Category: Advanced and Experimental 3D computer Animation Techniques

▶NOTE:

Every asset for this project I made it myself. I didn’t use any resource from Bridge.

▶Compositing

I edit the video in Premier Pro for the final outcome. I think I did good in both Blender and Unreal Engine for this project, especially considering I barely used this two software before.

In this edit, firstly I showed the first character (I name her Regi-bagu), she turned around and saw the whimsical creature (Chibi). She got curious and want to know where it is from. Chibi just show the “hometown” to Regi-bagu the vision from its head. Because I want to show that Chibi is from another dimension, I use Unreal Engine to present a different style in Chibi’s mind.

▶WIP VIDEO

This is the work in process video I made for project 2, showing the whole process of production for this animation.

Software used: ZBrush, Substance Painter, Maya, Blender, Photoshop, XNormal, Unreal Engine

▶ Material and VFX

I mostly use material editor and particle system in Unreal Engine to work on the scene. Because previously I had experience using particle system in other software such as Cinema 4D and Blender, it was not very hard to understand. Also the material editor in Unreal Engine is similar to other software but more powerful in my opinion. I really enjoy the process of learning and work with Unreal Engine, I think I will progress with it in the future study.

This time I didn’t set up the camera to make the video looks like a cinematic. I want the final result to look more interactive and raw, that’s why I only record the screen. I want the unreal part of the work to look different from the previous Blender footage.

▶Sketches for the scene

▶Nodes

▶ FINAL RESULT

▶SETTING UP THE SCENE AND CAMERA IN BLENDER

I use target to animate the camera in Blender. I create a constraint which makes the camera always points towards a special object(such as an empty target). I set up two empty objects in total. One of them is for rotation, another one is for location.

▶VFX IN BLENDER

Also I use emitter in Blender to add some VFX for the scene. It’s very useful tool, I can use it to create things like smoke, fire etc.

▶NOTES ABOUT DEPTH OF FIELD

F-Stop”: This setting simulates the aperture size of a camera.

“Focus Distance”: This parameter determines the distance at which objects are in focus.

“Max Blur”: This option controls the maximum amount of blur applied to objects that are very close or far away from the focus distance

▶Rigging

I use accurig for the character rigging. I don’t need a very complicated animation so I want the rigging process to be quick and simple.

▶Asset creation and preparation

Fews things to keep in mind when prepare the asset:

First thing is to set up the correct project scale. Maya has a very small scale compare to unreal engine. Also it is necessary to lower the polygon count for all the asset. Last thing to do is to position the pivot of each mesh nicely and place the mesh in the center of Maya.

Material wise, I used Photoshop and Substance Painter. To save the space on the overall amount of texture input, I use targa format with multiple channels.

▶CORAL

▶CRYSTAL

▶CRYSTAL(FLOWER SHAPE)

▶ROCK

▶Asset library