CG Stormy Water

So I wanted to further play around with what is possible with CG water in Maya. Water itself and the way it moves and the way the waves intertwine with one another, as an artist is something that mesmerises me, so iv'e been quite enthusiastic about the chance to recreate this effect using Maya. The important thing that Iv'e found about water, aside from studying the physics of water so after doing some studying,

The Finished Render

Links:

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/water-sports/surfing5.htm

http://www.cliffsnotes.com/study_guide/Wave-Motion.topicArticleId-10453,articleId-10423.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wave

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yyLZd2dRL8

on waves, Is that water in Maya is primarily countrolled through he Attribute Editor. Mainly through these sections below with the settings that I have chosen, whilst playing around to see what I can create. The attributes that are most important to play around with (The Wave Height, Turbulence & Peaking) are open to the artists interpretation, and down to each individual. Stormy Sea's, and Calm sea's, low waves and high waves can all be created at one's disposal.

Foam emission can also be controlled to the artists disposal to create natural or unnatural effects, dependant on what one is looking for.

So after playing around with these and doing some test renders, this is my final result that I have created, and in Photoshop and After Effects, I have composited some out-of-focus water droplets onto my panel as to give the illusion that A camera is indeed there in the moment. I think it adds something to the imagery as well, that I like. 

Playblast

                                         

From the early storyboard and a few unsuccessful attempts at creating an Ocean in Maya, I have decided to challenge myself to create a piece for my show-reel that showcases both an artistic and technical sensibility. Below is my short storyboard for such a piece, with some colour palette cubes that 

I intend to incorporate into my shader when choosing what colour the ocean will be. 

The Colour Palette

The Storyboard

The Inspiration

Fluid Dynamics Interacting With Spherical Objects.

So iv'e been watching my Saturday Morning cartoons again, and became inspired to play around with Maya when I see the bad guys wiping mud from their faces, but! I made a simple little video that showcases an experiment with fluid dynamics interacting with a spherical basketball that I quickly modelled and textured. The fluid hasn't yet been transformed into a liquid state, whether i desire it to be runny of rather gloopy for my desired look, but this video quickly just shows that I am beginning to understand the physics and set up's required to make fluid's and objects collide with one another, and just the rhythm that the fluid moves in follows as it splashes against the ball.

Head Modelling

This term we have began organic modelling in Autodesk Maya. One of the main key things I have to remember is to ensure that I have is a nice/clean topology, and I have to think of this piece as though it is in the middle of a production pipeline - so essentially where is it going next? It will have to be rigged in an industry, so I must make the model 'Riggable'. Which is why you can see in order to retain proportion throughout the modelling process and follow the muscular and skeletal structure of the real human head been made from the reference image plane's, it is important to keep to this, to ensure that the rigging stage will be made ever so slightly easier. The first couple of time's it is tricky just to remember and grasp hold of everything as it's a relatively new process; but nonetheless it can be done with ease the more time's it is done. 

A front on view. 

Given the 'Smooth 3' treatment...

Side on view. 

Now it's on to character modelling...

First Project Proposal

‘Project Proposal’ Level 2: ANI2027M Digital Skills Development

Benjamin Hudson

In the forthcoming term I intend to enhance both my 2D and 3D skill sets to

create a short film that will demonstrate a diverse range of techniques that will

result in a visually strong and well staged submission with functioning storytelling

mechanics. I wish to develop my Autodesk Maya skills further as I feel strongly

that I still have much to learn and gain from the programme and how it can

serve me in regards to; digital modelling, rigging, texturing, dynamics, lighting

and animation. This will be beneficial to me in both the remainder of my time at

University and post University where in employment my knowledge will be used

to great lengths and I may be required to work outside of one of my comfort

zones. In regards to developing my 2D animation skill set, I wish to push my

drawing & animation ability and bring a 'hand drawn' stylised sensibility to my

work that can compliment the work produced in Maya with the help of Adobe's

suite of digital programmes; Photoshop, Flash, After Effects, Sound booth and

Premiere, and my own vision from sketching and drawing work that I produce by

hand. The reason I wish to mix both the 2D and 3D Mediums together is not only

to show the extent of what I can do with a Pencil as much as a computer, but

there are so many imperfections with 2D Animation from the animation itself, to

background and layout to timing and pacing – that I want to bring more of that

charm, fun and energy to what I do in 3D. From personal experience in using 3D,

while I thoroughly enjoy it; there’s a huge desire to make things look absolutely

polished and perfect and close to reality that I sometimes forget about where I

feel I could put a little bit of that desired 2D charm back. I understand that

there’s certain things that look better in 3D than 2D and vice versa but this is all

why I wish to find some middle ground and blend the two mediums together.

In doing this I intend to pursue a pre-production stage where storyboards and

animatics will be used extensively to bring the story to life, so I have solid

footwork to work from. Filmic language and camera angles will be thoroughly

explored to tell the story efficiently and professionally.

A production stage will take place where the short is produced. This will involve

working in the 2D and 3D Mediums in the programmes mentioned above. Help

will be required during production from another or several others; so they may

be brought on board to help bring the film to life.

Finally a Post production stage will then occur, where the film will undergo

tweaks to complete a final desired artistic look, and a final edit will be put

together.

In producing this short film, I hope it and all of the pre-production work that will

compliment it and any subsidiary show-reel work that I produce or take from

past projects will eventually propel me into a career as an Animation Director. As

an animation director, it would be my job to thoroughly understand which

department in the production pipeline produces what, and be on hand to guide

everyone on board of a production in what I would see as the right the way

through; expressing my own personal vision in all of the creative aspects of any

given project. As an animation director, it is also important to have the drive to

express what you want to show on screen. This incredibly excites me in what I

feel I can bring to animated films. In capturing a feeling, and an essence, and

being immersed in another film’s world and the way each director moulds mise

en scene to bring their vision to life is something I too really want to explore. To

capture something, and feed to an audience what I have felt when I’ve watched

animated shorts stemming from my childhood, even up to now. Choosing this

pathway allows me to start that. Animation in my own opinion is so infantile and

this is something I wish to explore more, whilst also pushing myself to make a

statement with the stories I wish to tell.