Artefact 2 Planning

Artefact 2 - "Eerie Night"

"Lighting in the computer gives you the control to create any situation you can imagine. By using the right combination of intensity and color, you can effectively create a mood for your cinematic masterpiece."

(Ablan, 2003, p.78)

For my second artefact, I will continue to explore using lighting design as a technique to create mood and atmosphere. As I have already tried to use lighting to create the effect of a winter morning (natural light), for my second artefact I will focus more on creating a specific mood using artificial light sources during the evening or night time.
The types of mood and atmosphere I want to achieve are:

• Dark
• Cold
• Gloomy
• Creepy
• Eerie
• Uncomfortable

From looking at these moods and how others has portrayed similar atmospheres in CG lighting, I have found the following visual research so far...

From observing these examples, and from reading my research of this particular area, I can see that the following properties are needed to create such mood:

• High key-to-fill ratios - bright lights, dark shadows, high contrast
• Dark feel to environment not in focus
• Green hue to lights and surroundings (sometimes blue)
• Moonlight can be used to add to mood/darkness

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.