Make the 3D beetle look like a stamp...

Now i had created the beetle i could make it look like a stamp. I did this by adding the stamp border making it look realistic. I copy and pasted this from the interent and removed the inside leaving just the corregated border.

Next up i added the black background to make it stand out more. I think it looks much better with the black background as the beetle and leaf are quite bright. Then i added the first class logo. I used the same leaf as the background to make it look a bit better and fit in with the theme. The bottom image is showing the final stamp. I think it looks good and stands out well.

S.W.O.T. analysis...

My idea is to design 3 different animals on 3Ds max. I will apply different materials to make them looks like are made out of a certain material. For example, a wooden beetle. This idea has a few strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths
Original idea, that i haven't seen before.
Will look very realistic if the model is designed accurately
Will look good on a stamp and represent biodiversity well.

Weaknesses
Some parts of the animals will be difficult to make and render in the programme.
Will be hard to find images of animals that i can use to copy the shape, from the correct angle.

Opportunities
I started my idea with 3 different animals. I then developed it further as this design was a bit boring. The animals will now will be rendered with different materials. This will make them look much better and more eyecatching to the user/customer. I was finding it hard to get the shape of the beetles body correct, so i learnt how to add an image to a plane so i can line everything up and make sure the body looks good.

Targets
The rendered animals need to look realistic.
The stamp needs to be clear and aesthetically pleasing to the customer.

3D modeling begins!

I uploaded my sketch of the beetle into 3Ds max and begun to find the right shape for the body and head. I found it much easier using an image to help me to get it to look realistic. Shown here are a few steps that i have done so far...

The first few steps are beginning modeling the beetle. I started with a capsule shape and played around with it until it looked right.

Once i had the beetle completed i decided to put the leaf tutorial into use and made a leaf for the beetle to sit on. This would sort of make it more realistic. I also added the wood effect to the beetle. Here are the steps showing that...

This was the modelling of the beetle completed. Now i need to copy the render model into Adobe Photoshop so i can make it into a stamp. I will show the steps of this as i go.

Beetle stamp...

In my earlier post i said i was going to create a stamp with a beetle on. The beetle would be created in 3ds max, then i would apply (using the bitmap function) an image of wooden slats, to give the effect of the beetle being made from wood, like a child's toy for example.

To do this, firstly i looked at images of a beetle from the internet and in books. I then sketched up a design i was happy with from top view and side view. This would be very helpful for 3D modelling as i can use it to see what shape needs to be created. Here are the images that i have sketched.

Getting some ideas of existing stamps...

History of stamps...

Stamps were first introduced on 1st May 1840. Stamps were not perforated until 1854, where stamps perforated by Mr.Archer at the house of commons. The government then went on to pay Mr.Archer £4,000 for the patent. Following the introduction of the stamp in the UK the number of letters increased from 82 million in 1839 to 170 million in 1841. Today 21 billion items are delivered by post every year in the United Kingdom.