Dino Tutorial

I owe this tut to the community for a long time.
The grading is like in my plant thread
http://www.sporeuni.com/forums/showthread.php?t=652


Always post a link to your sporepedia creature when you create a dino so if I think its an A1 I will place it in my social group so which when I collect enough I will advertise to get you subs(hopefully)



Chapter 1 Large Theropod Making
Lesson 1 The body
Theropods depending on spiecies will have slight alterations in body.
For example Spinosaurus and Suchomimus which are fish eating have slender less heavy bodies.

Allosaurus on the other hand have families that hunt in packs so we have to provide a more agile body

Tyrannosaurus,dilong are predatory dinos with fortified heavy bodies







For the tail most theropods have a large blue circle as the first circle as it goes slightly higher.The second circle must be smaller than the first.It then gently decends to small circle as the last.

There are 2 ways to make the tail.
One take a limb remove the limb and adjust the tail accordingly.
2.[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOpCAVPmgKo&feature=channel_page"]YouTube - Tail Inter lock[/ame]



For arms we can use any 3 circle arm the arm should be place on the upper side of the arm as a semi large cirle as it reaches down to a smaller circle while moving it back.Finally entend the last bit of the arm to down with the last circle as the smallest circle.Use Velocigraspers as the hands and position them like in the picture.Unless it is a tyrannosaurid add a keratin horn on the hands to make the third claw.



Now we have the legs
Use cally pigeon as the leg.Now see the icture and arrange it accordingly.If you think you are good merge another limb for an extra circle to add a bump towards the feet(Hard!)



For the head use Crockisser a lot of people use Shortenedsnout which is wrong if you must use a different mouth use Terrorpin.Adjust the moth to your favor.


Next Lesson is Facial Details

Lesson 2
Head and Facial Details
There are 2 types of facial detail methods
1.Normal detail adding

This makes use of keratin horns and bones to shape the head of the dinosaur.

2.Inverted detail adding

This changes the direction of the details used to give it a more skin related look on the head.By doing this we use Horrorlumps for exchange of keratin horns which are more bone base.


We can apply both methods of head shaping to make smooth skin and head shaping with dominant head effects.Most dinos would use Souless eyes and Sporacles noses but if you do not have cute and creepy then use Felizard or Wizened.The eyes can be further menaced by placing acorns to add more vicious appeal to it.We also can use keratin horns to make external teeth to make it fiercer.


My allosaurus shows such methods




Next lesson
The Colouring Code

Lesson 3 the Colouring Code
Colouring Dinos usually take a bit of trail and error.Dinos usually have coarse or scaly like base colors followed by feathery(3 selection group green hair style) or a bright or base color blending Tint(color)
For the details dinos usually have a lighter colour bottom as observed in the pictures below.



Dinosaurs that are large theropods tend to have color differences as they differ in gender you may also notice that certail details don't appear when the dino is young but appears as they reach sexual maturity.Males tend to be brighter then females here is a male spinosaurus in comparison with a female.(Refer to the picture above)



Next lesson
gender differences

Lesson 4
Gender Differences
As read before some dinos have coloration differences to females although this is just a speculation it is most reliable in making interesting dinos in spore.
Another thing that may differ them in the size of the different genders for example females are the dominant gender for the rex(Example only!)Therefore if you are very petty you may want to make a size difference.


Here comes a dishonest part of my creations.
Using the excuse of reptile reproduction I have place a "cloaca" at the base of their tail to boast stats.



To cover this up we take a limb copy it only copy 2 parts not all of it.And delete the first limb.Take the copied limb and place it under the dino close to the tail and cover it like this.Take note of the size of the circles.
Here is the coverage note that this bone is real and its recommended to place it if you still have space.





We have come to the end of the large theropod tutorial happy making!
If you have any difficulties feel free to use the templates but remember to give me credit.
http://www.spore.com/sporepedia#qry=ssc-500352617148

Chapter 2
Lesson 5
Small theropod creation
As we know small theropods were usually omnivores or carnivores.They had bodies to fit scavenging,hunting in packs and special diet designed bodies.


Here is an example of a Scavengers body.
Notice the structure think about this dinosaur comimg behind the scenes for a bite.

Here is the body of a velociraptor a hunting dinosaur its much more smooth and agile for pack hunting and evasion.

Oviraptors have semi long necks and have bodies design to eat Mollusk and various fibereous plants.




For the tail.Small theropods have their tail ascending slightly upwards.The first circle is of course the largest as it reach the second circle it decreases the size till it is at smallest at the last ciircle or leg segment.



The legs of a small theropod are slightly different having less meat and more agile designed feet for running.Most theropods have Raptorclaws which may be accompanied with a keratin horn close to it on the side o the leg facing down(applies not to everyone of them)

Hands have an extra segment and hands are more backward then large theropods.They also stand to start stretching at the lower part of the body.

Here is the look of the correct body









Next lesson
Feathers

Lesson 6 feathers
Feathers are pretty common for small theropods.Tail feathers could be downy like an emu or slightly centered.For tail feathers the tip maybe extended with the part Marshcara or several Featherblusters.The most favourable parts for the tail are Featherferns and Featherbluster which can mixed together niceli.

Downy

Feathers can also be on the limbs and arms of the dino.In this case we use any feather part except for Marshcara as it makes it not appealing.





Lastly you may want to make body or head feathers.
You can use anything again except for Marsh cara to cover and feather the body.If you have enough complexity try making feather patterns of specific or multiple feather parts.Waddleweather is a good detail part for the body as well.

The head is like doing hairstyle
Feathers or part WhiskerThickler can help in styling your dino.





Next lesson the Head Details.

Lesson 7

Head details.
While large and small theropods and theropods(duh)
There are some differences in the head for example the head is much more thin and its highly advisable to use Crockisser.

Most small theropods make use of feathers like the previous lesson near the back of their head.We also tend to use Inverted Bone Adding or Mixed Bone adding.This is due to small theropods being less bulky then large theropods thus having more slender features.


Here is my austroraptor ibcluding mixed bone adding types and head feathers.(I still find them adorable)

And my Pedopenna using inverted bone adding and no head feathers.


Next lesson
The colouring code
I will not go through gender differences again as it was already explained before.It applies for small theropods too.

Lesson 8
Colouring Code

Small theropods generally have less bulky styles and colors.They must fit the color of their respective locations which they blend in.Take my oedopenna for an example.It was found in china and has a temperate like skin.


For the coat we may use page 3 the feathered style at the bottom or anyother side styles that are not C&C(unless apllicable) Try not to look for very scaly or only leg affecting or shiny coats they are quite unrealistic.

As for details you may choose the first option on page 1 if your dinosaur is already satisfactory.By choosing detail option one you can alter the colors of the dinos eyes and feathers.
If you however wish to include detail please choose realistic detail schemes(see coat)




Overall coloring always requires a bit of trial and error you may develop a color instinct if you practice for a long time.

That concludes my lecture on small theropods.

thnx for share...i added it to the tutorials list

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Chapter 3 Therizinosaurids
Lesson 9
Getting Started.
Therizinosauirds are theropods but with a twist they have extremely long claws and different hands.Therizinosaurids are generally larger than other smaller theropods.
The body of therizinosaurids vary from Basal to advanced.Here is their basal body for primitive species.

Here is the body for advanced species.

Therizinosaurids usually have tails like this....
Advanced

Basal



Next one Legs and hands

Lesson 10
Legs and Hands.
Like I said their legs and hands differ observe.
Note that primitive therizinosaurids have smaller toes.

For hands it maybe a bit tricky but watching dose the trick.



Next one facial details.

Lesson 11 Facial Details
Unlike most dinos,Therizinosaurids need not have so extreme face alterations.
First use
Snapgator part and shape it to this

We then attach a 2 circle grasper like this observe the size of the circles.

To get such a grasper take any grasper except for an exoskeleton one.Copy it at the second circle if the arm has circles else copy it from the 3rd circle if there are 4 circles on the arm.Delete the grasper and take the copied arm into place.


Next lesson
Feathers

Lesson 11 Facial Details
Unlike most dinos,Therizinosaurids need not have so extreme face alterations.
First use
Snapgator part and shape it to this

We then attach a 2 circle grasper like this observe the size of the circles.

To get such a grasper take any grasper except for an exoskeleton one.Copy it at the second circle if the arm has circles else copy it from the 3rd circle if there are 4 circles on the arm.Delete the grasper and take the copied arm into place.

We also have head feathers that we can place.Choose any type of feather except Marshcara.And you may use parts like Twiggy and Whiskertickler

Next lesson
Feathers

Lesson 12 Feathers
Therizinosaurids usually like emus have downy feathers so while we feather them like small theropods,we use the additional complexity due to less head details to make body feathers.




Ok that's done next comes the hard part.
Pachycephalosaurids

Chapter 4
Pachycephalosaurids
Lesson 13
Pachycephalosaurids are 2 footed herbivores they tend to have more slender bodies and a tail stucture to balace when running or holding ground when fighting for territory.

Their legs are slightly less bent like theropods are.

Their hands are less backwards and slanting.

Next lesson The head

Lesson 14
The Head
I strongly encourage doing the head last at it is complexity insane!
Pachycephalosaurids have every complicated heads.So here I will explain slowly on how you constuct it.
First use a Ruminanteater mouth and begin placing more gentle eyes like Wizened.At the noses Sporacles it would be useful later on.

Consider adding a bill now like all pachycephalosaurids MUST HAVE!Add a Bone Tablets part to the top of the head.Try to make it reach from the bill to the head so that we need not use another later on.

Add knurldowns on the side of the mouth to keep the color flow.On the sides you can see the picture below has 3 Keratinhorns on each side.This helps to strike the creature with a little atitude.Use Keratin horns if you don't have cute and creepy.Otherwise the part Deathspikes is always better.

Now that we are done with the beak its time we focus on the stand out details that Pachycephalosaurids have.Pachycephalosaurids had hardy heads when they went to fight one another in a territory fight so lets start by adding a few Keratinhorns like this.Remember to alter the position,size,shape and length when needed like the picture below

Add a Rockne at the point surrounded with spikes to show the done head they have.If you have enough complexity add Hairmites.It helps to make the dino more appealing.






Finally add Shellshard parts on the back to stimulate their hardyness.



Next Lesson the foot and the hands

Lesson 15
Feet and Hands
Pachycephalosaurids have five fingers judging from the sharpness I use Horrorthumbs and arrange the hand like this in the picture below.Resize it when needed.


For legs I use the Clawman and add a Keratinhorn on its leg to fit the structure.
Limbs with symmetrical feet

Limbs with asymmetrical feet



Next lesson The Colouring Code

Lesson 16
Colouring Code
There are 2 main factors affecting herbivores in colouring.One is location and two being their behaviour.
Since Pachycephalosaurids are known agressors and fight for territory we give them a more primal coating to show their attitude.To hostiles.So therefore for Pachycephalosaurids we use harsher or more hostile colors like this

We also use colors to differ gender.For examples Males have would have brighter colors while females have more dull colors.The one above is a female while the male is shown below.



Herbivores have to flee from carnivores.They usually have coloring base on the landscape and general vegetation in their area.See the remaining 2 examples Dracorex which are found in China could have a more temperate enviroment.
Female


Male


Well done you completed Pachycephalosaurids!

wow! these are some good looking dinos!

Thanks feel free to use it.