First Anniversary – Tons of changes!

If somebody would have asked me how many models do you think you are going to build your first year using Patreon? I would have answered First year? I just hope this lasts that long, but answering, I would say less than 10.

Today, however, it’s officially the first anniversary of The Model Corner and we have built a total of 19 models and our opening one, the Castanic mascot, with a full number of 20 models. I am very surprised because I didn’t even know the full number between Community, Tournament and Submissions.

I am also very surprised to see still this much support for the Patreon page. I’m in tears right now as I say: thank you very much, guys.

Seriously, I don’t even know what to say. This is something I would have never thought it would ever happen. Not even in my wildest dreams. I am very thankful for every single one of you that have supported The Model Corner at some point, and for every single one of you that still keeps supporting it. Seriously, there is not many words that can describe how happy I feel. Seriously, thank you very much.

Thanks to everyone’s support, I’ve been able to run a lot of research in models since the beginning. I’ve done a lot of research to modelling, rigging and materials. I had a very interesting result with cubemaps, however, sounds like a bad idea to use it in Production, so there’s that.

Because of the results of my research, I’ve decided to make changes to the Patreon Page. There are a lot, so I will list them here. Please read the full changes so you don't get caught out of guard when you see something different.

Foreword

Leave aside SFM. Model Building is quite the learning curve. I don’t remember how long it has passed since my very first attempt at model building. It worked. It was messy, looked weird, left out tons of details, but it worked. Years later I though I was ready for model commissions, and even years later, I though I was ready for taking the risk of opening a Patreon page. And I was right. I was ready, but for the wrong reasons.

Having to do model commissions before, and Patreon then, gave me a ton of problems with model building: Limits, texture issues, figure issues and so long and so forth. A wise man said once It’s only a lose if you don’t learn anything. 

I’m glad I had all of those issues, because thanks to that I have a better understanding in models, figures, shapes, and more importantly, I broke my old limits and now I found new ones. I’m very happy with that, because more limits, means more opportunities of practicing, learning, take good things and make them better… 

With this huge update, you guys will see the results of my research. And I’m glad to tell you that I’m not happy with where I am. I’m not done learning. I’m not done practicing. Things only will get better, and fuck if I don’t want them to be better, so I will keep researching and learning to keep getting better. Thank you very much everyone for your support, because your support is my main motivation to keep learning. Let’s keep working together, so we can build better models together!

Page Changes – Wording on the description.

In the last submissions, there were some submissions where people were trying to push a submission using the wording I used in the page. Because of this, I will change the wording in the last part of the Patreon page. Now, it will say All the models need to be logical +18 in their canon. Even anime characters have a logical age behind the hundreds or thousands years they supposedly have.

This will narrow the submissions and people won’t have to use the wording as an excuse to push a submission.

Page Changes – Tier changes.

There are some features in the Tiers that I’ve only fulfilled like, 3 times in one year and I feel like it needs to be addressed. Those specific features are:

* Access to other channels.

Originally, I had the idea of using other channels, specifically, using Sketchfab for showcasing a model for the input of the patrons. I’ve only used that channel a maximum number of three times.

* Asking the tier for their input in model figures.

Originally, I had the idea of asking to upper Tiers their input in certain models. This, instead of being asked to the Upper Tiers, I only asked (and in some cases) to the Patron who submitted that model.

* A video showcasing the progress of a model.

I wanted to use this new feature of giving people the progress of the current model. I’ve only used this feature… I don’t know how many times, I only have memory of Bulma, Kazumi and Sun Shang Xiang. Those are 3 out of 20 models, and it’s memory. I’m not even 100% sure.

Proposed changes.

* The Video Showcase is getting removed.

Reason: I won’t pretend I’m only saying this so you guys don’t think bad of me. I’m 100% honest when I say I’ve been wanting to make the video, but after the first times doing it, I’ve felt like it is a waste of time.

All the time I can use on the capturing, checking, editing and uploading the video, can be used somewhere else. I can do more progress in that time, so it’s a cycle that would always continue: I will record the clips… but I could use that time to make progress on [Model Activity]… let’s make progress instead.

* The “access to other channels” and the “asking for input activities” will get the change of “ocassionally access/asking”

Those two features have the same issue than the Video Showcase one: it’s a waste of time. I have this idea where my patrons believe in my good judgement when it comes to model building, and if I ask for input every time, then it would be a more slower process and it won’t help anyone in the long run, for that reason, those features are getting a word change.  

I’ve used some specific input in models where the models were way too stylized to build properly: Laura Matsuda and A18. In very specific cases, I will request the Patrons for input.

I will do it in the same way I did with A21: I will create a very simple non-textured model for SFM and upload it so you guys can see for yourself from within SFM. That way, you guys have access to another channel and can also give input. Again, this will be only in very specific cases.

Also, just to clarify, the asking have been happening globally because it needs to have a general idea, not a tier-based-only opinion.

Page Changes – New events.

The previous Tournament was an interesting activity. I have a couple of ideas that might be interesting as well, I think it’s fun to have those little activities to spice things from time to time.

Page Changes – Model Slot added as a Pilot.

I’ve talked with a good friend about helping me in the case I would get too cluttered with work. We came to an agreement and we are going to do a few tests to see how this goes. In the case we get the work done properly, the third slot is going to be added as part of the Official Patreon Goal. In the case it doesn’t, the third model slot is going to be removed.

Submission Changes – Ban list.

The Ban list has been in a sort of limbo. Some time ago, people were eager to submit models that were on the soft ban part of the Ban List, however, after the List went live, all of those submissions stopped. I believe there is some sort of confusion, so I will try to make the list more understandable.

There are more changes for the Page, however, in order to understand them, a series of changes need to be mentioned first.

Model changes – Pricing.

This is one of the most important changes on the page and in general.

Because of all the research done, all of my pricings, both in and out of Patreon are changing. Since this is for Patreon, we are going to focus with the changes in here.

The previous price for Models was $60. In order to keep the prices in both an accessible and a positive price, there is going to be an increase of $20.

This means every model is going to have a cost of $80.

However, this change is going change increasingly, so you guys can see how it affects your pockets. The changes will go as it follows:

In September 2, the model price will be $65.

In October 2, the model price will be $70.

In November 2, the model price will be $80.

For this reason, this month there will be an increase of $5. However, there will be changes in BOTH the models and the rewards for you guys. I will list them right now.

Model changes – Rig changes.

I’ve done research in the models and I will apply the findings to the new models, this will cause a change of pricing. Because of the gradual increase from $60 to $80 per model, there will be changes in the models.  

Here are the changes that will affect all models from now on:

Removal of the Thigh Twist bones.

While I though they were an important part for the model fixing, the truth is because of the modifications they need to get in order to work, the Thigh Twist Bones ended up being unoptimal for the model and gave a lot of rigging issues in outfits. Those issues translated in bad rigging and lots of time wasted. Because of this, the Thigh Twist Bones are getting removed.

Addition of a Joint Bone Helper.

Without trying to be too technical, I will keep it simple: I call a Joint Bone to a bone that you lose control of when you apply the Rig Script. For example, when you apply the rig Script, you can move the hand, but you cannot move the upper arm or lower arm bones.

By adding Joint Bone Helpers, you will basically have full control of all bones even with the IK Rig Script applied. This means, instead of being only able to use the Arm Twists, you can make use of all the arm bones, just to set an example.

Not only this will be a huge improvement for the model weights, but it also will help animators and poster makers greatly because they are going to be able to create more complex poses more easier.

New IK Rig Script for the new Model Rig

Thanks to all my practice in learning that horrible programming language called Python, and thanks to a lot of people who have done a lot of research about it too, I have the idea to create a better IK Rig Script. This time, my objective is not having to use the Unknown Tab ever again. For now, sounds a little wild, but I want to see how much we can do with this knowledge of that language.

Model changes – “Lips Out” flexes refactor and +1 Addition.

I’ve talked before with many of my friends about an specific topic that I think I’ve brought up to them so many times I think they are sick of me asking it: if I were to remove flexes, which one would you remove?

Most of them told me about the lip flexes, so I went to check them, and I realized my “Lips Out” flexes are weird. Yes, they do as they were supposed to, but that wasn’t the original idea. Without having to explain too much, they need to be changed to their original idea, while also keeping the spirit.

The “Lips Out” set flexes of future models will have a refactor. You will notice some kind of animations might not apply anymore with the refactored flexes (hentai-based blowjobs), to fix that, I’m adding the flex “Lips Out Extreme”, which will keep the spirit of the old “Lips Out Full”  

Model changes – “Pregnancy” flex added.

There has been a flex that has been very requested. I’ve been thinking about it and I just thought “Well, why not?”

So, after many times of being asked, the models will get a “Pregnant” flex. 

Normally I would thought there would be not too many people asking for that flex, however, I’ve got asked many many times to add one Pregnancy flex. I’m a little surprised honestly, but since it has been asked a lot, I think it’s a good time to get added, besides, it expands the animations and series ideas, so there’s that.

Model changes – Extra Skin.

Personally, I believe everyone have their ideas in very wide spectrums, and there are times people would love to get a little involved into what I call make a model my own. In order to give people more creativity freedom, I will include an extra skin slot in the models so you guys can tinker with the textures without having to copy and paste and backup and blablabla. That way you will have a skin for regular stuff and then, you will have a canvas to give more depth to your ideas and stories. 

Those are all the changes with the models. Remember: There’s always something new to find, let's work together to keep finding more stuff!

Now, let’s change the focus, and let’s go for Tier Changes - Electric Boogaloo!

Tier changes - “Cuckbook (because using Cuck instead of Cook makes me funny, right?)”.

Honestly, I don’t totally get the meaning of that, but from my understanding, “Cookbooks” are some sort of, to put in some ways, “condensed” or “short” tutorials, or so I think because I saw it in programming and it’s about small code snippets. So, with that in mind, I just thought about creating the “Cuckbook (because using Cuck instead of Cook makes me funny, right?)”, yes, that’s the full name. All of that.

Basically, while there are chances my patrons already know how to do certain changes to a model just to quote that as an example, it never hurts to have a place or a document that helps us to remember how to do it, or why not, learn how to do it.

Tier changes – Noob’s Practice Stash for $5 patrons

There are times where I want to learn more stuff or I want to practice some other, for example, try to do certain things with the rigging without having to mess up with an already altered model, or why not, doing texture testing. There’s also Daz Design, where I design a figure (Like LordAardvark’s DOAFantasy) and I think which characters would make good use of that figure.

There are cases where I create other models, or I port some sceneries for Blender practice. Normally, the models are only nude with no bodygroups, and the sceneries are things I randomly select. For the most part, I only practice and just left them in there without touching them again. So, to give them some use, I will upload the model/ports results of my practice for $5 patrons and above. Also, keep very well in mind that not a single one of these models will have support. The models will be shared ‘as is’ and they won’t receive any updates nor fixes. These are just extras, they are not the main focus of this Patreon page.  

Fair Warning: I don’t practice that often. Most of the time I already have job to fulfill, so there will be times where a scenery or a model would be created, but there will be times where no model and no scenery will be created at all.

Again: I don’t practice that often. Like I said, I try new stuff, so the results are either positive or negative. There might be time where I create 3 extra models and 2 sceneries in one month, and in most cases, there will be months without any single practice, so if you are interested to pledge just for the Stash, keep that in mind.

That's it for now! Thank you everyone!

Tomorrow we will be back with our regular activities!