Modeling Progress

While modeling the pillar on the roof I was floating between the different views and in the 'Right' window there were some mystery lines appearing. I ended up re building this 3 times as for some reason vertex's were jumping out of place as well. After finding a better quality image I have realised that part of the pillar is rounded so I am going to try using a cv curve to see if I can get a better outcome.

For the windows on the top of the building I came across a tutorial on youtube. The video showed a nice smooth way of creating these circle styled windows. I gave it a go and after 5 attempts I decided to move onto another section before I smashed the computer. 

The technique was to use 4 of the faces and cut them into 8, then create a square in the centre of them and moving the vertexes to create a octagon, then create another octagon in side of that one....needless to say it did not want to work for me so I will be taking a little break from this section.

References

I have decided to make a blog entry purley for my website/book references so I have them in one place and can easily access them - These were accessed 29.11.13

To do list:

Test out curves for the top of the pillars on roof
Search high quality images for pillars on roof
Build bottom floor pillars and arches
Start looking at textures

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qc5RSKsz-0g - Columns
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eYr0jTbAbE - Arches
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmcTj1AwirY - Arches
• http://www.digitaltutors.com/lesson/4089 - Details for building
• http://www.digitaltutors.com/lesson/12167-Dressing-the-window-areas - for top of windows (use blinds modeling)
• http://www.digitaltutors.com/lesson/4084 - stone ground - try just extruded each square on the ground a little bit..keep all faces together

Proposal

Title:  The ‘Real’ David

Outline:

The project will be to model the statue of David and the environment around him in 3D, using Autodesk Maya. The objective of this is to create a realistic scene, show casing my modelling and texturing skills.

If there is time after I have completed the models and texturing, I will add a cartoon version of the statue of David. This piece starts with the realistic scene, David then opens his eyes and breathes out, releasing his cartoon version (a fat, very little muscle definition version) and stretches, he then goes back into his pose and turn back into the realistic version.

Motivation:

I would like to work with in the modelling department upon graduating therefore I have focused on this for my final year project.

I feel adding the realistic and cartoon style will help for future employment, it shows that I am not a one trick pony and can create more than one style. This will also give variety to my reel and portfolio.

Technical Description:

To complete this project I will need to look at images and also find out information on the statue of David and San Marco square (where the statue will be situated). This will help to understand the look, personalities and also get the feel across in the realistic aspects of design, colour and atmosphere.

Another area I will investigate is the textures. This includes the fact that the square is known for flooding so I will need to take this into consideration. I will also need to show the results of the statue being outside – water damage, sun damage, bird droppings etc. The way the textures are added will play a big part in the effect and the realism so is another aspect to look at.

A few years back I worked for an architect firm which started my love for buildings; I wanted to incorporate this into my project but needed something more substantial. With having family in Italy it brought the idea of recreating an Italian scene. I wanted it to be a well-known place so it was easier for people to recognise. By doing so it also helps me perfect my skills and pushes me to do my best.

I thought just a building would not be enough to showcase my skills or be powerful enough as a finally project, therefore I decided to add a statue to the middle of the square, again going for a well-known figure. The Statue of David came to mind first, as it has defined features and not only helps with my modelling skills but helps with the realism I want to portray in the final product.

Literature review:

Books:

• Pilling, S. and Biucchi, E. (2002) Venice an architectural guide. London: B T Batsford.
• Pardew, L. and Seegmiller, D. (2005) Mastering Digital 2D and 3D Art. Boston: Course Technology PTR

Journals/Magazines:

• Siggraph (2002) “SCA ’02 Proceedings of the 2002 ACM SIGGRAPH/Eurographics symposium of Computer Animation” available at: http://dl.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=545261.545281&coll=DL&dl=GUIDE&CFID=254562894&CFTOKEN=35504616 (Accessed October 17 20013)
• Stash Magazine (2013) Stash 101. Available at: http://www.stashmedia.tv/archive/ (Accessed October 17 2013)

Websites:

• ComPart Multimedia (2011) Italy Guides.it. Available at: http://www.italyguides.it/us/venice_italy/st_mark_s_square/piazza_san_marco/st_mark_s_square.htm 
• PL Studios (2013) Digital Tutors. Available at: www.digitaltutors.com
• Harris, B., DR. and Zucker, S., DR. (2005) Khan Academy Smart History.  Available at: http://smarthistory.khanacademy.org/Michelangelo-David.html

What are you producing:

I will be producing a report including screen shots and other visuals to show my progress throughout this project. I will also be producing the final product which will be a film (720p, mp4) including the 3D models, textured and the wire frames.


Schedule: 23 weeks (18 October – 21 March)

14 (Oct)
- Start finalising proposal

18 (Oct)
PROPOSAL DUE

21 (Oct)
- Start Research
- Sketching scenes

1 (NOV)
- Sketches Due
- Research completed
- Update report with completed work

4 (Nov)
- Start finalising artwork

15 (Nov)
- Artwork finalised
- Update Report with completed/finalised work 16 17

18 (Nov)
- Start modelling
- Start documents/visuals for review

28 (Nov)
- Animatic/ storyboard/ Visuals finalised for review

29 (Nov)
PROGRESS REVIEW

10 (Jan)
- Models Complete
- Environment Complete

31 (Jan)
- Textures finalised

7 (Feb)
- Render tests on textures complete

21 (Feb)
- Lighting Completed

28 (Feb)
- Test renders completed

21 (March)
Product Submission

Final Year Project

We have been given the brief for our final year project and its now time for idea making.

After having three years of experience on this course I have found I am interested in modeling environments. I do enjoy the concept art and character design stages as well but feel in the 3d world I am better suited to environments rather than character animation.

The reason being anything goes in an environment, I am aware a character can look however you want it to but with an environment there is more opportunities to explore with who, what, when, where, why!?.

Another area I would like to investigate into is matte painting/digital painting, this has come about after seeing other work by people on the course. There are so many different styles that I feel looks great and can see their work being illustrations for books or models for animations. I would love for my work to get the same feedback!

So, building on that, for my final year project I would like to make something that will challenge myself and be something that I haven't done before.

After doing some research and thinking I decided to go with modeling a well known place, this helps push me to get it right!

The first step is the proposal which I will post once that is completed.

Progression Review

Title: The ‘Real’ David

I have created an original scene for my final year project, it consists of realistic and cartoon styles. The main scene is a realistic Procuratie Vecchie (in St Mark’s square) with the statue of David situated in the centre of the square. This is another creative addition as the statue of David is not normally in this area. As mentioned in the proposal, if there is time I will animate the statue, turning him from realistic to cartoon. He will also stretch in an exaggerated expression to clearly distinct the cartoon style. He will then go back to his stance turning back into the realistic form.

To help with this I have found further references in addition to those in my proposal:
(For some reason the blog wont let me upload some of the files so I have the actual pdf page of my progress review, and it has saved the images but not the text, obviously the computer is my friend today :/)

  

Schedule:

I have slightly amended my original schedule adding an extra week onto the modeling time frame. This is due to unforeseen circumstances. I had originally saved a few weeks extra at the end of my project therefore I feel my goal is still achievable with this amendment.

My plan is to create the building first and statues second. Once the models have been completed I will start with texturing and lighting so the render tests can be completed. Lastly I will be animating the camera to pan through the models to showcase my completed work and render as a quicktime video.

Updated schedule: 

Nov 28 – Jan 17 Modeling 

Jan 18 – 31 Texturing 

Feb 01 – 07 Rendering Tests 

Feb 08 – 21 Lighting 

Feb 22 – 28 Rendering Tests 

March 01 - 07 Final Renders

March 08 – 21 In case anything runs over

Tips to help with texture and design:

• The ground of St Marks Square is natural stone that has been laid in a pattern designed by architect Andrea Tirali, this was so market merchants knew where to set up their stalls.
• Used to be apartments and offices with shops and restaurants on ground level.
• Built in 15th Century
• The square is overrun with pigeons and they have caused damage to buildings.
• The square floods
• David is 5.17 meters tall
• 50 arches along the wall
• Two stories of windows (50 each storey)

Maya progression:

 

Further references for Procuratie Vecchie :

Websites:

• Creating Tubes - Extruding along Curves in Maya (Pt. 1),video, CGCandy101, August 21 2012, viewed November 19 2013, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5jQqsiUlHQ>
• Autodesk Maya 2014 Tutorial | Introduction To Curves, video, Infinite Skills – Video Training, July 29 2013, viewed November 19 2013, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EN04n09qvv8>
• Virtual Tourist (2013) Ala Napoleonica – Napoleonic Wing, Venic, Available at: http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Europe/Italy/Veneto/Venice-140867/Things_To_Do-Venice-Ala_Napoleonica_Napoleonic_Wing-BR-1.html (Accessed: November 22 2013)
• Karine Huguenaud (2008) ALA NAPOLEONICA IN PIAZZA SAN MARCO – VENICE, Available at: http://www.napoleon.org/en/magazine/museums/files/Ala_Napoleonica_in_Piazza1.asp (Accessed November 22 2013)
• A view on cities (2013) St. Mark’s Square, Available at: http://www.aviewoncities.com/venice/piazzasanmarco.htm (Accessed: November 27 2013)
• Venice Banana(2008) Procuratie Vecchie, Available at: http://www.venicebanana.com/loc-procuratie_vecchie_eng.html (Accessed: November 27 2013)

Books:

• Patner, P. 2009 (Third Edition). 3-D Human modeling and animation. New York: Wiley

References for Statue:

Websites:

• Vincent Finnan (2013) Michelangelo David The most famous statue in the world?, Available at: http://www.italian-renaissance-art.com/Michelangelo-David.html (Accessed: 19 November 2013)
• 3D Michelangelo's David, video, SeanEB, December 17 2006, viewed November 27 2013, <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-l2BMStRcg>
• J. Huston McCulloch (2007) David: A New Perspective, Available at: http://www.econ.ohio-state.edu/jhm/arch/david/David.htm (Accessed: November 27 2013)

Books:

• Price, G. 2011. DK Eyewitness Top 10 Travel Guide: Venice. London: Dorling Kindersley

Procuratie Vecchie

Well as much as I enjoy researching longer than needed, I still cant seem to find out how many windows/arches are on the long side of  Procuratie Vecchie (the building I am recreating.)

I have found an image which shows the back which has 2 floors, 15 arches on top floors.

I have found some better images as well which will help out with getting detail on the building as well so I feel like I can get a bit farther with this project in regards to starting to model.