Using the Skin Modifier

Hello there, I have done a tutorial which focused on using the Skin Modifier. This seems like a really helpful tool to create figures with amateurs that then can be sculpted into the final shape.

Here is the link for the tutorial.

http://www.blendtuts.com/skin_modifier_04_09_2012

This modifier creates a mesh over a stick figure design enabling you to create complex shapes without having to physically place every vertices. The features of the Skin Modifier include the option to mark loose which means that the veritices selected don't affect topography of the mesh. This is what I did for the collar and hip vertices. Another option is to  mark root. This option defines where the mesh radiates from as well as the spot where the armature will be generated. Equalise radi is an option which smooths out the mesh around the branches of your framework.

A really handy part of this modifier is the create armature feature. This takes the framework of your object and turns it into bones that are already connected and parented. Once you apply the modifier the mesh will respond to any movements in the frame accordingly in pose mode.

As you can see, I took a screen shot with the armature visible to help illustrate the relationship between mesh and frame. It's pretty rough but the purpose of this tutorial was to come to grips with this modifier. The next step would be to use the sculpt tool to create your finished model.

As part of this tutorial I used the Mulitresolution Modifier which smoothed out the mesh alot like the Subdivision Modifier except it allows you to manipulate subdivided vertices when sculpting.