After a very detailed and helpful conversation around Maya and its fx complexities with Ethan Shilling, I have taken a guidelines provided by him and have begun working in more detailed with the shatter fx tool, defining some of the more complex animations within my end product. Ethan has given some really helpful advice that would of been incredibly difficult to find elsewhere and has pointed me in a direction that could very well inform the final renders of my project, namely the shatter fx. The below renders were taken after applying the shatter fx tool to a glass textured model, allowing me to simulate the chipping and shattering of my structure...
The above experiments were conducted with guidelines and suggestions provided by Ethan and have delivered some really interest renders that are now going to be implemented into a test animation with some more refined results.
After some successful renders showcasing the realism I can achieve in my rock texture, I've performed a couple of short fx and ncloth experiments to see what kind of depiction the material could have on screen...
Before completing my final steel experimentation I've decided to begin looking some of the opportunities available to me surrounding the rock texture and that segment of my final film. Despite stating in the above diagram that I plan to show carving through particle dynamics, after some research it seems that the shatter tool in the fx menu may prove to be more useful to me.
To create the set below I followed a simple tutorial (link at the bottom of post) that highlighted the shatter tool and the effect it can have a model, seemingly something that could benefit the rock portion of my project massively...
To create these models I applied a texture that I photographed and then worked in an original bump map to enhance the material and add a level of realism that is going to help bring this project to a higher standard.
I'm incredibly happy with the results of this experiment and its level of reality as I feel it looks a step above some of my other experiments in terms of realism, I now plan to create a number of experiments around the types of movement and collisions these rocks could have on each other.
After this shot I have only one left to render before I can compile the footage into a more cinematic example of my what my final product will look like, shot 4...
Continuing on with my steel experiment renders, I have made some adjustments to the lighting and post work being applied to this render in order to achieve a slightly more realistic outcome, shot 3...
For the past couple of weeks I have been working freelance for a Kent based band named Hive Mind, they're a new band who were in need of an aesthetic and a number of different branding elements for their various social media platforms. I was contacted initially to create a promotional motion graphics video to be used across social media, with the brief stating a need for an 80's aesthetic reminiscent of Tron and Miami Vice. Through talking to the client I discovered that the band were also going to be looking for an artist to design a logo for them as well, after some discussion I was asked to create that also, and with the clients permission I'm able to share that work here...
(Logo to be used across social media)
It was such a valuable experience to work with a client on a project like this for a number of reasons, as outside of my internship with Butch Auntie this is my first taste of "working for" someone. The project went through a number of phases and was reworked many times, everything from typography to color schemes was decided between both me and the client and has shown me the kind of relationship you can have when working freelance. Here are a selection of some of the stages the project went through before arriving at a conclusion...
After a number of different versions being created the client settled on the below image, deciding that it best suit what they were aiming for in terms of aesthetics...
After creating these initial branding elements for Hive Mind I have been asked to work on more products for them including some merchandising that I'm extremely to share in the future.
Working with this client has been such a valuable experience and has shown me that I can communicate professionally and organize deadlines with another party, as well as being able to stick to my own current major project. From creating this work I have discovered that branding and aesthetics for outside parties is definitely something I plan on pursuing in the near future. Along side this, I have also been recommended to a live music venue and have been asked to create a promotional video for an event they are running, a project I will be able to share very soon!
After being pleased with the render of my first shot I have carried with the remaining four that will be composited to form one longer experimental piece, shot 2...
