Feedback please for US diner

cturbo · Apr 2025

I've been studying game design part-time for the last six months and have created my first environment, which is a classic US diner. I would really appreciate any constructive feedback, as I'm still in the learning process. I'm planning to submit this by the 28th, so any insights would be incredibly helpful. Thank you!

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/cz/wmsbaoaxori6.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/ct/5f5cgjkna7xm.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/z6/e5qc9eb9ou76.jpg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5021068/uploads/editor/im/8taqzdi8uh5n.jpg

Fabi_G · Apr 2025

Could you also share the references you were using? To have a comparison.

iam717 · Apr 2025

ah time-frame based post interesting, 7 days left.

i am wondering what the ceiling is doing, is that lcd's? hard/plastic/sticky tiles?

Eric Chadwick · Apr 2025

Looks like it might be based partly on this place, Oakley Diner
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x875211a8730c8eb7:0x15177ebe80ae35a0!3m1!7e115!4s!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sCIHM0ogKEICAgICn5PTnHw

The whole thing seems overly-lit to me, and the ceiling does seem too shiny.

cturbo · Apr 2025

I see that some parts appear shiny, and I figured out that it's the HDRI light causing that brightness. However, I'm not sure how to turn off the lighting from the HDRI so that it only provides the background image without illuminating the environment. Do you have any tips?

cturbo · Apr 2025

Eric Chadwick said:

Looks like it might be based partly on this place, Oakley Diner
https://www.google.com/maps/uv?pb=!1s0x875211a8730c8eb7:0x15177ebe80ae35a0!3m1!7e115!4s!15sCgIgAQ&imagekey=!1e10!2sCIHM0ogKEICAgICn5PTnHw

The whole thing seems overly-lit to me, and the ceiling does seem too shiny.

no its based from Rosies diner. Its not exact, its part of inspiration. I will redo the lights again, do you put rec lights on each window or one rec light to stretch along the whole wall to cover all the windows?

cturbo · Apr 2025

The emissive light also impacts the overall lighting, which can be quite frustrating. How would you address this issue making led lights?

Eric Chadwick · Apr 2025

I'm no Unreal guru, but I'd suggest checking the main tutorials. https://dev.epicgames.com/community/unreal-engine/learning?industries=visualization&query=lighting interior

cturbo · Apr 2025

Eric Chadwick said:

I'm no Unreal guru, but I'd suggest checking the main tutorials. https://dev.epicgames.com/community/unreal-engine/learning?industries=visualization&query=lighting interior

excellent thanks Eric!

cturbo · Apr 2025

cturbo said:

Eric Chadwick said:

I'm no Unreal guru, but I'd suggest checking the main tutorials. https://dev.epicgames.com/community/unreal-engine/learning?industries=visualization&query=lighting interior

excellent thanks Eric!

I adjusted the lighting, and I believe it looks much better now. I've reduced the highlights on the chairs and ceilings.

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/y4yrqJ

iam717 · Apr 2025

When you look at this scene you created does it feel - used ? or lived in by people, employee's, customers? the usual things like napkin stands that are usually present menu's + do not seem to be present, i know this stuff takes a long time, this is why many mention that references guides and collecting and or studying your goal is important to give that story of , this space is lived in feels recognizable and gives a vibe of "I've been to one of these once/memorable moments". For me this does not give me those vibes. You did fix the ceiling for me somewhat so congrats there.

This lighting if you can get that back was really nice:(posted img above)

Shyralon · Apr 2025

The assets are quite good, it is mainly the lighting which could be improved. I am missing a sense of light direction - right now everything feels very (equally) bright. If I compare the big LED light on the ceiling with the surfaces next to it, it has almost the same brightness.
I would recommend starting with an entirely dark scene and just place the key lights - in your case probably the ceiling light and the windows. Depending on the time of day you might want to add a directional light with a correct color temperature outside so light falls in from the windows. Once you have your main lights you can start working on your bounce light - either by using settings in Lumen/bake lightmaps or by placing additional (low intensity big attenuation) lights in dark corners. You don't want pitch black shadows but also still have a difference in brightness to differentiate key and fill lights which will make your entire scene feel less flat.

cturbo · Apr 2025

iam717 said:

When you look at this scene you created does it feel - used ? or lived in by people, employee's, customers? the usual things like napkin stands that are usually present menu's + do not seem to be present, i know this stuff takes a long time, this is why many mention that references guides and collecting and or studying your goal is important to give that story of , this space is lived in feels recognizable and gives a vibe of "I've been to one of these once/memorable moments". For me this does not give me those vibes. You did fix the ceiling for me somewhat so congrats there.
This lighting if you can get that back was really nice:(posted img above)

I understand that I need to incorporate all these elements. Since this is my first environment, I haven't delved into the narrative yet because learning to build it from the ground up has been quite overwhelming. I plan to develop it further after submission, as I simply don't have the time at the moment. However, now that I know how to build, my next goal is to focus on the narrative.

cturbo · Apr 2025

Shyralon said:

The assets are quite good, it is mainly the lighting which could be improved. I am missing a sense of light direction - right now everything feels very (equally) bright. If I compare the big LED light on the ceiling with the surfaces next to it, it has almost the same brightness.
I would recommend starting with an entirely dark scene and just place the key lights - in your case probably the ceiling light and the windows. Depending on the time of day you might want to add a directional light with a correct color temperature outside so light falls in from the windows. Once you have your main lights you can start working on your bounce light - either by using settings in Lumen/bake lightmaps or by placing additional (low intensity big attenuation) lights in dark corners. You don't want pitch black shadows but also still have a difference in brightness to differentiate key and fill lights which will make your entire scene feel less flat.

Thank you! Your feedback is incredibly helpful and constructive, and it's clear you know your stuff. I'm currently starting over and concentrating on the key lighting because I realized I had too many lights, which made everything look cluttered and confusing.

Feedback please for US diner

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