Running Clydesdale

So this is my first Demo Reel Project...

I am working on completely furring and simulating hair for this animated clydesdale. Eventually it will have a full coat, mane, tail, and feathers (hair on legs).

For this project I am proceeding the old school way... I created patches out of the geometry that follow the deformation of the model and then attached the fur to the patches and painted fur maps to help them blend seamlessly. The seamless part is still a little off, but it shouldn't take too long to finish touching up the maps that need help.

Currently this test represents a bit over a week's worth of work onto the fur or coat of the model and still have a ways to go, but I started blocking out the mane earlier today. I have played with several versions of the fur texture and I think  I'm close to the final one. In this test render there are still some issues with missing details due to lack of contrast, and the markings on the back are a little out of place and need more work.

I had been checking my progress with stills and didn't notice some of the issues with the geometry protruding at certain frames that became evident in the full sequence, which is an easy fix through editing the patch geometry. Another issue that is noticeable is the clear lines in the geometry in certain areas like the neck and torso, which can be removed by subdividing the mesh in these areas one more time.

Here are just a few of the renders taken throughout the process...

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