RPRT - Modelling 2

This week's assignment was to create a sci-fi/fantasy environment, like a bar, lounge, office, etc.

I knew immediately that I wanted to create a controlroom of some sort. I've been playing a lot of Saints Row IV recently so the desicion was made pretty quick.

Here's how I used my time:

• Planning & Researching: 4 hours
• Concept: 4 hours
• Modelling: About 15 hours
• Finalizing: 30 mins

First I started looking for references, and here are those which inspired me the most.

And then the thumbnail-sketching began. There was some specific features I wanted to include, like monitors built into the walls, a hologram and desks.

I initially thought about including some monitors mounted on rails up in the roof, but I thought it would be too much considering I've already decided to have desks with monitors, was well as monitors built into the walls.

So here's what I setteled with.

In the middle of the room you can see the hologram, and the lines from the desks that goes into the wall is supposed to be some wires so the workers can send images and info onto the big monitors so all can see. And the desks are linked to the hologram-pod.

Following are the final concept.

A view from the desks, showing the connected hologram-pod, as well as the connected desks.

A close-up on the individual workspace, with floating hologram chairs.

A close-up on the hologram-pod.

I sketched up the concepts in Sketchbook Pro, because you got all kinds of rulers and helpers for creating spheres and perspective. I drew it like a blueprint so it was easier to see what went where, regarding the connectors from desks, hologram-pod, etc.

Above is the finished result. I'm quite pleased with the result and I can't wait to see how it will turn out with lights and materials. I'll upload pictures of that either tonight or tomorrow.

RPRT - Modelling 1

M1 - Weekly Assignment: The Goblet


This week we where supposed to create a goblet in 3Ds Max.

First I created a plan for the assignment of how I would work through the week. I usually work from 9 to 15 so that would give me six hours of work a day. But I also had to consider time for daily activities and tutorial videos. So my plan looked something like this:

• Monday: Research and planning, 4 hours.
• Tuesday: 1st. phase, 3 hours.
• Wednesday: 1 st. phase, 2 hours and 1 hour for feedback.
• Thursday: 2nd. phase, 4 hours.
• Friday: Finalizing, 3 hours. 

I made a search in google for goblets and here is the ones that really caught my attention:

As I was "googeling" I realized that goblets can have very varied shapes and forms. Some looked like glass for wine, others looked like horns. I became particularly inspired by the goblets with twist.
After the search I created some thumbnail sketches of various goblets.

Even though there was a lot of ideas and much better goblets in the thumbnails, my skills in 3Ds Max is limited so I didn't want to create a goblet that exceeded my skills.
So I started sketching out a goblet that would look nice and which I still would be able to complete.

Here is the reference for the spiral:

I wanted something similar to the column with the cylinders apart, as I think that looks better than if it looks like just one spiral. Like the column beneath here.

Then I started working on the concept art for the goblet.

Since I use Sketchbook Pro when I'm drawing, it was easy to create the stand and top. Because in Sketchbook Pro there is rulers for lines and circles and is much better to design in rather than Photoshop.

So in the modelling part of the assignment I drew the shape of the bottom and used the lathe tool to create the bottom-part of the goblet.

I then created four cylinders and used the twist tool to twist the four cylinders around each other 360 degrees and taper the spiral a bit.

I then drew one more shape and used the lathe tool to create the top of the goblet.

After some minor adjustement on the vertexes and adding a gray color to the goblet, it was finished.

Wireframe top

Wireframe side

Wireframe three-quarter view

Top view

Side view

 Three-quarter view

All in all I would say I'm quite happy with the result. A quite organic-looking goblet.

I've worked 100% after my schedule, asked in forums for help and used the tutorial videos for what it's worth. I'm also quite pleased with my desicion to create a goblet with my current skills in 3Ds Max and not get way ahead of myself. 

Day 4

Today the assignment was to add lighting, texture and animation to the cube and sphere. After watching the videos it was quite easy really.

So there isn't much more to say about that.

So now I'm going to use the weekend to relax.

Day 3

Today our assignment was to get familiar with the 3D software, which in my case was 3Ds Max, and take a look at videos that applied to us. In my case I spent much of the day watching introduction videos for 3Ds Max.
We was supposed to create a box and a sphere in the software as well.

It was quite interesting to try a 3D program for the first time. I've used Sketch Up before, but that was more for fun. 3Ds Max is way more advanced and actually much more fun.
I must admit that it was confusing with the quad-view, but I'll get the hang of it eventually.

It felt quite daunting at first when I opened 3Ds Max for the first time, but after watching the introduction videos it was a bit easier to navigate.

Tomorrow there will be a short animation for you to see.

Later!

Day 2

Today we've learned about research and planning, observational drawing, proof of concept, setting up reflective journal and also checked out useful software.

So the thing about research and planning is that you really should think about how you spend your time during a project. 

You got different "stages" during projects that is divided into:

• Research and planning
• Phase 1
• Feedback and correction
• Phase 2
• Finalling

Depending on the project there could be one or two stages of feedback and correction. Like the illustration above shows. 

That was an assignment where we were supposed to create a time-allocation schedule for a fictional commercial. The time we had on the project was 2 weeks (80 hours).

So what I thought was that research and planning for a commercial could not possibly take more than 5 hours, since a commercial usually isn't that long. 

And I think there would be better to use more time on phase 1 & 2 and actually work on the commercial. Rendering, animation and building sets and characters can be quite time-consuming. After phase 1 (and phase 2) I thought there would be wise to have some feedback and be able to fix bugs, glitches and other things long before the deadline.

And after phase 2 I put aside a little more time for feedback and correction, so it can be fixed before finalizing the project.

Another assignment we had was observational drawing. We need to observe reality to create fantasy. 

So I drew a wallet, a cup, a PC mouse and a candle.

So that's it for day 2. See you later!

3D studies - day 1

Today I started online classes at Noroff, 3D Design and Animation.

The tasks were as follows:

• Be familiar with Moodle (my online "classroom")) and create a small list of where to find the "search", "profile", "participants", etc.
• Presenting itself in the forum with appropriate commencement date (as in my case, 13/08/2013).
• Get books and required software.
• Put into how tasks are divided and where to find them.
• Open year-round schedule and find the dates for submission of assignments and portfolio.

Here then is my list of where I found bits and bobs from the first point.

So far so good. I can't wait to try out 3Ds Max and start creating people and landscapes.

See you!