Fortnightly Blog Entry/Update #3

Yo!

Just the regular fort-nightly update where I discuss concepts, ideas or anything that has been happening lately.

So far since the last update, I've had to do two presentations, one in a small class and one at the Thursday lecture. It's interesting to see how much more of the finer details of a presentation I have to learn. I guess it was good practice then.

I've posted some a compositions of some 3D models I did for my city project. The aim is to design an elaborate sci-fi, googie / popluxe inspired city using signature, building and vehicles models made by ourselves and the rest of the class. The setting is whatever we choose. I was thinking of maybe doing a city inside of large, hollowed out mountain? Eh, I'm sure I'll be making changes to my idea as I go along since it will be ages until we actually go full-on with the project.

I'm also doing a spaceship model for a canyon scene I have to make. I was looking back at the lesson/tutorial and was surprised to see a technique we haven't fully gone through despite us moving on. It's basically a way to put a gradient of materials and sediments onto a object that changes as they go up or down in values from the z-axis. I'll probably post some screenshots of the scene later next week.

I've been thinking of some ideas and projects that I could possibly do in my spare time to help tighten my grip, grasp and polish my production quality and speed.

Maybe an animation about a guitar playing cowboy, a ferret with a lute, a pale blonde woman with a harp, a heavy bear-built mustached gentleman with a small taiko drum and an autonomous knight. Something about them all coming together somehow. Geez what a mix.

Promise to post some ACTUAL scans later. We'll see.

First Flatting Project REVISITED

Pst. Hey remember that first assessment? Yeah, remember I forgot to put shadows for the house.
Also added a solar flare, fixed the sword and some of the other shadows. Added a few highlights to the tree.

Was a shame that I forgot to put shadows on a separate layer. Very destructive.

3D Vehicle Compostion

Here's a vehicle model I did for who 3d city render.

Wasn't designated to do one but did one anyway (Meant to do signature (which is finished))

 - Ambient Occlusion Render via material override.

- Matte Render.
- Used for easy masking and selection during composition.




- Final Render. With Shadows and Lights






- Final Render. Without Shadows and Lights
- Used for composition

- Final Composition (Done in Photoshop)

- Had Final Render on a Normal Blend and had the AO layer on Multiply to bring out the shadows.

- Matte layer hidden.

- Background made using simple Gradient tool in Photoshop.



*Note: The matte render was very different compared to the signature render. For some reason it wouldn't matte render the inside of the cockpit, but this didn't really pose a problem since it was just a simple eclipse to included later. If it was a small detail I probably would of ran into some trouble.

*This gave me more practice with making my own background in Photoshop. I also learned the importance of quads with rendering the model.

3D Sign Composition

 - Ambient Occlusion Render via material override.
 - Hidden Background




 - Matte Render
 - Used for easy masking and selection during composition.
 - Hidden Background




- Final Render
- With Background (Standard box with "Normal" modifier and Backface Cull [found in object properties])

- Final Composition (Done in Photoshop)

- Had Final Render on a Normal Blend and had the AO layer on Multiply to bring out the shadows.

- Matte layer hidden.




* A worthy note would be that you can have a dupe layer of the final, select the sign using the matte and then change the signs levels, hue etc to make it pop out more.

* Learned a lot about materials, rendering, mental ray and lighting with this model.

Fortnightly Blog Entry/Update #2

Hi! Welcome to the second fort-nightly update where I give an update on various things I'm working on and what's going on.

I've got pretty far ahead in some of my units at TAFE. I've started a second flatting project and started doing some more 3d work. I'm hoping to post some screens either today or tomorrow to show you.

I've got some ideas for some upcoming TAFE assessments as well as some projects I'm thinking of doing over the year to help develop my skills. Hopefully telling a story, maybe a short animation? Anyhow, I'll be giving regular updates on those, whether it be; scripts, screens or short brainstorms.

First Flatting Project.

- Still fairly new to flatting. Feel like there is something wrong with it.......oh well.

Fortnightly Blog Entry/Update #1

Hey! Welcome to my first ever blog post. I have created a blog to post updates, build a portfolio and help establish a network for myself and others. I will be posting various concepts, ideas, screenshots and finished work to this blog to help build it up for people to view.

These fortnightly updates will be written to just update on what I'm currently doing. Some will be more personal than others. Maybe even ranting. Pretty much general stuff.

Initially this blog was made as part of a TAFE assessment, but I guess there is no harm in keeping it and working on it for personal reasons.

Since I don't have much work to show off yet, I guess this blog post will be mainly a introduction to my experience of my first 4 weeks at eCentral Tafe as well as some background on who I am.

Daniel Robin Cherrin. My first name was given to me by my father, taken from the bible. I myself am not religious but acknowledge almost all religions. I attended Hillcrest Primary School and John Forrest Secondary College. I like to eat 24/7, especially if it's sweets. I have a flurry of friends with various personalities and backgrounds who I all care for. I'm now currently studying for a Diploma of Screen and Media (Animation) at Tafe.

In my first week, as anyone else at a new place, I was very shy and hesitant to talk to others. I'm known to be very shy towards people I barely know and the more mature atmosphere of tafe can be very intimidating. However, I found the lecturers and staff to be very friendly, which helped me (And I'm guessing many others) settles in comfortably, especially since it's my first year. They have a great sense of humor and make the school work seem less of a chore.

I've made a handful of friends and finished about 2 assessments so far in my first 4 weeks. My personal interests tie in so well with what I'm studying that I've found myself doing extra works and refining my new-found skills.

So far, I'm loving tafe. Which is a big change from High School.