Starting to Model the Castle (Ahh!)

Today, as I had finished my presentation the night before, I decided to try and make a start on modelling the castle, although I had no idea where to start! Eventually I decided to begin with the most complicated bit - the East Front wall. I am going to model each wall separately for now, mainly due to it enabling me to use the symmetry modifier - a lot easier! I have experimented modelling a few different ways (i.e. starting again a lot), but have settled on extruding inwards for windows, after realising that deleting the polygons altogether wouldn't allow me to texture them.

Anyway, here is all I have done in a last couple of hours - just the main shape and windows of the wall, and the start of the main body of the stairs (without the steps at the moment)...

Completed Mock-up Models

I completed the previously posted simple mock-up of the basic exterior outline of the castle in 3ds max, which I suggest that we all use as a guide when starting  modelling each part of the scene. This is modelled from the 1800 floor plan as a guide, using accurate measurements in cm which I figured out.

I have also done some practice of low poly modelling for my client presentation this week, using part of one of the pillars as an example. I have used as little polygons as possible by deleting all the back faces that are not needed and will not be seen when placed against the building. :)

Artefact 1 "Morning After Dark" - Development and Evaluation

Development/Improvement of Images:

  

Final Images:

Evaluation:

The aim of my first two research artefacts was to question the popular assumption/theory that lighting is the most important factor when it comes to visual storytelling. My first artefact, specifically, was to explore the techniques involved in using lighting design alone to show a CG environment at a certain time of day and year – a winter morning. Through quick feedback from online sources and the small focus group in my presentation, I would discover how successful this can be and what atmosphere it may create for the viewer.

The main information that can answer my initial enquiry from the results from this first artefact is that, although lighting plays a very important role, other elements are also often needed to emphasise the specific atmosphere that you are trying to create. For instance, although I only received small amounts of anonymous feedback on my original rendered images, I knew instantly that I needed to tone down the lighting intensity and use other techniques to enhance this experiment. This could be achieved by adding other clues to the winter morning theme, such as using imagery for exterior window textures with snow and colder colours, or using post production and colour correction techniques.

The feedback I have received from my focus group during my presentation was mainly based on attention to detail to improve the quality and believability of the scene....

• Consistency in features - e.g. primary school decorations, secondary school style - which one?
• Ambient occlusion would make it feel softer and more realistic
• Bump maps on the walls could add more detail and make it less flat
• The volume light effect was very sharp and solid, perhaps use noise parameters to make it more believable?

From completing this first artefact I have also learned how lighting and colours can be perceived totally differently by other people in comparison to my own personal feelings. Therefore, I have realised that intensive research and feedback is always important when trying to mimic a specific time of day or year with lighting. I have also realised that using different renderers, textures, and types of light can easily affect the success and quality of the outcome, and that it is good to experiment with these in conjunction with post production techniques in order to gain a totally successful outcome.

Nottingham Castle Project - Measuring and Organising!

 To be honest, we are running a bit behind with the project (well, not really started it!) due to the bad weather recently, but are planning on finally trying to visit the site tomorrow to observe, measure, gather images, etc. This should mean that, together with a final bit of organising details (e.g. naming conventions, file sharing, final measurements and polygon counts), we should be ready to begin actually making the outcome by the end of the week after our final tutorial before our project proposal presentations.

Anyway, the little progress and preparation I have done so far I will put here:

Measurements to be used for the model - figured out from scale drawing from 1800

During the past week I also produced a very basic mockup to show how I could accurately model the building to size using this diagram as a guide. Note this is only the main part of the castle, as this was before I realised that the kitchen/balcony area to the right of the scale drawing was also to be modeled by me, but would involve the same concept. When I begin modelling the final product, I will only be doing approx. 3/4 of the exterior that is shown here, as Amanda will be doing the west (back) entrance with the staircase.

Working on Artefact 1

On this post I will keep uploading progress of the artefact so far, and reflect on what I have done and want to achieve.

So far, before starting the actual artefact of lighting a winter morning atmosphere in the environment, I have firstly switched over to mental ray and edited most of the materials accordingly to add a little more believability to the whole thing.

Mental Ray renderer using Arch & Design materials - more realistic..

..Compared to my previous renders using scanline and standard materials - less believable

Artefact 1 Planning

Artefact 1 - "Morning After Dark"

For my first artefact, I will begin to explore the cinematographic technique of lighting. When reading for my research project, I often find opinions which state that lighting is the most important technique when adding mood or atmosphere to a 3D environment.

“...light is at the very foundation of visual storytelling, whether you’re working in film or photography, fine art or illustration. However, there are further concepts that should also form the cornerstones of a lighting artist’s visual storytelling toolkit: composition, staging, mood and depth.”

(Brooker 2008, p.303)

The first aspect of lighting I will explore in this artefact will be how to show different times of day or year through lighting, therefore creating different feelings and atmospheres. The specific time I have chosen to look at is an winter morning, as it is just getting bright after the long dark night (approximately 8-9am).

Above, are a few images I have found online to help influence me when producing my rendered still(s) to show a winter morning. Although most of these show photographs of exterior scenes, the same quality and placement of light would apply to my interior scene. From looking at these, I can decide that my lights from outside the windows should be placed low in the sky/scene, as well as having a high intensity and strong yellow/orange tint to them. Shadows should also be considered, which appear to be strong and lengthened at this time of day/year. Also, although this artefact is focusing mainly on the technique of lighting design, it could also add to the effect to consider adding an effect such as a lens glow, to emphasise the intensity of the light source.

Practice-Led Research - Artefacts

The second part of the research project module involves using 5 artefacts as 'practice-led research' in order to further explore my research question.

My research question I have explored in my document is:
"How is cinematography used when creating an atmosphere or mood within a CG environment, and which techniques are most effective?"

When proposing my possible artefacts within the document, I suggested that..
"To explore methods for creating atmosphere and mood, experiments with cinematographic techniques and the 3D pipeline would be produced. For example, using the same environment, many experimental renders could be produced, each using different techniques such as camera angles, lighting, or colour schemes to try to create mood within this environment."

After discussing this further in recent tutorials, I have decided on the following approach to my artefacts, where 3-4 techniques can be explored:

Artefacts 1 & 2: Exploration of lighting - Time and mood
Artefact 3: Texturing techniques - Changing the feel of a room
Artefacts 4 & 5: Camera techniques - Angles, effects, movement

Although I recently posted a possible environment for my artefacts in the form of a lounge/diner area, I have now changed my idea and decided on a classroom scene. This scene uses large windows from both the back wall and the pitched ceiling, as a good source of natural light, as well as incorporating hanging ceiling lights as a possible source of artificial light, useful when experimenting with using light to show different times of day or year. The scene was mainly influenced by an artist studio model I found on the lighting challenges at the 3drender website (http://3drender.com/challenges/artistry/index.html), as I thought it was a good example of potential to show character through a simple model of a room.

So far, I have modelled all of the main features of the room, and only applied simple textures and added basic lighting to help whilst producing the scene. I will add more detail in the form of textures, lighting, props, and effects, depending on what I am trying to show in each artefact. I have not put too much time into high quality modelling, etc. due to this research being focused on cinematography techniques more so than modelling and texturing.

Nottingham Castle External Client Project - Images & Group

Today I decided to make a Facebook group for the three of us doing this client project - me, Amanda, and Helina - to help us organise the project more efficiently and to share any useful resources and progress. I also think this will help us get used to working together rather than separately, and could be useful at times when it may not be possible to meet up to complete work.

http://www.facebook.com/groups/375082555921454/

I have uploaded the PDFs to this group so far, as well as exported images from the larger of the PDFs, to use as reference when we start to plan the project for the presentation and then 3D modelling. Here are some of the images I have gathered so far:

Once we receive the brief for the project - hopefully this week! - we can start to use these reference images and PDF information to help us begin accurately planning and modelling the castle and its grounds (I still believe I am modelling most of the outside of the castle).

External Client Project - Nottingham Castle Visit

My external client project for this term involves working with two other students from my tutorial group and my tutor on a realtime visualisation of Nottingham Castle (Ducal Palace) at the time of the riot in 1831. Before the Christmas break, we all visited the location to observe, learn history, and discuss the project in a little more detail. I never posted the photographs I took during this visit, so here they are! :) (Sorry if some are a little blurry - it was a freezing day!)

For this project, my role will be to model and texture the exterior of the castle, which is why most of my images are of the bricks, windows, pillars etc. I have also been reading the PDF about the building history of the Ducal Palace, so now have a better understanding of what it was like at the time of the riot in 1831 and which parts were and weren't relevant at this time.

[Also, quick note: I have made a general 'Uni Work' Photostream on iCloud now I have two iOS devices - here is the link where I will post quite a few images, instead of using flickr, which I never really got into: https://www.icloud.com/photostream/#A15oqs3qGNmMLJ ]