Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
A place to discuss, share, and create stop motion films.
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Thanks for the advice, Piet. It was actually a backdrop for a film (which turned out so terrible that I will never again mention the name *shudder*). There is a bit of DOF, though it's not too visible. The shot is in the early hours of the day, so there aren't any minifigs around yet (except for the main character, who was composited in later).
As the whole world of CGI and its endless possibilites are pretty much incomprehensible to me for now, I have to ask you one question:
how do I get started?
Are there certain books I should read, or videos to watch, or whatever? Just opening a program and trying to accomplish something seems a bit ineffective to me... I want to understand CGI.
Thanks!
Just opening a program and trying to accomplish something seems a bit ineffective to me... I want to understand CGI.
Surprisingly, that's how I did it. I opened up the program and started playing around with it. Can't drive a car if all you did was study the car manual. But I did eventually had to educate myself on CGI (programming-wise). It worked for me, getting familiar with the tool before learning the principles of it. But if it's not your thing, plenty of video tutorials online. Problem is, most are software-specific, but you can get the general gist of it from them.
My suggestion would be to start at the core of computer animation: Math. Lots of math goes into computer animation, from creating cubes and spheres to calculating the path of thousands of rain drop particles as they collide with the floor and objects in your scene. Obviously, as artist, you don't need to go in depth on the implementation, but at least have an understanding of what's going on when you sculpt your model or rig it for animation, specifically Cartesian coordinate system, Euler angles, matrix, vectors, etc. If you know your calculus, computer animation won't seem as hard.
Simplest solution would be to take a course in computer animation or check out books on computer animation from your local library.
Starter tip: The models you see in your typical 3D animated movie is made up of points called vertices. These vertices are connected together by line segments called polylines. The polylines together form polygons that make up the surface of the model that you see.
how do i Import a Lego model in to Blender?
thank you.
A WIP of our upcoming intro. It's actually not what you think it is.
Last edited by Juggernaut Pictures (April 12, 2011 (02:52pm))
Just edited the first post and added links. Also, those buildings are looking pretty darn good Juggernaut. The lighting of the windows on the left building is especially cool. Can't wait to the final result. 
I know most of you don't use Inventor at all, but it is CGI and I felt like showing you just how annoying it is to make the right atrium of the human heart, just to find out that one of the many sketches you drew wants to glitch on you. >:C
Maybe you should try a different program. From what I see, it looks exteremely difficult and different then most other 3D software (Blender, Maya, Carrara, etc.).
I have to use this program in order to actually create the product using the 3D printer at my school. :C
Almost done!
Hey! How did you put th water in there?
I have to use this program in order to actually create the product using the 3D printer at my school. :C
Mebbe you could create the model in Blender or another 3D program, and then export the file and import it into the program you're using right now (Inventor?)
Hey! How did you put th water in there?
The water is just a CG plane with a lot of textures and modifiers.
I use Autodesk at school and it's amazing! It's really easy to use. On another CGI related note 'I just got Blender'! Now I gotta find out how it works.
Alright, I'm officially posting this:
But HOW do the RINGS stay attached, hmm?
Magnets.
Magic. And Magnets.
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