Abe scans for 3D modeling project?

[~The Red Fall~]

Hello,

I'm a huge fan of Oddworld, especially the first games (not the least of which because I don't have an XBox... yet!). As the final project for my character creation class at school (check out their outdated website here) I thought I'd model Abe. Only problem is I don't have decent orthographic (straight on front, side, etc.) views to base the model off.

I'd appreciate beyond belief anyone who has the Oddworld artbook, a scanner, and who can provide me with decent scans of reference. I did find a few front and side shots on the web which may be from the artbook, but the resolution is rather poor and I'd like to do a decent job of this. We're tasked with doing the full modeling, UV layout, texturing, posing and rendering, by the way--I'll definitely upload the final turnaround video someplace and provide the link, especially if it's halfway decent (I better put in enough time and effort to make it decent, eh?).

Anyway, thanks to anyone who can help; I think this is going to be a fun (and funny) project to work on!

Gray

[Wil]

Hi there, Red Fall. Unfortunately, we can’t have scans of the art book put up. It is, after all, a commercial product you can buy, and replicating and distributing it for free is a breach of its copyright. However, there are plenty of views of Abe available on the Oddworld Graphics Gallery, which hosts just about every Oddworld image there is. Concept art and FMV stills should give you a good image of most important parts of a Mudokon’s anatomy.

[~The Red Fall~]

Hi there, Red Fall. Unfortunately, we can’t have scans of the art book put up. It is, after all, a commercial product you can buy, and replicating and distributing it for free is a breach of its copyright.

I understand the concerns, Max. I might say that, while I am very much in favor of getting the artbook, it will have to wait with my substantial student loans and current state of employment (read: looking for work). This isn't me saying "I'm going to buy it eventually, so just give me a peek," by the way

Heck, you can put a watermark on the images for all I care (though one that doesn't interfere too much)! Also, I thank you for the link though I have already looked through that site; it's actually where I found the above-mentioned concept art from it. For all I know, that art was taken from the art book (correct me if I'm wrong).

At any rate, it appears that website can use images owned by Oddworld Inhabitants, so wouldn't Fair Use rights apply here as well? I don't mean to be argumentative, I just don't see what harm can come from a few scans. It seems an entire art book scanned in hi res and distributed to millions would be another issue entirely. Does anyone have higher resolution versions of the concept art found on TOGG, then, or other concept art neutral or "T" poses of Abe from the front and side? I am available via PM or email if that is the best method to send me something.

Best,

Gray

[Fuzzle Guy]

You can find a small version of the textures on Ballistics website if it would help at all.

[DarkHoodness]

I found the book on Google Books.

Although the scans here are nothing compared to having the actaul book in your hand and looking at it infront of you, and Google Books doesn't have the complete version of it, which makes it even more worth buying. Anyway, click on the link above, and scroll down to page 35 onwards. They should give you all you need. The Abe skin is on page 42. Hope this helps.

[~The Red Fall~]

I found the book on Google Books.

Wow, that's a very interesting find, Dark Hood. Had no idea Google would have something like that up. Of course they are Google *rolls eyes*. For clarification, I'm not looking for texture maps, per se (though they'll also be helpful reference), but more of unadorned full-figure sketches, like this Also, as to be expected, the images on page 42 on Google books don't help even for texturing since it's such low resolution stuff (which is to be expected from a "preview").

Again, thanks for the attempt, though. It really would be great if someone had higher res versions of the art found on TOGG or something similar.

[Xavier]

I wonder if what google does here is actually legal...

Anyway I'm TOGG's webmaster and I can assure you no scanned pictures of the book are on it. Also I always try to put the higest res version of every picture I find on the site.

Just out of curiosity, what pictures would you like to have in bigger res?

[Wil]

There are no images on TOGG that are scanned from the book, but many of the images in the book are available on TOGG already because they have been put online by Oddworld Inhabitants or videogame sites.

[~The Red Fall~]

Also I always try to put the higest res version of every picture I find on the site.

Just out of curiosity, what pictures would you like to have in bigger res?

No insult intended, of course Obviously, websites can't put up hundreds of, say, 1 MB or larger images without paying a bucketload for bandwidth. As for which images, these ones (see attachments) would be a great start.

EDIT: Looking at them more closely, it appears they were early concepts of "Abraham," as a fisherman, not the Abe that ended up in the videogame. Of course this mostly means changed clothing, which I can figure out through other images, though if you have sketches like this of Abe as we know him, that would be great.

About the art book, I meant no mud-slinging by assuming the pictures on TOGG were taken from it, I just didn't see that the copyright holders would have a problem with someone like me using a few hi-res scans to assist in a 3D modeling project. They wouldn't be used for anything other than reference, and I certainly wouldn't nefariously spread them across the internet (although I'd get nothing out of lying, it's hard to trust someone's word these days). If worse comes to worse, the attached pictures will work fine. I just prefer higher res reference ^-~

Gray

[Paul]

I remeber an image that was a pretty decent blue print of a slig, maybe you could try working with that one?

[~The Red Fall~]

I remeber an image that was a pretty decent blue print of a slig, maybe you could try working with that one?

Sorry, but I'm kind of bent on modeling Abe He is the archetypal Oddworld character, after all, and I'd love to put him in a silly pose (or three!) after I rig him. Like I said, no tragedy if the best reference I have are the above attachments.

[sam250]

Sorry that we can't be any help, but I do think that those pics you have are the best you are going to get. There are some here that show off differant angles of Abe, aswell as colours; I hope that they will be of some use:

[kin37ik]

i was thinking, meybe you could draw abe at the angles you need him to be then scan it onto your PC, then work from there?

[~The Red Fall~]

i was thinking, meybe you could draw abe at the angles you need him to be then scan it onto your PC, then work from there?

If I was a half-way decent draftsman, yeah (that's the story I tel myself, anyway) XD Thanks for the suggestion though; another reminder I should probably brush up on my sketching skills as a future 3D animator.

Also, thanks for the thoughtfulness, sam250. The shots I uploaded probably will be my best bet, along with various CG renders on TOGG for different angles/texture reference.

[~The Red Fall~]

Does anyone have the skeletal concept art for Abe as found (or similar to) the sketch on page 41 of the Oddworld Inhabitants artbook? It would be really handy for modeling reference.

Also, any front/side/back close-ups of orthographic views of Abe (again, probably concept) would be great; all I have so far are the early concepts of "Abraham Lure" found on TOGG.

Gray