The Evaluation below this post summarises the blog and links to posts in the blog when highlighted in blue. Here is a table of contents that also indicates if the post is research, experimentation or development:
Natural (trees, plants and scenery)
POST 1: Learning Agreement
POST 2: Research for project
POST 3: More ideas for project
POST 4: More ideas for project
POST 5&6: Initial research and experiments
POST 7: Idea development and experimentation
POST 8: Technical research and experimentation and idea development
POST 9: Artist research
POST 10: Modelling, materials, lighting and rendering experimentation.
Architectural
POST 11: Modelling, texturing and lighting experimentation
POST 12: Artist research
POST 13: Modelling, texturing and lighting experimentation
POST 14: Modelling, materials, lighting and rendering experimentation
Piano and Sculpture
POST 15: Modelling, materials, lighting and rendering experimentation
POST 16: Modelling, texturing, rendering experimentation
POST 17: Modelling, materials, rendering experimentation
POST 18: Artist research
POST 19: Modelling and texturing experimentation
Figurative
POST 20: Initial Zbrush modelling experimentation
POST 21: Anatomy modelling development and research
POST 22: Technical difficulties
POST 23: Image research
POST 24: Male and Female modelling development
POST 25: Research and experimentation of texturing
POST 26: Experimentation with rigging
POST 27: Rigging the male and female experimentation
POST 28: Modelling female hair experimentation and development
POST 29: Modelling Male hair development
POST 30: Skin materials and rendering development
POST 31: Hair material and rendering experimentation
POST 32: Rigging male and female development
POST 33: Lighting experimentation
POST 34: Texturing and lighting experimentation
POST 35: Scene experimentation
POST 36: Water and sky experimentation
POST 37: Water and sky experimentation and development
POST 38: Post-production and final images
Of course just browse the blog through the older and new pages.
Sebastian
Sunday, 8 May 2011
Evaluation
This project has generally captured and developed two major things for me. Firstly, my skill and understanding regarding the creation and development of 3D artwork, this has grown and improved significantly. Secondly, on a personal level, I have realised how much influence/inspiration had overwhelmed me and could have sabotaged me in the past.
I started the project with a strong aesthetic influence from the film Avatar. The strong visuals really impacted on me and I wanted to produce something for myself with the same feel. I studied trees for a very long time and researched ways to create them in 3D. By doing this I learnt how to use the basics of three programs: 3Ds Max, 3D Coat and Maya. Prior to this pursuit I had never created anything that looked realistic in 3D, so this was something new for me. I had to learn to model, texture and apply materials to my models and render them correctly to make them look as real as possible.
After some time 'playing' with creating trees and other organic, natural models I then saw an amazing video from Alex Roman called the Third the Seventh. It is a 10 min video of full CG architecture. The video is famous in the 3D industry for it's stunning photo-realism. This video then influenced me to go on a venture of non-organic modeling, dealing with advanced texturing, lighting and rendering.
I started testing my new skills on other scenes like desserts and a model of a piano and other sculpture objects. At this point I knew I had to stick congruently with something rather than continually experimenting, so from the inspiration I felt from the figurative sculptures I started learning how to sculpt the human figure so later I can create some great dance compositions.
For about a month I spent a great deal of my time studying the human anatomy and learning how to use a new program called Zbrush. I would spend a lot of time learning muscle groups (see sketchbook), although it was hugely challenging because I had so much to learn and understand technically. I understood how to use the program and felt comfortable with the technicalities I was facing. I learnt whilst using Zbrush that I could create any object using it's tools. Zbrush is truly powerful in it's capabilities and far surpasses any other package. I was excited to see what I could create I stuck with the human figure concept.
After a while I discovered I could record my work in real time in Zbrush, so I started recording my workflow and adding them to my blog. Zbrush also made my workflow much easier with texturing because you could literally just paint your textures on rather than going through the technicalities of UV mapping. I created my models with Zbrush, rendered and post-produced and I can comment that I am pleased with them.
For me it's not the final images that I am most pleased with, it's the journey of development I went through to get to where I am now that I have found mostly satisfying. I have learned so many skills from the applications I have used.
The sub-projects may have been some what arbitrary but each small thing I did revealed to me something new that finally got me to where I am now. Before this project I only knew the basics of creating 3D for myself on one program but now I know the full process of workflow on most packages (except animation) and had experience with each one. Because of this experience I have now my own efficient pipeline that is cost and time effective.
The work I have done for this project was time expensive but that is because of the learning processes I went through using these new packages. Future projects will be easier and faster because I have already learned how to do it from this project. Because I have experience now creating a range of items ranging from trees to architecture to figurative compositions, I have a broad understanding and ability.
The other significant accomplishment I had made during this project is to control the influences I get from other people/work. Before EMP I was really influenced by Iron Man, then when EMP started I was influenced by Avatar then Alex Roman. I tended not to focus on one influence. I really don't know how I was so oblivious to how these influences were pulling me in different directions – I was never consistent. I also felt I was never being original and creating anything from my own expression. My final production was not influenced from anything in particular unlike before. With my final piece of work I was creating from a place of experimentation, improvisation and fun. I plan to keep this integrity and keep external influences from controlling me like they have previously. I have also learnt to plan my work more efficiently.
I am grateful I have had the time and space to independently develop for myself. Without it I would not be ready for the transition from academic education to professional real world work. Although I still have some more work to do before I am fully there this project has got me 90% of the way.
In the future I plan to rebuild my portfolio to show what I can create now from what I have learned from this project. To start with I will freelance and join an agency and build my reputation from that. I have been doing research on the business side of my work so I can learn how to get work.
Sebastian
Saturday, 7 May 2011
Post Production and Final Images
Each image took all day to render. Because I put the quality higher and the size larger the time took longer. It was worth it as I had a very detailed file to work with in post production. I changed the tones and colours so it is more vibrant and eye catching.
Before retouching:
Before retouching:
After retouching / Final Images
Sebastian
Thursday, 5 May 2011
POST 37: Splash Compositions (experimentation/development)
The previous splashes are to big and bulky to look good for this composition. I have recreated the splash and here are the videos of the process:
A failed attempt:
The shape of this splash is to big and bulky like the previous ones. I need to scale down and work with more crisper detail.
A successful attempt:
Based on my successful model I will experiment with it's position in the scene.
A failed attempt:
The shape of this splash is to big and bulky like the previous ones. I need to scale down and work with more crisper detail.
A successful attempt:
Based on my successful model I will experiment with it's position in the scene.
Through trials I composed the splash how I wanted it. I like the way is spirals upwards towards the models while a part of it is close to the camera to give it that extra dynamic.
This is one composition I want to create another one to go with this with alternative placements and colours.
Sebastian
POST 36: Water Composition (developement)
An alternative to clouds would be a dynamic splash of water. I think this will work well because water is so versatile that is can flow with any composition.
Here are my attempts at applying a splash to the scene. The material properties were far easier to create compared to the clouds.
The first two are the extremes between bare and fully textured. The mixture between the two looks best (bottom one).
Sebastian
Water has the some of the same flexible dynamics as cloth and hair:
Here are my attempts at applying a splash to the scene. The material properties were far easier to create compared to the clouds.
Because these splashes are brief and undetailed it makes the models look tiny. For now this does not matter. I want to see what the models and water looks like with a coloured background rather that a studio setup.
Here is the original photo:
And the tonal and colour adjustments:
And applied:
The middle two are my favourite so I will be working with that from now on.
Here are a few leaf texture tests:
Sebastian
POST 35: What Next? (experimentation)
I have only thought through the composition of the poses but what else will be in the scene was not thought of. I like this because it gives me room to improvise. My first idea is to have them floating out of clouds like I saw in Moulin Rouge when they get all musical with Your Song:
Here are some very brief and conceptual renders of the cloud composition:
Although the refractive material on the.... clouds look good the clouds themselves look terrible because there are many other properties to clouds that I just cannot replicate at this moment.
This tests did not work well for me so I will try something else for the scenic composition.
Sebastian
Here are some very brief and conceptual renders of the cloud composition:
This tests did not work well for me so I will try something else for the scenic composition.
Sebastian
POST 34: Composition of Fantasy (development)
I have decided that as I am working with 3D... anything is visually possible so I am going to take a fantasy approach to my development. I remember the drawings I did when I was finishing school. They too where very fantasy:
I didn't like the hair in the last composition so I just wanted to replace it with something more flowing and unified.
I have textured the leaves. Here is the process on one leaf. This video is also a good chance to see the new composition in 3d space:
This is a photo I took of a leaf in my back garden that I used for texturing the leaf:
These leafs also have to be assigned with subsurface scattering so it has that translucent look when light is shining on it.
Sebastian
Because I have come to grips with my inspiration and influence I am running on my own influence now... which feels good because I feel independent unlike in my last project where I only thought digital stuff looked cool after watching Iron Man. Or, at the begging of this project I was obsessed with trees because I loved Pandora from Avatar. Now, I am not influenced by anything external.... I'm just riding on imagination and experimentation.
I did not document the development of the leaves but here is the result without the textures:
I have textured the leaves. Here is the process on one leaf. This video is also a good chance to see the new composition in 3d space:
This is a photo I took of a leaf in my back garden that I used for texturing the leaf:
These leafs also have to be assigned with subsurface scattering so it has that translucent look when light is shining on it.
Sebastian
POST 33: Rendering the Pose Composition (experimentation/development)
I had to pose the hair to give it dynamics as they both look like they are flying through the air. The following images are a simple render with a sky backdrop.
Without texture:
With texture:
By watching these videos and skipping through them on pause you can examine the lighting and decide what angle of the sun looks best.
For now I am going to compose the lighting base on further development of the models.
Without texture:
With texture:
I wanted to see what the lighting would look like from different angles so I created a time lapse with from dawn to dusk:
By watching these videos and skipping through them on pause you can examine the lighting and decide what angle of the sun looks best.
For now I am going to compose the lighting base on further development of the models.
POST 32: Posing the Male and Female for the Final Composition (development)
Based on the past experiments with posing I will combine male and female into one composition. Unlike the last one I did with the both of them I will be taking more care and time making sure their poses tell some kind of a story or emotion.
Image Preview:
Movie:
These models are now ready to be tested in rendering.
Sebastian
Sebastian
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