Rendering anime atyle characters

[Anonymous]

I'm starting my first, real 3DS Max animation project. It's supposed to be a 3D Animattion with an anime art style, similar to RWBY or Naruto Shippuden. Basically, I have the character modeled, and I'm using Ink 'N' Paint to give it the look I want. I like the actual texture (Created in Photoshop) but my problem is that black outline. I can't get it to work perfectly. I either don't get enough detail at certain angles, mostly with the ear and jaw line, or I get the detail, but fuzzy and thick outlines by the chin. I have variable width turned off, started playing around with the under/overlap numbers, but to no avail. I will include screenshots of my issue. 

[ekahennequet · Accepted solution]

Have you looked into using mental ray's Contour Shading in combination with Ink 'n Paint?

mental ray Contour Shading

http://docs.autodesk.com/3DSMAX/16/ENU/3ds-Max-Help/index.html?url=files/GUID-797FBC38-E08E-41DF-9D0...

Below are few tutorial links:

Technique 3: Using Ambient Occlusion and Contours in mental ray to create NPR’s.

https://area.autodesk.com/blogs/eddie/technique_3_using_ambient_occlusion_and_contours_in_mental_ray...

Technique 4: Using Ink and Paint shaders to create NPR’s

http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/eddie/technique_4_using_ink_and_paint_shaders_to_create_npr_s

This one seems to use the combo method, but I've not watched it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zpg3dYLr8A

[Anonymous]

I believe this has, more or less, fixed my issue! The line quality is SO much better, though I still don't get much detail in the side view around the ear and jaw line, it DOES give me more detail in some more perspective views. You were incredibly helpful, and I thank you for that! 

[ekahennequet]

You're welcome. The Help file doesn't have too many examples, but I'm sure you will find a better alternative than using just Ink 'n Paint by playing with the mental ray Contour settings. Good luck.

[Steve_Curley]

If you haven't already, take a look at this blog post - it's a bit old now but contains some really interesting stuff on MR and on Ink'n'Paint. Well worth a watch (though it's quite long).
http://area.autodesk.com/blogs/garyd/non-photorealistic-rendering-npr-techniques-in-3ds-max

[ekahennequet]

That's great, Steve! Thank you. I've not seen that one. Bookmarking it now. 🙂

[Steve_Curley]

Yep, it's a good one. Watched it a week or so back. Will do so again when I've time to actually try out some the stuff in there 🙂

[Anonymous]

I am in very big trouble i am to complete my assigment in 3ds max. 8 am using 3ds max 2011 and i wat to make a 2d effect explosion but i am not getting a right thing please help to make 2d effect explosion. Plz