[WIP] Old Fire Station

scottycharly

Hello everyone, I'm working on this new personal project where I want to build this old fire station in my city's downtown. 

https://www.google.ca/maps/@46.8079904,-71.2414726,3a,75y,13.02h,107.44t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWyvsK0hegbJkYnZ1JaLRSQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

The plan is to build a layout to nail the proportions, and then build a set of modular elements. I also plan on using a trim sheet. I will probably go to megascan or substance share to find some shader (especially the tileable brick) to keep the project short.

For the later stages, I'm not sure yet if I will integrate it in Unreal or just use Marmoset viewer. I may also use mega scan props to boost the visual value of my final composition.

I would like to share my WIP with you and would love to have any feedback as I progress along the way. Hope you'll enjoy it!

scottycharly

Here is a first analysis of the modular elements I will probably require to achieve the project:

scottycharly

Some image ref I assembled to inspire me:

scottycharly

The layout is done. I may tweak it a little but for the most part, the proportions would be set.

shabba

I dont know why you would go to MegaScans or some 3rd party site.

Just grab a half decent camera, and tell them what you are doing and ask if you can scan the exterior of their building. Then scan the bricks, the trims, the foundations, the cracks, the corner silhouettes, the doors, EVERYTHING. And then transfer all that data into ur tileable trim sheets like you mentioned. 

You have access to the actual object you are trying to reproduce. Nothing better than first hand scan data.

scottycharly

@shabba Thanks for the suggestion. I'm not versed into 3D scanning, which is a speciality in itself, but I will investigate. But I can see how it would allow me to grab those nice details that can boost the value of an environment piece. Your comment also opens the door to some intriguing experimentations about how to make tillable textures from scans.

shabba

Sounds like an experiment worthy of your time imo! Looking forward to seeing your results

scottycharly

I took a few pictures of a stone wall section with my cellphone and then used Meshroom to assemble the 3D Scan. I was not expecting the result to be that realistic. It looks good. I'm not sure how I would make it tileable though. I might try Alchemist eventually. For visual elements that need not be tileable, like windows, it can be a good strategy, with realism on the plus size and versatility on the negative size. When the snow is gone, I might experiment some more.

scottycharly

Here is my Trim sheet. It was done in Substance Painter.


My textures:


Here is the Hi-Resolution mesh used to bake: It was mainly done in Blender with some sculpting done in ZBrush.

rexo12

Hey, looking good. Photogrammetry always blows me away with how good the results are for the effort you put into it. This tutorial has been my guide for photogrammetry in the past, and I hope you find it useful too. The post-process workflow will hopefully be useful.

https://gumroad.com/sebvhe#VGDI

scottycharly

Hey @rexo12, Thanks for the link. I had a hard time finding some valuable info on photogrammetry. Even on polycount, the treads are scarce. I certainly will have a look.

scottycharly

Here is an update on my progress. I started creating some modules with my trim sheet. And then used them to replace some of my layout's parts.

scottycharly

Here is an update on my progress.

I selected this brick texture from texture heaven:
https://texturehaven.com/tex/?c=bricks&t=red_brick_03



My module set is now mostly complete

I applied the brick texture to the station. UV wrapping the brick on the station was tedious. I'm glad it's over!

teodar23

I think the scale of the bricks is off. A bit too large i reckon. Other than that, nothing to object

valentin_baguirov

scottycharly said:

Here is an update on my progress.

I selected this brick texture from texture heaven:
https://texturehaven.com/tex/?c=bricks&t=red_brick_03



My module set is now mostly complete

I applied the brick texture to the station. UV wrapping the brick on the station was tedious. I'm glad it's over!

Very cool dude! If youre going by the ref, this boy needs some vertex painting (if you want) and something to break up those straight edges, but Im sure you know this! Good luck!

scottycharly

@teodar23
You're right, I cheated on the brick size to avoid having something too noisy. But if you spotted it, it means cheated too much! And now it looks off. Thanks!

@valentin_baguirov
Good cue about the vertex paint. I need to break the uniformity of the brick. I will probably use some decals too, to add some patches and leakings of dark dirt. 






As for the straight edges, I'm not sure yet how I will break the straight silhouette. I guess I will add some kind of corner brick mesh at some strategic corners.


By the way, the atmospheric lighting you did on the old warehouse that was featured in Lvl80, was very nice and I will certainly welcome your feedback when it's time to light this baby!

valentin_baguirov

scottycharly said:

@teodar23
You're right, I cheated on the brick size to avoid having something too noisy. But if you spotted it, it means cheated too much! And now it looks off. Thanks!

@valentin_baguirov
Good cue about the vertex paint. I need to break the uniformity of the brick. I will probably use some decals too, to add some patches and leakings of dark dirt. 






As for the straight edges, I'm not sure yet how I will break the straight silhouette. I guess I will add some kind of corner brick mesh at some strategic corners.


By the way, the atmospheric lighting you did on the old warehouse that was featured in Lvl80, was very nice and I will certainly welcome your feedback when it's time to light this baby!

Thanks dude! Yeah I love decals for personal pieces and yep also love atmospheric ligthing haha, played a lot with Half Life 2 back in the day so it had a big influence :') 

scottycharly

Here is an update on my progress.

I want to make a presentation shot from Unreal so I inserted the building into an existing Unreal scene free from the Epic Store. I also added some decal from the Megascans library. 



The next step will be to create my own lighting probably using this tutorial as a base: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD3HYY67XpY.

Elivenger

It's really coming together! I'm sure you already have thought about this but I feel like more dirt anchoring and weathering where the building meets the ground would really help further ground it in the space. Here's a good video I saw on that with a silly pun title. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QafpBUZIs-w

scottycharly

@Elivenger, Thanks for the feedback and the link.

Good point about dirt anchoring. It will help reduce the floating effect of the building. I did some using decal as I don't want to create a second set of trim and brick textures. I specially insisted on this front concrete corner.

Here is a before/after shot:

Elivenger

Wow that's looking sweet! Good job! 

scottycharly

Project update:
New Framing
New Lighting
I activated the distance field ambient occlusion

simonBreumier

Wow, that ended up really nice ! Thank you also for sharing your process, those dirt decals really improved the floor/wall handshake.
If anything, I'd say the windows looked a bit too reflective and clean when I first looked at it.

carvuliero

scottycharly

@carvuliero, Thanks for the feedback. I added some brick geometry to break the straight silhouette of those edges.

scottycharly

Project update:
4 lighting setup
Some small adjustments