18. Pulling Books off the Shelf

I have Revived my Proposal feedback! And had a meeting with my supervisor. Im hitting the ground running from that. I feel horrifically behind on practical work after working on my proposal over the break, but onwards and upwards. Its very clear now that the metaphorical work is where I am aiming at, my framework is still in the works after only getting feedback on it. So! I think I am going to focus on the DNA library concept for now as it seems the most true and interesting currently along side the Lava Lamp of Continental Drift. 

After collecting some key images for inspiration and reference I wanted to create something that was a fusion of the embryo and bookcase, almost like a capsule for the 'books' or chromosomes.  

A quick digital sketch to work out the spacing of the books, the number is important as it is integral to the success of conveying  factual information versus more slack representations. The colouring represents the mothers 23 books (red) and the fathers 23 books (blue) I wanted to pick rather washed out colours to further represent and create connections to the old hard back books that are on 'serious' topic in the library, such as law. This enforces that the content of them is established and almost peer mediated in that its not just existing from nowhere, there is a system. This system is conception > building > birth, these books have a serious purpose. 

Iterations need to be made to the design, possibly having cells that are duplicated and have the 'library' copied around to show that it remains the same when the cell splits and duplicates itself.

I have been thinking on the practicalities of what media to use, I think for now I have decided to go with an animation from egg > egg library (above) > bookcase model with rigged books > open book showing text

This would allow for the whole analogy to play out, creating connections and enforcing them though the visuals. I have been looking into how to use blending to morph two models together, as i would like the embryo and embryo bookcase to merge from one model to another. Almost as the segmentations are revealed and have always been there, then it becomes more like a bookcase, in its colour and arrangement. 

Link  below to articele on Morphing of topology. 

http://ncca.bournemouth.ac.uk/gallery/view/120/Morphing_of_Polyhedral_Objects_of_Different_Topology

Abstract:
The technique to transform one object into another has been widely used in the entertainment industry as well as science. To graphically present morphing the current technique is to transform between 2D images. This can be extended to transform between 3D objects, which has many advantages over the 2D approach. The problems with 3D morphing includes keeping a convincing form throughout the sequence due to the different topological arrangement of objects. This paper proposes a tool to morph between two 3D objects regardless of their topology and with controls in which the user can manipulate to define the morph.

I have also found a free to use rigged book! This was the deciding news that made me go with using Maya for the animation. The rig even comes with two meshes so i can use them to represent the older books/genetic material and newer books / younger genetic material. 

Below is the demo reel for the rig. Its simple but very well made. I have encountered some issues with UV mapping the book which has slowed progress, however, I think I can overcome them and it will be the perfect rig to use. 

I am not a very good modeller at all, but i have endeavoured to crate a bookcase.. and it has not tris, or poles, or 5 sided polygons! A personal best for me! I have UV mapped and am looking into taking it into MudBox, a program which I have had no prior experience with, but would like to sculpt the embryo/ embryo bookcase in there so I thought i could make a more organic shaped bookcase to serve for two purposes:

1, To create a better flow from  embryo bookcase model as it will be more rounded, possible keeping more of a stable connection to its source concept
2. To allow me to get to grips with the importing and exporting Maya> Mudbox >Maya developing a new tool-set

The bookcase is simple, but it is well made in polygon terms. Next to take it into Mudbox.