Antique Shop [WIP]

Andy H

Antique Shop

Introduction
Hello! It's time for another portfolio piece, but this time we're leaving a castle setting and entering the distant future, in a more warm and inviting environment (although with some mystery involved). Taking what I've learned from the previous project, and the skills I've gained with applications since then, my goal is to finish this environment faster than the last.

Continuing with what I enjoy most, the scene will be primarily hand painted assets. The scene will be built in Unreal Engine 4 this time around and I will be looking in to doing more than just strictly low poly work. I want to focus on goals I didn't meet with my previous project.

So with all this being said, let's get in to the planning!

Goals

1. Faster painting
2. Faster model production
3. Practice and improve traditional skills (drawing, concept, painting, etc)
4. Improve on mixing colors, use bold colors
5. Gain experience working in Unreal Engine 4
6. Demonstrate rendering a variety of materials
7. Create a solid portfolio piece

Planning

1. Thumbnails/Concept drawings of scene
2. Concept painting of robot head (define style)
3. Concept paintings of props (create style guide and stick to it)
4. Concept painting of final composition (can be rough still)
5. Basic block out (only include placement of main pieces, antiques come later, build terrain)
6. Basic lighting setup (spend time here, will play big role in rest of scene)
7. Create tileable/modular textures
8. Create Skybox, place in scene
9. Vertex paint terrain
10. Render with Skybox and painted terrain
11. Begin refining block out, begin creating antiques
12. *Follow creation work flow below:
    • Refine/Model one asset (this step can include sculpts if needed)
    • Retopo if needed
    • Unwrap UV's
    • Texture
    • Place in scene
    • Back to step one for next asset
13. **Repeat until scene is completed
14. Test renders with assets in place/evaluate lighting versus assets
15. Portfolio shot
16. Postmortem Documentation

It is absolutely crucial to follow the planning in this exact order. Failure to do so may cause project fatigue (avoid at all costs, push scene out in timely manner). If there is anything I learned from my last project, is that not following your guide will slow down the completion of the project. I did not give defining the lighting enough of a chance before jumping in to asset creation and this hurt finishing the project sooner than I hoped. I am counting on the "begin refining block out, begin creating antiques" phase guidelines to reduce becoming rusty in certain areas when completing the project. This means instead of doing the textures all at once, I am completing each texture as each model is created. By doing so, this means I am giving a some what balanced attention to both areas.

Setting
In an opening easily accessible from a forked path, a colossus remains dormant. A traveling salesman has found the area and believes the point of interest to be a great place to setup an antique shop. Two moons are framed in the distance within an open tunnel of cliffs.

Key words:
Distant future, dilapidated, changing season, autumn, soft glow, canopy, serene, earthly

Assets
Models:

1. Robot Head (moss/plant covered)**
2. Robot Arm/Hand (moss/plant covered)**
3. Path Signs
4. Ripped Tent
5. Clothes Line (clothes attached)
6. Portable Stove/Campfire
7. Seating
8. Main Antique Store Sign
9. Communication Satellite
10. Encompassing Shrubbery
11. Looming Tree Trunk/Bridge
12. Large Tree Trunk
13. Background Spiked Mountains/Cliffs

Smaller Props:

1. Pebbles/Stones
2. Raised Grass

Antiques

1. Refrigerator
2. Fancy Armchair
3. Teapot
4. Tea Cups
5. Old Animal Rug
6. Broken Statue
7. Smaller Chair
8. Wooden Table
9. Chest
10. Wine Bottles
11. Cardboard Boxes
12. Dartboard
13. Clothes

The combination of items for the antiques are endless, so for now this will be the base set to build the scene. More can be added later if the scene requires it.

**Only go beyond this list when at "test renders with assets in place/evaluate lighting versus assets" phase of planning guide.

Textures:

1. Robot Head (moss/plant covered)**
2. Robot Arm/Hand (moss/plant covered)**
3. Path Signs
4. Ripped Tent
5. Clothes Line (clothes attached)
6. Portable Stove/Campfire
7. Seating
8. Main Antique Store Sign
9. Communication Satellite
10. Encompassing Shrubbery
11. Large Tree Trunk
12. Skybox
13. Pebbles/Stones
14. Raised Grass

Antiques

1. Refrigerator
2. Fancy Armchair
3. Teapot
4. Tea Cups
5. Old Animal Rug
6. Broken Statue
7. Smaller Chair
8. Wooden Table
9. Chest
10. Wine Bottles
11. Cardboard Boxes
12. Dartboard
13. Clothes

Tileables/Modular:

1. Dirt Path
2. Grass
3. Background Spiked Mountains/Cliffs
4. Looming Tree Trunk/Bridge

Color

Colors should show change of season (greens shifting to orange and yellows). Mood is very important here and lighting should be on point for allowing the scene to feel peaceful. Use bluish shadows, light yellow hotspots. Allow antiques and such to be washed out a bit to allow lighting and forest assets to take over.

Reference

Forest should feel very peaceful but with a bit of mystery. Mostly aiming for what is accomplished in the top right corner image. Let the background be directing the user through scene and the foreground be the frame.

Channeling Iron Giant and Star-Lord mask in design. Head should probably be sunken in to the ground with interesting pieces visible. Neutral expression is probably best.

Drawing a lot of inspiration style wise from Cory Loftis' work. Must make sure everything has interesting silhouettes. Avoid symmetrical objects almost always.

Beginnings
In addition to getting my reference gathered, I made some variations of where I wanted to go with the robot's head to get my brain thinking about what technology is available on this unidentified planet that the scene takes place on. I like the idea of advanced technology, but haphazard. The simplicity of the Iron Giant's original design is what I'm leaning towards mainly. Out of these, I like #3 most. Yes, I really want antennas to be a major part of the technology. If not #3, then #8 is my second choice.

"Thumbnails/Concept drawings of scene" phase begins now! :icon3:

Bummer6

For the head, I like number 4.

CloDevious

4 with 3 mouth

Andy H

@ Bummer6, CloDevious - Thanks for the input! I made some additional variations below, as I too like where #4 was going:

Kind of feeling #11 and #12 now as it doesn't say "Iron Giant" too much (although the eyes are what does it).

Also made some mood sketches, thinking the area should be more enclosed to frame the moons more.

Feedback and suggestions always appreciated! Still looking in to scene composition although will mainly be playing with this as I build block out.

CloDevious

Perhaps try one of the moons with a Saturn like ring? Liking 6 and 3 right now the direction of the road seems to be most interesting there.

LovelyTy

“The Pet Store”

Introduction
Hi, here I am creating my project titled “The Pet Store”, which is game based off of motor skills, and providing a kooky environmental twist. This game has been well plotted out, and filled with rhythm of my debt to this industry.

Goals

• Faster modeling
• Rendering properly
• Impressive Screenshots
• Lighting
• Coloring

Planning

• Completing my Polly count
• Collect references and create Thumbnails
• Block out the Level
• Model out the pieces through Maya
• Layout the UVS
• Create Textures
• Export/Import Props into Unity/Maya
• Set up lighting
• Test Render out scene
• Render/Revaluate scene
• Finalize

In this process, I will be sure of checking off my T’s and Q’s. Looking over my work, by making sure the scene looks its best, and filling in the empty spaces. Using my brilliant ideas and pass experiences using the two programs (Unity and Maya), I have faith in tackling this awesome assignment.

Setting
After a long night of great memories, socializing, loud music and great treats, brings forth a new day with responsibilities to maintain. You walk through two swinging doors, theres a horrible reeking smell and everyone is calling your name. You know something has gone wrong, yet you just arrive. “Here we are again, back at the Pet store”.

Key words:
Fantasy, Mythical, Present, Motor, Glow, Pets, Customers

Assets
Models:

• Display Shelves
• Counters
• Fish Tanks
• Small Animal Tanks
• Gates
• Doors
• Sink
• Bird room

Smaller Props:

• Refrigerator
• Damaged Armed Chair
• Cash Register
• Computer

Antiques

• Light Fixtures
• Buckets
• Signs
• Bags of food and Cans
• Scattered paper

The following items will multiply throughout the scene, and will continue to expand.


Textures:

• Marbled/cement counter top
• Wooden counter base
• Sign(pet)
• Scratched sofa material
• Wooden door
• Fish tanks (fish background)

Tillable/Modular:

• Store Floor
• Wall
• Glass Window

Color

The colors in the scene should provide a cluttered feel, as it is a pet store. In different areas of the store you will find tint green in the reptile sect, tint blue in the fish room, a warmer tint of light orange towards the front of the store, and a dark cold purple in the back room.

Reference

At the entrance of the store has a warm and inviting approach, once entering the store there isn’t much of an inviting smell (barrier). Store should have an almost clutter approach, yet walkable space throughout. The backroom should be stacked high to the ceiling (exaggerated). In the fish room, gives you more of a tranquil aqua feel, with the reflections of the water.

Beginnings
I want the scene to provide a scenes of urgency and for the player, but not knowing exactly what to do. The register should be the main point to the scene before leading on to the next task. With the inspiration of the planet of the Apes, gives this Pet Store a twist.

LovelyTy

“The Pet Store”

Introduction
Hi, here I am creating my project titled “The Pet Store”, which is game based off of motor skills, and providing a kooky environmental twist. This game has been well plotted out, and filled with rhythm of my debt to this industry.

Goals

• Faster modeling
• Rendering properly
• Impressive Screenshots
• Lighting
• Coloring

Planning

• Completing my Polly count
• Collect references and create Thumbnails
• Block out the Level
• Model out the pieces through Maya
• Layout the UVS
• Create Textures
• Export/Import Props into Unity/Maya
• Set up lighting
• Test Render out scene
• Render/Revaluate scene
• Finalize

In this process, I will be sure of checking off my T’s and Q’s. Looking over my work, by making sure the scene looks its best, and filling in the empty spaces. Using my brilliant ideas and pass experiences using the two programs (Unity and Maya), I have faith in tackling this awesome assignment.

Setting
After a long night of great memories, socializing, loud music and great treats, brings forth a new day with responsibilities to maintain. You walk through two swinging doors, theres a horrible reeking smell and everyone is calling your name. You know something has gone wrong, yet you just arrive. “Here we are again, back at the Pet store”.

Key words:
Fantasy, Mythical, Present, Motor, Glow, Pets, Customers

Assets
Models:

• Display Shelves
• Counters
• Fish Tanks
• Small Animal Tanks
• Gates
• Doors
• Sink
• Bird room

Smaller Props:

• Refrigerator
• Damaged Armed Chair
• Cash Register
• Computer

Antiques

• Light Fixtures
• Buckets
• Signs
• Bags of food and Cans
• Scattered paper

The following items will multiply throughout the scene, and will continue to expand.


Textures:

• Marbled/cement counter top
• Wooden counter base
• Sign(pet)
• Scratched sofa material
• Wooden door
• Fish tanks (fish background)

Tillable/Modular:

• Store Floor
• Wall
• Glass Window

Color

The colors in the scene should provide a cluttered feel, as it is a pet store. In different areas of the store you will find tint green in the reptile sect, tint blue in the fish room, a warmer tint of light orange towards the front of the store, and a dark cold purple in the back room.

Reference

At the entrance of the store has a warm and inviting approach, once entering the store there isn’t much of an inviting smell (barrier). Store should have an almost clutter approach, yet walkable space throughout. The backroom should be stacked high to the ceiling (exaggerated). In the fish room, gives you more of a tranquil aqua feel, with the reflections of the water.

Beginnings
I want the scene to provide a scenes of urgency and for the player, but not knowing exactly what to do. The register should be the main point to the scene before leading on to the next task. With the inspiration of the planet of the Apes, gives this Pet Store a twist.

Odow

Hum LovelyTy,maybe create your own topic instead of hijacking someone else topic.

Andy H

Hello again! Time to get things rolling on this project since the new year has started. Also woah, threadception.

@CloDevious - Thanks for the feedback! I like the idea of the Saturn rings and while I haven't placed anything similar in the concept paintings I've done so far, I will keep that in mind moving in to the sky box.

I went back and did a painting with the head I decided on to try to capture the mood of the scene and also what the head would probably look like rendered.

After that, I moved on to working out what the props may look like based on the list I made in the planning phase. I'm really looking in to elongated edges for each prop. I also tried to keep the colors very close together to go against the scene's backdrop. Warmer foreground, cooler background; though there are some cooler colors present in the foreground.

I then went back and did a color sketch over thumbnail 3 while also playing with its composition:

From there I got an idea of how I wanted to balance everything and combining reference + previous sketches, I came to where I want to lead the scene:

I'm liking the larger head version and will continue toying with it while moving to the 3D portion of the project (thinking about creating a "shop front" out of the robot head). I think there's a lot more clutter (rocks, smaller objects, etc) that could be pushed in to the scene so I'll be working on that as well.

Anyways, that's it for the concept/sketching phase! Now it's on to 3D and working on the block out.

LovelyTy

Actual Mistake, for a assigned project. Not Hijacking and new to the site.