My next 3D project is modeling (and basic animation) of a butler robot. Those of you who have seen the Futurama episode “Obseletely Fabulous” will recognize the inspiration for this project in Robot 1-X. I also have put up a simple animation (also a smaller, non-Quicktime 7 version) of him flying around. It’s particularly fun because of the cloth effect on the tail of his tailsuit (probably the easiest part of the whole project, but one of the most fun). I think next I need to build a proper Victorian-style (but futuristic enough for a robot) entry-hall for him to futz about in.

A two years ago I made the Flaming Spinning Caliper as a joke for my boss at work. It was an entertaining project, and well recieved. It even becam the basis for our “Powered by Interns” logo that found its way onto everything we could get it on since its creation. I have now, however, decided to revisit the idea only with much more skill and much better software. To that end I give you the new face of Vernier’s interns:

For the quicktime impaired there is also an animated gif. I have plans to expand upon this idea (GOB’s theme song from Arrested Development is just begging to be laid behind something errupting in

I’m starting to get the hang of Lightwave now; it’s fun to get back into 3D work. My project for the last couple evenings has been to make a 3D reproduction of my hat (it’s relatively easy, close, and well I just like it). So far it is going pretty well. I still have to add some detail and the logo on the front, but it looks much better than I thought it would. It is simply amazing what a top-quality rendering engine can do with a decent model. The thing that makes it look so much better than my previous forays into 3D years ago is that this engine has “Radiosity” that is

Along with my new computer I also got a copy of LightWave, a 3D modeling program, in order to get back in to the world of 3D graphics. My endeavours with it have as of yet been limited. I have created such masterpieces as bushy man and this, slighly more interesting, new desktop picture for my computer. You will no doubt hear much more about this as it progresses (along with the occasional picture). I am, however, greatly enjoying making pretty (or not so pretty) pictures again.