Megan Castleton @mcanim1005-blog - Tumblr Blog

500 Word Reflective Summary.

For this assignment, I had to choose a theme and two objects, then model the objects and so they could be conceivably used in the theme I chose in a game. The theme I chose was post-apocalyptic, and the objects were a safe box for a character to potentially store their items in, and a bottle.

Throughout the entirety of this assignment, I found myself struggling to get to grips with Maya, however I feel like many others had this issue as well, as Maya is quite a finicky piece of software. Despite struggling with it, I still enjoyed the aspects where I had to sit and figure out a solution to an issue, as frustrating as it could sometimes be.

I tried to further my knowledge of the software by looking at different tutorials of different methods and found this very helpful, as it allowed me to go at my own pace and follow along when I was ready. Even though there are many different functions in Maya, I feel it is forgiving in the way that there are multiple ways in which to solve one problem.

There was a major issue I came across whilst making my first model, and this was towards the end of making it that I discovered there were discrepancies all over the model, such as multiple edges overlapping each other, as well as vertices and faces overlapping as well. I think this happened because it was still towards the start of my usage of Maya, and so I had been selecting the extrude function, and then not extruding. This obviously resulted in multiple aspects overlapping. To remedy this, I asked for some feedback as I could not figure out the solution. After receiving some help, I then proceeded to methodically go around my model snapping edges together so that I could then move onto sorting out the UV’s.

Again, when I came to the UV’S of my first model I had been making the error of thinking all the shells needed to be connected. Looking back, I do not know why I thought this at the time, as it does not make any sense for all of them to be connected as one shell. After the second time attempting to assemble the UV together I finally went back to look through tutorials and realised where I had been going wrong. After this I was able to quickly finish building the UV for my first model, and when it came to my second model’s UV’s, the process was even quicker.

Learning from my experience with the UV aspect of my project, I made sure to look through tutorials for the texturing, lighting, and rendering portions of the task. However, I still came across the problem of having my model clip through itself after applying the texture. I am still not sure why that happened. After I rendered though it seemed to look fine.

The assignment over all was a challenge for me, but I still found it very interesting, and look forward to creating more in Maya in the future.

#reflective summary

Render views and Wireframe views of my models.

Model One: Safebox.

Front render view:

Perspective render view:

Top render view:

Side render view:

Front wireframe view:

Perspective wireframe view:

Top wireframe view:

Side wireframe view:

Model Two: Bottle.

Front render view:

Perspective render view:

Top render view:

Side render view:

Front wireframe view:

Perspective wireframe view:

Top wireframe view:

Side wireframe view:

#week12

Lighting and Rendering.

I started with the lighting by looking at different effects different lights would have on my models, but each time I rendered the models I could barely see anything unless I had four or more lights in my scene. I eventually ended up using area lights and directional lights in my scene as I found these showed up my models best.

#week11

Texturing.

Before I started working on the textures for my own models, I went back and looked at the tutorials we were shown in lesson so I could refresh myself with the process and follow along if I got stuck. I found Yun’s video more helpful and easier to understand.

I did not feel confident when making my textures, because both of my models are objects which are quite simple and only really show one or two different colours, so I think they look a little bit boring.

Also, after painting over the UV snapshots in photoshop and bringing them back into Maya, my models looked to be clipping through themselves after applying the textures. I tried to look up the issue but I could not find anything helpful. I am not sure why this happened, but when I rendered them, they seemed to look normal.

Tutorials:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQKdfJ1vVnQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4C2tkt6eYTo

#week11

UV mapping.

After I managed to check over both my models and make sure there were no odds or ends to tend to, I could finally move onto UV mapping and texturing. When It came to my safebox model, I went through the process of trying to piece together the shells several times before I realised I did not have to all the pieces connected. I only realised this after looking through a number of different tutorial videos, and finally realised why I was finding it so difficult. Finally, I was able to piece together the segments I needed and took the UV snapshots.

#week10

Fixing my model.

I have been trying to find the issues surrounding my model, and have largely found the problem to be vertices laid on top of each other, or faces overlaying each other. To fix this problem I have just been going around my model and picking apart places which have issues, using the target weld tool to snap edges or vertices together.

#week10

Peer assessment.

This week we formed groups of three to look at each others work. The feedback I was given for my work states that my strong points are my points of research, which shows clearly where I found the inspiration for my models. Areas for development and improvement however say I need to show more stages of development. After looking back on my own work I would say these are fair points, and I will take the advice on board.

#week10

UV mapping - Failed attempt.

I attempted the UV mapping, though I think I went somewhere very, very wrong along the way. A lot of it ended up overlapping, and it did not look how I imagine it should. I will try again tomorrow and hopefully I can figure out where I went wrong.

#week9

Cleaning up the mesh.

This week I would have liked to of gotten on with the UV mapping of my first model, but did not realise until recently that my mesh had a lot of components which I needed to clean up first.

There were parts where I had selected extrude and then proceeded to not do so, or I had selected extrude twice, resulting in overlaying segments on the mesh.

There also a lot of edges and vertices which I needed to snap together, as I had multiple edges and vertices overlapping.

I asked my tutor for help and she pointed me in the right direction, as otherwise I would have been struggling for quite a bit.

I also went around my model and added a few more small details here and there, such as beveling a few of the egdes so it would not look so severe.

#week8

Beginning to look into UV Mapping. -

Today we started to look into the process of UV mapping. We had to take a texture (cardboard box) and apply it to the primitive. I looked briefly at the tutorial video and followed the method on the weekly task sheet to complete this task.

I did struggle trying to line up the image of the box with the right faces of the primitive, but once I had done that it was simple to sew the edges together, then it was just a case of adjust the scale and position so it fit onto the primitive correctly.

I think when I need to use UV mapping again I will first look more deeply into the process as I do not think the next UV mapping task I do will be as simple as a cube.

#week7

Issues.

Whilst using Maya, I have had problems trying to remember certain methods of utilising the tools. Something as simple as remembering to switch when selecting edges or vertices can be very annoying, but I am getting used to it with time. As well as this, there are times when I want to quit the project I am working on all together, because I get very frustrated with it. I am trying to remember to take small breaks when I feel this way, or simply starting again. Sometimes it is best to take what you have learned from the experience, and start again, applying what you have learned to the fresh start.

I will definitely keep trying, and try to stay calm.

#week6

Object Model (Bottle)

My second model is an alcohol bottle. I would of liked to have it so the bottle was partially broken, as that would be more likely in a post-apocalyptic setting, however I was not sure how I would of done this so made the whole bottle instead.

I started with a cylinder primitive and beveled the top edge.

Then extruded upwards twice to make the neck of the bottle, beveling each edge.

I then extruded down for the hollow inside of the bottle.

Lastly i beveled the bottom edge of the bottle slightly.

Finished bottle.

#week6

Week 4

Modelling Workshop - Safe-box.

Here I’m making one of the objects for my chosen theme (Post Apocalypse).

There was a point where I wanted to curve the top most edges inwards, but thought it flowed better having them all go up at the same angle.

After I finished the over all shape I finished with the lock.

I had to add edge loops and extrude a segment of it inwards for the keyhole.

Final Model:

#week4

300 Word Rationale

My chosen theme is post-apocalyptic. As I have mentioned before whilst recording my work on my blog, I wanted to take the less obvious route and use a style which was unconventional for the chosen theme. Because of this I considered games with saturated or brighter colour schemes, or rather simply brighter colour schemes, because usually when it comes to post-apocalyptic games the colour palette is often muted, with very little eye-catching colour.

As well as having a saturated colour scheme, I looked at cell-shading. I find this style appealing because it gives a game a softer, more friendly look. Another reason why I like this style for a post-apocalyptic theme, is because it can make the player forget about darker themes to a game, which then when more of the story is revealed to the player, they are shocked about the themes of the game because the style can throw them off.

- Okami, cel-shaded style.

My first model I want to make, the Safe-box, is something that would be used regularly in-game by the main character to store any items they wanted to keep, but not carry with them at the current time. I wouldn’t say it is important to the narrative per say, but important to the gameplay. If it was not there to use, players could become frustrated with not being able to carry as much as they want. It relates to the world it inhabits, as I imagine there would be one for the player to use in each level or base they come across. Therefore, there would be regular interaction with the Safe-box and other items and places throughout the game.

Source of image: http://www.gameinformer.com/blogs/members/b/gerardoexber_blog/archive/2016/08/13/admiring-games-stories.aspx

#week3

Week 3

Final drawings for modeling. -

Safebox. -

Bottle. -

Walkie Talkie. -

#week3

Week 3

The theme I have chosen is the post-apocalyptic theme. Though when looking at games or animations I tried to look at ones which used a style that may be deemed unconventional for a post-apocalypse theme.

I looked at games/animations that tended to steer towards more of a bright and deceptively friendly looking style, but there are themes of them all coinciding with my chosen area.

Pikmin -

Here we have the protagonist walking past an old ash-tray.

In this screencap there are old gas station pumps.

Though it is not explicitly said in-game, the world in which the protagonist is on through-out the game is Earth, though it is an earth in which there are no humans, which implies either that they all died and left behind their possessions, or simply left.

Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker -

Here are screencaps from Wind Waker, in which it is later said in the game that the overworld was flooded leaving only small islands, leaving a single castle under the ocean which though it is partially destroyed within, it is protected by a large force-field to save it from being flooded.

Through-out the game there are older artefacts such as this statue which had been left behind.

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind -

Though it is a slightly different style to the first two, Nausicaä is still quite brightly coloured for something with post apocalypse themes. I like how everything has been drawn here as a lot of detail goes into everything.

#week3

Week 2

Modelling Drawn Object

Additionally, I tried following a tutorial on making a room, though it isn’t finished yet.

#week2

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Megan Castleton