Federation Commander

Okay, I know it's not starship art, maybe it should go in the Prime Directive forum. I'll let the mods decide. Anyway, everyone's doing starships so I thought I'd have a crack at an alien instead. So, here's a Hydran from Prime Directive.



Done in Maya and ZBrush. I've still got a lot to learn about materials and lighting in ZBrush but it's been a fun learning experience.

Crow

Nice job Scarecrow... awesome looking Hydran you got there.

OK... this is a definite sign that the world will end soon, but I like that image, too.
You did a great job capturing the likemess of a Hydran.
Too bad you didn't use a 3D program that could be used to print a 3D model.
Shapeways.com has a storefront where you can upload 3D designs and any interested parties can purchase however many of them they'd like.

you set the price and shapeways gets a cut for printign the miniatures.

I'd buy several of those - just to have to throw when my Hydran opponent is winning.

And, in the case of the Hydrans, I'd even give permission.

On the contrary, ZBrush will output an OBJ which, if not suitable for 3D printing, it would be a simple matter to convert into something that was. I have a feeling, looking at some of their latest minis, it's what Games Workshop use.
That said, it's not something that ever crossed my mind and the mesh hasn't be designed for it. I believe for 3D printing, the mesh has to be a single, airtight piece. This is multiple pieces and riddled with holes.
Might be worth a mess about with, though. I've always wanted to get something printed in 3D and I'm itching to have a go at a Seltorian too...
Obviously, anything I did would go through all the proper channels first.

Crow

Rhino CAD/CAM (USD 995) can take .obj and convert to .STL and even has a test procedure to make such conversions "watertight".

ZBrush is able to output to STL and there are STL exporters for Maya and also a couple of free obj to STL converters online. So creating an STL wouldn't be a problem. The model would, however need to be built from scratch as a single piece. That said, ZBrush's new Dynamesh feature will weld and retopologise meshes so it might be doable with that.
Well, as I say, making miniatures wasn't really what I had in mind, so we'll see.

Crow

After posting I decided that I really wasn't happy with the skin material and then went off and discovered the joys of MatCaps. So I've had another crack at it. I'm much happier with this one.
I've updated the image above

Enjoy,

Crow

Wow that is REALLY something, as in, something people would pay money for, if it was printable.