Boy, it's just as well I knew Shape Keys were a thing before passing judgement on a given models' lack of facial controls or I would have looked like a BIT OF AN IDIOT.
In truth, I'm relieved to learn that they exist because I'd spent a very long and frustrating time trying to create these test expressions manually with varying degrees of success. Warfaremachine's model specifically has her eyelids freak out when you try to make her blink, so it's good to have an alternative tool that works, even if it is a bit clunky having to dial in a mix of different expressions to get the look you want and stitch together multiple renders because you can't control each eye separately.
As it happens, Zy0n7 and Kekitopu's models also have facial shape keys, but they're not as robust, so I've stopped testing with them for now. Tenzide's model also has a very small number of keys, but unless I'm doing something wrong, they just don't work.
ALWB's face definitely has the edge in terms of expressiveness because she has a range of custom eyebrow controls while WFM's does not (yes, canonically Renamon has no brows at all, but canonically she has the expressive range of a laminated poster). ALWB also offers more in the way of eyelid control and as mentioned before, her eyes are easier to position because they're orbs instead of having to move the actual texture in the case of WFM's. I also have a preference for ALWB's general head shape, as the rounder form and front facing eyes makes expressions easier to read from multiple angles while WFM's longer snout means you lose sight of the mouth or an eye if you're not looking at her straight on.
That said, WFM's ear controls allow for smoother positioning and she doesn't have the seams in her texture the way ALWB's does. The mesh and texture details like her ruff and tail are just better overall and in discovering her facial shape keys, I've also discovered a whole bunch of body settings that don't exist on ALWB's model, but we'll cover those later.
WFM's model came with an unrigged tongue and ALWB's came with no tongue at all, but rigging a tongue to both was the one thing I did have the experience and spoons to do, so that's what I did.
Honestly, I don't think I can choose between them. I'll probably just alternative between them, depending on whether I want to trade on expressiveness and a svelte figure or want to do a body-focused render.
In truth, I'm relieved to learn that they exist because I'd spent a very long and frustrating time trying to create these test expressions manually with varying degrees of success. Warfaremachine's model specifically has her eyelids freak out when you try to make her blink, so it's good to have an alternative tool that works, even if it is a bit clunky having to dial in a mix of different expressions to get the look you want and stitch together multiple renders because you can't control each eye separately.
As it happens, Zy0n7 and Kekitopu's models also have facial shape keys, but they're not as robust, so I've stopped testing with them for now. Tenzide's model also has a very small number of keys, but unless I'm doing something wrong, they just don't work.
ALWB's face definitely has the edge in terms of expressiveness because she has a range of custom eyebrow controls while WFM's does not (yes, canonically Renamon has no brows at all, but canonically she has the expressive range of a laminated poster). ALWB also offers more in the way of eyelid control and as mentioned before, her eyes are easier to position because they're orbs instead of having to move the actual texture in the case of WFM's. I also have a preference for ALWB's general head shape, as the rounder form and front facing eyes makes expressions easier to read from multiple angles while WFM's longer snout means you lose sight of the mouth or an eye if you're not looking at her straight on.
That said, WFM's ear controls allow for smoother positioning and she doesn't have the seams in her texture the way ALWB's does. The mesh and texture details like her ruff and tail are just better overall and in discovering her facial shape keys, I've also discovered a whole bunch of body settings that don't exist on ALWB's model, but we'll cover those later.
WFM's model came with an unrigged tongue and ALWB's came with no tongue at all, but rigging a tongue to both was the one thing I did have the experience and spoons to do, so that's what I did.
Honestly, I don't think I can choose between them. I'll probably just alternative between them, depending on whether I want to trade on expressiveness and a svelte figure or want to do a body-focused render.
Category Artwork (Digital) / General Furry Art
Species Digimon
Gender Female
Size 1280 x 1280px
what a nice review comrade! thanks you so much! things like this help me to improve alot!
I had a lot of fun playing around with the body modifiers for my next test render, so hope you like it!
Yeah, the lack of polish on Tenzide's models comes to my inexperience. Imma fix that model one day XD
i had put a lot work into alargewoodenbadgers model :D
yes, the key is, having a good amount of shapes and bones together mixed
yes, the key is, having a good amount of shapes and bones together mixed
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