With this project being split over two semesters I thought it would be good to create a quick post to serve as a reintroduction to the environment I am creating, what goals I am to gain from creating this environment and gathering one condensed reference board before I move onto modelling.
:: Project Summary ::
My aim with this project is to create a single environment piece which I can place on my portfolio which shows the progression I have made as a 3D artist in my time at university and will hopefully be of a quality where I can use it to gain notice by professional game studios.
A modern archaeological dig site surrounding an ancient broken sewer gate. Rusted bars bent and broken, with monstrously large footprints littering the camp. Notice boards warning of monster sightings in the area stand vigil amongst broken and forgotten lights.
My environment summarised
I am really excited to create this environment, I think it will give a very good visual while not requiring an obscene number of models and not employing any unorthodox modelling techniques I am unfamiliar with. I also think it could tell a really nice visual story, what broke out of the sewer gate? What interested the archaeologists? These are questions which could help to create an environment that sticks with the viewer after they have finished looking.
:: Reference Board ::
During my proposal document last semester I showed briefly two of the references I had gathered for this project (ref.1,ref.2), however I knew I would need to increase the number of references I found for each asset I am to create. I was introduced to a service called miro by an industry contact, which studios often use to create collaborative references boards that can be viewed and edited by large teams.
While something like pureref is perfectly fine for this project as I am the only person working on it, I felt it good to gain experience with industry standard software’s while I can and as such I started creating a much more in depth reference board. With multiple references for each of the different asset I aim to model (fig.1)
By creating a reference board which was of an industry standard I gave myself the best possible chance of creating high quality assets, and by getting used to collecting the references all in one place I am making myself more suitable for industry employment post graduation. It is a departure from my usual reference method, where I have the individual image files saved on my computer and bring them in one by one as they are needed directly into Maya via an image plane.
Of course I will still be using free images planes when I need to model something with precise dimensions, but it is still good to have one large reference board to refer too. If nothing else, I find it helps to get the creative process underway on those days where I am struggling to model anything.
:: Planned Workflow ::
Below I have outlined what I believe the workflow will be for my project. This can change of course and one of the big changes I will need to implement with this project is not seeing the creation process as a list of points needing to be ticked in order. When creating an environment, It is not expected to create all the models, then texture all the models and import to game engine all at once. Rather it’s the norm to bounce between these steps.
Substance Designer (Tileable Textures) – Maya/ZBrush (Modelling) – Substance Painter & Photoshop (Non-Tileable Textures) – Unreal Engine (VFX & Rendering)
My Planned Workflow
This will mean that there will be a certain amount of bouncing between the various blog posts of this project while I create the environment. But getting used to the kind of workflow I would be expected to employ in a studio is vital for me to get the most out of this project.
:: Initial Blockout Shots ::
Below you will find the original blockout shots I created during my proposal for the project. When setting these shots up in Unreal Engine I made sure to save each camera individually. Making it easy to recreate the shots as I go about populating the scene. A large part of creating the blockout was thinking of the final vision for the environment, and by saving the camera cuts I can be sure of what assets are hero props and which aren’t in the final frames.
:: Summary ::
In this post I have reintroduced you to my project, what I hope to achieve from the process and shown my refined reference board. Now that I have the references I need for the various assets and have my blockout to work from I can move straight into modelling in Maya and ZBrush.
:: References ::
amazon.co.uk (A) ‘Bananair – Pallet Cushions/Mattress, Sofa, Chair, Seat for Euro Pallet – Seat and Back (Grey, Set 1 Backrest 120 x 40 cm + 1 Seat 120 x 80 cm)’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pallet-Cushions-Mattress-Sofa-Chair/dp/B0957K65YR [Accessed 11/06/2023]
amazon.co.uk (B) (n.d.) ‘LeChamp Steel Folding Chair Strong Metal Frame Camping office Chair Space Saving Desk Chair for Guest, Visitor & Conference Temporary Seat (Green, 2)’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/LeChamp-Folding-Camping-Conference-Temporary/dp/B08B57S5FX [Accessed 11/06/2023]
amazon.co.uk (C) (n.d.) ‘HP Officejet 250 mobile multifunction printer (printer scanner, copier, WLAN, HP ePrint, Wifi Direct, USB, 4800 x 1200 dpi) black’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-OfficeJet-250-Mobile-Printer/dp/B01IQS8UHC [Accessed 11/06/2023]
amazon.co.uk (D) (n.d.) ‘Campingaz Chef Folding Double Burner Stove and Grill, compact gas cooker for camping or festivals, Blue’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Campingaz-Camping-Folding-Portable-Compact/dp/B00UALXY6Q/ref=asc_df_B00UALXY6Q/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=217951975137&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7383182365217320544&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9180655&hvtargid=pla-422279386993&psc=1&th=1&psc=1 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Deepblue4you (2018) ‘Old gray stone wall in Croatia stock photo’ [Online Image] Available online: https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/old-gray-stone-wall-in-croatia-gm998987268-270193227 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Drapertools.com (A) ‘Draper Expert Petrol Generator with Wheels, 4000W’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.drapertools.com/product/23984/draper-expert-petrol-generator-with-wheels-4000w/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Drapertools.com (B) ‘CLARKE PG6500ADVES EURO5 5.5KVA DUAL VOLTAGE (230V/110V) PETROL GENERATOR’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-pg6500adves-euro-5-55kva-230v115v-dual-/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Generators-direct.co.uk ‘Hyundai DHY12500SE Silent Diesel Generator’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.generators-direct.co.uk/product/hyundai-dhy12500se-silent-diesel-generator/?gclid=CjwKCAjw4ZWkBhA4EiwAVJXwqTQt8l5dx3oo0G0aXMICQMoHrrpG5Shd5HfaNPRmA7x1vTzpkvh22RoCSEQQAvD_BwE [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Gooutdoors.co.uk (n.d.) ‘Double Picnic Table’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15979442/hi-gear-double-picnic-table-15979442 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Gravesindustrial.com ‘Construction Electrical 6710I Dual Head Economy Tripod Work Light, LED Lamp, 82 W Lamp, 120 VAC, 19 in Base/2-Stage Stand Base, 2 Heads’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.grovesindustrial.com/product-details/CEP%206710I [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Johnnyblueinc.com. (n.d.) ‘Standard Porta Potty’ [Online Product]. Available online: https://johnnyblueinc.com/products/individual-porta-potty/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Mullwell Photography (n.d.) ‘Portapotty on a roadside with truck passing’ [Online Image]. Available online: https://stock.adobe.com/search/images?k=porta-potty&asset_id=264645832 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Nmbvcx.cf ‘Light, 500 Watt – Construction Lights’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.nmbvcx.cf/ProductDetail.aspx?iid=180206934&pr=40.88 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Obsidianfantasy (n.d.) ‘Old sewer entrance [Online Image] Available online: https://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photos-old-sewer-entrance-gate-to-abandoned-image39353533 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
PhotoChur (n.d.) ‘Storm sewer pipe closed with grating. Broken sewer entrance. Plastic debris stuck on the drain grate’ [Online Image] Availible online: https://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-403622471/stock-photo-storm-sewer-pipe-closed-with-grating-broken-sewer-entrance-plastic-debris-stuck-on-the-drain-grate [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Portablespace.co.uk ‘20FT SHIPPING CONTAINER (ONE TRIP) DARK GREEN (RAL 6007)’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.portablespace.co.uk/product/20ft-x-8ft-one-trip-shipping-container-dark-green [Accessed 11/06/2023]
rugged.tech (n.d.) ‘DELL Latitude 14 Rugged Extreme 7404 i5’ [Online Product] Available online: https://rugged.tech/product/dell-latitude-14-rugged-extreme-7404-i5/# [Accessed 11/06/2023]
shop.calor.co.uk (n.d.) ‘15kg Butane gas bottle’ [Online Product] Available online: https://shop.calor.co.uk/15kg-butane-gas-bottle.html [Accessed 11/06/2023]
sofabedexpert.com ‘PALLARN FUTON PALLET SOFA’ [Online Product] Availible online: https://www.sofabedexpert.com/product/pallarn-futon-pallet-sofa/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
TaleWorld Entertainment (2020) ‘Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord’ [Video Game]. Available online: https://store.steampowered.com/app/261550/Mount__Blade_II_Bannerlord/ [Accessed 06/12/2022]
Texturelib.com (n.d.) (Pinterest image) Available online: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/150729918755522124/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Tymchenko, I (n.d.) ‘Texture of old big stone wall. Backdrop of medieval historic building’ [Online Image] Available online: https://www.dreamstime.com/texture-old-big-stone-wall-backdrop-medieval-historic-building-texture-old-big-stone-wall-backdrop-medieval-historic-image163808521 [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Ubisoft (2017) ‘Assassins creed: Origins’ [Video Game]. Available online: https://store.steampowered.com/app/582160/Assassins_Creed_Origins/ [Accessed 06/12/2022]
Vechas, R (2016) ‘40 Creative Wood Pallet Bed Design Ideas’ (Online Article) [Image embedded in artice] Available online: https://www.ecstasycoffee.com/40-creative-wood-pallet-bed-design-ideas/ [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Vidaxl.co.uk (n.d.) ‘Bo-Camp Folding Camping Table Richmond 70×40 cm Bamboo’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.vidaxl.co.uk/e/bo-camp-folding-camping-table-richmond-70×40-cm-bamboo/8712013046600.html [Accessed 11/06/2023]
Walmart.com (n.d.) ‘Reliance Products Wash’n Go Compact 3 Gallon Sink’ [Online Product] Available online: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Reliance-Products-Wash-n-Go-Compact-3-Gallon-Sink/36210327 [Accessed 11/06/2023]