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Lurking as I am want to do
Posted 7 years agoYou might have noticed that it's been a while since I've updated my journals... well... anywhere. I have been, and still am, in lurk mode. I am just really bad at the whole social media thing. I admit this. And I am slow doing art. Health and RL do not help the matter. But I am still here! Just... lurking.
So where can you find me?
I am most active on Patreon, for obvious reasons. Been working on my animation short there that only Patrons can see.
After that, it's on DeviantART, because I like their tools for viewing my art que for all the people I watch.
FurAffinity is somewhat abandoned because my shame of getting my watch que too large. Trying to clear it out is like pulling teeth. But so much good art, I can't just flush it....
I do post semi-regularly on Facebook, but I tend to get a little political there so If you don't like/wanna see me railing about politics, it's best one avoids that space.
I have Twitter, but have no time for Twitter. It's mostly just an auto-feed from the SM-EW website. But if you wanna know what's going live for sale on SM-EW, that feed is probably your best bet.
and of course the SmudgeMarks & EngelWerks website itself, which I REALLY need to update more often.
There's all the places you might be able to fine me... when I am not nose to the grindstone. And lurking.
Speaking of which, back to lurking for me...
... lurk...
... lurk....
So where can you find me?
I am most active on Patreon, for obvious reasons. Been working on my animation short there that only Patrons can see.
After that, it's on DeviantART, because I like their tools for viewing my art que for all the people I watch.
FurAffinity is somewhat abandoned because my shame of getting my watch que too large. Trying to clear it out is like pulling teeth. But so much good art, I can't just flush it....
I do post semi-regularly on Facebook, but I tend to get a little political there so If you don't like/wanna see me railing about politics, it's best one avoids that space.
I have Twitter, but have no time for Twitter. It's mostly just an auto-feed from the SM-EW website. But if you wanna know what's going live for sale on SM-EW, that feed is probably your best bet.
and of course the SmudgeMarks & EngelWerks website itself, which I REALLY need to update more often.
There's all the places you might be able to fine me... when I am not nose to the grindstone. And lurking.
Speaking of which, back to lurking for me...
... lurk...
... lurk....
And again, no stream tonight.
Posted 7 years agoUgh - Baron is suddenly not feeling well. So I'm gonna call my stream off tonight. Without Baron, my stream is dull. Will try again in 2 weeks. Sorry guys. T-T
ZOMG! I might acutally stream tonight!
Posted 8 years agoWill try and stream tonight. Will stat at 6pm PST.
picarto.tv/SmudgeDragon
Will be continuing to work on the Princess Tutu piece. Wanna get that wrapped up before starting something new. Also thinking about doing a couple of sketches beforehand to warm up with. See you all there!
picarto.tv/SmudgeDragon
picarto.tv/SmudgeDragon
Will be continuing to work on the Princess Tutu piece. Wanna get that wrapped up before starting something new. Also thinking about doing a couple of sketches beforehand to warm up with. See you all there!
picarto.tv/SmudgeDragon
And again, no stream tonight.
Posted 8 years agoStill under the weather. I am feeling better, but am running on very low energy and my throat is not up for extended use via chatting. Will try again in another 2 weeks.
Sorry no stream tonight
Posted 8 years agoStill sick with this sinus infection. My yearly curse. While I am, slowly, feeling better, my windpipe is still a gravel pit. So, no art stream tonight. Will try and aim for 2 weeks from now: Jan. 12th.
Until then, you all have an awesome new year!
Until then, you all have an awesome new year!
Lumeria's Hive Prose on Patreon
Posted 8 years agoHey all -
Just wanted to give you a heads up on a new project I'm working on inside of Patreon, Lumeria's Hive.
Lumeria's fate was sealed at the age of ten when her and her brothers were kidnapped by a hive of monsters. Now, long after their rescue, they are all discovering that those monsters did more than just take them from their homes. Visions of past and future collide as Lumeria desperately tries to change her fate into the destiny of an Empire.
I'm currently in the design phase as well as busily shaping up the first draft of this prose story. Whether the final remains in prose is another matter yet to be seen. But this is the fastest way, and easiest on my hand, to get the plot out of my head and onto paper. I'm also sketching out different character designs so I know what folks look and act like.
I'll be releasing the prose in scene chunks, serially, only to Patreon and SmudgeMarks & EngelWerks for Patrons/Subscribers. It's a first draft, it needs to stay locked until it's in shape to find a publisher. I will also be releasing the character designs to DeviantArt a month afterwards. Why not release to FurAffinity as well? Because they have no way of scheduling posts, at this time. And I'm not holding my breath for them to add it.
So wanna come along and follow what I'm working on as I write/draw it? Become my Patron on Patreon for a dollar a month!
And constructive comments and critiques are always welcomed!
Just wanted to give you a heads up on a new project I'm working on inside of Patreon, Lumeria's Hive.
Lumeria's fate was sealed at the age of ten when her and her brothers were kidnapped by a hive of monsters. Now, long after their rescue, they are all discovering that those monsters did more than just take them from their homes. Visions of past and future collide as Lumeria desperately tries to change her fate into the destiny of an Empire.
I'm currently in the design phase as well as busily shaping up the first draft of this prose story. Whether the final remains in prose is another matter yet to be seen. But this is the fastest way, and easiest on my hand, to get the plot out of my head and onto paper. I'm also sketching out different character designs so I know what folks look and act like.
I'll be releasing the prose in scene chunks, serially, only to Patreon and SmudgeMarks & EngelWerks for Patrons/Subscribers. It's a first draft, it needs to stay locked until it's in shape to find a publisher. I will also be releasing the character designs to DeviantArt a month afterwards. Why not release to FurAffinity as well? Because they have no way of scheduling posts, at this time. And I'm not holding my breath for them to add it.
So wanna come along and follow what I'm working on as I write/draw it? Become my Patron on Patreon for a dollar a month!
And constructive comments and critiques are always welcomed!
Rebuilt my studio setup - again
Posted 8 years agoJust spent the weekend tearing down and rebuilding my studio space. Still got a longs ways to go for organization but it's in MUCH better shape already.
For starters (and this is what sparked the whole thing off), I finally had saved enough money for a true, motorized sit-to-stand desk. Been lusting after one of these for ages. But I have been diligent with my money and finally had saved enough to get one, with a nice birch top.
Since James and I were ripping out the area anyways, one of the things on the 'To Do' list was to reorg all the mating snakes, er, loose cables behind the area. Getting all that off the floor means it's now easier to clean/vacuum. And we now have easy access to the heater knob. And no cables are touch the heat-strip anymore, so we can use it in the winter, instead of trying to pump heat in from the front of the house.
We also got a very small UPS for the internet/cable modem/switch so that if power goes out, as long as the machines are still going, due to their own UPS's, we can still reach the outside world. This is super important for Dave, since he's constantly doing file transfers for his job. Him going down in the middle of a transfer has proven disastrous in the past. Now, we can nip that problem in the bud.
Still have lots of desk arranging to do, but the bulk of the heavy lifting is done. All and all, a good weekend well spent, I say.
For starters (and this is what sparked the whole thing off), I finally had saved enough money for a true, motorized sit-to-stand desk. Been lusting after one of these for ages. But I have been diligent with my money and finally had saved enough to get one, with a nice birch top.
Since James and I were ripping out the area anyways, one of the things on the 'To Do' list was to reorg all the mating snakes, er, loose cables behind the area. Getting all that off the floor means it's now easier to clean/vacuum. And we now have easy access to the heater knob. And no cables are touch the heat-strip anymore, so we can use it in the winter, instead of trying to pump heat in from the front of the house.
We also got a very small UPS for the internet/cable modem/switch so that if power goes out, as long as the machines are still going, due to their own UPS's, we can still reach the outside world. This is super important for Dave, since he's constantly doing file transfers for his job. Him going down in the middle of a transfer has proven disastrous in the past. Now, we can nip that problem in the bud.
Still have lots of desk arranging to do, but the bulk of the heavy lifting is done. All and all, a good weekend well spent, I say.
Free Comic Book Day Signing
Posted 8 years agoJust a heads up! I'm going to be at WowCool Comix in Cupternio CA for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 6th, from 3pm till closing.
It's a small, hidden little shop filled with awesome Indy and Alternative press titles! If you're interested in coming out for FREE Comic books, I'll happy provide directions as this place is HIDDEN!
Did I mention this place is hidden? More than Eric's Deli Cafes*? Seriously, it is!
*Eric's Deli Cafes, harder to find than the Janet Reno Swimsuit Calendar! At least according to some of their old radio adds. ^.~
It's a small, hidden little shop filled with awesome Indy and Alternative press titles! If you're interested in coming out for FREE Comic books, I'll happy provide directions as this place is HIDDEN!
Did I mention this place is hidden? More than Eric's Deli Cafes*? Seriously, it is!
*Eric's Deli Cafes, harder to find than the Janet Reno Swimsuit Calendar! At least according to some of their old radio adds. ^.~
Beyond frustrated with medical
Posted 8 years agoSorry upfront for the rant. Feel free to skip.
Just spent the day at the walk-in clinic due to severe head pressure and stabby face pains. Typically, this is a hard indication of sinus infection. But, according tot he doctor and the X-Rays, I have no infection. Just regular allergies. Allergies that make my face feel like it's infected. Again.
One thing that came out of this is he was able to write me a prescription for QNasl that I could hand to the pharmacist. This is actually a big deal. And an expensive one.
I have been asking for this particular med for over 2 years now. And my currently assigned allergist keeps writing prescriptions, sending them off to insurance, insurance refuses to pay because there is no generic version, and the Doctor doesn't followup to force the matter with the insurance. The Insurance company then does NOT hand the prescription over to the pharmacist to give me the option of self-paying. Yet it's only the QNasl that really works for me. I have tried other nasal sprays and while they open me up just enough to be able to breath, they don't help get back deep into my sinus to open them up too. Thus I get a slowly building pressure in my head that never clears until I have to drive my self, crying in pain, to the Urgent Care Doc-in-a-Box.
So now I have 1 prescription filled, with one re-fill on file. At the low self-pay price of... $260.00. I have an appointment with my old, far more awesome allergist office on Friday to see if I can get my Sudafed refilled, something my assigned allergist won't write.
This means I can kiss that Cintuq I've been trying to save for goodbye. I'd rather breath and be without pain in the long-run. At least now, working as Baron's office assistant, I have a trickle of income that can support this. Something I didn't have 2 years ago.
C'est la vie.
Just spent the day at the walk-in clinic due to severe head pressure and stabby face pains. Typically, this is a hard indication of sinus infection. But, according tot he doctor and the X-Rays, I have no infection. Just regular allergies. Allergies that make my face feel like it's infected. Again.
One thing that came out of this is he was able to write me a prescription for QNasl that I could hand to the pharmacist. This is actually a big deal. And an expensive one.
I have been asking for this particular med for over 2 years now. And my currently assigned allergist keeps writing prescriptions, sending them off to insurance, insurance refuses to pay because there is no generic version, and the Doctor doesn't followup to force the matter with the insurance. The Insurance company then does NOT hand the prescription over to the pharmacist to give me the option of self-paying. Yet it's only the QNasl that really works for me. I have tried other nasal sprays and while they open me up just enough to be able to breath, they don't help get back deep into my sinus to open them up too. Thus I get a slowly building pressure in my head that never clears until I have to drive my self, crying in pain, to the Urgent Care Doc-in-a-Box.
So now I have 1 prescription filled, with one re-fill on file. At the low self-pay price of... $260.00. I have an appointment with my old, far more awesome allergist office on Friday to see if I can get my Sudafed refilled, something my assigned allergist won't write.
This means I can kiss that Cintuq I've been trying to save for goodbye. I'd rather breath and be without pain in the long-run. At least now, working as Baron's office assistant, I have a trickle of income that can support this. Something I didn't have 2 years ago.
C'est la vie.
Yay! the Hummers are back!
Posted 8 years agoThe backyard was full of chirps and humms today while I was out gardening. Even got dive-bombed once. ^.^
Bigger post on the garden tomorrow. Kind of wiped out from all the new plantings.
Bigger post on the garden tomorrow. Kind of wiped out from all the new plantings.
Hummingbirds are bastards
Posted 8 years agoJust for the record, Hummingbirds are little, finicky bastards.
Was suppose to be programming all day, but ended up driving all over town looking for hummingbird food.
Seriously.
All afternoon.
We've had a hummingbird feeder for a year now, and all winter these Anna's Hummingbirds would fight over it like it was their only source of ambrosia. Baron and I have gotten much amusement outta this. All day long, our tiny strip of a backyard was filled with dive-bombing hums and snarky squeaks of "get out of my space" ever time we stepped outdoors. They would follow us around constantly.
For the past 2 weeks, the backyard's been silent.
Why?
Because the store was out of the nectar we'd typically get them, and when I bought a competing brand, they would not touch it. Not a drop. Well, the store apparently does not carry that brand anymore. So I had to go hunting. After much internet searching and driving, I finally found a pet food store that had three bottles on the shelf. They are all mine now. Hopefully, when those run out that store will continue to stock it.
Fingers crossed.
I miss those greedy little bastards.
Was suppose to be programming all day, but ended up driving all over town looking for hummingbird food.
Seriously.
All afternoon.
We've had a hummingbird feeder for a year now, and all winter these Anna's Hummingbirds would fight over it like it was their only source of ambrosia. Baron and I have gotten much amusement outta this. All day long, our tiny strip of a backyard was filled with dive-bombing hums and snarky squeaks of "get out of my space" ever time we stepped outdoors. They would follow us around constantly.
For the past 2 weeks, the backyard's been silent.
Why?
Because the store was out of the nectar we'd typically get them, and when I bought a competing brand, they would not touch it. Not a drop. Well, the store apparently does not carry that brand anymore. So I had to go hunting. After much internet searching and driving, I finally found a pet food store that had three bottles on the shelf. They are all mine now. Hopefully, when those run out that store will continue to stock it.
Fingers crossed.
I miss those greedy little bastards.
New Tiers for my Patreon!
Posted 8 years agoHey all -
Just wanted to let you know, I've been going in and tweaking my Patreon and added new tier levels. My Patreon is mostly WIPs, and sometimes early access to work, including my current 3D animation project, Online Questing, which is moving along.
My new tiers are as follows:
Sneak Peak
$1 or more per month
Right now, you get exclusive access to all development work. Enjoy!
Early Access/Publication Discount
$5 or more per month
Get early access to the end results of all this hard work!
Get Early Access to videos/comics/books for downloading
Get 10% discounts on completed publications of videos/comics/books created with this Patreon
Plus all previous rewards
You Name in Lights!
$10 or more per month
As a patron, you'll be recognized for making my work possible.
Credits on an upcoming video/publication
Plus all previous rewards
Digital Sketches by Smudge
$50 or more per month ∙ (limit 4)
You can request a digital sketch by ME!
One Character
Must be rated PG-13 or less
Black and White (with occasional gray-scale)
Can only combine with 1 previous month's to have second character.
I reserve the right to decline a sketch idea (but your welcome to suggest a different one if declined)
Most of my posting have been there. I'll still post to DA, FA, SM-EW.com and DreamWidth for completed work, so no worries that I'm dispersing from these sites.
Just wanted to let you know, I've been going in and tweaking my Patreon and added new tier levels. My Patreon is mostly WIPs, and sometimes early access to work, including my current 3D animation project, Online Questing, which is moving along.
My new tiers are as follows:
Sneak Peak
$1 or more per month
Right now, you get exclusive access to all development work. Enjoy!
Early Access/Publication Discount
$5 or more per month
Get early access to the end results of all this hard work!
Get Early Access to videos/comics/books for downloading
Get 10% discounts on completed publications of videos/comics/books created with this Patreon
Plus all previous rewards
You Name in Lights!
$10 or more per month
As a patron, you'll be recognized for making my work possible.
Credits on an upcoming video/publication
Plus all previous rewards
Digital Sketches by Smudge
$50 or more per month ∙ (limit 4)
You can request a digital sketch by ME!
One Character
Must be rated PG-13 or less
Black and White (with occasional gray-scale)
Can only combine with 1 previous month's to have second character.
I reserve the right to decline a sketch idea (but your welcome to suggest a different one if declined)
Most of my posting have been there. I'll still post to DA, FA, SM-EW.com and DreamWidth for completed work, so no worries that I'm dispersing from these sites.
Back from illness
Posted 8 years agoThank you for sticking it out while I've been convalescing. Being sick for two weeks solid has been no fun. Still not truly over it but I'm well enough to try and resume at least some work.
To be honest, it's been really hard to get outta bed with the US in the knots it's been in. Watching as good friends, neighbors, and colleagues suddenly get thrown onto political chopping blocks for things that should be protected under the constitution, is more than a little disheartening. I pray things work out for the right and soon, and I know good folks like the ACLU (to name one) are on the job. I just hope they can act quickly enough before irreparable damage is done.
Unfortunately, during my convalescence, my subscription for Maya LT bounced. This means that I can't work on E'ara for a while. Doesn't mean I won't be working on the short thou. I still have boards to clean up. So I'll probably concentrate on that instead.
Another thing I have been working on is slowly updating the Radio Comix Site for Elin as a B-Day gift to her. I'm about 1/2 way done with that project. I am currently making the site is Mobile/Tablet friendly, and will be updating the front page last to be less bloggy and more "This is who we are and what we do" with the added advantage that the site doesn't have to be poke often on our end while keeping good info up for others.
Between all this, my commission docket is mighty empty. If you want a commission by me, now's the time to speak up!
I think that's it for news from me. Will hopefully have something visual to post later this week.
Peace.
To be honest, it's been really hard to get outta bed with the US in the knots it's been in. Watching as good friends, neighbors, and colleagues suddenly get thrown onto political chopping blocks for things that should be protected under the constitution, is more than a little disheartening. I pray things work out for the right and soon, and I know good folks like the ACLU (to name one) are on the job. I just hope they can act quickly enough before irreparable damage is done.
Unfortunately, during my convalescence, my subscription for Maya LT bounced. This means that I can't work on E'ara for a while. Doesn't mean I won't be working on the short thou. I still have boards to clean up. So I'll probably concentrate on that instead.
Another thing I have been working on is slowly updating the Radio Comix Site for Elin as a B-Day gift to her. I'm about 1/2 way done with that project. I am currently making the site is Mobile/Tablet friendly, and will be updating the front page last to be less bloggy and more "This is who we are and what we do" with the added advantage that the site doesn't have to be poke often on our end while keeping good info up for others.
Between all this, my commission docket is mighty empty. If you want a commission by me, now's the time to speak up!
I think that's it for news from me. Will hopefully have something visual to post later this week.
Peace.
FC info for me
Posted 9 years agoWill probably get a one day badge for FC on Saturday, since the dealer's room is no longer inside the hotel itself. Will not have a table nor will be in the art-show again this year.
If anyone wants to get together outside of con, give me a heads up. I am local (and feeling pretty well) so I can make arrangements.
If your going and for some reason we don't bump heads, you have a good time!
If anyone wants to get together outside of con, give me a heads up. I am local (and feeling pretty well) so I can make arrangements.
If your going and for some reason we don't bump heads, you have a good time!
I'm now over on Dreamwidth
Posted 9 years agoAny folks who've followed me for sometime know that I also keep a Live Journal. It's a little on the quite side, and more for blogging type purposes.
But, alas, no more. I'm moving over to Dreamwidth as of today.
smudgedragon on Dreamwidth.
Come follow me there is you wish. Art posts at DA and FA will not change. Will still post art here, assuming I have art to post. ^.^
But, alas, no more. I'm moving over to Dreamwidth as of today.
smudgedragon on Dreamwidth.
Come follow me there is you wish. Art posts at DA and FA will not change. Will still post art here, assuming I have art to post. ^.^
Going quite for a month
Posted 9 years agoHello all - sorry I haven't been posting as much as I'd like over the past 2 weeks. Been busy doing lots business of stuff, that, alas does not include art. It was really important stuff thou, taxes, accounting, moving boxes, making sure Baron keeps focus on his drawing desk, and toss a couple of doctor appointments in the middle of all that.
However, I just landed a job doing illustration work for the next month that is going to eat all my waking time. Can't really talk about it beyond that due to NDA's. I'm really excited for this opportunity so I'm grabbing with both hands. I might not feel the same near the end of it, but hey, that's future Smudge's problem. ^.~
Needless to say, commissions are now closed. If you have an outstanding commission, fear not, my new, hectic schedule takes your work into account.
So until the new project's done, I leave you with an elephant. She's large, in your room, and will not be ignored. Actually, she's my character I'm going to be running in a friend's D & D campaign, which, now that I'm thinking about I might not be able to make the first few sessions. Doh!
Elephant in Lorica Segmentata
However, I just landed a job doing illustration work for the next month that is going to eat all my waking time. Can't really talk about it beyond that due to NDA's. I'm really excited for this opportunity so I'm grabbing with both hands. I might not feel the same near the end of it, but hey, that's future Smudge's problem. ^.~
Needless to say, commissions are now closed. If you have an outstanding commission, fear not, my new, hectic schedule takes your work into account.
So until the new project's done, I leave you with an elephant. She's large, in your room, and will not be ignored. Actually, she's my character I'm going to be running in a friend's D & D campaign, which, now that I'm thinking about I might not be able to make the first few sessions. Doh!
Elephant in Lorica Segmentata
3D continues - Commission slots OPEN!
Posted 9 years agoYou know, I use to find this easy. But as the technology has advanced it has acutally become more and more obtruse to the point of unworkable.
Case in point. Maya LT on Steam did another major update, breaking my model as I was just getting it finalized. Because it's subscription, I have noway to tell it not to update, and no way to revert. At least Adobe got that right with thier cloud model.
I've cleaned up the corrupted data as best as I could, and exported it out to Unreal only to find that the FBX exporter is dropping REALLY IMPORTANT sections of my model.
Yeah - I think I'm gonna take some time off and open my commission docket this week. I ment to do it last week, but I was so close to getting to stick a fork in this thing that I just plowwed though instead. But this... I don't know if I can recover from this.
So, I'm having a nasty round of medical hit money wise. Nothing life threatening but stuff that adds up quickly. New glassess after my old ones broke at a really inconvenit time, me hurting my back over the weekend, and dental coming up fast after loosing peices of fillings on two teeth, means lots of outta poket.
To help offest costs, I'm opening up 4 commission slots to start with.
$40.00 gets you a single character sketch either Traditional or Digital,
$60.00 for inks Traditional or Digital,
$100.00 color Digital Only,
$150.00+ for Traditional Watercolor.
All work will be 8 1/2" x 11" in size. PG 13 max subject matter. I reserve the rights to refuse any subject for any reason.
Drop me a note on FA or DA or use this contact form here, and we'll see what we can do.
Case in point. Maya LT on Steam did another major update, breaking my model as I was just getting it finalized. Because it's subscription, I have noway to tell it not to update, and no way to revert. At least Adobe got that right with thier cloud model.
I've cleaned up the corrupted data as best as I could, and exported it out to Unreal only to find that the FBX exporter is dropping REALLY IMPORTANT sections of my model.
Yeah - I think I'm gonna take some time off and open my commission docket this week. I ment to do it last week, but I was so close to getting to stick a fork in this thing that I just plowwed though instead. But this... I don't know if I can recover from this.
So, I'm having a nasty round of medical hit money wise. Nothing life threatening but stuff that adds up quickly. New glassess after my old ones broke at a really inconvenit time, me hurting my back over the weekend, and dental coming up fast after loosing peices of fillings on two teeth, means lots of outta poket.
To help offest costs, I'm opening up 4 commission slots to start with.
$40.00 gets you a single character sketch either Traditional or Digital,
$60.00 for inks Traditional or Digital,
$100.00 color Digital Only,
$150.00+ for Traditional Watercolor.
All work will be 8 1/2" x 11" in size. PG 13 max subject matter. I reserve the rights to refuse any subject for any reason.
Drop me a note on FA or DA or use this contact form here, and we'll see what we can do.
Still working on 3D
Posted 9 years agoSo, yeah - no answers forthcoming to my tech issues. Still plowing away at it though.
What is this project I'm working on? It's suppose to be a short 30sec animation celebrating my love for MMORPGs. 3 character models and a couple basic environments. Should only take, what? a couple of months, right?
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Anyways - this project is eating my life, but is slowly inching along. I am still on my first model, but she's probably the best thing I have ever built in 3D. I am learning and relearning a heck of a lot, all over again. Like a really determined tortoise, I am trudging along, boldly going forward, despite the bumps in the road.
Wanna see what I'm working on? I post my weekly update on Patreon! ^.^
What is this project I'm working on? It's suppose to be a short 30sec animation celebrating my love for MMORPGs. 3 character models and a couple basic environments. Should only take, what? a couple of months, right?
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!
Anyways - this project is eating my life, but is slowly inching along. I am still on my first model, but she's probably the best thing I have ever built in 3D. I am learning and relearning a heck of a lot, all over again. Like a really determined tortoise, I am trudging along, boldly going forward, despite the bumps in the road.
Wanna see what I'm working on? I post my weekly update on Patreon! ^.^
Asking for help from my techie friends MayaLT/PhysX/Win7
Posted 9 years agoHelp - I think I'm in real trouble here with my current project and I need some advice. I've posted this on a couple of boards with no answers forthcoming. If your not a techie with Win7 experience, you might wanna move along as this will go over most peoples heads pretty quickly.
Original Forum post:
--
Currently having a very frustration problem. While I can create a kinematic ragdoll, I cannot get Maya to display the collision objects for modification. This, of course leaves me blind for trying to fine tune my cloth simulations.
Yes, I have tried PhysX->Show/Hide->Show All Shapes along with just about every other display option toggle I can find, but with no results.
I will also note 2 things:
1: the locator also does not display (even though it is set to Visible)
2: I had trouble getting this to install correctly. The version number (the one listed here) is not my most recent install. I installed 3-3-4 in an attempt to see if updating would fix the issue before breaking down and posting here, but it does not seem to have acknowledged the newer version.
The only thing I can think of is to rip everything out (PhysX/Maya LT/Steam and all associated games) and start fresh, but am hoping someone might have an answer before I do something so drastic. Any insight would be welcomed!
--
I posted that last week on Nvidia's support forum (as well as Steam's Maya LT forum), with no replies. Today I posted this:
--
Update: Since I have gotten no possible answers here, I started ripping and reinstalling things to see if I could clean things up. Alas - I think I piled the problems higher and deeper instead.
As far as I can tell, part of the faulty install was due to an extremely old version of Maya also being on my system and the PhysX/APEX plugin partially installing there and not in the Maya LT Steam. Once I ripped that out (it was no longer being used since I have migrated onto the Maya LT subscription), and ripped and reinstalled Maya LT, PhysX/APEX will no longer install at all. If I try, it gives me a warning saying it can't install the plugin because the plugin must be installed first.
o.0
I can only assume that this odd error is being caused because the ancient version of Maya, that is no longer there, left something hidden deep in the system that I cannot clean out.
So I ask for help again. If anyone has any ideas on how to clean things up so that the plugin will install properly, I would dearly love to hear them.
Else I will have to go to my most feared, drastic measure... nuking and paving the OS. I really don't wanna do that if I don't have too.
--
So, yeah - I need to get back to this project asap. short of someone with greater skill than I going in and cleaning out the troublesome hidden code that I fear is buried deep in the registry, I am faced with 2 choices:
1. Nuke and Pave the Win7 OS in hopes that it removes the legacy stumbling block.
or
2. Screw PhysX and their cloth/collision system, bone and hand animate everything and just suck the fact that all animations are going to pop between states inside of Unreal.
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
Original Forum post:
--
Currently having a very frustration problem. While I can create a kinematic ragdoll, I cannot get Maya to display the collision objects for modification. This, of course leaves me blind for trying to fine tune my cloth simulations.
Yes, I have tried PhysX->Show/Hide->Show All Shapes along with just about every other display option toggle I can find, but with no results.
I will also note 2 things:
1: the locator also does not display (even though it is set to Visible)
2: I had trouble getting this to install correctly. The version number (the one listed here) is not my most recent install. I installed 3-3-4 in an attempt to see if updating would fix the issue before breaking down and posting here, but it does not seem to have acknowledged the newer version.
The only thing I can think of is to rip everything out (PhysX/Maya LT/Steam and all associated games) and start fresh, but am hoping someone might have an answer before I do something so drastic. Any insight would be welcomed!
--
I posted that last week on Nvidia's support forum (as well as Steam's Maya LT forum), with no replies. Today I posted this:
--
Update: Since I have gotten no possible answers here, I started ripping and reinstalling things to see if I could clean things up. Alas - I think I piled the problems higher and deeper instead.
As far as I can tell, part of the faulty install was due to an extremely old version of Maya also being on my system and the PhysX/APEX plugin partially installing there and not in the Maya LT Steam. Once I ripped that out (it was no longer being used since I have migrated onto the Maya LT subscription), and ripped and reinstalled Maya LT, PhysX/APEX will no longer install at all. If I try, it gives me a warning saying it can't install the plugin because the plugin must be installed first.
o.0
I can only assume that this odd error is being caused because the ancient version of Maya, that is no longer there, left something hidden deep in the system that I cannot clean out.
So I ask for help again. If anyone has any ideas on how to clean things up so that the plugin will install properly, I would dearly love to hear them.
Else I will have to go to my most feared, drastic measure... nuking and paving the OS. I really don't wanna do that if I don't have too.
--
So, yeah - I need to get back to this project asap. short of someone with greater skill than I going in and cleaning out the troublesome hidden code that I fear is buried deep in the registry, I am faced with 2 choices:
1. Nuke and Pave the Win7 OS in hopes that it removes the legacy stumbling block.
or
2. Screw PhysX and their cloth/collision system, bone and hand animate everything and just suck the fact that all animations are going to pop between states inside of Unreal.
Any help at all would be greatly appreciated.
New Patreon pleadge settings!
Posted 9 years agoBeen talking about it for a while and finally decided to do it. I've changed my Patreon setting from per piece to monthly. One dollar a month gets you a back door peek to what I'm currently working on. I've been really good about updating at least once a week.
So what am I currently working on?
I have been head down and nose deep in Maya LT trying to set up for a 30 second animation. I originally planned this to be a two month project but am now on week fifteen and still on the first of three models. Yikes! I'm learning a lot and not only refamiliarizing myself with old, mad, 3D skills, but learning new ones.
Come join me for the ride. ^.^
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smudge
So what am I currently working on?
I have been head down and nose deep in Maya LT trying to set up for a 30 second animation. I originally planned this to be a two month project but am now on week fifteen and still on the first of three models. Yikes! I'm learning a lot and not only refamiliarizing myself with old, mad, 3D skills, but learning new ones.
Come join me for the ride. ^.^
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/smudge
1 day left to bid on Artwork on eBay
Posted 9 years agoJust a quick reminder to those thinking about trying to grab one of the drawings I did on Baron's Picato Stream a week a go: This is the last day to place your bids. Good luck to you and I hope you get the piece your wanting. ^.^
Draft Horse
Arhun
Tuppies the Enabler
Draft Hosre, Tuppies, and Arhun up on eBay
Posted 9 years agoSince folks have asked, I've gone and tossed the 3 drawing I did last Saturday on Baron's Stream up on eBay. If your interested in any of them, take a look. ^.^
Draft Horse
Arhun
Tuppies the Enabler
Draft Horse
Arhun
Tuppies the Enabler
Back from APE 2015
Posted 10 years agoWe had a good time. It was a bit of a relax-O-con for Baron and I. Sales were soft, but we expected that. This show was more about networking than selling for us.
One thing I was really pleased to see this year is such a variety of different books. In past years, when in San Francisco, it was all hard-core Crumb/Too-much Coffee Man styled titles. While I like books like that occasionally, I think it helps everyone if there is more than *just* those style of titles. But the move back to San Jose seems to really adjust things to a more balanced mix of stories and artists.
Do we plan to go back? We sure hope to and are planing on it. But seeing that money is tight and tables are not free, we have to see how fiances balance out before committing to another year.
FYI - we still have copies of both 'To kill a Dragon' and 'The Keeper's Warrior' available. If your interested in either, drop us a line. ^.^
One thing I was really pleased to see this year is such a variety of different books. In past years, when in San Francisco, it was all hard-core Crumb/Too-much Coffee Man styled titles. While I like books like that occasionally, I think it helps everyone if there is more than *just* those style of titles. But the move back to San Jose seems to really adjust things to a more balanced mix of stories and artists.
Do we plan to go back? We sure hope to and are planing on it. But seeing that money is tight and tables are not free, we have to see how fiances balance out before committing to another year.
FYI - we still have copies of both 'To kill a Dragon' and 'The Keeper's Warrior' available. If your interested in either, drop us a line. ^.^
Getting ready for APE 2015
Posted 10 years agoThings have been hopping here as we prepare for the Alternative Press Expo 2015 next weekend. The new books, 'To Kill a Dragon', have arrived and in glorious color. We will also copies of 'The Keeper's Warrior', as well as complete runs of 'Bureau of Mana Investigation' and 'Liberty from Hell'.
If you at the show, come by the table and say "Hi". I'll be there with Baron, and James from Fox Den will be helping out as well. We'd all love to see you!
Get the table layout (and our table number) HERE
If you at the show, come by the table and say "Hi". I'll be there with Baron, and James from Fox Den will be helping out as well. We'd all love to see you!
Get the table layout (and our table number) HERE
Woot! I Won Judge’s Pick Neverwinter T-Shirt Contest!
Posted 10 years agoWoohoo!
Just got word that I just won one of the Judge's pick awards from the WeLoveFine Dungeons & Dragons t-shirt design contest with School of Hard Knox.
Check out all the winners!
If you voted, thank you very much for your support! <3
**does the happy dance**
Just got word that I just won one of the Judge's pick awards from the WeLoveFine Dungeons & Dragons t-shirt design contest with School of Hard Knox.
Check out all the winners!
If you voted, thank you very much for your support! <3
**does the happy dance**
