Here's my ZBrush model of Solenopsis Invicta. I love to say "Solenopsis Invicta" and try to work it into every conversation. You know her as the feisty fire ant worker. She still need hair and you can see her legs don't quite join up with her body. Also I'm working on her stinger. I made this a while back but thought it was time for an update. Rendered in mental ray for Maya 2014.
Invicta = invincible!
Invicta = invincible!
Nice! Just as an FYI, S. invicta has a post-petiole (a second "hump" between the abdomen and thorax). It also has a very characteristic and indented clypeus (the place where the antennae meet the head). Both are important for identifying the species, so I thought you might like to know. :-)
ReplyDeleteI think the post-petiole is hidden from view at this angle because of the way I positioned the rear leg. Also I made the abdomen and the post petiole one mesh which is certainly a mistake on my part that I need to fix if I later decide to animate the abdomen and have it deform correctly. Also I'll post a render of the face from the front so you can see the detail. I do strive for accuracy so I use ant web as well as books by Wilson/Holldobler, Mark Moffet and the photography of Alexander Wild. Being human though (and a novice myrmecologist) Im prone to mistakes, Thanks so much for the critique!
ReplyDeletesome day I hope to get a microscope and some better specimens! the internet can only take you so far!
ReplyDeleteEric I am a freelancer as well, working on a solenopsis invicta anatomically correct to 2 microns. you can find good references at: http://projects.biodiversity.be/ants/species/queryAjax
ReplyDeleteThat's cool Jose! What is your modeling method and how do you achieve such accurate models?
ReplyDeleteAmazing work, is there any tutorial for this?
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