Bomb Matte Painter...Right?

Well let's get things started...

I'm officially done with my second Compositing Class! So for our Final we were directed to do a Matte Painting for Film students that also go to our University (Full Sail).

You should know where I go by now right?

We were able to be on site while the shot was taken and ask questions about what they were specifically wanting us to do with the film we were soon going to be given. Things like what is the atmosphere they are going for? What buildings? Any Foliage? What are the aspects of the Camera? etc. In the end we were able to take a couple pages of notes and prepare ourselves for the future en devour of the work we will be doing. As soon as the month was starting to come to an end the Final Project file is opened and we were able to access all the information we will need to produce the painting they need. And here is what I came up for a "Warm Pittsburgh Night." <-- Do mind that this is my very first Matte Painting.

Let's Not Get Motion Sick!

If you get easily motion sick this is not for you..WARNING WARNING!

(Just ignore the above text, you rebel you!)

         This month I was partaking in two different classes again. In my previous post you will see I talked a lot about my Scene Finishing Class; well it's time for my Visual Effects 2 Class to shine. So my approach for the third project is very simple based on the fact that I did part of this for my Student Presentation Project. Though, my final project I thought I would do something a little bit different; but in the same direction as the other one. First, let me explain what we did for our Student Presentation. My partner, Sydney Shambo, and I did a demonstration on Motion Graphics using a Visual Effects Program called Cinema 4D. I thought I would take that knowledge that I gained from that specific research and presentation and use it for my Final Project, but with a bit more flare added to it. So in the end I plan to get Cinema 4D to create a fun motion graphic using the words “Visual Effects!” (Just because it would be fun since I am in this designated class for this specified month.)

      

        As you know we can do a million and one things with Motion Graphics by looking at the Motion Graphic we did for our Student Presentation below.

        So it was really easy to learn about different techniques and watch a lot of demo reals about different types of Motion Graphics done in Cinema 4D. By just typing in "Cinema 4D Motion Graphics," I was able to pull up some pretty helpful tutorials and videos to walk me through and show me how to create my own signature Motion Graphic.

        This whole experience in Cinema 4D has really been quite an adventure and experience. I have learned a lot of things pertaining to Visual Effects World and Motion Graphics. I'm truly grateful that I kept with the theme of Motion Graphics for my Final. It's such a big thing now a days and it's nice to finally get in the groove and understand what the big whoop is about and learn some new things that we are normally not taught. With hard work and determination I was able to create two different Motion Graphics; one for my Student Presentation and another for my Final. Both turned out better than I could of thought of when starting out. Since Cinema 4D is such a new software for me I was nervous learning how to use it since it took me so long to really get to know our regular system, Maya. Though once I was in the software and figured out the navigation's everything just came so easily; and it also helped that it's a program designated for Visual Effects and not really anything else. (So no extra buttons and gadgets that could potentially screw up my project in the end.) When it came to construction the Motion Graphic everything was a breeze. Once I viewed the tutorials and several references I was able to get the gist of things and really go to work with my production. I was having a blast going through the settings and changing things with just a slider and seeing the outcome really fast show up on my screen. I think the only problem I came across was Rendering and trying to figure out how to Play blast within Cinema 4D. Since it is so new to me I had to find videos and get some help to figure out how to do these simple things. Yet, other than that I had no difficulties in construction my Motion Graphic. I'm really happy with the way it turned out, hopefully you'll enjoy it as well.

That was sure long?

Oh The Troubles We Have

And the frustrations starts to sink in...

One word...

Troubleshooting!

Well it sure has been a while since my last post; but I do promise I will surely make up for that. For the reason is I am taking my second Compositing & Scene Finishing class! This is all very exciting for me because I have thought about countless times in becoming a Matte Painter since my Traditional Art heavily influences my actions for the future. Though, before I could reach the fun portion of the month (i.e. Matte Painting), I had to undergo several other projects. Yet, only one really stood out among the rest, which was the Trouble Shooting Project; the reason this project stood out to me was because I was able to be an individual and create something within my imagination as long as it was comped together correctly and looked like they correlated with each other.

Here let me explain:

(Below you will see a track of a girl looking up and to the side of the screen. No expression and no exaggerated movement. This was filmed for us to track and roto the face and movement of the girl to place in our final scene. I started with setting up my scene and inserting the video; after this I used roto to select the specific pieces of her face that I needed for the next step. Once finished I was able to track and place the geometry on top to see if any of my markers jump. This track was not needed for the final, but it was a quick exercise to show us what we would have to undergo in order to collect the right data to insert into Nuke.)

(Next below this video you'll see another video. This is my final Render from Nuke and my final project for the Trouble Shooting Project. Since we were not able to drag our own tracks within Nuke, our teacher gave us a pre-made track with all of the armor geometry placed upon the girls motion track. This made it a lot easier for us to start applying what we have learned so far in this class and create a beautiful piece once finished. My intention was to create a desert soldier scene; which I believe I was able to achieve. I learned about so many things during this project; several Nodes were brought to my attention when the Lab Instructors had to help me get my sun positioned correctly. Though with success comes struggle. The biggest struggle was actually getting things to look like they go together. The background and soldier just would not comp together correctly; yet as you can see in my end result I was able to figure it out once I was able to step away from the computer and take a breather. With that breather I was able to sit back down and figure things out; and in the end the struggle was worth it as you can see.)

Nothing is easy and I've learned that here at Full Sail and it never fails to surprise me when going into new projects every month. In the end I'm usually happy with what I've accomplished! Everything takes time, and with time will come experience, and with experience will come an amazing finished piece that will inspire others and get peoples attention!