect the 'arts and crafts' nature of the books. I then redesigned the main map and intro page to include updated logos and add speech buubles to all rollovers to aid young children when navigating......

.....really must try and sleep more....

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 28 Feb 2010, 14:02

Looking at making the spacecraft a bit less garish. Does this look a bit too drab?
Updated one of the older images too.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 28 Feb 2010, 19:49

A few more....

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 01 Mar 2010, 00:00

I think the new pictures are mostly not too drab in color, maybe a little more colorful, but I don't know if they should be that grungy. Some places might be dirty and some might only have utilitarian colors but not many would have both. Different styles for different places/owners/uses. What do future people like? How and were do they live? What are places and things for or how are they used?

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 01 Mar 2010, 08:34

Ah, I have concept work for the space stations etc. Will post them up later.

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 01 Mar 2010, 15:23

it is allway interesting to follow this project. look like a new alien movie with an old ripley as star! i am waiting to see the monster!

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 04 Mar 2010, 22:37

A bit more concept art...anyone getting the storyline yet?

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 09 Mar 2010, 09:05

It's always dangerous to leave an open ended question like that with me around.

Let's see, a cyclop-eyed building with a panting tongue lashing out at a locker key that has fallen to the ground.

A new fashion show for cycles, complete with the runaway lit up for stylish 'walks' leading up to a jaw-toothed door which holds the secrets of the universe or some mint jellies.

I new minature golf course involving some really wicked air traps and blinding strobe lights to seize up the random epileptic.

Oh, that's all for now as I must do something about this sea monkey which has depleted its water supply.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 09 Mar 2010, 18:39

Close.......

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 17 Jun 2010, 23:16

Ok, so I am robbing other scenes for props but they were just concept pieces anyway....

Few new Doris images....very much WIP's.

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 18 Jun 2010, 00:43

Get Doris out of the rain!

She'll catch her death!!

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 18 Jun 2010, 07:52

10 out of 10 ! great job in this thread

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 18 Jun 2010, 14:32

Oh, she'll be fine...she goes into space after all!!

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:31

nice work as usual! What filter do you use for the rain?

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 18 Jun 2010, 21:44

Outstanding. As usual.

LeonRegis · Post by **LeonRegis** » 18 Jun 2010, 22:01

Amazing as always

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 19 Jun 2010, 11:16

marcel wrote:nice work as usual! What filter do you use for the rain?

Post process marcel, using layers and motion blur in Photoshop.

Cheers guys...

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 19 Jun 2010, 13:44

Ok i was almost sure it is post process. Just for info: i posted some examples of comics in your topic (general discussion) as you wanted.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Jun 2010, 19:29

I saw them Marcel, fabulous artwork from one so young....

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 26 Jun 2010, 14:15

Doris is still standing in the rain!!!

(taps foot)

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 07 Jul 2010, 09:21

Doris just got complicated....

When I started out with these I made them in a, shall we say, pleasing format; one that looked like it would be a book page. Over the years I adapted them all to the 1024x768 format for screen viewing.

Then...I adapted them for a standard print size.
Recently I have had to adapt again to the iPad format.

So, I was planning on making Doris this great, reveal, fade in, pan around flash format which I kinda got working.

BUT...how to adapt this back to a book format? It would make a great app but I don't have time (or skill?) to learn how to make an app, nor do I really have the time to creat three different versions.

So, do I stick with the book and then adapt to ebook makign some interactive stuff for the web site as I go along?
Doesn't help that I am trying to figure out Flash as I go along.

So, today I hit a brick wall. I was going to start with a prologue set in the future (see pic below) each element is revealed when you click the arrow. There would be several pages like this to maximise the artwork. After setting the scene about Deep Space Doris I would then go back to the past and show how she got here. One problem with this is the lack of space for any substantial text; it loks very much like a storyboard!!

Anyways, I am stuck for motivation, any ideas on this?

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 07 Jul 2010, 09:27

Forgot to mention that at the end of this 'prologue' Doris would be revealed looking over this 'alien' planet which turns out to be Earth. I have a great over the shoulder shot of her standing in the rain which would then cut to a front shot and her helmet opening to reveal her face and then match perfectly to one of her standing in the rain at a bus stop in the past (present?).
It is here where the flash based presentation would come into it's own. Would not have the same impact in a static book format.

Grrrrr....decisions, decisions....

Still, as this is gonna be a big project, using a prologue like this lets me set the story AND buy me some time while I create all the stuff. Doris has been in my head for too long now!! I remember posting Doris images on the old Califorum and I don't mean the one that just closed......

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 07 Jul 2010, 14:43

Paul, what I am reading in your posts is the frustration of having a vision of what you want to do and an almost ready skill set to accomplish it.

I don't think you should compromise on your vision to get the product out quicker.

If I had flash I would certainly enjoy trying to help you but, alas, I do not.

For the expository material in the prologue, how about using a song instead of text?

or change the layout to 2 panels, one text the other the graphic.

Who is the narrator of the story you are telling? Could a simple voice over work.

PS update on PHP script is ... I am just finishing setting up apache dev environment and should start the coding soon.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 07 Jul 2010, 16:34

cheers mate...you are right. I can see the whole thing in my head but will need years to make it all as i want it. I have two other ranges to develop and the existing stuff to get 'school ready' . Maybe i just take too much on....

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 07 Jul 2010, 21:19

Time to develop the resource acquisition and delegation skillz....

you need more hands.

Have you tried some of your old students that are following in your footsteps? If you can get a few to help you 2 hours a week you can have a night off....

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 08 Jul 2010, 07:54

My OCD probably wouldn't allow it....

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 08 Jul 2010, 12:57

Doris is still in the rain!!!

(taps foot)

theuns · Post by **theuns** » 16 Jul 2010, 09:44

love i splinters

especially the space ship car one

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 19 Jul 2010, 23:02

I was just getting into this project then the house renovation started....so tired when I finally get home (13 hour days and having to live at parents house) that I just fall asleep.
Hopefully will get back to it in a week or so.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 19 Aug 2010, 19:26

Right then, one or two renders then hopefully I will have nailed this project. I will post the flash file here for your feedback.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 19 Aug 2010, 20:38

Well guys, it is all I have managed this summer due to renovations but I am pretty happy with it. This marks the first piece of work produced especially for the web/interactive experience.
I need to change the 'city' shot but otherwise this is the prologue for Deep Space Doris....much more to come.

As always, I value your feedback. Oh, for some reason the finished file tripled in size...will look into that.

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 19 Aug 2010, 21:15

Looking great Splinters. Coincidently I was listening to Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds while watching the prologue... somehow this type of music fits this way of storytelling. Although this soundtrack

is not suited for Deep Space Doris.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-mdjlc6 ... re=related"

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 19 Aug 2010, 21:29

The problem with big project is that the technology is changing so quickly that everything seems obsolete before you finish. I made a movie that lasted 4 years. before finishing, my new material could improve the outcome. But that meant redoing the entire beginning. I lost one year. If I keep this logic, I'd still redoing the film. so I ended up without worrying about the evolution and it worked. Now I move in stages, between each project and I am more efficient. For my last movie B.O.T., Any way I have no problem with the update of trueSpace!

there is no standard for screen with mobil phone, tablet, ... and we don't know what about the futur. Maybe in 2 years html5 will replace the flash (i am almost sure of that), then html6 with stereo 3d, then... we must to work without thinking about this.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 19 Aug 2010, 22:17

Good advice Marcel, which is why I am doing Doris in chapters, with this being the prologue. I figured most kids would get bored with the back story of a little old lady leading a very mundane life no matter how much humour I inject. So, I thought a teaser set in the future would feed their spaceship/sci-fi needs while they wait for the rest. This way I can make a chapter at a time i.e. it buys me time rather than waiting for a finished book...

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 19 Aug 2010, 23:04

what is interesting is to see the evolution of a long project and see the change between each part. to see the quality better in the last part, the idea more interesting, the style changing, etc...
I think it is better than to have the same render for all part. it is not a movie. it is as a collection of comic book with the style of an artist who change with the time. And the whole project is really better like this. Maybe it would be interesting to add the date of the creation in the page near the signature.

jamesmc · Post by **jamesmc** » 20 Aug 2010, 00:06

The was one of the slides that had white text on the white background.

Couldn't read it - may just be my cataracts, but hard to read from my end. Might want to give that white text a bumper of some kind when it is over white background.

Finis · Post by **Finis** » 20 Aug 2010, 01:58

I like it. Great style, good story telling, good presentation of the surprise (well not for us but ...) that the character is an old lady, and good suspense to keep interest about what comes next. Good use of Flash. Not too much like some Flash things but just what helps the story.

One part says, "The figure walked towards to edge of the road ...".

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 20 Aug 2010, 10:24

Cheers guys. Text changed and moved to make it easier to read. Spelling errors corrected. Just need to change one more image before I publish it...then that just leaves Limbo and Bob n Blob to get up and running.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 21 Aug 2010, 00:20

Changed that annoying shot...I much prefer this one:

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 28 Dec 2010, 23:24

About time I posted some new stuff here. Book is coming along nicely although I have been tied up getting the iBook thing up and running.
This is a concept for Doris' future home...and yes, the sky is meant to look like that.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 29 Dec 2010, 16:07

One more for good measure...

marcel · Post by **marcel** » 29 Dec 2010, 18:09

i like this town. The "rocket house" reminds me of those old water tank on the roof of building in New York. What is the wireframe on the sky? Is it a kind of geode over the city? i see Doris have the Internet by satellite.

just an idea: Doris at home could see another world on his iPad (more funny than the original). It would be nice to see a storie insisde the storie. A kind of advertising for other worlds inside a world.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 29 Dec 2010, 19:07

Good idea Marcel but I fear I will be the same age as Doris before I get this completed even with the story I have in mind.
As for the wire...well the earth if the future is all but wiped out as in the prologue. The only way Doris will see a blue sky again is when it is projected on the huge clear domes that protect the few remaining cities....

bitkar · Post by **bitkar** » 29 Dec 2010, 21:42

i love your work

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 29 Dec 2010, 22:44

Thank you...

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 31 May 2011, 15:47

So sorry for not being around these parts lately. Had lots to do elsewhere.....

Hardly touched this story except for a few sketches and fleshing out the story a bit. Will have some free time soon so hopefully it will pick up a bit.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 18:14

Wow...nearly a year sice I posted on this. The book (or first part of it) is almost done now but illustrations are taking some time and I am always tweaking the pages. Here are a few:

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 18:17

A few more. I have decided the book will have to be more of a 'background' story with her adventures in space to follow as it is already looking to be about 60 pages which is a lot for a childrens illustrated book. Still, this is aimed at the slightly older reader.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 18:19

Posting WIP's keeps me active and on track....

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 05 Jan 2012, 18:27

Looks great! I'm still baffled on the story line (as I'm looking at the pages randomly, lol!) but it looks great! =) keep it up! I'll be following this thread =)

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 18:35

Draise wrote:Looks great! I'm still baffled on the story line (as I'm looking at the pages randomly, lol!) but it looks great! =) keep it up! I'll be following this thread =)

Well, without giving too much away...Doris is an old age pensioner; pretty much a forgotten generation nowadays in the UK. She lives alone and leads a pretty ordinary (boring) and insignificant life. Basicaly no one really cares about her. She get a job (you'll have to guess where) and her obsession with cleaning causes her to get into trouble...and a rocket.
It doesn't end well. She doesn't come back...well, not for a while anyway...

But where she ends up...well, lets just say she is no longer forgotten or insigificant. That is the simple moral in the story. And who doesn't love spaceships.

Draise · Post by **Draise** » 05 Jan 2012, 20:39

Sounds like a very poetic story. =)

Good work on the book so far! =)

Steinie · Post by **Steinie** » 05 Jan 2012, 22:40

Artwork has come up a notch I see!
Great to have you back Paul.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 23:04

Steinie wrote:Artwork has come up a notch I see!
Great to have you back Paul.

Just a notch?

Thanks Steinie...its been a while...

jeffroig · Post by **jeffroig** » 05 Jan 2012, 23:17

Great work you have going there as always.
If at some time you should decide you want take one of your books and turn it into a animated short let me know.
I have the render farm and would love to work with you on a project.

splinters · Post by **splinters** » 05 Jan 2012, 23:39

Alas that would be far too much work. My models are created with stills in mind; often just different parts posed to look complete. There would be a lot of work just to create the base models and sets.
I would love to but simply would not be able to commit to that level of work. Shame though and a very generous offer which I really appreciate.

v3rd3 · Post by **v3rd3** » 06 Jan 2012, 00:13

Go splinters go..... that is awesome work.

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