3D Art Summer Project 3 - Week 3.5

We only had a few days since the last turn-in to perfect this project, but I've definitely made some changes.  I wasn't happy with how the window glass looked, so I created a new material and decided to blockmesh a basic subway platform outside.  I also found and modified a particle system for dust, worked a bit more on post-processing and atmosphere, and added more dirt decals.

Week 1: modular kit blocked out, setup and first lighting pass in UE, plan trim sheets

Week 2: finish modeling/game-res, first pass of materials, 2nd lighting pass, finalize layout

Week 3: finalize materials, first surfacing/decals pass, 3rd lighting pass

Week 3.5: finish surfacing/decals, final lighting pass, fix any remaining issues

3D Art Summer Project 3 - Week 3

I am on track with this project, but the materials still need some tuning and extra detail for sure.  This week, I started from scratch with lighting and post-processing to have something built from the ground up, made some new materials, updated UVs on several models, designed 8 custom overhead advertisements and 7 fliers/paper scraps, figured out how to set up decals in UE and made a custom decal.  Many of the designs around the train incorporate pieces of art or concepts created by peers or references to media I enjoy, and I had a lot of fun making these.  I also definitely had fun with decals, and will be adding more to really give this subway personality.

Week 1: modular kit blocked out, setup and first lighting pass in UE, plan trim sheets

Week 2: finish modeling/game-res, first pass of materials, 2nd lighting pass, finalize layout

Week 3: finalize materials, first surfacing/decals pass, 3rd lighting pass

Week 4: finish surfacing/decals, final lighting pass, fix any remaining issues

Common Art - Final Summer Sprint Delivery

It's here at long last - the finished Metroid VR experience!  For the last sprint, I fixed the texture seam on the arm cannon, tweaked the metallic value of it after checking how it looked in the headset, and created a secondary UV set so that Ismael could set up a glow material to make the end of the gun more emissive.  For that, I laid out the UVs so the arm cannon was basically cut and flattened in the same order as the physical object, right to left.  I also made sure the textures on the player's other hand were connected properly, and then modeled and textured a new item - a spike that comes out of the EMMI's face plates if it kills the player.

https://youtube.com/shorts/8I4ZllhjZ8E link to final VR test - checking out the player's hand and arm cannon in the headset

3D Art Summer Project 3 - Week 2

This project is definitely interesting - the workflow and steps have been very different, and will continue to diverge from stuff I'd usually do on a project next week.  Since last week, I've made (small) adjustments to the lighting, updated every model and added a couple more, did a first pass of UVs for everything, and made textures for the floor, chairs, a basic metal material, and basic wall material.  I also reimported all the models and made sure everything was in the right place and properly aligned.  The trim sheets are still in the conceptual phase and not implemented yet, but I have plans for those and also the adverts and other fun stuff to spice up the car next week.

Week 1: modular kit blocked out, setup and first lighting pass in UE, plan trim sheets

Week 2: finish modeling/game-res, first pass of materials, 2nd lighting pass, finalize layout

Week 3: finalize materials, first surfacing/decals pass, 3rd lighting pass

Week 4: finish surfacing/decals, final lighting pass, fix any remaining issues

Common Art - Summer Sprint 5 Delivery

This was the last 'full' sprint for the Metroid VR experience.  I finalized the model for the player's regular hand and textured both that and the arm cannon.  I made sure to look at them in VR and make some adjustments based on the lighting in the project and how they appear currently.  They aren't hooked up to the player's hand controllers yet.  Any remaining work I do on this project will likely be minor tweaks to these models and textures based on feedback and further testing from the team.

Research Project - Realistic Texturing Tips

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XQ5_GPMzObh8Xv8BNPhvMbfkpEnBIoxi/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=101686828604906175373&rtpof=true&sd=true [link to PowerPoint]

3D Art Summer Project 3 - Week 1

I decided to do something completely different for this last project.  Up until now, I've made props or single objects like vehicles, and one environment [that still had a 'hero object'].  Now, I will be creating an environment made of modular pieces, with a focus on working in-engine and using textures and materials efficiently.  I plan to use decals, floaters, and trim sheets.  I will be using the popular Unreal project subway as my main reference, but will change up the lighting and texturing a bit to make it my own.  I would also like to make a post-apocalyptic version of this in the future, but probably won't get to it with the current scope of this project.

I currently have 21 modular pieces, and may have to add 1 or 2 more, as well as some small props for setdressing.  This is the first time I've moved straight into UE with a blockout, and it took me a while to set up the whole layout and figure out how to line all the pieces up.  Luckily, I do have a great reference from the original subway project.

Week 1: modular kit blocked out, setup and first lighting pass in UE, plan trim sheets

Week 2: finish modeling/game-res, first pass of materials, 2nd lighting pass, finalize layout

Week 3: finalize materials, first surfacing/decals pass, 3rd lighting pass

Week 4: finish surfacing/decals, final lighting pass, fix any remaining issues

Main reference: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/X02eY

3D Art Summer Project 2 - Week 4

It's finally here: the final, textured boombox model!  I can't promise I won't edit a few things before putting it on my portfolio, but I really like how this turned out [even if I spent way too much time hand-drawing details on the radio and other parts].  I spent several days trying to get the bake to look okay, and with help from my peers I fixed it up to an acceptable level and learned a lot in the process of what to do next time to hopefully avoid similar problems.

Week 1: Proxy complete, high-res halfway complete

Week 2: Finalize high-res, complete game-res and UVs

Week 3: Texturing and lighting 1st pass

Week 4: Final texturing and display

Common Art - Summer Sprint 4 Delivery

This sprint, I was working on a final pass of Samus/the player's arm cannon.  Up until now, we had used the proxy model in the game, which was lacking a lot of medium and small-level details and even some larger shapes.  Since this project is for VR, I tried to optimize the poly count, even though this is a pretty round item.  I spent a fair amount of time researching to find images of all angles of this cannon and how it functions in-game.  I completed the high-res, game-res, UVs, and bake since the last update.  The current texture you see is not final, and I will be working on that next sprint, as well as a final texture for the player's other hand.

3D Art Summer Project 2 - Week 3

Since I was behind last week, I still haven't caught up all the way.  However, I did finish the high-res model, make the game-res and UVs, and do a first bake.  I have some pretty serious baking issues (fixed minor ones, but still have work to do with that), and did some re-topology on part of the game-res as well for that reason.

Week 1: Proxy complete, high-res halfway complete

Week 2: Finalize high-res, complete game-res and UVs

Week 3: Texturing and lighting 1st pass

Week 4: Final texturing and display

3D Art Summer Project 2 - Week 2

This week, I was very busy with Capstone (again/still).  I am nearly done with the high-res for this boombox and am working on the game-res largely in parallel with this process.  I also spent a fair amount of time looking at references and researching various parts so I can properly recreate the images.  The model is looking pretty good, so I'm okay with taking it slower, but I will have to work extra hard next week to catch up to my schedule and make sure I have enough time to texture it properly.

Week 1: Proxy complete, high-res halfway complete

Week 2: Finalize high-res, complete game-res and UVs

Week 3: Texturing and lighting 1st pass

Week 4: Final texturing and display

Common Art - Summer Sprint 3 Delivery

In the past couple of weeks, the 3D modelers have been continuing to work on retexturing all the assets in the experience using the new texturing pipeline.  I worked on the factory ceiling panels that are seen outside the window [had to re-do a couple of things, because the curvature map created seams at the ends of the panels].  I spent the rest of my time working on revamping the player's arm cannon, since the current model in the game is still technically the proxy [there was a lot of medium-level detail missing in the geometry].  I will be making a final texture for that and the player's other hand next.

3D Art Summer Project 2 - Week 1

New week, new 3D project - a retro boombox.  This week, I found references, created the proxy model, and started on the high-res model.  I am using this project to research producing realistic textures [with an emphasis on metal and manmade materials] and develop a full texturing workflow.  Here's my plan for this project:

Week 1: Proxy complete, high-res halfway complete

Week 2: Finalize high-res, complete game-res and UVs

Week 3: Texturing and lighting 1st pass

Week 4: Final texturing and display

3D Art Summer Project 1 - Week 4

I worked extra-hard this week to catch up and finish this project.  I had to finish the high-res (the previous post has been updated with the new renders), complete the game-res, UVs, and do all the texturing and final display.  Had some issues trying to make the car paint material [tried several workflows but didn't have time to perfect the one I wanted to], so I will be revising that soon.  Textured renders are from UE5.

Week 1 - proxy model complete

Week 2 - high-res complete

Week 3 - game-res complete, UVs, first bake

Week 4 - texturing and final display