mi4014izzygraham - Tumblr blog

[mi4014izzygraham]

Completed project

I am pleased with my finished world. I think my ideas developed well from the initial research task and you can see how it links to different objects. At first i wasn't sure what to make but i used the research as a starting point and from there the ideas came together. I tried to include something from each research task and blend them together to create a coherent world. I particularly like the first part with the sci-fi desert landscape. My favourite object i made would have to be the guitar. This took a lot of time for me to make and i struggled getting the body right at first but it turned out well in the end. Editing in AfterEffects helped give my world a warmer look and glow.

I was a bit unsure what to do with the sound at first. I liked having just music but also the sound of train kept it simple. I’ve tried to combine the two so they balance. I used 8D audio of Starman by David Bowie, so when using headphones it creates an interesting effect. Without headphones it created some-what of a zoomed out, echo effect which I like. Sounds spaced out. I think using music ties into the my theme and particularly this song with it begin set in space.

I did run into a few problems while making my world, however, i learnt a lot from it. I now know that it is important to clear your history after my files went corrupt which meant i had to restart some of my work which i could have spent building more objects. I also had trouble with my trees which set me back a little. I think i would have liked the second part more if the texture of the hills by the Loch worked in the arnold render view. If i were to change my world, it would be to fix the texture of the green landscape.

I think my maya skills have progressed far. I started never having used maya and little experience with computer software, to now feeling more confident using maya and short-cuts being second nature to me. When making my bedroom, i was quite proud when i got the hang of using the N-cloth tool. Comparing my world to my bedroom, i can now make more intricate objects and i have expanded my skill set. I can use more tools, such as the sculpt tools. I feel i have better understanding of rendering and using the arnold render view. I was a little scared of 3D animation at first, but i've enjoyed it much more than i thought i would and i want to continue progressing my skills. Now having experienced 3D animation i have new found appreciation for it and the skill it takes.

[mi4014izzygraham]

I wanted to see how it would look without music, so i've add in the sound of a train, sticking to the brief. I like this as maybe simpler sound allows you to focus on the visuals but i think the music works really well. I may see if i can combine the music with the sound of the train.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Experimenting with sound- 8D sound (use headphones)

I like the initial sound effect i found online when you explode out of hyperspace with a bang and at the end when the camera begins to speed up as you exit the world. I wanted to see what it would look like simply adding some music. I thought the song Starman would fit perfectly with my theme. I tried adding the original song but i wanted it to sound like it was echoing, so i changed it to an 8D version which i think gives it a different effect and when using headphones creates depth. I think adding sound has already made a big difference to my world.

[mi4014izzygraham]

[mi4014izzygraham]

Completed rendering with initial editing in Aftereffects

I adjusted the camera as i thought it went too fast in the first part, so you couldn't see everything, and a bit too slow in the second part. I think the camera looks better now it speeds up at the end as if it's taking off. Unfortunately, i forgot to re-animate the guitar when the camera was changed, so it remains stationary. Although, now you can see it for longer which i wanted as it was one of the more complicated objects i made. I added some more lighting to the scene which looks much more effective, such as on the diner. I worked out how to make the lava lamp glow which i'm pleased with. I think the trees worked out okay in the end. I think they look good when you first pass through the CD as you can see the texture of the branches.

If i were to change one thing, i wish i found something with more texture for the green landscape. I did have problems with the original textures not working in Arnold and i tried different imported images as textures but it didn't look great. It looks a bit plain but once i extended the road and added in the glow of the objects in the distance, it distracts from the landscape. Potentially, i could have added more in the second zone but by that point i thought it could be too much to look at in a short space of time.

I have started editing the scene in Aftereffects. I've warmed it up, making it a bit brighter. I've also started experimenting with the glow effects which i think enhances the lighting well. I particularly like the glow effect at the start through the hyperspace. I am going to continue to make adjustments on Aftereffects and add some sound.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Unfortunately, the 2D textures i have used don't seem to work in the Arnold render view. So, i've had to change the landscape texture which is a shame as i liked how it looked before. I think the first zone texture looks okay as i tried an arnold texture so there is some variation in colour. I'm not quite sure what to do with the green landscape as i liked the snow texture. At the moment it is a plain green which doesn't look great. I've tried importing different textures on but it goes distorted in parts which looks strange. Also, i'd used the rock texture on the floating boulders so, i've had to change it to a plain grey.

I got help fixing the trees which appears fine now. I decided to add the road into the next part to add some continuity. The skydome lights the scene up well, but when i put the star background in, it blocks out the light. I'd like there to be stars in the background so, i'm going to try and find away to stop it blocking out the light. I'd also like the the lava lamp to glow if possible. I think i'm nearly finished with my world. Just need to do some finishing touches than i'm ready to render.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Adding light- i want the lighting quite simple, so I've added in a skydome. I've also added an area light as i want the orange at the end to emit some light. For some reason when in the arnold render view, all my 2D textures have gone. I can't seem to fix it myself so i'll need help to fix this before i start rendering. Also, i have used some png images in my world, which have turned black round the outside which also needs fixing.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Adding in the lava lamp

[mi4014izzygraham]

I felt the diner looked a bit bare on it's own, so i decided to add a simple gas station pump to it which i turned out well. I tried building a car to be parked out side, but this quite difficult to do and i was happy enough with it to add it in. I then tried importing an image in, but it didn't fit in very well and clearly looked like a 2D image.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Adding texture to the landscape- I decided to keep the ground texture fairly simple and a neutral colour as i didn't want to distract from the the main features

I like that you can see the snow-capped hills in the distance. I used 2D texture for the snow built in maya.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Adding the water lilies to the Loch. I really like how this looks and i think it helps fill up some of the empty space in this zone.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Making a water lily inspired by Monet from my inspiration research. I felt look at the next zone, the Loch looked a bit bare, so i thought if i added in something, there is more to look at and the water lilies would be a good fit. It was a little time consuming to form the flower but not too complicated. Next i need to import and position them into the water.

[mi4014izzygraham]

[mi4014izzygraham]

Finished diner

I don't think i will add anymore details as you won't be able to see it from a far. I played around with the granite tool to add more texture to the walls as they were looking a bit too smooth. I like my font selection and the bulbs i put around the sign. If possible i'd like to make these glow so it stands out. I like the idea of having a vintage car next to it but that could be tricky to make so i'm not sure if i will make that. It may also take a while and i want plenty of time render.

[mi4014izzygraham]

Solution to building trees

After playing around with the trees i tried making before, It was still lagging and was taking too long. So, i was told about a different way of making trees which is a much easier solution. I found a png image of a tree and imported it onto a flat plan. Then i duplicated the image and rotated it to create a cross. I did this again until so it was crossed over a few times and you couldn't see the individual images. This worked really well and from a far you can't tell. I imported the tree in and began pasting it to build up the landscape around the lake. I was told by Gary to duplicate instead of copy and paste so then the file doesn't get too large and laggy. So, i did have to start again but this will keep my file quick moving. I'm really pleased with how the trees are looking. I'm going to continue to add them into the surrounding landscape. I added in an orange, as the sun, to link to the smell from my inspiration grid. I'd like to make this glow when i go to render.