January 2013 Edits

A new edit is underway for early February. Now that my current fixed-term contract is finished, I have more time to commit to it. I am also working as a texturing intern on a sci-fi short.



Below, is a beauty pass of the bedroom scene with new books, an overturned chair and a toppled plant, plus a revised ceiling stain and comforter. I have made a new plywood base texture for the Ikea-styled desk, with a more realistic look of dirt collecting between the tabletop and cupboards. I have revisited the light set-up to add a rim to the fallen chair and edited the shadows cast by the bed, radiator, closet, and chair. The floor has a layer of dynamic dust.

Bedroom set was modelled by David Vacek, design by David Tousek.
Rats were modelled by Dan Konieczka and Giorgio Luciano

Neon and Chrome Texture Edits

Modelled by Christophe Desse and Matthew Thain.
A simple bump pass adds a realistic feel to the painted cement wall.

Smoke VFX

Modelled by Giorgio Luciano
Much closer to the look of a fire below deck. The smoke is dark to match the look of a raging fire versus the white smoke from a cannon firing in the distance. I think the yellow hot spot in the black smoke should be red.

Battleship Edit Continues

Modelled by Giorgio Luciano
I realized that the background ship was tilted too much, even for a menacing pose, so I made an edit. This is more dynamic I think. I've finished the foreground boat in terms of lighting: a soft glow in the cabin windows, a spec highlight on the chain, and a hint of blur overall, justified by the misty weather. I hope to achieve some effects here too, with a jet of smoke/ a hint of fire to show that the foreground ship is sinking. Also, I've added froth to the ocean, for a realistic stormy look. The background boat light setup needs much more work, including the sails and a cannon firing.

Battleship Edit

I am working on this idea that the distant ship has fired cannons at the foreground ship. I want to use dynamics to create a fog. I am also starting to light the far off ship so that it is back-lit and mysterious looking. I have not gotten very far into lighting the distant ship, but I think that the glow in the front boat windows is working nicely so far.

This is a screenshot from the movie, Master and Commander. I want to establish a similar mood and imitate the misty atmosphere.

Modelled by Giorgio Luciano

April 2012 Updated Reel

This is a work-in-progress version of my reel. I am working to re-texture and render the garage interior of "Neon and Chrome."

I have not posted updates for a while, because I have started to spend more time on making paintings for  upcoming art shows. However, I will finalize the texture edits for the truck scene in the next few weeks and render up a new version of my reel in early May. Above is an example of the truck scene with the layers assembled: windshield and paint reflection, headlights, neon lights, florescent lights, key light pass and interior lights.


Credits
"Time Lapse" Bedroom environment modelled by David Vacek, design by David Tousek, and the rats are modelled by Dan Konieczka and Giorgio Luciano  
"Captain's Log: A Clear Night," modelled by Giorgio Luciano 
“Neon and Chrome” modelled by Christophe Desse and Matthew Thain
“Fruit Bowl” and “Bottle Collection” modelled by Jeremy Birn
Lighting, texturing, compositing, and animation by Sandra Herman 

Re-lighting Fruit Bowl

Modelled by Dan Wade.
I am trying to figure out how to create a glass shader with reflections and layers of translucency.

Revisiting Bedroom Scene

 Modelled by David Vacek
Working to add more grunge and a story, shared between a few rats of extraordinary size. Focusing on lighting and grungemaps that describe an afraid of the dark feeling. Also trying to draw more attention to the fur detail on the rats using spotlights. In the early stages of compositing, I am trying to figure out a way to push clouds by the window, for the time lapse.

Final Revisions of the Captain's Log Lighting Challenge

Modelled by Giorgio Luciano

Present Night Ship Edits:

I have created a dirtier texture using a lambert shader for my sunset scene and tweaked the translucency of the sails. For the star filled night scene, I think I need a few more passes to adjust areas that are too in the dark; which include the cannon hatches furthest away from the camera. I have also pasted a moon in the sky and revised my key light, to create a warmer feeling. There is a more realistic highlight on the water's surface, which was achieved by the use of a soft-box.

Earlier Sunset Ship Edits:
I want to achieve the look of back-lit sails from the setting sun. I've made sure that the sky is being reflected into the water and added a glow at the horizon line. Generally, boats in this kind of scene are flatly lit where the sun cannot reach. See the front of the boat, but maybe my version needs a little more light. Plus, I think there is some light leak happening at the ropes under the sails.