More Compositions

A mix here, I love the dynamic shot in the second one but I feel that, while the colours are very striking, parts of the image arent very clear and that this could use some work. The top image I really Like as I feel that it is clear and the colours are nice, however I would like it to be more dynamic. Hence the 2nd image. As of this point these are the final 2 compositions I will be putting together. And I'm going to try and produce a video for the future as I would love to see these models used in something moving and animated.

More Compositions.

These composites are far weaker I feel. The creatures and models arent as effectively inserted into the scene and the colours themselves are very muddy. I need to improve upon this for the next set of them. However I do like the more dynamic angle the second image takes and I feel like this is a succesful part of this image whereas for the first image I like the colour scheme and how creepy it feels. I also like the use of the tree as a compositional element as opposed to the Asp fighter itself.
Something I will need to keep in mind for the next few images.

First two composites & Evaluation

Given that these are only photo composites I am very pleased with how they have turned out. I like the way the colours of these two are so very different as are the styles. The models lend themselves well to this scene as I was sure they would given the amount of planning that went into this project. I would like to improve upon situating the creature in the world better and perhaps getting a closer view of it so I can show all the detail that went into it. As-well as the ships. I would love to have created an entire video in the vein of some of these composites however given the render times that is just not practical at the moment. And these photo comps will have to do for now. I wnat to further explore different angles and perhaps some more dynamic shots of the creature aswell, just to show it off a bit better and let the audience be more aware of exactly what it is that this monstrosity is doing. 

I do feel that it is successful in as much as its very obvious that these fighters are flying towards this alien invader and the eye is clearly drawn along that line from left to right towards the creatures location.
I also like how in the 2nd image the creature is more obscured. I may end up exploring thisidea in future composites.

Photoplates and Time.

As this goes on it becomes increasingly apparent that im not going to have the time to render out a video. Given the models im using and what im trying to do Id rather create some nice composites using the full quality model on photoplates instead. So that is what I'm going to have to do. Ive shot some photoplates that Ive tried to match to the thumbnail/storyboard images and I will be using these to composite the images in photoshop. Not a waste entirely as I believe that it is also useful in learnign how to composite in phtoshop as you see a lot of artists use that technique to build up textures and images.

IBL

I found a fantastic programme that will let me shoot an IBL sphere to use to assist in lighting my 3d scene. Very useful as the reflections and lighting should match the photoplate closer than If I used one online.

Matte practice.

A selection of tests involving a material specific to VRay. The wrapper material which is used to composite shadows onto photo plates by cutting the alpha out of the object it is applied to and leaving only the shadows cast onto it.
So that they can be easily put onto a photoplate.
These are just me getting to grips with the material and trying to get it work properly, it took a lot of tinkering and patience to finally figure it out.

Asp + Evaluation

Another design I'm very proud of. This shows the development of the initial idea, taken from the concept painting and the  improved upon using the other sketches I had to hand. I think that this is a succesful model for what I wanted and it shows some level of functionality beyond surface level with the flaps that open up in flight and the fact that wings fold away as well as the docking port on the top of the craft.
This design actually came out better than I was expecting, however I do feel that my texturing needs improvement as they do an adequate job of making the fighter look sufficiently beaten and weathered however they could be clearer and less muddy I feel. Which is ironic given what they are meant to convey. This is something I will be focusing on in the future. Another thing that I feel could be improved is the time it took to create the low poly version. However this is more an issue with the workflow used for this type of hard surface model.

I would also have loved to add more detail and even a cockpit however I was pressed for time when I finished off this. And creating any extra parts would have just taken far too long. As much as they would have provided some very cool shots for the video. I also wish I had time to flesh out the folding mechanism of the wings and the flight/flaps and to design them a bit better and make them more believeable.
I am pleased with this overall though as I feel that it is another improvement to my work.

Creature + Evaluation

Im extremely pleased with how this came out.  Though it took its sweet time to create the SSS shader and to texture and model it fully.It fulfils everything I set out for it to do to be a creepy "blind" Lovecraftian monstrosity. The problems with the design as to be regarding the way the tentacles attach to the body have been solved in a way, as have the way the tentacles themselves move. However the tentacles could still have been attached to the body in a better way, the design of them could also have been better as I feel that while I tried to do a modular, easily repeatable design for them It could be closer to that of what a octopus tentacle looks like as opposed to how it turned out.

I feel that the skin of the creature turned out exactly how I wanted it, light and translucent as if the creature has been living in the dark for hundreds of years, but with subtle variations in the texture so as to keep it interesting. It also has a slimy coating on it that I feel is vastly appropriate for a creature of this type.
If I were to improve a few things it would be mainly on the tentacles and the way they attach to the body aswell as refining the entire model overall and making the "eyes" on the neck look better.

I am very pleased with it though. However render times are still posing a problem given the nature of the model and material on it. Which could prove to be an issue when it comes to render the final video.

Lovecraftian Sketches

I love this kind of design work. So here is some of the sketches behind the Lovecraftian designs I try and come up with. Although some Ideas I didn't use for this project.

Asp Sketches

Again I forgot to post these. Some of the design work that went into the Asp fighter. And its these Im going to keep in mind when I move onto the model as I prefer some of them to the concept painting.