STUDIO 2 Specialisation pitch

This Trimester's Specialisation Project consists mainly of research and implementation which I am very excited for.

I am to identify what skill areas I would like to explore and practice further, then research and record contemporary pipelines, workflows, techniques and trends in the area I have selected.

From there I am to practice the techniques I have learned, follow tutorials, do small targeted studies, and produce as many test pieces as possible. Finally if there is any time, I am to produce a more polished final piece that implements what I have learned and practiced throughout the trimester. Lastly I am to break down my research and workflow in an online blog.

Reflect and Evaluate your own Skills

To establish what I want to learn, first I must explain what I already know.

Below are a few examples of my previous works:

This was my very first assessed hard surface model that I completed in Trimester 1. I learned how to model in Maya 2017, how to create textures using Photoshop 2017, how to create and use bump maps, how to use opacity nodes in maya, how to use particle effects in maya, how to animate in maya, and how to render using arnold in maya.

This was my first Unreal Engine composition in Trimester 3. I learned how to navigate and generally use UE4, how to model a modular kit in maya, how to apply atmospheric lights and fog in UE4, how to download, compile and use assets/particles in the UE4 library, and how to render using UE4.

This was my second environment composition using UE4 in Trimester 3. I learned briefly how to use Quixel Suite and Substance painter to create textures, how to properly export assets from maya and then import them into UE4, how to generally bake lights in UE4, how to generally set up shaders in UE4, how to composite particle effects into my environment, and how to set up tile-ability in UE4.

This was my Specialisation Project for Trimester 3. Here I learnt how to create and use normal maps, how to use soft selection and beveling in maya, how to create organic forms in maya, and how to design an original scene.

Goals

In terms of what I want to achieve this Trimester, my goal is to create a Viking house.

Below are some examples of what I want to be able to create:

Tamnev, P. (2016). Viking Village Unity Demo. Retrieved from www.artstation.com/artwork/YOBYd

Olson, B. (2017). Viking Village. Retrieved from https://www.artstation.com/artwork/APkkq

Thornborrow, D. (2017). Feast Hall. Retrieved from www.artstation.com/artwork/1kwe2

Olson, B. (2017). Viking Village. Retrieved from https://www.artstation.com/artwork/APkkq

I have used these examples before, however as you can see, they are just spectacular. If I could even get close to these I would be so incredibly happy.

My dream, as I have started over and over again, is to create a historically accurate Viking Village that will be explorable and interactive from a first or third person perspective (like skyrim). I will most likely composite in Unreal Engine, Model in Maya, Texture in Substance painter/designer and create details with mudbox or zbrush.

What I need to learn

In short, I need to learn how to use Substance Painter, Substance Designer, Zbrush or Mudbox, how to render properly, and how to apply shaders properly.

Project Breakdown

Firstly:

I need to find an extensive amount of appropriate tutorials and watch them all, probably multiple times. These tutorials will include, how to use Substance painter and Substance designer, how to use Mudbox or Zbrush, how to apply high poly sculpts to low poly models, how to render using Arnold to the best quality I can, and how to set up really nice looking lights in Unreal.

Secondly:

I need to create the tutorial pieces while following along (This will depend on the Tutorial I am watching). Record what I learnt from the tutorial.

Thirdly:

From there I need to practice and practice and practice to embed what I have learnt in my head. This will include creating my own test pieces and possibly starting on the final Viking house.

Lastly:

If I have time I will create a Viking Longhouse from what I have learnt. If I don't have time however I will create a Asset portfolio of all the test pieces I have created.

Initial research

For each of the above sections I have listed, I have found a selection of Tutorials that I wish to watch:

Level 80 Workflows

Chisolm, J. & Williams, H. (2018, May 10th). Keeper: How Students Build Games?. Retrieved from https://80.lv/articles/keeper-how-students-build-games/

Olson, B. (2017, January 2nd). Northern Architecture for Game Environments. Retrieved from https://80.lv/articles/brooke-olson-northern-architecture-for-gamedev/

Mudbox Tutorials

Autodesk. (2014, May 9th). Mudbox for Beginners. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3qZwt5l3xE

Arrimus 3D. (2014, November 21st). Mudbox Texturing #1 - Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SQMJm3RtcU

ZBRUSH GURU. (2017, April 10th). Mudbox texture Tutorial. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDyofop2cuQ

zmax guru. (2016, July 28th). Mudbox Texturing #1 - Introduction basic rock texturing. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3c-XN_PQs4

Stein, N. (2010, October 28th). Introduction to Mudbox Part 1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gsri_C2sKMs

Autodesk. (2010, July 21st). Getting Started with Mudbox Tutorial. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRYMCyshLQo

Substance Painter Tutorials

Substance Academy. (2018, March 7th/16th). Substance Painter 2018 Course Introduction. Retrieved from https://tutorials.allegorithmic.com/courses/a97b433a5997fd800b5ed300d783cc41/youtube-IGGQl9kVB1M and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBn_1otOHZ8

Substance Designer Tutorials

Pixel Gym. (2017, June 21st). Intro to Substance Designer: pt1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJJBhixijDc

Scrimshaw, C. (2015, April 9th). Let's Learn Substance Designer 5 - The Basics/Diamond Plate Metal. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4NFno0-nsQ

Allegorithmic (2016, August 3rd). Substance Designer Getting Started: 01 - Creating a base material part One. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzKtubDsC9o

UIW 3D Animation and Game Design. (2018, April 22nd). Intro to Substance Designer. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_84jDyRukA

Dinusty. (2016, September 27th). Learning Substance: Introduction and Basics of Substance Designer [EP10]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrIEYW59ld4

Unreal Engine Lighting Tutorial

Palaje, M. (2017, September 12th). How To Use Lighting And Post Processing In Unreal Engine 4 [Tutorial]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVFcZN8eBps

Unreal Engine. (2017, January 24th). Lighting Techniques & Guides | Live Training | Unreal Engine. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCsrWzt9F28

MoonGlint. (2015, February 12th). Unreal Engine 4 Realistic light Tutorial. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vdNg1D87FY

Unreal Engine (2017, October 9th). Lighting with Unreal Engine Masterclass | Unreal Dev Day Montreal 2017 | Unreal Engine. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihg4uirMcec

51Daedalus. (2017, January 24th). Unreal 4 Lighting Academy - Session 01.1. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grN5Yd55UIM