[UE4] Edwardian Interior
polycounter lvl 4
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Hey everyone,
I'm currently in my last semester of college trying to push through to the end. I have seen a few really awesome "cutout" environments, showcasing a corner of an environment which I've been very interested in trying. I was inspired by this mini environment by Scott Homer I saw:
I'm going to be going for a more classic style house, sorta like in the picture below.
These are some of the assets I've been working on for it:
I also want to add a few more props like these:
I'm going to be starting to work on the lighting/setup tomorrow and would love some feedback on what I've got so far, or if you have references that you'd like to share that relate that would be great too! Thanks
Hey everyone,
I'm currently in my last semester of college trying to push through to the end. I have seen a few really awesome "cutout" environments, showcasing a corner of an environment which I've been very interested in trying. I was inspired by this mini environment by Scott Homer I saw:
I'm going to be going for a more classic style house, sorta like in the picture below.
These are some of the assets I've been working on for it:
I also want to add a few more props like these:
I'm going to be starting to work on the lighting/setup tomorrow and would love some feedback on what I've got so far, or if you have references that you'd like to share that relate that would be great too! Thanks
Replies
Two things that stand out to me:
The wood underneath of the keyboard looks too repeated, like a printed piece of laminate material rather than a natural piece of wood.
The wood grain on the beveled panels above the keyboard - wood is always, always, cut along the grain. Not against/across. If that were carved from one giant piece of wood, the grain pattern you have would be fine - except on the panel around the beveled panels, it looks like the grain is going vertical? Likewise on the bottom panel edges, indicating this would be made out of multiple pieces of wood.
For example:
In the first example, the grain flows across the inner most bevel, as a solid piece that was carved out. The trims, however, are cut along the grain and then tacked on. Most wooden furniture is made up of many smaller pieces, like the second example. (I guess because bigger pieces of wood are harder to find, and more expensive, since large trees can take hundreds of years to reach the size that would be needed, thus very impractical - not to mention the logistics of moving/transporting/storing/etc)
Now days, even if something IS carved out of one giant piece of wood, we're so subconsciously used to seeing wood cut up and rotated that one solid overlaying grain pattern just looks inherently wrong.
As for how ornate it is, this is one of the fancier pianos I was able to find. They don't seem to make them with the same level of carved in detail that the rest of the furniture has. I'm hoping it will still fit in the piece. I'm going to be going for something SLIGHTLY less fancy than that exact interior reference.
I'm still back and forth on what material to make the chair frame. I'm between a wood to match this, or a gold painted wood of sorts, closer to what is in the pictures. Any thoughts on that?
So for the cushion of the chair, I was originally going off of a chair concept where the buttons were purely aesthetic on the cushion but I keep getting people making the comment about the buttons not looking right so I'm definitely going to switch them over to be more utilitarian.
I'll also be going over the edges of the high poly of the chair tomorrow before I start in on the low poly so I'll try and focus on the edges a lot then.
I think I want to go for something like this as far as the materials go:
I'd love some feedback on peoples opinion on the materials though. And if anyone has any other reference they think would be worth sharing that'd be greatly appreciated too.
Seat cushion seems too small. It should come out further (flush with armrest) but maybe could be less tall. Certainly feels too tall in the back. Compare with your reference.
The wood curlicue carvings seem rushed, the sculpting is not as precise as it probably should be. Texturing can hide a lot of this, but if you want to show the highpoly untextured it won't look all that great. Take a look at @scotthomer 's sculpts for an example of the crispness/precision I'm talking about.
http://polycount.com/discussion/122749/ce3-scotthomers-destruction-dioramas
Also check out @sarah190016 's models
http://polycount.com/discussion/165385/ue4-victorian-room-scene-and-props
Thank you for the references Eric, those were very helpful. I forgot to adjust the seat cushion but I will do that for the next update.
So I made the low poly for the chair and I started texturing. I think I like where the materials for the frame are right now, I didn't want to do just gold and I think what I have is helping define the forms of the sculpt more as well, by giving more clear separation. I haven't done any work on the cushion parts yet, they just have the bakes on them currently. That'll be tomorrow probably. I'd love to get some feedback on where it's at now though and hear some more opinions! Thanks
What do you think of the chair textures so far? Do you think it's working? Should I keep the chair cushions close to this color or do something more drastic?
Regarding the chair - was the chair intended to go at the piano, or are they separate props that just happen to be under development at the same time? The chair is looking awesome, but I think the bench definitely looks more natural at the piano. Without having an establishing environment, it's hard to compare the two, as each work perfectly independently.
That being said, however, the piano/bench combo seem woefully boring in comparison to the design of the chair. Perhaps the piano could use some more gold trimmings? Or you could even put a gold band around the top of the bench and add a tufted white leather cushion to match the chair! Or not - I feel that classical/ornate styling can become overbearing rather quickly, so the simple look of the piano/bench may be a nice grounding element once a scene with decor is in place. There are so many options at this point!
I really like the white color of the chair in combination with the gold as it is, but I would try out a few different colors, just because you never know what you will like the most until you see it.
@RICHAPOCALYPSE By second piece, which do you mean? My chair? Either way, thank you!
I'm super pumped for GDC, I'll be headed out to Cali Tuesday morning, I hope to see people there! I'll definitely be at the Polycount party
Two things I'm noticing: the red appears to have a bit of a texture to it, but it's not particularly distinguishable as to what it's suppose to be. I want to think it's leather, but it almost reads as something more along the lines of plaster or stucco when I really look at it. Did the white chair have that texture, too? Second, at the edge of the bottom right arm (right arm of the chair, left arm looking at it in the picture) - where it meets with the red fabric under the cushion - there is a weird crease/shadow/artifact happening. (It's probably happening on both sides?) I only see it on the red chair, though... it looks fine on the white version?
I'm also going to make the gold material slightly more orange and maybe make the red slightly cooler, I think that will help. Thanks for the feedback
Here's a screenshot of what I have, the wall colors aren't final at all, it's just a base color to lighten up the room to get a better sense for lighting, and also the curtains are currently just planes to start working on the base material for them to see how it looks with lighting. Also, the second image is of a "collage" I did on top, of a few of the things I'm thinking of adding. Oh and I want to add a rug too, I just didn't put that in the image.
Thank you in advance for any tips or critique you have!
Even with props added in over top, I think you're still having some composition problems. The eye never travels to the far corners of the pieces, and the left especially is a dead zone. I think Josh gave you better lighting crit than I ever could. I think a nice rug would really help, and maybe some wall lamps?
kinda like these?
The space doesn't feel lived-in yet, either, and I would check out some references of victorian music rooms to get some inspiration on next steps. Here are a few that might help you out, hope they're useful!
Right now your individual pieces are looking fantastic, they're just not being shown off properly in your scene yet. Keep pushing, though, and you'll get there! You have some awesome work, and I know you can make it really shine!
Here's a bit of an update. Mostly was working on the wall textures for this one, and I started modeling a side table for next to the chair. I'm planning on adding some lights and a picture above the piano where the BSP is and the curtains are going to get completely redone. Oh and the pot for the plant is going to get worked on soon too.
I'd love feedback on what I've done with the wall and how it's looking overall now. I also am curious if anyone has suggestions on how to fill the space on the left of the piano? It's feeling empty right now to me but I'm not sure what to do with it. Also, what do you all think of a circular rug instead of a rectangular one? Someone suggested it but I'm not sure if it makes sense in this space or not. Thanks in advance for any critique/advice you may have
For a more realistic light, it should cast a very soft shadow because it would be lit indirect by the window, which would act like an area light. Also it would get some upwards bounce light from the sun patch on the floor.
This is coming along great!
Also, I started sculpting a picture frame, thoughts? Not sure what picture to put in it yet...
Paint a nice landscape to put in the picture frame. Take a look at the Hudson River School of painters, or a Winslow Homer -esque seascape.
Better yet, think about who owns this room, and theme it all based on their history. The best environment art tells a story about the inhabitants.
In regards to the lighting, I personally would say that you need to be somewhere in the middle of your last two screenshots. The window acts as a directional light source, so some directional shadows are needed rather than just the SSAO by itself. However, keeping in mind that the light isn't directly shining on the furniture, the shadows aren't going to be as crisp or strong as you originally had them. There is an option on light sources for "use area shadows for stationary shadows" that softens the shadows as they distance from the light, which may be something to play with?
I think the screenshot from the 27th has a nice shadow-to-floor ratio as far as contrast, aside from the floor/rug being nearly white. (If I'm making any sense! )
It's nice to see the entire scene starting to fall into place! The main thing with the walls that stands out to me is that the two lower inset rectangles are obviously repeating. Also, the color of the crown molding doesn't seem to match anything. Not to say that someone is going to match their molding to their piano in real life, but you have a lot of different shadows of brown going on.
The picture frame is looking good! I think it will be a perfect match to the style of the chair, but yeah, you just have to decide what kind of painting to put in it! I actually think it would be a good fit for a mirror, but the Hudson River School style is also stereotypically perfect.
Also I really like the Hudson River School paintings,I'll probably go with something like that.
Also, back to the chair - the texture is looking like there are some stains on the seat, or that the seat is wet.
I like the slightly darker scene - it's just subtle enough that I really have to look for the difference, but it makes it feel more authentic like the room is only being lit by the one window so there are no "mystery lights" that we can't see.
I do like the plant pot texture! I'm glad that you went with a blueish color, it adds a nice "something different" to the scene!
Would love some C&C
With the table, it's nice in and of itself - and it matches the chair really well - but, between the two, there is a lot going on compared to the plain piano and bench. My eyes start at the left sconce and instantly fall down/right and lock on the end table. It seems kind of unbalanced? Also, what's the camera angle? The perspective in the corner with the table seems kind of strange...?
I like the rug - I think it's subtle enough to not distract, but it fills in some otherwise empty space. Although since you've mentioned it, now I am wondering what it would look like if you maybe brought in some of the blue from the flowerpot and added it to the rug? I dunno, just kind of thinking out loud.
I think it would help a lot to add more details in the scene. Things are looking a bit empty. Reference is key.
https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&q=victorian+piano+parlor
Look at photos of real spaces. Things are stored on top of the piano, photos, lamps, vases, etc. The side table would also have things on it, and also on the shelf below. How about some sheet music on the piano?
Chair could use a throw pillow or two.
The drapes are not hung properly, looks like the pole is just interpenetrated. Drapes have stitched holes along the top, or strips of fabric making loops around the pole.
Another reference.
http://c8.alamy.com/comp/EAN14E/willis-and-co-montreal-upright-1905-piano-in-a-parlor-room-of-an-old-EAN14E.jpg
I would spend a little time making the room look more lived-in. That means more things added. Candelabras, photos in table-top frames, etc.
Think about the little things someone would have left behind, as if they just walked out of the room. Cigarette in one of those long holders, glass with sherry in it and lipstick smudges, a pair of white gloves a lady just took off her hands.
Just a few ideas. Beware about using museum rooms as reference though, they look more artificially arranged and less lived-in.
I hadn't really thought about adding anything on top of the piano but now that you mention it I may add some frames and other bits on top I think that'll help bring the balance back towards the center like you mentioned Kris. Thank you for the references
By the camera angle Kris, do you mean the depth of field? I'm going to readdress the curtains first, and then add some more humanizing bits and add some more blues into the scene.
This image might help explain things, it shows how circles are distorted with linear perspective (which CG cameras usually use). More here http://wiki.polycount.com/wiki/Concept_Fundamentals#Perspective
If you reduce the FOV and move the camera further back, this will reduce the distortion.
Is the addition of the pictures, clock and metronome on the top helping it feel more lived in/humanized? Should I add more?
Obviously the pictures are going to change, that's just the material that got automatically applied so I left it for now haha I also added another plant on the left. I definitely need to work on the curtains next, and then mess with post processing a bit more so I'm not getting such harsh darks like on the left side of the piano, underneath the bench and on the trim on the floor by the window.
Done for the day but I'll be working on it again tomorrow so I'd ove some more feedback it's been very helpful
Additionally, the new additions on the sides seem a bit strange, it looks flat and cut on the edge. If it's folded over itself, like I'm seeing in a lot of references, it might help to have some sort of border along the bottom so we can clearly see where it is folding. Something similar to this: https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/e0/a2/fd/e0a2fd9b852350ea28551093b2f5c7da.jpg
I love the additions to the top of the piano, it definitely makes it a more believable space. Still not too sure how I feel about the white space in the pictures, especially the one on the right. The left one doesn't bother me.
The cheese plate looks great! The heavier shadows look much better, too, although might be a tad heavy behind the right side of the main curtain. This scene's coming along really nicely!