[Houdini/UE4] Neon Alleyway!

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Hi guys, In this thread I'll be documenting my work for the recent Artstation challenge.

So far I've got an inspiration and a practical setting I'd like to apply it onto.
A rough first blockout should be along tomorrow or the day acfter that, at latest.

You can read up on all of the updates on artstation at the below link, which will mostly be mirror posts.
Here's some of the style ref I'm going for in the meanwhile.

https://www.artstation.com/contests/beyond-human/challenges/30/submissions/20912

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Here's a quick WIP, doing some blockout stuff at the moment.

What do you guys think baout the camera angle?
The focus is indeed quite vertical, but I'm not sure this aspect ratio is ideal. 
 

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

'nother blockout iteration, it's all just alley-greeble for now, but once I'm happy with the rough layout and look, we'll make it all nice and logically messy.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Update, fidgetting around with different ways to light the entire thing up, ended up choosing for a roof, even though the scene has an open top, gotta get that sweet control over light as a whole.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Not sure on the composition with the vegetation on top, might to some alterate tryouts soon.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Here's another WIP, it's all waaaay to dark at the moment, but we'll get back to that in the future.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

waaaay too dark, I've made changes to the light setup to accentuate the depth and verticality.
also done some tests with basic blockout trees, but that hasn't worked too well so far.

GGYUC

like where this is going 

Ashervisalis

It might help the look if one side was brought in slightly closer. You're doing a great job!

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Thanks for the feedback and positive comments guys!

Here's another WIP.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Made a ton of changes, lost half of them in crashes.
Don't worry, we have the technology, we can rebuild it.

Here's some earlier saves.

Swaggletooth

I really like the composition of this!

The lighting still needs some work, but it definitely looks more interesting with daylight where you're getting more picked out than the night lighting. I'll be interested to see how this takes shape

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

I do agree!
Here's a recent update with some more natural light.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Few more shots, the cold/warm areas are getting more defined, although I feel like i'm somewhat going in circles.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Here's another, slightly more fleshed out WIP!

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Getting a focal point in there, This might just be the right direction to go forward in.


Also, out of these 6, whats your favourite?

radumitroi

Number 4, I would say. I think the light coming from one side fits the scene better than the light coming straight into the camera. That tower is already standing out as its silhouette is in contrast with the sky, there's no need for the light rays to draw our attention to it.

Tetranome

Agreed! #4 has a nice balance between dark and light. Great opportunity for some dust particles caught in the godrays.

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

Yeah N.4 has a nice balance to it.
I'll move around the tower a bit, it might work well more on the right side of things, with the godrays then creating a neat divide in the image.

Thanks!

Nomad - Nicolas Pirot

So after multiple months of radio-silence, I'm back with an update on this project!

Now that the contest is long past I'm back and working on it again, this time taking a more procedural approach to things!

The goal is to construct the entire thing using as many procedural tools as possible!
To do this, I'm working with Houdini to make the core framework, which will in time be moved over into UE4 with H.Engine 

https://vimeo.com/246344132