Month: April 2023

I have decide to model the table first. the reason for this is one of my group members needs it as a reference for her work.

i also really like the desing and want to start here

I am using this model to reference the scale of the table.

• the table will be like a coffee table size rather than a desk.

• This is the glass layer on top
• it has multi-cut and then segmented edges
• AI standard surface – glass – color blue
• 50% replacement to ensure glass is see through

• Create a shape that will compliment the glass on top
• snap object to glass
• add multicut sections and segments to follow original design concept and theme

• create a negative section
• add beveled edge – 1 section
• texture

Texture using UV Editor in order to get a more interesting look that is more on theme.

This was the texture i chose (referenced below)

• connect nodes within hypershade.

texture applied to shells

Currently building the leg of the table, which will follow the sharp edged theme.

the leg must be

• metallic
• sharp edged
• angled and similar to the cutout of the table
• low to the floor like coffee table
• duplicated

Leg made originating from a cube,

• 10 subdivisions added
• shape to rectangle
• move vertexes to add angles
• using multi cut add shapes negatively to fit theme
• extend legs from balance
• bridge all gaps
• AI standard surface – metallic

• i was happy with the result although Daniel pointed out that the inside of the legs were bridged from top to bottom therefore the faces were not aligned properly and could cause problems later on
• i went back and fixed this
• this was not a visual issue but may cause issues later on if adjustments were required to be made.

Final Result

• Checked with my group that they were happy with the look and scale.
• Viewed through Arnold Render View

• show transparent wireframe
• group object
• snap to grid
• ensure that the legs are consistent with the ground

• Group
• Rename – Lowfi_DOM_coffeetable _1

• export the project to a specific folder
• choose FBX export (this image shows the wrong one, but it was exported as FBX)

Drop the FBX Version 1 file into the group google drive.

References

Silver Textured Sheet Metal Texture

Notes and Learning from Discord Class

we have tracked before as you can see in my blogs, here Dom was going through tracking again and giving extra tips on improving tracking for CG

this is the clip we will be using for adding CG to for our assignment

Things learned in this call

• research further into matchmove it puts you ahead as a VFX artist in the industry
• track this composition yourself for the assignment and make sure i understand how to matchmove properly and move projects and cameras from 3DE to maya and nuke
• Always resize tracing squares when using tracking markers they often mistake other markers for the one your trying to track
• break tracking down into areas – start with the ground and move to walls
• he went through legacy view again
• try and match horizon to ground
• To match horizons go -> view – side view – select camera – rotate camera to flat – snap to origin – the shot should now be level.
• alternatively go -> edit – align 3 points to – XY Plane
• always put way to many points in the – the more the better always, you will need to remove some of them almost every time. if all your bad points are on the wall and you need to turn them of the result will be substandard. MORE POINTS BETTER RESULT
• ideally always have a good foreground mid ground and background tracking
• wherever you plan to add CG you need at least 5 or 6 trackers (for example if you were adding a window to this shot)
• always use JPEGS when exporting into other projects

To begin the design process i drew out some sketches taking inspiration from my references.

Couch Concepts

Chosen Design

• Geometric shape to stay consistent with style
• metallic and leather
• sharp edges
• rust
• divots and extrusions

Table Chosen Design

• metallic base
• octagon style cut outs
• glass layer on top with angled corners
• two legs following octagon cut out theme

The Designs i have chosen are rough although i wanted to create a general design to show my group, that they could approve of before i started modelling.

Beginning the process of my specific task

our group came up with a “Padlet” page that works as a mood board. This is important as it allows us to ensure that everyone is aiming for a similar theme in order for all the models to be consistent with each other.

Group Mood board

My assigned references

These are some quick references that i was given by Tim and Daniel, they are designed to help me conceptualize what is needed and help me with my brain storming for the model.

Whilst these references are helpful they are really the bare minimum. I am going to create my own mood board.

The mood board will consist of ideas and themes.

For this Project i will be modelling

• a sofa / chair
• a desk/ coffee table

Theme Esque mood board

Object shape and design mood board

Table mood board

sofa mood board

• Assigning assets to specific groups 
• Joining Low Fi X

Our group for the Collaborative project was originally going to be quite small although we instead had our class move to having two big groups rather than one small third one.

I was quite happy with this decision due to the fact that my new group had a strong vision for what they wanted to achieve.

I was assigned the role as a “Look Dev Artist” and Modeler.

although we are not just modelling but orchestrating the overall look of assets and the final result

For this project we are required to take footage assigned to us from our course leader of a rather empty room and make and assets and designs to a moving image.

For Example

Original (screenshot from video)

Reworked (screenshot from video)

this process requires

• very strong tracking
• cohesive assets
• a strong theme
• modelers must have cohesive goals
• compositors with attention to detail
• a group with a strong common understanding of the goal

Learning matchmove and tracking 

Rotomation

• Matching the movements of objects and actors 
• This proves allows you to manually add CG

3D equalizer

• Industry standard camera tracking software
• Camera tracking object tracking rotomation, use with lidars.

3DE Proces

• Set up of camera and lens 
• Track scene 
• Lens distortion
• 3D orientation
• Check sticks with markers 

3D Equalizer r7/r6 

This was the first time i had used 3D equalizer, In the beginning we just started the process of basic movement around the program and ensuring that we had the right setting set up to start tracking the project properly.

After importing the footage as different frames, i was able to select the exact amount of frames that i wanted to track in this project.

Following this we color corrected the footage, this was important as more contrast was needed in order for the trackers to have a better understanding and grip on the points that were being placed.

• color controls enabled and adjusted
• image controls were enabled
• curves were enabled aswell
• first tracker was set on the frist frames, and then tracked by hitting “track” in the middle of the screen. (this screenshot was taken whilst tracking so the button says “stop” instead.

I began to place more trackers, it was now becoming clear why this program is so important. It has very strong tracking capabilities and when configured correctly tracked accurately quickly and efficiently. the process was actually quite enjoyable as it was working quite well. I have struggled with tracking being very erratic and messy in other programs such as Nuke and After Effects.

I learned how to not only track forward into the image but also to track backwards into the image. which was very useful especially for tracking elements that were not within the shot the entire time.

Elements that went out of frame or started out of frame were ended at the beginning or the end using the shortcut “E” depending on whether i was tracking forwards or backwards.

Here you can see an example of the tracking line. I have tracked the inner left corner of the M, i decided to use this spot on this occasion because of the high contrast between the black and the light beige paint within the graffiti.

the point was selected and the inside square was stretched to fall over the contrasting colors, with the outside square giving more information to where it was on the wall.

This was a successful track.

This is a similar track using a shadow on a cup, shadows are a good source for tracking as again they offer high contrast on objects especially in natural sunlight like in this project.

Dom made sure we were to avoid tracking objects that amy move such as

• water
• people
• shadows of people
• objects that may be moved by wind
• clouds

Here is a graph of the movement being tracked. At this point i had set approximately 30+ trackers to objects within the project. This graph shows the movement of the camera and allows us to see if there are an anomalies and where the tracking may be inaccurate as a whole rather than having to look at individual trackers.

Here we can see another viewing option within 3D equalizer. this one shows the movement of the camera in comparison to the plane that is the image, you can see the movement is quite smooth therefore the tracking is accurate to how the video was shot. Some up down and side to side movement is visible meaning the tracking is accurate to the handheld footage.

F2 – tracking 

F5- horizon lines #

F6 – 3D camera 

Export file into maya 

After exporting the file with the tracking installed to it the project was able to be opened up in Maya. The trackers will now allow me to add object throughout the image and have them move as if they were really there.

1

2

Object tracked. 

Here i have to different frames showing the cylindrical obejct being tracked to the same position throughout the project.

i have placed two screenshots in to show its consistency with the tracking

I plan to add a more intricate object that looks more realistic, without tracking marks and isn’t just wire-frame.