Steampunk

[steamthunk]

Been drawn back to yet another attempt at comics lately. Here is a character concept I've been working on for one of the heroes of a steampunk universe I've been developing. A wealthy Industrialist who is missing a hand from an industrial accident. Nearly finished with this one.

TabletPC and Alias Sketchbook; Poser for the (umm) pose because foreshortening is a pain. :cool:

[rakker16mm]

Look Great! and by the way I am very biassed as Steampunk is one of my favorite genres. I've been think about doing a something with the haltone shader.

[bassmanjam]

Yeah! Well done. I definitely enjoy the bold outlines. I think my only crit would be that the buckle on the strap across his chest seems a little to straight-on, like it doesn't match the perspective of his chest there. Maybe it's just me though.

I can't wait to see the rest of your heroes.

[steamthunk]

rak: yeah Steampunk rocks, but its an intricate aesthetic that requires added research for sure. I assume you've checked out steampunkmagazine.com.

bass: Yes I agree on the buckle bit. I'll rework that when I finish inking the piece. Can't believe I missed that.

I've got a few more pieces I'm working on that I'll keep posting. I want to do some of these characters again in LW, but I'll probably only use them as starting points for inking. Maybe coloring too. Seems very difficult to capture an organic style that doesn't look too 3D.

[rakker16mm]

steamthunk,

I totally agree about the research. It's not easy to get the aesthetics right if you don't have a good reference point. I have file folders nested in file folders of image searches I have done on the internet. Right now I am burning up a lot of shoe leather taking pictures of Victorian and edwardian homes in San Francisco. I think I have spent more time researching than drawing though :)

[bluerider]

Yeah teh steam punk look is such a great look. I need to go look at some samples and try a few things out. I love the whole Jules Verne, HG Wells retro era thing.

Nice character steamthunk :thumbsup:

[geothefaust]

I LOVE this image. Great work there. Steampunk rules. :D

The only thing I think I would add, is a steam compression chamber, backpack style to really give it that Steampunk feeling of overbearing hugeness when it comes to the tech. I mean, how else is that hand going to be powered, right? :)

[rakker16mm]

Jake von Slatt has news letter and a very cool website

http://steampunkworkshop.com/

I also have some other links if people are interested, but I have to dig them up, and they are not quite as steampunk specific.

[bluerider]

OoooooKkkkkkkkk, this is becoming a really good resource thread for Steampunk reference.

rakker16mm, that was an awesome link. :thumbsup:

[rakker16mm]

I was wondering if we should we start another thread for Steampunk links and all things related because I really don't like highjaking any ones thread. Any way I think I have a bunch of links some where on one of my hard drives. if not I am sure I can still find most of the websites again.

[geothefaust]

Man that website rules... I love the computer remade all Victorian style.

[Tzan]

Yeah, more links please :)

Check out the custom keyboards here:

http://www.datamancer.net/

[bluerider]

I was wondering if we should we start another thread for Steampunk links and all things related because I really don't like highjaking any ones thread. Any way I think I have a bunch of links some where on one of my hard drives. if not I am sure I can still find most of the websites again.

You didn't hijack it, your contribution was totally on topic. You injected it with more inspiration.

I'll maybe move it to another thread though. I think it will definitely be a good one to add links to. Your ideas are good and considerate.

[rakker16mm]

Well then if no one minds ;) Here are a few links to check out. Brass Goggles is one of my favorites. Also Datamancer is one of the best.

http://thesteampunkhome.blogspot.com/

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/steampunk/

http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/diy_steampunk/

http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/

http://www.datamancer.net/

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2007/07/09/steampunk-motorcycles/

http://www.steampunklab.com/

http://jakeofalltrades.wordpress.com/2007/04/20/img_0616-2/

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/steampunk.htm

[rakker16mm]

Argh! Five minute edit limit. Tzan you are right about Datamancer he's the best. You might also like the mouse on http://jakeofalltrades.wordpress.com...20/img_0616-2/

I'm thinking of steampunking my 12" powerbook since the case got trashed in a fall and the battery is pretty much history as well. It should look a bit like a Royal or Underwood when I am finished.... if I actually do it :D

[steamthunk]

Cool links! :hat: I didn't know there was so much steampunk interest here. Keep posting them as far as I'm concerned. Heck the post title is even correct!

Here are some more concepts I've been working on over the last week. A larger portrait I might use for modeling and a sketch of the spiritualist/medium character. The latter is just in "pencils" stage. I dialed down the ornateness of the dress partly out of laziness and partly because Victorian women's fashion does not appeal to me that much. I went for a more modest Gibson girl look mixed in what I thought her character might wear as a faux gypsy costume. Still much in progress.

rak: I have had the tendency to get research burn-out in the past and never actually get to the project so I hear ya. There's a lot of Victorian era stuff in the Boston area (I live in one) so its going to be easy to get some architecture shots come time. Trick is to find some interiors. :)

[Tzan]

I'm thinking of steampunking my 12" powerbook since the case got trashed in a fall and the battery is pretty much history as well. It should look a bit like a Royal or Underwood when I am finished.... if I actually do it :D

This thread had me checking the prices of typewriter keys on Ebay yesterday. Although I dont think I have the time to start a project like this now. I'm certain I could do it.

Clothing:
http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/index.php?from=topnav

[Steamthrower]

Cool stuff there. I love steampunk and your sketches are...just waiting to be modeled.

My current side project is actually a cheapo electric guitar I bought at a pawn shop; I'm converting it to steampunk, or at the least some sort of retro-punk. Exposed pickups, wingnut knobs, etc. Looks pretty cool so far. I'm wondering if I should remove the pickguard and fill the recess with mechanical parts (and a built-in effects pedal).

Cool stuff, steamthunk!

[rakker16mm]

Cool stuff there. I love steampunk and your sketches are...just waiting to be modeled.

My current side project is actually a cheapo electric guitar I bought at a pawn shop; I'm converting it to steampunk, or at the least some sort of retro-punk. Exposed pickups, wingnut knobs, etc. Looks pretty cool so far. I'm wondering if I should remove the pickguard and fill the recess with mechanical parts (and a built-in effects pedal).

Cool stuff, steamthunk!

You might also use the original pickgard as a template and cut out some coper sheet and do some deep etching and plating. Jake Von Slaat has a great section on etching and plating on his Steampunk Workshop.

On the other hand if you go to an electronics store, even Fry's you can buy the etching solution [ I think it's Ferric ] and some photoresist. Then you just need a piece of glass, some transparencies and a nice sunny day. For my transparencies I use Scotch 3M 501 for plain paper copiers, but there are a lot of other possibilities. Just remembers that the photoresist can't represent continuos tones so if you want to represent a grey scale you need to get it into halftones first. Fortunately we have a great halftone shader in LightWave. If you haven't checked out WilliamVaughan's (ftp://ftp.newtek.com/multimedia/movies/w3dw/halftone.mov) tutorial is definitely worth a look.

So the work flow would look something like this. Build your Steampunk models > Create a scene in Layout > Render the scene using the Halftone Shader > Print out a transparency > Prepare the coper sheet > Expose to sunlight > Etch > Plate if desired > Salt to taste ;)

Oh yeah don't forget to keep the transparencies for when people see your excellent creation and want you to make them one just like it $$$

[rakker16mm]

Cool links! :hat: I didn't know there was so much steampunk interest here. Keep posting them as far as I'm concerned. Heck the post title is even correct!

Here are some more concepts I've been working on over the last week. A larger portrait I might use for modeling and a sketch of the spiritualist/medium character. The latter is just in "pencils" stage. I dialed down the ornateness of the dress partly out of laziness and partly because Victorian women's fashion does not appeal to me that much. I went for a more modest Gibson girl look mixed in what I thought her character might wear as a faux gypsy costume. Still much in progress.

rak: I have had the tendency to get research burn-out in the past and never actually get to the project so I hear ya. There's a lot of Victorian era stuff in the Boston area (I live in one) so its going to be easy to get some architecture shots come time. Trick is to find some interiors. :)

Your drawings are great. I like the girl especially. I do think she would have a bit of a reputation for revealing that much of her shoulders, but it could be said that is in keeping with the gypsy look. The guy looks great too but the period seems a bit modern. I can't quite put my finger on it. It may just be that the bow tie reminds me of a tuxedo which makes me think of James Bond.

It's definitely a great resource to live in a city with historic buildings. I always bring my camera with, when ever I am walking around SF. Some times people start to get a little suspicious though after I take 20+ pics of their house LOL. If you are interested perhaps we could swap pictures.

For interiors you might check out websites of people who restore Victorian and Edwardian era buildings. There is one here in San Francisco you might want to check out - http://www.sfvictoriana.com/

Also I came across another promising website when I accidently typed in - http://www.victoriana.com/

[steamthunk]

Your drawings are great. I like the girl especially. I do think she would have a bit of a reputation for revealing that much of her shoulders, but it could be said that is in keeping with the gypsy look. The guy looks great too but the period seems a bit modern. I can't quite put my finger on it. It may just be that the bow tie reminds me of a tuxedo which makes me think of James Bond.

Thanks for the crits. The comments about the shoulders is really funny (even if true) to me given that current comics can pretty much be a lingerie catalog.

I have to admit I'm using a mish mash of clothes. Especially for the girl. That particular dress cut is from a late Victorian/Edwardian time, but the details have been patched in from several sources. They seemed to have outfits for different times of day and occasions so I'm probably putting her in something that only gets worn in a ball. :) I'll try some different suits and jackets for the guy sometime. I agree something else could be tried.

It's definitely a great resource to live in a city with historic buildings. I always bring my camera with, when ever I am walking around SF. Some times people start to get a little suspicious though after I take 20+ pics of their house LOL. If you are interested perhaps we could swap pictures.

I'll need some pictures first. :) I'm working on roughing in some head models right now, but once I get to street scenery I'll definitely take some pictures around town. I would be easy to set up a site where we could share pictures and other files if people are interested.

I saw a magazine at the mall called Victorian Homes which seemed to have interesting pics in it. Also I've used costumes.org (http://www.costumes.org) for some references.

[rakker16mm]

I'll need some pictures first. :) I'm working on roughing in some head models right now, but once I get to street scenery I'll definitely take some pictures around town. I would be easy to set up a site where we could share pictures and other files if people are interested.


A site sounds like a great idea. As long as the bandwidth doesn't become an issue it shouldn't be very expensive. Most Victorian era photos would be public domain as well, though I have noticed that people do put copy rights on them after the fact. I don't think there would be too many issues with the street photography either as that should fall under fair use since it is for reference purposes.

Today I was working some Victorian architectural elements from "Bicknell's Victorian Buildings" A. J. Bicknell & CO. were known for their Second Empire / French / Gothic buildings. Lots of brick and Dorner windows. I tend to go more for the Queen Ann style and Edwardian style that there is so much of in San Francisco, but Bicknell's stuff is kind of growing on me. Any way I would be happy share any of the elements like brackets and window surounds for people to add to their own buildings. Not that modeling top notch or anything but I do try to keep it to scale as much as I can. I was going to send one of the brackets but I can't get it to upload at the moment.

[rakker16mm]

OK then lets try again. I think I just needed to put compress it. OK that did it. Any way this is nothing exiting really. It's just a bracket.

[rakker16mm]

Interesting article in Makezine

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2007/04/maker_faire_the_neverwas.html

same machine

http://parkposts.blogspot.com/2007/07/medicine-park-music-hall-returns.html

[rakker16mm]

I spent a little time this week doing some studies for the buildings I will be modeling in my story. I'm going for 1870's - 1906 when the great Earthquake hits San Francisco, but instead of having just the typical Queen an style and Edwardian flats normally associated with SF I will be mixing ing in quite a bit of 2nd Empire with a heavy gothic feel to it. The second sketch is more typical of what you would see in SF today. I still want to keep the spirit of the City but this is an alternate timeline version so I need to make it reflect that as well.

[bluerider]

rakker16mm,
Thanks for the thoughts and sharing your work. Also thanks for teaching me some stuff, I was ignorant of the term Second Empire, I did some goggling and then realized it was that awesome architectural style.

The new links you provided are very cool. The Jules Verve style mobile big thing....wow. Its kinda of a humble howls moving castle or baby howls moving castle. Seeing it being hauled through that arid place adds to the bizarreness and unique beauty of this contraption. :)

P.S. I epically enjoyed the second drawing you provided of the section of architecture from that Second Empire period. Lovely tonal quality to that picture.

[rakker16mm]

Thank you Bluerider,

I appreciate the compliments. I know what you mean about the term second empire as I recently figured out that it was an architectural style rather than a form of colonial rule ;) and that did take a while LOL. I'll be posting more soon as I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment.

I'm doing quite a bit of storyboarding these days and although I draw a lot of characters I don't really get a chance to focus on a good character study. I prefer to work on traditional media, but on my current project I am using a tablet so that the work doesn't have to be scanned at the end of each session. That 6X9 space just isn't the same as nice big sheet of paper, then again I would have thrown away quite a bit of paper so far on this project :)

I saw some of your excellent character (http://www.newtek.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50375&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1189825777) sketches in this section of the guy with the hat an goggles. I got the impression those were from a previous time and I hope you are keeping up with it because your work is really great.

[bluerider]

rakker16mm,
Guy with goggles, thanks. Currently I am multi tasking in about 4 different disciplines as the moment. I am hoping this weekend to combine my characters designs with my 2D environment backgrounds.

The characters I need to be build in LightWave then I.K. then a simple walk cycle test. The 2D backgrounds have already been developed enough, the one I have in mind is in the digital painting thread, currently the last example. :)

[rakker16mm]

Originally I was going to make my story into a film but other considerations like making a living have gotten in the way :( So at this point I am more incline to make a graphic novel. Fortunately the guy I am storyboarding for now has published several books already and is willing to help walk me through the process. Then if I get a bit of breathing room in terms of money and time I will have great resource for raising interest in my project and a pretty good start on a storyboard as well.

[steamthunk]

Originally I was going to make my story into a film but other considerations like making a living have gotten in the way :( So at this point I am more incline to make a graphic novel.

I hear ya. Man just got back on the boards after a hectic week. Looks like some cool stuff got posted. I'm afraid I don't know enough about the architecture to know the difference. Are you planning of modeling all that detail?

I'd love to see concept sketches for your graphic novel. I'm less ambitious and trying to just get a few stand-alone pages of a steampunk-esque comic done. I started modeling the head for my industrialist character, but stuff has taken a back seat right now in face of a work crunch. 8~

[rakker16mm]

I'm not sure how much detail it makes sense to model since the renders will most likely be the starting point. One thing is I can draw a lot faster than I can model, but then I've been drawing most of my life. The thing is once I have a model I can render it from any angle which also saves quite a bit of time messing with perspective and foreshortening.

I've been experimenting making the cornices and roofs using rail extrude. For windows, doors, crown moldings and corbels, I plan creating something like a library so I can just mix and mach a la Mr. Potato-head. Hopefully that would save me enough time to add some more detail for the up close stuff.

One issue is now that I've decided to go with the Steampunk genre the story is also rewriting itself. I feel a bit like I am being taken for a ride and I now the final destination is in question. I will put up some earlier sketches from this project after I see what I can still use. Most of it is too big to fit on the scanner and I also like to use metallic ink which doesn't lend itself to scanning all that well either.

[rakker16mm]

I meant to say I was using rail bevel for the cornices and roofs, not rail extrude. ;D

[jlyon]

Hey, just found this thread, and it's awesome.
I've been trying to improve my steampunk drawings lately too. The crabfu link was great (http://www.crabfu.com/steamtoys/diy_steampunk/ if you missed it) especially for analyzing the basic elements.

My 9-5 has taken a decidedly steampunk turn lately, with a telegraph museum and a railroad museum both currently in the works. Add to that a healthy dose of Victorian age conservatories work in the past, including carnivorous plants...

Anyway, that brass goggles site has a picture of one of the exhibits I designed: http://www.brassgoggles.co.uk/brassgoggles/?p=572. It's a small pic of one object in the whole conservatory, but I liked that it found its way to a steampunk blog.

[rakker16mm]

Care to take a closer look at steampunk???

http://www.antique-microscopes.com/mics/pritchard.jpg

http://www.antique-microscopes.com/